Shadow slave: The Prince of Death

After registering their names at the Academy, Sunny and Nephis made their way through the central hall towards a private room.

Nephis had refrained from revealing her aspect to him for now because they had been in the open.

while Nephis had been allotted one in the girls' dormitory—Sunny already had a room booked in advance—his father's old quarters.

Right now, they were going towards that room, to discuss things in private—sunny had simply told her that they were going to his father's old quarters.

As they walked, Sunny glanced at her. "So… did you get the memories?"

Nephis raised an eyebrow. "What memories?"

"You know, the ones you were owed for my tuition."

"Oh, right. No, I didn't. Any suggestions?"

Sunny thought for a moment. "Well, what do you have right now?"

"An Ascended sword from my teacher, an Awakened armor from my Nightmare, and a dormant sword too."

'Her master didn't leave yet? That's interesting.'

"That's pretty generous of your teacher."

"Yeah well, he wants me to return safely."

"What's the sword called?"

"Flame pillar."

After years of exposure to pop culture, sunny couldn't help but chuckle.

'A guy called rengoku uses a memory called flame pillar huh. Is this for real.'

Nephis frowned at him for that but before she could voice it.

They had reached their destination.

A room formerly used by abel to store contents regarding classified data or hold private conversations with other masters.

A few years after Abel's awakening, he was assigned to external affairs for his upright and sincere personality—aside from the usual duty of helping in dealing with gates and infected like Jet.

That responsibility had only increased after Abel became an Ascended—but now he simply had his quarters in a much better place.

So now this soundproofed room had been given to the children of government awakened, as it was better made than most other rooms for sleepers.

Now it was Sunny's turn to inherit it.

As sunny took out a key to unlock it, nephis read the inscripted text on the door.

[Room no. 444 - KingMaker]

Sunny unlocked the door and it slid into the wall next to it, then they finally entered the pristine white room with reinforced thickened walls.

It had a simple bed, desk and a cupboard inside—with a bathroom attached to it.

It's simplicity made it seem like it had belonged to a mundane staff at best—not an Awakened. Yet, it had a sort of comfort to it—designed to accommodate foreign awakened for any negotiations.

Taking the chair from the desk, sunny sat down and asked in a casual voice—not at all stifled now that they were in a sound proof area.

"What's your Aspect again?"

Nephis looked at him for a while, In one of her awkward silent moments when she used to contemplate her answer.

Confused, she simply asked.

"Uhh, why?"

"Well I told you mine didn't I? Besides it will help me get you the best memories."

Nephis lingered for another moment—then walked over to the bed, after sitting on it—she lowered her voice slightly out of instinct.

"I can produce and control flames to destroy and heal—And I absorb Fragments from killing creatures."

Then with a smug smile. "And my aspect is of the divine rank. Just like yours."

Sunny pretended to ponder for a bit, internally he was thinking about any possible changes she might have gone through.

'Well she did do her nightmare differently, did she just recieve everything exactly the same? Her innate ability is the same, and I can't tell if her dormant power is upgraded or not—what exactly does she mean by control?

Can she actually manipulate it like before? Or is she just talking about her ability to augment things with those flames?'

Sunny pretended to act a little surprised at her aspect, to make her feel that she has achieved something incredible truly.

Afterall even if he knew of her powers, it didn't mean that they weren't incredible—and acting non-chalant about them would hinder neph's confidence.

After a little act, he continued smoothly.

"So you're mostly set with Memories. You have a Divine Aspect, that also boosts your destructive powers the most. So you should get as many Soul Shards as possible. Since you were promised seven Memories, you should be able to get 500 Soul Fragments instead."

He didn't come up with that idea on the spot ofcourse—it had been his plan from the beginning.

Nephis didn't know that though, and she was naturally skeptical about it.

"I know saturating your Soul Core is important, but is it really that necessary? Shouldn't I get at least one more Memory?"

"It wouldn't normally be," Sunny admitted, "but your Aspect is at the highest level."

"So?"

"So just watch what happens. Should I get you the Shards?" Sunny answered with a subtle smile on his face.

That smile made nephis remember an ancient phrase—deal with the devil.

Nephis hesitated. She wasn't sure what to do, but…

"Sure… I guess."

Sunny wasn't a devil to begin with, and he had been nothing but a friend to her until now, so she decided to trust him.

'He is at worst a demon anyways.' nephis chuckled inwards.

Sunny pulled out his phone and made a quick purchase. "The Memories you were owed were in my account as contribution points, so I just used them to buy Soul Shards. I'll go fetch them. You can wait here for me."

