Shadow Slave

Sunny did not have much of a reaction to that statement. Hearing a terrifying existence like Beastmaster contemplating the murder of one of his close ones... was certainly a chilling experience. However, the person in question was Neph. So, the feeling was not novel. Someone was always trying to kill her.

'I'd like to see you try.'

He lingered for a moment, then shook his head.

'...Actually, no. I take it back. I would not like it one bit.'

Silence hung in the distant tent for a few moments. Seishan did not hurry with an answer. When she eventually spoke, her voice was even: "That would require us to commit too many resources."

Beastmaster seemed slightly surprised. The arch of her eyebrow was so exquisite that even Sunny's shadow was momentarily mesmerized. Luckily, he had sent the gloomy shadow to spy on her - that guy was not easily phased. The shadow quickly regained its composure and continued to listen.

"Too many resources? But she is just a Master."

Seishan shook her head. "She is a Master, yes. But not just any Master."

The Saint pondered that statement for a bit as she enjoyed succulent grapes.

"I guess you would know best. That thing she pulled off on the Forgotten Shore was indeed a thing of beauty... plus, she is a self-healer. Killing those people is such a chore." She sighed, then said in a wistful tone: "Why did she have to go and join that dreadful clan? Granted, we did not try to recruit her too hard... but the King of Swords, that man. What is he thinking? First, he sends the Han Li boy to kill her. Then, he welcomes her into his family. Truly is shameless..."

Sunny's eyes widened slightly.

'So it was Anvil?'

Finally, he knew who had stood behind Caster. Granted, there was nothing to do with that information... Seishan seemed surprised, too. Her exotic, beautiful face darkened a little.

sent him. Has the

Beastmaster laughed.

a monolith. Most of the time, they can only guess which Domain gives the order." She swallowed another grape and smiled. "Oh,

had been other assassins except for Caster... the Forgotten Shore had

The Saint, meanwhile, scoffed:

the Dreamspawn held us back from going after her

not contain his agitation.

'The Dreamspawn... Asterion?'

always felt that there was something strange about Neph's childhood story. The Great Clans had always been trying to kill her, sending one assassin after another... and yet, why had they failed? Why had they not

that there were two possibilities. Either the task of slaying the last daughter of the Immortal Flame had not been an important one, or the Domains were constrained by having to act in secret. A Saint moving to kill a

and how they operated, Sunny came to understand that there was nothing stopping them from slaughtering

one to constrain Valor and Song in their attempts to get rid

even

what

a Dreamspawn, like he was? Some sort of sentiment the enigmatic Sovereign

And, sadly, Beastmaster did not

a frown. The

arrogant, Bin. Do not speak

at fault. Instead of rebuking Seishan for admonishing her, the older and more powerful of the two, she nodded

"Sorry... you are right."

a bit, then shook

Nightingale and Raised by Wolves would keep their distance, but they seem too friendly with her... neither can be underestimated. And now there is that Master Sunless, as well. What a brutal character... and

Seishan smiled slightly.