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?"

tilted her head a little, then said with a bit of surprise in her

sort of liquid that special insects produce by ingesting and regurgitating floral nectar.

grew a little pale, and slowly pushed the cheese plate away

I see. Good

gulped a mouthful of champagne and

was never picky about his food. He had even sustained himself on

he

they going

had happened, and her face was perfectly composed. However, there was a hint

hesitated

seem concerned. Did anything happen… uh…

lack of "lady" and simply shook her

in the VIP lounge that those women would want to taste? Odd. Why wouldn't they just order it themselves... well, maybe it

at the small bowl

it. I have no objections.

point of today's outing, anyway. After days of serving as a punching

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

should go out

Nephis looked at her in

a shame that they don't

looked around with a bit

goal was always to become a Master. But now that I did, everything

The archer smiled wistfully.

what my future would look like. Then, for years, I tried not to think about the future at all. And now that I reached that future, it's not like what I

out

from the future, I… I can't believe how naive and shortsighted she was. She... feels

on Sunny. He raised his eyebrow, and then

I thought 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 talking about. For