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

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

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

the sight of it. It

vessel was repaired, it looked almost the same as on

more, then slowed down, and landed on the

swayed a little and looked at the Fire Keepers that surrounded

sighed, and fell down,

month he had, some rest was long

***

back 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

that while Sunny was out of it, the healer of the Fire

actually alive. What

stared into the darkness for a bit. The ancient vessel was swiftly flying through the abyss, descending into its depths. Due to that, his body felt nice

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 gash with a bandage… as well as

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

with the fact that their harrowing adventure seemed to be over. Of course, in the future, he was going to have to deal with its consequences… and even

they were free of

'What a fiasco…'

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

and his mouth instantly

and handed him a

you go, doofus. Welcome

like a ravenous beast. Effie sat down on the deck and placed the second plate

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

with his meal and

About that marriage proposal of yours… I might have changed my

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

chuckled, then glanced into the darkness that surrounded