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.

wanted to ask.

I ask

a negative response,

burdening

Changing Star's mouth

"Why? Wouldn't you?"

Flaw pushing the truthful

"No."

honest, he wanted to believe to the last moment that the answer would be "yes". But one of the things he had lost

that he knew with certainty that it was simply not something he could do. He was barely able to

but be a little disappointed in

showed no reaction at all. After a few moments, she simply

"Because I want to."

'Because… she wants to?'

was not the response 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

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

'Ridiculous!'

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

it was actually

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

it really? Or was it just a matter of perspective? Nephis 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 to empower her. However, she did have a mentality that

to have the audacity to disregard need in favor of something as frivolous as

because that was

the greatest

that was the real barrier that separated Legacies

lot to think about. However, before Sunny

"My turn."

mean it's her turn

Changing Star once again turned to Sunny and, after a long pause,

the

who? What sort of a weird question

Then, remembering that

"No."

sighed and turned away. A few moments later, she softly

Aspect of indestructible body, Diomedes that was so ferocious even the God of War was wary of him, Ajax who was as strong as a giant. Odysseus was not

at

from? Why is she suddenly

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

never to return. Over the years, he survived one horror after another and lost all of his companions. Then, shipwrecked, he found himself on an island where the beautiful fairy, Calypso,

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

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… the longer he stayed, the

Nephis smiled.

its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even his immortality behind.

Sunny blinked.

'What?'

kind of a mind game was that? He even considered that Nephis was mocking him, but it didn't seem to be the

'Weirdo!'

a bit, and then said without

he was far

appeared on Nephis's

from home. Hm.

lowered