Shadow Slave

Changing Star's words brought the room to dead silence. On both sides of it, people were slowly preparing themselves, dark resentment burning in their eyes. It felt as though the tension reached critical mass and was about to explode into a storm of violence.

Only three people remained calm and unaffected by the direness of the situation: Nephis herself, Sunny… and Tessai.

The giant bared his canines in a grin. His eyes, however, remained cold as ice.

"What a… revelation. And here I was, thinking that you are a great defender of justice. Were you not, Changing Star? Or is your sense of justice reserved only for the crimes of those who don't serve you?"

He sighed and added, his voice full of disappointment:

"That huntress of yours is accused of murder. Why are you trying to prevent me from bringing her to justice? I thought that you, of all people, would not get in the way of fairness."

Nephis frowned.

"Accused does not mean convicted. Why do you claim that she is guilty?"

Tessai stared at her and said, his low voice sending tremors through the stone hall:

"There is plenty of evidence. There are plenty of witnesses. So many people came forward to give a testimony! Her guilt is undeniable. How will you answer that, Changing Star?"

Sunny smiled slightly.

'How peculiar. So many people apparently saw Effie slaughter those fools. Did I imagine killing them or what? I was a bit crazy at the time, to be fair. Ha.'

Before Nephis could answer, Kai suddenly took a step forward and shouted:

"That is impossible! I…"

a stern look. The charming young man hesitated, then gritted his teeth and fell

to the imposing giant

well. That changes everything, then. Please forgive me, if you can. I have been away from the Dark City for so

an amused expression. Sunny did not take his eyes off of Tessai, however, his shadow stared

suddenly disappeared from her

and hear those witnesses. And, most of

frown, he looked down on Neph from his oppressive height and said in a

that you can come,

Then, her eyes suddenly shone with furious white light. In a voice that promised agony and

going to

stared at her with a complicated expression. It seemed as though he was being torn

all a mask, though. A masterful

Triumph and jubilation.

had come here with the excuse of bringing Effie to justice, but his true goal had always been Nephis. She

was that Changing Star was as far from a lamb as one

a demon in sheep's

morose giant with something that resembled pity. Meanwhile, Tessai slowly shook his head and said, his voice full

you wish. Come with me to the Castle, if you want. Bring your rats with you. All of you

***

front, holding the tall huntress by the shoulder. Her hands were tied behind her back with a flimsy rope —

full of resentful indignation. Sunny had hidden himself in the crowd, not wishing to draw any attention. Now, he was moving with it, feeling the restless agitation through the chaotic

moved toward the Castle, more and more slum dwellers surrounded them, their

"They got Effie!"

"Bastards! Let her go!"