Shadow Slave: Shadow of Blood Chapter 61: Reconnecting

After so monts, the cohort left Sunny and Nephis alone as per her request.

Kai, Effie and Cassie moved through the corridor until the charming archer stopped in his tracks. The girls turned to their friend.

"I… I just can't believe he's gone…"

Caster was the strongest of them next to Sunny and Nephis, he had saved Kai multiple tis during their ti together in the Forgotten Shore, and now, he was dead.

"Yeah, the guy died just like that…"

Effie seed to understand the feeling of losing soone close to you.

Cassie still stayed quiet, it didn't seem like she wanted, or rather felt like she didn't deserve to talk.

Kai sighed.

"At least… He can rest, if Harus really is stuck in the Forgotten Shore…"

The whole mood went down, but Effie wouldn't let it stay that way, she hated seeing her friends depressed like that.

She knew that the more pessimistic you were, the more she dwelled on the bad, the more you kill yourself, her body's condition forcing her ti life in a wheelchair taught her that.

"Hey! Look at the bright side! You are friends with Sunless Song, who probably will be the most popular boy in the world right now!

Your popularity will skyrocket even more! The only problem is that he is more handso than you. Really, now that he beca an Awakened, he looks even more like a doll!"

Kai and Cassie couldn't help but chuckle, the atmosphere was getting lighter…

But their faces soon darkened and were filled with worry. That made Effie continue.

"Hey! Don't look at like that, it's true! I know the Song family is notorious for being beautiful but Doofus? He is sothing else!"

Effie was talking in a… Suggestive tone, making it clear what she ant.

Kai was looking behind her, his face becoming more and more pale as Effie talked, he kept motioning his hands in a stopping motion, to make Effie stop talking.

"If he wasn't a Prince, I would get him off his feet and eat him up!"

Cassie was trying to hide her laughter. She wasn't laughing at what Effie was saying, but at the vision she saw.

"What would I do to have a doll like him…"

Strong, heavy steps were heard walking hastily through the corridor. Kai made even more effort to motion Effie to stop talking, but the girl was oblivious.

"Princess is really lucky! I would have already got him if I was her, Sunny really is irresistible."

Kai… Gave up.

"I an, he is also–."

The dense Effie finally noticed.

"His teacher is behind isn't he?"

"No, worse."

"Much, much worse."

A chill ran through her spine as she slowly turned to see who was behind her. The air beca denser.

Three ladies wearing exquisite dresses gazed with fury upon her.

One had an irresistible charm and beauty that made all eyes look at her with awe and attraction. Her normally sexual gaze that bewitched anyone with one look now was filled with anger.

The other had beautiful white hair and skin, her body was covered by a dress that mirrored her hair, her presence seed to nullify the world itself, like she could deny soone's very being.

Finally, the last one was soone that Effie knew personally, but arguably was the most terrifying one because of that. Grey skin and beautiful face, her presence ca with the sll of blood, high pressure blood.

Beastmaster, the enchantress of Song.

Moonveil, the archer of the moon.

Seishan, the Lost Princess of Song.

All of them, the sisters of the very boy Effie was lusting over.

Their anger could destroy the world from how palpable it was.

The huntress was sweating all over.

"H-Hey… I wasn't–."

Seishan interrupted her.

"We heard the whole thing, Athena…"

Moonveil complented.

"And differently from our teacher…"

Beastmaster completed.

"We are not so rciful. Especially when you talk about our brother in such a disgraceful way."

Effie turned and searched for help from her friends…

But she could only see the outline from their silhouettes, they were long gone.

'Traitors!'

Effie felt the wrath of three very protectful sisters. She was lucky that the other five couldn't be present at the ti.

— —

Back in the room, Sunless and Nephis sat next to each other, neither wanted to speak. The silence was awkward.

They didn't even know where to begin.

It didn't help that their entire environnt was different, the room was simple and clean, different from the rooms of the Bright Castle and Dark City.

They themselves were different, Nephis still whore her Governnt issued jumpsuit, but Sunny?

A casual outfit, all black, black trousers, t-shirt, jacket, and gloves.

Nephis had a question in her mind, so to break the tension, she asked.

"Why the gloves?"

He was snapped out of his thoughts and answered.

"Oh, these? I always use them, they are a present from my sister. She gave it to after I got too cold in Ravenheart… I still wear them from ti to ti."

"... Which sister?"

"Eunbin… She cares too much sotis…"

He chuckled, but then noticed that he was just prolonging the inevitable, sighing, he looked at Nephis.

"Neph, look, I'm sorry."

A vague hint of confusion reached her eyes.

"For what?"

"What do you an? I made a connection with you without your consent, you didn't even know my Innate Ability yet I forced my will onto you… How co you are not mad?"

Nephis twitched her head to the left, confused.

"Mad? Why would I be mad?"

… It was Sunny's turn to be confused.

"Sunny, I'm happy that you did this."

His eyes widened, bewildernt consud him as Nephis admitted that she was happy for the connection.

"What? Why?!"

She smiled, a small, insignificant smile… But it mattered a lot.

"I read your runes… You really care about don't you?

