Shadow Re: Slave

At Sunny's silent command, Serpent slithered down his arm, emerging from beneath his sleeve like a ribbon of living shadow. The sleek creature coiled once, then reached forward—its snout gently brushing Nephis's forearm.

She didn't flinch.

A single drop of inky essence flowed from Serpent's snout, glossy and dark as midnight. It landed on her pale, ivory skin… and spread.

It moved slowly at first, then faster, weaving intricate black lines across her arm—delicate yet fierce, like flowing calligraphy born of some ancient script. The tattoo expanded, curling down to her wrist, etched in graceful, sinuous arcs. A serpent's shape, coiled and poised, came into view.

Nephis studied it in silence, her expression unreadable.

But there was no fear in her eyes.

Just quiet curiosity… and perhaps, the faintest hint of awe.

⸻

Sunny spoke softly as the tattoo settled into her skin.

"It's alive, in a way. It'll grow stronger as you grow… and with each step I take through Shadow Dance, it should also move up in the Ranks."

Nephis tilted her head slightly, then—unexpectedly—smiled.

"It's beautiful," she said simply.

Her voice was quiet.

"It suits me. The contrast."

Sunny chuckled.

"You make it look better than I do."

She gave him a side-eyed glance but said nothing.

⸻

Later, as the sky above the ruins of the Dark City dimmed and dusk settled like a quiet shroud, they sat together over a small fire.

Sunny was cooking—some strange combination of half-burned meat and scavenged herbs. The scent wasn't bad. In fact, it reminded Nephis faintly of something long forgotten… warmth, maybe. Or home.

They were talking logistics—timing, movement, contingencies.

Whether Gunlaug should die… or be dethroned and left to rot.

Nephis had just asked if they should make it look like an accident.

Then, after a long pause, she asked something else:

"Sunny… do you mind if I ask something more personal?"

He didn't look up from the fire.

"You can."

"Why didn't you come find me and Cassie… after you survived the sea?"

There was a beat of silence.

Then Sunny sighed and leaned back slightly, the flicker of firelight catching in his dark eyes.

"No… I don't mind. But I am a little embarrassed."

He scratched the back of his head and gave her a crooked smile.

"I killed that thing not long after you reached the stone statue. I could've swum back. I wanted to."

His voice turned quiet.

"But I didn't. Not right away."

Another pause.

"Part of me… didn't wanted to see what would happen in the outer settlement."

He looked at her, honest and unflinching.

"But I also didn't want to take that from you. You needed space to grow… and I would've taken up too much of it."

"So I stayed away. Hunted alone. In the Labyrinth. In the Dark City. I needed time. To awaken. To build myself back up."

Then he gave a sheepish shrug.

"And when I was ready… I didn't know how to come back. I kept waiting for the right moment. And, well… one thing led to another."

⸻

He fell silent.

The fire crackled softly between them.

And Nephis, watching him under the growing dark, said nothing.

Not because she had nothing to say…

But because, deep down, she understood.

He hadn't just given her space to grow.

Time… to stand on her own.

And still… he hadn't left her.

Not like her father.

He hadn't disappeared into the dark forever. He came back. He was here now—beside her.

That simple truth struck Nephis more deeply than she expected.

Not because he'd returned powerful, or because he held secrets.

But because he had returned at all.

Because when others had walked away, he had stayed.

⸻

Sunny stood.

The firelight flickered across his face as he reached out and took her hand—gently, without urgency.

His palm was rough, but warm.

For a moment, Nephis blinked, caught off guard. She rose with his help, expecting—perhaps—another Memory. But none came.

Instead, he just stood there, holding her hand in the stillness.

She looked up at him, a question in her eyes.

And then he smiled.

Soft. A little crooked.

"You need to head back," he said quietly. "If you're gone too long, they'll start looking. Or worse—make a scene."

He paused, his fingers still loosely wrapped around hers.

"So I'll walk you home."

The fire danced behind him. His eyes, dark and unreadable, softened.

"Like normal people do, when they're with a beautiful girl."

⸻

Nephis blinked.

She didn't blush—but something in her heart fluttered.

She didn't pull her hand away.

And in the quiet that followed, she only nodded.

They walked in silence.

Hand in hand.

The ruins of the Dark City surrounded them—crumbling towers, crooked alleys, shattered stone. But for once, Nephis didn't feel the weight of it pressing down on her.

All she felt was his hand… and the strange flutter in her chest.

She risked a glance at Sunny.

He looked forward, expression unreadable. Calm. Casual.

But beneath the surface?

She could feel the tension in his fingers. The way he held her hand—not tightly, but not loosely either. As though letting go wasn't an option.

What the hell is wrong with him today?

She frowned slightly.

Making me flush with that ridiculous line…

She remembered it perfectly.

"Like normal people do, when they're with a beautiful girl."

It echoed in her head.

She stared straight ahead, her face carefully composed—except for the warmth blooming in her cheeks.

He's never acted like this before, she thought.

I was the one who… was interested in him. I thought he was just… distant. Not interested. Only trying to protect Cassie and me.

But now?

He was different.

Softer, somehow. More open.

And she even liked it, she felt it somwhere deep in her heart.

Even if she'd never admit it out loud.

⸻

A few steps behind, in the quiet recesses of his own mind, Sunny was… struggling.

Internally, he was slapping himself.

What the hell is wrong with you, Sunny?!

That line? Really? "Beautiful girl?" What are you, a bard? Just shut up. Walk her home. Don't make it worse.

He grit his teeth behind a neutral face.

You've kept it together for months. Now you're unraveling because she gave you a look and said she liked you "a bit"?

Get. It. Together.

But his body didn't listen.

His fingers were still curled around hers.

He didn't let go.

And when Nephis responded—just subtly—by tightening her grip, even for a moment…

…his chest burned.

His heart beat louder than it should.

He didn't speak. Neither did she.

And still, they kept walking—quiet, steady, through the ruins of the dying city.

Two shadows, moving as one.