Fate's Slave - Shadow Slave X Honkai Star Rail

Memory: [Eye Under Heaven].

Memory Rank: Transcendent.

Memory Tier: IV.

Memory Type: Tool.

Memory Description: [The decree of Heaven is a lie. All are not equal. Those who live and those who do not — all share the commonality of being predestined. To reject that truth is just another inevitability, expected by the grand tapestry. To reject without pause, however... that may attract the spider’s gaze.]

Sunny’s brow furrowed as he looked at the Memory’s runes. One of the Transcendent Rank? Why would he receive something so valuable? He was only promised unused Memories, which he wanted to use to both further his research in Weaving, as well as to feed his Shadows.

At most, he only helped take down a single Saint possessed by a Transcendent Tyrant. No big deal.

It was only when Sunny read the enchantments did he realize what was happening. Instantly, he summoned the Memory...

And yet, it did not appear. Rather, his eyes felt a little different. He took a moment to think, before injecting some Essence to activate the Memory, which had taken root within his eyes.

[Is this thing working?]

After a second, a reply echoed in his mind.

[You figured it out faster than I thought you would. Pretend to talk to me normally. I wouldn’t be surprised if I had spies.]

That was Fu Xuan’s voice. Sunny blinked, before initiating her in meaningless small talk. Through the mental connection they had, however, he asked:

[Spies?! Why would you have spies?!]

She chuckled in response to whatever he was outwardly saying.

[Who doesn’t? You should know that there are few things more important than learning from history. After what happened with the High-Cloud Quintet — the cohort General Jing Yuan, Blade, and Dan Feng were once apart of, as well as the recent Ambrosial Arbor disaster, it would be foolish for us to not plant spies against each other. Just in case. I’m sure there are a few servants who aren’t fully devoted to my home.]

She paused for a moment, before continuing.

[A Stellaron Hunter came and healed you. It was as if nothing happened. Not before he beat Jing Yuan to the brink of death, of course.]

Sunny grimaced at the confirmation.

[...And you don’t want to reveal that you were in contact with them?]

Fu Xuan shrugged in a way that seemed natural — for both their fake, and real conversations.

[Somewhat. I’m not too concerned with someone like the General finding out. He let Destiny’s Web and Forge leave without issue once he realized they weren’t the ones planting the Stellaron. As far as I know, Destiny’s Inferno hadn’t done a thing outside of healing you.]

He raised a brow. Web, Forge, and Inferno...

...They all got cool nicknames?! Did he have one?

[And the issue is...?]

[The issue is that the other Xianzhou ships aren’t completely clear on what happened. This includes the Marshal. Even if the Xianzhou Alliance doesn’t care much for those wanted by the IPC, there is bound to be suspicion if dealings with war criminals were discovered.]

She smirked.

[It would completely shift the distribution of resources, you know? I’d imagine that the issue would be brought up under the excuse of ’not risking precious resources in the hands of someone who conspired with Stellaron Hunters,’ all for the goal of hoarding more to themselves. Politics, Sunless.]

He let out an amused exhale in response, snatching one of her pastries. She glared at him with her furrowed brows, just to be ignored as he said:

[Yep. Politics. The same reason why you and the General was so insistent on dealing with Phantylia without the Sovereign’s strength, and why everything you did was a part of your plan to get my help against Cirrus, even though you pretended to not want my assistance. Did I miss anything? Like how you want Sovereignty for yourself?]

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, and it was only then that he noticed the purple jewel resting on her forehead, and how it appeared almost like a third eye. She hadn’t been wearing it a moment ago, and he hadn’t seen her summon it, either. It should have been easy to notice, since it was the only thing adorning her person besides her loose robes.

Fu Xuan bit her lip, turning her head his way.

[Oh, you’ll be going far.]

Sunny gave her an odd stare in response.

[Far... where, exactly?]

She coughed — both literally and through their mental connection.

[Forget that! And... hmph. You’re a core piece of those Stellaron Hunters’ plan, aren’t you? It isn’t too surprising that they’d monitor you to ensure you wouldn’t die. Although I’m not too sure how much of what was in Kafka’s mind was the truth, she at least believed it was. Facing an Aeon... how ridiculously grand of a Destiny.]

...Right, there was that plotline. Who was he, the protagonist?

[So, basically, you let the Stellaron Hunter come to your place... just like that?]

She sent him a baffled look — though, it wasn’t much of a look considering her eyes weren’t open.

[What? Of course not! The one who goes by SAM simply handed you over to me, and I brought you here after dealing with the aftermath of everything.]

Sunny paused.

[...What if they snuck in?]

[Don’t be so paranoid — that’s my job. I have my own means of detecting intruders, so don’t concern yourself over it.]

’...Huh.’

Using some form of anti-divination, Firefly managed to sneak into Fu Xuan’s estate without the Master Diviner’s knowledge. Now that he thought about it, she mentioned something about Elio’s Divine Kingdom protecting them, removing his need for Weaver’s Mask, which also served as an anti-divination tool...

