Much to Sunny's surprise, Shadow Dance did not require much effort to relearn. Since the fundamental understanding was already there, Sunny literally just had to claim each Relic once he started.
Laying on his bed, Sunny looked at the ceiling with an empty gaze. While having all of the Relics again was perhaps his largest boon yet, he had to consider the Shadow God's Lineage. Was it worth consuming?
In the past, Blood Weave had eaten the Shadow God's Lineage, leaving Sunny without any reward for the Second Mastery. This time, Sunny was still without any of Weaver's Lineage. This meant that he still could consume the Relic.
'Honestly, I think it would be better to not consume it. Considering how many times Blood Weave alone has saved my life is enough to decide upon.'
Aspect: [Shadow Slave].
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Abilities: [Shadow Control].
Aspect Legacy: [Shadow Dance].
Ah, how he had missed seeing those familiar legacy Runes.
Shadow Dance Description: [Once an elegant dance, now a deadly battle art. This mysterious style was created by the treacherous Lost From Light after conning Fate. Who else could have taken something so beautiful and turned it into something so vile?]
'That's... A new description? I see the Spell still likes to make sure I remember just how treacherous I am.'
Shadow Dance Mastery Level: [4/7].
First Relic: Claimed.
Second Relic: Unclaimed.
Third Relic: Claimed.
Fourth Relic: Claimed.
Fifth Relic...
Sunny turned his attention back to his next boon from the Mastery. Having Soul Serpent back with him gave Sunny a sense of confidence in the face of the looming Forgotten Shore. Although he had already tried, he was not able to utilize its innate ability to change forms.
To compensate for this, Sunny was fortunately able to wield Soul Serpent as an odachi with the feeble amounts of Essence he held as a Sleeper. But much to Sunny's chagrin, he could not maintain it for very long.
Absentmindedly sending Gloomy out of his room, Sunny sat up. Despite the fatigue accrued from his day, he had to continue to hone his body. His current strength, while not too detrimental, was a far cry from what he needed.
Every advantage he could stack before entering the Forgotten Shore was necessary.
Once he was satisfied from completing various exercises, as well as practicing with his odachi of shadows, Sunny stopped and cleaned himself up a bit. Just as he finished washing the sweat off himself in the shower, his shadow reached its destination.
Despite only one day having passed, Sunny missed Neph quite a bit. Gloomy reached Neph's door, and Sunny patiently waited for her response.
"You can come here in person, Sunny."
Neph's soft voice rang out, an odd emotion evoked out of Sunny.
Tragically, since he was not Awakened Sunny could not travel through his shadows quite yet, so he walked. Reaching her door after only a few minutes, Sunny knocked lightly. There wasn't any particular need to do so, but Sunny felt it was the proper thing to do.
"Come in."
Opening the door slightly, Sunny's gaze landed on Nephis immediately. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she stared off into the false depth of the imitation window, the moonlight reflecting on her white hair. The darkness of the room only served to deepen the contrast of her white night gown, illuminating her as if she was wearing the moon itself.
She was breathtaking, sitting there so peacefully.
For a moment, Sunny forgot himself, but quickly composed himself when her gaze shifted to him.
"What're you staring at?"
Sunny grinned and sauntered over to her.
"None other than the Lady Nephis herself!"
"Oh drop the theatrics Sunny, you have plenty of time to practice that when we're in public."
He chuckled and sat down next to Neph. For a moment, no words were said, they simply met each others gaze. It had felt like a lifetime ago that their history had been erased from her life, and yet, it was no more than a day that had passed since things had changed.
Sunny still was not quite sure how Neph had taken the news from their last meeting. Part of him was afraid that she harbored resentment for him, but just as equally he believed she understood him.
Before Sunny could speak, Neph leaned in and pressed her lips against Sunny's. He returned the gesture and entangled his lips with hers. The odd emotion Sunny had felt earlier resurfaced in him, as he lost himself in Neph's passion.
