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.

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 into

archer lingered for

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

about it for

face in this expedition be

Kai smiled.

Sunny… there is something else that you failed to

Sunny frowned.

don't tell me that you

young

think so. At least not in the way

was silent for a long time,

that many people see things clearly. But really,

with a somber expression on his usually

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

Sunny shook his head.

The archer grimaced.

how many are

was silent for a

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, a Nightmare Creature attacks the walls and kills several Guards before they manage to drive it away or

Kai sighed.

mentioning those who die of hunger, desperation, or by

dawning on him.

hundreds more come to take their place. But, Sunny… this year,

had he not thought about

Meanwhile, Kai continued:

Cycle theory that people have is true and five months from now, when the winter solstice comes, the

head, a

that a year 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 going on here, Sunny. Once we pass the

him and added in a

fighter who is not powerful enough will die. Eventually, only a few strongest ones will be left. Am I strong enough to be among those few? I'm not sure. And even if I am, who would want to