Shadow Slave: Back in time

Sunny found himself blind and drowning. However, he was prepared and swiftly surfaced. He looked around, expecting to see the headless neck of the statue a short distance away.

"Damn." It was much farther than it should've been.

Instinctively, Sunny connected with his shadow. He saw the shark-like creature that had nearly killed him and colossal tentacles reaching for it.

The creature slightly altered its escape route. You see, creatures of such power can perceive most gazes, and they tend to look back. Sunny cursed and swam toward the platform.

The tentacle rising from the black waters came down at the shark, but it couldn't catch it as the creature had changed its path. Instead, it struck the shark's side, leaving it half-dead but still moving forward.

Sunny tried to swim to the statue, but the tip of the tentacle slammed next to him, creating a wave that sent him flying.

He landed hard on the body of the dying creature. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he felt a crack reverberate through his chest. The creature's scales pierced his armor, leaving deep cuts on his back as he slid toward the water. His sword manifested just in time, and he managed to stab it into a deep wound inflicted by the tentacle's hooks, using his shadow to enhance both his body and the Memory.

The abomination tried to shake him off, but it was too weak. Sunny gritted his teeth, holding tightly to his weapon, ignoring the pain in his muscles and back. The beast kept moving forward, but it wasn't swimming; it was simply being pushed by inertia. After a while, the monster gave one final spasm and then became still.

[You have slain a Corrupted Devil, Seabed Cleaner.]

 [Your shadow grows stronger.]

"So this is how Gunlaug did it, huh?" He shook his head. "No Memory for me, of course."

Still, it was a win. He had obtained 32 shadow fragments relatively easily.

That is, if he survived the night: he was injured and on a corpse, which would likely attract other creatures.

He carefully surveyed his surroundings. In the distance, close enough that there was a small chance of reaching it, was a small coral formation. He felt strangely drawn to it, as though something familiar was there. He couldn't see it, only sense it deep in his gut. After a few moments, it clicked: Could it be… Nephis?

"Hey, Neph."

"Hmm?"

"Do you feel my presence?"

"Now that you mention it, I feel like there's something in the sea…"

He wondered. If they could mentally talk and sense each other's presence, what else could they do?

"That's probably me."

"What? Why are you in the Dark Sea?"

"I ran into a minor inconvenience. I'm coming. Don't kill me."

"Okay. Cassie is here too."

She paused for a moment.

"You… killed a Corrupted Devil."

"Yeah."

"Are you hurt?"

"Yep. Don't worry about it. You can't heal it."

Worry seeped through their bond.

"Why?"

"Light attracts monsters."

He already knew that both girls had been brought into the Dream Realm in the same place.

Taking a deep breath, he dove into the dark waters. His muscles ached, and the wounds on his back burned. Sunny had endured much worse. Miraculously, he wasn't attacked and managed to reach the coral formation.

It was like a small island. Sunny smiled and made his way toward the girls.

"I'm coming."

"No!"

Sunny quickly sent his shadow ahead to check for danger.

"What? Why?"

"I… don't have anything to wear…"

Both Sunny and his shadow froze in place.

That's right. When Neph, Cassie, and he had met in the Labyrinth, several days had passed. But this was still the first night, and she hadn't had time to weave clothes out of seaweed. They only had one set of armor Memory.

Sunny sighed. It wasn't an issue; he'd have to wait until morning to heal his wounds anyway, as the light would attract monsters. Lying down, he commanded his shadow to guard him while he slept. He pushed the pain to the back of his mind and closed his eyes.

His eyes opened when the sunlight touched his eyelids. Yawning and stretching, he stopped immediately at the sharp pain in his back. He stood up and reached the edge of the coral pillar.

He observed the dark waters trembling as they began to recede, revealing the red labyrinth beneath. The sun illuminated it. The image of an ashen desert covered by eternal darkness overlapped with the view before him. Who would have thought that the months spent reaching the Dark City would be the easiest of his life?

"Neph, are you awake?"

"Yes. I need a little more time to finish the clothes."

"Fine."

Sunny gazed at the scenery for about half an hour, sitting with his legs dangling.

"Done. You can come."

Sunny made some noise to alert Cassie of his presence.

"Who's there?" came Neph's cautious voice.

Sunny stood just outside the coral wall of what would soon be their camp.

"Hi. I'm Sunless, a fellow Sleeper of the Academy. Nice to meet you, Lady Nephis and Cassie."

The camp was empty except for a pile of seaweed the girls had used as pillows.

"Sunny!"

The petite blonde girl stumbled toward the sound of his voice. Her hands reached forward, and as soon as she touched him, she wrapped her arms around him.

Her eyes were watery, and her voice trembled.

"I'm so… glad… you're here…"

She buried her face in his chest.

Sunny stared at her, surprised. He knew he had befriended and reassured her, but he hadn't expected this reaction. She must have truly believed she was going to die. A twinge of guilt hit him. He hadn't meant to manipulate her like that.

"Do you two know each other?"

They had to keep up appearances. It would be suspicious if a member of a clan like the Immortal Flame knew someone like Sunny, an outsider.

"Yes. We sat at the same table."

Sunny stroked Cassie's hair to calm her.

She lifted her head and gave him a tentative smile.

"I mean… I'm happy that you're with me, not that you're here."

He smiled.

"I figured."

"So, Lady Nephis. How about we team up?"

Oh, mighty Neph of the Immortal Flame, I prostrate myself before you, begging for mercy. Will you grant it?

"No…

… Problem"

"…Fine."

"Just call me Nephis."

"Sunny."

"Yeah. You nearly gave me a heart attack with that."

"Your fault."

"Uh-huh."

Nephis walked over and touched his back. The familiar warmth of her flames lasted only a couple of seconds before his body was completely healed. It was as though he had never been injured at all.