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."

sat down opposite her

us was the first. It was Mordret, instead. He is older than us by four or five years, and had his

and said with

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

on Neph's

"...Thank you."

for a moment and

telling me where the Divine Memory

Sunny smiled darkly.

I mind? I do. But I'll tell you anyway… I found it below the cathedral in the Dark

tilted her head a

mind telling

He laughed.

I'll tell you... it

the dark chamber. Nephis looked at him, a hint of longing and pain reflecting in her

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

at him for a long time, then silently turned away and did not

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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

silent, and

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

a few moments, then gritted her

my Flaw. I don't need a powerful Memory to uplift me.

her,

year of despair would have made you a little smarter. But you are still clinging

silent for a while, and then smiled with the corner of

smile, however, her eyes remained calm

much longer than that, Sunny. Why would I change

let out a long sigh, then looked to the

Aster, Song, Vale. They

silently, prompting

get a person killed. However, I went ahead and did some digging of my own. Aster, Song and Vale are Asterion, Ki Song, and Anvil of Valor, correct? The

nodded again, looking at him intensely. Sunny