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.

few moments later, a graceful shape of a resplendent wooden ship became visible, flowing through the darkness of the Sky Below as though on water. Its sails were pristine white, and around the

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

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 bow, which had been previously almost destroyed. However, overall, the vessel 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 on the deck,

at the swiftly approaching ship, stunned by the sight of it. It was hard to believe that this had been the same

same as on the golden coins he had sacrificed to

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

a little and looked at the Fire Keepers that

and fell down, instantly

terrible month he had,

***

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

it, the healer of the Fire Keepers, Shim, had

alive. What a

for a bit. The ancient vessel was swiftly flying through the abyss,

barely. Now that he was conscious, he would be able to stitch it up, or at least cover the gash with a bandage… as well as properly take care of the countless smaller injuries on

with his state, Sunny looked around, noticing Cassie sleeping nearby. Her face

be over. Of course, in the future, he was going to have to deal with its consequences… and even before that, the Second Nightmare awaited, perhaps much

at least they were free of the damned

'What a fiasco…'

however, because a delicious smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and a few moments later, Effie appeared nearby, carrying two plates of somewhat

glistened, and his mouth instantly

and

go, doofus.

a ravenous beast. Effie sat down on the deck and

spent in silence, disturbed only by the sound of energetic chewing.

was done with his meal and pushed the plate

marriage proposal of yours… I

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

the darkness that surrounded them from all