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 a resplendent wooden ship became visible, flowing through the darkness of the Sky Below as though on water. Its sails

in repairing the

polished wood, and here and there, the structure of the ship

was a battery of light Memories illuminating the ship, an especially bright one burning at the tip of a long and

ship, stunned by the sight of it. It was hard

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

slowed down, and landed on

his feet, Sunny swayed a little

sighed, and fell

terrible day… no, a terrible month he

***

tree, a soft pillow under his head

of it, the healer of the Fire Keepers, Shim,

am actually alive.

ancient vessel was swiftly flying through the abyss, descending

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

noticing Cassie sleeping nearby. Her face

a few moments, 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 even before that, the Second Nightmare awaited, perhaps much more

at least they were free of the damned

'What a fiasco…'

frustration for long, however, because a delicious smell suddenly reached his nostrils, and a few moments later, Effie appeared nearby, carrying two plates of somewhat that seemed like real, freshly cooked

glistened, and

and handed him

go, doofus.

ravenous beast. Effie sat

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

his meal

proposal of yours… I

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

glanced into the darkness that surrounded them from all