Shadow Slave

"Hold on for a bit more!"

The archer strained a little, bearing their weight as he darted through the abyss, his flight swift and effortless. Illuminated by the paper lantern, the three of them traveled through the darkness like a small comet, moving faster and faster.

The wind whistled in Sunny's ears.

He remained silent for a bit, dumbfounded, then asked:

"Wait… was it you who brought Saint Tyris here?"

Kai smiled, looking somewhere far away.

"Of course! When you and Cassie didn't return to the real world, we knew that the negotiation with the representatives of clan Valor must have failed. But when you didn't arrive at Shipwreck Island by November, as the plan had been, it was clear that something went wrong. So, Effie and I waited for a bit, then went to the White Feather clan for help."

He paused for a moment, and then added:

"Eventually, we decided to come to the Night Temple ourselves. That was a week ago. We have just arrived yesterday."

'But the Citadel was sealed…'

Sunny frowned, suddenly catching an inconsistency in Kai's words.

"Wait… a week ago? How did you cross the Chained Isles so fast?"

The archer smiled brightly.

"...Look ahead!"

'What does he…'

Sunny glanced forward, and froze.

They were swiftly approaching another source of light, this one much, much larger. Or rather, it was moving in their direction, even faster than Kai was flying.

Sky Below as though on water. Its sails were pristine white, and around the main mast, a young tree

in repairing the ancient vessel after all,

elegant and swift, its hull devoid of the cracks and breaches that had marred its surface before. A patchwork of replacement boards still stood out on the polished wood, and here and there, the structure of the

especially bright one burning at the tip of a long and sharp bowsprit. Human figures could be seen on the deck, moving

ship, stunned by the sight of it. It was hard to believe that this had been the same abomination-invested wreck he

looked almost the same as on the golden coins he had sacrificed

more, then slowed down,

swayed a little and looked at the Fire Keepers

sighed, and fell

no, a terrible month

***

to his senses. He was laying near the main mast of the ship, under the branches of the young tree, a soft pillow under his head and a warm blanket covering his body. He still felt terrible, but mostly due to the soul damage Mordret had dealt

the healer of the

am actually alive.

and sat up, then stared into the darkness for a bit. The ancient vessel was swiftly flying through the

where the terrible wound had already closed, be it just barely. Now that he was conscious, he would be able to stitch it up, or at

noticing Cassie sleeping nearby. Her face was calm and

course, in the future, he was going to

at least they were free of the damned Night

'What a fiasco…'

didn't get to dwell on his frustration for long, however, because a delicious smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and a few moments later, Effie appeared nearby, carrying two plates of somewhat that seemed like

glistened, and his mouth instantly

grinned and handed

you go, doofus.

like a ravenous beast. Effie sat down on the deck and placed the second plate near Cassie, who

silence, disturbed only by the sound of energetic chewing. At some point, Kai landed nearby and joined

done with his meal and pushed the plate

proposal of yours… I

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

glanced into the darkness that surrounded them from all