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

The man smiled.

what if it is

his hand on the girl's shoulder and looked at

Awakened, only raise arms to protect humanity. As long as we don't give up, no matter how dire the

Sunny tilted his head.

doesn't even

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, all

hope", or "remember your duty",

laid so thick Sunny could help but

beauty couldn't defeat was a handsome young man with masculine features, broad shoulders, and

'Oh, no. Oh, no…'

him, but the director of the movie was obviously hinting at the nascent romantic feelings between the two.

had

to vomit, but the audience was clearly enthralled by

on this preposterous thing for long, though… because

Spell is

child! It was a teenage boy of about thirteen years of age, with a mischievous grin and a face that, for lack of better words, simply begged to be punched. Worse than that, he was shown as

was the comic

to Effie in outrage, only to see

the casting director for this

shadows were laughing.

teeth, promised to exact revenge on Kai and Effie for

the Forgotten Shore. The coral labyrinth and the

their

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