Shadow Slave

Sunny glided through the dark sky above the luminous expanse of softly shining water. The wind was caressing his skin, and tranquil silence ruled the world. If not for the need to pierce himself with the sharp needle over and over again, he would have found the situation relaxing.

Of course, there was also the monstrous sea serpent that patiently pursued him, staring at the perfectly black canvas of the night sky with cloudy eyes.

He also had to constantly remain on high alert - there was no telling what else could attack him from above.

After a while, Sunny let out a sigh.

'How tiresome.'

He was starting to miss the days of plummeting into the Sky Below. At least he had the dead mimic to sit on back then. Now, there was nowhere for him to rest - Sunny continued to fly forward, surrounded by nothing except empty air.

He had the Sin of Solace with him instead of Mordret, too. It was really hard to tell which one of them was worse company.

"What? Have you lost... I strongly protest against this comparison!"

The apparition glanced at him with contempt, then looked away.

Sunny sighed again.

"Yeah, yeah... you are way more handsome than that guy. Sorry. I went too far."

The Sin of Solace scoffed, and they continued forward in silence.

After a long while, the faint radiance of the flowing water grew a little dimmer. The eastern horizon brightened, and then, the first of the suns appeared from below in a crown of lilac hues.

new day was

suns appeared from below the water one after another. Soon, the western horizon was once again wreathed in the crimson flames of

else, it

turning the ancient serpent into a pincushion. Even if the might

Sunny be the only one feeling

so was only going to consume his essence. He wasn't willing to waste it needlessly in a situation

teeth, Sunny steeled his will and

by. Then, one

those were really hours - the seven suns shining above the Great River were too bizarre and unreliable to use them for measuring the time. He just guessed how much of it had

more time flowed past him. Or was it Sunny who was flowing through time? Questions

really starting

froze and looked at a certain

dot had finally appeared atop the sparkling

'Land?'

water right below him. Then, he changed the direction

was no guarantee that finding a place to land would save him from the great abomination. But maybe he would be able to rest, at

glided along the current of the Great River, moving -

he was able to see a

was a dark island. The island was not very large - no more than a kilometer across - and consisted entirely of black, weathered rock. It had steep slopes,

scattered across the surface of the island, as well as towering outcroppings of

felt a bit

follow Sunny to the surface,

would not climb out of

Imp, and the five shadows... maybe they

blade promised immense power to