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.

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

Fire Keepers had succeeded in repairing the ancient

out on the polished wood, and here and

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

it. It was hard to believe that this

it looked almost the same as

more, then slowed down, and landed

Sunny swayed a little and looked at the

he sighed, and fell down, instantly

the terrible day… no, a terrible month he had,

***

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. He still felt terrible, but mostly due to

the healer of the Fire Keepers, Shim, had

alive. What a

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

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

around, noticing Cassie

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 to deal with its consequences… and even before that, the

they were free

'What a fiasco…'

on his frustration for long, however, because a delicious smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and a

and his

grinned and handed

you go, doofus. Welcome

sat down on the deck and placed the second plate near

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

done with his meal and

Effie. About that marriage proposal of yours… I might

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

the darkness that surrounded