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

negative

are you burdening yourself with

corner of Changing Star’s mouth curled

“Why? Wouldn’t you?”

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

“No.”

one of the things he had

pity the blind girl 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

be a little disappointed in

seem to judge him. She showed no reaction at all. After

“Because I want to.”

‘Because… she wants to?’

would either lecture him about virtue and compassion or disclose some obscure way to make Cassie’s seemingly weak

she did neither. Nephis expected him to believe that she was putting her life in danger, to the point of sacrificing an awakened armor-type Memory, because that was something she

‘Ridiculous!’

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

it was

to the 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 to. It was never a question of “want”… it was always a question of

in her upbringing, but they weren’t as ample as he had

in favor of something as frivolous as desire, and do things that

because that

that mentality was the greatest advantage of

that separated

think about. However, before Sunny could gather his thoughts, Nephis

“My turn.”

her turn to ask

once again turned to Sunny

know the legend of

what… who? What sort of a

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

“No.”

and turned away. A few

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,

at the

Where did this come from? Why

Meanwhile, Nephis continued:

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.

darkness, creating an enthralling

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

Nephis smiled.

leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even

Sunny blinked.

‘What?’

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

‘Weirdo!’

and then said without too

was because he

smile appeared

away… from home.