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.

a graceful 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 polished wood, and here and there, the structure of the ship seemed rickety and slapdash

Memories illuminating the ship, an especially bright one burning at the tip of a long and sharp bowsprit.

by the sight of it. It was hard

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

more, then slowed down, and landed on the

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

and fell

month he had,

***

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 not bothering him too much

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

am actually alive. What

then stared into the darkness for a bit. The ancient vessel was swiftly flying through the abyss, descending into its

outer layer of 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 gash with a bandage… as well as properly

around, noticing Cassie sleeping nearby. Her

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

least they were free of

'What a fiasco…'

delicious smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and a few moments

eyes glistened, and his mouth

grinned and handed

go, doofus. Welcome

sat down on the deck and

sound of energetic chewing. At some point, Kai landed nearby and

done with his

marriage proposal of yours…

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

into the darkness that