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

A few hours later, it was late at night. Sunny was in bed with Nephis, who was leaning against him while he held her close. The past few hours had been quite intense.

"That was... perfect," Nephis said, breathing heavily.

Sunny pulled her in tighter and replied softly, "You're right, it was. Where did you come up with that idea?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know."

Sunny tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, but I really do. Maybe I can find some inspiration for myself."

Nephis chuckled and leaned closer to whisper in her ear, "I found it on a porn site. But it wasn't my phone; it was Rain's."

Sunny's expression soured, and she shook off a chill. "I see. On second thought, I probably shouldn't have asked. But it's fine; she's an adult, and with that comes certain things."

"You're right; she's old enough for all that. Plus, Rick is a great guy, so we don't need to worry about her."

Sunny sighed. "Yeah, I like him. I hope everything goes smoothly for them at the Academy."

Nephis laughed and asked, "Do you really have to make them look like siblings? That's bound to cause some issues."

Sunny laughed heartily. "Of course I do! He should be grateful I didn't make his memories involve a butt plug. That would have been a bit much, so I settled for the sibling act."

Nephis's jaw dropped. "You could have done that? Wow, that's devious. Your mind really knows no bounds."

Sunny grinned. "I'm not omniscient, but when it comes to tormenting others, I can be quite the monster."

Looking deeply into his eyes, she bit her lower lip. "Oh, trust me, I know. Especially in bed."

Just as she leaned in for a kiss, thunder rumbled, and rain began to pour again. Nephis turned to Sunny, whose jaw had dropped. She giggled and said, "Either they figured out how to do it while Rick is transformed, or this is just a regular storm."

Sunny covered his face with his hands. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't recognize this storm. But I guess I can convince myself it's just a normal one."

"I'm sure she'll be fine. Let's focus on each other instead."

They spent the night together as they often did. The storm above Bastion raged for hours before finally subsiding. Sunny was relieved when it was over, and after they finished, they went to bed.

The next morning inside the castle

Morgan woke up feeling restless. She had a rough night, as the storm had disturbed her sleep.

"I can't stand this storm. Either there's a new awakened in Bastion, or a nightmare creature is causing this strange weather."

In a way, she was right, but she had no way of knowing for sure. She got out of bed and prepared to leave. Picking up a necklace from a small black box, she put it on and sighed.

"If this monster is near that master, I'll know for sure. I can't let that beast infiltrate the castle, so I need to be cautious. Nephis is smart enough not to fall for any tricks a master might play, but this beast is a different story. Ah, let's hope this goes well. I don't want to jeopardize my chance to speak with the Lord of Shadows."

Soon, someone knocked on her door. She knew who it was and opened it, greeting the person with a deep bow.

"Good morning, what can I do for you, Father?"

Anvil stood before her, a stoic man with an undeniable presence. His expression was as usual—emotionless. He wore his noble attire, complete with a red cape adorned with a golden anvil and sword, which was carefully stitched for all to see. Not that the King of Swords needed it for recognition; his very being compelled attention. After a moment, Anvil spoke in a dark, clear voice.

"I've come to ask where you're going. I noticed you plan on leaving the castle. So tell me, what's your destination, and what will you be doing there?"

Morgan's heartbeat quickened. Speaking to her father always made her anxious. She knew he wouldn't let her dodge the question, so she hesitated before answering.

"I'm on my way... to the waking world. Nephis informed me of a meeting with the Lord of Shadows. He wants to know how our preparations are going and when we will arrive, since I'm in charge of logistics and managing the troops. She asked me to attend the meeting."

Anvil took a deep breath. "I hope you realize we have a tight schedule and can't waste time on such matters. Give the Lord of Shadows a quick report and return immediately. There's much work to be done, and I can't have you distracted by anything other than preparations for war."

Morgan bowed again. "Of course, Father. I'll keep the conversation as brief as possible."

Anvil nodded and turned to leave, but before he could go, Morgan asked, "Father... how is Mother doing? I haven't seen her in months."

