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.

could not know what was happening to you, Cassie, and the others, I could still feel connected to you 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 saw the runes, I knew that I had not imagined the past... and did

shifted, and then

fragments, what the Nightmare Creature that gifted you a Memory looked like, how you defeated it. Things… things like that. Oh… and I was bored often. While my journey was often full of hardship and dread, it could also be terribly monotonous sometimes. So… that

him, lingered

you. You helped me a lot, Sunny. You made

Then, he looked away in embarrassment and cleared

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

smiled, and did

silent for a bit, and then forced himself to

I spent a lot of time

at

I was... I am... unsatisfied with the fact that you are so far ahead of me. Every time you

fell silent, and then glanced at Nephis with

course, no matter how hard I tried, I had never managed to catch up to you. Every time, I fell short.

studied his face for a few

for me to gain soul fragments. You know that. Even though I am still ahead, I

Sunny smiled.

In the end, a person is

looked down, then slowly shook her

you achieve teaches you a lesson. Every defeat you suffer teaches you even more. I

Sunny grimaced.

you a question. Can you say that I am stronger than