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

succeeded in repairing the ancient vessel after all, it

had marred its surface before. A patchwork of replacement boards still stood out on the polished wood, and here and there, the structure

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, moving around in

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

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

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

surface under his feet, Sunny swayed a

and fell down,

month he had, some rest was

***

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 healer of the Fire Keepers, Shim, had

alive. What

and sat up, then 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 and

closed, be it just barely. Now that he was conscious, he would be able to stitch

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

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

at least they were free

'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 like real,

eyes glistened, and his mouth

huntress grinned and handed

go, doofus. Welcome

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

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

with his

Effie. About that marriage proposal of yours… I might have

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

darkness that surrounded them from all