Shadow Slave

Washed in the ghostly light of the nascent dawn, Sunny and Kai were walking through the ruins of the cursed city. The night was slowly crawling away. Its retreat made one of them feel safer, while the other one grew uneasy without the familiar veil of darkness hiding him from the world.

'I have almost forgotten how mournful this place looks when the sun is up.'

Somewhere in the distance, the waves of the dark sea were halting their eternal assault on the stone walls of the ancient city. These walls had withstood thousands of years of wear and abuse without allowing even a single drop of black water to seep through. Sunny suspected that they would stand unbroken for a thousand years more.

Suddenly uncomfortable, he turned his head west and found the distant silhouette of the Crimson Spire. The menacing structure was looming over the Forgotten Shore like an evil omen, spelling doom to anyone who would dare approach it.

'...Maybe not.'

Sunny had chosen a complicated and meandering route to reach the castle. Kai, who was less familiar with the cursed city, simply followed behind. The charming young man was alert and collected, his bow ready to send arrows flying at any moment.

They had to circle around many areas where especially terrifying creatures were known to dwell and hunt, making slow progress. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry.

At some point, Sunny raised his hand, gesturing for his companion to stop. He peered into the distance with a deep frown on his face.

Kai glanced at him and whispered:

"What is it?"

Sunny brought a finger to his lips before answering:

"Shh. Listen."

Soon, they heard an eerie sound that resembled stifled, heart-wrenching weeping. It was as though there was a crying woman in the fog ahead of them, slowly drawing closer. Her trembling sobs made both Sleepers shiver.

Kai looked at him and asked without much confidence:

"What are the chances that it's actually a human girl?"

Sunny gave him a crooked smile.

"Low."

cold stones, Sunny sent his shadow to

minute or two later, Sunny glanced at him

"Where are your arrows?"

young man

a quiver with a few dozen arrows that were specially crafted for me by one of the best blacksmiths in the

gave him an

of

lingered for a few moments before

also have

"How many?"

lowered

Will that

was silent for a bit, and then answered

think that

in the fog, his shadow was looking at the creature that had been producing the heart-wrenching

was not

bones like a tattered coat. Sunny could clearly see the white arcs of its ribs through the holes in the rotting hide, the unnatural darkness

horrid creature was one of the

its maw and produced another long, human-like sob, then stopped and listened, as though waiting for an answer. When nothing happened,

somewhat close, it wasn't actually on its path. If nothing

Sunny sighed.

stay here for ten minutes, at least. Get

Sunny's word for it. It seemed as though his strange ability to sense

was a wonderful quality to have, as far as Sunny was

Spring and took a few sips of cold, sweet water. Noticing that Kai was staring at him, he hesitated,

someone dying from thirst. Come to think

little

time they

the bottle, wiped his

Two or three days ago,