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…"

The charming young man hesitated, then gritted his teeth and

Star turned to the

everything, then. Please forgive me, if you can. I have been away from the Dark City for so long, and wasn't informed of these… developments. If this

Sunny did not take his eyes off of Tessai, however, his

suddenly disappeared from her face, replaced by boundless

coming with her. All of us are, in fact. We are awfully curious to see that evidence and hear those witnesses. And, most of all, we are all dying

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

think that you

her eyes suddenly shone with furious

going to

at her with a complicated expression. It seemed as though he was being torn between pride… and

mask, though. A masterful

Triumph and jubilation.

had always been Nephis. She was the one Gunlaug wanted

was as far from a lamb as one could

demon

pity. Meanwhile, Tessai slowly shook his head

with me to the Castle, if you want. Bring your

***

back with a flimsy rope — more of a symbolic gesture

Changing Star's faction were right behind them, throwing menacing looks at each other. Their faces were grim and full of resentful indignation. Sunny had

more and more slum dwellers surrounded them, their faces

"They got Effie!"

"Bastards! Let her go!"