Shadow Slave

As Sunny and Kai moved toward the wreck of the ancient ship, the heavenly chains suddenly rattled deafeningly, and the whole island quaked once more as it shifted higher. Turning back, they saw that the steel colossus was gone from the edge. Effie was nowhere in sight, as well.

Sunny stared at the empty space where the giant had been kneeling not too long ago, then gritted his teeth and looked away.

Effie knew what she was doing… no one was more motivated to survive the Nightmare and return to the waking world alive. Not even Sunny. She would not have done anything that would leave her no chance to escape.

In any case, every one of them was in terrible danger. If Solvane managed to defeat Noctis, she would be coming for them next. And Cassie could have been dying or dead already, somewhere in the wreckage.

There was no time to waste on unnecessary thoughts.

Sunny dragged Kai forward, lamenting the fact that the archer was coming back to his senses so slowly. His incredible sight would have been very useful right about now…

His four shadows flew toward the wreck, gliding between the debris in search of the young woman. However, it was hard to make out anything in the chaotic mess of splintered wood, upturned soil, and shredded sails.

And then, finally, he thought that he noticed weak movement under a pile of debris.

With his two hearts beating wildly, Sunny rushed forward, then threw a piece of the ship's hull aside and bent down, digging through the soil. Soon, he saw a piece of black fabric, and then removed some more dirt to reveal Cassie's pale face.

She struggled to sit, and then coughed violently.

The blind young woman seemed to be… fine. The piece of cloth covering her eyes had slid down, revealing two empty eye sockets, and her dress was soaked with blood from the arrow wound on her shoulder, but other than that, there were only mild scratches and lacerations on her body.

Miraculously, Cassie was alive.

Sunny stared at her with wide eyes, a sense of profound relief slowly spreading through his chest. The young woman coughed some more, wiped the dirt off her face, then turned her head slightly with an uncertain and vulnerable expression.

"Who... who is there? Sunny?"

Kai sit down,

me. But can't

Cassie grimaced.

out of soul essence.

escaped from his

damned fool… what the hell was that

a confused expression on

off the ship a few moments before it hit the Prince, of course. Dancer carried me

then covered his face with

spending too much time with me… only a madman would call ramming

everything else. As cold shivers run down his spine, Sunny turned and stared at the dark gaping hole in the hull

trembling and groaning, proving that the two Transcendents were still

up, fell back, then remained motionless for

"What is happening?"

Sunny grimaced.

here, but he had the wind knocked out of him. Noctis…

his body and bringing with them vast

for a moment,

here with Kai and rest for a bit. I…

hurriedly fumbled for her blindfold and pulled it up,

"W—where are you going?"

for a few moments, and then smiled

am just going to return a

Solvane quite a lot,

desperation, the life of a dear friend… and even