Your aspect description says that you need reasons to continue… Am I one of those reasons?"

Sunless hesitated… And blushed. His flaw forced him to answer, and every mory he had with Nephis surfaced in his mind.

The days at the academy, the journey on the Forgotten Shore, the Soul-Devouring Tree, the Dark City, the Crimson Spire…

It all ca back… And he accepted.

"I… Do, I care about you. And you are one reason for to continue… If it wasn't for you, I would have stayed in the Forgotten Shore…"

Sunny looked down, his face really red. Thinking of how foolish he looked. A few seconds passed as Sunny was left in anguish inside his mind.

But a gentle hand touched his shoulder. Looking back at her while hesitating, the sa smile she had perated her face.

"So there's no problem."

She then rested her head on his shoulder, leaning on him.

'... Huh?'

Sunless mind went blank.

A girl was resting her head on his shoulder.

Scratch that, Nephis was resting her head on his shoulder.

His face transford completely red.

"N-Neph?"

"Hm? What?"

She sounded completely oblivious, like what she was doing was completely normal.

"Y-You are resting on !"

"... So?"

Sunny cursed internally.

'Are you kidding ?!'

"It's embarrassing!"

"... But I feel comfortable."

Sunny gave up, Nephis genuinely had no idea what she was doing was considered an act of extre affection, either that or she was intentionally provoking Sunny and knew exactly what she was doing.

Still, he couldn't deny it felt… Comfortable.

These monts with Nephis felt comfortable, even if she had no social tact.

Hesitating, he touched her hand, and she imdiately held his, gripping it tightly. It surprised him, but then, she said sothing important.

"Thank you Sunny, for everything…

If you weren't there, I… Don't know what would have happened…"

Sunny sighed, and rested his head on hers.

The Spell announced.

[Your Light Connection has Deepened.]

"Thank you Neph… For giving my mother a chance."

Silence settled, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

For the first ti, there wasn't any tension between the two, no revenge, no desperation to go back ho. It was just the two…

And it felt comfortable.

But it couldn't last long.

"What will you do now?"

Sunny needed to know what she was planning. Nephis sighed.

"First, beco a Master, then, infiltrate Valor."

Sunny snapped his head towards her, but she put a finger in front of his mouth before he said anything.

"I need to know more, and that ans I need to see both sides, regardless if Anvil wants dead, that's why I need to beco a Master first."

She led the finger away from him.

"What about Song?"

Her smile returned.

"I have you, don't I?"

Sunless opened his mouth to retort, but soon chuckled, knowing full well that once Changing Star set her mind on sothing, there was no stopping her.

"Fine, just don't expect to betray my Clan."

"I don't want you to."

Nephis sighed.

"In fact… Can I talk to her…?"

The son of Ki Song widened his eyes, then darkened his gaze.

"She is occupied, she couldn't even see and Seishan, it has sothing to do with a Death Zone I think."

"I see…"

"Honestly, I don't know if she even wants to talk with you. Part of thinks she's still torturing herself over her choices…"

Nephis shook her head, her indifferent face slowly returning as they switched topics.

"It's fine, I'll talk to her eventually."

She got closer to him, a faint blush appeared on her indifferent expression.

"Did… You see my runes?"

He blushed as well, why did it seem like they were talking about sothing very intimate?

"No…"

"Why… Why not?"

She stared at him, Sunny could swear that for a second he saw her… Pouting? No, it must be his imagination.

"W-Well, it's sothing private! And I didn't exactly ask for your consent!"

She looked at his eyes, white flas dancing in them.

"I don't mind."

Sunless stared at her for a couple of seconds… And blushed, his face was really red.

But before they could continue, the door opened, one elegant figure entered wearing a beautiful dress that complented her body. One of Sunless' sisters had arrived.

"Sunny, we have to…"

Eunbin stopped in her tracks, freezing upon seeing the scene before her.

Her brother, Sunny, was sitting on the couch really close to a girl, in fact, they were holding hands! The girl even made Sunny's face red from how close they were.

If that was all, Eunbin would be really proud of her brother, and she would have teasing material for months!

The problem was who the girl was. Silver hair, grey eyes… Changing Star. The daughter of Immortal Fla, the girl that, as far as she knew, wanted to kill their mother.

Confusion and worry consud her as Sunless understood what she was thinking and imdiately got up to try and explain, letting go of Nephis's hand and approaching his sister.

"Bin! Before you say anything–"

The enchantress put her hand forward to stop him. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed his arm.

"We'll talk about it later, we have to go ho."

The Saint used her strength to basically drag Sunless out of the room, not letting him say anything else.

Nephis was left alone in the room, but she wasn't angry, or bothered, but rather curious.

'Is that how it feels to have elder siblings? Sunny couldn't even get a word in…'

She sighed.

'I wanted to talk to him so more, but I can wait, there's much to do until the Second Nightmare.'

— —

Beastmaster basically dragged her brother to the PTV, not letting him argue or protest. Ignoring anyone who stared at them.

"Bin-! You are hurting !"

But she didn't hear him, still walking forward.

