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.

of the Sky Below as though on water. Its

Keepers had succeeded in repairing the ancient vessel after all, it

on the polished wood, and here and there, the structure of the ship seemed rickety and slapdash — especially

tip of a

swiftly approaching ship, stunned by the sight of it. It was hard to believe that this had been

as on the golden coins

down, and landed on the

Sunny swayed a little and looked at the Fire Keepers that

he sighed, and fell down, instantly

no, a terrible month

***

his 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.

seemed that while Sunny was out of it, the healer of the Fire Keepers, Shim, had treated

actually 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. Due

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 care

Cassie sleeping

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

free of the damned Night

'What a fiasco…'

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

glistened, and

huntress grinned and handed

you go, doofus.

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

silence, disturbed only by the sound of energetic chewing. At some point, Kai landed nearby and joined them, an easygoing smile

Sunny was done with his meal and

that marriage proposal of

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

then glanced into the darkness