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.

of awkward silence,

I just need

could simply retreat into the Dream Realm whenever they wished. Even if their tether remained in the Antarctic Center, a Saint would then be able to bring them

some time and absolute concentration, so doing it in the middle of a battle was usually impossible. Any Ascended that remained in the city

spot on a

.

Sunny had long decided to stay

He looked at Naeve.

need one. But

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

His face fell.

a few moments, then

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 expense of civilians

paused, and

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

into the ground with a metallic screech.

for a moment. His face

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

this is what it came

displace civilians who had a

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

he

'Curse it all…'

faces of his soldiers, Belle, Dorn, and Samara briefly

man looked at Sunny and slightly shook

Sunny felt as though his heart was pierced by a

man met his gaze, and the two of them remained motionless

the mob of frightened refugees crowding behind the

He sighed.

I want to be an officer? Gods… no amount of the

his back and

You

old man gently pushed her forward. They

did, Professor Obel silently took a

Luster. His push, though, was not too gentle. The two stumbled past Naeve, ending up on the other side

one of the last people to be let through. A moment later, the barrier rose with a screech, and a wall of alloy

Dorn, and Belle remained

and Beth were