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?'

— well, whatever passed for one in this loathsome purgatory — and the

expected, the nature of their relationship was going 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

in any group. He didn't know if this

insecurity threatened to break out of control, Nephis

"Here. Take Cassie inside."

her hand,

his heart. There was surprise, joy, concern… but at the same time, irrationally, a dark sense of shame and

"Why me?"

raised an eyebrow. Shaking his head, Sunny

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

for a

been noble. I

desire to pinch Neph and make sure that she was awake. Had she met herself? If she

shrugged and

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 will meet in a week, share our

at her. Did Neph just… 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

as though it was a given, had not avoided his attention. For some reason, this small detail

at him and

your share of spoils on the way to the castle. Well, here we are. That stone creature

'Trade? What trade?'

he had made with Changing Star to get her to teach him swordsmanship and hide the fact that he had

But she didn't.

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 hand and

you in a week,

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

at the blind girl, remained silent for a

"Are you ready?"

did, there was a hint of