Shadow Slave: The Holy Emperor

"Hey Nephis, do you have a spare sword memory?" Keter asked as he walked towards her. 'Lust, huh.' Keter noted with [Eyes of Heart].

Nephis nodded pulling herself out of her daze, then putting out her hand. "here"

[You have Received Memory: Azure Blade]

'Hm, what a coincidence' Keter thought surprised as he pulled up his runes.

[Azure Armor]

Memory Rank: Awakened

Memory Type: Armor

Memory Tier: I

Memory Description: [The Azure the lowest level of the Starlight Legion, where the vanguard against the darkness and those who stood tall against it were granted the right to starlight.]

[Azure Spear]

Memory Rank: Awakened

Memory Type: Weapon

Memory Tier: I

Memory Description: ["Nothing will consume us all"]

[Shattered Sea Charm]

Memory Rank: Awakend

Memory Tier: I

Memory Type: Charm

Memory Description: [A once-common military equipment]

[Man Eater]

Memory Rank: Awakend

Memory Tier: II

Memory Type: Charm

Memory Description: [In their desperation, as the darkness consumed the stars once more, man turned on their fellow man.]

[Traveler]

Memory Rank: Awakend

Memory Tier: II

Memory Type: Charm

Memory Description: [Humanity needed a way to travel along the All-Consuming Darkness, so they found their way.]

[Azure Blade]

Memory Rank: Awakened

Memory Type: Weapon

Memory Description: [On this forgotten shore, only steel remembers.]

'It really is the same one.' Keter smiled as he dismissed his runes and looked at Nephis. "where's Cassie"

"Hiding," Nephis said bluntly as she walked over to one of the walls of coral and pulled a woman out of a hidden spot. Nephis then helped the woman walk to where Keter was.

"Hello, Cassie my name is Keter."

"You're number two on the leaderboard right?" Cassie thought she recognized the name.

"Yea, I am"

Nephis then summoned [Carapace Scavenger] and put Cassie on top. "we need to get going and this will help us move faster" 

Cassie didn't argue as she was placed on the echo, and Keter could tell she was still somewhat uncomfortable about the new addition to the party.

Nephis and Keter quickly harvested the bodies of the Scavengers for meat and then left for the hill. The group walked in silence Keter and Nephis to paranoid to start any type of conversation.

[You have Slain an Awakened Beast, Carapace Scavenger.]

[Your Light Grows Stronger]

[You have Slain an Awakened Beast, Carapace Scavenger.]

[Your Light Grows Stronger]

[You have Slain an Awakened Beast, Carapace Scavenger.]

[Your Light Grows Stronger]

Keter was harvesting the soul shards of the ones he killed as he thought. 'Nephis and I work pretty well together. All of our sparing most definitely plays a part, but there is also the weird effect my presence has on people with divinity and light-related abilities.' Keter surges a little. 'There is also the fact we are both competent fighters so it has been an easier time for us to learn how to fight together than she would have had with Sunny.'

"Eight total shards huh." Keter mused.

Nephis nods as she says. "we're here" Nephis calmly tied both ends of the rope into loops and then threw one of them into the air, accurately coiling it around a prominent protrusion near the top of the coral pillar. Then, she tested if the rope would hold, swiftly climbed up, and waved from above, for Keter to grab Cassie.

Keter grabbed Cassie and began climbing the rope as Nephis dismissed her echo. After gently setting down Cassie Keter grabbed the makeshift bag the put the soul shards in. "How are we going to split this?"

Nephis making a fire to cook the meat with said. "Three, three, two" 

"Do you two have any water? I haven't drank anything in a while." Keter complains.

Cassia smiled.

"Yes!"

After that, she extended an arm to him. A second later, a beautiful bottle made of patterned blue glass appeared in her hand.

"That's a Memory I have. It's always full."

Keter greedily drinks from the bottle till he's had his fill. "Thank you, and that's one hell of a useful memory."

Cassia nodded and smiled, pleased by his words.

Soon, the rich smell of roasting meat permeated the air. At the same time, the sun was beginning to approach the horizon; a loud rumble came from somewhere beneath, and first traces of the black water began to appear between crimson walls of the labyrinth.

Everyone greedily eats their fill. When they were finished with their meal, the dark sea was back, and the night was upon them. Everything was consumed by absolute darkness.

"Do you two know each other?" Cassie asked curly.

"We were sparring partners."

"We're friends"

they said at the same time. Shortly after Cassie chuckled slightly. "Drama"

Keter looked at Nephis in a false shock. "Gasp what about all the time you spent on top of me? Did that mean nothing to you?"

Cassie choked slightly trying to hold back her laugh, and Nephis looked at him with a dull face but with [Eyes of Heart] he could tell she felt scandalized.

"Did you really just say Gasp?" Cassie couldn't hold back her laughter any longer.

Nephis attempted to change the subject not knowing how to respond. "Give me the soul shards"

"Yes Ma'am" Keter hands her the makeshift bag. After she gets it she hands two to Cassie, three to Keter, and keeps three for herself. Both of them quickly use their soul shards and after that do Keter says.

"You want to make a deal Nephis?" Nephis gave him a look telling him to continue.

"You get my share of soul shards till you fill your core and in return, you teach me swordsmanship."

"You're already a competent swordsman."

"Yes but not good enough, not for this hell of a place." 

Nephis thinks for a moment then nods "Deal"

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Trying to write three-way conversations is a little weird and trying to do both Cassie and Nephis decently is trying but I don't think I'm doing to bad.