Shadow Slave Fanfic: The Song of The Shadow Beast

Close to 3k words…damn.]

They had expected many things. The Lord of Shadows was a mysterious person, after all. Only the dead gods could have known the full extent of what this man had done in the past…

And what he would do in the future.

But never would they have thought to hear such an outrageous statement from his mouth.

It was bad enough that they had been tricked into believing their Warden was just a harmless Master, only to discover that he was the most powerful saint in existence.

But now, it seemed like he had truly lost it. Making fools of them was one thing. But making the outrageous claim that he and Changing Star would kill their mother? That was on a whole different level.

Though every single one of the Song sisters should have been shocked and enraged by his words, at least two of them didn't seem all that surprised.

It didn't make any sense. If anyone should be at his throat right now, it was Revel. Yet the demoness simply sat there, scratching her head, coming to terms with how he had chosen to reveal the plan he had already shared with her days ago.

At that moment, Revel felt regret, not for believing in him and Changing Star, but for trusting him to explain things to the rest of her sisters.

Ahh… I should have said something to them. But who would have thought that he… never mind, I should have seen it coming.

She mourned in silence, trying to come to terms with the reality that they now had to deal with this situation… somehow.

'By The Goddess of Beasts, how did he think this was a good way of revealing his plan? Who would do…ahhh, I should have known…' She mourned in silence.

It seemed impossible, but she also knew that such a word simply didn't apply to him. So she remained curious, how would he manage to convince them as he had done with her?

Moonveil looked around, taking in the reactions of her sisters. She had never felt as close to their supposed mother as the rest of them. And for good reason.

She was the youngest of them all. Not only had she spent the least amount of time with their mother, but she had only ever known the version of her that had already spiraled too far down her path of tyranny.

So she had never truly accepted Ki Song as her mother.

When the war descended upon the realms and she had no choice but to fight in it, she was not amused. Quite the opposite, each passing day of harrowing battle made her loathe the Queen of Worms more and more.

Right now, she felt torn between two forces: the desire to see the woman who had dragged her into this life of suffering finally die, and the reality that not all of her sisters shared her resentment.

Silently, she scanned the room, trying to figure out who would speak first.

When her eyes landed on Revel, all she saw was her usual calm and composed sister.

Way too calm and composed for someone who, as the oldest, should have had the strongest bond with their mother.

But then realization struck, Revel had formed an unusual friendship with the Lord of Shadows.

"You… you knew?" Moonveil's voice was hesitant, laced with curiosity as she stared at her. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Revel now found herself in the position she had hoped to avoid. Right now, the ability to lie felt like a blessing. She remembered her new friend's Flaw all too well.

But despite having the option, she had learned that brutal honesty had its own advantages.

It kept her conscience clear.

And while it might antagonize some of her sisters in the short term, at least she wouldn't have to feel guilty about keeping a dirty secret.

So she chose to take the man himself as an example. After all, he had managed to convince her. Surely, there had to be a reason why his way of doing things worked.

"Yes," she admitted. "He informed me of the plan to kill Mother the same day we arrived here. Furthermore, I intend to assist in that plan."

She remained calm, holding their gaze, making it clear she had no intention of deceiving or betraying them.

After all, it was Ki Song's life on the line…not theirs.

And that was what truly mattered. The bond they shared as sisters was far stronger than anything their so-called mother had ever managed to create.

Together, they were one.

With or without Ki Song.

Moonveil didn't know how to react. She had never expected to find understanding among her sisters…especially not from Revel.

But now that she had, it felt liberating, like there was finally light at the end of the tunnel.

Despite the fact that she had been forced into this life against her will, she was still grateful to have met them.

She loved her sisters more than anything in the two realms. That, she was certain of.

A relieved smile crept onto her lips as she turned to Revel with newfound determination.

"That's good to hear," she said. "I'm relieved I'm not the only one who thinks our 'mother' has overstayed her welcome in the two realms."

Seishan listened carefully. She, too, had harbored ill feelings toward their mother.

After all… she had been left to rot on the Forgotten Shore. Knowing full well that it would have taken Ki Song almost no effort to rescue her.

Instead, she had been discarded…forced into a life she never wanted.

So despite her initial shock, she no longer had any doubts about how good a world without her mother's cursed influence would look like.

'You have indeed found the perfect man, Nephis. This is perhaps your most impressive accomplishment.'

