Shadow Slave

The first customers arrived, and the avatar got busy in the kitchen. Sunny, however, remained on the porch, enjoying the fresh air with a leisurely smile on his lips. The lively noises of the city filled the air like a bright melody.

At some point, the door opened, and Aiko walked out, dressed in a smart business suit and wearing a leather messenger bag over her shoulder. The petite girl yawned, stretched her arms, and mumbled:

"I'm off to the Castle, boss."

Sunny looked at her with a good-natured smile.

"You're delivering Memories, you know. What's up with the bag?"

Aiko stared at him with indignation.

"What do you even know... one has to look the part to make the right impression! That's business essentials!"

She glanced him over with suspicion.

"And speaking of looking the part... you seem a bit different today, boss, What is that... did you style your hair?"

Sunny blinked.

"I did not!"

Aiko gave him a sarcastic nod.

"Uh-huh... sure."

With that, she grinned and hurried away.

"Have fun with Princess Nephis, boss! Perform well! We're raking in real money here, so don't screw it up for us!"

The petite girl used her Aspect to skate on the cobblestones and disappeared behind a corner in the blink of an eye. Sunny was left standing on the porch, flabbergasted.

"What? What does she mean, perform well? I always perform well! Wait... that did not sound right....”

the world. Sunny did not have to look to know that

a slender silhouette was standing on the shore of the lake. Her wings

silver hair held down by

black as usual,

hope she did not

him, Nephis smiled lightly and

Sunless. Are

war. However, she had diligently made time to keep their appointments in the past few weeks, and never

that Nephis actually enjoyed their outings, and found shelter from the burden of her crushing responsibilities in the time the two of them spent together - no matter how fleeting it was. He

war preparations. There was a purpose to them Sunny was a hired sorcerer who had to forge her a superb sword, after all. So, the diligence she

would never admit it, the latter

"Master Sunless?"

for a moment, then

"Yes, I am ready."

offered her his arm, and when she wrapped

bought the pienic basket specifically for the occasion, since nothing in the Brilliant Emporium felt

two of them walked together. Nephis was calm, while Sunny was pretending to be nonchalant. They made for quite a stunning pair, and passerby stared at them with wide eyes... but he did not

‘There, there. Look more!'

seem to be

Neph's remark, Sunny realized that there was a wide

like a pretty good day.

studied his face for a few moments, then smiled slightly

have to agree. It does

away and reached a newly built martial hall. Bastion was full of Awakened warriors, and not all of them had a Legacy clan sponsoring them - so, they needed a place to

busy protecting the human enclaves and subjugating the wilderness of the Dream Realm, so there was always a shortage of

reputation for a martial school. On any day, there would be a

even the founder... their outing had to be public, but

at

Sunless. I'll be

martial hall, which was fashioned into a sand arena. Sitting down on

indeed a nice