Shadow Slave

For the rest of the day, Sunny had nothing to do but count the hours until sunset. When the night descended, he would have to return to the scene of the crime he had committed, retrieve the body of his victim, and carry it into the ruins under the cover of darkness.

'How did it come to this?'

Alone in his tiny room, he stared at the wall and waited. Soon, the fear of going into the Dark City at night overpowered the bleak and hollow feeling that reigned over his soul.

People rarely risked leaving the hill after the dark. In the starless void of the Forgotten Shore, any source of light was bound to attract the attention of creatures that no human would even want to meet. Countless horrors stalked the streets of the city at night.

Only a madman would risk entering the ruins after the sun was gone.

...Of course, there were plenty of madmen in the Dark City.

Sunny, at least didn't need any light. He also knew the area surrounding the Bright Castle well enough to avoid most danger. The weeks he had spent learning from Effie didn't go to waste.

'I should be fine.'

With the shadows hiding his every movement, Sunny was sure of his ability to at least run away should something happen.

Still, with each passing minute, his heart felt colder and colder. When the shadow of the Crimson Spire drowned the world and colored his thoughts with the eerie feeling of dread, he gritted his teeth.

'It's almost time.'

However, before the sun completely disappeared, another unexpected guest appeared at the doorstep of his room.

Looking at Sunny with a scowl, Nephis gestured for him to stand up and said in an even tone:

"Come with me."

Sunny's heart skipped a bit.

does she

few moments, then slowly stood up and

them walked to a secluded part of the slum. Neph remained silent, not even looking in his direction. She seemed

himself from panicking. Various thoughts, one darker than the other,

that bastard, Caster, tell her everything?' Do

where no one would have been able to overhear their

met her gaze, his face grim. He felt as though he

you practicing with the sword today. Your moves were weak and aimless. It was

Sunny slowly exhaled.

what this was about. She didn't know anything. She just

have felt relieved, but for some reason, Sunny felt anger

a crooked smile, he

was

tilted her head, waiting for an explanation. Sunny remained silent for

once told me that the essence of combat is murder,

him

stared at

how come you know so much about murder, Neph? Huh? I wanted to ask you that since the day you cut off Andel's head without so much as batting an eye. You are out here preaching about how we are all fellow humans,

She scowled.

this what

Sunny gritted his teeth.

a part of

she absentmindedly raised one arm and

lot of people. It's that a lot of people have tried to