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

shook

of an old fairy tale

her

What is that fairy tale

bit, as if trying to recall, then said with

home. Every time the doll lied, his nose would grow bigger. And there was a

that? And why would a doll be alive? Was it actually an Echo? Or a Nightmare

He frowned.

why you would remember it, though, not that I have any

for a

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

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

the doll

shrugged with

with a hammer, then gets hanged

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

to the

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 being

how ridiculous that conversation was. Sunny cleared his throat,

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

Solace and add with

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

raised an eyebrow. Neph, meanwhile, frowned slightly and

do you keep looking to the side when talking

Sunny froze.

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

silent before asking in an even

two Sunnys

then nodded with a bit of

is just

at him for a while with a

tilted her head

at him

bit

you looking at me like that? I'm

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

suddenly took a deep breath, and then shook her

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

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

of his Memories, so she would know about the

But that reminded him...

Sunny said in a somber