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

well… you have your share of secrets, too, Neph. Don't think that I didn't notice. Lineage

Sunny fell silent and looked at her with a frown, she said

aloud again, Sunny. I am serious. Just

for a

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 leave me

frowned and

question I have to ask you,

She raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Ask away."

He grimaced.

the true core of your technique from

Star looked at him for a bit, and then

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

at her with

"Why?"

She shrugged.

incorporate elements of the

He shook his head.

I won't fall for your tricks. I'm the one who taught them to you, remember?

away, glancing at the silhouette of the Crimson Spire that loomed in the distance. After a

City. It won't change anything until then, anyway. Your

is that supposed to

turned to leave. Before that, however,

your sword, Sunny. I expect big things

she walked away, leaving

does she mean by

***

and foundation of the elusive battle art that hid inside it, he

not have enough experience and mastery to be able to create something out of nothing. It was

hide that damn mystery inside the Aspect if I can't do

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

It was pure torture.

to notice the existence

its secrets. Was it

would Spell do

damn Spell we're talking about!