Anvil didn't stop or turn around. With coldness in his voice, he replied, "How would I know? I have better things to do than waste time on people who can't fulfill their duties. She might survive, or she might not. Don't concern yourself with such matters; you have more important things to focus on."

Morgan gritted her teeth and closed the door. Moments later, her gloves were in tatters. It took all her strength not to lash out at her surroundings. After a while, she calmed down, sitting on her couch as she waited for Nephis to arrive, deep in thought.

'This bastard. I always knew he wasn't the emotional type, but to care so little about his dying wife? I can't believe he's my father.'

Soon, there was another knock at the door. This time, she didn't sense her father's presence, but she knew who it was. Instead of telling the person to come in, she grabbed her things and went to the door. When she opened it, she saw Nephis in her usual white blouse and blue jeans. Nephis looked at Morgan for a moment and frowned.

"Are you okay? You look a bit stressed."

Morgan forced a smile and nodded. "Everything's fine. I just had a rough night because the storm interrupted my sleep."

Nephis smiled and pulled Morgan into a hug. Once again, the Princess of Valor felt she wasn't alone. Wearing new gloves, she patted Nephis on the back and said, "Thanks, but we should leave now. My father isn't happy about me leaving the castle and wants me back as soon as possible."

"Good, then let's go."

They made their way to the Dream Gate. Since the exit was in NQSC and closer than their anchors in the waking world, it was the best choice. They had to navigate through the city because the gate was primarily used for civilian transport.

As they walked toward the gate, they encountered Rain and Rick, both dressed casually. Rain wore a white hoodie and black sweatpants, while Rick had on a black hoodie and grey sweatpants, which were a bit tight.

When Rick and Rain noticed Morgan beside Nephis, they froze for a moment. Rick quickly bowed deeply, and Rain followed suit. Nephis then said, "Good morning, guys! I hope you had a wonderful night. This is Princess Morgan of Valor, by the way."

Rick coughed awkwardly. "Yes, I know. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Morgan. My name is Rick, and I came to Bastion just a few weeks ago."

Morgan was momentarily distracted by his pants but quickly shook off her surprise. "Nice to meet you too! And who is this lovely lady with you?"

Rain smiled. "I'm Rain, his girlfriend. I also just arrived in Bastion a little over a week ago."

Morgan studied Rain closely and then turned to Nephis. "Tell me, Nephis. Does this girl look familiar to you? I could swear I've seen her before, but I can't quite place it."

Nephis chuckled. "She's Sunny's sister. She's originally from NQSC and came here recently to stay with her brother for a while."

Morgan laughed heartily. "Of course! That's why you seem familiar. I must say, you and your brother are quite the good-looking family. Are you an awakened, Rain?"

Rain froze for a moment before nodding. "Ehhh... yes, I am. But I'm just a sleeper. I awakened pretty late since I'm already 21."

Morgan chuckled and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're right; that is a bit late. But don't worry, living as a sleeper in Bastion is the best thing that could happen to you. You can fill out a document, and we'll help you ascend without being transported to a random place in the Dream Realm."

Rain nodded in agreement.

"I understand, but I still want to pursue this path. I don't want to take the easy way out. I spoke with my brother about it, and he agreed that it would help me grow stronger."

Morgan couldn't help but laugh.

"Your brother? I hate to break it to you, but he's just a Master, and not a very strong one at that. You really shouldn't take advice from him. In fact, why don't I help you train? I'm sure I can help you get stronger much more effectively than he ever could."

Everyone was taken aback. Neph took a moment to compose herself.

"Are… are you sure you want to take that on, Morgan?"

Morgan turned to her and smiled.

"Why not? She's a promising young woman. Sure, she's just a Sleeper for now, but I can sense her strong will. She showed that by refusing to take the easy route. It takes guts to face the Winter Solstice, and we need people with guts for the upcoming war."

Morgan then turned to Rain and asked, "So, what do you think?"

