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

born out of simple vanity or empty pride. Someone else might have been tempted to chase power just for the sweetness of it, but to Sunny,

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

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

finally reached them and froze

Cassie! Is it true? Princess is

for a

I… I passed her to the healers with my

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

No Nightmare Creature exists that can keep that

help but smile a little, infected by her

his appearance would have caused a stir, but right now, no one paid the former

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 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

sincere happiness and relief written all over them. Some… Kai especially… looked on the verge of getting

him, they had no reason to feel a strange ambivalence about Changing Star's

at them, Sunny decided to ignore the darker part of his mind

slave, he would. If he had to kill

now, he chose to just share this rare

their cohort was

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

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

the government agents

how is she? Lady Changing