Shadow Slave

Sunny stared at Nephis with a complicated expression. After a while, he asked:

"Why did you entrust me with something so precious?"

She glanced at him, lingered for a few moments, then shrugged.

"We had a deal, remember? My knowledge in exchange for your share of the spoils we earn."

There had indeed existed such a deal. However, he had not exactly acted in good faith when proposing it. After all, he had no use for those spoils, in the first place.

Sunny scowled. If Changing Star had really revealed a family secret to him because of a lie, she had a valid reason to be resentful of him.

Just like he was of her.

With a dark smile, he looked away and said:

"You must have realized by now that I have cheated you in that deal."

Nephis turned to him and said, her voice calm and even:

"You mean the fact that you don't need to absorb soul shard to grow stronger?"

Sunny froze for a moment, then gave her a nod.

"You don't seem very surprised."

Figures. When Sunny first learned about this ability of his, he was stunned. But Neph seemed to know a lot more than a normal person did.

She didn't even try to pretend otherwise.

"It's a very rare Aspect trait, but not unheard of among the upper echelons of the Awakened. In fact, I am capable of something like that myself. Although your case does seem to be especially unique."

Sunny glanced at her.

"How so?"

Changing Star remained silent for a few moments and then said, her voice hinted with a bit of wonder:

"Usually, when an Awakened absorbs the soul essence directly, the process leaves the remnants of the soul core empty. But when you do it, the shards are left brimming with it. This is very… unusual."

shifted uncomfortably,

secrets, too, Neph. Don't think that I didn't notice. Lineage

and looked at her with a frown, she said in a strangely somber

say those words aloud again, Sunny. I am serious. Just knowing them might get you

stared at her for a long time,

secrets, I won't pry into yours. I don't really want to know, anyway. The mysterious "upper echelons" you mentioned can play their dirty little games all they want, as long

frowned and

there is one question I have to

She raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Ask away."

He grimaced.

hiding the true

at him for a bit,

That's good, too. Yes… I've been using a different style

at her

"Why?"

She shrugged.

of the Stone Saint's

He shook his head.

misdirection, but I won't fall for your tricks. I'm the one

silhouette of the Crimson Spire that loomed in the

we return to the Dark City. It won't change anything until then, anyway. Your safety won't be compromised in any

that

to leave.

Sunny. I

walked away, leaving him

she

***

to staring at his shadow. However, despite the fact that he had figured out the essence and foundation of the elusive battle art that

able to create something out of nothing. It

even hide that damn mystery inside the Aspect

it was as though he had found the door, but was not strong enough to turn the key and unlock it. It just stood there and teased

It was pure torture.

wasn't supposed to notice the existence of the hidden style so

did! And he worked so hard to gain insight into its secrets. Was it all for nothing? All the

Spell do this

to ask? That's the damn Spell we're talking about! Why