Rain remained speechless. She glanced at Nephis and then at Rick, but neither seemed to know what to say either. Finally, she lowered her head slightly and said hesitantly, "I… I'm sorry, but I'd prefer to stay with my brother. He's a great teacher."

Morgan sighed and gave Rain's shoulder a gentle pat.

"That's a shame. If you ever change your mind, come to the Castle and ask for me. Until then, have a nice day, you two. We'll be leaving now."

Rain bowed again and replied, "You too, Princess Morgan."

Nephis and Morgan departed, soon arriving at the Dream Gate. Nephis turned to Morgan and said, "The PTV is already waiting for us on the other side. The drive to the Mansion will take about 20 minutes. Would you like to grab something to eat before we head over?"

Morgan smiled and nodded.

They walked through the gate and stopped at a small bakery nearby. They picked up some fresh sandwiches and sat down on a bench. Morgan took a bite of her sandwich and remarked, "This is good. It's not quite as good as what the cooks at the Castle make, but considering they use real ingredients, this little bakery does a decent job with synthetic ones."

Nephis chuckled and took another bite of her sandwich. "You're right, it is good, but I prefer Sunny's cooking. You can taste the love that goes into it."

Morgan's smile faded suddenly, and her voice trembled slightly as she replied, "I know. My mother used to cook for me, and it always tasted better than anything else. No matter how simple the dish, I always loved it."

Nephis placed a hand on Morgan's shoulder and spoke softly, "How is she? It's been years since the attack. Has she improved?"

Morgan started to shake. "No, I don't think so. My father won't let me see her. When I ask about her, he just brushes it off or says it's not important. He doesn't care about her at all. I just hope she makes it through."

Nephis set her sandwich aside and pulled Morgan into a hug. She hadn't realized how much Morgan struggled with her family issues, aside from the situation with her brother. She felt sympathy for her but also a sense of relief that Morgan didn't seem to hold her father in high regard.

'This might help with our conversation later.'

Morgan wanted to cry but hesitated, as she and Neph weren't particularly close. Her father had told her to keep Nephis at a distance, and while she had initially done so, she soon realized that Nephis was the only person in Bastion who treated her as a person rather than just the Princess of Valor. She appreciated that. Morgan sighed and looked Nephis in the eyes, smiling as she said, "Thanks for listening, Nephis. You're a good sister. I actually wish we were related by blood; I'd trade you any day for that deranged monster of a brother I have."

Nephis chuckled. "Really? I thought you didn't like me."

Morgan finished her sandwich and replied with a smile, "To be honest, I didn't at first. But over time, I started to enjoy your company. You don't treat me like everyone else in Bastion does. You see me for who I am—just Morgan. Sometimes I wish I didn't have all these responsibilities. I wish I could live a life like your boyfriend's, without any cares, just peacefully in a small house where no one bothers me."

Nephis's jaw dropped. Morgan had once again caught her off guard. She stared at Morgan with wide eyes, "That's really unexpected. I always thought you loved being the Princess of Valor. You always seemed proud and happy in your position."

Morgan chuckled. "I mean, yes, I feel proud when I fulfill my duties. It gives me joy to help the people of Bastion, but I don't do it for my father. He doesn't care the same way I do; all he cares about is his power and how to expand it. This whole war we started to increase his power is insane."

Nephis was at a loss for words. "You… you mean the war the Song Domain started by trying to kill me?"

Morgan sighed, her expression becoming serious. "Let's not pretend, Nephis. We both know the assassination attempt on you wasn't orchestrated by the Song Domain. I planned it with the higher-ups of Clan Valor so we could justify starting a war."

Nephis looked deeply into Morgan's eyes and finally let out a long sigh. "Yeah, I know. The Lord of Shadows saw through your schemes right away. He told me and my cohort later at my Mansion."

Morgan scoffed and smiled. "What a cunning man. He really is impressive. So what happens now, Nephis? Are we going to meet him at your Mansion, and are you two going to try to kill me?"

