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.

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 saw the runes, I knew that I had not

and

a Memory looked like, how you defeated it. Things… things like that. Oh… and I was bored

at him, lingered for

it was not really something that you did consciously. Still. I wanted to say… thank you. You helped me a lot, Sunny. You made it easier for

uncomfortable. Then, he looked away in embarrassment and cleared

mean, that doesn't sound like you.

smiled, and did not

for a bit,

a lot of time staring at your

looked at

be honest, I was... I am... unsatisfied with the fact that you are so far ahead of me. Every time you gained a soul

and then glanced at Nephis

time, I fell short. It did not feel nice at all. But it

face for a few

soul fragments. You know that. Even though I am still ahead, I suspect that you have fought, and slain, much more Nightmare Creatures than

Sunny smiled.

end, a person is either strong, or they

looked down, then slowly

yes… but it's not like how you got there doesn't. Every victory you achieve teaches you a lesson. Every

Sunny grimaced.

Can you say