A cold smile settled on her lips. Here she was, deep in the Soul Sea of an enemy saint…only to find out that he had been an ally all along.

"I wish I'd known that sooner," she mused. "I could have spared myself a few nasty bruises."

Meanwhile, the rest of the sisters were torn between confusion, anger, and inevitably…acceptance.

Howl and Bin were still struggling to come to terms with the reality that their supposed caretaker, the Lord of Shadows, no less, had been planning to kill their mother all along.

Silent and Hel, on the other hand, were too shocked to process how casually Revel had admitted not only knowing about the plan, but agreeing to help execute it.

It was mind-boggling to sit here now and witness it all unfold.

Eventually, Howl managed to speak, and from the tone of her voice, it was clear she was far from pleased.

"You can't be serious, Revel." Her fists clenched. "How did he get to you, huh? Did he secretly let Song of the Fallen manipulate you? Has that witch messed with your mind so much that you seriously believe our mother needs to die?"

She eyed her up and down, searching for any signs of recent abuse…anything that would explain how the Lightslayer of all people had been convinced to follow such a horrific plan.

Revel met her gaze, unfazed.

Calmly, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and folding her hands beneath her chin.

She had started telling the truth, there was no point in stopping now.

"No," she said, her voice steady. "I have not been manipulated. I have simply been shown the truth."

A dark amusement crept into her tone. "Sunny's decision is no longer just a desire, it has become a necessity."

She let her words settle before continuing.

"Tell me, Howl. When was the last time our 'mother' told you she loved you?" She scoffed. "Because I certainly can't remember."

Howl's fists clenched tighter. Her teeth ground together, not because Revel was mocking her…

No.

But because she couldn't find an answer.

There was nothing. No "I love you". No "I'm proud of you, my daughter."

Nothing.

Only cold stares and the rare, indifferent nod of acknowledgment.

"You… I…" Howl searched desperately for a memory, anything to dispute Revel's words.

But she found nothing.

And in the end, she simply slumped back in her chair, unable to argue.

"So even if she hasn't been the most loving mother we deserved, who's to say that can't change in the future? Has she not taught us how to survive and fight?"

Revel leaned back in her chair, nodding slowly.

"That's true. But it's not enough. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that she did, but just like every single one of you, I didn't choose this life. She did. So isn't it only fair that she was the one who taught us?"

With a slight smile, she turned to Rain.

"How did you come to live as an Awakened? Did your brother force you into it?"

Rain was momentarily startled. She had no idea why she, of all people, was being drawn into this conversation. But refusing to answer the Lightslayer wasn't an option.

Even if she was technically a prisoner at the moment.

Straightening her posture, she glanced over at Sunny. A caring smile and a small nod were all she received in return. With that reassurance, she turned back to Revel, ready to explain how she had come to live the life she now found herself in.

"I… I wasn't dragged into it. We were once attacked by nightmare creatures from a nearby gate. I had no way to defend myself, so all I could do was cower in a corner with the rest of the students."

She took a deep breath, steadying herself against the memories of how helpless she had felt back then.

"I was utterly powerless. All I could do was wait for my death. But just as it was about to happen… a graceful female knight in onyx armor appeared to protect us."

Her fists clenched as she locked eyes with Revel.

"That day, I decided to become strong. To never feel so utterly helpless again. I had a Master soon after, but I can't remember who it was."

She subtly glanced over at Sunny before continuing.

"But shortly before my family and I moved to Ravenheart years ago, I met him. And from that moment on, he was in my shadow, guiding me on the path to strength."

Revel considered her words, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she recalled what Sunny had told her before.

'So she doesn't remember that it was her brother's Shadow that protected her… or that he's been teaching her far longer than she realizes. Gods… losing your fate is truly terrifying.'

"So it was your own choice," Revel mused. "And how has it been? Having the Lord of Shadows as a teacher?"

Rain scoffed, the tension in her shoulders easing as memories flooded her mind, moments when she had been tempted to strangle him to death… and others when she had seen the care and gentleness he showed her.

The way he could be so warm one moment, only to leave her on her own the next, making her doubt whether he would ever step in to save her.

'Well, I guess it was necessary. Otherwise, I would have relied on him too much.'

It was frustrating. And amusing.

"I had no idea he was the Lord of Shadows," she admitted. "Or even my brother, until a few weeks ago. Instead, he made me believe he was some ancient, dark deity going around performing miracles."

