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 him, then

that Noctis. Don't worry, though… he

beautifully engraved wooden door. A pair of Sailor Dolls were standing guard outside, their indifferent faces staring at them with

entered and froze, unsure

"What the hell…"

and his eyes closed. He might have seemed like a wise sage in the middle of a deep meditation, if not for dozens of empty amphoras of

and stared at Sunny, then at Kai. Finally, he landed on the floor and yawned, causing

Sunless! What a nice surprise, to see you so soon. And… uh… you brought someone with you? What a hideous creature… wait, did I say that out loud? No, surely not… I am too wise and courteous to make a rude remark like that, of

gave them a radiant smile, then waved a hand, causing the whole residence to shudder and the shards of the amphoras to disappear without a trace. Then, Noctis walked over to a small table, picked up

you

wait, wasn't it supposed to be the other way

immortal sorcerer with an inexorable expression on his burned, disfigured face.

you remember the friends I told you about?

a couple of times, then took

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

Sunny smiled.

dear friend. A man with a voice of an angel, and a face to go along with

spared him a sidelong glance, then bowed slightly and forced out a grating,

is… nice to meet you, Lord

sorcerer shuddered and looked right and left, then shook his

Angels are

briefly touched the symbol of

found one of your friends. Have the two of you discussed my

hesitated for a bit, then

have not. We still need to find two more

distant by the day. But he needed the sorcerer's help and his knowledge to find