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.

the question that he really wanted to ask. Before doing it,

ask another

getting a negative response,

are you burdening yourself

Changing Star's mouth curled

"Why? Wouldn't you?"

feeling the Flaw pushing the truthful

"No."

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

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

but be a

did not seem to judge him. She showed no

"Because I want to."

'Because… she wants to?'

hear. He was pretty sure that she would either lecture him about virtue and

her life in danger, to the point of sacrificing an awakened armor-type

'Ridiculous!'

But the more

was

to the circumstances of his life, Sunny had never really 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".

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 was different

to disregard need in favor of something as frivolous as desire, and do

a blind girl simply because that was

mentality was the greatest advantage

that was the real barrier that separated Legacies from the rest of

before Sunny could gather his thoughts, Nephis

"My turn."

she mean it's her

again turned to

you know the legend of

who? What sort of

head. Then, remembering

"No."

sighed and turned away. A few

an ancient war. In the legends, some humans back then had powers 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

at the

did this come from? Why is she suddenly so

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

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

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… the longer he stayed, the more time he spent sitting on the shore,

Nephis smiled.

Odysseus built a makeshift boat and abandoned the island, leaving all its delights,

Sunny blinked.

'What?'

mind game was that? He even considered that Nephis was mocking him, but it didn't seem to

'Weirdo!'

and then said without too much

it was because he was far away

fleeting smile appeared

from home.

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