Shadow Slave

Sunny grimaced.

What Nephis had said made sense… as much as the word "sense" could be applied to her.

Changing Star wanted to destroy the Nightmare Spell, and the Sovereigns were in her way. Just like Gunlaug, the ruthless tyrant of the Bright Castle, they had seemingly given up on pursuing liberation from the Spell, and instead settled for the great power that it had already bestowed upon them.

What was worse, they were holding others back from rising high enough to threaten their position… at least that was how it looked from below. Perhaps the Sovereigns had other reasons for their despotism and inaction, but Sunny had no way of knowing if they did.

Not that it mattered to Nephis. To her, they were simply an obstacle that had to be destroyed. Her personal desire to avenge the Immortal Flame clan and bring retribution to those who had betrayed her father only made the task sweeter.

However, her enemies were much too strong. She would only be able to challenge them if she became Supreme herself, but the path to Supremacy was guarded by the very people she needed to destroy. Faced with this dead end, she had decided to use the Sovereigns' own power to vanquish them.

She also wanted to infiltrate the ranks of her enemy and put herself in the position to attack one of the great clans from within, when the time came.

Sunny let out a heavy sigh.

"So, let me get this straight. You are going to join Clan Valor, fight for them until Clan Song is destroyed to earn Anvil's trust, then turn your blade against him?"

Nephis lingered for a few moments, then shrugged.

"More or less. Why?"

He rubbed his face.

"This is a terrible plan! There are more holes in this plan than in Swiss cheese… whoever Swi is. Who says that Valor will win this war? Who says that Anvil will ever treat you as anything but a latent threat? Do you think that he is a fool? Surely, he knows how much you have to hate his guts!"

Changing Star looked at him calmly.

"I do. I say who wins. I say whether he trusts me or not. It all depends on me, does it not? If I want the great Song clan to fall, I have to make sure that it falls. If I want to win Anvil's favor, I have to make sure that he favors me. I am not a passive observer in this, Sunny. I have agency to shape the future into what I want it to be… or at least try to. Sure, the chances of success are poor. But when were the odds ever on our side?"

Sunny scoffed, then shook his head.

danger against your will and deciding to put yourself at risk of your own volition. Unlike before, we don't have to

her head,

think that I have any choice? Do you think that I can turn back now? That the Sovereigns will ever let me be? No… it is too late for that. It is as you said, Valor are determined to have their

her for a few moments, then

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

at him, Changing

"What?"

a

have a say in this too,

for a while. Eventually, Nephis

not forcing you to do anything. You don't have to follow me to Valor if

smile appeared on

I am only free to do as I wish until you decide otherwise.

for a few long seconds. Then, she sighed

so this is what it's all

his teeth, then said

a long time coming. So, Nephis, tell me… what are you going to do with your

remained impassive. Neph looked at him coldly for

never order you to do

mouth to retort before she finished speaking, but then froze. He stood still

would have died. That is not a threat,

ignited in Changing Star's eyes. She leaned forward slightly

you

sense

I can't say that I

almost as close as they had been during their dance.

serve me, and obey me will do so because that is their

a few moments, startled by the sudden intensity of her words. Then, a stubborn

you think you are, to decide what I