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

huh? Judging by how clean and shiny the other two look, I'm guessing that their

at Cassie, then said in a reserved

Just like you said, the ambiance

Effie grinned.

said! Anyway, how can

Star motioned at

"Can we come inside?"

huntress glanced back,

"Sure. Why not?"

it didn't seem that lavish, but once it hit Sunny

extravagant

one could only imagine what went on

'Pure thoughts, Sunny! Focus!'

with a single wooden chair, and a pair of sturdy chests. 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 this opulent collection

them were seated, Effie returned to her pile

to come and wake me up this early in the

morning? It's already

a few moments, then

haven't hunted since the day

said in a

food runs out. Which will be in

had butchered off those monsters was enough to feed a person

Changing Star nodded.

you do, come with us.

doesn't

this direct. He had always imagined this conversation taking much longer

at them, then threw her head back and laughed

you want me

laughter died down, she shook

arrived in the Dark City. You are as green as it gets. Best hunters out here wanted me to become a part of their party, and I refused them

with a

your Flaw, you can't allow yourself to do the same. You need all the sustenance a hunt can provide. The more partners

Effie smiled.

someone has been doing their

a little and, not paying any attention to the irony in those

can solve that

solitary