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?"

glanced at him, then

Don't worry, though… he is

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

two of them entered and froze, unsure how to

"What the hell…"

his legs crossed 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 wine that floated all around him. The terrifying Chain Lord, Blessed of the Moon, the Crimson Beast of

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 staining

say that out loud? No, surely not… I am too wise and courteous

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

do you owe

what do we owe… wait, wasn't it supposed to be the other way

immortal sorcerer with an inexorable expression on his burned, disfigured

Do you remember the friends I told you about? Well, this is one of them. And… yes, you did say it out

a couple of times, then took a bite out of the

were supposed to find after visiting an island that doesn't exist, despite not knowing how they look, where they are, and what they are called? He just happened to be here, in my Sanctuary? How…

Sunny smiled.

man with a voice of an angel, and a face to go along

sidelong glance, then bowed slightly and forced out

is… nice to meet you,

shuddered and looked right

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

the symbol of the

glad that you have found one of your friends. Have the two of you discussed

hesitated for a bit, then answered

need to

day. But he needed the sorcerer's help and his knowledge to find and retrieve Effie