Shadow Slave Fanfic: Peaceful Dreams...well...kinda. [New]

"Ah, but fear not, for we have plenty to occupy our time! Today, I'll dive into crafting your Memories. It might take a week or so, but rest assured, they'll come with Passive Enchantments—no essence needed! And for Rick, I'll weave in the enchantment from my Mantle that shrouds my presence. Tinkering it to give him the aura of a sleeper will be a breeze."

With a playful grin, Rain shot Sunny a look that could melt hearts.

"Thanks, Sunny! You're a gem! But could you maybe tweak Rick's Memory so his hair or eyes are a smidge different? Pretty please?"

Sunny burst into laughter, lifting Nephis off the couch with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Not a chance, sis! That's my sweet revenge for you calling me 'not FUN'!"

Before Rain could respond, he whisked Nephis into the shadows, vanishing with a swift Shadow Step to their hotel room.

Rain crossed her arms, a pout forming on her lips.

"Ugh, he's so stubborn!"

Cassie chuckled, a knowing smile gracing her face.

"Oh, don't forget spiteful! He'll definitely remind you of your 'no fun' comment in the future. Just be grateful he adores you and is only trying to pull a little prank. Those who find themselves on Sunny's bad side usually end up... well, let's just say they develop a deep-seated fear of shadows."

Mordret gulped, curiosity piqued.

"How do you know that? About the shadows, I mean?"

Cassie scoffed lightly.

"Because I've been there—thought I was on his bad side once. Turns out, he didn't hate me like he does your clone, but he definitely needed space for a while. I distinctly remember leaving the lights on in my house and avoiding the dark like it was the plague."

Mordret laughed awkwardly, a hint of worry in his voice.

"I hope he doesn't decide to take out my Flaw, or that would spell doom for me too."

Cassie placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, her voice soft.

"He won't. Now that he knows what would happen to you if Mordret were to meet his end, he'll find a way to deal with him without harming you both."

Mordret met her gaze, uncertainty lacing his words.

"How can you be so sure?"

Cassie enveloped him in a warm hug.

"Because that's Sunny's specialty—he finds solutions to problems that seem impossible. He protects those who matter to him, and you, Mordy, are one of them."

Mordret smiled, returning her embrace, while Rick and Rain exchanged amused glances. Leaning down, Rick whispered to Rain.

"What do you think the odds are that these two will end up together?"

Rain chuckled softly, whispering back.

"Well, I'd say they're already pretty cozy. Cassie's been looking for someone to unwind with, and I think she's found her match."

Suddenly, Cassie and Mordret flinched at the unexpected volume of Rain's excitement. Cassie turned to them, a playful smile on her lips.

"Well, you might just be onto something. After all, there's a reason Mordy wasn't around last night when you two returned from your little date."

Rain and Rick's jaws dropped in disbelief, a moment of silence hanging in the air until Mordret stood, wrapping an arm around Cassie's waist while she rested a hand on his chest.

"It's true, Madman. You're not the only one plotting a life of solitude. While I can't go to Bastion, Cass and I can rendezvous here in the waking world, and for now, that's enough."

Rick snapped back to reality, clearing his throat with a grin.

"A bit unexpected, but I'm genuinely happy for you two. Quick question, though—who else is in on this?"

Cassie laughed heartily.

"As of now, just you two. We've only been on one date, so we're keeping it under wraps until we decide if it's worth taking to the next level. We're both busy, after all, so squeezing in a relationship amidst our packed schedules will be... quite the challenge."

Mordret leaned closer, a twinkle in his eye.

"I can definitely carve out some time for you. After all, if I'm not constantly relocating, there's not much else on my plate."

Cassie chuckled, pulling him into another hug.

Rick turned to Rain, a smile dancing on his lips.

"So, what do you think? Should we head back to Bastion?"

Rain licked her lips, excitement bubbling in her voice.

"I'd love to, but let's swing by your place instead. We can't exactly recreate yesterday's escapades at Sunny's Café."

