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

There's a saying that many people believe explains why humans have held the top spot in the food chain for so long. That is, until the Nightmare Spell was cast, unleashing monstrous beings with supernatural abilities that knocked them off their pedestal.

[Mistakes are part of learning and growth.]

It's quite straightforward. When you make a mistake, you're likely to remember it and avoid repeating it. But what happens if you forget that mistake entirely?

You're bound to repeat it, of course. That's precisely what happened to Rain when she once again walked into a room without knocking.

This time, it wasn't Sunny and Neph she caught off guard. Those two remembered Rain interrupting them, so they learned from their error of not locking the door and made sure to do so from now on.

Jet and Gean, however, still needed to learn that lesson. When Rain and Rick decided to visit Gean and Alya at Nephis Mansion, they unexpectedly walked in on them being intimate on the large round table in the conference room.

To be fair, the room didn't even have locks, so there was no way they could have secured it. They should have chosen a room that did, or better yet, Gean's own bedroom.

Instead, when the two barged in on whatever was happening between Gean and Jet, they slammed the door shut to announce their arrival. Unsurprisingly, the fun Jet and Gean were having came to an abrupt end, and Gean quickly shifted back to his human form. He had become quite skilled at this transformation over the past few weeks, not just in changing forms but also in satisfying Jet.

Rick had helped him gain some control over his flaw, allowing him to summon his werewolf form at will. However, when his primal instincts kicked in, he had no choice but to revert to his hairy, large state, which is why they only had intimate moments while Gean was in his werewolf form—lust being a primal instinct, and a strong one at that.

After an awkward conversation among the four of them, the mood lightened when Alya returned from her trip to the city. The two had been living in Nephis Mansion for three weeks and had started to see it as a temporary home. Both had plans to move elsewhere.

Gean had a long discussion with Rick, and since they had much in common and became good friends, Gean decided to relocate to Bastion. He wouldn't be a Knight of Valor but rather an independent healer, which was a valuable asset in a place like Bastion, where people with healing abilities were rare.

Alya, on the other hand, had different aspirations. She would have loved to move in with Cassie in the Ivory Tower, as she had been offered, but there was a catch. Alya still had feelings for Tamar. The two had parted on good terms, leaving the door open for a potential reconciliation, which had now arisen.

After Rain returned to Ravenheart, Tamar and Alya met up for a heartfelt conversation. They shared tears of joy upon reuniting, with no hard feelings lingering between them, except for love.

So, Alya decided to move in with Rain in Ravenheart, allowing her to visit Tamar frequently. She would have preferred to live with Tamar, but her father disapproved of their relationship, fearing it would distract Tamar from her training and responsibilities.

Today was their last chance to enjoy quality time together before heading to their new homes. They sat in a café, sipping coffee and tea while indulging in cake, discussing their futures when a scene from the Academy's graduation ceremony caught their attention on TV. It featured the Lord of Shadows delivering a speech.

As in previous years, a few Sleepers ended up in Godgrave again. Sunny had promised to escort them to their preferred domains and ensure their safety. Alya watched intently, then turned to Gean.

"I guess all your worrying was for nothing, huh?"

"Yeah, instead we ended up in a cave with a fallen terror and a maniac trying to kill us. I wouldn't call that lucky either," he replied, rolling his eyes while poking at his cake with a fork.

Alya chuckled, "You know, I would have loved to meet him. He's a legend and one of the strongest saints out there. Hearing his thoughts would be fascinating."

Rain suddenly looked at Alya, puzzled. She thought they had figured out that Sunny was the Lord of Shadows and just hadn't mentioned it, accepting it as a fact that they were friends with the legendary Changing Star and her cohort. That revelation seemed much more shocking than Sunny's secret identity.

"You actually don't know?" Rain asked, still confused, which made both of them frown.

"What's there to know? I'm confused. Rain, please explain instead of looking at us like we're the crazy ones."

Taking a deep breath, Rain scanned the café to ensure no one was eavesdropping. It was mostly empty, with only a few elderly patrons around, so she felt safe sharing the information. Sunny had expected them to know, which was why he had shown them all those memories weeks ago.

After a few seconds, she set down her utensils and leaned closer to Gean and Alya, speaking in a low voice. "I can't believe you haven't figured it out. My brother is the Lord of Shadows."

Rain had suspected they were just teasing her, but when both Alya and Gean stared at her with wide eyes and dropped jaws, she realized they were genuinely in the dark.

"Repeat that, please. Are you saying your brother Sunny—the one who's mostly joking around and only gets serious during card games—is actually the incredibly powerful and sinister Saint of Godgrave?"

