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.

Memories you received told me a little about what kind

shifted, and then

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

looked at him, lingered for a moment, and

Still. I wanted to say… thank you. You helped me

uncomfortable. Then, he looked away in

already? I mean, that doesn't sound

smiled, and did not

bit,

time staring at your

looked at

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 fragment, it urged me to try and get two. The stronger you grew, the more I wanted to become stronger, as

silent, and then glanced at

course, no matter how hard I tried, I had never managed to catch up to you. Every time, I fell short. It did not feel nice at all. But it also forced

for a few moments, and then

much easier for me to gain soul fragments. You know that. Even though I am still ahead, I suspect that you have fought, and slain,

Sunny smiled.

In the end, a person is either strong, or they are weak. The stronger ones will always trample those who are weaker. Isn't that how the

down, then slowly shook her

wrong. I think. Results matter, yes… but it's not like how you got there doesn't. Every victory you achieve teaches you a lesson. Every defeat

Sunny grimaced.

Can you say that I am stronger