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

getting a negative response, he

burdening yourself

of Changing Star’s mouth

“Why? Wouldn’t you?”

pushing the truthful

“No.”

would be “yes”. But one of the things he had lost after

or didn’t want to help her. It’s just that he knew with certainty that it was simply not something

but be a little disappointed

not seem to judge him. She showed no reaction at all. After a few moments, she simply

“Because I want to.”

‘Because… she wants to?’

response Sunny expected to hear. He was pretty sure that she would either lecture him about virtue and compassion or disclose some

in danger, to the point of sacrificing an awakened armor-type Memory, because that was something she simply wanted

‘Ridiculous!’

the more he thought about it, the more disturbed he

it was actually

because he needed to. It was never a question of “want”… it

they weren’t as ample as he had imagined. She had no wealth and

impossible for her to have the audacity to disregard need in favor of something as frivolous as desire, and do things that a

blind girl simply because that was what Nephis wanted

was the greatest advantage of

that separated Legacies from

lot to think about. However, before Sunny could gather his

“My turn.”

it’s her turn to ask a

Changing Star once again turned to Sunny and,

you know the legend

sort of a

head. Then, remembering that she couldn’t see

“No.”

A few moments later, she softly

In the legends, some humans back then had powers akin to the Awakened. Achilles 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

at the silver-haired

come from? Why is she

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

and he prepared to sail home. However, the gods cursed him to endlessly wander the seas, never to return. Over the years, he survived

voice resounded in the darkness, creating an enthralling atmosphere. Sunny

years, they lived together in harmony. The island was 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, looking at

Nephis smiled.

a makeshift boat and abandoned the island, leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy,

Sunny blinked.

‘What?’

him, but it didn’t seem to be the case. It looked like

‘Weirdo!’

thought for a bit, and then said

was because he was far away

smile appeared on

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