Nephis stood up, chuckling. "No, Morgan. If I wanted to do that, I would have done it myself. The real reason I wanted to bring you here is for our second guest."

Morgan sighed and stood up. "Then let's go. I'm curious to meet this Master who seems to be connected to my brother."

They took the PTV and soon arrived at the Mansion. Once they were seated in the conference room, shadows began to shift, and a man clad in onyx black armor made of living stone took a seat. He wore a mask made of black wood that resembled a demon's face. The man waved at the two princesses and spoke in his usual calm voice, "Greetings, Princess Morgan of Valor and Lady Changing Star. I have been waiting for you."

Morgan nodded and smiled. "Hello, Lord Shadow. I hope the wait wasn't too long. My sister and I had a little chat before coming here. I hope that's alright."

Sunny smiled behind the mask and replied in a friendlier tone, "Oh, no problem. Let's get straight to the point. How far are you with—"

Sunny was interrupted by Morgan raising a hand. She smiled and said, "I already know that's not the reason I'm here, Lord Shadow. You wanted me to meet someone, and that person seems to be connected to my… my brother."

Sunny sighed. "You're right. The person we wanted you to meet today is indeed connected to your brother. We've thoroughly checked him and concluded that he's not possessed by that monster."

"Okay, but why did you want me to meet him? Does he have information about the bastards' location or plans?"

Nephis shook her head, placing a hand on Morgan's shoulder. "We know you don't fully trust us, Morgan, and that's okay. But we need you to trust us when we introduce that person later, so Shadow has agreed to reveal his identity to you."

Morgan's heartbeat quickened. She didn't know what to say. She simply looked at the Lord of Shadows and asked, "Why? Who are you?"

Sunny laughed heartily. "Oh, me? I'm just a humble shopkeeper who was recently knighted by you. I honestly thought you'd seen through my disguise, but instead, you just wanted to ensure that Neph wasn't dating some nobody, considering she has a public image to maintain as a Princess of Valor."

Morgan was confused. She scratched her head and said, "But… but she's dating that Master Sunless."

Sunny burst into laughter, placing a hand on his "definitely not me" mask and removing it. In that moment, Morgan's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. She fell back in her chair, feeling the world spin for a moment. After regaining her composure, she turned to Nephis, who looked at her apologetically. Nephis took a deep breath and said, "Sorry, sister, but you can't have him. He's already mine."

Morgan blinked several times before turning back to Sunny, speechless. She stared at him as he smiled back, and after a while, she collected herself and stammered, "How is that even possible? You're a Master, for heaven's sake. You're fundamentally different from the Lord of Shadows. How can you be in Bastion and also in Godgave at the same time?"

Sunny took a deep breath and summoned another Avatar. He had already sent two Shadows to Nephis Mansion. Both Avatars smiled, and the one sitting spoke up.

"My Transcendent Ability allows me to have multiple bodies. I have four in Godgrave and three in Bastion, which is how I can be in several places at once."

Morgan covered her face with her hands and muttered something.

"How did I miss that? Ugh, that's embarrassing."

Nephis placed a hand on her shoulder and reassured her.

"Don't worry, no one else noticed either. I only know because Sunny told me himself. The others had to figure it out the hard way."

Morgan dropped her hands and sat up straight in her chair.

"Well, that explains why Rain didn't want me to be her teacher. She wasn't lying when she said you're already a good teacher."

Sunny's smile faltered slightly.

"When did you ask my sister to be your student? She never mentioned it to me."

Morgan shrugged and replied.

"It happened earlier when Nephis and I were on our way to the Dream Gate. We ran into her and her boyfriend, and she made a great first impression, so I wanted her as my student. But I guess the Lord of Shadows is already a fantastic teacher."

Sunny laughed and said.

"You're absolutely right, but that's beside the point. What are you going to do with the information about my second life in Godgrave?"

Morgan sighed and replied.

"Nothing. The fact that you're the Lord of Shadows is surprising, but we're not enemies. It actually makes me feel a bit better knowing that my adoptive sister's boyfriend isn't weak or helpless."

