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 smiling? It's very

simply shook

was... just suddenly reminded of an old fairy tale

her

that fairy

as if trying

his nose would grow bigger. And there was a cricket who followed the wooden boy around, trying to explain what is right and what

What kind of weird story was that? And why would

He frowned.

do see why you would remember it, though, not that I have any problems with

for

doll learns how to be a good boy and returns home with the cricket?

little better about himself after hearing that. Curious, he raised an eyebrow and

happens to the doll in the

sat down and shrugged

a hammer, then gets hanged

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

the

wood? 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

that conversation was.

we entered the Nightmare. I have a couple of ideas why, but am not certain yet.

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

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

apparition mockingly raised an eyebrow. Neph,

do you keep looking to the side when talking

Sunny froze.

But now there's an illusory figure following me, too. In fact, it looks exactly like me, and uses my own voice

remained silent before asking in an

two Sunnys here right

nodded with

is

him for a while with a funny

tilted her

at

bit weird under that

looking at me

depths of her calm grey eyes? Was

took a deep breath,

Memory should be the Sin of Solace, right? It is tied to Ariel - and, therefore, to the Tomb of

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

his Memories,

But that reminded him...

Sunny said in