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."

opposite her

He is older than us by four or five years, and had his First Nightmare when he was twelve. So…

paused, and said with a bitter

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

a hint of emotion appeared on Neph's face,

"...Thank you."

for a moment

telling me where the Divine Memory

Sunny smiled darkly.

in the Dark

Star tilted her

you mind telling

He laughed.

not? I'll tell you... it

chamber. Nephis looked at him, a

take it from me? All you have to do is to say the word. It's not like I can

stared at him for a long time, then silently turned away

Sunny's grin turned somber.

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

silent, and then

in many other ways. It is… too powerful

for a few moments, then gritted her

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

her,

year of despair would have made you a little smarter. But you are still clinging to

at him, remained silent for a while, and then smiled

however, her eyes remained calm

I've been desperate for much longer than that,

a long sigh, then looked to

Aster, Song, Vale. They are your next

nodded silently, prompting him

told me once that just knowing these words can get a person killed. However, I went ahead and did some digging of my own. Aster, Song and Vale are Asterion, Ki Song, and Anvil

nodded again, looking at him intensely. Sunny