Rick laughed heartily, turning to the pair.

"We'll be on our way then. Hope you two have a fantastic day!"

As they reached the warehouse door, Rick threw them one last glance.

"Oh, and don't forget—this place is crawling with cameras that catch every little thing, so if you plan on taking your relationship to the next level, I suggest scouting for a hotel."

Without waiting for a response, he closed the door behind him, leaving the duo in a state of bemusement. Mordret sighed heavily.

"Even with control over his body at night, he still manages to kill me."

Cassie's curiosity piqued.

"How did he even manage that? A beast capable of slaying a saint must be a tough one to seal away."

Mordret took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.

"It was only after our Second Nightmare that he managed it. We discussed it extensively, trying various methods. Ultimately, it was the knowledge we gained during that nightmare that enabled him to seal the beast within. It's also where we uncovered the truth about the creature inside him. We had an inkling of its origins, but confirmation was still terrifying."

Cassie hesitated but couldn't resist asking.

"Please, what's the nature of Rick's inner beast?"

Mordret trembled slightly as he spoke.

"It's a Divine Apex Predator, as you know. Created by the Daemons to hunt the Gods. And from what we learned, it has succeeded more than once. It's taken down two of the seven Gods and even one of the Daemons. We don't know who they were, but that's irrelevant. What matters is that if there's another one out there, we're all doomed."

Cassie exhaled shakily.

"Let's hope Rick's beast is the only one."

Moments later, Cassie turned to Mordret, a playful smile lighting her face.

"I know we just had our first date, but why not heed Rick's advice and search for a hotel?"

Mordret initially trembled, but quickly regained composure, a smile breaking through.

"That sounds like a splendid idea. I may not show it, but I'm absolutely thrilled to spend time with you."

Cassie blushed slightly.

"Good, because I already have a place in mind."

Mordret chuckled, tilting her chin up. Without warning, he pressed his lips to hers, a kiss that lifted Cassie's spirits. Moments later, he pulled away, and she grinned.

"Yeah, I definitely need more of that."

Mordret chuckled.

"Oh, no worries! Being a tad older, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve to make a woman feel cherished. You're in good hands, Cass, I promise."

Cassie bit her lower lip, intertwining her fingers with his as they left the warehouse, heading straight for the destination she had in mind.

Hours later, in Bastion, specifically the Ivory Tower...

"Good grief, what's up with the weather today? It's been storming for ages!" Effie exclaimed, devouring her fourth burger of the hour.

Nephis chuckled softly.

"I bet it's because of Rain and her Flaw. Whatever's happening with her right now is sending her emotions into a frenzy."

Jet scoffed, a grin spreading across her face.

"We all know what's happening. She's not here or at Sunny's Café, so I bet Sunny's hiding in his basement to escape the storm."

Nephis nodded, a smile dancing on her lips.

"Yep! He's busy crafting my sword and new Memories for Rain."

Jet raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

"What kind of Memory?"

Nephis shrugged, a playful glint in her eye.

"That's a secret! She asked us not to spill the beans to avoid complications while she's away."

Jet quirked an eyebrow.

"You're not even going to tell us where she's off to, are you?"

Nephis simply shook her head, a sly smile on her face.

Effie finished her last burger, wiping her hands and face with a napkin. Once done, she chimed in.

"I bet it has something to do with the Winter Solstice, am I right? She's a Divine aspect holder now, and being the stubborn girl she is, she probably insisted on taking the hard route instead of following the crowd. So, she's likely headed to the Academy, right?"

Nephis's jaw dropped, awe coloring her voice.

"How on earth did you figure that out?"

Effie shrugged, nonchalant.

"What? I just finished eating, and my brain works better on protein. I just connected the dots."

Nephis and Jet facepalmed in unison, Nephis muttering.

"Unbelievable. I wish you'd eat burgers more often."

Jet, still with her hand on her face, pointed at Nephis.

"What she said."

