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."

and shook her

turn truths into lies. How… brilliant. I never even knew that such a thing was possible. Silly me. I didn't know

She smiled.

you. So please, Sunny, accept my sincere gratitude. I could not have wished for a better teacher. Without you, none of this would have

a finger at him. Then, with

do you get the audacity to blame me for doing the same thing you do to everyone you ever

actually learn how

'Oh, no…'

model even if they tried. What a cruel twist of fate, to be sent into the Dream Realm together

Sunny gritted his teeth.

"That's not the same…"

Changing Star scowled.

just like you taught me. But what, now that it was turned around on you, it is suddenly not fair? Now

She smirked.

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

Her eyes glistened.

of us who remain alive and make a road of bones for 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 to return to the real world or die like a human should, standing tall and with a sword in their hand, instead of living in fear like a rat! I thought that you, of all

? ] Sunny stared at her in disbelief. How could… how could she be so nonchalant about the idea of causing the deaths of so

he realized that he was looking at it all wrong. He was looking at it from his own perspective, the perspective of someone who was used to surviving at all

coming to the Forgotten Shore, Sunny had learned that there were things more valuable than

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

right to make that decision on their

his head, he

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

face. With cold contempt ringing in

hopeless people alive

Sunny raised an eyebrow.