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."

sat down opposite her

But neither of us was the first. It was Mordret, instead. He is older than us by four or five years, and had his First Nightmare when he was twelve. So… he received a Divine

said

mother died. Oh… your mother is fine, by the

hint of emotion appeared on Neph's face,

"...Thank you."

lingered for a moment and

the Divine Memory in your possession came

Sunny smiled darkly.

you anyway… I found it below the cathedral in the Dark City, on an ancient corpse that turned to

her

you mind telling me what

He laughed.

tell you... it can reverse one's

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

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

at him for a long time, then silently

Sunny's grin turned somber.

won't. 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

grew silent,

It is… too powerful to

hesitated for a few

from my Flaw. I don't need a

stared at her, then shook

at all. I thought that two year of despair would have made you a little smarter. But

him, remained silent for a while, and then smiled with the

her eyes remained

I've been desperate for much longer than that, Sunny. Why would I change

let out a long sigh, then

Vale. They are your

prompting

some digging of my own. Aster, Song and Vale are

looking at him intensely.