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.

Sky Below as though on

repairing the ancient vessel after all, it

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 bright one burning at the tip of a long and sharp bowsprit. Human figures could

of it. It was hard to

as

down, and landed

his feet, Sunny swayed a

sighed, and fell down, instantly losing

day… 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 mostly due to the soul damage Mordret

while Sunny was out of it, the

alive.

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

he was conscious, he would be able to stitch it up,

noticing Cassie sleeping nearby. Her face was

course, in the future, he was going to have to deal with its consequences…

were free

'What a fiasco…'

however, because a delicious smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and a few moments later, Effie appeared nearby, carrying two plates of somewhat that

eyes glistened, and his mouth instantly

huntress grinned and handed him a

go, doofus.

food like a ravenous beast. Effie sat down on the deck

of energetic chewing. At some point, Kai landed nearby and joined them, an

was done with his meal and pushed the

of yours… I might have

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

chuckled, then glanced into the darkness that surrounded them from