Shadow Slave

Nephis stared at him tiredly, straining to understand his words.

The radiance was gone from beneath her skin, and instead of it, white flames had once again appeared, licking weakly at her wounds. However, their power was almost gone: instead of healing, all they could do now was stem the bleeding and prevent Changing Star from dying right there and then.

A few seconds later, she opened her mouth, letting blood flow over her lips, and said in a low, barely audible voice:

"What… are you talking about?"

Sunny snarled.

"Drop the act. Your performance was, indeed, masterful. But don't forget who taught you how to lie in the first place. Did you really think that you would be able to deceive me?"

She was silent for a few moments, then whispered:

"I don't… understand."

He looked at her and asked, his voice shaking with anger:

"Why did you do it? Why?"

Nephis blinked and drew in a shaky breath, but didn't say anything, looking at him with pain and confusion.

Realizing that she wasn't going to answer, Sunny spat:

"Why did you throw the fight?!"

She lingered for a moment, then said quietly:

"...I didn't."

A bitter smile appeared on Sunny's lips. Shaking his head, he said:

"You almost made it work, you know. I almost bought it! But after all of it was done and I could think clearly, some things really didn't add up. They didn't make any sense! No matter how I looked at it, something felt wrong."

The Spire swayed, drowning their voices in the sound of breaking stone. Not paying it any attention, Sunny continued:

"First! I know for a fact that you are somehow able to support two augmentations at the same time. You did so while fighting Gunlaug. One to enhance your sword, the other to enhance your body. I rarely forget things, so how could I not remember this? Once you were heavily injured, you summoned back the flames from the sword and were able to simultaneously strengthen yourself and heal those wounds. And yet, you only used one when fighting me. Funny, isn't it?"

Nephis stared at him, not saying anything. Then, she uttered:

"My powers were exhausted…"

Sunny spat.

"I would have believed that, maybe, if not for your other mistakes. Back at the top of the Spire, you had an opportunity to cut off my arm, ending the fight right there and then. That was the best course of action, the swiftest and most effective attack you could have performed. But instead, you chose a less advantageous method and went for my head, striking with the flat of the blade."

A grim expression appeared on his face.

"Someone else might have made that choice, but not you. Not Changing Star, the sword saint. The only reason for you to pass on that golden opportunity is that you never really wanted to win. Didn't you?"

He looked up and grimaced, pain assaulting his mind like a furious sea.

"...And finally, why did you even stay there at the top of the tower, waiting for me to come? If you wanted to escape, you could have gone to the Gateway as soon as you realized what the Soul Conduit was, not even giving me a chance to save myself. But you did not. You just sat there quietly and waited, ignoring your chance to reach the Gateway first. So… why?"

He looked at her and shouted, the pain finally finding its way into his voice:

"Why the hell did you pretend to go all out on me while planning to lose from the start?!"

Nephis stared at him for a while, her face pale and inexorable.

Then, she sighed and looked away.

a moment, she

is because I am far away from

***

at her for a couple of moments,

is that

her head and

Now go.

that, the white flames flowing from her wounds suddenly flashed, growing stronger and brighter. Her injuries started to heal once again, not as fast as

He gritted his teeth.

I will! Not before you

shrugged tiredly, then looked him in

is that you want

Sunny clenched his fists.

wanted to let me

sighed. As he stared at her with burning intensity,

it obvious? Because if I didn't,

she lingered for

depending on the situation. Either ruthless or compassionate. Either cruel or kind. So that's what I did. I created a situation that would allow

her, his fists

Why would you doom yourself to save me? What happened to your goddamned goal?! Didn't you

at him and smiled

you the only one who is allowed to grow and change? Can't

away and said tiredly, her voice full of invisible, but

people were dying because of what I have done… once I suffered defeat after defeat… it was more difficult than I

his head in

You just gave up? After all that crap, you just decided that

quiet for a bit, then slowly

really understand me at all, do

Facing him, she grinned.

up? No, I didn't give up. I didn't abandon my goal. I just realized that I

grew brighter

those who stand in my way. I will accomplish everything that I want. But I will also do it in the way that I want. I will do it in a way that

bloodied face seemed like

to. Because it was fair and right. I gave them the chance to save themselves, or die

passion. However, then, her expression

I won't do it. If I do, I would be no better than those who I want to destroy. What's the

with a

a wrong path is worse than not reaching it at all. But why do you care, anyway?

a deep frown appearing on

you, fool.

Nephis smiled.

here, in this tower? No. I will… I will be fine. I will escape it and survive, somehow. I'll find another way out. No matter how long

while, then glanced at the

balcony was already almost upon

…Salvation was so close.

almost taste

away from the dais, Sunny shook

human Citadels on the other side. And that's just the south. With can also try north, east, and west, searching for an unclaimed Gateway. Two of

a long time, then closed her eyes and slowly

Go! Go and meet your sister. There's something waiting for you in the real world, at least. All that's waiting for me is emptiness, bloodshed, and graves. If I return, the same thing that happened in the Bright Castle will repeat itself, over and over

the Gateway shimmered, as

He gritted his teeth.

"...No."

and looked at him, a sense of sorrow

Sunny.

shook his

"I don't want to."