Shadow Slave

Using a wooden cane, Sunny walked out of his hut and breathed in the clear, sweet air of the Sacred Grove.

The ancient trees rustled gently, as if greeting him. The forest was slowly waking up, emerald leaves longing to be bathed in the warmth of the sun once more. A chilly fog was flowing between the mighty trunks, suffused with the vibrant lilac light of the early dawn. The nightingales sang cheerfully, jumping from branch to branch… the sight of it was familiar, beautiful, and calming.

Truly, the grove of Heart God was the jewel of the Kingdom of Hope. How lucky he was to have been born and spend most of his life here!

These trees had stood upon the ancient land before it had been shattered, weathered the terrible cataclysm of Desire's imprisonment, and were going to remain standing here long after he was dead and forgotten, his bones buried at their roots. Now that Sunny was old and didn't have a lot of time left to live, that thought was very comforting.

A human's life might be fleeting, but the beautiful grove was eternal.

He patted one of the ancient oaks as an old friend, sighed, and limped toward the water spring to fill his jug.

Since Sunny's hut stood at the outskirts of the grove, he could see the edge of the island through the spaces between the tree trunks. As always, it rose and fell slowly, the heavenly chains rattling from time to time. Everything was just as usual… which was the very best thing in the world.

Sunny had lived a long life. Some of it was peaceful, and some of it was turbulent… but luckily, the turbulent times had not visited this quiet forest for a long, long time. And that was the only thing that he had always wanted — to live a quiet and tranquil life, far away from all the strife and misfortune of the everchanging world.

Change… change always brought ruin on its wings. Sunny wanted no part of it.

However, today, his desires were not meant to come true. Something unexpected did happen, disturbing the familiar routine of his day…

At the very edge of the island, a mighty black steed suddenly appeared, as if jumping from below, where a giant chain connected to the soil of the Sacred Grove. He walked forward at a steady pace, approaching the line of ancient trees.

The steed had no saddle, but there was a rider on his back. A pretty young woman in a simple red tunic sat there, her ivory legs svelte and bare. She had a graceful figure, a face so lovely that it simply demanded to be gazed upon, and chestnut hair that fell down like a silken waterfall.

Sunny stared at the young woman, mesmerized by her beauty. Then, he scoffed, and shook his head.

"What are you even doing, old fool… your days of ogling pretty girls are long over! This beauty is young enough to be your granddaughter. Have some shame, you vile lecher!"

chuckled wryly, and then changed his course to greet the unexpected

away from the line of trees, the young beauty stopped her horse, jumped down with breathtaking grace, and knelt in the soft grass, looking down as

put on a smile worthy of an enlightened elder.

what's wrong with this frail body

to the Heart Grove? Tell this old man your worries… maybe I'll be able to

head, still looking down, as if to show her respect and reverence. Her voice, when she spoke, was melodious and calm… however, Sunny had been meeting pilgrims like her for many decades. All of them came here overwhelmed by sorrows and regret…

deep ocean of darkness hiding behind the facade of calmness the young woman had

She said:

the

a

young, and yet

on his

she ought to be up and about, by now. How about that? I'll wait with you until the

young beauty didn't answer, and simply continued to stare down, still like a statue. Her breathing was deep and steady. Even her

unease. He took a closer look at the girl,

in the name of Hope, is

seemed to be playing tricks on him. Sunny could swear that he saw a radiant sphere of light burning inside the young beauty's chest… not that he was looking in

his palm opening, as if

at it

are you doing,

his throat. Maybe he

did so, the young woman

ever seen the

'What an unexpected question...'

Sunny grinned.

older than you. He-he. It might not look like it, but this elder was quite a wastrel once! I ran away from home and went on an adventure. That was when I saw the Ivory