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."

paused and shook her

such a thing was possible. Silly me. I didn't know a lot

She smiled.

you. So please, Sunny, accept my sincere gratitude. I could

at him. Then, with anger in

you get the audacity to blame me for doing the same

Neph actually learn how to be

'Oh, no…'

tried. What a cruel twist of fate, to

Sunny gritted his teeth.

"That's not the same…"

Changing Star scowled.

different? I haven't told a single lie to these people. I gave them just enough truth to make them deceive themselves, just like you taught me.

She smirked.

right. There's going to be fire and rivers of blood. That is my plan. So what? How is it worse than this pathetic, hopeless existence? It isn't. I am going to kill Gunlaug. After he is dead, the Bright Castle will become engulfed in

Her eyes glistened.

the Gateway. That is my promise. That is the salvation I offer to the people of Dark City — a chance to return to the real world or die like

be so nonchalant about the

own perspective, the perspective of someone who was used to

there were things more valuable than staying alive. And he learned

her, a life that was not worth living was that much worse than a worthy death. Maybe, in her mind, she really was trying to help

to make

his head,

Gunlaug really so bad that you

expression appeared on Changing Star's face. With cold contempt ringing in her voice, she

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

Sunny raised an eyebrow.