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?'

they reached the human civilization — well, whatever passed for one in this loathsome purgatory — and

whole wide world, with no one else to rely on but each other. Was it strong enough to endure without that desperate need? He wasn't

to last long in any

insecurity threatened to break out of control,

"Here. Take Cassie inside."

stared at her hand, then looked up

strange storm of emotions erupted in his heart. There was surprise, joy, concern… but at the same time, irrationally, a dark sense of shame and resentment. Not knowing how to deal with all these feelings,

"Why me?"

eyebrow. Shaking his head, Sunny offered her a crooked smile and

refusing. I'm just curious why are you so kind all of a sudden. Is

at him for a

never been noble. I have

to pinch Neph and make sure that she was awake. Had she met herself? If she wasn't noble,

Changing Star shrugged and looked

simply the best choice. Right now, we need information the most. With the 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 same here. We

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

the fact that she simply assumed that they were going to continue working together, as though it was a given, had not avoided his attention.

at him and

the terms of our trade 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?'

to get her to teach him swordsmanship and hide the fact that he had no way

But she didn't.

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

the soul shards from her hand and gripped them

I'll meet you in a

but then just turned away. Stepping aside, he gave the girls some privacy to say their goodbyes. Soon, Cassie's delicate hand found his

glanced at the blind girl, remained silent for a bit, and

"Are you ready?"

did, there