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.

you smiling? It's very

simply shook

reminded of an old fairy

her a

What is that fairy tale

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

He frowned.

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

for a

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

hearing that. Curious, he raised

happens to the doll in

shrugged with an indifferent

kills the cricket with a hammer, then

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

to the

Ridiculous... not to mention that a talking wooden doll would have been at least a Demon. There's no way a

looked at Nephis and abruptly realized how ridiculous that conversation was. Sunny cleared his throat,

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

help but glance at the Sin of Solace and add with a bit of venom

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

an eyebrow. Neph,

keep looking to the side when talking about that

Sunny froze.

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

asking in an even

there are two

with a

sense. One is just a foul-mouthed hallucination,

at him for a while

tilted her

stared at him

suddenly felt a bit

Why are you looking at me like that?

what was it hidden in the depths of her calm

suddenly took a deep breath, and

and, therefore, to the Tomb of Ariel. Even though the pyramid doesn't

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

list of his Memories, so she would

But that reminded him...

Sunny said in a somber