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

simply shook her

suddenly reminded of an old fairy tale

her a dubious

What is that

a bit, as if trying to recall, then

And there was a cricket who followed

story was that? And why would a doll be alive? Was it actually

He frowned.

strange fairy tale. I do see why you would remember it, though, not that I have any problems

for

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

about himself after hearing that.

the doll in

sat down and shrugged with an indifferent

then gets hanged from a tree and

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

to 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 least a

abruptly realized how ridiculous that conversation was. Sunny cleared his

Nightmare. I have a couple of ideas why, but am not certain yet. So, that peculiar

but glance at the Sin of Solace and add

I must admit -

an eyebrow.

do you keep looking to the side

Sunny froze.

me, too. In fact, it looks exactly like

before asking in an even

there are two Sunnys

grimaced, then nodded with a

a sense. One is

him for a while with

she tilted

stared at

bit weird

are you looking at me like that?

depths of her calm

took a deep breath, and then shook her

of Solace, right? It is tied to Ariel - and, therefore, to the Tomb of Ariel. Even

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

of his Memories,

But that reminded him...

said in a somber