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.

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

I ask

negative response, he

you burdening yourself

Changing Star's

"Why? Wouldn't you?"

his teeth, feeling the Flaw pushing the truthful answer out

"No."

the last moment that the answer would be "yes". But one of the things he had lost after the Nightmare was the ability to lie

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 would just

be a little

to judge him. She showed no reaction at all. After a few moments,

"Because I want to."

'Because… she wants to?'

that she would either lecture him about virtue and compassion or disclose some obscure way to make Cassie's seemingly

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

'Ridiculous!'

her response as a non-answer. But the more he thought

it was actually

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

in her upbringing, but they weren't as ample as he had

to disregard need in favor of something as frivolous as

a blind girl simply because that

mentality was the greatest

that was the real barrier that separated Legacies from the rest

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

"My turn."

mean it's her

what she meant. Changing Star once again turned to Sunny and, after a long

know the

what… who? What sort of a weird question is

shook his head. Then, remembering that

"No."

and turned away. A few

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

staring at the

this come 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 companions. Then, shipwrecked, he found himself on an island where the

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

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

Nephis smiled.

end, Odysseus built a makeshift boat and abandoned the island, leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even his immortality behind. So, my question is… why did he

Sunny blinked.

'What?'

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

'Weirdo!'

and then said without

he was

fleeting smile appeared on

away… from home.

turned away and lowered he