Shadow Slave

They stood silently under the tree for a while. Eventually, Nephis looked at him and said evenly:

"You did well."

Sunny glanced at her with a pale smile, then nodded.

"I guess I did, didn't I? My mom would have been very happy. If she was alive, that is. I am healthy, well-fed, and have a house in a good part of the city. I even found my… a student. These things might not sound like much to you, but to her, they would have been like a dream."

He turned to the tree and added after a short pause:

"I don't really remember my dad too well, because I was too little when he passed away. But my mom, I remember her perfectly. She was… like a ray of sunshine. The strangest thing, though, is that when I was a kid, she was the whole world to me. I thought that she knew everything, could do anything. But now, I realize that she was barely older than we are. She was more or less a kid herself."

Nephis looked at him and said:

"But we aren't kids."

Sunny tilted his head, then shrugged.

"That is true, I guess. We are adults, which is a strange thought. I don't really feel very different from how I was before, at least not in terms of being confident and knowing what the hell I am doing."

Changing Star sighed, then shook her head a little.

"That is because you have been an adult for a long time. People like us have to grow up early."

Sunny thought about it for a moment.

"I don't know. I have a suspicion that when I look back on today in a decade or so, I will be dismayed by how big of an idiot I was."

Nephis smiled with the corner of her mouth.

"...That has nothing to do with adulthood."

He spared her a short glance and scoffed.

to say that I am not an

deadpan expression, then said in her usual

"I know."

help

I guess I expected to feel something… and I do. It's just not what I

moments. Eventually, he said with a hint of hesitation in her

you maybe want to say something to

a while,

is dead, and the dead can't hear anything. They are simply gone. They only exist in the memories

the fridge full of food he had back home were only one side of his life. The other

And Nephis.

bond with her was a

was not

of the calmest and most enjoyable in Sunny's life. He had mostly been in Neph's company, doing nothing but training and spending time with her. He had hidden his head in the sand and refused to think about

was coming to

going to finally leave to face the Fire Keepers. About a week after that, they were going to accept Clan Valor's invitation and

to

knowing where any of the roads actually led. Even worse, he was not the only

it was so

the tree

is well, too. She looks like you very much. You would have been really proud

stupid at that moment, but at the same time, strangely

will be able to visit again for a long time. Not that you're really here. Oh… that young woman right there is Nephis. She is my… well… it's complicated. In any case, I think you would have liked her. I have several other friends, too.

stepped back, looked at the lonely tree one last time, and turned

"Let's go."

looked at him and

"Are you alright?"

crookedly and

course. Why wouldn't I

opened her mouth to say something, but at that moment, several figures suddenly appeared from behind a corner, surrounding them. They were all dirty and disheveled, looking like typical outskirts thugs. The leader, a muscular man with a chemical scar on his face, pointed a kinetic handgun at them