Sunny chuckled and dismissed the Mask and the Shell, now wearing a copy of Ananke's Mantle, which had the same enchantments as the original. He sighed and said.

"I guess my acting skills are pretty solid since no one who has met both of my personas has figured it out yet."

Morgan turned to Nephis and smiled.

"So that's why you didn't mind that your boyfriend seemed a bit underwhelming in combat; in reality, he's one of the strongest Saints around."

Nephis chuckled and shook her head.

"No, that's not it. I didn't know Sunny was the Lord of Shadows until a few weeks ago. I never cared about his strength because that's not what I was looking for when I approached him. Sunny might be the Lord of Shadows and incredibly powerful, but first and foremost, he's my amazing and loving partner."

Morgan sighed and smirked at Nephis.

"Oh trust me, you don't have to tell me. I know what an amazing lover he must be. I've caught you walking into meetings with a limp more than once."

Nephis laughed awkwardly.

"Is it really that obvious?"

Morgan scoffed.

"More like all the time. But I don't mind; I'm just a little jealous that you found someone while I seem doomed to cut down every man who accidentally enters my bedroom."

Sunny laughed heartily.

"Actually, if you promise not to freak out when we tell you about the person next door, especially when you meet him, I'll give you something to help with that problem."

Morgan smiled.

"I'm very interested. Alright, I promise not to lose my cool."

Sunny took a deep breath and began to explain.

"The person we want you to meet is next door with Cassie. He's a Master who has lived as a recluse for most of his life. He's in his early 30s and is closely connected to Mordret. Want to know why?"

Morgan tried to stay calm, which was difficult whenever her brother's name was mentioned, but she nodded for him to continue.

"It's because he's your brother's flaw. He's a clone of your brother, but aside from his appearance, he's completely different. His personality, battle style, and even his soul differ to some extent."

Morgan's body began to shake as Sunny spoke about the person next door. She took deep breaths to maintain her composure, and Nephis moved closer to her. Morgan managed to calm down a bit and asked.

"But why? Why is he here? What does he want?"

Nephis leaned in and spoke softly.

"I think it's better to let him explain that to you."

Morgan nodded.

"Okay, but if my necklace gives me any warning, I'm out of here immediately."

Nephis nodded and relayed the message to Cassie. Soon, the door behind Sunny opened, and Cassie entered, guiding Mordy, who was wearing a blindfold, to the chair opposite Morgan. She clutched her necklace, waiting for a signal. As she realized it didn't warn her, she relaxed a bit and asked, still nervous.

"Why the blindfold?"

Mordy cleared his throat and replied.

"I thought it would be more comfortable for you if you didn't have to see my eyes. The others informed me of what my clone did to you and our family, so I wanted to give you time to process my existence. I hope my voice doesn't irritate you since the other guy must sound similar."

Morgan took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yeah, you do sound like him, just without the crazy and murderous intent. The blindfold was very considerate of you, thanks. Now please explain in detail who you are and where you came from. I need to understand that before we discuss anything else."

Mordy nodded and began to explain how his soul was split and what happened to him and his clone. He provided a detailed account of what Asterion did to him and his clone and why he ended up imprisoned in an underground citadel. He summarized his experiences after escaping and highlighted key events so Morgan could create a timeline in her mind to ensure he wasn't the same Mordret. After a while, she sighed and confessed.

"Alright, I have to admit something. This necklace I'm wearing can detect when Mordret is nearby and also when someone is lying. The Forge Masters of Valor created it as a security measure for me. It hasn't given me a signal, not even once, so I trust you. Sorry for doing that, but I hope you understand."

Mordy chuckled.

"I'm actually glad you did. I was worried you wouldn't believe me, and I would have understood that. The other guy is a real plague, so I get why people are cautious when they see me."

Morgan smiled.

"Okay, I guess you can take off the blindfold. I'll try to stay calm."

"Are you sure?" Mordy asked.

Morgan took a deep breath and replied, "Yes."

