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 that Cassie was sound

ask another

a negative response,

burdening

of Changing Star's mouth curled up

"Why? Wouldn't you?"

feeling the Flaw pushing the truthful answer

"No."

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

not that Sunny did not pity the blind girl or didn't want 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, let alone carry a helpless person across the Dream Realm. If he tried, they

he couldn't help but be a little disappointed

judge him. She showed no reaction at all. After

"Because I want to."

'Because… she wants to?'

would either lecture him about virtue and compassion or disclose some obscure way to make Cassie's seemingly weak Ability incredibly

her life in danger, to the point of

'Ridiculous!'

response as a non-answer. But the more

maybe, it was

done things because he wanted 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". For him, this was

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

disregard need in favor of something

simply because that

the greatest advantage

that separated

about. However, before Sunny could gather his thoughts, Nephis suddenly spoke

"My turn."

does she mean it's her turn

meant. Changing Star once again

the legend

who? What sort of a weird

Then, remembering that she couldn't see him,

"No."

and turned away. A

akin to the Awakened. Achilles with an 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 the strongest, and not the bravest. However, he

blinked, staring at

from? Why is she

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

prepared to sail 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

strangely wistful voice resounded in the darkness, creating an enthralling atmosphere. Sunny

kinds of wonders, delicacies and delights. As long as loving Calypso was by his side, Odysseus was even immortal. But… the longer he stayed,

Nephis smiled.

island, leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even his immortality behind. So, my question is…

Sunny blinked.

'What?'

him, but it didn't seem to be the case. It looked like she

'Weirdo!'

and then said

because he was

fleeting smile appeared

from home.

that, she turned away and lowered he head,