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, and then

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

interrupted him with a heavy gaze. When Sunny fell silent and looked at her with a frown, she said

again, Sunny. I am serious. Just knowing

at her for a

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 as they leave

Sunny frowned

question I have to ask you, because it involves me

She raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Ask away."

He grimaced.

you hiding the true

him for a bit,

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

her with a humorless

"Why?"

She shrugged.

elements of the Stone Saint's technique into your

He shook his head.

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

and turned away, glancing at the silhouette of the Crimson Spire that loomed in the

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

is that supposed

up and turned to leave. Before that, however, she

I expect big things

that, she walked away, leaving

she mean

***

of the elusive battle art that hid inside it,

have enough experience and mastery to be able to create something out of

the Aspect if I

he had found the door, but was not strong enough to turn the key

It was pure torture.

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

its secrets. Was it

Spell do this

have to ask? That's the damn Spell we're talking about! Why wouldn't