Rain nodded, maintaining her composure. "That's him. He's quite the actor. Having multiple bodies does that to a person. And by the way, he's not joking; everything he says is true since he literally can't lie because of his flaw."

Both Alya and Gean struggled to process this revelation. Rick placed a hand on Gean's shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile. "I know, brother, she's crazy. But that's what I love about her."

"Thank goodness, I thought she was serious," Gean said, clearly relieved, but then froze when Rick shook his head.

"No, what she said is true. I just meant she's clearly crazy for saying it so casually. Having a brother like Sunny does that to a person. She's his best student, after all. Well, technically his only student, but still."

Rain laughed and quickly kissed Rick. "Thanks, but I think you've picked up some of that craziness too since Alya looks like she's about to faint. I'm not sure if she's overwhelmed or daydreaming about Tamar, but either way, she's out of it."

Alya, clearly overwhelmed, let out a defeated sigh and returned to her food, mumbling angrily, "You have to be fucking kidding me. How can this be real? I think I'm still stuck in my first nightmare, and soon an abomination will jump out of my cake and eat my face."

Rick and Rain laughed while Gean continued to process the information. "I'm not going to lie; I'm too stunned to respond. Can we please change the subject? If Rain keeps talking, I might lose it and transform right now."

"I really don't mind, unless you're going to call Jet and do it on the table again. I really don't want to see you two being intimate on the round table ever again. Thanks for that trauma, by the way," Rain said with a chuckle.

Gean's face turned red, and Alya turned to him, appalled. "You did what? Why? I've been eating at that table, you know?"

Gean panicked, not expecting Rain to spill the beans. "Sorry, my bad. Jet just showed up out of nowhere, and you know… I couldn't hold back when I saw that look on her face. The table was the closest surface, so we just…"

"No! Stop! I don't want to hear it. I'm glad I won't have to eat at that table again. Still, thanks for not telling me."

Alya was visibly upset. Gean tried to smooth things over. "It was just one time. You haven't eaten at that table since, I promise."

That calmed her down a bit, but not for long, as she realized Gean wouldn't have confessed if Rain hadn't exposed him.

"Argh… I bet you wouldn't have told me if it weren't for Rain exposing you."

Gean shrugged and smiled at her. "You know, Alya, you're right. I wouldn't have told you. Sometimes, being oblivious is better than knowing the truth."

There was more truth to that statement than Gean realized. If Sunny had been there, he might have said something like, "You're right, just looking at some runes can corrupt you and turn you into an abomination. Trust me, I've experienced it and had to end my own life because of it." But unfortunately, he wasn't around.

They moved on to a different topic. Neither of them wanted to mention Sunny again, as they were curious about Rain's brother but also wary of what Rain might reveal. Only the Dead Gods knew what absurd stories Rain would share if they continued discussing him.

"What's the deal with you and Jet? Are you, like, together or something?" Alya asked, and Gean sighed in response.

"What are we? That's a good question. Honestly, I think we're just friends with benefits. No responsibilities or pressure. That pretty much sums it up."

Alya couldn't help but chuckle. She knew the next question was obvious, but she still wanted to hear his answer. "Okay, now that we've cleared that up, what would you like to be with her? I bet I know, but go ahead."

Gean sighed again, unsure how to respond. He had thought about it and even discussed it with Jet. Effie had also pestered him about it after the secret of her second Nightmare body was revealed, leaving him without any trump card to silence her.

"Let's just say I don't think it would be a good match. She's a Saint, and I'm just an Awakened. Plus, she's almost double my age. The casual sex is great, and having her around is fun, but I don't see a future in it. At least nothing lasting."

Everyone was taken aback. They expected him to share some wild fantasy, like her quitting her government job to live with him in Bastion, but Gean had a surprisingly mature perspective on the matter.

"I'm proud of you, buddy. That's exactly how I see it. Maybe one day you'll find someone who suits you better. I mean, I found the love of my life just by bumping into her. You'll be fine."

Rick's words were reassuring. With Gean's issues laid bare, they had nothing else weighing on their minds, allowing them to enjoy their day.

Meanwhile, far away at the top of the Ivory Tower, a woman with beautiful silver hair stood on a balcony, her hair flowing in the wind, illuminated by the moonlight.

Suddenly, she felt a familiar headache returning, one that had been plaguing her more frequently lately. Nephis recognized this pain all too well; it was the same she experienced after returning from her third Nightmare, as if something in her head was trying to break free.

Nothing seemed to help, not her Aspect or even Sunny, who usually fixed everything.

