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

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

said with

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

on Neph's face, she lowered her

"...Thank you."

lingered for

Memory in your possession came

Sunny smiled darkly.

anyway… I found it below the cathedral in the Dark City, on an ancient corpse that turned

tilted her head a

mind telling

He laughed.

I'll tell you... it can reverse one's

him, a hint of longing and pain reflecting in

you want to take it from me? All you have to

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

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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

grew silent,

too powerful to be

few moments,

liberated from my Flaw. I don't need a

stared at her,

did not change at all. I thought that two year of despair

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

the smile, however, her

much longer

out a long sigh, then

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

nodded silently, prompting

get a person killed. However, I went ahead and did some digging of

looking at him intensely.