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.

you smiling? It's

simply shook her

I was... just suddenly reminded of an

gave her

What is that fairy

for a bit, as if

from home. Every time the doll lied, his nose would grow bigger. And there was a cricket who followed the wooden boy around, trying to explain what

story was that? And why would a doll be alive? Was

He frowned.

fairy tale. I do see why you would remember it, though, not that I have any problems with the length

thought for

guess the doll learns how to be a good boy and returns home with the cricket? That is not

after hearing

happens to the doll in the

shrugged

with a hammer, then gets hanged from a

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

to the ground, he

Ridiculous... not to mention that a talking wooden

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

mine has grown stronger once we entered the Nightmare. I have a couple of ideas why, but am not certain yet. So, that peculiar enchantment has become more annoying, too. I guess what I am trying to

help but glance at the Sin of Solace and add with

from hanging, I must admit - I wouldn't mind

apparition mockingly raised an eyebrow.

do you keep looking to the side when talking about that

Sunny froze.

was only a voice. But now there's an illusory figure following me, too. In fact, it looks exactly

silent before asking

are two

then nodded with a

One is just a foul-mouthed

at him for a while with a funny

she tilted

stared at

suddenly felt a bit weird

looking at me

what was it hidden in the depths of her calm grey eyes? Was it...

a deep breath,

crazy. That Memory should be the Sin of Solace, right? It is tied to Ariel - and, therefore, to the Tomb of Ariel. Even though the pyramid doesn't seem to exist in this Nightmare, it might

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

to the list of his Memories, so she would know

But that reminded him...

serious, Sunny said in a