Shadow Slave

The second lecture had turned out to be a challenge for Sunny. Not because he felt unprepared to teach the less experienced Awakened, but because all of them were very enthused and full of questions about Changing Star's return.

The whole Academy was abuzz.

"Master Sunless, have you met Lady Changing Star?"

"Is it true? Did she Ascend?!"

"Are you going to join the Immortal Flame clan now? Can we join, too?!"

Normally, that would not have been a problem. Sadly for Sunny, he could not refuse to answer any question due to his Flaw, so it took some time and ingenuity to not let anything important slip while reigning the students in. Eventually, he forced them to concentrate on the lecture.

After the lecture was over, he had to take care of some administrative issues, as well as visit Teacher Julius and assist the old man with a few tasks. Seeing that his assistant was very eager to leave, the elderly Instructor did not keep Sunny long and soon let him go with a knowing smile.

"Ah, youth…"

Sunny frowned a little as he hurried to the door.

'What is that supposed to mean?'

Throwing the confusion out of his mind, Sunny decided to not waste time and used Shadow Step to reach the train station as fast as possible. On the way home, he was deep in thought.

After the night of experimenting and exploring their bond, he was very curious what else Nephis and him could do. As far as Sunny understood it, Shadow Bond made it so that their souls were strangely considered to be two parts of a single whole, at least when applied to the function of their Aspects.

So… did that mean that he could pool Neph with him through the shadows when using Shadow Step?

If he used a charm like Blood Blossom, would its effect be shared to her?

If so, would the boost granted to them remain the same, or grow twice as weak?

questions like that, and answers to them could only be found through further experimentation. Sunny was

wouldn't he? He was always resentful of his weakness and of the fact that stronger Awakened or powerful Nightmare Creatures could snuff out his life without too much trouble. Anything that could grant him more power to defend himself was a boon, and the memory of how powerful he had felt

was not

would demand Neph

that this

was

compel him to do her bidding, but he could not be completely sure of her intentions. Not until they talked openly

that… he didn't want to have that talk yet. Talking openly about anything

do it

not been in

her some time to balance

and took off his shoes. Then , he looked around and noticed Neph sitting on a tall stool near the kitchen counter, staring at her communicator with strange intensity. Her eyes were burning, and it seemed as if she had spent

be so engrossed with what was happening on the screen that she did

She is good, but

unaccustomed to hearing such enthusiasm in Changing Star's voice. She was usually far more reserved. And what did she mean? What was he supposed to do? Who

to herself. But what the

forward and

expression appeared on his

a graceful woman who wore a light metal armor and an elegant half-mask. Rose petals fell

Isn't that… isn't that my duel against Queen

fight! He had

blinked a couple of times, remained silent for

"Uh… hey? I'm back."

slowly turned