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?'

loathsome purgatory — and the tentative connection that had been established

was going to change now that they weren't essentially the last three people in the whole wide

had never managed to last long in any group. He didn't know if this time was going

break out of control,

"Here. Take Cassie inside."

her hand, then looked

was surprise, joy, concern… but at the same time, irrationally, a dark sense of shame and resentment. Not

"Why me?"

simply raised an eyebrow. Shaking his head, Sunny offered her a

me wrong, I'm not refusing. I'm just curious why are you so kind all of a sudden.

him for a while, and then said

been noble. I have never

to pinch Neph and make sure that she

Star shrugged and looked

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

he was? Once again, he felt a weird mix

that they were going to continue working together, as though it was

looked at him

up on your share of spoils on the way to the castle.

'Trade? What trade?'

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

But she didn't.

its existence and realized that it was over, he felt a sudden pang of regret. It was as

he took the soul shards

Then… I'll meet you in a week,

say something else, but then just turned away. Stepping aside, he gave the girls some privacy to say

at the blind girl, remained silent for a bit,

"Are you ready?"

hesitated before answering. When she did, there was a hint of