Shadow Slave: The Holy Emperor

When Keter awoke he could feel something heavy lay against him. 'hmmm... what?' Keter opened his eyes tiredly still not fully recovered from the night before, to see Cassie cuddling against him. Keter barely pulled himself out of her grasp without waking her up or falling over.

'So where is Nephis?' Keter walked around the small island trying to find her before he collapsed again.

"Are you ready to explain?" Keter tripped from surprise, as Nephis swiftly caught him. Nephis frowned.

"Have you still not recovered yet?" Keter could see the worry radiate from her.

"Mostly, the only thing left is soreness. And yes I'm ready to explain." A small blush appeared on Keter's face. "Tho can you help me down? I would rather not face plant right now." Nephis helped him to the ground and then sat in front of him.

Keter stared at her for a moment then began speaking. "Let's get the biggest bomb out of the way first. I was raised by the Sovereigns, or more specifically Ki Song, and Anvil of Valor." Keter stopped Nephis from saying anything.

"Let me finish before you draw conclusions. I am not the assassin as I said, after all, both of them tried to convince me to let one of their Saints help me skip the unpredictability of the first trip into the Dream Realm. Which I bet you know that's something they wouldn't even do for their own kids."

Nephis's eyes widened in surprise, one so big that even her natural resting bitch face couldn't hide. 

"Why? Why would they care so much about you? And what about Asterio--" Keter quickly covered her mouth before she could finish saying his name.

"Don't say his name, he will hear you." After making sure she wouldn't say his name he continued.

"For years I've known why but.... I've never wanted to accept it." Tears began to form in Keter's eyes as he forced himself to remember.

"But... During my first nightmare, I was forced to come to terms with it. That that fucker was my father. My father that blasted fuck abandoned me the very day I was born! Hell because of him I don't even know who my mother is!" Keter grip on his emotions was falling apart far faster than he could piece it back together.

"Keter.. Do you want to kill him?" Nephis hesitated as she asked not wanting to worsen his breakdown.

Keter sat there for a while before answering tears crawling down his face. "No.. but I want to know why. Why abandoned me? I want to know who my mother is. I want him to apologize to me." Keter hesitates before he quietly says. "I want him to act like a father."

Nephis sat there for a moment before she pulled him into her embrace. They sat there for a while before Nephis began once more.

"What was your relationship with the other Sovereigns?" A smile crept onto Keter's face.

"Aunt and Uncle, tho I don't know if they really care or if it's some way to get my father on their side." Keter ponders for a moment.

"Anvil is the one I'm most suspicious of for such a thing. I believe they both care at least a little but besides that, I'm not too sure."

"You said they raised you. Did they teach you anything?" Keter could tell Nephis was angry, but it wasn't at him. He could feel the determination a hate running through her veins and yet, none of it was directed at him.

"Anvil taught me how to craft, smith, and Runic Sorcery. He also taught me how to wield damn near every weapon with above-average proficiency. Ki Song taught me control, will, and understanding. Control is important to everyone but Song puts its importance above everything. While on average Dreamers have control of 30% of their body, Ascendeds have 50%, and Transcendents have 60%, but due to Auntie, I have control of around 96% of my body. The understanding is of others be it Nightmare Creatures, Humans, or anything else, she taught me how to kill them most efficiently, how to know every emotion they feel, and more."

Nephis nodded and then asked her final question. "Did you know? Did you know what they were doing to me?"

"No, no I didn't and I promise you Nephis, I will help you find out what happened to your parents," Keter vowed to her.

For a while, they sat there in silence before Nephis spoke once more.

"Keter I'm going to destroy the Nightmare Spell and if they get in my way I will kill them, just like they killed my parents." Keter smiled at Nephis pulling her in for a tighter hug.

"Of course, you will cause after all if it is our will, then who dares stop us?"