Shadow Slave

After their conversation with Noctis was done, Sunny and Kai left the sorcerer alone. The immortal needed some time to make preparations, so they had a few hours left before the archer's treatment was going to begin.

After that, they were not going to see each other again until it was over, which would take at least a week.

Walking through the beautiful garden of the Sanctuary, Kai remained silent for a bit, and then said with a smile:

"Well… I think that went well."

Sunny glanced at him with a dark expression.

"You think?"

The archer shrugged, then frowned a little. The bandages covering his disfigured face moved, revealing a confused expression.

"Did it not?"

Sunny shook his head.

"No. We have been swindled, actually. Think about it… I wanted to get three things out of Noctis in exchange for revealing the location of the Glass Knife to him. Heal you, rescue Effie, and receive his enchanted coins. Not only did he force the secret out of me without even lifting a finger, he even fooled us into retrieving the knife in his stead… while thinking that it was our own idea, no less."

He grimaced, then let out a heavy sigh.

"...Scary. He is a cunning trickster, and my own mind seems to be dulled by the curse of Hope. Still… all is well. Noctis will heal your body, nothing else matters."

Kai frowned when Sunny mentioned Hope's influence, but didn't ask anything, revealing that he had made the discovery himself. After a while, he said:

"When you put it like that, I do feel a bit foolish. But, Sunny… if you knew that we are being swindled, why didn't you try to drive a harder bargain?"

Sunny shrugged.

three of my requests, anyway… two of them were just for show. While those coins of his are useful, I can do without them. As for rescuing Effie, that is our own task. I would not have entrusted it to an outsider, especially an ancient

silent for a few moments, and then

the Chain Lords in order to conquer this Nightmare, but becoming dependent

tilted his

your real intention had only been to get

in thought,

smiled, then mumbled under

wonder who swindled whom,

Sunny wanted to tell Kai, and so much he wanted to ask. He was sure that Kai

say anything, both of them decided to remain silent. They had already shared some things about their experiences in the Nightmare, and as for details… that

the feeling that by postponing

while, Kai

she is alright? Effie? From what Noctis said, that sect is incredibly ancient, formidable, and cruel. If Effie was sent into the body of a disciple, with her temper… I hate to admit it,

remained silent for a few moments, then shook his

the Spire and survived that, too. Effie will be fine. The War Maidens are not as formidable as you might think, either. After

furious wraiths whom he had slain to create his third core. Who could have known that the ruin he had already explored and the Temple of the Chalice were one and the same? Judging by the destruction that reigned over the ancient temple in the future, someone was going to obliterate the fearsome sect between then and now.

Kai sighed.

the rest of us. Her combat skill is commendable, but her Aspect is not tailored toward direct confrontation. And with how terrible

reluctant to

Sunny grinned.

should be worried about. Believe me, she is doing fine. Probably

those words aloud, so he must have been

hearts from growing cold

added in a

should really be worried about

frowned and looked at him with a dark

has to be that person… right? The prince