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."

uncomfortably, and

secrets, too, Neph. Don't think that

silent and looked at her with a frown, she said in

Sunny. I am serious. Just knowing them might

her for a

into yours. I don't really want to know, anyway. The

frowned

one question I have to ask you, because it involves

She raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Ask away."

He grimaced.

true core

him for a

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

her with

"Why?"

She shrugged.

the Stone Saint's technique

He shook his head.

tricks. I'm the one who taught them to you, remember? So

the Crimson Spire that loomed in the distance. After a while, she

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

is that supposed

up and turned to

sword, Sunny. I expect

that, she walked away,

she mean by

***

returned to staring at his shadow. However, despite the fact that he had figured out the essence and foundation of the elusive battle art that hid inside it, he had no idea how to go about

not have enough experience and mastery to be able to create

damn mystery inside the Aspect if I can't do anything with

distant future, he would be able to. But right now, it was as though he had found the door, but was not strong enough to turn

It was pure torture.

wasn't supposed to notice the existence of the

he worked so hard to gain insight into its secrets. Was it all for nothing? All the pain, all

would Spell do

That's the damn Spell we're talking about! Why wouldn't it do