Shadow Slave

Without a doubt, it was Caster — the only person Sunny had ever seen defeat Nephis in a fight, even if it was just during training.

Back at the Academy, Caster had been a star of their batch of Sleepers. Handsome and friendly, he was not only popular, but also respected. And although it pained Sunny to admit it, that wasn't only because of his lofty status of a Legacy.

Even other Legacies looked up to him. Many even considered him to be the true king of the rankings, speculating that Changing Star had gotten her first place by mistake.

Caster was powerful, skilled, and charming. He was also humble and had an amiable personality that made it hard for anyone not to like him. His background was impeccable, and his future was unquestionably bright.

Basically, he was the polar opposite of Sunny.

'Damn! I knew that voice sounded familiar!'

Sunny turned his head and stared at the handsome young man in utter bewilderment.

What was that guy doing here?

The two Sleepers who didn't even know how close they had come to tasting the sharp edge of the Midnight Shard were doing the same. There was no more excitement on their faces.

"Oh. It's you."

'That was my line!'

Caster looked at them with a silent smile. There was no apparent hostility in his eyes, but for some reason, Gunlaug's men seemed to lose their desire to stir trouble. After glancing at each other, one of them said in a hesitant tone:

"You know this guy, Caster?"

He gave them a nod.

"Yeah. We were in the Academy together. Don't mind his rude behavior, guys — that's just how he is. Rough around the edges, but really nice once you get to know him well."

'Since when do we know each other?'

statement, but forced himself to keep his mouth shut. He understood that Caster

would

of the castle on his first day here would have been

given up. Trying to keep the appearance of being in control, they glared at Caster darkly and

friend some manners, Caster. Next time we

their seats, throwing menacing looks at anyone who dared to stare

then turned to Sunny,

smart thing to do,

Sunny scoffed.

says that

no, that didn't

at him for a

is very nice to see you. Both of

he sat down, as though

connection between them. Wishing to talk to people with whom you had attended

didn't

glance at Cassie,

shocked to

Caster hesitated.

that you

was his way of admitting that

walking corpses by all the other Sleepers in the Academy. Just like Nephis and Caster occupied the top two positions in the rankings, they were dead last. Because of that,

Sunny, he not only welcomed the cold treatment of his

to be around them, as though afraid of becoming infected by the invisible aura of death that followed them wherever they went. Sunny himself had been guilty of avoiding Cassie as much as he could in the

must have been very strange to see the two of them alive

Cassie smiled.

"Thank you."

smile and asked, his

Cassia, right? And you are… uh…

gave him