Shadow Slave

The sudden revelation brought the mood down for a few minutes. Sunny silently drank his champagne, thinking about what Neph had just said. It made a lot of sense, in a dark and disturbing way. It also shed some light on how the Spell chose its victims.

He doubted that a Seed of Nightmare, no matter how small, could bloom in just any soul. It probably required fertile soil to take root… of course, in this ravaged world, there were plenty of broken and traumatized people whose souls could nurture a Nightmare Seed. It had been even more so fifty years ago, when the Spell first appeared.

Had the collective anguish and torment of those lucky few who had survived the Dark Times summoned it from whatever hell the Spell existed in, ushering the rise of the First Generation of the Awakened and everything that followed?

He did not know, and doubted that he would find out anytime soon, if ever. Nevertheless, there was another interesting hint in what Nephis had explained to them.

If Legacies wanted their children to inherit the mantle, and only Saints could ensure that the poor kids would be doomed to either Awaken or die… then Saints held even more power among the Legacy clans than he had thought.

And who were the first Saints of humanity?

Asterion, Ki Song, Anvil of Vale… and Broken Sword. They were the first, and at some point the only people who all Legacy clans had to befriend if they wanted to ensure that their bloodlines continued walking on the path of Ascension.

Was that, perhaps, the initial reason that had elevated the great clans above all the rest?

'Interesting…'

He was not in the mood to ponder the origins of power that the Sovereigns held, however. Thinking about the great clans made him feel sour. Since today was Sunny's day off, he chased the weary thoughts away and tried to enjoy his drink instead.

Cassie, meanwhile, said with a deep frown:

"Isn't it too cruel, to subject your children to such fate? And without even giving them a choice! Only one out of three Aspirants survives the First Nightmare. Of course, that strongly depends on how well-prepared they are, so the number should be less gruesome among the Legacies. But… still… what kind of parent would do something like that to their child?"

lingered for a while,

might seem cruel to some. But some might see it as giving their child a chance to grow strong in a world that is not kind to the powerless. Legacies are a warrior caste, at their core. They were born from a ruthless war,

was twenty now… he was more or less an adult. In fact, he was already older than his mother had been

realization made him feel very

into his glass for a few minutes

back in a

and went away in search of a bathroom. In

he was staring at his reflection as the water was running from an exquisite brass faucet. The young

hiding somewhere in the mirror. It had become a habit of his to consider such things from

to be nowhere to be found. Sunny sighed in relief,

however, he encountered

young men and women were blocking his way, discussing something with one of the club's employees in loud voices. Their clothes look extremely expensive, and their appearance was impeccably high-class. As

of room left in the lounge! The beautiful ladies inside wouldn't mind some company, I'm sure. Actually, I am

him and said in an

very sorry… but the whole VIP lounge was reserved by the esteemed

The young man scoffed.

am? I sincerely doubt that anyone in this ramshackle parlor of yours has more

patted the loudmouth on the shoulder. The young men looked down in confusion, then

me, friend…

Sunny smiled.

buddy… I just want to give you a small

with one arm, turned him to face the VIP lounge, and pointed at Nephis, Cassie,

people? Do you know