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 smiling? It's

shook her

was... just suddenly reminded of an

gave her a dubious

that fairy

if trying to

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, trying to explain what is right and what

of weird story was that? And why would a

He frowned.

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

for

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

a little better about himself after hearing that.

happens to the doll

shrugged

cricket with a hammer, then gets

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

himself to 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 way a Demon would die from

ridiculous that conversation was. Sunny cleared

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 say is... don't

of Solace

wouldn't have died from hanging, I must admit - I wouldn't mind smashing that annoying cricket with a

apparition mockingly raised an eyebrow. Neph, meanwhile,

you keep looking to the side when

Sunny froze.

too. In fact, it looks exactly like me, and uses my own voice to berate me. It's fine, though.

remained silent before asking in an even

are two Sunnys

grimaced, then nodded with a bit

sense. One is just a foul-mouthed

him for a while

tilted her

stared at him

bit weird

Why are you looking at me

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

a deep breath, and

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

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

access to the list of his Memories, so she would

But that reminded him...

Sunny said in a