'That wizard normally fixes everything.'

The pain had intensified in the past few weeks, coinciding with the time she and Sunny experimented with his new Mind Weave power. She suspected it was connected but couldn't pinpoint a solution or reason.

'Maybe a little sleep will help. I hope Sunny is home. He's probably weaving like he always does. It's amazing how he mastered that skill on his own.'

She jumped from the balcony and flew toward Sunny's house, but as she neared it, the pain flared up again, this time more intense. Her body weakened, and she lost control of her Aspect, falling the last few meters.

Fortunately, Sunny was there to catch her before she hit the ground.

"What happened, Neph? You look exhausted. Let me take you inside."

Sunny was concerned, as she hadn't mentioned the headaches, wanting to spare him worry since he already had a lot on his plate.

Once inside and in his bedroom, she showed signs of improvement while resting in his arms. Silence filled the room, broken only by her pained breaths. Sunny listened as she murmured unintelligible words, clearly not fully conscious.

"Where… where is he? No, no, he didn't abandon us. He had a… good…"

He didn't understand what she was talking about, but he stayed quiet, hoping she would recover soon.

"Why? Where is he? Cass, you… you said it would be fine…"

"Don't you dare say something like that, Mordret. I love him… that's… that's the truth."

"I need… I need him… I need him now."

Between sharp, painful breaths, she continued to say things that puzzled him. He recognized some words but couldn't grasp their meaning or the context.

"We will talk to him after we escape this Tomb… I know he will be waiting for…"

Slowly, it dawned on him what was happening.

'She's talking about the end of our third Nightmare. This must be from when I left them to deal with Shadow Bond.'

The realization hit him hard.

"She… she can remember?"

Of course, Nephis had memories of their third Nightmare, but many were obscured since Sunny was often by her side or on her mind.

"Why doesn't… doesn't he understand? I want to protect him… I… care about him."

Sunny chuckled, though he felt a pang of concern for her suffering.

"I wonder when she started feeling that way? Maybe on top of the Crimson Spire?"

Nephis didn't respond. Instead, her eyes flew open, and she screamed.

"PLEASE… SUNNY… DON'T DIE."

She gasped for breath as her body shot upward, colliding with Sunny's head and knocking him out. It took her a moment to realize what had happened, and when she saw Sunny unconscious, her face paled.

"Oh no, what have I done? I recover my memories, and the first thing I do is knock him out? I'm the worst… the worst… By the Dead Gods, I'm in a relationship with… with Sunny."

Sunny's experiments had worked. It just took time for the strings of fate in Nephis's head to be replaced with Shadow Strings, allowing her memories to resurface.

"Ten years and Sunny losing his fate. That's what it took for us to finally be together. I can't believe this is real. Am I still dreaming? No, surely not. Oh God, I'm such an idiot."

She berated herself not just for knocking him out but for how long it took to regain her memories. Understanding the complexity of their relationship before Sunny lost his fate made her realize how special it was.

For now, she would heal the bruise on his forehead. While it wouldn't wake him, it would spare him the headache later. Until then, she would wait for him to regain consciousness. Their upcoming conversation would undoubtedly be complicated. Sunny lay in her arms, his head resting on her stomach as she gently caressed his hair.

"In ten years, we haven't even kissed, and now in just a few months, we have. Wow, my head might explode."

More memories flooded her mind, from the first time she secretly glanced at him at the Academy gates to when she worried about him after Cassie told them he had left to deal with Shadow Bond.

"He's not my slave anymore. That's probably the best thing that could have happened."

Nephis felt an unexpected thrill at the thought of giving Sunny commands, but only in bed, of course.

'I will definitely go to hell. But even in hell, he will be waiting for me. Like I told him once in Valor Manor, I don't need him to be my slave to have him by my side. Because we love each other more than anything in this world. It's just that I never said that back then. I was such an idiot. It's my fault he left at the end of our third Nightmare. I finally realize that now.'

Despite the oddness of the situation, it was also a huge relief. They were truly reunited.

'I wonder if the others could recover from their memory loss too? Effie would probably die of embarrassment, but we'll help her through it. Kai and Jet should be fine, but Cassie might have some issues, I think.'

As she waited for Sunny to wake up, she reflected on all the memories they shared. Some she had seen from his perspective with Cassie's help, but reliving her own was on a completely different level since the emotions she felt in those moments were finally back too.

Tears welled up in her eyes at the thought of what Sunny had endured over those four years. Now that she understood what he had lost along with his fate, it became difficult to maintain her facade. Tears were rare for her, but not as rare as for Sunny; she couldn't recall him crying, at least not in her presence.

