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."

her and shook his

than us by four or five years, and had his First Nightmare when he was twelve. So… he received a Divine Aspect when you were

and said

died. Oh… your mother is fine, by

on Neph's face, she lowered

"...Thank you."

for

mind telling me where the Divine Memory in your

Sunny smiled darkly.

tell you anyway… I found it below the cathedral in the Dark City, on

her head a

you mind telling me what it

He laughed.

I'll tell you... it can

sudden silence settled in the dark chamber. Nephis looked at him, a hint of longing

from me? All you have to do is to say the

long time, then silently turned away and did not say

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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

silent, and then

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

hesitated for a few moments, then gritted her

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

at her, then shook his

I thought that two year of despair would have made you a little smarter. But you are still clinging to your deranged dreams, aren't

a while, and then smiled with the corner of her

the smile, however, her eyes remained

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

a long sigh, then

Song, Vale. They are your next

prompting him

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

at him intensely. Sunny