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.

was nothing short of peaceful. You have enough shards 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

archer lingered for

of those Guards who locked me in the well are being used to frame Effie,

for a bit,

face in this expedition be much worse than the one you are

Kai smiled.

there is something else that

Sunny frowned.

that? Please… please don't tell me that you became one of Neph's

young man

I don't think so. At least not in the way

silent for a long time, then

people see things clearly. But really,

a somber expression on his usually carefree face, Kai

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

Sunny shook his head.

The archer grimaced.

you know how many are still alive? Less than

was silent for

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

Kai sighed.

most often of all, something comes into the outer settlement and simply drags away people. That's not even mentioning those who die of

scowled, a new understanding dawning on him.

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

not thought about it

Meanwhile, Kai continued:

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 repeats

head, a dark expression on

only a dozen or two. It takes a lot of people to maintain the semblance of civilization we have going on

beautiful archer glanced at him and added

non-combatant will die. Every 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 live in a situation like