"He has become so strong. At first, I had to teach him how to hold a sword, and now he's an exceptional warrior. It's incredible what he has accomplished."

"Please wake up soon; I have so much to tell you—things I should have shared years ago."

But it was pointless. Sunny remained fast asleep, perhaps because he was nestled against her. Who would want to break free from such a lovely embrace?

She kissed the top of his head and leaned back, reflecting on all they had experienced together—the good, the bad, the funny, the sad, and the downright crazy moments.

"How can I possibly apologize to him? I can't undo everything he went through because of me."

Suddenly, there was a soft chuckle. Sunny's face was buried in her chest, and she had unconsciously pulled him closer.

"You don't need to apologize. Fate played a cruel joke on us, and we made the best of it. There was nothing you could have done to change it. We were both terrible at communicating back then—two worlds apart."

Nephis chuckled too, smiling as Sunny lifted his head from her chest, giving her a loving look.

"How long have you been awake, Sunny?"

He shrugged, a bit embarrassed. "About five minutes. I just wanted to savor this moment, in case you decide to leave me now that you have your memories back..."

She silenced him with a deep kiss, holding it as long as she could without needing to breathe. Sunny didn't mind; a single tear rolled down his cheek. It was overwhelming to be loved by Nephis now that she had her memories restored.

After what felt like hours, their lips parted, and they locked eyes. Their appearances were like complete opposites, yet they were two sides of the same coin, which is why they fit so perfectly together.

"You never mentioned how poor our communication was all those years. We could have had this much sooner, you know?"

Nephis was right, but only partially. She had grown so accustomed to having Sunny by her side that she forgot why it hadn't been that way for so long.

"We both lacked the strength to make that decision, Neph. That's why you used my true name instead of trusting that we could have escaped together. But it's not your fault; I know I would have done the same to protect the person I love."

Nephis wanted to argue, but Sunny continued. "Fate dealt us a terrible hand, and then tried to cheat us on top of that. We never had it easy, so it's actually a miracle it turned out this way."

She pressed her forehead against his, letting tears of joy flow freely as she spoke to him as she should have all those years ago on the Crimson Spire.

"Promise me you won't leave again, okay? From now on, we'll face every challenge the world throws at us together. If it means dying, then so be it. If I die while pursuing our goals, I want it to be by your side."

Sunny laughed heartily and kissed her again. After a moment, he pulled away. "You know, dying is for the weak. We are not weak, Neph. Together, we can achieve anything. Together, we WILL achieve anything."

She chuckled, curious. "By the way, when did you become such a smooth talker? I don't remember you being this philosophical all those years. Has your mom's influence finally taken over since becoming a Saint?"

"I don't know, but I imagine she'd be proud of how her son turned out—like a little Shakespeare or something. Whoever that guy is."

Nephis rolled her eyes, chuckling. "There he is, the man I fell in love with ten years ago but was too scared to admit it."

"We were both scared. I had to lose my fate to confess. If anyone is the fool here, it's me."

She leaned closer to his ear, whispering what her heart felt. "If you keep talking like that, I'll shut you up with another kiss. And if you still resist, I'll use my mouth in a completely different way."

Sunny smirked, tempted to test her patience, but he had something else he wanted to do—something he had been waiting to share for a while.

"I have a surprise for you. Would you mind standing up?"

Nephis was a bit confused but complied.

Once they were both standing, Sunny dropped to one knee and raised his hands. In an instant, a stunning sword appeared in his grasp. It was pristine white, radiating a chilling yet beautiful aura.

"Is that… what I think it is?" Nephis asked, already suspecting the answer.

"Yes, it is. The sword I wanted to forge for you is finally finished. After claiming Mind Weave, I made significant breakthroughs in weaving, so I worked day and night to complete it before the war begins."

Nephis looked between Sunny's eyes and the sword in his hands, unable to decide which was more beautiful. She chose to cherish them both wholeheartedly.

"Can I?" she asked cautiously, reaching for the hilt. Sunny nodded, smiling warmly.

"You must; I can't just transfer it to you."

As she grasped the hilt, she felt the spell whispering in her ear.

[You have obtained a Memory.]

She opened her runes to examine the sword more closely. While she couldn't see the weave inside it like Sunny could, she knew the Supreme Sword of the 7th Tier would be incredibly powerful, especially since it was crafted by Sunny specifically for her, for more reasons than just its enchantments and appearance.

Her heart raced with excitement, and she fell to the floor, pressing her lips to Sunny's before uttering a single word.

"Yes."

Of course, the sword's name was:

[Will you marry me?]