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 that she is back. Who cares

it was of paramount importance. His obsession with becoming more powerful than Nephis was not born out of simple vanity or empty pride. Someone else might have been tempted to chase power just for the sweetness of

up, Sunny saw Effie pushing her way through the crowd. She was not shy about using

was no wonder that he dropped everything to come and wait with the rest of them.

reached them and froze for

it true? Princess

at her for

the healers

grin split her face. It looked as if she was

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

help but smile a little,

arrived, as well. Usually, his appearance would have caused a stir, but right now, no one paid the

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

"Gods… thank the gods…"

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 must have pressed down upon him a

seeing sincere happiness and relief written all over them. Some… Kai especially… looked

had no reason to feel a

the darker part

slave, he would. If he had to kill in order to remain free… that

just share

founder of their cohort was back,

finally opened, and one of the Awakened healers in the

breaths. Even Morgan of Valor looked up from her communicator, strange sparks igniting

agents couldn't contain herself and

Lady Changing Star