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."

down opposite her and

He is older than us by four or five years, and had his First Nightmare when

paused, and said with a bitter

became a Sleeper around the time my mother died. Oh… your mother is fine, by the way. Cassie

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

"...Thank you."

for a moment and

me where the Divine Memory in

Sunny smiled darkly.

in the Dark City, on an

tilted her head a

telling me

He laughed.

tell you...

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

All you have to do is

a long time, then silently turned away and did not say

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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 without reprieve, forever, unless

grew silent, and then

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

for a few moments, then gritted her

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

at her, then shook his

the same… you did not change at all. I thought that two year of despair would have made you a little

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

however, her eyes remained calm

years? No… I've been desperate for much longer than that, Sunny.

out a long sigh, then looked to the

So… Aster, Song, Vale. They are your next targets,

prompting him

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

again, looking at him intensely. Sunny