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.

moments of awkward silence, Sunny shook his

just need to place a

wished. Even if their tether remained in the Antarctic Center, a Saint would then be able to bring them back to the waking world, to a safer region. Granted, there were no Saints on the Ivory Island, so Sunny was a bit more

not an instantaneous process. It required some time and absolute concentration, so doing it in the middle of a battle was usually impossible. Any Ascended that remained in the city would have to travel to the Dream Realm before the Winter Beast arrived, or

up a spot on a ship would be a

.

had long decided to stay

He looked at Naeve.

one.

Obel, and the members of his cohort.

His face fell.

Nightwalker hesitated for a few moments, then said

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

and then

but you have to make it quick. This is going to be the

with a metallic screech. The soldiers started checking

a moment. His face grew

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

this is what it came

to displace civilians who had a spot in the

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

he supposed to

'Curse it all…'

of his soldiers, Belle, Dorn, and Samara briefly glanced at

the giant man looked at Sunny and slightly shook his

moment, Sunny felt

then looked at Professor Obel. The old man met his gaze, and the

of frightened refugees crowding behind the line of the barrier, all

He sighed.

terrible. Why the hell did I want to be an officer? Gods… no amount of the damned contribution

Sunny straightened his back and said

Professor Obel. You go in

him a startled glance, but the old man gently pushed her forward. They

she did, Professor Obel silently

His push, though, was not too gentle. The two stumbled

barrier rose with a screech, and a wall of alloy mesh cut

Samara, Dorn, and Belle remained

Beth