Shadow Slave

On the way out of the castle, Kai was strangely silent. Sunny didn't mind, because he had a lot to think about.

Going back to that lodge… there were a lot of things there that he had hoped to never see, feel, or experience again. For a moment, he even thought about rushing straight back to his cathedral without making good on his promise.

But why should he? It's not like he asked to be invited back. Nephis was the one who wanted his help with something.

'Just pretend like you don't care. Also, demand to be compensated for whatever it is they want you to do. You're an outsider now, and your services won't be cheap.'

Yeah, that was the best option. He wasn't going to agree to anything that didn't serve his own selfish interests. And there were a lot of things that Changing Star, with her thriving hunting party and following, could provide him with.

There was this one thing in particular, something he really wanted to do, but couldn't on his own. Maybe they would be able to help him with that...

As they were approaching the lodge, Kai suddenly asked in a serious tone:

"Sunny… why did you want me to come with you, really?"

Sunny sighed. Glancing at the charming archer, he hesitated, then said:

"I want you to tell me if I'm being lied to."

Kai frowned.

"I thought that Lady Nephis was your friend. Why are you so wary of her?"

Sunny chuckled.

Was she a friend? Even he didn't know what exactly the two of them were to each other. Worse yet, he wasn't sure what they would become.

"She's the kind of friend you don't really want to lower your guard around."

He lingered for a moment, then added:

"There's also a guy called Caster. He's the one I especially don't trust."

The archer raised his eyebrows.

only good things about

him and scowled. To be honest, Caster hadn't really done anything to deserve

capable of appearing so flawless. Perhaps he was wrong, but the policy of always assuming the worst had too clean of a track record to

gives me

this answer, Kai shrugged and followed Sunny into the

since his last visit. It had already looked pretty presentable back when he was a member, but now, the lodge was

to expand it both horizontally and vertically. Now, it was by far the largest building in the outer settlement, almost starting to resemble

white road. A couple of lookouts were visible on the roof, observing the ruins below. They were

was a far cry from

busy with various tasks. Sunny froze for a moment, disoriented by all the activity. He almost felt as though he had somehow mistakenly

not the neat and tastefully decorated interior, with warm carpets covering the stone floor and various tapestries

from their eyes, replaced

put an

almost asking to be

by a young woman who

Can I help you

No one came to mind. Trying to remove the scowl from his face, he

"Neph is expecting me."

The young woman blinked.

Who

Sunny rolled his eyes.

me. You know… Changing Star

young woman's

I see. Let me

be told, he wasn't sure that he did. With all the changes that happened to the lodge,

the tiny room that used to belong to him. Just as they were walking by, Sunny

a couple of things that the new owner left on the narrow cot. They

'Figures.'

though he was thoroughly replaced by the scion of the Han Li clan. Well, whatever. The cot was not very comfortable anyway, unlike his

central hall of the old lodge. Now, it was separated from

took a deep

imagined that moment a lot of times in the

would happen in the presence of an unreasonably attractive, washed-out pop star. But