Shadow Slave

Nephis changed from her torn clothes and was now wearing a white tunic with its hems embroidered in intricate red patterns. The tunic was somewhat similar to Sunny's Shroud of Dusk, but also different - it seemed like a single sheet of light fabric that had been elaborately tied at the shoulders, and thus had no sleeves. Loosely fastened at the waist and with high slits, it seemed like something that could afford one a high degree of freedom of movement.

Still, Sunny was slightly surprised to see what Neph had chosen to summon. She gave him a strange look.

"What?"

He shrugged.

"I just imagined that you would select a suit of steel armor, or at least something that offers more protection. There has to be a Memory like that among those that Summer Knight gave you, right?"

Nephis shook her head.

"There is. But what does it matter here? No matter how powerful of an armor Memory I use, it will still break after brushing against a great abomination once. So, I might as well go for something light and offering good utility. This tunic might not protect me well, but it enhances my senses. For now, that is more important. Best of all..."

She slightly pursed her lips and added with a hint of frustration in her voice:

"...It won't burn."

Sunny suppressed a chuckle.

"Alright. Suit yourself."

It was not like he had anything to complain about. That tunic of hers was rather beautiful... plus, he wasn't one to talk, considering what he himself was wearing.

Sunny pulled his gaze away from Neph's slender figure and stared at the Memories that were laying on the ground between them. These were all the ones in their possession that mentioned Ariel, his Tomb, the Great River, or an estuary of any kind.

There was no real need to summon them, since both Sunny and Nephis could see each other's runes. However, having something to look at was more convenient.

They were:

A beautifully engraved chalice of white stone full of black liquid.

A hand mirror of dark silver that gave off an ominous feeling.

A graceful jian with a long and slender blade of pristine white jade.

A necklace of engraved black metal that resembled a collar.

hammerhead made of

cloudy steel with a handle

of Solace, the Stifled Scream, the Dark Shaper, and the

last two came from Nephis, while all the other ones came from Sunny - he had spent more time in Antarctica, after all, and received more Memories from the abominations of the

Graceless Dusk, but Sunny did not feel like undressing... although it might

'Nevermind.'

a while, sometimes glancing at the shimmering runes in front

conclusions, let's go over what we already know

Nephis nodded.

a

daemon called Ariel, the Demon of Dread. The Tomb of Ariel stands somewhere in the Nightmare Desert - however, it is not a tomb where Ariel is buried. Rather, it

silent for a moment, then

of Ariel. However, instead of being transported into the past of the Nightmare Desert, we somehow ended up in the middle of a

boundless - Sunny had not tried

He frowned.

and flow endlessly from the future into the past... whatever that means. The Great River is connected to the Tomb of Ariel, somehow. But we don't know how

finishing, Sunny lingered a bit,

want to

Nephis nodded.

was interrupted. Additionally, there are supposed to

coexisted with dusk and day, and at the seven suns bathing the world

looks like a colossal Soul

Sunny's eyes glistened.

was what

forged out of cloudy steel -

his hand, Sunny glanced at its complicated weave,

Memory: [Falling Ash].Memory Rank...

then tentatively picked up the Mirror of Truth. She glanced at her reflection, shivered, then turned the mirror around and studied the beautiful

darted from side to side, most likely reading the

moments, a contemplative expression appeared

us understand the nature and purpose of the

of Truth aside and reached out for

to the Sin of Solace and the Falling Ash,

as he read the description of the ashen