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.

a few moments of awkward silence, Sunny shook

just need to place

Dream Realm whenever they 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

concentration, so doing it in the middle of a battle was usually impossible. Any Ascended that remained in the

a spot on a ship would be a

.

Sunny had long decided to stay and try

He looked at Naeve.

need one.

at Beth, Professor Obel, and the members of his cohort. Naeve looked

His face fell.

Nightwalker hesitated for a few

three spots 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

paused, and then added

This is

the mesh barrier suddenly slid into the ground with a metallic screech. The soldiers started checking

moment. His face

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

what it

to displace civilians

around, looking at them. Kim, Luster, Dorn, Samara,

he supposed to

'Curse it all…'

Belle, Dorn, and Samara

man looked at Sunny

And yet, for a moment, Sunny felt as though his heart was pierced by a

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

at the mob of frightened refugees crowding behind the line of the barrier, all desperate to

He sighed.

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

straightened his

You

the old man gently pushed her forward. They moved past Naeve,

Professor Obel silently took a

Sunny pushed Kim and Luster. His push, though, was not too gentle. The two stumbled

let through. A moment later, the barrier rose with a screech, and a wall of alloy mesh

and Belle remained on

Luster, and Beth were on