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,

share of secrets, too, Neph. Don't think that I

looked at her with a

aloud again, Sunny. I am serious.

for a long time, and

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

Sunny frowned

one question I have to ask you, because it

She raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Ask away."

He grimaced.

true core of your

looked at him for a bit, and then

you've noticed. That's good, too. Yes… I've been

looked at her with a humorless

"Why?"

She shrugged.

elements of the Stone Saint's technique

He shook his head.

I won't fall for your tricks.

the Crimson Spire

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

that

to leave. Before that, however, she lingered for

I

walked away, leaving him

does she mean

***

his shadow. However, despite the fact that he had figured out the essence and foundation of the elusive battle art that hid inside it,

and mastery to be able to

Why even hide that damn mystery inside the Aspect

found the door, but was not strong enough to turn the key and unlock it. It

It was pure torture.

the existence of the hidden

to gain insight into its secrets. Was it

Spell do

we're talking about! Why wouldn't it do something like this