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

pride. Someone else might have been tempted

was not shy about using her prodigious strength,

the Dream Realm. It was no wonder that he dropped everything to come and wait with

finally reached them and froze for a

Cassie! Is it true?

at her for a bit, then

her to the

a wide grin split her face. It

I never had a doubt! No Nightmare Creature exists that

but smile a little, infected

appearance would have caused a stir, but right

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

"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

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

to feel a

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

he would. If he had to kill in

he chose to just share this rare

cohort was back,

armored doors finally opened, and one of the Awakened healers in

of Valor looked up from her

government agents couldn't

Lady Changing Star