Shadow Slave

After Imp developed the [Greater Steel Body], there was no reason for them to remain on the Shipwreck Island. He had already absorbed everything he could from the body of the Sun Prince, so devouring the rest of the colossus was of no benefit. The need to visit the Iron Hand Island had disappeared, as well.

Their vacation was slowly coming to an end. They still had a few days left, though, as well as plans to visit a few more isles.

The flying ship cut across the starlit sky, moving east.

Their first destination was the Temple of the Chalice. The ancient ruin was just like the last time Sunny had visited it - forlorn and empty. Even the wrathful specters that had populated the temple were gone. Of course, he knew more about how the maiden priestesses had perished now..

Standing in the central chamber, Sunny looked at the shattered remains of the stone chalice and the bones littering the floor. The walls of the sacred hall had collapsed, the stone plates were cracked by a devastating explosion. After thousands of years, nothing but dust and desolation remained.

He wondered about fate and the past. In the Nightmare, he had been the one to destroy the Chalice and slay the warmaidens... however, even without Sunny, their end had been the same.

Who had killed the priestesses of the Red Sect in real past? Was it Noctis himself, or someone else? What had happened to the child whose body Effie inhabited in the Nightmare? Had the little girl been slain in the massacre, too?

As usual, there were no answers.

Effie herself wandered the ruins alone, her face uncharacteristically somber. The swords she had thrust into the ground once were all gone. The memories she carried, however, remained.

Eventually, the huntress sighed and shook her head in dejection.

"All that cruelty was pointless, in the end. What... what a waste."

Sunny remained silent, consumed by his own thoughts.

had only happened a couple of years ago, and yet, those years felt like a lifetime. A few

it because of the Nightmare or because of Antarctica that the past

Temple of the Chalice behind and ventured to

- the real Nightmare.

stepping foot into the field of flowers, Sunny swiftly succumbed to slumber. In the dream he was pulled into, a shapeless wraith appeared and instantly attacked him, burning with murderous madness and frenzy.

they battled the frenzied wraith

slumber, Sunny explored the island of flowers and found the remains of an enormous horse in its center, beautiful blossoms covering the white bones

up on this island and how it had died. Had it succumbed to the Corruption, or had it remained steadfast until

flowers grew where

blew the air out

trip, but the dark steed seemed to have subjugated a powerful nightmare, adding it to his collection. The counter of the Dream Curse had risen significantly after

was on the island where the creature of the lake had once bestowed the Ruby Knife to

Awakened dared to cross it, they always stuck to the edge of the isle, never

lake was too powerful, or because Saint Tyris had chosen to keep it there to prevent other Nightmare Creatures from drawing

tranquil surface of the lake and let go of the steering oars.

We'll be safe

and watched the calm water. At some point, Cassie unsheathed the Quiet Dance, gently touched its blade,

plunged into the water, straining under

time passed in silence. At some point, Cassie lowered her head and let out a heavy

"...It's empty. It's gone."

clear water and flew up with a flourish, sparkling brightly as the sunlight reflected from the drops covering