Shadow Slave

It took some time for the members of the cohort to digest Neph's story. Sunny, especially, felt like she did not tell them even a fraction of what had happened to her.

But then again, was it even possible to describe two years of neverending struggle for survival with just a few words? Not even considering the things that Changing Star might have wished to keep to herself — and he was sure that there were plenty — she would have had trouble describing even the things that she wanted to share.

It was going to take time.

As for the actual secrets… while he was dismayed and uneasy, Sunny himself was known to keep a lot of things close to his chest. More than that, they all had to be cautious about what they said. The room provided to Nephis by the Academy might have been safe, but that did not mean that it was not monitored.

That was the reason why both Effie and Kai remained mostly silent despite the fact that they clearly had a lot of questions. Unlike Sunny, they did not possess a good understanding of Changing Star's Aspect and current Class. All they knew was that she possessed a Divine Aspect, just like Sunny and Mordret did.

Eventually, Cassie broke the silence:

"It is fine. Now that you are back, everything is going to be fine."

She paused, and then added somberly:

"However… our current situation is very delicate."

Nephis looked at her and frowned, the white sparks in her eyes becoming a little brighter.

"Were there any… complications after you returned from the Forgotten Shore?"

She was alluding to Caster, the great clans, and the Sovereigns that wished her dead, of course.

Sunny finally spoke:

"Not immediately. But we ran into some trouble not long before venturing into the Second Nightmare."

Changing Star's frown deepened.

tell me what exactly

He shrugged.

say that there

for a moment,

whom you saw outside. They are basically your groupies. Right, you are famous now! Very, very famous. There is even a movie about you, with a very well-received romantic subplot. What else… we have a flying

paler and paler. Finally, she couldn't take it

Wait… what? Kai, is this

at her

That is your first

meanwhile, looked down

but Gale and I decided to go our separate ways. It is for the best. My status as a Master would

Nephis blinked.

"A… a dragon?"

Sunny grinned.

couple of Saints, too. I even

slowly raised her second hand

I need a moment. Wait, can you start from

strange expression suddenly appeared on

did you say something about a movie? With

***

had a bit of fun filling Nephis in on what had been going on with the four of them, and the waking world,

month straight on top of a dead demon, being burned by divine

wheelchair in the waking world, only to see her leave it behind

hands on a

obliterate an entire island as they thought to the

list went

while, Neph

break. Can

dark outside the window,