Shadow Slave

The next morning, Sunny approached the massive red gates of the Academy and stood there for a few moments, looking at the countless thousands of candles that burned in front of the deep moat surrounding it. Their flames swayed and shone through the falling snow, turning into a beautiful sea of orange radiance.

Back when the Dreamer Army had suddenly returned from the Forgotten Shore, rising a storm with their unexpected resurrection, people started placing these candles in front of the Academy for the one who had stayed behind… the last daughter of the Immortal Flame clan, Changing Star. Some believed that Nephis would not die until at least one candle continued to burn.

As long as it burned, the Immortal Flame would not be extinguished.

Now, two years later, the number of candles had not diminished one bit. In fact, there were more of them than ever. Changing Star's legend had not only remained alive, but continued to grow and spread.

At first, the candles might have been just a desperate gesture by those who hoped against all odds that she would remain alive, but with each day that Nephis somehow defied death and continued to persevere, alone in the cursed darkness of the Dream Realm, her fame and influence rose.

No one could explain how she was managing to survive in the desolate, lightless abyss of the Forgotten Shore, but she undoubtedly had not succumbed to its indescribable horrors. Sunny knew it better than anyone... but others knew, as well.

The government was not shy about fanning the flames of the misguided fervor and use Nephis to fuel the propaganda machine, painting her as the symbol of the noble and unbreakable spirit of humanity. It was easy for them to confirm that Changing Star still lived, after all. Unlike those who turned Hollow, someone like her showed signs of brain activity similar to that of a dreaming person. So, they did not even have to invent false proof.

...By now, there were at least a hundred thousand burning candles placed in front of the Academy, where she slept in a heavily protected underground chamber.

Sunny sighed, then shifted his gaze to a delicate silhouette kneeling in front of the candles. Cassie lit one of her own, waited until some wax melted and flowed to the ground, then place the candle near others and stood up.

She was wearing civilian clothes. Her attire was tidy and mundane, but despite that, no one could mistake her for an ordinary person. The solemn and otherworldly beauty of the blind girl surrounded her like an invisible barrier, making a few people who came to light their own candles stay away, looking at her with stunned reverence.

Not paying them any attention, Sunny scowled a little and walked other. As he approached, it seemed as though the shadows of the burning candles grew a little deeper.

"Welcome back to the real world. When did you arrive?"

Cassie lingered for a moment, then turned to him and smiled a little.

few minutes ago. My tether is here, in the

Sunny nodded.

able to travel to the Dream Realm physically and at will. Once there, they were still bound to a Gateway anchor, and had to use it

stronger, their connection to the waking world had become a little less absolute. To return, each Ascended had to create a tether — an intangible mark that served as their beacon on the return journey. They would appear at the spot where their tether was

in the dojo below his home, but Cassie had to choose where to place hers more carefully. Ambushing a Master at the moment of their

at Cassie with some concern, then

how have

The young woman smiled.

bad. We've been busy these last six months. Exploring the Ivory Tower, restoring the flying ship to its true glory… now that I had studied it at

Cassie had spent a lot of time learning from Noctis about his remarkable ship. It seemed

darkened

planning to take it over the Hollow

The blind girl sighed.

today's negotiations will change things. Clan

Sunny scoffed.

just share that knowledge

for second,

not? Now that Saint Cormac is dead, someone has

hesitated for a bit

do go… will you

Sunny laughed.