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 silence,

just need to place a

Saint would then be able to bring them back to the

was not an instantaneous process. It required some time and absolute 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 with

on a ship

.

stay and try to stall the titan,

He looked at Naeve.

one. But

the members of his

His face fell.

hesitated for a few moments,

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 at the expense of civilians with

and then added

but you have to make it quick. This is

the mesh barrier suddenly slid into the ground with a metallic screech. The soldiers started checking the IDs and letting people pass

for a moment.

'So…'

His heart grew heavy.

this is what it came

civilians who had

soldiers had all heard what Naeve said. Sunny turned around, looking at them. Kim,

was he supposed to

'Curse it all…'

his soldiers, Belle, Dorn, and

looked at Sunny and slightly shook

moment, Sunny felt as though his

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

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

He sighed.

to be an officer? Gods… no

straightened his

Professor Obel. You go in

old man gently pushed her forward. They moved

as soon as she did, Professor Obel silently

the same time, Sunny pushed Kim and Luster. His push, though, was not too gentle. The two stumbled past Naeve, ending up on the other side of the line,

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

Obel, Samara, Dorn, and Belle remained on

Luster, and Beth