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

neither of us was the first. It was Mordret, instead. He is older than us by four or five years, and had his First Nightmare when he was twelve. So… he received a Divine

paused, and said with a bitter

the time my mother died. Oh… your mother is fine, by the way. Cassie and I visited her from time to time,

a hint of emotion appeared on Neph's face, she lowered her

"...Thank you."

lingered for a moment

telling me where the Divine Memory in your possession came

Sunny smiled darkly.

below the cathedral in the Dark City, on an ancient corpse that turned to dust as soon as

her

you mind telling

He laughed.

tell you... it can reverse

the dark chamber. Nephis looked at him, a hint

to take it from me? All you have to do is to say the word. It's not like I

time, then silently turned away and

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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

silent, and

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

for a few moments, then gritted

fine. I don't need to be liberated from my Flaw. I don't need

her, then shook his

change at all. I thought that two year of despair would have

at him, remained silent for a while, and then smiled with the

however, her eyes remained calm and

much longer than that, Sunny. Why

out a long sigh,

They are your

silently, prompting him

ahead and did some digging of my own. Aster, Song

nodded again, looking at