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

older than us by four or five years, and

paused, and said

your mother is fine, by the way.

emotion appeared on Neph's face, she

"...Thank you."

lingered for a

me where the Divine Memory in your possession came

Sunny smiled darkly.

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

tilted her head

mind telling me what it

He laughed.

I'll tell you...

him, a hint of longing

from me? All you have to do

a long time, then silently

Sunny's grin turned somber.

curse. By now, we both should have a good sense about such things… chances

grew silent,

too powerful to be used lightly.

few moments, then gritted

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

at her, then

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

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

smile, however, her eyes

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

a long sigh, then looked to

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

silently, prompting him to

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 are Asterion, Ki Song, and

again, looking at