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.

of them were just for show. While those coins of his are useful,

silent for a

one of the Chain Lords in order to conquer this Nightmare, but becoming dependent on someone else's strength is a slippery

his head a

your real intention had only been

thought,

archer smiled, then mumbled under

who

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

their experiences in the Nightmare, and as for

held on to the feeling that by postponing this conversation, they were somehow increasing the chances of

a while,

was sent into the body of a disciple, with her temper… I hate to admit it, but I am afraid for her. Plus, none of the maidens

few

survived in the Dark City far longer than you or I… completely alone. She held the line during the siege of the Spire and survived that, too. Effie will be fine. The War Maidens are not as formidable as you might think, either. After all, the Temple of the Chalice is destroyed in the future,

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

Kai sighed.

her. She is… she is not like the rest of us. Her combat skill is commendable, but her Aspect

grew silent, reluctant to

Sunny grinned.

you should be worried about. Believe me, she

that was what Sunny wanted to believe. His Flaw did not prevent him from saying those words

stop his hearts

sighed, and then added

should really be worried about

looked at him

person… right? The prince of