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

need to place

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

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

a spot on a ship would be

.

long decided to stay and try to stall the titan,

He looked at Naeve.

one. But

Professor Obel, and the members

His face fell.

a few moments,

Members of the First Army have a priority right to be evacuated. But those additional spots, they

paused, and then

quick. This is going to be the last batch we let in

with a metallic

froze for a moment. His

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

is what

spots... or having to displace civilians who had

Naeve said. Sunny turned around, looking at them. Kim, Luster, Dorn, Samara, Belle… Beth,

was he supposed

'Curse it all…'

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

the giant man looked at Sunny and slightly shook his

And yet, for a moment, Sunny felt as

met his gaze, and the two of them remained motionless for several seconds, as if having a

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

He sighed.

be an officer? Gods… no amount of the damned contribution points

straightened his back and

You

man gently pushed her forward.

Professor Obel silently took

Kim and Luster. His push, though, was not too gentle. The two stumbled past Naeve, ending

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

Professor Obel, Samara, Dorn, and

and Beth