Shadow Slave

1073 The Fourth Step

Sunny remained silent for a while, looking at Nephis with a somber expression.

Eventually, a dark smile appeared on his face.

"Pray tell."

Neph sighed, then stood up and started gathering the dirty plates. Her movements were calm and unhurried, as if they had not been discussing matters that could very well decide the fate of the whole world.

"Help me do the dishes?"

Sunny blinked, amused by the mundane banality of her request. He lingered for a moment, then shook his head and went about giving Changing Star a hand. As they cleaned the plates in the cold water produced by either a Memory or the Ivory Tower itself, she started talking:

"I've known for a long time that the great clans - especially Song and Valor - were opposed to each other, despite being outwardly unified. The symptoms of the approaching war were quite apparent, if one knew where to look. However, the reasons for this animosity have always eluded me. Ki Song and Anvil had been comrades once, after all... well, I guess it doesn't really matter. My father was their comrade, too.

Sunny hesitated for a moment.

"Do they really need a reason, though? Power is already reason enough. Both have an unimaginable amount of it, but in my experience, those who possess great power are the. ones most greedy for more.

Nephis slowly shook her head.

to consider, too - the

paused for a

had to be something else at play. And as it turns out, there is - although I only learned of it recently. I still don't know why the hostility between the two great clans has suddenly escalated so much now, of all the times it could have... now seems like a terrible

by tense anticipation. It felt as though he was about to learn a great secret... one that would finally let

world could have uncovered this mystery... but Changing Star herself had infiltrated one of the great clans, while Cassie was

remained silent, waiting. Nephis calmly wiped the last plate; put it on the drying rack, and turned to

with the

He raised an eyebrow.

word. However, I still don't know what

nodded, then headed toward the stairs to the sixth, highest level of the

uh, if you

gave her a dark look. then followed. As they ascended the stairs, Neph

with their rule. so, one

I found out, Domains are not just an abstract concept... in fact, they are very real. A Domain is

He had suspected as much, hilt never had

had no idea what that

Ability that the Saints possess? One that affects an

Neph frowned.

But a Domain is something separate from the Supreme Ability. It is another innate function of the Aspect, just like controlling soul essence or accessing the Soul Sea is - a natural progression of one's ability to

lingered for a

of information where I could. The point is, each step of the Path of Ascension... as well as of the Path of Corruption... has its own meaning. The first path is the ascent toward divinity, while the