Shadow Slave

For a moment, Sunny froze. However, a second later he continued to behave just like before, as if nothing had happened.

The first rule of haggling — never let the enemy see that you're interested in buying something. And Sunny was dead set on haggling until Stev's ears started to bleed today.

Pretending as though he had not noticed the dusty armor, he walked around a bit more, slowly approaching the corner where it was displayed. Judging by the neglect with which the armor was kept, the master of the Memory Market did not know its true value.

Sunny really wanted to keep it that way. Because, if he was right… that armor was much more valuable than anything else here.

He didn't know for sure, but suspected that it was nothing short of a true treasure.

Because he recognized it.

The suit of ancient plate armor was jet black in color, its design intricate and solemn. It radiated a feeling of dark resolve and stalwart, adamantine grace. All parts of it were perfectly fitted to one another, creating an almost seamless barrier of impenetrable steel.

…Or rather, stone.

Because the dusty armor was almost exactly the same as the one the Stone Saint was wearing.

Of course, there were some differences. For starters, this one was somehow more… impressive. It felt as though it had once belonged to a creature of higher status than the steadfast Shadow. While Shadow's armor was made out of dark granite, this one was cut out of pure black onyx. Its glossy surface seemed to absorb and devour any light that fell on it.

And that was just in its dormant state. Once it was animated like that of the Stone Saint… who knew how fearsome it would become?

Why was this treasure gathering dust in a badly lit corner of the Memory Market?

Sunny frowned. Yes, he was most likely the only person in the Dark City who had seen the formidable living statues up close. But still, everything about the onyx armor screamed of how incredible of a Memory it was. What was it doing here, neglected and seemingly forgotten?

He had a lot of questions.

without showing how interested in it he was. With a false expression of boredom on his face, Sunny raised a hand and absentmindedly put it on

of boredom almost cracked. His

the armor shocked him to the core. The weave of ethereal diamond strings inside it was… was on a completely another level from anything

and vast than even that of the Puppeteer's Shroud. Which was not surprising, considering that there were no

were much larger and brighter than those inside

Sunny gulped.

of him, covered in dust, was an Ascended Memory of

'Jackpot.'

***

not last long. Almost instantly, Sunny noticed that there was

of flowing seamlessly, they floated in the darkness, untethered from each

any logic or purpose in the weave. It was simply not there

Sunny frowned.

That didn't make any sense. Memories were supposed to repair themselves inside the Soul

Unless…

understanding appeared in his

elaborate on his idea, Stev chuckled and

awesome armor, right, my dear

he leaned forward and

Market, Stev had approached him several times to describe the most alluring qualities of his wares or simply to chat. He was obviously bored out of his

at him and blinked

only knew what kind of a priceless treasure this

the pieces of crap in this market of yours, this one is by far the most outrageous. I can hardly believe that you had the

in this whole room, if not in

sounded as though he was blaming Stev for being shameless and trying to sell people an utter piece of crap… well, he couldn't do

Stev sighed.

to defend my inventory, but I can't really disagree this time. This armor, no matter how awesome it looks, is indeed absolutely useless. It has been here from long before I was put in