Shadow Re: Slave

The whole way there, neither of them spoke.

Kai walked beside Nephis in silence, his expression calm, but his mind… anything but. He wasn't sure how she would react when she realized he and Sunny already knew each other.

Nephis, meanwhile, was beginning to question her own decision to bring him along at all. This was supposed to be a private meeting—between her and him. Now that they were so close to the wall, it felt like she'd made a mistake.

Neither of them reached a conclusion before they arrived.

With practiced ease, Nephis climbed the jagged surface of the stone barrier. Kai simply rose beside her, carried by his Aspect, matching her pace with effortless grace.

When they finally reached the top and pulled themselves over the edge, Nephis was met with an unexpected—and frankly, unsettling—sight.

Sunny stood with his back to the sunrise, a broad, glowing smile stretched across his face. His dark eyes sparkled with mischief. Then, without hesitation, he threw his arms wide and called out:

"Oh, my dearest best friend! It's been so long!"

Nephis blinked.

Wait, what?

Then, to her utter disbelief, Sunny walked right past her… and threw himself at Kai, pulling the beautiful archer into a dramatic embrace.

Kai, to his credit—or eternal shame—didn't resist. He stood there awkwardly, patting Sunny's back with a vague expression of someone who wasn't sure what reality he had just stepped into.

Nephis stared at them.

Her eye twitched.

Sunny and Nightingale… best friends?

What the fuck is going on? Am I hallucinating? Under a mind hex?

Still stunned, she did the only thing that came to mind.

She raised her hand… and slapped herself across the face.

Hard.

Sunny looked over Kai's shoulder and raised an eyebrow, still holding the embrace. "You alright, Neph?"

She just stared.

He grinned.

Kai shrugged helplessly.

And Nephis, for the first time in a very long time, seriously considered the possibility that she was the crazy one.

⸻

Eventually, Sunny loosened the dramatic embrace and stepped away from Kai, his smile dimming just a little. He turned toward Nephis with an expression that, for once, didn't hold any teasing.

"Sorry, Neph," he said, voice low. "I was the one who told him to meet with you. And… I told him not to mention my name."

He glanced down briefly, then met her gaze again.

"It was still early back then. I wasn't sure about anything. I just… I wanted you to have someone by your side who wasn't that bastard Caster."

There was no jest in his tone. No smile.

Nephis studied him in silence, her expression unreadable… and then gave a small nod.

"So… you two know each other."

Sunny's smile returned—this time a little too wide, a little too bright.

"Oh, we go way back!" he said, throwing an arm around Kai's shoulder again. "I saved his life, and from that day forward, we were inseparable. Blood brothers. Soul-bonded. Best friends forever."

Kai cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable.

"…I'm still figuring out what he is to me," he muttered.

Sunny chuckled and let him go.

"But you can't deny the honesty of my words," he said with a crooked grin. "I meant it, you know."

Kai sighed and gave a half-hearted shrug.

"Yeah. And that's exactly why I'm considering the possibility that you're completely insane."

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

Kai continued, his tone dry:

"I mean, thinking of me as your friend—just like that? After barely knowing me? Even if you never had friends before, that's a bit much."

He narrowed his eyes.

"And that other stuff you said… back then?

Sunny just smiled, unbothered. There was a glint of mischief in his eyes, but also something else—something quieter. Something honest.

"I didn't have anyone," he said simply. "And I liked you."

Kai gave him a long look, then turned away with a grunt.

"…Yeah, definitely insane."

But he didn't walk away.

Sunny just smiled wider.

And Nephis, watching the two of them from a few steps away, didn't say anything… but a strange warmth was blooming in her chest. Something almost like hope.

Or maybe something far more dangerous.

Nephis tilted her head, thoughtful. Something in her mind stirred.

And then it hit her.

The report.

The one she had received after Nightingale reappeared from the Dark City. The one that mentioned a single strange detail: a small, ragged boy who had been seen with him. Someone no one recognized. Someone described as unimportant.

Her silver eyes narrowed slightly, like twin blades catching light.

That "unimportant" boy had just embraced Nightingale like a long-lost sibling.

And the smile on Sunny's face was the exact opposite of unimportant.

Like a lighthouse cutting through a storm.

Nephis stepped closer to them, drawn by something she couldn't explain—even to herself.

Before she knew it, her voice broke the air.

"…What did you mean? The things he told you back then," she asked, her silver eyes narrowing. "Did he… boast about killing a Great Devil or something?"

Kai's eyes went wide.

He slowly turned to Sunny with a look that hovered somewhere between alarm and accusation.

Sunny, for his part, didn't flinch. He just offered a lazy shrug, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in that infuriatingly relaxed smile.

"No, of course not," he said casually. "I was saving that little story for a dramatic reveal later. You know, something memorable."

He turned to Kai, his grin widening.

"And besides, he was about two seconds away from passing out when I met him. Dragging an unconscious man through the Dark City just to make a point? That's not how friendship works. Right, Kai?"

Kai, meanwhile, had gone pale.

All color drained from his face as he reached out and placed a trembling hand on Sunny's shoulder—whether to steady himself or to keep Sunny from vanishing again, it wasn't clear.

Nephis watched in silent surprise.

He really was about to faint.

Not from fear, or injury, but from Sunny. Just Sunny.

Instead of concern… she felt something else.

Something unexpected.

Something suspiciously close to amusement.

Ah. So that's why Sunny had messed with Kai the first time they met.

It really could be a lot of fun.

After that… they let Kai sit down before he collapsed.

Sunny, whistling softly under his breath, busied himself preparing breakfast like nothing unusual had happened. The scent of something vaguely edible soon filled the air.

By the time food was ready, Kai had recovered—more or less. His face still held a slightly stunned expression, as if he wasn't quite sure what kind of whirlwind he'd stumbled into… or whether he'd survive it.

But he stayed.

They ate together, seated on the ancient stone near the outer wall, the air between them warm with silence and shared bread.

And then, they talked.

About plans.

About the coming weeks.

About things to be done, enemies to outmaneuver, steps yet to be taken.

Sunny and Nephis spoke easily, their conversation layered with intent and understanding that only those who had bled together could share. Kai offered thoughts when he had them—and listened when he didn't.

The sun crept slowly across the sky, shadows lengthened, and still they stayed, talking until dusk kissed the horizon.

No monsters. No battles.

Just voices, laughter, and the faint comfort of peace.

Even here—on the Forgotten Shore.

Even now.