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.

a hammerhead

steel with a handle that was wrapped in black

Cusp, the Mirror of Truth, the Sin of Solace, the Stifled

he had spent more time in Antarctica,

Sunny did not feel like undressing... although it might have been only fair

'Nevermind.'

for a while, sometimes glancing at the shimmering runes in

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 is a tomb that he

silent for

us entered a Seed of Nightmare that seemed to have originated from the Tomb of Ariel. However, instead of

River was boundless - Sunny had not tried to reach its seemingly unattainable shores yet,

He frowned.

time and flow endlessly from the future into the past... whatever that means. The Great River is connected to the Tomb of Ariel,

Sunny lingered a bit, and then

you want to

Nephis nodded.

time was interrupted. Additionally, there are

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

place looks like a

Sunny's eyes glistened.

That was what I

forged out of cloudy steel

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

darted from side to side, most likely reading the runes that described

few moments, a contemplative expression appeared

one is interesting. I think it is important... it can help us understand the nature and purpose of the Tomb of Ariel. However, it doesn't tell us anything about

Mirror of Truth aside and reached out for

is connected to the Sin of Solace and

nodded as he read the description of the