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

five years, and had his First Nightmare when he was

said with

of it, he probably became a Sleeper around the time my mother died. Oh… your mother is fine, by the way.

a hint of emotion appeared on Neph's face, she

"...Thank you."

lingered for a

the Divine Memory in your possession came

Sunny smiled darkly.

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

her

telling me what

He laughed.

you... it can reverse one's

him, a hint of longing and pain reflecting in her striking eyes.

you want to take it from me? All you have to do is to

for a long time, then

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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 the help of the Mask,

silent, and

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

few moments, then

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

her, then shook

the same… you did not change at all. I thought that two year of despair

silent for a while,

the smile, however, her eyes remained

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

a long sigh, then

So… Aster, Song, Vale. They are your

prompting him

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

nodded again, looking at