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

Caster frowned.

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

to make others think twice before attacking you in the

when it came to

one paying him any attention, Sunny returned to his room and sat quietly on

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

consciousness slipped into oblivion as soon as his head touched

***

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

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

one was

as he would on any other day. Leaving his

him, just

one looked at him

lodge and looked up at

had 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 pain and horror that were now frozen forever

not seem to notice the

face, hiding a pained grimace. His head hurt

why should I?

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

forgotten, with not a single soul to care that

'Pathetic.'

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

that he caught 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

with Caster, see

sudden anger

better than the grim apathy that reigned over him this whole

lately? It's like I'm back on the

he dismissed the Midnight Shard

for him there. It

back to the door, holding the wooden staff in

skipped

she… did

a fake grin, he made his voice sound cheerful

Do

him and, after a moment of

was almost as though it was as forced as

blind girl

"No, nothing in particular."

blinked a couple of

with her