Shadow Slave

The outer settlement had changed from the time Sunny saw it last.

At the point where the white road widened into the vast platform that the settlement stood upon, a tall stone barricade was built, with watchful sentries observing the approach to the crest of the hill. Each of them was wielding a Memory weapon and a sturdy armor, their faces full of dark determination.

The makeshift watchtower constructed on the roof of Neph's lodge loomed above them, with several archers ready to rain arrows on any Nightmare Creature that wandered close.

The slum itself was much the same, but the people populating it seemed different. Many of them were bruised and bandaged, but their eyes shone with the subtle light of hope that wasn't there or as strong before. That hope was contrasted against the suffocating feeling of tension that hung in the air. From time to time, someone would glance toward the castle and frown, a dark expression appearing on their face.

There was another detail that surprised Sunny. On the sleeves of many slum dwellers, a piece of pure white cloth was tied, as if announcing their allegiance to some god or goddess.

There had been none of that when he left this place a few months ago.

There were also graffiti drawn on the walls of the most derelict hovels, some of them depicting a shining star, some the image of a beautiful bronze spear.

'...What is that all about?'

The white armbands and the star were, obviously, meant to represent Nephis. But when had Effie suddenly become an apostle?

Glancing at the voracious huntress, he raised an eyebrow.

"Anything you want to tell me?"

She scratched the back of her head, then shrugged.

become a bit of a folk hero,

shook his head and didn't press

'Whatever...'

approaching, their faces first became shocked, and then lighted up with intense

Nephis! It's

"Lady Nephis has returned!"

"She is alive!"

instant. If Gunlaug had not known that they were back in the Dark City, he would have learned of

He knew it long before the people of

outer settlement, at

Lord

by a crowd of exhilarated people. Everyone wanted to see that Saint Nephis was alive and well with their own eyes.

"Effie!"

"Huntress Athena!"

Effie! Show

grinned in bewilderment and kept

faces that did not share in everyone's joy. They were the leaders of the outer settlement's hunting parties. The gazes they threw at Nephis were grim and full of meaning. She gave them a nod, letting the experienced hunters know that she

of the slum and took the bag that Effie handed her. Slowly unclasping it, she

of the Dark City. The past few months have been harsh on me and the members of my cohort, but they must have been equally as harsh on you. However, we have persevered. You here in these cursed

over the crowd. Everyone was staring at the object laying on the stones, expressions

which was as sharp and long as a

one fell near it, and another, and

in a pile in front of Nephis — thirty from the six front limbs of the