Shadow Slave

On the way back from school, Rain couldn't think about anything else except for the news that she had heard from her classmates. At first, she had dismissed them as a wild rumor, but then her inquisitive nature forced her to check the respectable government portals to make sure. A minute of research revealed that the rumors were true.

Changing Star of the Immortal Flame clan, the lost hero of the Forgotten Shore, had Ascended and returned to the real world. She was alive!

'Can't be…'

By now, the news were spreading across the network like wildfire. Rain could tell that many of the passengers riding the train with her were thinking and talking about the same thing. Everyone looked shocked and excited.

She did not pay other people any attention, however. There was only one thought on her mind.

She had to tell Sunny!

Her friend and mentor was a member of Changing Star's cohort, after all. More than that, from the hints she had received from Effie and a short conversation she had had with Sunny, Rain knew that there was much more between the two than simple camaraderie.

He had basically admitted as much.

'Sunny will be so happy!'

Despite the fact that she was not supposed to have the next lesson with her young tutor for a few days, Rain decided to bring him the news personally... and right away! She simply couldn't wait. Of course, in all her excitement, she had failed to account for the fact that if the news were indeed true, Sunny would have been one of the first people to learn of it.

Full of anticipation, Rain rushed from the tram station to her mentor's house, opened the door, and walked inside. Throwing her backpack into the corner by habit, she took off her shoes and shouted:

"Sunny! Sunny! Are you home? You won't believe…"

Then, however, the teenage girl froze with her mouth wide open.

As she watched in stunned silence, the curtain hanging over the entrance to the guest bedroom parted, and a tall, incredibly beautiful young woman walked into the living room. Suddenly, it seemed as if sunlight pouring through the windows became a little bit brighter.

The young woman was slender and graceful, with flawless ivory skin and striking grey eyes. Her face was calm, aloof, and strangely mesmerizing. What shocked Rain much more, however, was that the beautiful stranger's skin glistened with moisture, as if she had just left the shower. She was wearing nothing but one of Sunny's black shirts, leaving her long legs mostly bare.

hair… was of a strange

young woman walked toward the kitchen, then stopped and looked at Rain. A hint of confusion appeared on her face. She hesitated for a moment, then

"...Hey."

trembling hand and pointed a finger at the stranger's

"You're… you're… you're…"

an eyebrow and remained silent.

"You're Changing Star!"

Immortal Flame clan tilted her

am.

one of the most talented battle commanders and heroes of humanity… a person so renowned that there was hardly anyone in the entire world

her, the teenage girl forced herself to

Rain. Sunny is

remained silent for a moment, studying the unexpected guest. Then, a

I used to be your teacher's teacher. I guess that makes

her

"Wha…"

Star of the Immortal

concept simply failed

supposed grand teacher, meanwhile, walked over to the kitchen counter and poured herself some water. She drank it, then looked

here for a few days. You can call

sure what she

sleeping? Was the famous Lady of the Immortal Flame clan in front of her… wearing Sunny's shirt… telling Rain to call

and Nightingale,

her attentively, and

home have a big

Rain silently nodded.

"Yes? Why?"