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.

The important part is that she is back. Who cares

more powerful than Nephis was not born out of simple vanity or empty pride. Someone else might have been tempted to chase power

sat in stunned silence, the sound of hurried footsteps resounded near him. Looking up, Sunny saw Effie pushing her way through the crowd. 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 to

had been the person to send Nephis into the Dream Realm. It was no wonder that he dropped everything to come and wait with the rest of them. Sunny felt a bit

and froze

Cassie! Is it true?

looked at her for a

passed her to the healers

split her face. It looked as if she was on the

yes! I never had a doubt! No Nightmare Creature exists that

but smile a little, infected by

arrived, as well. Usually, his appearance would have caused a stir, but right

on the young man's beautiful face. Kai swayed a little, and then leaned on the wall to keep himself

"Gods… thank the gods…"

friend must have been blaming himself for leaving Nephis behind all that time. He was truly too decent of a person for this vile world, and infected by a misguided sense of nobility to boot. Knowing that he had escaped the hell of the Forgotten Shore because of someone else's sacrifice

them huddled together and waited. Sunny silently observed the faces of his friends, seeing sincere happiness and relief written all over them.

reason to feel

them, Sunny decided to ignore the darker part of his

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… that was not out of the question,

just share this rare moment of

their cohort was back, after

of the Awakened healers in the employ

breaths. Even Morgan of Valor looked up from

agents couldn't contain herself

is she? Lady Changing