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,

you have your share of secrets, too, Neph. Don't think

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

Sunny. I am

at her for a long

into my 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 as they

frowned and

I have to ask

She raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Ask away."

He grimaced.

hiding the true core of your technique from

Star looked at him for a bit,

I've been using a different style when facing

looked at her with a

"Why?"

She shrugged.

of the Stone Saint's

He shook his head.

nice try at misdirection, but I won't fall for your tricks. I'm the one who taught them to you, remember? So

the Crimson Spire that loomed in

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

that

her, Changing Star stood up and turned to leave. Before that, however, she lingered for

sword, Sunny. I expect big

she walked away,

she mean by

***

essence and foundation of the elusive battle art that hid inside it, he had no idea how to go about creating an

enough experience and mastery to be able to create something

Why even hide that damn mystery inside the Aspect if I can't do anything with

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 him endlessly, just like the damn Gateway

It was pure torture.

notice the existence of the hidden style so

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

do this

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