Shadow Slave

After a long time spent in comfortable silence, Sunny glanced at Nephis, thought for a few moments, and asked:

"So, what do you make of this place?"

The other members of the cohort all had a deep connection to the Chained Isles. Sunny and Cassie had spent the most time here, but Effie and Kai were also deeply tied to the remains of the Kingdom of Hope. Their experiences in the Nightmare were not something one could ever forget. It was a place that had changed them.

Nephis, on the other hand, was a stranger here. She could look at the Chained Isles as an outsider. So, he was idly curious about her perspective..

Neph lingered for a while, then said quietly:

"It is as everywhere else. Broken."

Sunny smiled.

"I guess. The Chained Isles are more honest in that regard, aren't they? They don't hide their broken nature."

Indeed, the Dream Realm was a ruined world. ...The waking world was a ruin, too. And the young woman standing next to him was the Star of Ruin. A fitting name for someone born of two broken worlds.

He sighed.

"Still, I thought you would have more of an opinion. Don't you feel a connection to this land?"

Nephis glanced at him with a bit of confusion.

"Why would I?"

Sunny shrugged.

"Well, the Kingdom of Hope was destroyed by Sun God. He brought his fire down, and obliterated it. You are the inheritor of that fire, are you not? Sun God's blood is flowing through your veins. So, in a sense, you are the last descendant of the being who brought ruin to this land."

Nephis remained silent for a while, then smiled.

"I see. Yes, it would make sense for me to feel a connection to Sun God. But, actually... in this case, I feel more connected to Hope."

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"Hope? The wicked demon who spent a thousand years twisting the minds of everyone living in the ruins, driving them insane, and causing all kinds of unspeakable, abhorrent evil? The vile queen of madness, that Hope?"

little. She lingered for a

for a thousand years, but never stopped trying to set herself free. Who escaped her prison and waged war against the eternal gods.

Sunny hid his smile.

actually, I'm rather fond of Hope, too. I met her

first time in a long time, he saw Neph's usually calm expression crack

met Hope?

Sunny nodded.

her, at least. At the very end of the Nightmare, I entered the Tower and saw her, for a few fleeting moments. She

for

Flaw of the gods. I'm not sure what she meant, though. I always assumed that

away and looked

perfect beings once, but then they were no more. It doesn't make a lot of sense, does

remained silent for a while, then

also have to pay a price to use his power?

distant stars with

gods could die, so they must

Then, slowly, a pale smile appeared on

hope he suffered a

beyond the horizon, and the crescent moon became visible in the twilight sky. The five of them gathered on the shore of the clear lake,

Cassie, Effie, Kai... the shadows moved as the fire danced, painting them in shades of orange

Sunny turned his head to look at the lake, where the flying ship

up with

looked at him with confusion. Then,

"Oh!"

He thought for a few moments,

"How about Sky Swimmer?"

measured look, making the handsome

"What?"

He shook his head.

Don't pay me any attention. I just think I understand now how your band

and

"What's wrong with Night&Gale?"

is an amazing

Sunny smiled crookedly.

alright! There's nothing wrong with that name. Still,