Nephis thought it would be a peaceful night.
After all, even if they were on the back of a giant monster, trapped in their third nightmare, adrift in an endless sea, and with no clue what to do next... technically, they were safe.
Or so she believed.
Because there was a problem.
And that was that, just like Nephis, Sunny had a sword with a spirit inside.
And unfortunately for her, that spirit was just like Sunny.
A bastard.
A bastard who never shut up.
Although, to be honest, there was something about it that unsettled her a little.
Because even the great sword that hated Sunny... had gone silent.
She recalled the moment everything spiraled out of control.
After her little prank—and an extra kiss, just to make sure Sunny finally stopped pretending to be mad—both of them turned their attention to the specters circling them.
They had forgotten something very important.
Their little game had distracted them from their own companions.
Sunny's Sin of Solace.
And her own specter.
And the problem was... it seemed specters could recognize each other.
Because the moment they laid eyes on one another, something changed.
Nephis and Sunny had seen few expressions on their specters in the days they had been trapped in this nightmare.
But in that moment, they saw something they had never witnessed before.
Confusion.
Genuine confusion.
Perhaps because even among specters, it was rare to see another of their kind?
Or because now they had one more companion to share in their madness?
Whatever the case, it couldn't be that bad.
Right?
Nephis narrowed her eyes, watching the interaction carefully.
The swords studied each other for a few seconds.
Then, their expressions shifted back to their usual mocking sneers.
And then, Sin of Solace grinned grotesquely and looked directly at Sunny.
—This time, you really outdid yourself, you bastard cockroach.
A shiver ran down Nephis' spine.
Not because of the words themselves.
But because, in the same instant the specter spoke, her own turned toward her... and smiled.
A mocking smile.
A smile that mirrored her own.
And for some reason, that felt... strange.
As if even a specter that had existed for millennia could make a mistake.
⸻
Sunny glanced sideways at Sin of Solace.
That stupid specter really didn't know when to shut up.
—Little Sunny managed to charm the foolish princess... —it sang mockingly—. I'd call it an achievement, but you two are just right for each other.
Its voice was cold and scornful, clearly trying to sow discord.
Because, for their misfortune... or perhaps for the spirit's good fortune... Nephis could hear it now.
And one might think that, with her attention divided, the specter would speak less or be kinder.
Too bad.
—How long do you think that twisted, unstable relationship will last? —it continued acidly—. What happens when your precious master snaps out of that foolish bond and gives you an order? Or perhaps... when history repeats itself?
That was already its twentieth comment.
Sunny felt irritation rising in his throat.
Even for him, who was used to the damn sword, he had never heard it talk this much.
Nephis, on the other hand, collapsed onto the cold forest grass with a look of annoyance.
At first, she tried to ignore it.
But the fact that it had Sunny's voice and Sunny's face didn't help at all.
On top of that, apparently, it had the same damned talent as him—finding the right words to hit where it hurt.
Nephis sighed deeply, running a hand through her hair.
More than once, the specter had struck a nerve.
Three or four times, in fact.
And the worst part was...
It was right.
Because she had her own specter.
One that never missed the opportunity to whisper sad, depressing things in her ear.
—When you kill your beloved, it will be fun... —it murmured melancholically—. Who knows? Maybe he'll stay in your shadow even after death... that pathetic little cockroach.
Nephis closed her eyes for a moment.
Her sword was sharp in more ways than one.
But as if by some stroke of benevolence from fate, the conversation suddenly took an unexpected turn.
Sin of Solace was about to say something utterly Effie-worthy.
—Seriously, how does this work when you do that? —it suddenly asked, its voice filled with curiosity and mockery—. Do you stay quiet so you don't give an accidental order?
Silence.
At first, neither Sunny nor Nephis understood the joke.
Except for one.
Nephis' specter.
Which turned to Sin of Solace with sheer disgust.
Sunny blinked, confused, while the specter of his sword looked way too eager to explain its joke.
—You know, I mean the se—
It didn't get to finish.
Because, in a truly benevolent act from someone else, Nephis' own specter took action before it could continue.
Because neither Sunny nor Nephis could do anything against the specters.
They were intangible beings.
But among themselves...
Well.
Both of them watched as the two specters vanished into strange, white particles.
Nephis blinked.
Curious.
Because, honestly, she really wanted to know what the hell Sin of Solace had been about to say.
Too bad she would never find out. But at least, after more than half an hour, she could finally breathe. Being trapped in the Third Nightmare was bad enough. Being surrounded by those two specters was going to be difficult, to say the least.
Her mind started working, searching for a plan. Because at the end of the day, Nephis was still an exceptional warrior. She understood the art of battle and the art of strategy. But what kind of plan could she come up with in this situation?
Well... She had an idea. But it wasn't time yet.
It's just a big beast, Sunny.
She was looking forward to his reaction.
For now, there were only two things to do: eat and train. After all, Nephis was a simple woman. She carefully tasted the food she had prepared... or rather, stolen from Sunny's chest. Too bad there wasn't much left.
She watched with a small smile as Sunny enjoyed his meal. She had never thought about it this way before, but now... seeing her boyfriend enjoy something she made with her own hands felt strange. And in some way, it was nice. It gave her a warmth in her chest she didn't quite understand.
But she didn't dwell on it for too long. Because there was one last thing left to do. Train.
And she wasn't alone. She had Sunny. A splendid warrior in his own right. And, at his request, they had made a pact for today. No weapons. Just them. Hand to hand.
And so... the fight began.
From the very first moment, the difference between them became clear. Sunny was fast. Faster than most warriors Nephis had fought. Not only that, but he knew how to move. Every motion was efficient, precise, designed to use the least amount of energy possible. He didn't waste strikes or fall for unnecessary feints. He observed, analyzed, and only attacked when it made sense. He was a predator sharpened by countless battles. But Nephis had something he didn't: raw strength.
The first exchange was almost too fast to follow. Sunny attacked first, lunging low in an attempt to throw her off balance. Nephis read his intent and deflected the strike with ease, countering with a brutal punch aimed at his ribs. It was a blow that would have dropped anyone. But Sunny twisted at the last second, letting the impact barely graze him before using the momentum to launch a kick at her knee.
Nephis dodged it, barely shifting her leg in time, and pressed forward immediately.
They clashed again. And again. Each time, Sunny moved like a shadow, slipping past her attacks by mere inches, always just out of reach. While Nephis was stronger, he was faster, forcing her to constantly readjust her strategy.
But Nephis had fought monsters. And a human, no matter how fast, was not a monster.
By the third exchange, she had already started adapting.
She anticipated his next move, allowing him to get closer... and at the right moment, she changed the rhythm of her attack. Sunny tried to dodge, but it was too late. With a smooth motion, Nephis grabbed his arm and used it as leverage to throw him to the ground.
The impact kicked up a small cloud of dust. Sunny reacted quickly, trying to roll and get back on his feet, but Nephis was already on top of him. With terrifying fluidity, she used her weight to pin him down, pressing her forearm against his neck while her legs locked his in place.
For a moment, they stared at each other, both breathing heavily. Sunny struggled, looking for a way to escape, but Nephis didn't give him the chance. She had him completely trapped.
She smiled.
—I win.
Sunny grumbled, not even bothering to hide his irritation.
Nephis only laughed, amused. Because she knew this wasn't over. After all... he never let things end like this.
Because, after all, Sunny now had one more reason for revenge, aside from the prank from a few hours ago.
The treacherous Lost from Light would soon take action.
But first...
Though he would never say it out loud, he enjoyed the position he was in.