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

of us was the first. It was Mordret, instead. He is older than us by four or five years,

paused, and said with a bitter

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

on Neph's

"...Thank you."

for a moment

mind telling me where the Divine Memory in your possession came from?

Sunny smiled darkly.

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

her head

telling me what it

He laughed.

not? I'll tell you... it can reverse one's

at him, a hint of

you have to do is to say the word. It's not

a long time, then silently

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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 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

grew silent,

also kill you in many other ways. It is… too powerful to be used lightly. At least

a few moments, then gritted

need to be liberated from my Flaw. I don't need

stared at her,

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

a while, and then smiled with the corner of

the smile, however, her

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

let out a long sigh, then

Vale. They are your

nodded silently, prompting him

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

looking at him