The serpent didn't die immediately.
Sunny didn't participate much in the latter half of the battle — not that he had participated much in the start either. The reason wasn't that he was dazed or particularly tired. In fact he was fully alert. Something about his near-death-experience had changed him, or rather, the change had begun then and was completed when he sneaked up on the ice serpent.
His mind felt clear. His world was suddenly very simple, reduced to cold logic. Movement, intent, information. In this world there were only two options: to kill or to be killed.
He could now perceive the ongoing battle much better and thus he had immediately recognized the only weakness the ice serpent had and deviced a plan to get to it. Nephis also helped him considerably with her lightshow. They had formed a particular connection after fighting carapace scavengers in the labyrinth - somehow Sunny could sense what Nephis would do and coordinate his actions accordingly. This awareness was only amplified now with his newfound clarity.
Because that was what it was, clarity. Sunny finally understood what Nephis had explained to him in theory. But the feeling, the intrinsic knowledge couldn't be born without experience like this. Sunny realized that he was in fact in luck to gain it so soon after coming to Dream Realm; who knew what dangers they would face in the future?
Still, clarity only got you so far and it was no use speculating over the future if their lives were at stake then and now. Sunny's mind might be in a good shape but his body certainly wasn't. He was still bleeding and broken and had trouble keeping himself upright. Thus he could only follow as Nephis brought an end to the fallen abomination. The serpent was still quite a terrifying being, but it had gone blind and its powers were greatly diminished when Azure Blade had struck its eye. It trashed and tried to fight back but was no match for Changing Star.
In the end he and Nephis limped to the other side of the island where they found very frightened Cassie hiding behind a pile of rocks. She hugged Nephis and Sunny teary-eyed (which was quite uncomfortable with Sunny's broken ribs). When she heard that they had fought a fallen creature she was accordingly astonished.
Nephis was quiet. She no longer shone with light and instead looked almost sick. Her expression was cold and detached as was her voice and her features only softened when she looked at Sunny, which was quite peculiar. Sunny figured that fight had taken its toll on her. He wondered, not for the first time, what Flaw Nephis might have. His own was quite severe as a holder of Divine Aspect, so what price had the legacy girl paid for her powers? Right now it seemed she had no weaknesses.
"Let's sleep. We're all tired", Nephis finally said. She absentmindedly reached for Sunny and he felt warmth flooding his nervous system as his injury was healed. Not completely, however. Nephis looked away from him but he could see tightness on her face, like she was under a great strain. Then she looked back at him and the expression was gone.
Huh...
*******
They slept long in the morning. Or at least Sunny and Cassie did. When he woke up Nephis had already lit a fire and was roasting their breakfeast — a fallen devil as she told them in colorless voice. She then tapped Sunny on the shoulder and he felt something traveling between their souls.
[You have received a memory: Crown of Ice]
Sunny's eyes flew open. This was a stroke of incredible luck. Thank you, Fated! he exclaimed internally. Quickly he summoned his runes and searched for the new addition.
Memory: [Crown of Ice]
Memory Rank: Ascended
Memory Type: Tool
Memory Description: "Once there was an advisor who was rightfully inprisoned for a treason against the king. When the darkness came his cell was flooded with icy water, but his wrath didn't let him die. Buried alive he harbored thoughts of revenge, but his chance never came."
Like all his memories, this one had an unnecessarily creepy description, but it didn't make his joy any less. He was in possession of an ascended memory — as a sleeper! It was amazing. The memory had to have some pretty powerful enchantments.
And Nephis had just given it to him for free. Is she stupid or am I?
They had slept so long the midday was almost over. That meant they had no business traveling to the next island before tomorrow. Sunny was secretly happy with the chance to rest — until a certain legacy decided that they should go hunting.
Again, what was wrong with Changing Star? And more importantly, why did Sunny agree to all her ludicrous decisions?
At least he had a chance to increase his shadow fragment counter. By now he and Nephis had become proficient in dealing with simple carapace scavengers. After the battle with two of their older brothers the crab-like abominations didn't seem all that scary. And Sunny quickly found out that his newly found awareness — clarity — hadn't gone away. He felt he was much more dangerous and much less prone to stupid mistakes, even if he was still nowhere near Changing Star's ability.
In the end he was quite content with his progress.
Shadow Fragments: [32/1000]
He hadn't gotten any new memories or echos this time. That being said his arsenal was already impressive for a sleeper. An awakened armor of fifth tier, an awakened sword, silver bell and, most amazingly, an ascended tool-type memory.
Sunny had summoned Crown of Ice immediately after they descended into the labyrinth but he still wasn't sure what the crown actually did. So far it seemed to marginally improve his speed of thought; he could react to attacks more quickly and dodge them more easily. That didn't seem like such a great boon, though. Improved reaction speed was nice, but not what he would have expected from an ascended memory of fourth tier.
At least the crown was rather impressive-looking, Sunny thought. If only same could be said about himself. Life was truly not fair - he had to just take a look at Changing Star to confirm that fact. In her new armour Nephis looked every bit a royal princess she was. Sunny was pretty certain even nightmare creatures were scared when they saw her coming sword in hand, bathed in the blood of their brethren. He definitely was when Nephis asked him for a spar after they had returned to the island.
He could tell she was holding back when they fought against each other, but the battle still felt hopeless. His arms and legs were tired from the day but that was just one of his problems. Fighting Nephis was like crashing against an iron wall: there was no other option than to be crushed. And it wasn't just because she was more physical. She was also smarter, always predicting his next action.
