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.

are other powers to consider, too - the House of Night, for example. Even the government, or Asterion, wherever he might be... if both Song and Valor are weakened by the clash, the lesser threats

for

suspected there 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 time to go

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

few people in the world could have uncovered this mystery... but Changing Star herself had infiltrated one of the great clans,

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

with the Sovereigns...

He raised an eyebrow.

heard a few people use that word. However, I still don't know what it

then headed toward the stairs to

uh, if

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

Domains are synonymous with their rule. so, one might

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

her silently. He had suspected

he had no idea what that statement actually

Transformation Ability that

Neph frowned.

one that is tremendously powerful, at that. You might call it a supreme, ultimate, or pinnacle Ability, I guess. 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

lingered for

you. I don't know everything about it just yet. I've just gleaned bits and pieces of information where I could. The point is, each step of the Path