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

to deserve his hostility. But there just

In 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

gives

Kai shrugged and followed Sunny into the

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

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

the side that faced the white road. A couple of lookouts were visible on the roof, observing the ruins below. They were wearing armor-type Memories and holding

was a far cry from how

lot of people were busy with various tasks. Sunny froze for a moment, disoriented by all the activity. He almost felt as though he had

was not the neat and tastefully decorated interior, with warm carpets covering the stone floor and various tapestries hanging on the sturdy stone walls. No, the main difference was in how the people

their eyes, replaced with energy and vigor.

hasn't Gunlaug put an end to

asking to be destroyed. How was

a young woman who greeted them with a

Can I help

smiling girl, trying to remember if he knew her. No one came to mind. Trying to remove the scowl from his face, he

"Neph is expecting me."

The young woman blinked.

sorry. Who

Sunny rolled his eyes.

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

young woman's eyes

me

retorn that he knew the way, but truth be told, he wasn't sure that he did. With all the changes that happened to the lodge, he had no

belong to him. Just as they were walking by, Sunny glanced inside and saw that it was now

on the narrow cot. They were Caster's. A corner of his mouth

'Figures.'

replaced by the scion of the Han Li clan. Well, whatever. The cot was not very comfortable anyway, unlike his luxurious wide bed in the hidden

to be the central hall of the old lodge. Now, it was separated from the rest of it by a thick wall, with a sturdy wooden door barring

took a deep breath, then

imagined that moment a lot of times in

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