collective unconscious

Ikutsuki: -OUCH! Aigis, that hurt! Umm… well, then. To answer seriously, Shadows are parts of Nyx.

Aigis: Does that mean that they are, in fact, not to be seen as her underlings or children?

Ikutsuki: On the previous page, I explained how Nyx was suppressed in the depths of the Collective Unconscious of all living beings, correct? In other words, Nyx is located in the deepest depths of the unconscious of the psyche of every single living being.

Aigis: That appears to be the case, yes.

Ikutsuki: Now, I want you to picture the following: Assume that a certain living being, let us say, Junpei Iori-kun, for example, ends up thinking the following: “Oh man, I totally screwed up that test again~! How am I 'spossed to keep on living as such a loser?” The moment he has such thoughts on his mind, his unconscious would momentarily cease to resist Nyx. Now, what do you suppose would happen in such a case?

Aigis: If this were to happen, then the “Nyx” in Junpei-san’s heart would surely emerge, even if just for a moment.

Ikutsuki: Exactly. The part of him that is “Nyx” would emerge from his unconscious into his conscious mind. These fragments of Nyx’ psyche resting in our own are what Shadows truly are.