Shadow Slave

Effie wisely chose that moment to disappear and join the dancing crowd below. Sunny ground his teeth for a few moments, then shook his head and walked to the table, landing on a luxurious lounge chair with a sigh.

Kai briefly glanced at him and smiled.

"Where are Effie and Lady Nephis?"

Sunny stared at him for a few moments, then looked away.

"Effie went to dance. Neph is in the bathroom. Also, will you cut it out with the "lady" stuff? The two of you spent months traversing the Forgotten Shore together, back when we were returning from the Hollow Mountains. She is also younger than you. That is more than enough to drop the formalities, don't you think?"

The archer coughed.

"Oh. Well… I'll try."

He didn't sound very convincing, forcing Sunny to roll his eyes.

"Anyway, what do we have here?"

At some point, a waiter had entered the lounge and placed a tray of various foods on the table... while trying very hard not to throw reverent looks at the distinguished guests. Knowing that there would be no chance for him to taste anything once Effie returned, Sunny used the opportunity to try a few.

As he chewed on a piece of cheese that had been dipped into a sweet, viscous amber liquid, Sunny smiled in delight and asked:

"Wow. What's that sugary syrup?"

Cassie turned to him, then smelled the air.

"I... I think it's honey."

Sunny blinked a couple of times. The word was familiar, but he usually heard it used as a term of endearment. Who knew that it had actually come from something this delicious?

"What is honey, though?"

girl tilted her head a little, then said with a

special insects produce by ingesting and regurgitating floral nectar. I

little pale, and slowly pushed

I see.

of champagne and tried to discreetly rinse his

sustained himself on raw, rotting mimic meat for an entire

he had

people… what are they going to

nothing had happened, and her face was perfectly composed. However, there was a hint of confusion in her

sat down, Kai hesitated for a moment, and

seem concerned. Did anything happen… uh…

the lack of "lady" and simply shook

I just overheard a bit of a strange conversation on my way back. Apparently, there is a little snack here in the VIP lounge that those

bowl of

it, they can have it. I have no objections. They are free to gobble it up,

a sip of champagne and relaxed a little. That was the point of today's outing,

enough, Effie returned. The huntress was practically beaming with delight. She quickly destroyed most of their food, poured herself

fun! We should

and Nephis looked at her in

a shame that they don't have live

around with

is strange, though. I never imagined living like this. I mean, my goal was

The archer smiled wistfully.

for years, I tried not to think about the

out

and think about what she expected from the future, I… I can't believe how naive and shortsighted she was.

few gazes fell on Sunny. He raised

that I would soon be a full citizen, super rich, and have unlimited access to tasty food. So I don't know what you're