Shadow Slave

Eventually, Sunny and Nephis ended up in his underground dojo. Changing Star looked around, her gaze lingering on the racks of training weapons and the deactivated sleeping pod that stood forlornly in its alcove, all but forgotten by its former occupant.

After a few moments of silence, she asked:

"Do you make use of all these weapons?"

Sunny glanced at the training equipment, lingered for a moment, then shook his head.

"Yes and no. In the past two years, I did expand my repertoire to include all kinds of sharp implements. But I practice with something better."

He was still most confident when wielding swords akin to Azure Blade, Midnight Shard, and his serpentine odachi. His proficiency with spears was also quite high, and he was steadily improving his archery skill. However, while Sunny had learned enough to feel comfortable with other types of weapons as well, he had a long way to go before truly mastering them.

Nephis nodded thoughtfully.

"Do you use the... Soul Serpent?"

Sunny stared at her for a moment, then looked away.

"Yes."

He was reminded of the Shadow Bond that connected them. Beyond its main function, it also allowed Sunny to peer into some of Changing Star's secrets. However, she was able to learn a lot of his, as well.

Sunny had suspected that this was the case from the very start, but now those suspicions were confirmed.

He remained silent for a few moments, then suddenly grinned.

"Were you surprised?"

Nephis looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and said:

"I was. Very... very much."

She sighed, sat down on the floor, and crossed her legs.

"I always knew that you were extraordinary. I just didn't… didn't think that you possessed a Divine Aspect, too. To be honest, I thought that I was the first."

opposite her and shook

first. It was Mordret, instead. He is older than us by four or five years, and had his First Nightmare when he was twelve.

said with a

probably became a Sleeper around the time my mother died. Oh… your mother is fine, by the way. Cassie and I visited her from

of emotion appeared on Neph's

"...Thank you."

she lingered for a moment and

me where the Divine Memory in your possession

Sunny smiled darkly.

found it below the cathedral in the Dark City,

tilted her head a

you mind telling me what it

He laughed.

not? I'll tell you... it

looked at him, a hint of longing and pain reflecting in her

Do you want to take it from me? All you have to do is to say

time, then silently turned away and

Sunny's grin turned somber.

you think that it will save you from the pain? It won't. The Mask does not nullify the Flaw, it just reverses it. No matter what, the Flaw is still a curse. By now, we both should have a good sense about such things… chances are, the new curse would be more terrible than the old. Right now, you have to burn yourself alive every time you actively use your Aspect. With the help of the Mask, you would most likely be burning

grew silent, and then

can also kill you in many other ways. It is… too powerful to be used lightly. At

few moments, then gritted her

I don't need to be liberated from my Flaw. I don't need a powerful Memory to uplift

at her,

you did not change at all. I thought that two year of despair would have made you a little smarter. But you are

him, remained silent for a while,

however, her

desperate for much longer than that,

out a long sigh, then

Vale. They are your next

prompting

went ahead and did some digging of my own. Aster, Song and Vale are Asterion, Ki

at him intensely. Sunny