LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 2: Brilliant Emporium
He didn't feel like reforging his friendships. At least not now. For the first time since long ago he would have a chance of not going against impossible odds. He won't pass on such an opportunity.
Also being forgotten has lots of perks.
Before the third Nightmare both Valor and Song probably recognized his might. If he tried to remain not belonging anywhere, he would be forced to join either Valor or the government.
There's also Mordret, that bastard was surely impressed with him, and so was Asterion who could think he inherited the bloodline of the Shadow God.
Fortunately they don't remember him, and no one knows he challenged his Third Nightmare. But what would happen if he suddenly started to interact with recently emerged Saints? What if the government or the members of the Great Clans tried to inspect him? They would almost inevitably discover that he's a Saint.
That, of course, could be helped. The Saints were recognized due to their special physiques. The aura they emitted was stronger.
Their intent had greater influence. The forces of nature assist them. Their bodies were stronger. Their essence took a qualitative leap. They had a greater connection to the Dream Realm. Some things could be helped. Strength could be controlled. Intent could be hidden.
But to cut himself from the shadows? That probably wasn't possible. And how much could he control himself?
A lot actually. As a hunter he knew many tricks needed to prevent a Nightmare Creature from spotting him or knowing they were observed. But they worked because he knew how his presence of a Master looked. Now he's a Saint and potentially a really powerful one.
Either way it wouldn't hurt to create a Memory that would help him hide his presence. He even had such a memory already in his possession. It's Ananke's Mantle. The black mantle was enchanted. Its weave was created by Weaver's followers with intention to hide their presence, especially from those who could heavily condemn their devotion.
Ananke used to wear it, and Sunny could certainly tell it worked. When he first met Ananke he thought she's dead. If she didn't reveal she's a Transcendent, he wouldn't know it so fast. He would eventually learn her Rank, but it didn't change the fact that he didn't even know her aspect. He could wear it till he makes something else.
So he put on the mantle and decided to make his way to the remainings of human settlements
As much as he was sentimental towards the mantle he wasn't sure if wants to wear it. It had a lot of value to him, but not simply as a Memory he wants to use but as a Memory he wants to learn from.. That mantle was enchanted with a spellweave sorcery but it wasn't Weaver's weave. If he changed the mantle too meaningfully it would be contaminated with his own bias.
...
The first thing he wanted to do was to copy an enchantment. With his little fortune he could disregard his financial problems for now. At this point he hunted so many Nightmare Creatures there was nearly no point in treating Memories as a source of Soul Shards. He could make way more by killing a few monstrosities in Antarctica, but to say he likes it would be a lie.
For that exact reason he returned to NQSC. A lot of things changed there. On top of everything there were more poor people in the outskirts.
Just like Jet foretold him many of the escapees from Antarctica went to safer sectors. During the Antarctica Campaign Sunny didn't have the luxury of caring about the situation in the outskirts, and now he also didn't care.
He told himself that he has a desire to bring the world to a time, where people don't have to be poor, and can afford to be careless, or maybe only just exact his 'revenge' on the Great Clans for the fact they didn't do much to prevent that.
But who was Sunny to judge them? Another selfish bastard, really just that.
And despite the fact he always despised his hard situation from the time he lived in the outskirts, he also understood well it probably had to be like this.
Sunny could see many domes in the process of construction. These were meant to protect new people from ever present pollution. They were already late with construction, and things were about to get even worse. Newcomers' emotions varied.
Some were relieved, some hopeless, some curious. Some were looking for a job hoping that they would get one. The thing they had in common was that they were overcrowded. Soon he came to see the gate separating the outskirts from the city.
He didn't want to use Shadow Step for this. His very existence was confusing. Appearing through Shadow Step could be considered as an assault. For what he wanted to do, confusion had to be lessened as much as possible. He appeared before the Brilliant Emporium, and called Aiko through the communicator.
"Miss Awakened Aiko, I would like to make an offer. I'm standing next to the door. Please, come."
"I'm coming, but I'm not sure if I can help. Things are in chaos lately."
And indeed things were chaotic. During the last week her managing came to nothing, which was surprising. She always was good with doing business. Back on Forgotten Shore she was handling a prosperous casino. But what she was doing now?
She was running a shop with Memories. It wasn't all her shop. Who's then? She... doesn't remember. Someone crafted Memories she was to sell. Who? She doesn't remember. There was a name she was supposed to have invoces written for who? All these procured soul shards for what actually?
She doesn't remember. She doesn't remember. She doesn't remember.
She understood something is off. For an instance, all her clients she noted she has to call suddenly had a problem to recall the reason she called them.
What's worse she was unable to concentrate on the problem. She also wasn't even getting new orders. No one wants to turn anything into a Memory. Why?
"Good morning, sir."
Aiko welcomed an mysterious visitor.
"Hello. May I come in?"
"Yes, welcome. Recently we have had an organizational problem, but I'll gladly hear you out."
"What's going on?"
"I... we have... You look familiar. What was I talking about?"
"Organizational problem."
Sunny said evenly
"Oh, yes, I'm sorry... I don't know what's with me, but I feel something is missing, and I'm losing the point."
Sunny was somewhat enjoying that moment. Just teasing Aiko a bit with his fatelessness was enough to brighten his mood. Only for a moment. Then his mood was somber.
"The answer is: oblivion."
Aiko looked at him dumbfounded. She blinked and asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You don't remember who your business partner is, right?"
"... Yes. But what can you know?"
She was bewildered about how knowledgable is the person before her.
"That's my fault. I don't even know where to start..."
He tried everything he could to overcome the forgetfulness. It was like remembering Effie's husband, only worse. At the beginning Aiko's attention was just slicking off, turning away from the thing she didn't remember.
Over time she was getting better in regaining her focus, but in the end it was all for naught. Thought she was still able to recall talking with him, it was still hard for her to think upon the knowledge he was crucial. Sunny was just some guy despite he wasn't. But Sunless Lost of Light persisted in his attempts to reclaim his identity. He didn't tell her everything, but some of the crucial parts of information.
"Sunny, you really did a number this time. It's like a mind hex? I mean being banished from fate."
"You could say so, and yet maybe you couldn't. I apologize. Keep in mind I also don't understand the nature of forgetfulness."
"I never heard about fate being so tangible. What are we going to do then?"
"First I want to craft a Memory. Do you still keep raw items in the same place?"
"Yes, but wait! You have told me an interesting story. Still, why should I believe you?"
"That's my offer: You let me take the place of your partner. If you'll learn I'm fake, and the real him will place his foot here, I'm out. I can assure you that won't happen, though. I'll start crafting Memories for the Brilliant Emporium again, and you'll be selling them like you did a year ago."
Sunny can't lie, and therefore he really had to have an offer to make. He himself was a paranoid person. If someone he didn't remember came to him just like that he wouldn't give him much trust.
"Deal!"