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 and shook his

or five years, and had his First Nightmare when he

and said with

mother died. Oh… your mother is fine, by

emotion appeared on Neph's face, she lowered

"...Thank you."

for a moment

you mind telling me where the Divine Memory in your possession came

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

tilted her head a

mind telling me what

He laughed.

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

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

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

for a long time, then silently turned away and did not

Sunny's grin turned somber.

about such things… chances are, the

silent,

you in many other ways. It is… too powerful to be

hesitated for a few

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

stared at her, then shook

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 to your deranged

a while, and then smiled with

however, her eyes

much longer than that, Sunny. Why would I change

long sigh, then looked to

Aster, Song, Vale. They are your next

prompting him

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

again, looking at