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 her

was... just suddenly reminded of an

her a dubious

What is that fairy tale

as if

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

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

He frowned.

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

for a

and returns home with the

about himself after hearing that. Curious,

to the

shrugged

kills the cricket with a hammer, then gets hanged

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

to the

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

that conversation was. Sunny cleared

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

of Solace and add with a bit of

I must admit - I wouldn't mind smashing

eyebrow.

looking to the side when talking

Sunny froze.

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

before asking

there are two

grimaced, then nodded with

sense. One is just

for a while with

tilted her

at him

a bit weird

you looking at me

was it hidden in the depths of her

a deep breath, and then shook

tied to Ariel - and, therefore, to the Tomb of Ariel.

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

list of his Memories, so she would know about the

But that reminded him...

said in a somber