Shadow Slave

As somber silence settled among the cohort, Effie grimaced.

"The weirdest part is, no one has even seen him come and go. Every time Harus was sent into the outer settlement, we only learned that people were dead in the morning. Doors, locks, and barricades can't seem to stop him, either. Once Harus is ordered to kill you, you just die. It is as though fate itself abandons you."

Caster frowned.

"So are you telling us that we stand no chance?"

The huntress shook her head.

"I'm saying that fighting him right now would be stupid. Not unless we learn how he is able to seemingly turn his victims… no matter how many of them there are… completely powerless."

With that, she glanced at Nephis, who lingered for a moment and then shook her head.

"Our friend in the castle doesn't know either."

Effie grinned.

"Ah, so that mysterious friend of yours is not omniscient after all. Well, in that case, my advice stands. We should run."

At that moment, Sunny finally spoke up:

"But, Effie… can we even run away from him?"

The smile disappeared from her face. Suddenly grim, she hesitated for a while, and then said:

"I know of a way. But… it's going to be dangerous. Very dangerous. However, I don't know how else to shake him off our trail. So you decide, princess."

for a bit, and then simply

some other day. Right now, reaching the resting place of the first cohort is the

as if relieved. Then, she

follow me.

***

discussion, Effie changed their course slightly. Instead of moving straight south, they were now traversing the ancient city heading for its eastern

of the ruins. During the past few months, he mostly stayed north of the Bright Castle, sometimes venturing northeast. He stayed away from the western areas because they were closer to the Crimson

against the Spire Messenger. Back then, they were headed for the

lot of time to observe the surroundings. Pretty much all of his attention was concentrated on

didn't like having to stare

fight some Fallen creature and

somehow avoided the worst creatures on his path while never losing the scent of Changing Star's cohort. At one point, a

He didn't even blink.

killed

of the murderous hunchback. Maybe because he couldn't get rid of the feeling that by the end of it all,

he wasn't

too far away, the remnant of a giant tower lay broken on its side, stretching far away into the distance. The buildings that the tower had fallen

even served as a symbol of the defiant will of the people of the ancient city, burning as a shining beacon in the eternal darkness of the cursed

ruin remained. The ancient inhabitants of the Dark City

Sunny sighed.

"Where to now?"

at the massive

"Inside."

collapsed tower. This area was populated by an especially vile tribe of monsters, and attracting

keep it close. When we

relieved, Sunny did just that. Not having to look at Harus