Shadow Slave

Back when Nephis was teaching Sunny how to use the sword, he had never been good enough to be her sparring partner. Once he learned enough to be of any use in a training fight, their fragile alliance had already broken and shattered to pieces.

So, apart from that short altercation on the somber slopes of the Ashen Barrow, they had never actually crossed swords with each other.

Now, it seemed, Changing Star had found a reliable sparring partner. Caster had not only replaced Sunny as her right-hand man, but also filled the roles that Sunny had been either reluctant or unfit to take on.

'Well… good for them.'

Once the Memories of the cohort were close to being fully restored, Nephis and Caster moved to the far end of the white arch to practice. Now, they were standing opposite each other, ready to begin.

Although no one called him over, Sunny approached the two Legacies and sat down, ready to enjoy the spectacle. He was keenly interested in observing these two immensely skilled swordsmen in action.

Both of them had been trained for combat from the day they could walk. Watching them would surely be helpful to his understanding of battle styles and techniques. Not to mention that he was very interested to see the rematch between Nephis and Caster. The last time he saw them fight, Changing Star had lost, but not by much.

She also had held back her Aspect Ability at that time, but he doubted that that would change today. Neph's flame could be used both to heal and annihilate, but sadly, not to train.

Caster glanced at him and frowned with visible displeasure.

Was he irritated because Sunny was about to learn a thing or two about his technique, or because Sunny was ruining his alone time with Nephis?

'Either way, I don't care.'

"What are you doing?"

Sunny shrugged.

part of the arch belongs to your clan or

proud Legacy shook his head and turned

"Do as you wish."

at Sunny and didn't say anything. However, he

if she was approving

of them clashed in a whirlwind of steel, moving with the kind of speed that made it difficult for Sunny

at the furious fight with

'...Damn.'

hunting monsters in the Dark City and his lessons with the Stone Saint, Sunny thought that he had developed his skill a lot. And he did. It's just that compared to Nephis and Caster, he was still so far behind that it

stand against them… well,

south and he ended up on the opposite sides of the barricades with Caster, facing him would be tantamount to committing suicide.

that instead of facing him, Sunny would have to

'Duly noted.'

on an enemy of this caliber in a forthright manner, anyway. What was he, a

experience, he was able to discern more and learn more from how these

passed, a subtle frown appeared on his

she doing?

unexpected things from how Nephis fought against

did not use the full extent of his incredible speed, he did use a fair share of it, making it almost impossible for Nephis to win any of their matches. She lost much more than she won, almost

between them and their opponent was? There was a reason why Neph had never used Sunny as a sparring partner in

he realized that Changing Star was doing exactly what he had done with the Stone Saint. She was tempering herself against an overwhelming force. That's why she had instructed Caster to use just enough of his Aspect Ability to always

in a fight against a superior opponent was truly the best way

So I was right in my approach,