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."

silent for a bit,

other day. Right now, reaching the resting place of the

unruly huntress exhales, almost as if relieved. Then,

me. And prepare

***

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

part of the ruins. During the past few months, he mostly stayed north of the Bright Castle, sometimes venturing northeast. He stayed away from the

was on the day of the bloody fight against the Spire Messenger. Back then, they

surroundings. Pretty much all of

having to stare at the menacing hunchback

you go fight some Fallen creature

Harus seemed to know the ruins just as well as Effie. He somehow avoided the worst creatures on his path while never losing the scent of Changing Star's cohort. At one point, a lone Blood Fiend attacked him from the deep shadows of a dilapidated building. Gunlaug's executioner simply raised a hand and shattered the skull

He didn't even blink.

deal. I… I killed plenty

hunchback. Maybe because he couldn't get rid of the

wasn't

its side, stretching far away into the distance. The buildings that the tower had fallen

Perhaps it had 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

its ruin remained. The ancient inhabitants of the Dark City

Sunny sighed.

"Where to now?"

at the massive

"Inside."

was populated by an

it close. When we enter the lighthouse, we will have

did just that. Not having to look at