Shadow Slave

Sunny stared at the blind girl with surprise clearly written on his face. Allowing this surprise to seep into his voice, he asked:

"The vine creature? You want to kill that thing?"

Why would she want to attempt to do something that dangerous?

Cassie nodded.

"Yes."

He shook his head.

"That bastard sprawls through the entire island, its vines buried underground. It is Corrupted, which means that our weapons will barely be able to cut it. And, if that was not bad enough, the vines produce clouds of deadly poison. Are you sure that you want to attack it?"

The blind girl lingered for a few moments, then answered calmly:

"It is a Corrupted Monster, indeed. It is terrifying and lethal, yes. But I am sure that we can destroy it, with enough preparation. Everyone has weaknesses, after all. That creature is susceptible to fire, for example. There must be other things we might be able to exploit, too."

Sunny thought for a while, then shrugged.

"Fine. I will help your cohort fight the monstrosity on the Shipwreck Island. I will not promise that we will succeed, though."

Cassie sighed.

"Then we have a deal. My cohort and I will remain in the Desecrated Growth until our business here is done. I expect it to take a month, at least. Maybe more. After, we will return to the Sanctuary, recuperate, and proceed to the Shipwreck Island."

She paused for a moment, and then added:

"And then, I will help you challenge the Second Nightmare."

Sunny smiled.

die before that, you

back to the roots of the

we don't

***

to the Sanctuary, Sunny had

that he would have to cooperate with Cassie again, which made him feel all sorts of complicated emotions. The manner of their relationship, at least, was set clear —

of mutual benefit. After

there was the perspective of returning to the wreck of the ancient ship, this time to do battle with the vine monster that ruled over the island. Sunny knew very well how dangerous that thing was, so he had a lot of

the Cruel Sight, however, was going to

was the ominous prediction that Cassie had made about both of them dying sometime in winter. Or falling into the Sky Below, at least. That… he didn't even know what to think about that. However, Sunny

thing to do was to keep it in his mind, but continue to act as if nothing had changed. At least he thought that this was the best

the Sanctuary of Noctis in the middle of the night. His shadow essence reserves were almost depleted, and his head

sound of water falling over the

for now.

which meant that he was finally going

Chain Worm had brought with it to the Iron Hand Island started this whole ordeal, and now,

prize was waiting for him

moments to make sure that no

the shade of an ancient tree, and an obsidian knife lay

'The moment of truth…'

gold coins out of it, and placed

reflecting the

[Your shadow grows stronger.]

appeared

the runes,

Shadow Fragments: [224/2000].

'It works!'

slow and deliberate manner, throwing a dozen or so on the altar each time he had to return to the real world — to minimize the chances of

was in his