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 very

simply shook her

I was... just suddenly reminded of

gave her

What is that

pondered for a bit, as if

would grow bigger. And there was a cricket who followed the wooden boy around, trying to explain what is right and

And why

He frowned.

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

for

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

about himself after hearing that. Curious,

the doll in the

down and shrugged with

with a hammer, then gets hanged from

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

the ground, he

die after being hanged from a tree? Ridiculous... not to mention that a talking wooden doll would have been

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

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

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

I must admit -

raised an eyebrow. Neph, meanwhile, frowned slightly and

the side

Sunny froze.

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

remained silent before asking

two Sunnys here right

then nodded with

sense. One is just a foul-mouthed

a while with

she tilted her head

at

felt a bit weird under

you looking at me like that? I'm

in the depths of her calm grey eyes? Was

deep breath, and

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

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

had access to the list of his Memories, so

But that reminded him...

Sunny said