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.

to 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

beautiful archer lingered for a

Guards who locked me in the well are being used to

it for a bit, then reluctantly

face in this expedition

Kai smiled.

certainly will. But, Sunny… there is

Sunny frowned.

don't tell me that you became

charming young man

At least not in the

silent for a long time, then

many people see things clearly. But really, it's

somber expression on his usually

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

Sunny shook his head.

The archer grimaced.

know how many

silent

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

Kai sighed.

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

scowled, a new understanding dawning on him.

come to take their place.

about it before? Sunny's eyes

Meanwhile, Kai continued:

means that the Bright Castle never got the 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

head, a dark

now… there will be only a dozen or two. It takes a lot of people to maintain the semblance of

beautiful archer glanced at him and added

not powerful enough will die. Eventually, only a few strongest ones will be left. Am I strong enough to be among