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, Sunny shook his

me. I just need to

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

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 risk

up a spot on a

.

had long decided to stay and try to

He looked at Naeve.

need one. But

members of his cohort.

His face fell.

for a few moments, then said

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

and

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

ground with a metallic screech. The soldiers started checking

moment. His face grew

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

this is what it came

spots... or having to displace civilians who had a spot

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

was he supposed to

'Curse it all…'

his soldiers, Belle, Dorn, and

at

words spoken. And yet, for a moment, Sunny felt as though his heart

gaze, and the two of

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

He sighed.

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

his back and said

You go in

gave him a startled glance, but the old man gently pushed her forward. They moved past Naeve, the young woman crossing

Professor Obel silently took a

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

the barrier rose with a screech, and a wall

Professor Obel, Samara, Dorn, and

Beth were on