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.

supposed to say that I am

a deadpan expression, then said in her

"I know."

couldn't help but

to come here. I guess I expected to

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

to say something to your

lingered for a while, then shook his

can't hear anything. They are simply gone. They only exist

it had not been without a cost. His house, his wealth, and the fridge full of food

And Nephis.

was a dire thing,

future was not cloudless at

few 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

pleasant time was

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

going to be

roads actually led. Even worse, he was not the only one making the decision on what

of it was

then walked over to the tree

well, I guess. Rain 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 soothed. He hesitated for a

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. So I am in good hands.

at the lonely

"Let's go."

away, Neph looked

"Are you alright?"

crookedly and

Why

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,