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.

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

I ask

getting a negative response,

are you burdening

Star's mouth curled up

"Why? Wouldn't you?"

gritted his teeth, feeling the Flaw pushing the truthful answer out

"No."

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

want to help her. It's just that he knew with certainty that it was simply not something

couldn't help but be a

him. She showed no reaction

"Because I want to."

'Because… she wants to?'

pretty sure that she would either lecture him about virtue and compassion or disclose some obscure way

him to believe that she was putting her life in danger, to the point of sacrificing an awakened armor-type

'Ridiculous!'

the more he thought about it,

it was

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".

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

audacity to disregard need in favor of something as frivolous as desire, and do things that a normal person

blind girl simply because that was what Nephis wanted

was the greatest advantage

was the real barrier that separated Legacies from the

about. However, before Sunny could gather his thoughts,

"My turn."

it's her

meant. Changing Star once again turned

know the legend of

of a weird question is

head. Then, remembering that she couldn't see

"No."

A few moments

that was so ferocious even the God of War was wary of him, Ajax who was as strong

at the silver-haired

this come from? Why is

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

seas, never to return. Over the years, he survived one horror after another

the darkness, creating an

wonders, delicacies and delights.

Nephis smiled.

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

Sunny blinked.

'What?'

but

'Weirdo!'

a bit, and

he was far away

fleeting smile appeared on

from home.

turned away and lowered he head, becoming like