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.

just wondering how many bodies did

Caster frowned.

is my first, actually. In the Dark City, it is usually more advantageous to leave

make others think twice

when it came to murder. He really could not compete

pitiful hut behind and returned to the lodge. With no one paying him any attention, Sunny

wouldn't be able to sleep this night, tormented by both the knowledge of what Nephis was planning and the memories of

the end, his exhausted consciousness slipped into oblivion as soon as

***

a start, expecting a crowd of furious slum dwellers to be rushing inside, all eager

what could they really do? If push came to shove, very

no one was

would on any other day.

helpers either greeted or ignored him, just like usual. Their

one looked at

Sunny escaped the lodge and

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

could… how could this

indifferent to the pain and horror that were now

Guards did not seem to notice the disappearance

a pained grimace. His head hurt

they don't care, why should I?

it was, he felt compelled to mourn the death of his victim, even if he was the only one who would. Maybe because this situation was eerily identical to how he had always imagined his own death

single soul

'Pathetic.'

his room and sat on the cot, staring

sight of Nephis observing the movements of his sword with a frown on her face. But a second later, she was distracted and drawn away by the neverending torrent of tasks required

with Caster, see

anger

at least it was better than the grim apathy that reigned over him

wrong with my mind lately? It's like I'm

he dismissed the Midnight Shard and

someone was waiting for

the wooden staff

skipped

did she

out a fake grin, he made his voice sound

Cas. Do you

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

it

girl lingered,

"No, nothing in particular."

a

with