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 first

exhales, almost as if relieved.

follow me.

***

Effie changed their course slightly. Instead of moving straight

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 Spire, and had not explored much of the south because it was

day of the bloody fight against the Spire Messenger. Back then, they were headed for the ruins of the lighthouse that had once stood near the impregnable

observe the surroundings. Pretty much all of his attention was concentrated on Harus, who

having to stare at the menacing hunchback at

fight some

while never losing the scent of Changing Star's cohort. At one point, a lone Blood Fiend attacked him from the deep shadows of

He didn't even blink.

deal. I… I killed plenty

he was deeply unnerved by the power of the murderous hunchback. Maybe because he couldn't get rid of the feeling that by the end of it all, only one of them

he wasn't sure which

wall. Not 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 on thousands

of the ancient city, burning

its ruin remained. The ancient inhabitants of the Dark City had just vanished,

Sunny sighed.

"Where to now?"

at

"Inside."

near the collapsed tower. This area was populated by an especially vile

and keep it close. When we enter

just that. Not having to look at Harus anymore