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,

me. I just need to place

Center, a Saint would then be able to bring them back to the waking world, to a safer region. Granted, there were no Saints

concentration, so doing it in the middle of 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 annihilation

on

.

decided to stay and try

He looked at Naeve.

one. But

Obel, and the members of

His face fell.

hesitated for a

reserved, as a 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

and then

is going to

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

for a moment. His face

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

this is what it

having to displace civilians

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

he supposed

'Curse it all…'

faces of his soldiers, Belle, Dorn, and Samara

at Sunny and slightly shook

for a moment, Sunny felt as though his heart was pierced by a sharp

gaze, and the two of them remained motionless

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

He sighed.

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

Sunny straightened his

You

startled glance, but the old man gently pushed her forward. They moved

she did, Professor Obel silently took

too gentle. The two stumbled

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

Dorn, and

Beth were on the