Shadow Slave

While the people of the convoy were settling in to rest, Sunny observed them with a dark expression on his pale face. Finally, he winced and headed back into the Rhino.

There, the Irregulars were waiting, unsure what to do. It was not like he had answers, either, but Sunny had to decide what their next steps would be.

He hesitated for a few moments.

"Luster, Samara, and Dorn. Go to sleep and report our situation. Perhaps Army Command has some. idea about what we are dealing with here."

Despite the ominous nature of the dark tunnel, things weren't as bleak as they seemed. The convoy was cut off from the First Evacuation Army in terms of actual support, but information still flowed between the cohort and their superiors.

Somewhere in the government databases, there had to be a hint on how to escape the endless darkness. Even if no one had ever encountermi its source before, people would have clashed against something similar in the past.

...If not, Sunny would venture into the Dream Realm himself and seek out Cassie. With her powerful divination abilities, she was his best bet. More than that, he could transport food and other resources from the Ivory Tower with the help of the Covetous Coffer, so his people were not going to starve.

For now, time was not their enemy. They just had to find a way to solve the puzzle, and escape.

He sighed.

'Unless something changes for the worse...'

to any case, there was no point in panicking yet. Sunny watched as three of his soldiers climbed into the sleeping pods, then sent the rest to keep watch over the refugees.

The oppressive veil of darkness that muted his senses was still there, grinding on Sunny's nerves. He was tired, too.

'At least there is no Call here.'

time in a long while when Sunny did not hear the Call at all. Everywhere else in the Antarctic Center, it kept whispering quietly into the ears of Awakened,

'We'll see soon.'

get better after he slept... if nothing else, his reserves of essence would be somewhat replenished. That alone was enough to make him feel more

***

of cold, overflowing darkness. That was an unpleasant surprise, since he

slumbering after receiving wounds, Sunny was left without

'...Too bad.'

monitors to get a glimpse of the convoy's camp. Everything seemed to be in order... the shadows would have woken him up

kitchen area to brew himself some coffee. Some time later, carrying a steaming cup, Sunny returned to the living area and leaned on a bulkhead. With nothing

he had sent to the Dream Realm

away, revealing the insides of the pod. There,

flinched back with

What are you doing

the cup to his lips and

drinking coffee, fool. What does it look like l'm

then closed it He

in my Citadel?

he was inside the Rhino. However, Luster's confusion only

is not my

frowned, studying the young man's

think that you are

blinked a couple

go to sleep in the real world, and are sent to the

Realm."

'Don't tell me...'