Wait, Divine? As in... the fucking Rank?

His expression must have looked odd, as Fu Xuan momentarily glanced at him with her closed eyes.

[Is something wrong?]

[More things than I can count.]

[...I see.]

She seemed a little expectant.

As if he was going to disclose the truth of his affiliation with the Stellaron Hunters, the nature of his Shadow Bond, and the possibility that either Elio was Divine, or he had something that was.

Instead, he decided to change the direction of their conversation.

[Hey, so this Memory... it’s a Legacy Relic, isn’t it? Should you really be giving this to me?]

One of the Transcendent Rank, at that...

Heat crept up Fu Xuan’s neck as her words came out a little rushed.

[I had to give it to someone! Otherwise, it would only be collecting dust in my Soul Sea.]

...He supposed that was true. After all, its enchantments only worked when granted to another person.

Memory Enchantments: [Soul Link], [Heaven’s Gaze], [Borrowed Eyes], [Acclamation].

[Soul Link] Enchantment Description: [These eyes are bound to the soul of their original owner, with their Rank and Class increasing to match her strength. This Memory can be used to communicate with their original owner from any distance, and cannot be detected by any means that are not of a higher Rank.]

[Heaven’s Gaze] Enchantment Description: [The wielder of this Memory can provide all their senses to the original owner. The opposite is also possible.]

[Borrowed Eyes] Enchantment Description: [The original owner of this Memory can send you visions of danger from any distance.]

[Acclamation] Enchantment Description: [The wielder of these eyes may swap positions with anything containing Soul Essence by simply clapping their hands.]

She must have noticed him staring at his runes, even if she could not see them herself. Fu Xuan sighed.

[You must be wondering why I gave you something so valuable.]

[Pretty much.]

She leaned against her palm.

[Just think of it as an investment. Just as I have my own goals, you must have your own.]

Sunny frowned.

[Sounds like a risky one.]

She scowled in irritation.

[Fine. That Memory is one half of a whole — the other half is an Attribute I have. I’m not completely sure on what the enchantments do, but they should be either exactly the same or at least similar to my Attribute Traits.]

She crossed her arms, saying something aloud that he was only half paying attention to as she transmitted a completely different message in his mind.

[In the same way the Stellaron Hunters are using you for their desired Finality, I’ve personally recognized your worth for my own ambitions. Which happens to include becoming Supreme.]

She paused for a long moment, before turning towards him with her shut eyes.

[That Memory is not something worth giving to a subordinate, or even an heir. Only an equal who can operate on the same wavelength as me can bring out its full worth. Does that make it clear?]

Sunny rubbed the back of his head, feeling a little embarrassed.

[I don’t know if a Master like me can constitute as an equal...]

She suddenly kicked his shin.

[Don’t act humble now, you narcissist. I’ve never met an Ascended who can survive in a battle amongst Saints... well, besides Jing Yuan’s heir, but he’s a dual Emanator. And I’m sure he can’t face off against a Supreme Titan and win through sheer insanity — who even thinks to jump inside their enemy’s body? And in all my years of living, I’ve never met anyone who could adapt to my Awakened Ability without an issue. It usually just dizzies people.]

Sunny blinked.

[Oh, you’re like five hundred or something, right?]

[I might actually just kill you.]

[N—Not that I mind, or anything!]

She huffed, before taking a sip of her tea, which somehow managed to not go cold.

[I want you to collaborate with me. A secret alliance, if you will. Well, if you’re not interested, I expect you to return that Memory before you leave.]

She tapped her fingers against the table.

[I won’t be ordering an IPC contract or anything of the sort. I believe those to be... fragile, forged on distrust. Moreover, who knows what kind of power the creator of those contracts have over those who sign them? I want to place everything on the table — our Aspects, Flaws, or any other secrets. And if we end up stabbing each other in the back one day... that’s a risk I’m willing to take. Because I have to do this.]

Sunny had froze, looking at the Master Diviner as if she grew a second head. Was she insane? It was already a little extreme to expose information on Jing Yuan’s Aspect and Flaw, but that was her putting someone else in danger. Not herself.

Now, however, she was willing to put everything on the line for this... ’goal,’ whatever it was. It was madness...

And she expected him to do the same?

Fu Xuan sighed.

[The point is that I happen to... need you. The question is whether or not you need me.]

A bead of sweat trickled down Sunny’s cheek, his thoughts separated into two ideas. The former told him that her help would be needed — especially due to her profession — while the latter saw nothing but betrayal in the end.

What did he listen to? His needs, or his paranoia?

When he realized where he woke up, Sunny had a few questions that needed the attention of a diviner; especially one who was familiar with Fate. Looking at the current opportunity, however, revealed so much more.

At the same time, was he really willing to tell someone about his Aspect? His Flaw? His chains?

What he said next would change everything.