Shadow Slave

Some time later, they were standing in front of a makeshift cabin. Just like Changing Star's patchwork dwelling, the cabin was constructed out of mismatched stone blocks that had been scavenged from the ruins. It was reinforced with monster hides here and there and seemed to be built slightly better than the rest of the hovels in the outer settlement.

There was a large bestial skull hung above the door, its thick forehead split apart by a devastating strike of some sharp weapon.

Glancing at the skull, Nephis took a step forward and knocked on the door. However, no response followed.

Sunny sighed.

"Maybe she's not home."

Instead of an answer, Changing Star frowned and banged on the door with her first. The first strike was somewhat gentle, but by the last, the bestial skull was on the verge of flying off the wall.

A sleepy and irritated voice sounded from the inside:

"I swear to gods, whoever you are, you'd better be a Nightmare Creature!"

A few moments later, Sunny heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door. Before it opened, though, Nephis suddenly spoke:

"Sunny, turn away."

Hearing a strange urgency in her voice, he scowled and did as she had asked.

"Your shadow, too."

'What is going on? Are we expecting trouble?'

As he was staring away from the cabin, the creaking of wood informed him that the door was flung open.

"Who the hell is… oh. It's you."

He swore he could hear Neph's teeth grinding against each other. A few seconds later, Changing Star spoke, her tone especially flat:

"...Put on a Memory, Effie. Please."

'Wait… what?'

Why would she… oh…

Oh!

When he was finally allowed to turn back, the last glimmers of ethereal light were yet to disappear from the fabric of Effie's provocatively short chiton. She wasn't wearing anything underneath, either.

"Here. Better?"

as the last time he had seen her — tall, strong, and brimming with vitality. Without the bronze cuirass with leather pteruges, as well as other elements of the archaic armor, even more of

back together, huh? Judging by how clean and shiny the

then said in a reserved

said, the ambiance there is… well… an acquired taste, I

Effie grinned.

said! Anyway, how can I help

motioned at

"Can we come inside?"

unruly huntress glanced

"Sure. Why not?"

cozy. One of its corners was occupied by a large pile of furs that served Effie as a bed. At first glance, it didn't seem that lavish, but

probably the most extravagant thing he had ever

only imagine what went on

'Pure thoughts, Sunny! Focus!'

The rest of the space was occupied by various curios that the huntress had scavenged from the ruins over the years. There was no particular logic to

were seated, Effie returned to her pile of

what's so important that you had to come and wake me up this early in the

the morning? It's already

lingered for a few moments, then

the

then said in a languid

into the ruins once my food runs out. Which

to feed a person for a couple of months.

Changing Star nodded.

come with us.

certainly doesn't beat around the

He had always imagined this conversation taking

her head back and laughed

one! Do you want me to be your

she

Best hunters out here wanted me to become a

with a serious

to do the same. You need all the sustenance a hunt can provide. The more partners you have, the lesser your

Effie smiled.

has been doing their

tilted her head a little and, not paying

can solve that problem

solitary