Shadow Slave

Sunny was walking at the back of the cohort, but his shadow was scouting ahead. Without it by his side, he was rather uncomfortable.

'I wonder if I can summon the Stone Saint while it is away. How have I never thought to check it?'

Without both his shadow and his Shadow, Sunny felt almost nacked. At least he had other people with him, including three powerhouses — Nephis, Caster, and Effie.

Come to think of it, he had never seen Kai in action. The beautiful archer didn't look like someone extremely dangerous, but Sunny wasn't deceived. Weak people did not survive on the Forgotten Shore for years, especially not if their Aspect Ability made them the perfect person to venture outside the Dark City.

With his unique Aspect Ability, Kai had to fight against the type of terrifying creatures that Sunny knew very little about, too — the flying abominations that lived in the clouds. Like the Spire Messengers.

'Scary.'

Speaking of Kai…

Sunny hastened his steps and caught up to the charming young man. Glancing at Cassie, who did not seem like she wanted to say anything to him, he frowned for a moment, and then turned to Nightingale:

"Hey there, Night. How's life?"

The archer looked at him with a friendly smile.

"Oh, hey. Good, I guess? I mean… the weather is nice."

Sunny blinked a couple of times. The weather was never nice on the Forgotten Shore. It was either too cold, too damp, or too hot. Honestly, he even missed the Black Mountain sometimes. At least it was consistent.

Not one to make polite talk, Sunny went straight to the question he really wanted to ask:

"So, really… what are you doing here?"

Kai glanced at him with a bit of confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Sunny sighed.

for a long time, everyone likes you, and even the Host treats you nicely because of

lingered

I landed in a bit of trouble. I think. The deaths of those Guards who locked me in the well are being used to frame Effie, are they not? Well, what if someone knows that I am connected to

thought about it for

face in this expedition

Kai smiled.

is something

Sunny frowned.

don't tell me that you became one

young

think so. At least not in the way you

silent for a long

that many people see things clearly. But really, it's not that hard

somber expression on his usually

Shore thirty-one months ago. Do you know how many of us reached the

Sunny shook his head.

The archer grimaced.

And do you know how many are still

was silent for

actually, the Host is constantly bleeding people. Every

Kai sighed.

even mentioning those who die of hunger, desperation, or by another human's hand. Do you… do you see where

dawning on him. Seeing his expression,

And every year, hundreds more come to take their place. But, Sunny… this year, there were only four. Not four hundred, but just four

how had he not thought about it before?

Meanwhile, Kai continued:

chance to recoup its losses. What happens if that Spell Cycle theory that people have is true and five months from now, when the winter solstice comes, the same thing

head, a

will be maybe six hundred humans left in the Dark City. And two years from now… there will be only a dozen or two. It takes a lot of people to maintain the semblance of civilization we have going on here, Sunny. Once we pass the point of no return, it will all come

beautiful archer glanced at him

strong enough to be among those few? I'm not sure. And even