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

getting a negative

you burdening

corner of Changing Star’s mouth

“Why? Wouldn’t you?”

his teeth, feeling the Flaw pushing

“No.”

the answer would be “yes”. But one of

knew with certainty that it was simply not something he could do. He was barely able to save

couldn’t help but be a little

not seem to judge him. She showed no reaction at all. After a few

“Because I want to.”

‘Because… she wants to?’

expected to hear. He was pretty sure that she would either lecture him about virtue and compassion or disclose some obscure way to make Cassie’s

him to believe that she was putting her life in danger, to

‘Ridiculous!’

dismissed her response as a non-answer. But the more he

was actually

his life, Sunny had never really done things because he wanted to. Most of the time, he was doing them because he needed to. It was never a question of “want”… it was always a question of “must”. For him,

a matter of perspective? Nephis 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. However, she

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

a blind girl simply because that was

mentality was the greatest advantage

the real barrier that separated Legacies

about. However, before Sunny could gather his thoughts, Nephis suddenly spoke

“My turn.”

it’s her turn to ask a

she meant. Changing Star once again turned to Sunny and, after a long pause,

you know the legend of

sort of a weird question

head. Then, remembering that she couldn’t see him, he

“No.”

sighed and turned away. A

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

staring at the silver-haired

did this come from? Why is she

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

the gods cursed him to endlessly wander the seas, never to return. Over the years, he survived one horror

resounded in the darkness, creating an enthralling atmosphere. Sunny couldn’t

in love with Odysseus and invited him to her palace. For many 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

Nephis smiled.

island, leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even his immortality behind. So, my question is…

Sunny blinked.

‘What?’

was that? He even considered that Nephis was mocking him, but it didn’t seem to be the case. It looked like she was sincerely

‘Weirdo!’

for a bit, and then said without too

was because he was

smile appeared on Nephis’s

away… from home.