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,

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

still strange,

sensing his gaze, Noctis frowned, then looked at the beautiful woman with a dark expression and

priestess like you to travel south, all alone? Speak,

she spoke, her

a message from my mistress, the One in

The sorcerer grimaced.

What does that dreadful

a few moments, then lowered her

Lord Noctis. My mistress, Lady of the North, blessed of the

***

then raised a trembling hand

are you talking... what is the message

still looking down. Without raising

three words. I

The sorcerer scoffed.

on foot… if one can even make it alive! Was she

silently shook

"No. She was alive."

his teeth

so insufferable. If she knew she was going 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

if he had not been planning to kill the One in the North himself all along. The immortals were

Sunny was stunned himself. One of the Chain Lords… was already dead? Just like that? After a thousand of years of solemn duty, someone had managed to kill the

feeling of unease grasped his heart. If not one of the

else possessed one of the

of

if reading his thoughts, Noctis stared at Cassie and asked, his voice trembling

who was it? Who killed her? Solvane?