He handed her the key to the room and left.

Nephis waited in silence. After some time, Sunny returned, holding an icy blue cube, with a bright white sphere glowing at its center.

"There were a lot of Shards, so I stored them in my Memory," Sunny explained. "Anyway, absorb them one by one until you hit 999 or 998 by 1000, then tell me."

Nephis looked at her runes.

[Soul Fragments: 128/1000]

She already had some from the hundred dreams or so she had broken and the Terror she had killed.

Grabbing a Soul Shard, she crushed it. The Spell's voice rang in her mind, confirming the absorption.

For some reason, ever since completing her Nightmare, the Spell's voice carried an odd note of… disdain.

She ignored it.

Slowly, she absorbed Shard after Shard until she reached [998/1000]

Turning her head towards sunny, she spoke with anticipation.

"I'm at 998."

Sunny grinned slightly and then handed her one last Shard then, without another word, quickly left the room.

Nephis frowned at his behavior but shook her head. Then, nervously, she grasped the final Shard… and crushed it.

A second later, she screamed in agony.

The room was soundproof, so no one outside could hear her.

But that didn't make the pain any less real.

She wasn't the Nephis who had burned herself alive to escape the Dream.

She wasn't the Nephis whose Aspect burned her soul every time she used it.

She wasn't the Nephis who had endured the Forgotten Shore and its horrors.

She had suffered through over a hundred nightmares—but physical torture wasn't even close to being burnt alive. Not that it mattered, after all even being burnt alive was nothing compared to this.

This pain was beyond anything she had ever experienced.

It felt like her entire being was being torn apart and reconstructed from the inside out.

Minutes passed, but they felt like eternity.

When it was over, Nephis lay on the bed, drenched in sweat and tears.

Her body trembled. Her breath came in short bursts.

"What the hell was that…? It was worse than even my nightmare… or periods. BY FAR!"

She gritted her teeth. "I take it back, he really is a devil!"

A few moments later, Sunny re-entered the room.

"Whoa," he muttered, looking at her exhausted form. "Looks like it hit you worse than I thought."

Nephis turned her head toward him, her eyes still wet with tears.

"Go die in a ditch, you mad bastard. Why did I ever trust you?"

"Because…" Sunny smirked. "Well, just check your runes."

Nephis already knew what had changed. She had felt it.

But still, she checked.

Soul Cores: [2/7]

Soul Fragments: [0/2000]

A second Soul Core.

She wasn't just stronger.

She was a monster now.

"So we can form up to seven cores like Nightmare Creatures…?" she asked breathlessly.

"It seems so, yeah."

"I do feel several times more powerful…" She exhaled. Then, after a pause—"Thank you, Sunny."

"Meh, don't mention it." He waved her off. "You'll need it if you want to keep up with me. Besides, I owed you those Soul Shards. Speaking of which…"

Sunny summoned his storage Memory, Frozen, and activated it.

A pile of Dormant and Awakened Soul Shards dropped onto the floor.

"I missed your birthday this year," Sunny said. "So I thought I'd make it up to you with a gift. Behold—400 Dormant Soul Shards! Harvested from unborn, innocent little babies!"

Nephis froze.

"…W-what?"

Sunny tilted his head. "Oh, remember when I mentioned killing a Terror during the raid? It had a bunch of eggs on its body, so I burned them with a fire-torch Memory. The Shards were easy to harvest, so I did. Since I can't absorb Soul Shards, I figured you should have them."

"You… can't absorb Soul Shards?"

"Oh, right. I never told you, huh? Yeah, I can't. That's why I've been running around desperately gathering kills—it's the only way for me to grow stronger."

"But still, Sunny, if you're going to gift them to someone… Cassie would need them more than me."

"No, she wouldn't. Her Flaw won't let her benefit from a little more strength. Besides, I already have a gift for her."

Nephis hesitated. "But still… I can't accept something like this. Not after already getting my second—"

"Nephis," Sunny interrupted, his voice calm but firm. "The 500 Awakened Shards were owed to you. Your second core is something you obtained yourself.

As for the Dormant Shards… they're a gift.

So stop whining and accept it with gratitude."

Nephis looked at him, emotions swirling in her silver eyes.

After a moment, she sighed.

Sunny smirked and looked at the remaining 100 Awakened Shards lying on top of the pile.

"And as for these… they're an investment."

"An investment?"

