Shadow Slave novel Chapter 2946

It took Nephis some time to compose herself. Eventually, though, she managed to return to her usual self... almost. The knowledge of the Void seemed to have changed her faintly, making her seem more reserved and mature.

As if she had not already been too reserved and mature ever since being a teenager. Sunny sighed.

"So, how long has it been, exactly, since you passed through the tunnel? Your hair seems longer."

Ananke nodded.

“Yes, my lady. By a few centimeters, at least."

Nephis shrugged.

"I am not sure."

She hesitated for a moment, and then added:

“The fact that I am immune to the Corruption... does not mean that I can endure it easily. I wasn't quite in my right mind when I reached the lake, I think. I don't even remember drowning everything around me in flames until the very stone beneath me melted, and I don't think I even registered the pain of using my Aspect in such an unbridled manner. All I know is that it... took me a long while, to come back to my senses."

She looked at them and said in her usual even tone:

"I waited until the lake stopped boiling, and then summoned you back."

Sunny looked at the lake.

Had the lake been boiling?

He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and opened them again. Nephis, meanwhile, returned the Ark Amulet to Ananke and watched as the youthful priestess hid it back under her mantle. Ananke sighed.

“Immune to the Corruption... I never even thought that something like that was possible. If only you were here when we fought against the First Seeker, my lady. We wouldn't have had to sacrifice so much."

Nephis studied her quietly, then said:

“I was here. In a sense."

Looking away, she added:

“The world outside is blooming with the Seeds of Nightmare... they are like sores on the fabric of existence that corrupt everything around them. The spreading doom. Fortunately, the Spell — as vile and cruel as it is — is intertwined with the Nightmare, and gives us a chance to destroy the Seeds. Those who carry it can enter a Seed and relive the Nightmare contained within, and if they are strong enough... and lucky enough... they can conquer the Nightmare and destroy the Seed."

She sighed.

“One of the Nightmares I conquered happened right here, in the Tomb of Ariel. So, it is not the first time I sailed the Great River. And it is not the first time I met Ananke of Weave, either."

Ananke blinked a few times.

“You met me... in a Nightmare? You dreamt of me before we even met?"

Nephis smiled faintly.

“I guess you can describe it that way."

Ananke just stared at her with a befuddled expression for a while.

“So, what was I like in your nightmare? What happened to the River People? To Weave?"

Nephis glanced at her and grasped her shoulder gently.

“You were kind and generous. You taught me about the Great River and helped me obliterate the First Seeker."

Her expression fell slightly.

“Unfortunately, Weave was destroyed in the Nightmare, just like it was in the real Tomb of Ariel. Most of the River People perished, as well... but not all of them. Fallen Grace remained, even after Verge was destroyed."

Nephis lingered for a moment, glancing at Sunny.

“It is difficult to believe, but actually, the stories of the River People — of Weave — were published in our realm by an anonymous author. So, a great number of people know about you, your city, and the long war against the Defilement you fought."

Ananke remained silent for a while, as if not knowing what to make of that information. Eventually, she made a sign with her hand and said in a tone of reverence:

"Hail Weaver, Demon of Fate..."

Having invoked the name of Weaver, Ananke looked at Sunny and Nephis with a glint in her eyes:

"I'd like to hear more about your Nightmare one day, my lady... when we are in safer waters. But... has the Nightmare Spell really grown powerful enough to prevent the Doom from befalling all of existence? The promise Weaver gave us was not a lie?"

The corner of Sunny's mouth fell a little. He lingered for a moment, then said in a somber tone:

"Whatever you do, Ananke... never trust Weaver. Trusting a daemon known to be the master of lies is not very wise, don't you think?"

He sighed and shook his head.

“The promise... it remains to be seen whether it was true or not. All of existence has not fallen into a Nightmare yet, true, but it is on the verge of falling. All that stands between it and the Doom you speak of is a single realm — the War Realm — and its people. That is because War Realm is the only one left. And it is being swallowed by the Dream Realm as we speak, so... that is why I said that we need to get stronger."

He smiled darkly.

“I guess it depends on how well we do, in the end, whether Weaver turns out to be the liar or not."

Sunny was a little concerned about Ananke feeling so much reverence toward Weaver... after all, Weaver was a daemon, and therefore a conduit of the Forgotten God. However, Ananke was not a priestess of Weaver — she was a priestess of the Nightmare Spell. The distinction was subtle, but important... and, as Sunny suspected, quite intentional on the nebulous daemon's part.

Most of all, Weaver was dead. Now, the beings who could not be revered or worshipped without bringing the awakening of the Forgotten God closer were the heirs of Weaver — and there was only one of those in existence now.

It was Sunny.

He looked at the lake.

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