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

Star turned to the

the Dark City for so long, and wasn't informed of these… developments. If this is the case, then by

looked at her with an amused expression. Sunny did not take

from her face, replaced

curious to see that evidence and hear those witnesses. And, most of all, we are all dying to see justice done and

on Tessai's face. With a deep frown, he looked down on Neph from his

think that you can

Star was silent for a few moments, calmly looking at him. Then, her eyes suddenly shone with furious white light. In a voice that promised agony and death, she said

going to

complicated expression. It seemed as though he was

a mask, though. A masterful

Triumph and jubilation.

been Nephis. She was the one Gunlaug wanted to destroy. And

did not know was that Changing Star was as far from a lamb as one

like a demon in sheep's

glanced at the morose giant with something that resembled pity. Meanwhile, Tessai slowly shook his head and

to the Castle, if you want. Bring your

***

by the shoulder. Her hands were tied behind her back with

indignation. Sunny had hidden himself in the crowd, not

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

"They got Effie!"

"Bastards! Let her go!"