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.

matter. That doesn't change anything. The important part is

or empty pride. Someone else might have been tempted to chase power just for the sweetness of it, but to Sunny, being anything

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

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

huntress finally reached them and froze for a moment,

it

her for a bit, then

I… I passed her to the healers with my own

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

I never had a doubt! No Nightmare Creature exists

couldn't help but smile a

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

of profound relief appeared on the young man's beautiful face. Kai swayed a little, and then leaned on the wall to

"Gods… thank the gods…"

it, but his 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

faces of his friends, seeing sincere happiness and relief written all over

they had no reason to feel a strange ambivalence about Changing

the darker part of his

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

now, he chose to just share this rare

founder of their cohort was

of the Awakened healers in the employ of the Academy

area held their breaths. Even Morgan of Valor

of the government agents couldn't

how is she? Lady