"Yeah. If I want to grow stronger, I need a proper rival. And for that, I need you alive. The stronger you are, the more likely you'll survive. And the more likely I'll have a perfect partner."

Nephis studied him carefully.

"Sunny… I feel like you're overthinking this. I'll survive without all this. You don't have to worry."

Of course, Sunny wanted Nephis to be as strong as possible.

The things he wanted to do on the Forgotten Shore required her to keep up with him.

But there was another reason—one he could openly tell her.

Sunny exhaled deeply, setting up a suspense filled tone.

"Do you know why I'm so obsessed with growing more powerful nephis?"

Nephis broke that instantly.

"Because you want to make sure you can survive this world. You told me before."

"Oh I did? Well that's... awkward."

Straightening himself, he continued "But anyway the reason I fear not being strong enough, is not because of corruption invading us you know."

"Then what is it?"

"I hate being controlled you see, I'm a rather spoiled brat. So I don't want to live my life following arbitrary rules and sanctions imposed on myself.

I used to think that we were a single group— humans, I mean. That it was us against thhe corrupted.

Then I noticed your clan— it had gone to shit, no offense, but none of the great clans came to your aid.

I can understand song, it's not a clan known for its connections with valor or immortal flame.

But immortal flame and warden of valor were allies, anyone who's ever seen any drama or shows about the Awakened would know that."

Nephis looked at sunny with wonder in her eyes, that boy had been a strangely fascinating existence for her.

He had a level of talent that perhaps surpassed even nephis, and behind his outspoken and rash personality— there was an underlying wisdom to him.

A sort of maturity who's source seemed utterly enigmatic.

Oblivius to nephis' mind, he continued.

"The great clans ignored their old friends, and simply focused on growing stronger.

That's what I have come to understand from your clan's fate.

And that's not even the end of it, the clans don't want more saints to emerge, for whatever reason.

I know that because not only did the number of saints remain roughly the same after the spell went haywire on its infection spree, but also because my sister would have started preparing for her 3rd Nightmare by now if she could.

The government doesn't take a stand against them, because of the obvious difference of manpower."

His fists clenched.

"Our world continues to remain a conflicted land of messy and annoying politics. The way humans are now, we will go extinct in the next few decades if no one steps up to lead it properly."

Nephis stared at him, practically hearing her own thoughts from him. "So...you want to take their place?"

She had never wanted him to say yes so badly.

Sunny didn't nod his head, but neither did he shake it in refusal.

"I simply don't want to follow a dead end nephis." His voice was steady. "I used to be content being in the shadow of others as long as I could live happily, but not anymore. Especially after I got my godforsaken flaw that keeps whispering to me."

His lips curled into something bitter.

"Demanding that I turn this world upside down. Demanding that I conquer it's every nook and cranny, it drives me crazy but you know what?"

He met her gaze evenly.

"It is the perfect fuel."

He looked at her silently for a moment, then asked.

"Tell me, Nephis. When your father was killed, what did his friends do for you?"

Nephis' expression hardened.

"Nothing."

"Exactly." Sunny's voice sharpened. " His entire cohort, the great clans, the government—no one stepped forward. They let your clan die. And now? While whatever the hell continues to lurk in North America, what do they do?"

He scoffed.

"They waste time inhibiting Saints from being born instead of fighting back as one force."

"Way to go, humanity." Sunny exhaled, shaking his head. "If no one takes charge, we're fucked."

Sunny took a heavy breath in, he obviously knew what the sovereigns were upto, but had to phrase it in a way that nephis could believe him coming to that conclusion on his own.

He let that thought settle before turning back to Nephis.

His expression shifted.

And then, with an almost playful smirk, he extended his hand as if asking for a dance.

"So that's why nephis." Sunny grinned.

"Would you be my partner in crime and put a stop to this fateful doomsday? Come and conquer the dreamrealm with me. Come and surpass the strength of the great clans with me.

We have the strongest aspects in human history, so let's become the strongest humans too— then, we can tell the rest of the world to fight as one race.

And then we can actually get rid of the corruption.

If it is humanity's fate to be destroyed, then we can destroy that fate too.

Once that's done, then we can live our lives in peace."

He took a breathe and looked at her.

"So what do you say? Want to go conquer the world with me?"

Nephis just stared at him.

His words—so casually spoken—sent a shiver down her spine.

Because she knew Sunny.

He wasn't joking. Not really.

He had no idea what the Great Clans had actually done to her father. He didn't know what the Sovereigns actually were.

And yet, somehow—

He had still come to the conclusion that they needed to be destroyed.

