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.

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 main mast, a young tree was growing, its branches brimming with vibrant green

Fire Keepers had succeeded in repairing the ancient vessel after

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

the ship, an especially bright one burning at the tip of a long and sharp bowsprit. Human figures could be

the swiftly approaching ship, stunned by the sight of it. It

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

then slowed down, and landed on the wooden deck

surface under his feet, Sunny swayed a little and looked at

fell

no, a terrible month he had, some rest was

***

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 mostly due to the soul damage Mordret had dealt him — the physical wounds were

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

actually alive. What a

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

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 gash with a bandage… as well as properly take care of the countless smaller injuries on his

looked around, noticing Cassie sleeping nearby.

be over. Of course, in the future, he was going to

they were free of the

'What a fiasco…'

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,

and his

and handed

you go, doofus.

then attacked the food like a ravenous beast. Effie sat down on the

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

with his meal and pushed the plate

that marriage proposal of yours… I might have changed my

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

into the darkness that surrounded them