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 said

I am far away from home,

***

stared at her for a couple of moments,

What the hell is that supposed to

her head and looked

You caught me. Now go. This

brighter. Her injuries started to heal once again, not as fast as in the past, but still with considerable speed. Her eyes shined with

He gritted his teeth.

before you give

shrugged tiredly, then looked

it is that you want

Sunny clenched his fists.

you wanted

sighed. As he stared at her with burning intensity,

obvious? Because if I didn't, you wouldn't

for a moment, and

compassionate. Either cruel or kind. So that's what I did. I created a situation that would allow you to be ruthless and cruel. To leave me behind without

her,

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

looked at him

is allowed to grow and

her voice full of invisible,

Sunny. Once it all started… once all those people were dying because of what I have done… once I suffered defeat after defeat… it

his head

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

quiet for a bit,

really understand me at

Facing him, she grinned.

abandon my goal. I

white flames grew brighter in her

all 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 suits my desire,

by white radiance, her pale, bloodied face seemed like a

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

passion. However, then, her

die alone would. I won't do it. If I do, I would be no better than those who I want to destroy. What's the point of reaching my goal if, in the process, I

with a

reaching by using a wrong path is worse than not reaching it at all. But why do you care, anyway? Don't you think that it is insane? Don't you

frown appearing on his face. Finally,

you, fool. What about

Nephis smiled.

I will be fine. I will escape it and survive, somehow. I'll

a while, then glanced at the shimmering

already almost upon the circle

…Salvation was so close.

could almost

away from the dais,

Realm battling Nightmare Creatures? Fine. Let's do it together. We can try to go through the Hollow Mountains and reach the 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 us will have a better chance

and slowly shook her head.

real world, at least. All that's waiting for me is emptiness,

of the Gateway shimmered, as if on

He gritted his teeth.

"...No."

looked at him, a sense of sorrow appearing

me, Sunny.

his head

"I don't want to."