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.

things about Caster.

cast a sideways glance at him and scowled. To be honest, Caster hadn't really done anything to deserve his hostility. But there just was something about the proud

Sunny's experience, only people with bad intentions were capable of appearing so flawless. Perhaps he was wrong, but the policy of always assuming the worst had too clean of a track record

gives me

shrugged and

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

his absence, additional structures were built to expand it both horizontally and vertically. Now, it was by far the largest building in the outer settlement,

of lookouts were visible on the

a far cry

by all the activity.

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

gone from their eyes, replaced with energy and

hasn't Gunlaug put an

Nephis was almost asking to be destroyed.

disrupted by a young woman who greeted them with a

help

if he knew her. No one came to mind. Trying to remove the scowl from his

"Neph is expecting me."

The young woman blinked.

sorry. Who is

Sunny rolled his eyes.

Lady Nephis is expecting me. You know… Changing Star of the Immortal Flame

woman's eyes

me show

that he did. With all

they were walking by, Sunny glanced

things that the new owner left on

'Figures.'

seemed as though he was thoroughly replaced by the scion of the Han Li clan. Well, whatever. The cot was not

lodge. Now, it was separated from the rest of it by a thick wall,

deep breath, then

a lot of times in

reunion with the cohort would happen in the presence of