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

shook

of an old fairy tale

gave her a dubious

What is that

bit, as if trying

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

perplexed. What kind of weird story was that? And

He frowned.

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

for

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

after hearing that. Curious, he raised an eyebrow and

happens to the doll in the original,

down and shrugged with an

a hammer, then gets hanged from a tree and

Sunny's eyes twitched.

'What the hell?'

the

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

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

grown stronger once we entered the Nightmare. I have a couple of ideas why, but am not

Sin of Solace and add with a bit

wouldn't have died from hanging, I must admit - I wouldn't mind smashing that annoying cricket

raised an eyebrow. Neph, meanwhile,

keep looking to the side when talking about

Sunny froze.

figure following me, too. In fact, it looks

remained silent before asking in an even

two

grimaced, then nodded with a bit of

is just

at him for a while with a funny

she tilted her head

at him

suddenly felt a bit weird

you looking at me like

in the depths of her calm grey

took a deep breath, and then shook her

and, therefore, to the Tomb of Ariel. Even though

Sunny slowly exhaled.

"Right."

his Memories, so she would know about the Sin

But that reminded him...

said