Shadow Slave

Trying to gather his courage, Sunny looked into the distance and said in a raspy voice:

"You've seen the creatures that dwell under these waves. Do you really want to swim across them?"

Changing Star was silent for a few seconds, then sighed.

"We are damned either way, Sunny. What do we have to lose?"

She fell silent for a moment and grimaced, pale flames dancing in her eyes. Then, in a quiet voice, she added:

"We will not light any fires, relying on your eyes to guide us west. We will hope that Cassie's armor will protect us. Maybe it will be enough."

Sunny glanced at Neph and asked:

"What's so special about Cassie's armor?"

She hesitated for a moment, then answered without looking at him:

"It's a tier six awakened Memory. One of its traits is to make the wearer less likely to draw the enemy's attention."

While Sunny was digesting this information, Nephis suddenly trembled. Closing her eyes, she said through gritted teeth:

"I am at my limit. My mind is… fading. If you have any questions left… better… ask them fast."

He blinked, startled. Then, knowing that there was not much time left, Sunny asked the first thing that came to his mind:

"Do you even know how to build a boat?"

Changing Star simply nodded, letting him know that she did. Her expression was slowly turning lost and dull again.

Racing against time, Sunny frantically thought of another question.

convince you to leave the island once your memory is

of lucidity. For a moment, her eyes became clear again. White flames ignited in their depths, illuminating her

Say those words to me, and I will

thoughts, she turned away

Cassie and flee.

her eyes slowly dimmed, and soon, Changing Star was staring west once again, all memory

by her side for some time, waiting. After a while, he shifted a

"Hey, Neph."

face bleak and full of

when did you get

"A while ago."

he smiled and said in a carefree

can I ask you something? Do you know how

***

surprised by his question, but eventually agreed to help him. Sunny didn't tell her why exactly he wanted to build a boat, dodging the questions with practiced finesse. His Flaw was not making things easy, but with the state Neph was

too much time. Not to

was not much time left. With every

keeping his lucidity intact. Every time he felt that his mind was beginning to slip, he had to inflict pain on himself to get a few moments of reprieve. Even so, his thoughts were slow and fragile. Keeping them together was

soon as possible. Sunny was determined to be ready by the

away from Nephis to not let her see the pained expression on his face, Sunny bit his hand once again. Feeling the bitter taste of blood on his tongue, he let the wave of pain clear his mind and blinked, amused

gnawing on himself to prevent himself

his back, Sunny turned to

how are we going

for some

materials at hand. For the hull, we will have to use the dead

Sunny raised his eyebrows:

Demon's armor? It's made out of some strange steel.

glanced at

just have to make sure that you're displacing more water than

He blinked.