Shadow Slave

Soon, he was able to make out the silhouettes of seven people walking across the chain. They were led by a delicate beauty in a light polished armor, her pale blond hair dancing in the wind. Cassie walked with her eyes covered by the silver half-mask, her hand resting on the hilt of the Quiet Dancer. If Sunny didn't know that she was blind, he would have not suspected it.

…The Fire Keepers had returned from their lengthy expedition to the Desecrated Grove.

In the end, it took them almost two months to find the… whatever they had been searching for on that remote and ghastly island. And now, it was time for Sunny to join them in the assault on the ancient shipwreck.

He grimaced.

After two months spent without returning to the real world, members of Cassie's cohort looked weathered and exhausted. They were covered in dirt and dust, and their armor bore marks of countless battles. However, these young men and women seemed to be healthy and in good mood. There was a spring to their steps, and as they got closer, Sunny could see smiles on their lips.

Two of them were carefully carrying a large box fashioned out of crude wooden boards. He assumed that it contained the thing Cassie had spent two months looking for.

Sunny tilted his head, curious.

'What might it be, I wonder?'

Eventually, they noticed him, too.

Cassie slowed down a little, and in the next moment, the Fire Keeper walking behind her gently touched her on the shoulder and said something. Then, he gestured toward Sunny and waved a hand.

Sunny sighed and dismissed the Memory of Fire.

'Ugh… people…'

In the six months spent on the Chained Isles, he had gotten accustomed to only dealing with other Awakened in small doses. Knowing that he was going to have to be in the company of relative strangers for a while and fight with them side by side did not make Sunny happy.

In that regard, Mordret had been a perfect companion. He only appeared once every few days for a short while, helped Sunny with advice, and then disappeared without a trace, not asking for anything in return.

If only all relationships could be so simple…

Sadly, the mysterious prince was still nowhere to be found. Sunny had not heard from him ever since returning from the Ivory Tower, almost making him think that he had simply imagined the whole thing.

The mirror shard he kept in the Covetous Coffer reminded him that he had not, though.

Sunny forced a smile to appear on his face, and waved at the Fire Keepers in return.

"Welcome back, guys! It's good to see you... sort of..."

***

up and fill their stomachs, they gathered in a spacious room provided to them by the

his True Name remained a secret, Sunny was still an SS class Awakened. Where was his

a corner, and the seven Awakened gathered around a table. He hesitated a

Sunny! How have you

a few moments, then said in

"...Busy. Really busy."

had asked

What's keeping you

and glanced

It read:

Shadow Fragments: [1936/2000].

He sighed.

on the Chained Isles. By the way, if any of you want to purchase something, just let me know. Toothpaste, spices,

him strange looks, then

so funny? That's a legitimate business,

glanced at the table, where a map of the Chained Isles was placed, with possible routes to the Shipwreck Island marked

somber expression appeared on his

We are actually planning

gave him

"Indeed."

He sighed.

ask you this. Are

silent without finishing the question and suddenly cleared his throat in

The blind girl frowned.

"Are you alright?"

Sunny waved a hand.

haven't been back to the real world in

the Fire Keepers raised an eyebrow, and asked with

is that

looked at him with an

not. Don't worry about it. No, really... anyway, let's get back to the Corrupted

for a few moments, then

the general characteristics, and a few details that the White Feather clan had shared with us. Master Roan had thought the thing in the past, but