Shadow Slave

Eventually, Sunny climbed out of the sleeping niche and went about the business of managing the caravan. They had made it far into the mountains and were already moving north, toward their true goal.

The blizzard was still raging, reducing visibility to almost zero. The landscape was as grim and foreboding as ever.

Surrounding areas needed to be scouted, maps needed to be updated, reports needed to be received, and a hundred other things demanded his attention.

Before getting down to it, Sunny spared a few moments to stare at the grey fabric and lusterless black leather of the Puppeteer's Shroud.

Who could have thought that he would be reduced to seriously using it again, after all that time?

'It sure is much more comfortable than walking around in a full plate of steel armor. Ah, the old me had it good...'

Actually, not really.

Sunny was ready to climb to the roof of the Rhino when he noticed Beth staring at him with a strange expression. He lingered for a moment.

"What?"

She blinked a couple of times, then pulled her gaze away.

"No, no... nothing..."

Sunny frowned.

"Just say it, will you?"

Beth remained silent for a second, then asked hesitantly:

"Are you... uh... are you wearing makeup?"

was his turn to

Why would

young woman gave him a

just look a little different, that's

Sunny grinned.

naturally have the complexion of a marble statue, no

with a sigh

Awakened... how

top of the Rhino, sighing as

cold. His passive resistance to the elements was

time, Sunny made himself heavier for better stability, summoned the Memory of Ice, and wrapped the shadow

it was in no way bothersome. Additionally, the

Huh.

he sat down on the roof and closed his

can get

abomination-infested expanse of the Antarctic Center was still hard and dangerous, but with Naeve

each other, communicating mostly over the chain of relays in the military vehicles. Sunny was stationed at the head of the

demanded both of them to fight side by side to vanquish it. Going into battle with the Nightwalker was both comfortable and

'Ah. Finally, a professional...'

long bone harpoon and a net woven out of unnaturally durable threads to herd and decimate

powers seemed to be under severe restriction, though, so the scion of the House of Night mostly supported Sunny and

was more

two of them. It was understandable... after all, the Nightwalker had a family to come back to. He carried more than one

Sunny, and made him

secretly starting to thank the gods that Naeve's ship had suffered catastrophic damage. Without the additional supplies

had enough to feed everyone and

in the end, the only other person other than Beth who showed any reaction was Kim. At some point, she gave