Nephis felt something strange settle in her chest.

A sort of happiness she had never felt before. She felt more connected to sunny at that moment than she had felt with anyone else, ever.

Even then, nephis felt a little scared by how his eyes shone with bloodlust in that speech.

'and I thought I was crazy, wanting to destroy the spell, and this madlad wants to break apart fate? Insane...

But then again, if he wasn't aiming so high, he wouldn't be what he is today.'

"I have a question before I take your hand."

Sunny titled his head slightly. "Ask away."

"You want to conquer the world, right?"

"Yep."

"So… under one ruler?"

Sunny blinked. "Uh… yeah?"

"Then how does a partnership work?" Nephis narrowed her eyes. "Are you expecting me to follow you?"

Sunny considered her for a moment. Then, casually, he shrugged.

"Or you could just marry me."

Silence.

For a solid three seconds, Nephis just stared at him, her mind blank.

Then—

"WHAT!?"

Sunny raised his hands in protest. "Relax, relax! I was joking!"

Nephis exhaled sharply. "That was a terrible joke, Sunny." Neph's face was red, more than a ripe tomato would be.

Whatever a tomato was supposed to-

'Actually no I have a rich background now I know mundane stuff like that.

Wait why am I being distracted? I screwed up saying that, got to patch up somehow!'

Sunny chuckled. "Okay okay I won't joke like that again...I'm sorry.. But seriously, what's the problem with following someone? If you're the better leader, I'd follow you too."

Nephis shifted uncomfortably. "Because I… well…" She hesitated, then sighed. "It's my Flaw. I can't accept compromises."

Sunny's smile faltered. He tilted his head.

"Wait. Can you tell me the runes for that?"

Nephis hesitated, but then recited the words from her runes:

"You cannot compromise against your morals and ethics."

She looked back at Sunny, waiting for a response.

But he just stood there.

Staring at her.

Expressionless.

A heavy silence stretched between them.

"...Sunny?"

And then, suddenly—

Sunny burst out laughing.

Nephis frowned. "What?"

Sunny wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "Oh, nothing. Just… wow."

Nephis crossed her arms, unimpressed.

"What's so funny?"

Sunny grinned. "You have the perfect Flaw for me."

"...What?"

Sunny clapped his hands together. "Nephis. Your Flaw doesn't stop you from working with me. All I have to do is win you over."

Before Nephis could react, his smug grin widened—

And she punched him straight in the face.

WHAM.

Sunny staggered back, clutching his cheek. "Ow! What the hell!?"

"Just speak normally."

Sunny groaned. "Fine, fine." He sighed. "Look, your Flaw doesn't stop us from cooperating. You just can't follow ideas you don't believe in, right?"

Nephis hesitated. "...Yes."

"Then it's simple," Sunny said. "We just need to make sure our goals align, I don't think my end goal is against your ideals unless... You are too proud of your lineage to let someone else lead you?"

"Ofcourse not, but...argh you know what. Let's just survive the winter solstice first. We will figure it out as we go."

"Sounds perfect. You want to go see Cassie?"

"Absolutely, she needs some solitude from us."

Sunny nodded and pointed towards the pile of Soul Shards on the floor.

"Anyway, go ahead and absorb the rest. Then we'll go see Cassie."

Nephis raised an eyebrow. "How about you go bring her here? You know, as punishment for bad jokes."

Sunny smirked. "I would… but it'd be really suspicious if I started bringing multiple girls into my room."

Nephis blinked.

Then blinked again.

Then, very slowly, turned to stare at him.

"...Wait. This is your room? I thought this was your dad's workspace?"

"Oh, yeah. My dad used it when he was an Awakened. Now it's used by different sleepers every year, I got it this year.

It was soundproofed because of all his classified work, so I figured it was the best place for you to, y'know, scream your heart out."

Silence.

Nephis just… stared at him.

She opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

Then opened it again.

Then, defeated, she just sighed. "...I give up."

Sunny laughed. "Good. Now hurry up and absorb the shards. I have to do something in the meantime. We'll go find Cassie after."

Nephis sat down, grabbing a Soul Shard.

Before she started, though, she looked at Sunny again.

"...And Sunny?"

He turned, confused. "Yeah?"

Nephis hesitated, then smiled softly, a slight blush of pink finding its way to her cheeks.

"Thank you."

Sunny blinked.

For a brief second, he seemed… caught off guard.

Then he rubbed the back of his head. "Meh. Don't mention it."

But deep down—

Her words made his heart warm.