Shadow Slave

Sunny was at a loss for words.

Had he even heard it right?

"You are going to… repair… the ancient, broken, monster-infected ship?"

Well… it made a lot of sense, actually.

Cassie nodded.

"Yes. We are going to cleanse, repair, and make it fly again."

Oh, so it was a flying ship, too!

'Perfect!'

Honestly, Sunny shouldn't have been surprised. All the clues had been there for a long time.

He had already known that the ship depicted on the miraculous coins was, most likely, the very same that lay broken on the Shipwreck Island. The connection was pretty easy to make, considering that they looked alike, and that the coins had come from its treasury in the first place.

Sunny had also asked himself the question of what a sailing ship was doing in the middle of Chained Isles, which had no sea and no rivers for it to sail on. The thought that it had actually been designed to fly through the skies had crossed his mind, among other things.

And finally, on the coins, the ancient ship was shown as having a beautiful tree wrapped around its mast. It had also belonged to the enigmatic person called Noctis. Wasn't it too much of a coincidence, then, that Cassie had come to the Sanctuary of Noctis and ventured on a long expedition to a Desecrated Grove?

The word "desecrated" implied that the burned grove had been sacred once. After all, only sacred things could be desecrated. And a sacred tree sounded exactly like something capable of making a massive ship fly.

…Right?

Sunny stared at the large wooden box with a ponderous expression. After a while, he asked:

"So what's in the box?"

Cassie walked over and gently put a hand on its lid.

for a living root in that ghastly place. And finally, deep underground, we found the only one that remained. The wondrous tree

and then turned to the Fire

in the Bright Castle. Shakti is gifted with an Aspect that helps plants thrive, and was Kido's apprentice. Kaor is an Awakened carpenter. We have

remained silent

planning to commandeer the ancient wreck for a long time. From before he had come to invite her to challenge the Second Nightmare with him… was it a coincidence? They were going to have to brave the Sky

did she

turned to him. Her face suddenly

this ship, we might be able to cross the Hollow Mountains. At least… at least

while, the familiar girl — Shakti — said in

try, no matter what. Going there on

really, really resolute in

what about Sunny

Well… things were complicated.

He sighed.

answers the question of why you want the ship, and how you might be able to repair it. But how are we going to defeat its current tenant without using fire? No offense, guys, but I really don't think that you can handle that fight. Maybe

looked at each other again. Finally, their mood

few moments,

to kill it the old-fashioned way. Use someone as

Sunny rubbed his face.

I

girl smiled, then shook

are the blade that will pierce the creature's

sort of grand, but she immediately ruined the moment

uh… if it has a heart. If it doesn't, then… well, you know. Kill it some other

the icon

Sunny frowned.

like the idea of not being the bait for once… well, to be honest, Neph was usually the bait. Actually, this plan sort of made sense.

that didn't mean that he couldn't deliver once surgical, immolating strike to the

able to keep the monster preoccupied long enough for Sunny

at them gravely, and

so sure that I can kill that

the