Shadow Slave

Projected onto the wall, a languid jade beauty with a slim waist and long eyelashes was traversing a labyrinth of crimson coral, her voluptuous figure barely covered by a flimsy seaweed attire. A teenage boy of about thirteen years of age was scurrying along as he shouted:

"...Are you crazy?!"

Sitting on the sofa near the real Changing Star, Rain felt like sinking into the earth. As the movie went by, her cheeks slowly turned bright red. The daughter of the Immortal Flame clan, on the contrary, became increasingly more deadpan and devoid of emotion. By now, her face was so still that it seemed paralyzed.

Rain awkwardly cleared her throat.

"Uh… come to think of it, the actress they chose does not look like you at all. You are much prettier!"

Nephis shifted and briefly glanced down. Then, she said evenly:

"Thank you."

After a while, she added:

"Why would they cast a child to play Sunny? What a strange decision. Only a complete fool could mistake him for a young boy."

Rain let out a nervous laugh.

"Yeah! Yeah… definitely…"

She looked away in utter embarrassment, and then forced out:

"And what is up with that stupid catchphrase? That does not sound like something Sunny would say at all!"

Changing Star moved, suddenly becoming a little more lively.

"Oh, no. That actually happened. A lot!"

braved the wilderness of the Forgotten Shore and eventually reached the Dark City. The brief moment of liveliness passed, and instead, Changing Star seemed to grow more rigid and cold with each scene. Rain felt so uncomfortable that

kind of idiot directed that

young man with broad shoulders and a noble bearing appeared on the screen. Rain glanced at Lady Nephis curiously, wondering how much of what was shown about her

relationship

there had been an

failed to glimpse anything from Changing Star's stoic face. The movie progressed, slowly reaching its

the wall, the masculine face of the actor playing Sir Caster radiated courage and passion. Holding the grief-stricken jade beauty by the hand, he looked her in the eyes

for me, my lady. My life does not matter… but yours does! Immortal Flame must never be extinguished! As long as it burns,

Rain shifted uncomfortably.

or is it

Star's face.

projection, however,

Rain frowned.

'Huh?'

smelled smoke. Turning around, the teenage girl noticed a thin stream

'That's strange...'

mouth to say something, but before she

The projector suddenly exploded.

***

only stayed for long enough to help Changing Star clean up

what was going

then went back into the guest bedroom and rummaged through Effie's closet. She had no clothes apart from

for the better part of the last three years. Putting on something

pair of gym shorts to match it. Sadly, other articles of Effie's clothing did not fit her too well. She was going to have to do some

matters again felt

room with nothing to do. She simply sat in silence for a while, trying to deal with the disturbing oddity of not being in danger. Then, she

it for some time, then