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.

awkward silence, Sunny

me. I just need to place a

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

not an instantaneous process. It required some time and absolute concentration, so doing it in the middle of a battle was usually impossible. Any

on a ship would be

.

Sunny had long decided to stay

He looked at Naeve.

don't need one. But my

and the members of his cohort.

His face fell.

Nightwalker hesitated for a few moments, then said

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

and

it quick. This is going

slid into the ground with a metallic

a moment. His

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

what

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

what Naeve said. Sunny turned around, looking at them.

he

'Curse it all…'

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

looked at Sunny and

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

his head, then looked at Professor Obel. The old man met his gaze, and the two of them remained motionless for several seconds, as

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

He sighed.

did I want to be an officer? Gods… no amount

Sunny straightened his back and said

You go

her forward. They moved past Naeve, the young

as soon as she did, Professor Obel

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

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

Obel, Samara, Dorn, and

Luster, and Beth were on