Shadow Slave

Sleep was avoiding Sunny. For a while, he sat silently in the darkness, listening to the calming rumbling of the waves. In this rare moment of respite, memories of the past few days came flooding into his mind. However, he was too tired to seriously think about anything. He was warm, full, and relatively safe. For now, that was more than enough.

Soon, the rhythm of Cassia's breathing changed, indicating that she fell asleep. Nephis was guarding the camp, motionless and, as always, a bit distant. With her silver hair and fair skin, she looked like an alabaster statue.

Sunny sighed. He struggled for a bit, and then said quietly:

"Hey. Can I ask you a question?"

Nephis glanced at him and shrugged. The lack of an audible response clearly indicated that she remembered about his ability to see in the dark.

"Sure."

'Would it be too personal?'

Sunny hesitated.

"I thought you Legacies come into the Spell with a whole inherited arsenal of Memories. I mean, that's supposed to be your main advantage. How come you only had three?"

Nephis was silent for a few moments.

"Actually, I only had two. The rope came from Cassie."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh. I see."

Realizing that her answer wasn't really an answer, Nephis thought for a while and added:

"We lost most of our Memories when my father passed away. The ones that remained were sold one by one over the years, to keep the family afloat. This sword and armor came from my First Nightmare."

So that's how it was. Sunny realized that the fall of the Immortal Flame clan might have been more thorough than he had thought. Still, something about it didn't make sense.

"Surely, with your clan's reputation and standing, there were other ways to make money."

Without any strong reaction, Nephis simply said:

"There were other reasons."

Then, she unexpectedly turned her head in his direction.

"Can I ask you a question in return?"

Sunny swallowed.

"Yeah, go ahead."

Nephis tilted her head.

"How did you know that I'm a Legacy?"

'What? That's it?'

"Simple. I heard Caster mention it. He was scolding other Sleepers to make them treat you with respect."

She gave him a nod and turned away. What thoughts were hidden behind her calm grey eyes, Sunny did not know.

gathered enough courage to ask the question that he really wanted to ask. Before doing it, though, he made sure

ask another

getting a negative

you burdening yourself

Star's

"Why? Wouldn't you?"

gritted his teeth, feeling the Flaw pushing the truthful answer out

"No."

one of the things he had lost after the Nightmare was the ability to lie

to help her. It's just that he knew with certainty that it was simply not something he could do. He was barely able to save himself,

help but be a little disappointed in

to judge him. She showed no reaction at all.

"Because I want to."

'Because… she wants to?'

either lecture him about virtue and compassion or disclose

she did neither. Nephis expected him to believe that she was putting her life in danger, to the point of sacrificing an awakened armor-type Memory, because that was something she simply wanted to

'Ridiculous!'

response as a non-answer. But the more he thought about it,

was

doing them because he needed to. It was never a question

had certain advantages in her upbringing, but they weren't as ample as he had imagined. She had no wealth and no arsenal of relics

in favor of something as frivolous as desire, and do things that a normal person like Sunny would never

because that

that mentality was the greatest advantage

real barrier that separated

to think about. However, before Sunny could gather his thoughts, Nephis

"My turn."

mean it's her turn

again turned to Sunny and,

know the legend

of a weird question is

Sunny shook his head. Then, remembering that she couldn't see him,

"No."

turned away. A few moments later, she softly

was so ferocious even the God

at the silver-haired

Where did this come from? Why is

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

Odysseus's cunning ended the war, and he prepared to sail home. However, the gods cursed him to endlessly wander the seas, never to return. Over

an enthralling atmosphere. Sunny couldn't help but listen with the utmost

invited him to her palace. For many years, they lived together in harmony. The island was like a paradise, filled with all kinds of wonders, delicacies and delights. As long as loving Calypso was by his side, Odysseus was even immortal. But…

Nephis smiled.

boat and abandoned the island, leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even his

Sunny blinked.

'What?'

was that? He even considered that Nephis was mocking him, but it didn't seem to be the case. It looked

'Weirdo!'

bit, and then

it was because he was far away

appeared on Nephis's

away… from home.

that, she turned away and lowered he head, becoming like a