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.

through the darkness of the Sky Below as though on water. Its sails were pristine white, and around

had succeeded in repairing the ancient vessel after all,

stood out on the polished wood, and here

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

It was hard to believe

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

down, and landed

a solid surface under his feet, Sunny swayed a little and looked at the Fire Keepers

fell

month he

***

young tree, a soft pillow under his head and a warm blanket covering his body.

while Sunny was out of it, the healer of the Fire Keepers, Shim, had

alive.

vessel was swiftly flying through the abyss,

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

looked around, noticing Cassie sleeping nearby. Her face was

adventure seemed to 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

were free

'What a fiasco…'

get to dwell on his frustration for long, however, because a delicious smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and a few moments later, Effie appeared nearby, carrying two

and his

grinned and

you go,

beast. Effie sat down on the deck and placed the second plate near Cassie,

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

done with his meal and pushed

Effie. About that marriage proposal of yours… I

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

into the darkness that surrounded