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.

graceful shape of a resplendent wooden ship became visible, flowing through the darkness of the Sky Below as though on water. Its sails were pristine white, and around the main mast, a young tree was growing, its branches brimming with

succeeded in repairing the ancient vessel after

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, overall, the vessel

especially bright one burning at the tip of a long and sharp

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

same as on the golden coins he had sacrificed to the altar of

accelerated even more, then slowed down, and landed on the wooden

feet, Sunny swayed a little and looked at the

sighed, and fell down, instantly

no, a terrible month

***

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,

out of it, the healer of the Fire

actually alive. What

the darkness for a bit. The ancient vessel was swiftly flying through the abyss, descending

wound had already closed, be it just barely. Now that he was conscious, he would be able to stitch it up, or

Cassie sleeping nearby. Her face was

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 Second Nightmare awaited, perhaps much more

they were free

'What a fiasco…'

smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and a few moments later, Effie appeared nearby, carrying two

eyes glistened, and his

and handed him a

go,

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

were spent in silence, disturbed only by the sound of energetic chewing. At some point, Kai landed

Sunny was done with his meal and pushed the plate

proposal of yours… I might have

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

into the darkness that surrounded