Shadow Slave: Eternal Madness

Sunny looked at the Dark City... or what it was called before.

After losing his fate, he was lost, roaming the lands. For half a year, he stayed with Rain, watching over her. But after some time, he understood something: he didn't belong to this world.

He remembered a quote that Raphael had told him before: "A person lives on in the memories of those who remember them. Only when they are forgotten do they truly die."

At first, he didn't understand it, but now he did.

Leaving Happy Shadow with Rain, he ventured into the Hollow Mountains. After a year and a half, he found himself at the Forgotten Shore once again.

It really was quite funny. He had sworn never to return... yet here he was.

Finding himself at the Forgotten Shore, he journeyed through it, heading toward the first place he had called home.

Imagine his surprise when he saw that the once-ruined city was now populated with people—and a sun in the sky. A sun! For there to be a sun in this dead land must have been a miracle from a god or something.

As curious as he was, he entered the "Bright City," or so its residents called it.

After some time gathering information, he learned what had happened to the Dark City.

After the Third Nightmare, Raphael, who had become Supreme, somehow took residence in the Dark City. With his six children, he rebuilt it anew and turned it into a refuge for the people summoned beyond the Hollow Mountains.

'How can a man father six children?' Sunny thought, shrugging.

He sighed. He still had a lot of questions for his "friend"—if Raphael even remembered him.

Sunny hoped that Raphael would remember him. How could he not, when that man had broken every logic in the world? He had somehow become a Sovereign without even becoming a Saint! Not to mention, before Sunny entered the Estuary, he was sure Raphael had been corrupted—yet now, he wasn't.

Walking through the city, Sunny reached what he had once called home.

In front of him stood a white cathedral glowing under stained-glass light, its marble floor reflecting soft hues. Worshipers sat in wooden pews, deep in prayer. At the altar, a towering statue stood with a radiant sun carved behind it, its golden details catching the light. The figure held a banner in one hand and raised the other, as if in blessing or command, watching over all with serene authority.

Finding a place to sit, Sunny remained there for a few moments. After the worshipers finished their prayers, they left the cathedral, continuing their normal routines.

Only one person remained, kneeling in front of the statue. He was a man with golden hair and a beard, wearing a simple white cloak. From what Sunny knew, the man was the First Child of Raphael: Adam.

Sighing, Sunny stood up, intending to leave—but he was stopped as he heard Adam speak to him.

"Would you consider waiting a few minutes, Shadow?"

Sunny remained silent for a moment, then sat down again.

After a few minutes, Adam stood up and walked toward Sunny, saying:

"What is the honor of a divine shadow visiting this humble place?"

"There is no honor in my coming here."

Adam smiled at Sunny and replied:

"There is. After all, my father has been waiting for you."

Sunny's eyes widened. He looked at Adam and stuttered:

"You... do you know who I am?"

"If you mean whether I know you closely, then I don't," Adam replied.

Sunny's head dropped as he looked at the ground.

Adam looked at him and remained silent.

Sighing, Sunny raised his head and asked:

"You said your father wants to meet me. Why?"

"Only Father himself knows."

Looking at the black-haired man in front of him, Adam added:

"We shouldn't keep my father waiting any longer."

Walking through the city, the duo reached the castle. The soldiers opened the doors for them, and they walked through the hallways until they reached the throne room.

Looking at the man sitting on the throne, Sunny was sure it was Raphael, even though his appearance had changed completely. But what caught Sunny's attention was the woman sitting on Raphael's lap, her head resting on his chest. The woman had black hair like the night sky, and she wore a layered black classical dress that was elegant yet not overly complex, complementing her slender figure. Her sleepy face was the most beautiful he had ever seen.

"Amanises, we have a guest."

The woman named Amanises opened her bright red eyes and looked at Sunny.

For some reason, Sunny began trembling in fear.

After a few seconds of intense staring, she closed her eyes again and rested her head back on her father's chest as if he were a pillow.

Adam sighed and walked to the middle of the room.

"I've brought him, Father..."

At first, there was no response. But then, Raphael slowly opened his golden eyes.

He looked at Adam for a moment, then at Amanises, who was sleeping on his lap. Patting her head, he turned to Sunny and said:

"Who would have thought that a divine shadow still exists, even after the death of the Shadow God?"

Sunny wanted to speak, but suddenly Raphael began laughing.

"Hahaha... What are you, really?"

Sunny frowned and asked:

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play with me, child. Not only are you a divine shadow, but you also have no fate. For a being to have no fate means they simply don't exist!"

Sunny tried to answer but remained silent.

Raphael looked at Sunny and sighed.

"It doesn't matter. I brought you here to offer you something." He paused for a moment, then continued, "Become my shadow, and I shall fulfill any wish you desire."

Sunny looked at him and chuckled, "Can you create fate?"

Raphael looked at him and replied, "I can't."

"That's all the answer I need. It was nice meeting you."

As Sunny was about to leave, he heard Raphael's voice.

"I can't right now, but in the future, I will."

Sunny looked back at Raphael and asked, "How?"

"As someone with Weaver's lineage, I have authority over fate. When I grow stronger, I should be able to do that."

Sunny's eyes widened. He was sure Raphael had Nether's lineage, not Weaver's!

"What do you mean you have Weaver's lineage?!"

Raphael chuckled and said, "Unlike you, divine shadow, I was born from his blood. A true son of a Daemon."

Sunny was speechless. With that one sentence, Raphael had revealed so much... but what scared him most was the possibility that Weaver might still be alive.

"Don't you have Nether's lineage?"

"Hmm... I don't know where you heard that, but you're right. I do have his lineage."

Looking at Raphael, Sunny asked, "Then how do you have both? One of them should have consumed the other!"

Sunny spoke from his experience with the Shadow God's lineage.

"You're not wrong. The two lineages are fighting each other. Unfortunately, unlike yours, my lineage isn't pure—it's not of a true Daemon's blood, as I was born from a human mother."

Sunny finally understood. He knew Nether was trying to take control of Raphael's body. When Raphael mentioned having Weaver's lineage, Sunny had been confused as to why it hadn't consumed Nether's. Now he knew: because Raphael's lineage wasn't pure, it was weaker than Nether's.

Raphael looked at Sunny and asked, "Will you accept?"

Sunny looked at him and smiled.

"Fortunately, I don't intend to become anyone's slave—nor can you become my master."

Raphael remained silent, then asked, "Can I ask why I can't become your master?"

"No," Sunny replied.

He looked at the two and said:

"It was nice meeting you... unfortunately, I have a debt I must repay. Goodbye."

With that, Sunny turned into a shadow and left the castle.

Looking at where Sunny had been, Raphael sighed and muttered, "This brings back bad memories..."

Adam looked at his father and asked, "Is it okay not to tell him, Father?"

Raphael looked at his son and smiled.

"He's too weak right now. Only when he's ready to hear the truth will I tell him."

Patting his daughter's head, he added, "I need to go back. Nether has taken advantage of my absence."

"Yes, Father," Adam replied.

With that, Raphael closed his eyes, returning to his Soul Sea, where everything was in chaos.

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I No-diffed my mid exam, it wasn't even a challenge. So for the next two days I'll be uploading one chapter each.

If you have any questions, you can find me in the official Shadow Slave discord. just go to the Fanfiction room, and search for mine, it's named after the FF name.

Leave a review on this fanfic, chapter and some power stones, so more people can read it.

See you again next time👋