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

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…

paused, and said with

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

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

"...Thank you."

for

Memory in your possession came from?

Sunny smiled darkly.

do. But I'll tell you anyway… I found it below the cathedral in the Dark City, on an ancient corpse that turned to dust as soon as I took the mask

Star tilted her head a

you mind telling me what

He laughed.

not? I'll tell you...

sudden silence settled in the dark chamber. Nephis looked at him, a hint of longing and pain reflecting

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

for a long time, then silently turned away and

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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 help of the Mask, you would most likely be burning without reprieve,

silent, and then

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

hesitated for a few moments, then gritted her

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

her, then shook

of despair would have made you a little smarter. But

a while, and then smiled with

the smile, however, her eyes remained calm

desperate for much longer than that, Sunny. Why

long sigh, then looked to

Vale. They are

prompting him

can get a person killed. However, I went ahead and did some digging of my own. Aster, Song and Vale

nodded again, looking at