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.

later, Sunny's elation was

in this field of grass to meet Cassie, and looked at Noctis with concern. The sorcerer still had an ashen face… and unlike them, he did not have any warm feelings toward

still strange,

frowned, then looked at the beautiful woman with a dark expression

far for a blind priestess like you to travel south, all alone? Speak, girl…

When she spoke, her unfamiliar voice

from my mistress,

The sorcerer grimaced.

that dreadful woman

silent for a

anything, Lord Noctis. My mistress, Lady of the North, blessed of the Black Skies… is

***

with a pale face, then raised a trembling hand and

is

down.

three words. I am

The sorcerer scoffed.

takes weeks to get from the Night Temple to the Sanctuary on foot… if

silently shook her

"No. She was alive."

his teeth in

knew she was going to die, she could have said more than three words, at least! After… after everything we shared… ah, she just

by the stunning news Cassie had brought… as if he had not been planning to kill the One in the North himself all along.

stunned himself. One of the Chain Lords… was already dead? Just like that? After a thousand of years

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

possessed one of the seven

knew of only

thoughts, Noctis stared at

it? Who killed