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

us by four or five years, and had his

and said with

to think of it, he probably became a Sleeper around the time my mother died. Oh… your mother

a hint of emotion appeared on Neph's face,

"...Thank you."

she lingered for a moment and

you mind telling me where the Divine Memory

Sunny smiled darkly.

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

her head

you mind telling

He laughed.

you... it can

dark chamber. Nephis looked at him, a hint of longing and pain reflecting

to take it from me? All you have to

then silently turned away and did

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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

silent, and then

also kill you in many other ways. It is… too

few moments, then

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

her, then shook

are 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 are still clinging

while, and then smiled

her

much longer than that, Sunny. Why would I

let out a long sigh, then looked to

Song, Vale. They are your next targets, aren't

prompting

digging of my own. Aster, Song and Vale are Asterion, Ki Song, and

at