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,

need to place a

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 back to

the middle of a battle was usually impossible. Any Ascended that remained in the city would have to travel to

spot on a ship

.

long decided to stay and

He looked at Naeve.

don't need one. But my

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

His face fell.

a few

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 with officially issued tickets.

paused, and then

you have to make it quick. This is

though to echo his words, the mesh barrier suddenly slid into the ground with a metallic screech. The soldiers

for a moment. His face

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

what

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

turned around, looking at

he

'Curse it all…'

soldiers, Belle, Dorn, and Samara briefly glanced at each

the giant man looked at Sunny and slightly shook his

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

gaze, and the two of them

refugees crowding behind the line of the barrier, all desperate to

He sighed.

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

straightened his back and

Obel. You go in

pushed her forward. They moved past Naeve, the young woman crossing

soon as she did, Professor Obel silently took a step

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

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 cut off the pier from the

and Belle

Beth were on