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?

for Nephis ever since the Forgotten Shore. In truth, he had already been in love with her before they reached the Dark City... hopelessly

any weaker despite their many bitter disagreements. In fact, they were the reason why Sunny was so often infuriated with

faded or disappeared despite the long period of separation, either. If anything, they only grew more intense, almost

free

he had claimed, but it was a

he had

there was no

his person. The only

More than that...

though neither of them had ever dared to say it aloud, he knew that she felt the

wasn't that hard

there was a reason why both of them kept quiet.

lowered his head and closed his eyes

them did not really know how to handle their feelings and were shy about such things. Emotions

pursuit of revenge against the Spell left no space for something as frivolous as affection... or at least, in her heart, affection would always have to take the

As for him...

reasons to stay silent as

maybe... maybe here in the loop, he

"How sweet."

and

standing in the mist, staring

you two circling each other fearfully for so long that it makes me sick to simply remember. At least you idiot finally admitted it. My, oh my. All it took was dying dozens

Sunny looked away.

"Shut up."

was no energy

Sin of

what are you going to do

sharp gaze at

what if

The apparition laugh.

luck. Oh, there's just one problem... she's going to forget everything, isn't

Sunny gritted his teeth.

right. As much as he hated to admit

He hesitated, then spat:

it after we escape the loop. Why, you think

then sighed. Shaking his head, the

you forgetting something

unwilling to answer. However, the

think is possible between the two of you, as long as your bonds

Angered, he looked away and uttered through

would never

Sin of

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?

The wraith leaned closer: