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

liquid that special insects produce by ingesting

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

see. Good to

that, he gulped a mouthful of champagne and tried to discreetly rinse his

his food. He had even sustained himself on raw, rotting mimic meat for an entire

he

they

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

down, Kai hesitated for a moment, and then

seem concerned. Did anything happen…

Star paid no attention to the lack of

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,

bowl of honey with

no objections. They are free to gobble it up, as far as I'm

a sip of champagne and relaxed a little. That was the point

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

fun! We should go out more

at her in horror, while

It's just a shame that they don't have

around with a bit of

imagined living like this. I mean, my goal was always to become a

The archer smiled wistfully.

full of surprises, isn't it? Before the Forgotten Shore, I had a clear picture of what my future would look like. Then, for years, I tried not to think

let out

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

few gazes fell on Sunny. He raised his eyebrow, and

the First Nightmare, I thought that I would soon be a full