Shadow Slave

The enchanting voice came from the well in a wave of whispering echoes. It was soft and charming, flowing like a smooth silken melody. It seemed to belong to a young man… if mere humans could even possess such a voice. A divine being would suit it more.

…Or a profane one.

Sunny wasn't in the mood to appreciate the smooth and rich texture of the voice, though.

He was covered in cold sweat.

The echoes whispered:

"...time, …time, …time."

In all his time on the Forgotten Shore, Sunny had only met one other creature capable of mimicking human speech. The memory of that encounter still made him tremble.

The thing that had come from the depths of the dark sea in a mantle of fog and stolen Cassie's voice was by far the most terrifying being he had ever met. He didn't even want to remember the utter horror he had felt when the swarm of whispering voices had surrounded him. On that night, Sunny had only been able to keep his sanity intact because of the blind girl's timely warning.

He had only survived the meeting with the creature that possessed a human voice by keeping his eyes tightly shut.

And now, here was another.

'Why were those hunters searching for this ancient horror?'

He frowned. If something sinister was brewing inside the castle, he had to warn Changing Star. But he couldn't do anything before establishing at least some understanding of the entire situation.

That's why Sunny forced himself to stay still despite the fact that every instinct in his body screamed for him to run away. Instinct was not always the best advisor. Humans possessed intelligence for a reason.

…The black fissure of the well loomed in front of him like a pool of darkness. Suddenly, he was incredibly grateful for the immensely heavy ornate grate that kept the charming talker imprisoned in the lightless depths.

Sunny licked his lips and tried to regain his composure. Ready to summon the Stone Saint and the Midnight Shard at any moment, he took a step forward and gazed into the dark emptiness once again.

Then, he slowly said:

to meet

trying to communicate with the terrifying prisoner of the well instead

you the last one, of

chuckle resounded from the well. After its melodious murmur disappeared in the darkness of the secluded courtyard, the voice

no… the pleasure

The echoes whispered:

"...mine, …mine, …mine."

considering his next

might be depending

remember old fairy tales about terrible monsters that liked to play riddles with lost children. One wrong answer, and the children were devoured,

too late to turn

or make the decision to retreat,

Not to offend anyone, but lately, you've been very tardy. I have been sitting here by my lonesome for three days already. Or

Sunny blinked.

'What?'

an ancient evil. The thing sounded so… human. He was almost tempted

it

supposed to talk, anyway? If it was able to steal the knowledge of human language from his head, it

comprehend what was happening, a few seconds flew by. The voice waited for a

it won't work. Do you even know what type of diets we trainees have to follow to debut? I guess not. Actually, I have to thank you. This is a great opportunity to work

The echoes whispered:

"...BMI, …BMI, …BMI."

'Wait… what?!'

stared into the well, dumbfounded. His

me that there is really just

suddenly stopped making any sense, he rubbed his

"Who are you?"

The well fell silent.

in a long time. It surely sounded ominous and creepy in the moment, but if he looked at it a bit differently… if the group of hunters he lured