Shadow Slave

Sunny slept like a baby. There were no nightmares haunting his dreams, and when he woke up, his heart felt strangely at peace. He remained motionless for a while, feeling the warmth of Neph's hand resting on the crown of his head. The ketch was moving swiftly across the water, carried by both the wind and the current, and the world around them was dark. It was already night.

'...I overslept.'

Nephis should have woken him up. Had she gotten any rest herself?

Turning his head slightly, Sunny looked up and saw her elegant jawline. She was leaning on the wooden side of the ketch, her eyes closed. Her breathing was slow and deep. She was fast asleep. So... no one was keeping watch.

"Don't be upset with the Lady, my Lord."

Sunny flinched slightly and glanced at the stern of the boat, where Ananke was still sitting, holding lightly to the steering oar. Her dark mantle was of the same color as the night sky, making it hard to discern where its folds ended, and the night began.

"You both needed rest."

Sunny felt very comfortable laying on Neph's lap, but he had to sit up with a reluctant sigh. Rubbing his eyes, he looked at his shadows, which were all but invisible in the darkness. None of them showed any sign of being concerned, so he judged that the old woman had not tried anything strange while they slept.

Even though it would take a few more days for his reserves of essence to be fully replenished, they were not dry anymore. Due to the Shroud of Dusk, he also felt rested and refreshed.

However, he was slightly hungry. Sunny hesitated for a few moments, and then asked:

"Say... you wouldn't happen to have more of those little pies?"

Ananke smiled.

a few left in the box. Eat well, my Lord. I made them

that the wooden box was not a Memory that created food, but instead a storage Memory that helped keep

simple dishes, all perfectly fresh and preserved. It smelled so wonderful that he remained motionless for a moment, enjoying the

the

not easy for me to procure fruit and flour,

at her and

you talking about, Grandmother? I once ate nothing but rotten devil meat for an entire month. This is nothing

of the pies

tilted her head

still suffer from hunger

chewed for a long time before answering. The old woman clearly believed that the future was some kind of

He shrugged.

I am not too

his mind. Sunny looked

what about you, Grandmother?

had mistaken her for a corpse not too long ago. However, she had only offered the food to

shook her

hungry often. I'll just catch some

the rest of the pies and walked over to the steering

that won't do. Please eat some, too. Otherwise, my teacher will give me a beating once I come back

himself if he learned that Sunny stuffed his belly while an elderly woman starved herself nearby... even if that woman was just a

than that, just what kind of fish was she going to

of the pies with a shaking hand and