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

Keepers had succeeded in repairing the ancient vessel after all,

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

battery of light Memories illuminating the ship, an especially bright one burning at the tip of a long and sharp bowsprit. Human figures could be

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

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

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

surface under his feet, Sunny swayed a little and

sighed, and fell down, instantly

day… no, a terrible month he had, some rest

***

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, but mostly due to the soul damage Mordret had dealt him — the physical wounds were not bothering him too

it, the healer of the

alive. What

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 to that, his body felt

it just barely. Now that he was conscious, he would be able to stitch it up,

Cassie sleeping

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

least they were free of the

'What a fiasco…'

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

glistened, and

and

go,

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

only by the sound of energetic chewing. At some point, Kai landed nearby

was done with his meal and pushed

proposal of yours… I might

She scoffed.

"Pfft! You wish."

the darkness that surrounded them from