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

had succeeded in repairing the ancient vessel after all, it

devoid of the cracks and breaches that had marred its surface before. 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 bow, which had been previously almost destroyed. However,

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

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

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

slowed down, and landed on the wooden

Sunny swayed a little

sighed, and fell down,

month he had, some

***

senses. He was laying near the main mast of the ship, under the branches of the young tree, a soft pillow under his head and a warm blanket covering his body.

while Sunny was out of it, the

am actually alive.

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

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

his state, Sunny looked around, noticing Cassie sleeping nearby.

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

least they were free of the damned Night

'What a fiasco…'

his nostrils, and a few moments later, Effie appeared nearby, carrying two plates of somewhat that seemed

and

grinned and handed him a

you go,

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

sound of energetic chewing. At some

Sunny was done with his meal

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

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

into the darkness