Shadow Slave

Sunny hesitated for a few moments, then looked at Kai and said with determination.

"Let's go."

Kai nodded and followed the four-armed demon, pushing forward his bandaged body with visible effort. Seeing his friend's suffering, Sunny gritted his teeth.

The archer, meanwhile, glanced at him with a grim expression, and then said in his new, unfamiliar and ugly voice:

"Sunny… I have one question. Can you answer it?"

Sunny slowed down and turned to him, a deep scowl contorting the bestial lines of his face.

"Of course. What is it?"

Kai remained silent for a bit, then asked cautiously:

"Uh… where, exactly, are we going?"

Sunny blinked a couple of times, then tilted his head a little.

"Oh, right. Where else? We are going to talk to Noctis!"

With that, he turned around and continued walking toward the immortal sorcerer's residence.

The archer hurried to catch up, then said in a stifled tone:

"Ah… that Noctis? The immortal Transcendent? Blessed of the Moon, Crimson Beast of Twilight, Chain Lord of the Kingdom of Hope, and all that?"

at

worry, though… he

Sailor Dolls were standing guard outside, their indifferent faces staring at them

entered and froze, unsure how to

"What the hell…"

in the middle of a deep meditation, if not for dozens of empty amphoras of wine that floated all around him. The terrifying Chain Lord, Blessed of the Moon, the Crimson Beast of

lazily opened one eye and stared at Sunny, then at Kai. Finally, he landed on the floor and yawned, causing all the amphoras to fall down and shatter, sending drops of wine flying everywhere and

out loud? No, surely not… I am too wise and courteous to make a rude remark like that, of course… nice to meet you, whoever you are! Welcome… ah, to

the amphoras to disappear without a trace. Then, Noctis walked over to a small table, picked up a fresh apple, and glanced at

do you

it

with an inexorable expression on

the friends I told you about? Well, this is one of them. And… yes, you

stared at Kai, blinked a couple of times, then took a

despite not knowing how they look, where they are, and what they are called? He just happened to be here,

Sunny smiled.

voice of an

a sidelong glance, then bowed

to meet

shuddered and looked right and left, then shook his

Sunless… do not ever mention those creatures again, even in jest. Angels are not something to be called upon, whether by name

symbol of the moon on his

one of your friends. Have

for a bit, then

still need to find two more friends

sorcerer's help and his knowledge to find and retrieve Effie from the mysterious Temple of the