Shadow Slave

He looked around, studying the barrier and the crowded pier that could be seen through the mesh. Then, suddenly, Sunny heard a familiar voice:

"Move back, damn it! Don't push! If you have a spot in the queue, present an ID! If you are a member of the First Army, come that way! Get a hold of yourself and behave like people!"

He looked around and saw a tall, handsome man with indigo eyes and hair that seemed somewhere between black and blue standing in front of the barrier, struggling to hold back the panicked crowd.

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

Pushing closer to the man, he called out:

"Naeve? What the hell are you doing here?"

The man — it was indeed Master Naeve of the House of Night — blinked a couple of times, then looked in his direction with a confused expression.

"...Sunny? Gods, it's you! What are... ah, doesn't matter. I'm now in charge of boarding, I guess."

Sunny led his group to the barrier, stopping right in front of the Nightwalker. Naeve gestured for a nearby Awakened to assume his position and took a step to the side.

He gave Sunny a somber look.

"That ship over there is where I'm assigned to. We are going to leave once we're at capacity… actually, we are already over capacity. But a few more people can still be squeezed in, so..."

Sunny frowned.

"What about Bloodwave?"

The Nightwalker sighed.

"He led the other ship away a few hours ago, with Saint Tyris aboard. There will be more ships tomorrow, and more the day after that… if the Winter Beast does not arrive sooner. But Uncle won't be coming back. He'll guard the strait until the… until the relocation is over. And then, we will resume evacuating people over the ocean, to the Northern Quadrant."

Sunny nodded.

'Figures.'

"Listen…"

Naeve spoke first, interrupting him:

"Do you need to get on the ship?"

Sunny grew quiet, suddenly ashamed for no reason. Strangely, he felt thankful to the Nightwalker for not forcing him to say it aloud.

few moments of awkward silence, Sunny shook his

I just need to place a tether

be able to bring them back to the waking world, to a safer region. Granted, there

so doing it in the middle of a battle was usually impossible. Any Ascended that remained in the city would have to

up a spot on a

.

decided to stay and try to stall the titan,

He looked at Naeve.

don't need one. But my

and the members of his

His face fell.

hesitated for a

reserved, as a member of the crew. I will give you those. Beyond that, however… I can get the rest of your cohort onboard, too. Members of the First Army have a priority right to be evacuated. But those additional spots, they will come at the

paused, and

quick. This is going

a metallic screech. The soldiers

for a moment.

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

this is what it

having to displace civilians who had a spot in

all heard what Naeve said. Sunny turned around, looking at them. Kim, Luster, Dorn,

he

'Curse it all…'

Belle, Dorn, and

man looked at Sunny

moment, Sunny felt as though his heart was pierced

gaze, and the two of them remained motionless

of frightened refugees crowding behind the line of the

He sighed.

I want to be an officer? Gods… no

Sunny straightened his back and said

Professor Obel. You go

her forward. They moved past Naeve, the young woman crossing the

as soon as she did, Professor Obel

not too gentle. The two stumbled past Naeve, ending up on

later, the barrier rose with a screech, and

Samara, Dorn, and Belle

Luster, and Beth