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.

bit of

and didn't press the

'Whatever...'

was approaching, their faces first became shocked, and then lighted

It's Changing

"Lady Nephis has returned!"

"She is alive!"

of voices spread through the entire settlement in an instant. If Gunlaug had not known that they were back in the Dark City, he would have learned of it

the people of the slum ever laid their eyes on

outer settlement, at the mighty

long before its Lord throws them

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

"Effie!"

"Huntress Athena!"

Effie!

grinned in

They were the leaders of the outer settlement's hunting parties. The gazes they threw at

that Effie handed her. Slowly unclasping it, she spoke, her calm

please accept my gratitude, Dreamers 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 ruins, and we out there in the

ground. Suddenly, a deathly silence settled over the crowd. Everyone was staring at the object laying on the stones, expressions of fear

was a terrifying, jagged black talon, which was as sharp and long

near it, and

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