Shadow Slave

Sunny stared at the sorcerer for a few moments, unamused. He really wanted to retort… but couldn't. The four-armed demon was indeed a fearsome and unsightly creature, as far as humans were concerned. So, denying it would have been a lie.

And while the Extraordinary Rock could repeat his thoughts, the thoughts it spoke aloud still had to be truthful.

With an irritated snarl, Sunny looked away and said:

"Fine. We will retrieve the Ruby Knife from your friend that lives in the lake. However… it would only be polite for you to return the favor and give us something in return, don't you think? To avoid putting a strain on our own friendship, you know…"

These were more or less the exact words Noctis had used to lure him into a confrontation with Nightmare, so Sunny was pretty sure that the sorcerer would not be able to refuse his request.

Indeed, the immortal looked at him with a pale smile, and then let out a slightly nervous laugh.

"Oh… yes, you are right, of course… huh… is there something particular you have in mind?"

Sunny nodded.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

With that, he pulled an amulet in the form of an anvil from the folds of his kimono and handed it to Noctis. This was the charm Master Welthe had worn in the Night Temple to protect herself from Mordret… after her death, the small talisman remained in his possession, revealing that it was not a Memory, but an actual object.

Considering its shape and the fame of the great clan Valor, especially when it came to forging weapons and tools, it was not hard to imagine how the charm came to be. However… that did not mean that Sunny understood how it worked.

And he really, really needed to.

Cassie was immune to Mordret's possession due to her blindness, and Sunny himself was protected by the army of shadows contained within his soul. Kai and Effie, however… when he imagined his friends meeting the Prince of Nothing, his blood turned cold.

"I want you to make something similar to this."

Noctis received that talisman and studied it with a curious smile. Slowly, however, the smile disappeared from his face. His grey eyes glinted with a strange emotion, and he said in a neutral tone:

"...Where did you get this?"

Sunny shrugged.

"Of an enemy's corpse. Well… more or less. Why?"

studied the small anvil for a bit more, and then shook his head with

uh… can't recreate this talisman. The sorcery used to enchant it is not something I have ever seen before. More than that, it was made for a reason that eludes me, and by someone far more powerful than I am. Which is a real feat, mind you, considering how mighty and talented I am! In any case, I can't do it.

with a frown, and then returned it to

'Someone… far more powerful?'

a couple of

ward off his son personally? Just how dreadful the Sovereigns were to impress

then hid the little

I'll… think of something else. We will discuss

waved a hand and turned back to the sacred tree, then

am but a humble sorcerer, you know, not an actual deity… I

then gestured to the other members of the cohort

to visit another of the humble sorcerer's

***

the giant chain that swayed lightly, suspended between two skies — one blue and full

precise, only Sunny and Cassie were walking. Kai was levitating above the links of the ancient chain, while Effie was sitting comfortably on Sunny's shoulders. In fact, the little girl was fast asleep… and drooling on

Sunny would have been outraged and shaken the fiendish child awake, but right now, he was too

about the creature they were about to face… no, his

unable to create a second one, someone in their cohort was going to have to remain without any defense against the Prince of Nothing… and now, Sunny

the charm to

his thoughts, the little girl suddenly

your fangs so loud, will you? I can't sleep! What has gotten

and Kai listened, as well, their faces turning as grim

…Effie, however, seemed unconcerned.

a problem… just give it

the next link, holding Effie's skinny legs to prevent

afraid of being consumed

The little girl grimaced.

guy a lot. He's not

The hundred Lost warriors, two Ascended knights, and the whole of the northern reach of the Kingdom of Hope begged

She shook her head.

Sea, that guy can mirror the Aspect of his enemy, correct? He can use the

Effie snorted.

he doesn't have six cores anymore. He only has one… maybe two or three, if he was very diligent and managed to create new ones. Doesn't really matter. Point is, he sacrificed his personal power to create five mirror monsters, which made the overall threat