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."

down opposite her

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

and said with a bitter

became a Sleeper around the time my mother died. Oh… your mother is fine, by the way. Cassie and I visited her from time to time, while you were

emotion appeared on Neph's face,

"...Thank you."

lingered for a moment and

Memory in your

Sunny smiled darkly.

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

her head

you mind telling me what

He laughed.

you... it can

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

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

a long time, then silently turned away

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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

grew silent,

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

a few moments, then gritted

my Flaw. I don't need

stared at her, then shook his

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

remained silent for a while, and then smiled

the smile, however, her

desperate for much longer

a long sigh, then looked to the

Vale. They are your next

silently, prompting him

However, I went ahead and did some digging of my own. Aster,

nodded again, looking at him intensely.