Shadow Slave

Sunny stared at Nephis, stunned by her answer. He didn't expect her to admit it so easily.

Meanwhile, she just shrugged.

"What? Was I supposed to deny it? Why should I? You are the one who is obsessed with lies, Sunny, not me."

The corner of Changing Star's mouth twitched.

"Actually, I have to thank you. If it wasn't for you, I would have never learned how to deceive people so easily. I had a very sheltered upbringing, for obvious reasons. Communicating with others had always been something I knew very little about."

She smiled darkly.

"How fortunate it was to meet you, of all people, on this forsaken shore. Lucky me. Right?"

Sunny blinked. What was she talking about? He remembered how, during their journey to the Dark City, Nephis had tried to mimic Cassie in how she spoke to people. Had she been studying him, too?

Neph took a step forward and pierced him with an intense, burning gaze.

"No one survives in the Dream Realm alone. I knew that I won't be an exception to this rule, so I watched Cassie and you and tried my hardest to learn from you both. That's when I noticed that nothing you ever said — or did — was true. Wasn't it?"

'Crap.'

Sunny felt a cold shiver running down his spine.

She scoffed.

"No matter what happened, you somehow always managed to keep your real thoughts, desires, and reasons hidden. I've never seen anyone so adept at deception. Congratulations, Sunny! The mind games you played with us were almost as devious as the mental hex of the Soul Devourer. It was nothing short of inspiring."

Star paused and shook

easily turn truths into lies. How… brilliant. I never even knew that such a

She smiled.

I was learning how to use people from you. So please, Sunny, accept my sincere

a finger at him. Then, with anger in her voice,

blame me for doing the same

telling the truth? Did Neph actually learn how to be this manipulative and

'Oh, no…'

they tried. What a cruel twist of fate, to be sent into the

Sunny gritted his teeth.

"That's not the same…"

Changing Star scowled.

make them deceive themselves, just like you taught me. But what, now that it was turned around on you, it is suddenly not fair? Now you won't settle for anything less

She smirked.

going to kill Gunlaug. After he is dead, the Bright Castle will become engulfed in a civil war, with each

Her eyes glistened.

the lucky few to reach the Gateway. That is my promise. That is the salvation I offer to the people of Dark City — a chance

she be so nonchalant about the idea

someone who was used to

Shore, Sunny had learned that there were things more valuable than staying

much worse than a worthy death. Maybe, in her mind, she really was trying

to make that decision on

head, he

terrible to live here? Is Gunlaug really so bad that you would rather see all of us die than

With cold

many despicable things. But I won't judge him for those. Who knows if any of us would have done any better? Keeping a thousand hopeless people alive in this hell is the kind of

Sunny raised an eyebrow.