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.

as though on water. Its sails were pristine white, and around the main

Fire Keepers had succeeded in repairing the ancient vessel after all,

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 ship seemed rickety and slapdash — especially near the

was a battery of light Memories illuminating the ship, an especially bright one burning at the tip of a long and sharp bowsprit. Human figures could be seen

stunned by the sight of it. It was hard to believe

the ancient vessel was repaired, it looked almost the same as on the golden coins he had sacrificed to the altar

even more, then slowed down, and landed on the wooden

a little and looked at the Fire Keepers

he sighed, and fell

the terrible day… no, a terrible month

***

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

of it, the

actually alive. What a

then stared into the darkness for a bit. The ancient vessel was swiftly flying through the abyss, descending into its depths. Due

outer layer of the Undying Chain and studied his chest, where the terrible wound had already closed, be it just barely. Now that he was conscious, he

Sunny looked around, noticing Cassie sleeping nearby. Her face

still for a few moments, coming to terms with the fact that their harrowing adventure seemed to be over. Of course, in the future, he was going

were free of the damned

'What a fiasco…'

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

and his mouth instantly

huntress grinned and handed

go,

flashed her a smile, and then attacked the food like a ravenous beast. Effie sat down on the deck and placed the second plate near

minutes were spent in silence, disturbed only by the sound of energetic chewing. At some

Sunny was done with his meal

About that marriage proposal of yours… I

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

then glanced into the darkness that surrounded them from