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

suddenly reminded of an old

her

is that fairy tale

bit, as if trying to recall, then said

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

story was that? And why would

He frowned.

you would remember it, though, not that I have any problems with the length of my nose.

thought for a

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

better about himself after hearing that. Curious, he raised

happens to the

down and shrugged with

with a hammer, then gets hanged from

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

the ground, he

doesn't even make sense. Isn't that 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

at Nephis and abruptly realized how ridiculous that conversation was.

not certain

the Sin of Solace and

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

raised an eyebrow. Neph, meanwhile,

you keep looking to the side

Sunny froze.

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

asking in an

are two

nodded with a bit

a sense. One is just a

stared at him for a while with a

tilted

stared at

a bit weird under that

looking at me like that? I'm not

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

a deep breath,

Sin of Solace, right? It is tied to Ariel - and, therefore, to the Tomb of Ariel. Even though the pyramid doesn't seem

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

the list of his Memories, so she would

But that reminded him...

serious, Sunny said in