Shadow Slave

As it turned out, Nephis had not found a Gateway to escape the Dream Realm and Awaken.

Instead, after two long years of solitude and relentless battles for survival, she had found a Seed of Nightmare and conquered the Second Trial of the Spell as a Sleeper.

She had done it alone.

At least that was the only way Sunny could explain the runes he was staring at.

Ascended.

'That is impossible.'

Surviving the Second Nightmare was already not easy for a cohort of prepared Awakened. More people perished while trying than returned victorious. How could a lone Sleeper accomplish the same?

No one had done it before.

However… no Sleeper had been a Tyrant before.

No Sleeper had escaped alive from a battle with a Corrupted horror of the depths before.

No Sleeper had slain a Fallen Terror before.

Nephis had long established her penchant for accomplishing the impossible. Why was Sunny so surprised that she had done it again?

No, he wasn't surprised. He was… dismayed.

A deep, unsettling emotion nestled in his chest, making his face grow dark and his eyes grow dim. The shadows around him seemed to become deeper.

anything. The important part is that she is back. Who cares

vanity or empty pride. Someone else might have been tempted

She was not shy about using her prodigious strength, so people did not really have any choice except to let her pass. Even Instructor Rock, who had appeared ten minutes earlier, had

person to send Nephis into the Dream Realm. It was no wonder that he dropped everything to come and wait

reached them and froze for a

Is it true? Princess

her for a

the healers with my own

Then, a wide grin split her face. It looked as if she was on the verge of

a doubt! No Nightmare Creature exists that can keep that pampered

a

too long, Kai arrived, as well. Usually, his appearance would have caused a stir, but right now,

expression of profound relief appeared on the young man's beautiful face. Kai swayed a little,

"Gods… thank the gods…"

too decent of a person for this vile world, and infected by a misguided sense of

waited. Sunny silently observed the faces of his friends, seeing sincere happiness and relief written all over them. Some… Kai especially… looked on the

they had no reason to feel a strange ambivalence about

looking at them, Sunny decided to ignore the

he would have to deal with it then. If he had to die to avoid becoming a slave, he would. If he had to kill in order to remain free…

he chose to just share this

their cohort was back,

doors finally opened, and one of the Awakened healers in the employ of the Academy appeared

gathered in the waiting area held their breaths. Even Morgan of Valor looked up from her communicator, strange sparks igniting in her vermillion

government agents

Lady