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.

where you were supposed to say that I am not

a deadpan expression, then said in her usual

"I know."

couldn't help

to come here. I guess I expected to feel

said with a hint of

want to say something to your

while, then shook

simply gone. They only exist in

that he had achieved many things that his mother would have wanted for him, it had not been without a cost. His house, his wealth, and the fridge full of food he

And Nephis.

was a dire thing,

future was not

weeks had been some 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 all

pleasant time was coming to

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

futures were going to be decided on that

actually led. Even worse, he was not the only one

it was

the tree and

well, I guess. Rain is well, too. She looks

that moment, but at the same time, strangely soothed. He hesitated for a few seconds,

Not that you're really here. Oh… that young woman right there is Nephis. She is my… well…

at the lonely tree one last

"Let's go."

Neph looked at him and asked

"Are you alright?"

smiled crookedly

Why wouldn't

dirty and disheveled, looking like typical outskirts thugs.