Shadow Slave

Nephis held the shimmering crystals, looking at them with a heavy expression. Sunny was also staring at the shards, his head full of dark thoughts.

The remnants of shattered souls glowed softly in the dim twilight of dusk.

Around them, the inhabitants of the outer settlement were hurrying to get inside their pitiful hovels before the coming of night. The sun was already hidden behind the cyclopean silhouette of the Crimson Spire, drowning the world in its eerie shadow. The air was full of fear and worry.

He grimaced.

"What are you thinking about?"

Changing Star sighed and looked up. Her ivory face was harsh and thoughtful. She remained silent for a while, and then said in her usual calm tone:

"We need to split up."

Sunny couldn't help but laugh.

"You do know what usually happens when people split up in these kinds of situations, right?"

She stared at him with no humor in her cold, grey eyes.

"This is not a drama, Sunny. We have the means to provide two of us with food and shelter for a week. There's no reason to pass on this opportunity."

Cassie turned to her, a confused expression on her face.

"But… but what about the third?"

An uncomfortable silence hung between them, broken only by the whistling wind. Sunny looked at the blind girl, then at Nephis, and finally glanced at himself. Which one of them was going to remain hungry in the bitter cold while the other two would be eating their fill in the comfortable safety of the castle?

He thought that he had an inkling.

'What else did I expect?'

less than ten minutes since they reached the human civilization — well, whatever passed for one in this loathsome purgatory — and the tentative connection that had been established

to change now that they weren't essentially the last three people in the whole wide world, with no one else to rely on but each other. Was it strong enough to endure without

whole life, Sunny had never managed to last long in any group. He didn't know

out of control,

"Here. Take Cassie inside."

stared at her hand,

in his heart. There was surprise, joy, concern… but at the same time, irrationally, a dark

"Why me?"

Star simply raised an eyebrow. Shaking his head, Sunny offered her a crooked smile and

I'm just curious why are you so kind all of a sudden. Is it out of some misguided sense

for a while,

never been noble.

she was awake. Had she met

Changing Star shrugged

help of the shadow, you will be able to learn much more about what is going on in the castle than I ever would. While you are gathering information inside, I will do the

was? Once again, he felt a weird mix of emotions. He was simultaneously elated and hurt

she simply assumed that they were going to continue working together, as though it was a given, had not avoided his attention. For some reason, this small detail gave

at him and

have come to an end. Your promise was to give up on your share of spoils on the way to the castle. Well, here we are. That stone creature was your kill, so these shards are yours

'Trade? What trade?'

teach him swordsmanship and hide

But she didn't.

it was over, he felt a sudden pang of regret. It was as though one of the few strings that connected

a sigh, he took the soul shards from her

you in a week,

aside, he gave the girls some privacy to say their goodbyes. Soon, Cassie's

the blind girl, remained silent for a bit, and then

"Are you ready?"

answering. When she did, there was a hint of