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.

why are you

simply shook her

reminded of an old

her

that fairy

if trying to recall,

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

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

He frowned.

would remember it, though, not that I have any problems with the length

thought for a

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

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

to the doll in the original,

sat down and shrugged with an indifferent

the cricket with a hammer, then

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

the ground, he

doll made of 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

and abruptly realized how ridiculous that conversation

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

the Sin of Solace and add with a bit

the doll wouldn't have died from hanging, I must admit - I wouldn't mind smashing that annoying cricket with a hammer and watching it

raised an eyebrow. Neph, meanwhile, frowned

to the side when

Sunny froze.

me, too. In fact, it looks exactly like me, and uses my own voice to berate me.

remained silent before asking in an even

are two Sunnys here right

with a bit of

One is

a while

she tilted

stared at him

a bit weird under

you looking at me like that? I'm not

hidden in the depths of

took a deep breath, and

Solace, right? It is tied to Ariel - and,

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

access to the list of his Memories,

But that reminded him...

serious, Sunny said in a somber