Shadow Slave

Climbing out of the fissure, the two of them - and the ominous figure of the Sin of Solace - studied the calm surface of the Great River. By now, it seemed like a sea of blood. The patch of red water surrounding the dead behemoth was growing larger as it was slowly washed away.

Just then, an ominous shadow moved through the blood, and a giant, cloudy eye rose from the red liquid to stare at them with hatred and burning malice. Sunny shivered and felt the desire to take a step back.

Nephis remained unmoved.

After a while, she spoke in a somber tone:

"...Strong."

He sighed.

"It is a Great Beast. Of course, it's strong."

At that moment, the Sin of Solace smiled.

As they escaped the suffocating gaze of the azure serpent by jumping back into the fissure, the sword wraith spoke:

"But... isn't it just a Great Beast? Where is your fighting spirit, Sunny? Go! Kill it! Like you always do..."

Sunny threw an irritated glance at him and thought:

'Shut the hell up.'

The apparition laughed.

"Why? Can't I make a joke? Of course, a pathetic waste of a Divine Aspect like you has no hope of surviving a fight with this creature."

It grinned and added:

"That is why it's funny."

Sunny frowned and glared at the Sin of Solace, then started to think of a response. However, at that moment, Neph's voice distracted him from the conversation:

"Sunny? Who are you talking to?"

Startled, he flinched slightly and turned to her. His face grew slightly more pale than usual.

"You... you heard that? I spoke it aloud?"

She lingered for a moment, then nodded.

Sunny let out a small laugh and scratched his head, feigning embarrassment. In truth, he was a little frightened - it seems that the effect of the Sin of Solace on his mind was not as tame as he had thought.

'Damn it.'

"That... my primary weapon Memory has a peculiar enchantment. Basically, it's a voice that doesn't miss a chance to explain how wrong everything I do is. Right... something like that."

Nephis stared at him for a while, and then a hint of a smile appeared on her face.

"Oh."

Sunny frowned.

are you

shook

suddenly reminded of an old fairy tale I once

gave her

What is that fairy

for a bit, as if trying

ran away from home. Every time the doll lied, his nose would grow bigger. And there was a cricket who followed

couple of times, perplexed. What kind of weird story was that? And why would

He frowned.

would remember it, though, not that

for a

good boy and

better about himself after hearing that. Curious, he

happens to the

shrugged with an indifferent

then gets hanged from a tree

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

to the

Why would he die after being hanged from a tree? Ridiculous... not to mention that a talking wooden doll would have been at least a Demon. There's no way a Demon would die from

abruptly realized how ridiculous that conversation was. Sunny cleared his throat, and then

have a couple of ideas why, but am not certain yet. So, that peculiar enchantment has become

couldn't help but glance at the Sin of Solace and add with a bit

doll wouldn't have died from hanging, I must admit - I wouldn't

raised an eyebrow.

keep looking to the side when talking about

Sunny froze.

too. In fact, it looks exactly like

remained silent before asking

two Sunnys

grimaced, then nodded with a bit of

sense. One is just

for a while with a

she tilted her

stared at him

a bit weird

looking at me

hidden in the depths of her calm grey eyes? Was

a deep breath,

know that you are not crazy. That Memory should be the Sin of Solace, right? It is tied to Ariel - and, therefore, to the Tomb of Ariel. Even

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

Memories, so she would know about the

But that reminded him...

said in a somber