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.

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

Fire Keepers had succeeded in repairing the ancient vessel after

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.

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

stared at the swiftly approaching ship, stunned by the sight of it. It was

the ancient vessel was repaired, it looked almost the same as on the golden coins he had sacrificed to the

down, and landed on the wooden

surface under his feet, Sunny swayed a

and fell down, instantly losing

terrible month he had, some

***

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

out of it, the healer of the Fire

actually alive. What a

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

dismissed the outer layer of the Undying Chain and studied his chest, where the terrible wound had already closed, be it just barely. Now that he was conscious, he would be able

around, noticing Cassie sleeping nearby. Her face was

be over. Of course, in the future, he was

least they were free of the

'What a fiasco…'

nostrils, and a few moments later, Effie appeared nearby, carrying two plates

and his mouth

and handed him a

go,

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

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

Sunny was done with his meal and pushed the plate

proposal of yours… I

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

the darkness that surrounded them