Shadow Slave

Nephis changed a lot since the last time Sunny had seen her.

Outwardly, she looked almost the same — tall, firm, and strangely distant, as though existing slightly apart from the rest of the world. She was still wearing the Starlight Legion Armor, which accentuated the graceful lines of her slender, lithe body. Only now, there was also a white cloak draped over her shoulders, close in color to the pristine metal of the elegant plate armor.

Changing Star's silver hair was much longer now, almost reaching her shoulders. Without the short tomboyish cut, she looked strangely mature and feminine, making Sunny's heart beat a little faster. Her calm grey eyes were as striking as ever.

The true changes, however, hid much deeper. Perhaps only a person who knew her as well as Sunny did could notice them, or perhaps it was precisely because he had come to know her so well that the veil of detached indifference shrouding her true self cracked, revealing the deeper feelings beneath.

Nephis seemed to be much more alive now, much more present. Her eyes shined with resolve and determination, radiating an almost infectious feeling of temperate confidence.

…This was her power. The power of conviction.

Sunny shivered under that gaze.

Neph was the person he longed to see the most and, at the same time, hoped to never see again. She was the true reason why he had to leave the castle.

Stirred awake by this fated meeting, a torrent of memories rose to the surface of his mind.

If only he had known at the time…

Well, it would not have changed anything, really.

***

Four months ago, on the night that they had ventured into the cursed sea on a boat made of demon's bones, Sunny was shivering in the wind.

…After an eternity spent in the cold embrace of darkness, the endless night of their escape was finally drawing its last breaths. He shifted and turned to the east, where a ghostly line of pale lilac appeared over the horizon.

Trembling, he licked his lips and said in a raspy voice:

"Cas. Cassie. It's morning."

After he uttered these words, the last remnant of strength that had kept Sunny going disappeared, and he slumped on the stones, his chest rising heavily and then falling.

new dawn was ready to bathe the desolate hell of the

a giant stone hand that protruded from the black waves, as if held above the lightless abyss by a goddess. Sunny and Cassie were holding each other for warmth, while Nephis was lying in the center of the

'We did it.'

Devourer, sailed through the cursed darkness, and even lived through a battle with the horrifying dweller of the depths…

put onto their minds by the ancient fiend, he felt that the chances of ever saving themselves from the gluttonous evil tree were more than slim. Perhaps because

somehow,

it retreated to hide from the coming sun. Without even noticing it,

he awoke, the sun was already high in the sky. Sunny expected to feel crippled now that adrenalin had left his battered body, but, to his surprise, he wasn't in even half as much pain as he

broken finger wasn't hurting

still had to groan while sitting up,

the previous night as he was… perhaps even more so. Her delicate face seemed vulnerable and pale, twisted in an anxious frown.

Changing Star, helping her to preserve some warmth. Neph lay still and motionless, her face drained of all color. Only

purifying flame. Unleashing that flame always took a heavy toll on Nephis, bringing her unimaginable pain and suffering. Who knew what price she had paid to pull herself away from

why she had never done so in the

to

Star, Sunny looked around, trying to discern their current circumstances.

find themselves stranded in the middle of the cursed sea, with no way to continue forward, that would be a truly

but the empty expanse of the colossal crater. Same thing for

line in the distance. That was… that was the western edge of the crater. They had

excitement grasping his heart, Sunny quickly turned around and looked west.

silent and empty. Then, a single

'We were so close…'

about everything else. A few hours later, Cassie finally woke

"Sunny?"

He licked his lips.

"I'm here."

up and stretched her hand out, finding his

you sound

the blind girl. A tentative smile found

it. We have found that city

***

remained unconscious for two