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.

Although I 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

shifted, and

Things… things like that. Oh… and I was bored often.

at him, lingered for a moment, and

that you did consciously. Still. I wanted to say… thank you. You helped me a lot, Sunny. You made it easier for

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

that you have not received counseling already? I mean,

and

for a bit, and then

lot of time staring at your runes,

at

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 then glanced at Nephis with a slightly bitter

I had never managed to catch up to you. Every time, I fell short. It did

face for a few moments, and then

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

Sunny smiled.

result matters. In the end, a person is either strong, or they are weak.

down, then slowly shook her

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

Sunny grimaced.

a question. Can you say