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?"

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 hew dewy olive skin could be

guys are back together, huh? Judging by how clean and shiny the other two look, I'm guessing

Cassie, then

particularly. Just like you said, the ambiance there is…

Effie grinned.

Anyway, how can I help

Star motioned at the

"Can we come inside?"

huntress glanced back, then

"Sure. Why not?"

and 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 once it hit Sunny that each

was probably the most extravagant thing

imagine what went on between those

'Pure thoughts, Sunny! Focus!'

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 of furs, wrapped herself

had to come and

the morning?

a few

the day we

yawned, then said

into the ruins once my food runs out. Which will be

amount of meat she had butchered off those monsters was enough to feed a person for a couple of months. It was all gone already? Just how

Changing Star nodded.

come with us. Be

doesn't beat around

some reason, Sunny had not expected Neph to be this direct. He had always imagined this conversation

stared at them, then threw her head back and laughed out

a good one! Do you want me to be your

her laughter died down, she

as it gets. Best hunters out here wanted me to become a part of their party, and I refused them all. Do you

nodded with a

to do the same. You need all the sustenance a hunt can provide. The more partners you have, the lesser your share will become, so… you hunt alone, and never

Effie smiled.

has been doing

paying any attention to the irony in

can solve that problem

solitary huntress interrupted