Shadow Slave

The was no one in the room besides the two of them. Well… Nephis wasn't really there, either. In a sense, Sunny was alone.

In more senses than one, really.

There were two small tables standing on both sides of the sleeping pod, each bearing a vase with fresh flowers. Sunny only ever changed flowers in one of the vases, while Cassie tended to the other. They had yet to bump into each other while visiting Neph after that first fateful day, though, which suited Sunny fine.

He didn't really want to see the blind girl now… or ever again.

Glancing at Changing Star, Sunny sighed and kept his mouth shut. He didn't know what kinds of recording equipment were installed in the room, so his one-sided conversations with Nephis had to happen in the safety of his mind.

'I've just returned from the Dream Realm. Spent a whole three days there, exploring ruins and hunting down a few Nightmare Creatures. My shadow fragments… well, you already know. I've been working hard to not let you leave me completely in the dust. Oh… I met a Master from the White Feather clan yesterday. He seems like a nice enough guy. You would have liked him, I think.'

He paused for a few moments and wondered if this was considered crazy behavior… talking to a person that wasn't really there, pretending that they were. Maybe it was. But despite how much Sunny hated to admit it, he wasn't as fine and stable as he pretended to be.

He was angry, guilt-ridden… and lonely. He missed Nephis much more than he had ever expected. Out there on the Forgotten Shore, she had somehow become a fundamental part of his life. It was strange to exist without her occupying a place in the same world as him.

…Painful.

He missed Cassie, too. Or rather, the version of her that had lived in his mind before everything they had turned to ashes. He missed their friendship, their camaraderie, their trust in each other... things that had been broken and lost.

Sunny sighed.

'You know, these days I often think about the time we spent in the Labyrinth. The three of us. It was a… a simpler time, don't you think? A wonderful time. It seemed so terrible back then, but now… now, I miss it a lot. I wonder if you do, too.'

then looked

fine. They are both very busy, though. I… hear that Cas is doing well, too. She had become the leader

lingered for a while, gathering

by the way. I remember that you didn't like the thought of her being alone, so I went to see her. She is fine, too. Well…

looked around,

hair? You won't believe it, but I actually bought a little Memory that allows me to change the color of my hair at will. Not because of you, it's just something that I needed for a thing I'm about to do. Still, I think that it's sort of

still and absent, her ivory face looking lifeless in the white glow of the sleeping pod. He gritted

be, free of everything, with nothing to do but slaughter

and clenched his fists, then remained still

'Are you... coming back?'

There was no answer.

by Changing Star's side for a while, staring at her still face. Then,

I'll see you later,

Sunny turned around

***

Academy, Sunny lingered for a bit, then turned around and

gates looked very different from how they used to, back when he and Nephis walked through them sixteen months ago. The space in front of them had been empty then, but now, it

were an altar to Changing

to the real world, their story spread like wildfire and captured humanity's attention for a few weeks. Both the independent media and the government propaganda machine added fuel to the fire, spinning it as an inspirational epic of human resilience, heroism… and

was the

Awakened were her willing apostles, after all. In their hearts, she was their savior. They were also under the impression

established mythos of the Immortal Flame clan to raise her into the spotlight of glory, and with her extraordinary accomplishments on the Forgotten Shore, it only

loved nothing more