Shadow Slave

Sunny and Nephis remained motionless for a while, carried by the indifferent, inevitable current of the Great River. His heart was heavy... too heavy to bear. It was in so much pain that the suffering felt almost physical. Or maybe it was.

Eventually, the pain turned dull. But the unbearable weight remained.

Slowly raising his hand, Sunny tightly gripped one of Neph's arms. She was still hugging him from behind, so he couldn't see her face. She couldn't see his, either... which was perhaps for the best.

When Sunny spoke, his even voice was low and full of torment:

"Neph..."

He raised his eyes to the distant blue sky.

"Why can't we protect anyone?"

...There was no answer for a while. Eventually, Nephis let out a quiet sigh.

"Because that is not the world we were born into."

She lingered for a moment, her body still pressed against his. Then, she added:

"You and I, and everyone we know... we were born to destroy things, not save them."

Sunny lowered his head, thinking that maybe she was right. The world they lived in - both of the worlds, really - needed killers more than it needed builders. That was the sign of the dire times they belonged to.

But what was the point of slaying Nightmare Creatures and conquering the trials of the Spell if there was nothing to return to except regret and ruin?

A few moments later, he heard Neph's voice again. Holding him, she said in a hesitant tone:

"I don't know if it helps... but Ananke never intended to return to Weave. She knew that she wouldn't be coming back all along."

Sunny's eyes trembled. Shifting slightly, he turned his head and finally looked at Neph.

"What?"

She sighed.

"What kind of future would it have been, to return and spend the rest of her limitless life alone in the graveyard of everything she loved? She had only held out for that long because of a dream about the Children of Weaver... us... needing her help. Once we were gone, her last reason to remain would have been gone, too."

Nephis looked away.

"That was why the supplies we gathered in Weave were only meant for two people, not three. And why she wanted to tell us about its past so much."

Her voice grew forced and heavy.

"...That was why she took us to the House of Parting, as well. Where the Riverborn come to leave on their last journey. To have a feast with their loved ones before saying farewell."

motionless face contorted slightly. She remained silent for a moment, then

listened to her tales, and kept her company along the way. The order of things might have been wrong... but

his

'The supplies...'

realize that all the things they had gathered in Weave were meant for the two of them, and not

wanting to bear its weight, and found solace in convincing himself that they would think of something later... even though there was

Ananke was gone.

at the wooden boards of the deck, trying uselessly to console himself. He told himself that the woman they knew was not the real Ananke. Of course, it didn't help. He told himself that everything had happened according

it didn't help,

was only one way to lessen

was to turn the pain into

but he could exact bloody vengeance on those who had doomed

'The Mad Prince...'

image of the odious abomination appeared in front of his eyes. Sunny's face hardened, and his

bastard might still

gleamed

the Six Plagues were. Or rather, who he thought they

remained silent for a while, and

I saw the Mad Prince

him and shifted back, allowing Sunny to turn around and look

a few moments,

Plagues is. They're us... they're us from the future. Cassie,

the Defiled madman had attacked him. The deranged voice calling him a

'Murderer...'

eyes for a

Corrupted, and so, we

was. The thought he was scared to admit to

keep his emotions suppressed and looked at Nephis, not knowing what her reaction would

grey eyes were calm... like always. Sunny could usually read the true emotions

she confused? Unbelieving? Angry?

silent for a long

she looked him in the eyes and

"That's great, then."

Sunny blinked.

not the

making sure that

"...Great?"

nodded, as if confirming something

we know all about them.

smiled slightly out of the corner

to face them before, but if what you said is true... well, then it changes things. If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result