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.

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

ask

getting a negative response, he

you burdening yourself

Changing Star's

"Why? Wouldn't you?"

pushing

"No."

be "yes". But one of the things he had lost after

certainty that it was simply not something he could do. He was barely able to save himself, let alone carry a helpless person across the Dream Realm. If he tried, they would just

but be a

him. She showed no reaction

"Because I want to."

'Because… she wants to?'

Sunny expected to hear. He was pretty sure that she would either lecture him about virtue and compassion or disclose some obscure way to make

her life in danger, to the point of sacrificing an awakened armor-type Memory, because that was

'Ridiculous!'

first, he dismissed her response as a non-answer. But the more he thought about it, the more disturbed he

was actually

the time, he was doing them because he needed to. It was never a question of "want"... it was always a question of "must". For him,

advantages in her upbringing, but they weren't as ample as he had imagined. She had no wealth

something as

helping a blind girl simply because that was what

the greatest

real barrier that separated Legacies from

was a lot to think about. However, before Sunny could gather his thoughts, Nephis suddenly

"My turn."

does she mean it's her turn to

again turned to Sunny and,

you know the legend

What sort of a weird

remembering that she

"No."

turned away. A few

that was so ferocious even the God of War was wary of him, Ajax who was as strong as a giant. Odysseus was not the strongest, and not the bravest. However,

blinked, staring at the

did this come from? Why is she suddenly

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

home. However, the gods cursed him to endlessly wander the seas, never to return. Over the years, he survived one horror after another and lost all of his companions. Then, shipwrecked, he found himself on

wistful voice resounded in the darkness, creating an enthralling atmosphere. Sunny couldn't help but listen with the

in love with Odysseus and 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

Nephis smiled.

the end, Odysseus built a makeshift boat and abandoned the island, leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even his immortality behind.

Sunny blinked.

'What?'

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

'Weirdo!'

thought for a bit, and then said without too much

was because he was far away from

appeared

from

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