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

you burdening yourself

of Changing Star’s mouth

“Why? Wouldn’t you?”

pushing the

“No.”

he wanted to believe to the last moment that the answer would be “yes”. But one of the things he had

knew with certainty that it was simply not something he could do. He was barely able to save himself, let alone carry a helpless

he couldn’t help but be a

him. She showed no reaction at all. After a few moments,

“Because I want to.”

‘Because… she wants to?’

He was pretty sure that she would either lecture him about virtue and compassion or disclose some obscure way to make

in danger, to

‘Ridiculous!’

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

it was actually

he wanted to. Most of the time, he was doing them because he

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.

to have the audacity to disregard need in favor of something as frivolous as desire, and do things

blind girl simply because

that mentality was the greatest

real barrier that separated Legacies from the rest of

about. However, before

“My turn.”

mean it’s her turn

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

the legend of

who? What sort of a weird question is

remembering that she couldn’t see

“No.”

and turned away. A few moments later,

was a hero in an ancient war. 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 bravest. However, he was the

blinked, staring at

Where did this come from? Why is she suddenly

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

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

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

fell 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

Nephis smiled.

boat and abandoned the island, leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even his immortality

Sunny blinked.

‘What?’

mocking him, but it didn’t seem to

‘Weirdo!’

for a bit, and then said without

it was because he was far away from

smile appeared

away… from home. Hm.