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?'

for one in this loathsome purgatory — and the tentative connection that had been established between them

the whole

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

of control, Nephis sighed

"Here. Take Cassie inside."

at her hand,

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?"

Shaking his head, Sunny offered her

refusing. I'm just curious why are you so kind

looked at him for a while,

never been noble. I have

sure that she was awake. Had she met

Changing Star shrugged and looked

is 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.

reveal herself to be as cynically pragmatical as he was? Once again, he felt a weird mix of emotions. He was simultaneously elated and hurt by her

was a given, had not avoided his attention. For some reason, this small

looked at him

have come to an end. Your promise was to give up on your share of spoils on

'Trade? What trade?'

teach him swordsmanship and hide the fact that he had no way to absorb soul shards. He has almost

But she didn't.

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

the soul shards

Then… I'll meet you in a week, I

just turned away. Stepping aside, he gave the girls some privacy

the blind girl, remained silent for a bit,

"Are you ready?"

When she did, there was