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?"

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

liquid that special insects

pale, and slowly pushed

see. I see. Good to

a mouthful of champagne and tried to discreetly rinse

sustained himself on raw, rotting

even he

what are they going to come

Nephis returned. She was acting as if nothing had happened, and her face was perfectly composed. However, there was a

hesitated

seem concerned. Did anything

paid no attention to the lack

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 women would want to taste? Odd. Why wouldn't they just order it themselves... well, maybe it is not on

at the small bowl of honey with disgust

I have no objections. They are free to gobble it

Kai, Sunny took a sip of champagne and relaxed a little. That was the point of

returned. The huntress was practically beaming with delight. She quickly

is fun! We should

at her in horror, while Kai

It's just a shame that

with a bit of

strange, though. I never imagined living like this. I mean, my goal was always to become a Master. But now that I did, everything

The archer smiled wistfully.

the Forgotten Shore, I had a clear picture of what my future would look like. Then, for years, I tried not

out a small

about what she expected from the future, I… I

Sunny. He raised his eyebrow, and

I imagined my life would go, actually. After I returned from the First Nightmare, I thought that I would soon be a full citizen, super rich, and have unlimited access to tasty food. So