Shadow Slave

Soon, two bowls of delicious steaming ramen were on the table in front of them. Sunny had never invited anyone to taste his ramen, but he was quite pleased with the result.

His past of only eating synthpaste seemed so distant that he did not even want to remember it.

Both dug in and finished their portions in record time. Sunny drank the last of the fragrant broth and let out a delighted sigh. Nephis acted more reserved, but he could feel that she was very satisfied, too.

Putting the bowl away, Changing Star smiled slightly and looked at him. A hesitant expression appeared on her face.

A few moments later, she suddenly said:

"Be that as it may… while I was lost and wandering the Dream Realm, slowly forgetting what it felt like to be human… there was one thing I clung to that reminded me that all my prior life had not been just a dream. Do you know what it was?"

Sunny thought for a bit, then shrugged.

"I don't know. A Memory? Your sword, Dreamblade?"

She lingered for a few moments, then slowly shook her head.

"No. It was… you."

Sunny froze and stared at her with surprise.

"Huh?"

Nephis smiled slightly.

through the runes. I could see that you were still out there, alive, and doing incredible things. The new Memories you received told me a little about what kind of enemies you fought. The speed at which your Aspect Legacy progressed told me how hard you were working to sharpen your battle skill. As long as I

shifted, and

looked like, how you defeated it. Things… things like that. Oh… and I was bored often. While my journey was often

him, lingered

know it was not really something that you did consciously. Still. I wanted to say… thank you. You helped

at her, suddenly uncomfortable. Then, he looked away in embarrassment and cleared

sure that you have not received counseling already? I mean, that doesn't sound like you. Very…

and did not

remained silent for a bit, and then

of time staring at your runes, as

looked at

crazy from isolation like you. Well… except for a short stretch of falling into a bottomless abyss all alone, I guess. But, the point is… to be honest, I was... I am... unsatisfied with the fact that you are so far ahead of me. Every time you gained a soul

glanced at Nephis with a

time, I

face for a few moments,

I suspect that you have fought, and slain, much more Nightmare

Sunny smiled.

It's not a competition where you get rewarded for the effort. Only the result matters. In the end, a person is either strong,

then slowly shook her

doesn't. Every victory you achieve teaches you a lesson.

Sunny grimaced.

ask you a question. Can you say that I am