The Peregrine stood beside Cassia, both enveloped in a silence that was, surprisingly, almost pleasant — at least within the limits of their current situation.
As he had foreseen, he had been sent to the Forgotten Coast. But the Spell had not only granted him the opportunity to reunite with the main characters of his journey through the Dream Realm; it had also placed him on the very coral peak where Cassia and Nephis were destined to meet.
'According to the novel, this place is as large as a small island,' Ariandel reflected, mentally arranging the sequence of events he now knew he would face.
'Nephis must be nearby.'
He remembered that, on the second day after the Spell had brought them to the Forgotten Coast, she had already encountered Cassia.
'On that fateful night, they made the mistake of lighting a fire in the wild dark, attracting not only the scavengers, but another horror from the deep.'
Suppressing a sigh of exasperation, Ariandel allowed himself a stray thought:
'Honestly, it's fair to place myself above Nephis in the Sleeper ranking.'
But he returned to the thread of reasoning.
'They could only have met in such a short time if they were already nearby. And there is no other safe point near this isolated peak.'
As soon as he found himself in the darkness, standing upon the rough, wet surface, he extended his Mental Sense to the fullest, catching the familiar aura of Cassia. It was so intense, so laden with despair, that it seemed like a beacon in the night.
It had taken some time to navigate the labyrinth of salty scents and the sound of crashing waves until he could move toward her. His Mental Sense wasn't so useful for navigating in the dark when the person whose aura he followed wasn't fully aware of their surroundings.
So far, he had not detected any other significant presence. Nephis would likely find Cassia only during the day.
'The act of lighting that fire is crucial for us to meet Sunless,' Ariandel pondered. 'But how do I allow it to happen without seeming like a fool?'
He considered the possibility of avoiding Nephis until she committed the mistake herself, since his own foresight — demonstrated in future moments — could raise suspicions.
'Nephis is cautious because of the assassin she knows will appear, though she has no idea who it is.'
Ariandel, with his capabilities and vast, inexplicable knowledge — privileges of being transmigrated — knew he would inevitably be the most obvious suspect.
'Yes, I will avoid Nephis.'
With his Ability and the Memory he had shared with Cassia, he could easily keep both of them hidden — from Nephis and from the consequences that fire would bring.
'I just have to make sure Cassia doesn't realize my intention,' Ariandel concluded, sealing his plans until the next night.
Cassia shifted beside him, breaking the silence.
"Ariandel," she called gently, as the waves continued to sing their eternal song, accompanied by the cold wind.
It took him a second to pull his mind away from his thoughts and return to the moment before replying:
"Yes, Cassia?"
"Thank you," she said, more confidently now.
The Peregrine laughed softly — his laughter gentle, almost melodic.
"It was my pleasure," he answered simply — his voice carrying a warm note.
Even in the darkness, Ariandel could feel Cassia's sincere smile.
The gentle sound of waves and the whisper of the wind filled the silence between them. After a few moments, she moved again. He sensed the subtle thread of light emerging, weaving itself into a Memory.
"Do you want some water?"
Cassia gently extended something toward Ariandel.
"I have a Memory that produces drinkable water."
Though he could not see, he heard the faint clink of glass being handled. He hesitated briefly before replying with gratitude:
"No, but thank you."
She, too, hesitated.
"You... don't want any?"
Cassia's voice carried a note of surprise, almost disbelief.
"You're not thirsty?"
Ariandel shook his head, knowing she couldn't see it.
"Ever since I awoke from my First Nightmare, I haven't needed sustenance. I don't feel hunger or thirst. I still get tired, but resting feels more like a convenience than a necessity."
Cassia was quiet for a few moments, and the subtle rustle of her tunic's fabric indicated she had retracted her arm, accepting his answer.
"That's... convenient," she murmured, more to herself than to him. Her voice was neutral, but Ariandel sensed something deeper — perhaps a hint of unease.
He observed her through his Mental Sense, catching the delicate tangle of emotions flowing in her mind: uncertainty, a touch of frustration, and something heavier — a helplessness skillfully hidden.
"Let's check what we have at our disposal," Ariandel suggested.
He knew it was important to convey confidence, especially in a moment when two Sleepers needed to survive together in the Dream Realm. At the same time, he wanted to help Cassia believe in her own skills — without offering hollow comfort.
"I still have one more Memory: a bow that can form arrows from the essence of its wielder. My Attributes..."
He paused a moment. Then, summarizing clearly:
"Grant high affinity with fate and the divine, enhance mental acuity, and strengthen resilience."
Ariandel felt Cassia's attention sharpen as he continued:
"My Aspect is a bit complex. I have a sixth sense that allows me to perceive other people and creatures around me. That's how I found you, and I can say there's no one — or nothing — nearby at this moment. You already know about my 'Psychological Invisibility', which I used to pass unnoticed among the Sleepers."
Though he could not see her face, he was certain Cassia was making an incredibly adorable expression, absorbing everything he said.
"I can also manifest illusions. Some, like the clothes I'm wearing, have real substance and can be used in battle."
Ariandel's Mental Sense caught the wave of shock that passed through her. He could imagine her expression — probably wide-eyed — at all she had just heard.
Cassia let the silence linger a moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, but with a delicate determination:
"I... I guess it's my turn to talk?"
She pondered her words for a second.
"I have two Memories besides this bottle. One is a staff that can summon wind. It's useful for fending off small creatures or creating a distraction... The other is a golden rope. It's very sturdy and can extend farther than it seems possible. It's not a weapon, but it has saved me a few times."
Ariandel noticed the almost imperceptible movement of her pulling her hair back, as if the gesture helped her organize her thoughts.
"As for my Attributes... they give me affinity with revelations and fate. I can feel things... things that are coming, or that have already happened... As for my Aspect Ability... it allows me to see people's Attributes. But... I need to be close to learn about them, at least when it comes to Awakened or Nightmare Creatures."
Cassia hesitated again, took a deep breath, and then her voice dropped to an even lower, almost embarrassed tone.
"Sometimes I also get... visions. They can be fragments of a distant past or something that hasn't happened yet. They don't always make sense, but... sometimes, they help."
She laughed gently, her laugh more to herself than to him. Even without seeing, Ariandel could sense the faint blush rising to her cheeks.
He laughed, and his voice carried an animated note as he replied:
"The rope will be very useful. And you're an oracle? That's good. Seers may not get the glory they deserve, but receiving guidance from fate and knowing about enemies in advance is crucial — especially in situations like this, where the two of us find ourselves... Because, as far as I know, we are not in any known place of the Dream Realm..."