Shadow Slave

Sunny and Nephis shared the desserts and enjoyed the tea. Their conversation flowed easily. Time passed slowly, but eventually, she rose and went to check on Jet and Cassie. Soon, the sound of her light steps faded away, and Sunny was left alone.

He leaned on the trunk of the sacred tree, looking into the fog.

His heart felt warm and at peace.

But at the same time...

Sunny could not throw what Neph had said out of his head.

'Do something that I never dared to do before...'

There were a few things he could think of.

He sighed and stared into the distance.

Sunny... had complicated relationships with his closest companions, to say the least. Nephis, Cassie, and he - there was a mess of emotions trapped between the three of them. Most of the things they wanted to say to each other had been left unspoken for a long time.

Especially between Sunny and Nephis.

He hesitated.

At this point, he would have to be a complete fool to remain blind to how he felt. Sunny shifted uncomfortably and lowered his gaze. His heart suddenly felt stifled. He grimaced, then brushed his hand across the wooden deck.

'Just say it. Can't you even say it?'

If he couldn't even say it now, then when would he?

Wasn't he supposed to be the most honest person in two worlds? So why couldn't he even be honest with himself?

Sunny remained motionless for a while, then let out a heavy sigh.

'I... care about Nephis.'

No, that was not it. That was just being coy. He grimaced and looked up, at the swaying branches of the sacred tree.

Sunny remained motionless for a while. Then, he took a deep breath.

And thought:

'I love Nephis.'

His expression collapsed.

It was true. It had been, for a long time. Sunny was not the most emotionally intelligent person, or at least he had not been before. If anything, his emotional development had been stunted - first by the rough life in the outskirts, then by the ruthless reality of the Nightmare Spell.

Who had time to think about emotions when every day was a lethal battle for survival?

taken him a long time to recognize the truth of how he felt for Nephis ever since the Forgotten Shore. In truth, he had already been in love with her before

weaker despite their many bitter disagreements. In fact, they were the reason why Sunny was so often infuriated with Nephis - if he felt nothing for her, he would not have cared

they only grew more intense, almost

be free of

was what he had claimed, but it

fury he had felt when she unanimously decided to

there was no

was... his person. The only one

More than that...

Even though neither of them had ever dared to say it aloud, he knew

that hard

there was a reason why both of them kept quiet. Too many

lowered his head and closed his eyes

were shy about such

other. Her pursuit of revenge against the Spell left no space for something as frivolous as affection... or at

As for him...

his reasons to

here in the loop, he

"How sweet."

flinched and opened his

hateful sword wraith was standing in the

been forced to watch you two circling each other fearfully for so long that it makes me sick to simply remember. At least

Sunny looked away.

"Shut up."

no energy

of Solace

do now? Gather your courage

a sharp gaze

if

The apparition laugh.

there's just one problem... she's going to forget everything, isn't she? How cowardly of you. Seems rather unfair to the poor

Sunny gritted his teeth.

right. As much as he hated to admit

He hesitated, then spat:

we escape

stared at him for a while, then sighed. Shaking his head, the sword wraith crouched

you forgetting something else,

the apparition

you. What kind of relationship do you think is possible between the two of you, as

expression grew ugly. Angered, he looked away and uttered through gritted

would never use

Sin of Solace

If there's one thing that this Nightmare proves, it's that no one knows what the future holds. I mean, all your precious friends are right here, changed into Corrupted monsters, going around slaughtering people. Even you are no different! Have you ever expected that Jet would brutally murder you one day? Or that Effie would satiate her hunger with your flesh? Funny that

The wraith leaned closer: