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

Why would

young woman gave him a dubious look and

look a little different, that's

Sunny grinned.

complexion of a marble statue, no makeup involved.

a sigh and mumbled under her

how

Sunny dissipated into the shadows and appeared on top of the Rhino, sighing as the bone-chilling wind smashed into his

though... he was not that cold. His passive resistance to

stability, summoned the Memory of Ice, and wrapped the shadow he kept with himself around his body, simultaneously circulating

he felt even more comfortable. Sunny still sensed a slight chill, but it was in no way

Huh.

sat down on

can get

was still hard and dangerous, but with Naeve assisting Sunny in defending the caravan, things became a

in the military vehicles. Sunny was stationed at the head of the column, while Naeve stayed in the rear to provide

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

'Ah. Finally, a professional...'

extremely skilled warrior, using a long bone harpoon and a net woven out of unnaturally durable threads to herd

severe restriction, though, so the scion of the House

more than

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

a bit new to Sunny, and made him think about things

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

though, he had enough to feed everyone and arm those who could and

person other than Beth who showed any reaction was Kim. At some point, she gave him