Shadow Slave

The sorcerer seemed shaken. No, more than that… he seemed deeply troubled by something. Noctis stared at the door for a few moments, then frowned and said, his voice devoid of any emotion:

"...Let us go and see who is knocking on my door, then."

With that, he drained his goblet, threw it aside, and walked toward the exit.

Sunny, Effie, and Kai glanced at each other, then followed along. No matter who it was that had come to the Sanctuary, they were currently enjoying the sorcerer's hospitality, so the identity of the new arrival concerned them too.

Who could have affected Noctis that much? Or was the change he had spoken about the real reason for this strange behavior, while the appearance of a guest just happened to coincidence with it?

They were going to find out soon.

Together, the four of them — three Awakened and an immortal Saint — crossed the garden of the Sanctuary and walked between the ancient menhirs, to the field of grass beyond. There, an elegant figure waited for them, dressed in an austere black garment. It was a young woman none of them recognized.

The young woman was tall and slender, with pale skin and lustrous raven-black hair that moved gently in the wind. Her face possessed an almost otherworldly beauty to it, its lines full of solemn grace and splendor. However, that lovely face was blemished by a stark flaw — her eyes were covered by a simple strip of black cloth, the same color as the dress she wore.

The contrast between the austere black dress and the flawless white skin, between the softness of her captivating face and the severity of the crude blindfold, created a tantalizing, ominous, and slightly disturbing sight.

…However, Sunny was not paying attention to the young woman's sublime beauty, or to her dress. Instead, his eyes were glued to a single detail…

There was a leather belt tied around the beautiful stranger's slender waist, and on it hung a black scabbard. He recognized the hilt of the blade encompassed within in an instant…

'Quiet... Quiet Dancer? Cassie!'

For a moment, Sunny was overwhelmed by a feeling of profound, boundless relief. She was alive… Cassie was alive… all of them were. And now, despite all the dire trials of this harrowing Nightmare, the four of them were finally reunited.

It was as though a terrible weight that had been crushing his heart all this time, without him knowing, was suddenly lifted.

Sunny felt Effie's grip on his horns grow tighter, and glanced at Kai to see that the young man's eyes were shining behind the wooden mask. The two of them had recognized Cassie, too, and were sharing in his glee.

a moment later, Sunny's

in this field of grass to meet Cassie, and looked at Noctis with concern. The sorcerer still had

situation was still strange, and

then looked at the beautiful woman with a dark expression and

far for a blind priestess like you to

bowed slightly. When she spoke, her unfamiliar voice sounded deep and pleasant.

a message from my mistress, the One

The sorcerer grimaced.

yeah? What does that dreadful woman want

a few moments, then

mistress, Lady of the North, blessed of the Black Skies… is

***

stared at Cassie with a pale face, then raised a trembling hand and silently

what is the

looking down. Without raising her

three words.

The sorcerer scoffed.

to the Sanctuary on foot… if one can even make it alive! Was she dead when she

shook

"No. She was alive."

gritted his

to die, she could have said more than three words, at least! After… after everything we shared… ah, she just had to be frustrating till the very

stunning news Cassie had brought… as if

Lords… was already dead? Just like that? After a thousand of years of

feeling of unease grasped his heart. If not one of the Chain Lords, then who could have

one

of only

at Cassie and asked, his

was it? Who killed her? Solvane? Or the