Shadow Slave

Sitting on the very edge of the Sanctuary island with his feet dangling above the abyss of the Sky Below, Sunny was enjoying the view of the clear streams falling down into the darkness and turning into clouds of water dust.

After a while, he lowered his eyes and looked at the item laying on his palm with a bit of confusion.

'So… that's it?'

This was one of the two Memories he had exchanged for the contribution points given to him for helping Master Jet deal with Shadow Blade Kurt. It looked like a long, narrow needle forged out of black steel, with gold wire wrapped around one of its ends — sort of like an antique acupuncture needle, but much sturdier.

The needle's name was Heavenly Burden… a very ironic name for a Memory, here on the Chained Isles. He had just received it this morning, and this was his first opportunity to properly study the thing.

Very curious, Sunny summoned the runes:

Memory: [Heavenly Burden].

Memory Rank: Awakened.

Memory Tier: III.

Memory Type: Tool.

Memory Description: [To be free of a burden, one has to let go of all attachments they hold in their heart. Only those who untethered themselves from everything can become truly free.]

'Sounds wonderful...'

At first glance, the Memory wasn't too outstanding. Its Rank wasn't high, and neither was its tier. With the amount of money Sunny was making, he could probably buy something like this after a week or two of collecting soul shards in the Dream Realm.

more valuable than credits. The government had access to things that were exceedingly rare or simply impossible to get on the

Memory Enchantments: [Unburdened].

[Those pierced with this needle

Memory that could

Sort of.

had no business being able to get his hands on a Memory such as this — he was already incredibly lucky to have the Dark Wing, which,

That was why Kai was so lucky… but Master Jet pulled some string, and as the result,

the black needle, calling it a decent flight Memory was a bit of a stretch. Still, it

happened… well, of course it didn't. The thing failed to pierce the soft, but adamantine fabric of the Puppeteer's

then enhanced the Heavenly Burden with one of his shadows. This

'...Ouch.'

had no time to think about it… and that was because as soon as the Heavenly Burden

…And continued doing so.

be it at a slow speed. It was as though he had suddenly turned into a balloon. The feeling would have been rather funny, if it wasn't so terrifying — mostly because a sudden

summoned the Prowling Thorn, just to be on the safer side. After both Memories manifested

he was

Wing to activate. With its help, he changed the direction of his flight, and slowly moved back toward the island. Making

'...Not bad!'

he had two Memories to deal with what Cassie had seen in the vision of their supposed death. One Memory could only move him upward, while the other allowed him to glide in any direction except up.

not going to fall endlessly into the Sky Below again… not unless he wanted

the edge of the Sanctuary, sat down, and stared at

morning, and he was

'They're still not here…'

down and summoned the second Memory he received from the government. A piece of beautiful ember that looked like solidified flame appeared on