Sunless had enough and finally used his Awakened Ability for the first ti, he knew he wouldn't be able to get out of her grasp, even being a Devil and having the augntation of several of his shadows, Bin was a Saint, and that made her stronger than him, much stronger.

Dissolving into shadows, he felt his entire world change. He had beco much like a shadow.

It felt similar to how Revel described her ability to him, but different at the sa ti. It was like seeing from his shadows, he felt comfortable, like he was in the right place, the shadows welcod him warmly.

But he also felt his essence drain, he couldn't stay like this forever.

He saw Eunbin stagger with the sudden loss of her brother, she looked around, confused.

He reappeaed right in front of her.

"Can you at least stop and listen to ?"

She jumped, a little surprised at Sunless' new ability, but recomposed herself and crossed her arms, sharpening her eyes at Sunless.

"You know who she is."

"Yes, I do, and you don't know what happened in the Forgotten Shore."

"Oh, sorry! How could I possibily know you started dating the Immortal Fla's daughter in the Dream Realm?"

"Damnation Bin! I'm not dating her!"

Beastmaster opened her mouth to chastize her brother. Then rembered he cannot lie. Her anger turned to confusion.

"Then what was that?"

Sunny threw his arms in the air.

"I don't know! It just happened!"

Eunbin just stared at Sunny incredulous.

Sunny sighed, feeling a headache approaching.

"I'll explain everything at ho."

"You better."

She passed through him, motioning for him to follow.

"Co, we are done here."

"Huh? Already?"

"Yes, your dear 'Shadow Watchers' will soon be roommates in a building not far from the manor. At least until they can get their own places, and only if they want of course.

Teacher Blade and the others will arrange them while you and Seishan explain everything that happened in that place."

She paused for a mont, then smiled.

"Including how you got enthralled by a tree."

Sunless' eye twitched.

"Seriously?!"

Her smile widened.

"Yes~"

Sunny rolled his eyes, then noticed that two of his sisters were missing.

"Wait, where's Veil and Shan?"

Eunbin put a finger in her chin, as if she had just rembered sothing.

"Oh, them? They will be with us soon, they just have to… Deal with a certain bad mouth."

— —

"Why does it have to be in my room?"

After so hours things finally cald down and they returned to the Song manor, and so, the Song sisters wanted to know the adventures their siblings went through.

Luckily, the normally busy Saints were free to listen to the stories of the Forgotten Shore and to catch both Seishan and Sunny up on what happened in their absence.

Unfortunately for the only son of the family, his room was chosen for the event.

It was a big bedroom, dark and had a mostly modern aesthetic. The room even had little lights in the corners and edges rather than having normal lightbulbs given the fact Sunny didn't need, or even liked light. The singular big window had a shade of black, with gray curtains.

The desks on the cavity walls were mostly empty, with so presents from his sisters like a little plant that looked like a blossom tree with white leaves, given to him by Hel.

His main desk had a state of the art high end computer and so decorations.

All in all, everything was untouched and left exactly where he left it.

"Because Rain said so."

Revel was already laid down in the middle of Sunny's bed lazily, reading one of her romance novels shalessly.

Sunny rolled his eyes and took his jacket off, throwing it on his chair, where Howl was sitting, dozing off soundly before the dark jacket landed on her. She took the piece of clothing off her and snapped her head towards her brother.

"You little-! Good to have you back!"

Sunless sat on his bed and leaned on the bed's headboard, thinking on where to even start.

Silent stood in the corner, as always, leaning on the wall.

Moon and Rain had arrived, carrying a big mattress and sheet to put on the floor.

"You know you can just pick so chairs right?"

Sunny's words were ignored as the girls put the mattress on the floor and spread the sheet on said mattress.

And to finish, Hel brought the pillows, a lot of pillows. Almost half of his room was stuffed pillows.

The three girls that put together the makeshift bed basically jumped on it, sitting and laying on it.

Finally, Seishan and Eunbin entered, Bin sitting on a chair she summoned and Shan sitting on the bed right next to Sunny.

"Alright! Can we begin now? How was the Zone? How did you get that Ascended mory? How many friends did you guys make?"

Moon's questions made Sunny resent his flaw even more…

"Yes, we can. It was horrible. I bought it for one soul shard. Depends for what you count as a friend."

He paused for a mont as his sisters stared at him.

"And for the record, I hate my flaw."

Howl smirked.

"Well, for the record, I love your flaw!"

Revel closed her book and rested her head on her hand, looking at Sunny with a eyebrow raised.

"You know, as flaws go, your's is pretty ta."

"Even so, I hate it. I can't even say that Terra a bother in my life anymore… Wait."

Sunny pinched the bridge of his nose as he understood the mystake he just made.

Howl busted out laughing, hitting the armrests of the chair as she had the ti of her life.

"Ahhhh, I hate you too little bro!"

Sunny growned and rolled his eyes. But his mood soon got better as Rain rested her head on the bed, he smiled and carresed her dark hair.

"Please, can you talk about it? I really am curious how my big brother dealt with everything! The others just kept saying you were doing well, it made mad!"

Everyone chuckled at Rain's little tantrum. Sunless breathed in and out.

"Alright, Rain… Do you mind starting Shan?"

"Well, It is a long story…"