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.

flowing through the darkness of the Sky Below as though on water. Its sails were pristine white, and around the main mast,

in repairing

elegant and swift, its hull 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,

one burning at the tip of a long and sharp bowsprit. Human figures could be seen on the deck,

stunned by the sight of it. It was hard to

same as on the golden coins he

then slowed down, and landed on the wooden deck

swayed a

fell

no, a terrible month he had, some rest was long

***

hours later, Sunny came back to 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. He still

it, the healer

actually alive.

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

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

Cassie sleeping nearby. Her

be over. Of course, in the future, he was going to have to deal with its consequences… and even before that, the Second

least they were free of the damned

'What a fiasco…'

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

and

grinned and handed

you go, doofus. Welcome

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

minutes were spent in silence, disturbed only by the sound of energetic chewing. At some point, Kai landed nearby and joined them, an

was done with his meal and pushed

marriage proposal of yours…

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

glanced into the darkness that surrounded