Mordy smiled and slowly removed the blindfold, keeping his eyes closed as he handed it to Cassie.

Morgan sighed and said calmly, "Open them; it's okay, I promise."

Mordy complied, and Morgan's eyes widened. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"By the dead gods, you look just like him."

Mordy took the blindfold back from Cassie and asked, "Do you want me to put it back on?"

Morgan smiled and replied, "No, it's fine. I'll have to get used to that face. It might take me some time, but I'll manage."

Mordy returned the blindfold to Cassie and smiled.

"Thanks, I'm glad you didn't attack me. I've had that happen before."

Morgan chuckled.

"Well, that beard you're wearing definitely helps. Please tell me you plan on keeping it; it makes it easier to think of you as a different person."

Mordy laughed heartily.

"No worries, I like it too, and since Cass loves it, I'm not planning on getting rid of it anytime soon."

Morgan's eyes widened as she looked at Cassie and then back at Mordy.

"Yes, Morgan, it's true. I'm in a relationship with Mordy," Cassie confirmed.

Morgan's jaw dropped.

"MORDY? That's the name our uncle gave you before Father sent you away to Asterion. I wasn't even born back then, but that was literally the only thing he liked to talk about when you were mentioned."

Mordy couldn't help it. Hearing Morgan mention their uncle and the love he continued to have for him made him emotional. His eyes filled with tears, and he had to use the blindfold Cassie gave him to wipe them away. He started to sob, causing Morgan to panic a little.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I was just surprised when I heard that name."

Mordy quickly calmed down after Cassie wrapped her arms around him.

"It's fine. It's just… our uncle was the closest thing I ever had to a father, since our own was always cold and distant. His death hit me hard since I didn't get a chance to talk to him after Father sent me away."

Morgan didn't know how to respond to that and instead asked him, "What do you think of our father?"

Mordy shrugged.

"To be honest, not much. I don't care about him. He could die tomorrow, and it wouldn't affect me at all. He's just the man I share some genetic material with, but he's not my father. That title unfortunately belongs to no one anymore."

Morgan nodded and smiled at him.

"Would you be surprised if I told you that I feel the same?"

Mordy froze for a moment, realizing that if their father hadn't changed after Morgan was born, it was likely she felt the same way. He sighed and said, "Actually, no. If he didn't change his behavior after you were born, I can easily imagine how you feel about him too."

Morgan suddenly had a mischievous smile on her face.

"I feel like my feelings towards our father are more similar to those of our other sibling. I've reached a point where I not only don't care about him, but I also find myself hating him more and more. The only thing that prevents me from completely loathing him is the fact that he's the reason millions of people resist the Spell."

The room fell silent. After a moment, Cassie signaled to Sunny, who burst into laughter. The others looked at him in confusion, particularly Morgan, who struggled to grasp their ambitious goal. Moments later, Sunny composed himself and shouted.

"Come in here, pretty boy; we have everything we need."

The door opened, and Nephis and Morgan entered the room, followed by Kai, who took a seat next to Sunny and gave a slight bow.

"It's nice to see you again, Princess Morgan. I hope you don't mind the little trick we pulled to verify the truth of your testimony."

Nephis turned to Sunny, still a bit puzzled.

"Why didn't you tell me you brought Kai to confirm that Morgan isn't lying?"

Sunny chuckled and replied, "No particular reason; I just wanted to surprise you again. The thing is, I wasn't entirely convinced about Morgan's feelings for her father, despite what others believed. So when Mordy decided to speak with her, I thought it would be wise to have Kai here in case she revealed something about her father—whether she admired him or felt the opposite. Having her on our side in the future could be beneficial."

Nephis sighed, smiling. "And the Wizard does it again. I hope this never changes."

Sunny laughed and said, "Oh, trust me, I'll always do my best for you."

Morgan finally collected her thoughts and asked, "Why is this so crucial? I can't kill my father; he's too powerful."

Nephis looked her in the eyes and replied, his voice slightly raised, "But I will, because he killed my father."