Shadow Slave

Sunny considered Kai's words. An ability that allowed the Awakened to fly was not unheard of, but it was rather rare. And here on the Forgotten Shore, where a cursed flood of darkness devoured the world every night, it was nothing short of priceless.

Sunny couldn't even imagine how easier it would have been to traverse the Labyrinth with someone like Kai by his side.

Suddenly, it made a lot more sense why someone like him would possess a small fortune of soul shards. It also explained why his captors were so gentle in their attempts to force the Memories out of the young man. He was much more valuable alive.

Sunny remained motionless for some time, thinking things over. After a while, Kai spoke again, his pleasant voice tinted with a bit of apprehension:

"Well? Will you help me?"

Sunny sighed and walked back to the dark fissure of the well:

"Alright. I'll remove this grate, and you can fly out. However, I don't really need your shards. If you want to come out of there alive, you'll have to do something for me instead."

The prisoner of the well hesitated, then cautiously asked:

"What?"

Sunny smiled.

"I'll tell you when you need to know. Don't worry, it's nothing serious. I just need help completing a few errands inside the castle. So, do we have a deal or not? If not, I'll be on my way. I've wasted enough time here already."

Kai didn't have to think about it too long. Soon, his voice resounded from the darkness once again:

"We have a deal."

It sounded strangely relaxed, as though the young man had become resigned to fate.

Sunny slightly frowned and said:

"Great. One more thing: if you break our agreement and simply fly away, I will find and kill you. This is not a threat, just facts. Do you understand?"

Kai lingered for a bit before answering.

"Yeah, no problem."

Sunny gazed into the black cavern of the well and hesitated. He was more or less sure that Kai was human, but had to be prepared to act immediately in case he was not.

Following his silent command, the Stone Saint came out of the shadows and kneeled near the well, grasping the grate with her hands. The steel of her gauntlets scraped against the ornate iron, and with some visible effort, she slowly moved the heavy grate to the side.

as he listened to the wrenching sound of iron grinding against stone. The Midnight Shard appeared in his hands, and he

came out of the well, he was

eternity. Sunny was tensely staring into the circle of pure darkness in front of him, waiting

more seconds

a

Nothing happened.

'Uh…'

tilted his head, then asked

going

a bit of a delay, the charming voice resounded

see, I just thought

sighed and lowered

"What is it?"

silent for some time, then answered with

just that this grate is so heavy that it wouldn't even budge when I tried to move it. It took all

He hesitated.

already established that we are both human, and it's not that I doubt your honesty, but would you mind explaining to me how

The honorifics were back.

his breath. This guy was even

reveal his hidden ace to Kai, but the cautious prisoner left him with no

thing is too heavy for me, too. But I was

seemed to suddenly

people in the castle have an Echo. I

short pause, he

what is

rolled his eyes and said through

"My name is Sunless."

waters. Depending on what Kai was going to say next, Sunny might be forced to climb

save the young man with a beautiful voice, but to

Meanwhile, Kai suddenly laughed.

only a soul-devouring demon would be called

again, this time with a hint of desperation in

then Kai's laugh was very pleasant to the ear. More pleasant than his charming voice, even, but Sunny was in no

'Goddammit!'

such an honest young man! The most honest young man in

in a

come out of that well before I change

stopped laughing