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.

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,

remained silent for a few moments,

ourselves with at least one of the Chain Lords in order to conquer this Nightmare, but becoming

tilted his head a

were just bait, and your real intention

thought, Sunny simply

archer smiled, then mumbled

wonder who

of the garden in silence and sat down on the grass. There was so much Sunny wanted to tell Kai, and so much he wanted to ask.

shared some things about their experiences in the Nightmare, and as for details… that was

was foolish, they both held on to the feeling that by postponing this conversation,

a while, Kai

with her temper… I hate to admit it, but I am afraid for her. Plus, none of the maidens is

remained silent for a few moments, then

Effie will be fine. The War Maidens are not as formidable as you might think, either.

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

Kai sighed.

There is no sign of her. She is… she is not like the rest of us. Her combat skill is commendable, but her Aspect is not tailored toward direct confrontation. And with how terrible her

reluctant

Sunny grinned.

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

His Flaw did not prevent him from saying those words aloud, so he must have been convinced that the statement was true

hearts from growing

sighed, and then added in a

worried

looked at him with a

be that person… right?