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.

wooden ship became visible, flowing through the darkness of the Sky Below as though on water. Its sails were pristine white, and around the main mast, a young tree was growing, its

succeeded in repairing the

patchwork of replacement boards still stood out on the polished wood, and here and

light Memories illuminating the ship, an especially bright one burning at the tip of a long

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

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

then slowed down, and landed on

under his feet, Sunny swayed a little and looked at

and fell down, instantly

day… no, a terrible month he

***

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 him — the physical wounds

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

actually alive.

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

the Undying Chain and studied his chest, 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 least cover the

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

terms with the fact that their harrowing adventure seemed to be over. Of course, in the

free of the

'What a fiasco…'

for long, however, because a delicious smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and

glistened, and his mouth instantly

grinned and handed

go, doofus.

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

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

Sunny was done with his meal and pushed

proposal of yours… I might have changed

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

into the darkness