Shadow Slave

Some time later, Sunny was pondering his life choices while sitting in the back row of a crowded theater. The lights were already off, which obviously meant nothing to him. People seemed to be really excited to see the movie, though… especially Effie, who was to his side, munching on something called popcorn and staring at the screen.

In the darkness, somber music started to play, reverberating through the entire space and making the audience shiver. Effie suddenly jabbed her elbow into his ribs.

"Do you know who is the composer for this thing? It's Griffin! I don't know how they managed to get him, but he scored the entire movie. Such an honor! Can you believe it?"

Sunny had no idea who this Griffin guy was, but judging by Effie's reaction, he was someone famous. Massaging his ribs with a grimace, Sunny offered a stifled answer:

"I can."

On the screen, the interior of a spacious and beautifully lit room appeared. A small girl with silver hair was playing on a carpet, while a handsome man with dark circles under his eyes was shown studying a map.

'What the hell…'

Was that supposed to be Nephis? If so, her hair should have been black. It only turned silver after her First Nightmare.

Effie giggled.

"So cute!"

The girl, meanwhile, approached the table and reached to touch the strange sword that lay on it. The blade of the sword was short and misshapen, as though shattered a long time ago.

Before the girl could cut herself, though, the man lifted the sword and brought it out of her reach.

"This is not a toy, Nephis!"

Sunny palmed his face and grimaced.

why is your

The man smiled.

what if it is broken? It is still

shoulder and looked

long as we don't give up, no matter how dire the situation is, there will be hope. Just like this sword, humanity

Sunny tilted his head.

this doesn't

was already over. The screen turned black for a few moments, and the movie transitioned into the future. Nephis — now a languid jade beauty with a slim waist, generous figure, long eyelashes, and mesmerizing grey eyes — was entering the Academy. What followed was a long training montage showing her defeating every other Sleeper there with a training sword,

"never give up hope", or "remember your

was so tacky and laid so thick Sunny

handsome young man with masculine features, broad shoulders, and a noble bearing…

'Oh, no. Oh, no…'

invitation Kai had given him, but the director of the movie was obviously hinting at the nascent romantic feelings between the two. Their conversations in the

had mad chemistry

vomit, but the audience

thing for long, though… because right

Spell

teenage boy of about thirteen years of age, with a mischievous grin and a face

short… Sunny was the

in outrage, only to see her

director for this

his shadows were laughing. Both of

gritted his teeth, promised to exact revenge on Kai and Effie for making him endure this,

coral labyrinth and the dark sea were recreated with such detail that he couldn't

did their research,

their breaths during Neph's journey to the Dark City. The terrifying nature of the dark tides and the deadly battles with Awakened Nightmare Creatures populating the Labyrinth created a truly tense,