Shadow Slave: Eternal Dawn

Nico scowled, then shifted on his stool, mood made impassive before he cared to complain.

Still, he said:

"Why do you call me that?"

She tilted her head, as if confused as to the question.

"Oh? But you are my little brother by about eight years, no? Why wouldn't I?"

He massaged his shoulder with a hand. He had forgotten how strange his "sister" was. The truth was that they hadn't even known each other until he approached her half a year ago, and only met a handful of times after that.

"Forget it... The reason I'm injured is because I fought the Devil alone. That's why."

Seishan's elegant facade seemed to waver.

"Alone?" she muttered. "How come?"

'How come, indeed.' 

He shrugged indifferently.

"We were split between a Demon and a Devil due to the circumstances. I managed to slay it alone, although it left a few marks. I should heal quickly."

She twitched, paused for a moment, then absorbed the information rather quickly, nodding before a couple seconds passed.

"That is to be expected. But, why have you called upon me? Gunlaug is best unaware of our familiarity. What warranted this risk?"

His gaze turned distant, and a small smile creased his lips, only to vanish a moment later.

"I obtained the Devil as an Echo. Its abilities are strong. Versatile, too. I plan to test it subtly in the outer settlement — where Gunlaug has decided to send me — as well as hunt with it, of course. Maybe I can turn it into something more if I strengthen my Aspect. I'm not sure, but Kido has unknowingly given me some interesting ideas."

A momentary pause stretched between the two, his elder sister caught mid-stride at the mention of an Echo. Not just any Echo, either — an Awakened Devil. Her mind raced with thousands of possibilities and emotions. A subtle relief eased her tension as she realized she could be free of her role as Gunlaug's puppet sooner than planned. There was finally some sort of power within their hands now, and greedily, she wanted more. But, perhaps most strongly, was her pride.

Her little brother had not just slain the beast but obtained its copy.

Her face split into a sudden, honest smile. Pearly teeth revealed as she did, so perfect they seemed chiseled from the walls of the Bright Castle, and so charming they were magnetic.

All the strange emotions were delivered to Nico's head almost instantly, as his sister didn't even bother to attempt suppressing them. He felt something he never thought he'd be capable of again — embarrassment.

His head tilted.

'What the hell?'

Discordant thoughts were stilled by his Flaw, but when he spoke, his voice sounded slightly off kilter:

"You... know one of my Attributes makes me aware of others' emotions, right?"

Gorgeous Seishan blinked her lashes in mock innocence.

"Yes, of course. But, isn't it only natural to feel pride in my dear little brother's accomplishments?"

His brows twitched in response, then relaxed. The storm had been swept away, and he answered in his usual calm:

"I don't know. Family relation was not something I understood well before my Flaw set in."

His sister stared at him for a moment in contemplation, then took a few steps forward and gestured towards two couches opposite each other.

She sat down and crossed her legs regally, and he rose from his stool to sit across from her.

"Well, little brother, let me try to briefly explain it to you before we continue."

She paused, then began, her voice smooth as velvet:

"It's... a bond, of sorts. Family is more than simply a parental connection; it is a covenant. So long as there's affection and reason, it is unbreakable. My mother has chosen you. Thus, we are siblings, and ones that will not turn back on each other. No matter what."

She rose her head and gazed solemnly at the door.

"It is not just something Gunlaug lacks, but the rest of the Bright Castle, too. The Sleepers of the Forgotten Shore lack cohesion or connection, and their split lives only further sever them. My Handmaidens... I treat them well because I know we are more than just beasts here."

Her eyes settled back on him with amusement.

"Besides, out of my innumerable sisters, you are my only brother."

Nico felt his face settle in a calculated manner.

"But I have no affection."

Seishan's lips curved into a wry smile.

"Do you now? Well, I beg to differ. You are not the stoic you think you are, Nico. Your affection, like everything else, is merely twisted, not gone."

Nico thought her words might have stung in other circumstances, but they didn't, obviously.

He glanced around idly.

She had given him plenty to think about. Lots of strange words and vague meaning. It was hard to piece the gaps together, but he felt strangely compelled to. It wasn't the same type of emotion that his Flaw vigorously fought against. It was... simply a vague curiosity. Something to try and make sense of in his idle time.

However, there were other, more important things to do. Time where they could speak freely was rare and better spent planning. 

"Should we consider changing our plans?"

After his words, Seishan seemed to subtly switch into a different woman. Less like the kind sister she liked to show and more akin to the reserved, inexorable lieutenant she was when in the presence of the rest of the Bright Castle. Whatever reprieve she spared herself in conversation with him was null when they began conversing strategy.

Her picturesque face shifted.

"No, I think not. I still have a firm grasp on the Handmaidens, but we need to keep trying to form a connection with Gemma and Kido. Have you learned anything new in that regard?"

He nodded.

"Kido seems to harbor some deep, suspicious emotions related to the Bright Lord — possibly traitorous. Gemma seems to have a great fondness for her, too. It could work to our advantage."

Seishan hummed in agreement.

"Then nothing changes. The Echo and this will simply speed up the process. You should form your next core swiftly with its help, and tinker with it as you see fit. Sow seeds in the two lieutenants, then send them to me when everything is set. Though the two groups might not technically be important, with them, bloodthirsty Tessai will be outnumbered."

Her eyes gleamed.

"And once we've assembled them, and you achieve the next core, Harus and the Bright Lord will be unable to oppose us."