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

had succeeded in repairing the ancient

out on the polished wood, and here and there, the structure of the ship seemed rickety and slapdash — especially near the bow, which had been previously

at the tip of a long and sharp bowsprit. Human figures could be seen on the

sight of it. It was hard

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

down,

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

sighed, and fell

no, a terrible month

***

the branches of the young tree, a soft pillow under his head and a warm blanket covering his body. He still felt terrible, but

out of it, the healer of the Fire

actually alive. What a

was swiftly flying

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

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

still for a few moments, coming to terms with the fact that their harrowing adventure seemed to be over. Of course, in the future, he was going to have

they were free

'What a fiasco…'

didn't get to dwell on his frustration for long, however, because a delicious smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and a

and

huntress grinned and handed him a

go, doofus. Welcome

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

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

with his meal and

marriage proposal of yours… I might

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

then glanced into the darkness that surrounded them from