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

need to

they wished. Even if their tether remained in the Antarctic Center, a Saint would then be able to bring them

impossible. Any Ascended that remained in the city would have to travel to the Dream Realm before the Winter Beast arrived, or risk

taking up a spot on a

.

Sunny had long decided to stay and

He looked at Naeve.

one. But my

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

His face fell.

a few moments, then

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 with

and then added

This is going to be the last batch we let in

his words, the mesh barrier suddenly slid into the ground with a metallic screech. The soldiers started checking the IDs and letting people pass through

moment.

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

what it

or having to displace civilians who had a spot

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

he

'Curse it all…'

his soldiers, Belle, Dorn, and

the giant man looked at Sunny and

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

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

mob of frightened refugees crowding behind the line

He sighed.

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

his back and said

You go in

pushed her forward.

did, Professor Obel silently took

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

people to be let through. A moment later, the barrier rose with a

Dorn, and Belle remained on one

Luster, and Beth were on