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.

good things about Caster.

To be honest, Caster hadn't really done anything to deserve his hostility. But there just was something about

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

just gives me

satisfied with this answer, Kai shrugged and followed Sunny

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

grown much bigger. During the months of his absence, additional structures were built to expand it both horizontally and vertically. Now, it

heavily fortified, too, especially from the side that faced the white road. A couple of lookouts were visible on the roof, observing the ruins below.

far cry from how things were

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

covering the stone floor and various tapestries hanging on the sturdy stone walls. No, the main difference was in how the people here comported

their eyes, replaced

put an

saw, Nephis was almost asking to be destroyed. How was

were disrupted by a young

I help you

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

"Neph is expecting me."

The young woman blinked.

Who is

Sunny rolled his eyes.

Nephis is expecting me. You know… Changing Star of

woman's eyes

Let me show

be told, he wasn't sure that he

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

recognized a couple of things that the new owner left on the narrow cot. They were Caster's. A corner of his mouth curled

'Figures.'

of the Han Li clan. Well, whatever. The cot was not very comfortable anyway, unlike his luxurious wide

hall of the old lodge. Now, it

took a deep

a lot of times

he never thought that his reunion with the cohort would happen in the presence of an unreasonably attractive, washed-out pop