Sunny grimaced and readied himself for their next bout. He had settled into a dull rhythm: fight, get hit, get back up and try again. Somehow he didn't want to be seen weak by Nephis no matter what, and so he would rather be beaten senseless than give up. But when he raised Azure Blade with his aching arm he was suddenly startled when Nephis spoke.
"Can you do what you did last time?"
What? Sunny thought back to their last duel. He had tried a new trick — well, at least it was new to him. Nephis had of course read him like an open book.
"I can, but why? It didn't work particularly well."
"I want to see something."
And so Sunny performed the manouver he had used last time — a feint continued by a cut to the opposite shoulder — and Nephis watched him with unsettling intensity.
"Can you do it here?"
Sunny moved to the next spot where the setting sun was directly behind him... and then he realized it.
Nephis wasn't looking at him.
She was looking at his shadow.
What the hell?
He again did his feint and this time it seemed Nephis caught something. Her eyes gleamed and she smiled broader than Sunny had ever seen. He suddenly felt lightheaded.
"You should concentrate on your shadow", Nephis said. "It is interesting."
And so they continued. Sunny tried to follow Neph's advice, but it broke his concentration and he ended up defeated just as badly as all the other times. In a moment of inspiration he summoned the Crown of Ice and the world immediately felt slower. Nephis's movement seemed to be just a tiny bit sluggish and Sunny felt like he was onto something. He looked at Nephis when she slashed at his hip and took a step back. When Nephis surged forward Sunny accidentally glanced down at Nephis's shadow.
Ouch!
The bout was over and Sunny was once again groaning on the ground. But this time he had a smile on his lips.
He had seen something when Nephis attacked. Her shadow didn't mirror her movements excactly — rather, it mirrored the essence of those movements. The difference was miniscule given that Nephis had honed her technique to near perfection; Sunny would have never seen it without his shadow sense. But now that he knew that it was there... What did it mean? What information could he glean from other people's shadows and how could it help his fighting? What about his own shadow or the shadows of the monsters of the labyrinth?
Maybe the shadows could tell him how his opponents fought? Then he would be able to understand their way of battle and turn it against them.
He felt he was onto something there.
"Did you see it?"
Sunny looked up to see Nephis standing over him. The image was quite overpowering and he quickly leaped to his feet.
"Ah, yes. I think so. What do you think it is?"
Nephis thought. "You have a shadow related Aspect that seems really well-rounded. I just thought that it might have something of a combat extension — maybe even an Aspect Legacy. Did you find it?"
"Maybe." Sunny shrugged. "But it's not much yet. I have to say, I would be embarrassed if you discovered my Aspect Legacy before I myself did."
Nephis smiled. "Well, we'll see how it goes. It might not be anything crazy. In any case, we should get to sleep."
And they did. Sunny's shadow was guarding them and when the dawn came they were ready to continue westward. Sunny stretched and gazed at his companions. The trio was starting to look quite impressive. Sunny himself was small and scrawny but his black armor combined with the crown made him look at least exotic — or that was what he thought. Cassie looked beautiful and delicate as usual... and Nephis was Nephis.
Behold: the shadow, the princess... and the other princess! Sunny thought. As well as their loyal companion Gloomy!
His shadow quickly put some more distance between it and himself and Sunny scoffed.
Really? Be glad to be included!
In any case their journey that day was quite smooth. And when they reached the next island Sunny and Nephis sparred once again, Sunny paying special attention to the movement of Nephis's shadow. He saw again the same thing he noticed yesterday and was eager to test the new knowledge.
Bit by bit he began to predict Nephis's movements by reading her shadow. It would often times act out of sync with its owner and give away information. The problem was, Sunny couldn't put that information to practice quickly enough. He felt like he was trying juggle eight balls and six knives at the same time, and more often than not one of them would hit him in the head. In the end he was battered and bruised and seriously contemplating if he should abandon the whole pursuit. That was when Nephis came to sit beside him. It was dark again and Sunny looked at Cassie. She was sleeping or at least trying to.
Sunny hoped she didn't feel bad about herself; she might not have been great help in the labyrinth, but without her they would have gone astray from the beginning. That was the power of a seer.
"You have improved."
Sunny looked at Nephis. When had she started giving compliments?
He coughed. "Thanks, I guess. Still haven't unlocked the Aspect Legacy, though." A thought came to him suddenly. "You haven't unlocked your own yet, right?"
Nephis looked amused. "If you want to know, I unlocked it the day I became a sleeper."
Sunny scoffed. "Right. Definitely."
"It doesn't give me a legacy relic. Instead it gives me knowledge." Nephis seemed to be in a talkative mood. "Right now I have unlocked the knowledge of fire, destruction, and passion... "
Sunny looked at her. Very precisely. She didn't seem to be lying. And he would know if she was, Nephis was terrible at lying. But how could it be?
"How?" he asked.
Nephis looked upwards where the darkness reigned like she was seeking for answers.
"You asked me before how I was so strong and everything I said then was true. However, there is more to it, things I will tell eventually." She sighed. "Sunny, you have to trust me. I will tell you, if only for my own peace of mind. But this is not the time and place. Besides, I want to tell it to you and Cassie at the same time."
Sunny was dying to know what it was that Nephis was so secretive about. The fact that she wouldn't tell him infuriated him to no end. Hadn't he already trusted her enough? And did she not trust him? Why would she not?
"I guess I don't have an option", he said. "Keep your secrets for now."
Walking near Cassie and lying down his mood dropped another few degrees lower when raindrops started falling from the sky. A low rumble was carried from somewhere far away and he could hear a sound of rushing water.
No rest for the wicked, it seems.