Shadow Slave

Sleep was avoiding Sunny. For a while, he sat silently in the darkness, listening to the calming rumbling of the waves. In this rare moment of respite, memories of the past few days came flooding into his mind. However, he was too tired to seriously think about anything. He was warm, full, and relatively safe. For now, that was more than enough.

Soon, the rhythm of Cassia’s breathing changed, indicating that she fell asleep. Nephis was guarding the camp, motionless and, as always, a bit distant. With her silver hair and fair skin, she looked like an alabaster statue.

Sunny sighed. He struggled for a bit, and then said quietly:

“Hey. Can I ask you a question?”

Nephis glanced at him and shrugged. The lack of an audible response clearly indicated that she remembered about his ability to see in the dark.

“Sure.”

‘Would it be too personal?’

Sunny hesitated.

“I thought you Legacies come into the Spell with a whole inherited arsenal of Memories. I mean, that’s supposed to be your main advantage. How come you only had three?”

Nephis was silent for a few moments.

“Actually, I only had two. The rope came from Cassie.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Oh. I see.”

Realizing that her answer wasn’t really an answer, Nephis thought for a while and added:

“We lost most of our Memories when my father passed away. The ones that remained were sold one by one over the years, to keep the family afloat. This sword and armor came from my First Nightmare.”

So that’s how it was. Sunny realized that the fall of the Immortal Flame clan might have been more thorough than he had thought. Still, something about it didn’t make sense.

“Surely, with your clan’s reputation and standing, there were other ways to make money.”

Without any strong reaction, Nephis simply said:

“There were other reasons.”

Then, she unexpectedly turned her head in his direction.

“Can I ask you a question in return?”

Sunny swallowed.

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Nephis tilted her head.

“How did you know that I’m a Legacy?”

‘What? That’s it?’

“Simple. I heard Caster mention it. He was scolding other Sleepers to make them treat you with respect.”

She gave him a nod and turned away. What thoughts were hidden behind her calm grey eyes, Sunny did not know.

Some time had passed before he gathered enough courage to ask the question that he really wanted to ask. Before doing it, though, he made sure that Cassie was sound asleep and lowered his voice.

I ask another

negative response, he

are you burdening

Star’s

“Why? Wouldn’t you?”

Flaw pushing the truthful answer out of his

“No.”

answer would be “yes”. But one of the things he had lost after the Nightmare was the ability to lie to himself.

or didn’t want to help her. It’s just that he knew with certainty that it was simply not something he could do. He was barely able to save himself, let alone carry a helpless person across the Dream Realm. If he tried, they would just die

couldn’t help but be a little disappointed in

however, did not seem to judge him. She showed no reaction at

“Because I want to.”

‘Because… she wants to?’

that she would either lecture him about

danger, to the point

‘Ridiculous!’

non-answer. But the more he thought about it, the more disturbed he

maybe, it was actually

was doing them because he needed to. It was never a question of “want”… it was always a question of “must”. For him, this was a basic rule

had certain advantages in her upbringing, but they weren’t as ample as he had imagined. She had no wealth and no arsenal of relics to empower her.

audacity to disregard need in favor of something as frivolous

helping a blind girl simply because that was what

mentality was the greatest

that

to think about. However, before Sunny

“My turn.”

does she mean it’s her turn to ask a

that was what she meant. Changing Star once again

know the legend

of a weird question is

head. Then, remembering that

“No.”

sighed and turned away. A few moments later, she softly

with an Aspect of indestructible body, Diomedes that was so ferocious even the God of War was wary of him, Ajax who was as strong as a giant. Odysseus was not the strongest, and not the bravest. However,

blinked, staring at the

come from? Why is she suddenly

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

ended the war, and he prepared to sail home. However, the gods cursed him to endlessly wander the seas, never to return. Over the years, he survived one horror after another and lost all of his companions. Then, shipwrecked,

resounded in the darkness, creating an enthralling atmosphere. Sunny couldn’t help but listen with the

like a paradise, filled with all kinds of wonders, delicacies and delights. As long as loving Calypso was by his side, Odysseus was even immortal. But… the longer he stayed, the more time he spent sitting on the shore,

Nephis smiled.

all its delights, the beautiful

Sunny blinked.

‘What?’

was that? He even considered that Nephis was mocking him, but it

‘Weirdo!’

a bit, and then said without

was because he was far

smile appeared on

away… from