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 his

four or five years, and had his First Nightmare when he was twelve. So… he received a Divine Aspect when you were around eight, and I was around

paused, 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

on Neph's face,

"...Thank you."

lingered for a moment and

you mind telling me where the Divine Memory in your possession came from? The… Weaver's

Sunny smiled darkly.

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

tilted her head

telling me

He laughed.

I'll tell you... it can

dark chamber. Nephis looked at him, a hint

have to do is to say the word. It's not like I can

him for a long time, then

Sunny's grin turned somber.

Did 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

grew silent, and then

many other ways. It is… too powerful to be used

few moments,

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

at her, then shook his

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

him, remained silent for a while, and then smiled

the smile, however, her eyes remained calm and

No… I've been desperate for much longer than that, Sunny. Why would

sigh, then looked to

They are your

silently, prompting him

words can 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 former

nodded again, looking at him intensely. Sunny