The weight of a decade crashed over him, finally feeling that the love between him and Neph was no longer shallow. Sunny had acknowledged back in Bastion that Nephis' depth of love for Sunny would never have matched his own, but that was not the case anymore.
Their lips remained locked until they could no longer bear the lack of breath, the two of them panting lightly. Grinning, Sunny held Neph's hands on his lap.
"I missed you, you know."
"I know. I missed you too, Sunny."
There was a subtle tone of sadness in her voice, and it pained Sunny to hear it.
"Do you dislike what I did back in Verge?"
Sunny paused, his smile fading, replaced by a more somber expression.
"It's... Complicated. To be honest, I wish you would have not left us. But I think... I think that I would have done the same as you."
"It is not something I can claim to understand, but I have gleamed a small insight into your feelings over the years about our shared Fate."
Nephis paused, and looked out to the window.
"So to answer your question, I don't hold it against you. I can't hold it against you. In the end, things worked out."
She turned back to face Sunny, and smiled faintly.
Sunny sighed, and felt yet another weight lifted off of his shoulders.
"Thank you, Neph."
"Of course." Nephis gave a slight nod.
"Though, I have to ask. What do you plan on doing about your... True Name?"
Sunny knew that he had to tell her about the changes to her innate ability, but he was hesitant. The past had done it's damage to Sunny, even though he knew Neph would not abuse the knowledge; he was still scared.
Sighing, it was Sunny's turn to gaze out to the window.
"There's been a slight change to that situation. My Shadow Bond no longer gives the master control over me, but instead it ties my life to theirs. Should the master die, the shadow will follow suit."
Nephis' eyes widened slightly, and she opened her mouth as if to say something. But no words left her mouth, and it closed. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Neph seemed deep in thought when she glanced back at Sunny.
"How?"
Looking back at her, Sunny grimaced. He knew just about as much as she did regarding their regression, and the changes it brought with it.
"I'm not sure. I also have a new Attribute, one that I can't quite make sense of. [Bastard of Fate] appeared when I first woke up in the police station, it ties our past to it though."
Neph's eyebrows furrowed, and a slight frown danced on her lips.
"So this whole situation is tied to the Spell then?"
Sunny nodded.
"It seems that way, yes."
Neph let out a weary sigh, and laid back on the bed.
"But regardless of these changes, someone will eventually find out about your True Name. How do you plan on keeping it secret?"
This was the same question that had been nagging at Sunny ever since he returned to the past. In truth, there was no way to keep it secret. He had slipped up in front of Harper - and in turn Cassie - and Mordret as well. Both had nearly gotten him killed.
"I... Don't have a solution yet. I can't think of one. But there has to be one, I-I need there to be one."
Sunny copied Nephis and laid himself back on the bed, staring at the plain ceiling. Deep down, he knew the most reasonable decision was for Nephis herself to claim his name.
But how could he live with that? He had spent every waking moment thinking about their Shadow Bond in the past, thinking about how to ensure his survival - or at least die trying - should she abuse it.
And yet, here he was. Again, about to be at mercy to the one he loves most. It was ironic really, all that effort, that struggle, for what?
"If it makes you feel any better Sunny, I'm always here for you."
Sunny let out a laugh.
"Thanks. But I think we both know what needs to be done though."
Nephis didn't answer. Whether it was out of respect for his feelings, or because she too, did not want this; Sunny couldn't tell.
"Lets just get it over with."
Sunny turned his head to face Neph. She was staring at him, her eyes ailed with guilt, something Sunny had rarely seen.
"Okay." Nephis whispered softly.
Bracing himself, Sunny tried to steel his nerves. Was this really okay? Was there no other options?
Alas, there was not. His only saving grace was the new changes to Shadow Bond. Sunny did not dare to imagine what would have transpired had it not been altered.
Nephis gave Sunny a subdued smile, and whispered out the words Sunny wanted to hear the least in the world.
"Stay, Lost from Light."