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,

burdening yourself

Changing Star’s

“Why? Wouldn’t you?”

gritted his teeth, feeling the Flaw pushing the truthful answer out

“No.”

to the last moment that the answer would be “yes”. But one of

that he knew with certainty that it was simply not something he could

be a little

showed no reaction

“Because I want to.”

‘Because… she wants to?’

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 seemingly weak Ability incredibly

that she was putting her life in danger, to

‘Ridiculous!’

a non-answer. But the more he thought

it was actually

circumstances of his life, Sunny had never really done things because he wanted to. Most of the time, he was doing them because he needed

ample as he had imagined. She had no wealth and no

something as frivolous as desire, and do things that a normal person like Sunny

girl simply because that was what Nephis

that mentality was the greatest advantage

barrier that separated

was a lot to think about. However, before Sunny could gather his thoughts, Nephis suddenly spoke

“My turn.”

her turn to

again turned to Sunny and, after

you know the

of a

remembering

“No.”

and turned away. A few moments later, she softly

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

come from? Why is

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

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, he found himself on an island where the beautiful fairy, Calypso,

ethereal, strangely wistful voice resounded in the darkness, creating an enthralling atmosphere. Sunny couldn’t help but listen with the utmost

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

Nephis smiled.

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

Sunny blinked.

‘What?’

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

‘Weirdo!’

for a bit, and then said without too much

it was because he was far away

fleeting smile appeared

from home.