Shadow Slave

Caster brought him water, strips of cloth, and a crude tunic.

While Sunny was washing the blood off his body, the proud Legacy carefully moved Harper's corpse into a corner, buried it under the pile of seaweed thatch, and wiped the blood off the floor as much as he could.

This way, an accidental glance inside the hut would not reveal too much. Of course, even a little bit of scrutiny, and the signs of what had happened here would become apparent.

While doing all this, Caster was speaking:

"The easiest way to get rid of a corpse is to simply toss it off the platform. With luck, it won't land on the road. But even if it does, no one would pay it a lot of attention. People die all the time out here in the Dark City, especially those living in the outer settlement."

He paused, then continued:

"However, we can't do that — because Harper isn't just a random slum rat, but someone who was working for the Bright Lord. The Guards will become interested in his sudden death, and they'll use it to create trouble for you and Lady Nephis. So we need to make him disappear completely. That won't be easy."

Sunny glanced at him and frowned.

"What's the big deal? I can just carry him down the hill and dump the body somewhere in the ruins. It's night outside. No one will see anything."

Caster shook his head.

"Castle Guard has various types of observers watching the road day and night. You will be noticed. Unless someone persuades them to look the other way, of course."

He sighed.

"It won't be cheap, but I can make it happen. Tomorrow after sunset, you will have about an hour to carry the body to the ruins and return. Sorry, but I can't buy you more time… this will wipe what little shards I have left already."

His voice sounded as though the handsome young man was genuinely concerned for his comrade, but in reality, he was just reiterating how much Sunny owed him now.

And if that message was not enough, he could always threaten to reveal the secret of how Harper died in the future.

Caster had him in the palm of his hand.

Sunny smiled darkly.

"And what do I do until then?"

The Legacy shrugged:

"Just act natural and try not to speak to anyone. You're kind of a loner as it is. No one will suspect anything."

After that, he thought for a few moments and added:

"Oh. This... no one should enter this hut for a long while. Harper lived in the castle for these past few months, so people in the slum won't notice his absence yet. Neither will Guards, since he made a report recently. We should be fine."

Sunny stared at him with a strange expression. Do you want to read more chapters?

"What?"

He shook his head.

nothing. I'm just wondering how many bodies did you

Caster frowned.

it is usually more advantageous to leave

kill someone if not to make others think

was a real amateur when it came to murder. He really could not compete with

no one paying him any attention, Sunny returned to his room and sat quietly

able to sleep this night, tormented by both the knowledge of what Nephis was planning and the memories of

exhausted consciousness slipped into oblivion as soon as his head

***

up with a start, expecting a crowd of furious slum dwellers to

to shove, very few of them could actually

no one was

while, he decided to act as he would on any other day. Leaving

or ignored him, just like usual.

looked at him

Sunny escaped the lodge and looked up at the

changed. Everything was the same as it had been yesterday, and every

how could

care. The world had moved on without Harper, indifferent to the

the Guards did not seem to notice

rubbed his face, hiding a pained grimace. His head hurt with a

care, why should I?

felt compelled to mourn the death of his victim, even if he was the only one who would. Maybe

and forgotten, with not a single soul to care

'Pathetic.'

inside, Sunny entered his room and sat on the cot, staring at the

thought that he caught sight of Nephis observing the movements of his sword with a frown on her face.

chat with Caster, see if

anger surprised

at least it was better than the grim

my mind lately? It's like I'm back

he dismissed the Midnight Shard and returned to his

waiting for

silently with her back to the door, holding the wooden staff in her hands. Her face was unusually still.

heart skipped a

did she

a fake grin, he made his voice

Do you want

to him and, after a moment of hesitation, smiled. However, something about

as though it

girl lingered,

"No, nothing in particular."

blinked a couple of

with