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?"

time, it was his turn to

No! Why would

a

look a little different,

Sunny grinned.

a

with a sigh and mumbled under her

Awakened... how is this

on top of

though... he was not that cold. His passive resistance to the elements was already

and wrapped the shadow he kept with himself around his body, simultaneously circulating essence to double the enhancement granted to

more comfortable. Sunny still sensed a slight chill, but it was in no

Huh.

on the roof

get

the Antarctic Center was still hard and dangerous, but with Naeve assisting Sunny

communicating mostly over the chain of relays in the military vehicles. Sunny was stationed at the head of the column, while Naeve stayed

only met face-to-face during the rare stops and when an especially dire threat demanded both of them to fight side by side to vanquish it. Going into battle with the Nightwalker was both

'Ah. Finally, a professional...'

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

to be under severe restriction, though, so the scion of the House of Night mostly supported Sunny and made it easier

was more than

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

and made him think

Field survivors joining it. By then, Sunny was secretly starting to thank the gods that Naeve's ship had suffered catastrophic damage. Without the additional supplies looted from its holds, he would have to deal with

he had enough to feed everyone and arm those who could and knew how to fight,

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