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

It was Mordret, instead. He is older than us by four or five years, and had his First

and said with a bitter

your mother is fine, by the way. Cassie

emotion appeared on Neph's face, she lowered her

"...Thank you."

lingered for

mind telling me where the Divine Memory in your possession

Sunny smiled darkly.

below the cathedral in the Dark City, on an ancient corpse that turned to dust as soon as I took the

her head a

mind telling me what it

He laughed.

you... it can

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

from me? All you have to do is to say the word. It's not

time, then

Sunny's grin turned somber.

should have a good sense about such things… chances are, the new curse would be more

grew silent,

many other ways. It is… too powerful to be used lightly. At least by the likes of

hesitated for a few moments,

I don't need a powerful Memory to uplift me. I… I myself

her,

of despair would have made you a little smarter. But you are still

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

however, her eyes remained calm and

years? No… I've been desperate for much longer than that,

sigh, then

They are your next targets,

silently, prompting

I went ahead and did some digging of my own. Aster, Song and Vale are Asterion, Ki Song, and Anvil of

at him intensely.