Effie pouted, a playful frown on her face.

"So, you're saying I'm normally dumb? That's just rude."

Nephis sighed, trying to find the right words.

"No, 'dumb' isn't quite right. Just a bit... let's say, sometimes your thoughts are so random, we struggle to grasp what you mean. But that's part of what makes us love you, so it's all good."

Effie beamed, her smile infectious.

"Ah, thank you! I think we can both agree that there's no better way to clear the air than by spilling the tea on your escapades with Sunny—specifically, the ones that happen behind closed doors."

Nephis's cheeks flared crimson, and a sheen of sweat formed on her brow. After a brief moment of composure, she exhaled deeply.

"Alright, I'll spill the beans, but you must promise to keep it under wraps from Sunny."

The next few minutes unfolded like a comedic play, with Jet and Effie alternating between fits of laughter and wide-eyed astonishment as Nephis regaled them with tales of her latest triumphs in the art of Passion. By the end, their jaws hung agape, eyes twitching in disbelief as they struggled to digest her revelations. Sipping her tea, Nephis remarked,

"That's pretty much been our routine for the past few weeks. It was quite delightful, to say the least."

Effie gulped, her voice tinged with incredulity.

"I certainly hope so! But Neph, I have to ask—are you okay? I mean, you must have to do some serious healing after Sunny... you know... uses your throat like that."

Nephis chuckled lightly.

"No worries there! He has a knack for making it completely painless, even when he goes all in. Honestly, I enjoy it every single time."

Jet and Effie were left speechless, particularly after Nephis's last comment. It took a moment for them to regain their composure. Effie cleared her throat awkwardly and said,

"I never imagined you'd be into that! But I suppose you take your studies of Passion as seriously as you do your sword training."

Nephis laughed heartily.

"This has transcended mere study. I've mastered that; now it's all about savoring the moments with Sunny before the war kicks off. Once we're on the battlefield, opportunities for this kind of intimacy will be scarce. We'll be surrounded by people, playing our roles. I'll have to embody the aloof Changing Star, while he'll don the mask of the Sinister Lord of Shadows. Even with his original form, Master Sunless, alongside us, my demeanor won't shift much."

Jet chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Well, you could always play the field with the Lord of Shadows! I'm sure some folks would understand. Just imagine the headlines: 'Changing Star Caught with Lord of Shadows in Godgrave's Hollows; Master Sunless Left Heartbroken!' That would spread like wildfire!"

Nephis shot her a disapproving look.

"Yes, and it would paint me as an unfaithful wretch, hopping from one bed to the next. I doubt such a public persona would do me any favors."

Jet sighed, conceding.

"I was just trying to be funny, but you're right, of course. Let's switch gears. Has anyone heard from Cassie?"

Nephis stifled a laugh, covering her mouth.

"Right! You, Effie, and Kai had to dash off to the Government office, so you're out of the loop. Let's just say that Sunny and I made our exit first, and shortly after, Rain and Rick followed suit, leaving only Cassie and Mordy in the Waking World. From what I gathered from her flames of Longing, it seems Cassie has found a way to blow off some steam."

Effie and Jet's jaws dropped once more. Effie shook off her surprise and exclaimed,

"Well, I'll be damned! That's a bigger shock than Rain unlocking a Divine Aspect. So that's why she left last night! Do you think they've already... you know?"

Nephis shrugged, a playful grin spreading across her face.

"I'm not sure, but if they haven't yet, the odds are high they will soon. It could be just what they both need. Cassie will finally have a way to manage her emotions, and Mordy might find a reason to stop living like a hermit. I truly hope it works out splendidly for them."

Jet laughed, adding,

"I can only imagine how the Prince of Nothing would react to his clone's newfound romance."

Effie smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"Oh, I bet if that emotionally twisted monster could feel anything other than hatred, it would definitely be jealousy."

Nephis chuckled again.

"Absolutely! But let's be real; Mordret's only interested in wiping out Clan Valor."