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 and shook his

He is older than us by four or five years, and had

said

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

appeared on Neph's

"...Thank you."

for

the Divine Memory in your possession

Sunny smiled darkly.

cathedral in the Dark City, on an ancient

Star tilted her

you mind telling

He laughed.

you... it can reverse

Nephis looked at him, a hint of longing and pain reflecting in her striking eyes. Sunny

take it from me? All you have to

stared at him for a long time, then

Sunny's grin turned somber.

such things… chances are, the new curse would be more terrible than the old.

grew silent, and then

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

hesitated for a few moments,

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

at her, then shook

of despair would

while, and then smiled with the corner

smile, however, her eyes

been desperate for much longer than that, Sunny. Why

a long sigh, then

Song, Vale. They

silently, prompting

words can get a person killed. However, I went ahead and did some digging of my own. Aster, Song and

at