She groaned, letting her head fall into her hands.

'Gods, I was so stupid. He even told me who and what he was, but the way he said it wasn't convincing at all. Even now, I still wonder how I ended up with someone like him as a brother. Well… it's because I'm adopted. That's how.'

"He made it a point to make me work for it. He never helped me slay a creature. He just lurked in my shadow, teaching me how to survive and fight against abominations I had no business hunting."

Rain scoffed again.

"He didn't even help me when I was being hunted down by an Awakened Tyrant while dragging Tamar through the mud near the Moonlight Plain."

Gasps filled the room.

Everyone's eyes widened in shock.

Had she really gone through hell like that… while her brother simply stood by and did nothing?

Revel turned to Sunny, disbelief written all over her face.

"And it never occurred to you to help her?" she demanded. "I thought you cared more about her than our mother cared about us. That's why I even asked her."

Sunny rolled his eyes. A small chuckle echoed through the room as he looked at Rain.

"I didn't intervene because she was doing quite well," he said, amused. "She was at a critical moment, so I had to hold myself back from just killing the damn thing and helping her and that legacy girl reach a human settlement."

He turned back to Revel, a smug expression on his face.

"After all, she killed it in the end. And as a mundane, no less. So yes, I made her believe I wouldn't save her when her life was truly in danger. Just so she would grow beyond my expectations. I had to face an Awakened Tyrant in my first Nightmare too, after all."

Revel suddenly understood.

'So that's why…'

"You trained her in a way that would make her just as strong as you?" she asked. "And all that acting, just to make her believe you wouldn't save her if her life was on the line?"

She glanced at Rain and noticed a sly smile tugging at her lips.

"No wonder you're siblings," she muttered, chuckling softly. "You're both insane."

She leaned back, shaking her head in amusement.

"I mean, killing an Awakened Tyrant as a mundane is unheard of. Impossible. Yet here you are. It seems he trained you well."

Rain was momentarily taken aback.

She had just received a compliment from a renowned saint of the Great Clan Song.

Something she never would have believed could happen.

Slightly embarrassed, she hesitated before mumbling, "Thank you."

But before Revel addressed her sisters, there was one more thing she needed to do, one more question she had to ask.

A question that would plant doubt in their minds.

"Now tell me, Rain," she said, voice measured. "What do you think of your brother, after finding out who he really is… and after all that merciless training he put you through?"

Rain blinked, momentarily pulled from her thoughts.

It was a loaded question.

But people were most honest under pressure, and that was exactly what Revel was aiming for.

So Rain answered straight from the heart.

"He's probably the biggest pain in the ass the realms have ever seen."

Revel's plan crumbled as Rain answered without a shred of hesitation.

But it seemed she wasn't finished.

A small smile formed on her lips as she turned to Sunny, who showed no hint of guilt…because he knew she was thankful for it.

"But he's also the best brother I could have ever asked for."

She chuckled, looking back at the past.

"It's true, he put me through hell. He made me lose my mind more than once."

Then she turned back to Revel, her face a blend of gratitude and happiness.

"But he was there when I needed him. He gave me stability in a world where I felt hopeless. He's funny and caring when I need him to be. He's cold and calculating when I need to push past my own limits."

She took a deep breath, finishing her thought.

"And… I believe there's nothing I can't achieve with him as my teacher and brother."

Sunny was momentarily at a loss for words.

He hadn't known that Rain held such high opinions of him.

But now that she knew who he truly was, he felt not only relieved by her words, but at peace with their bond.

That realization brought a wide smile to his lips.

Revel turned back to her sisters, her expression resolute. Rising to her feet, her voice boomed through the room.

"So if Sunny can care for his family while shaping his sister into an outstanding Awakened… why couldn't our mother do the same? It's not like she lacks pawns to spare."

Silence fell.

No one could argue with her.

No matter how much some of them still clung to the hope that Ki Song could change, deep down, the seed of doubt had been planted long ago.

And now… it had finally begun to bloom.

[Author's Note: Man…writing a realistic flow of things is hard. But it's necessary, after all I can't just make them be OK with it. But after this chapter there will be a small time skip. I have no desire to bore you with arguments between them. Now I can go back to writing comedy and unique ideas.

If I was religious, I would pray for what's about to come.]