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.

stay there for a long time, everyone likes you, and even the Host treats you nicely because of how useful your Ability is. Why would you risk it all to go with us

lingered for

me in the well are being used to frame Effie, are they not? Well, what if someone knows that I am connected to their disappearance? Won't I

it for a

the danger you will face in this expedition be much worse than

Kai smiled.

certainly will. But, Sunny… there is something else that you

Sunny frowned.

please don't tell me that

charming young

At least not in

was silent for a

don't think that many people see things clearly. But

a somber expression on his usually carefree face,

thirty-one months ago. Do you

Sunny shook his head.

The archer grimaced.

you know how many are still

was silent for

half of us perished. People die all the time in the Dark City, you see. The castle may seem safe, but actually, the Host is constantly bleeding people. Every week, a few hunters don't return from the hunt. Every couple of weeks,

Kai sighed.

outer settlement and simply drags away people. That's not even mentioning those who die of hunger, desperation, or by another human's

scowled, a new understanding dawning on him. Seeing his

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? Sunny's

Meanwhile, Kai continued:

happens if that Spell Cycle theory that people

head, a dark expression

from now, there 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

at him and added in a heavy

left. Am I strong enough to be among those few? I'm not sure. And even if I am, who