Shadow Slave

When Sunny and Nephis first met Ananke, both were concerned about the frail old woman. She just looked too ancient and weak, ready to snap like a twig. Her tan skin was thin and transparent like oil paper, her cloudy eyes teary and dull, her gaunt figure so small that it seemed to be drowning in the black folds of her dark mantle.

They were not sure that the old woman could survive another peaceful day, let alone a long and perilous journey across the Great River.

However, as the days went by, their worries were proven wrong. Old Ananke continued to cling to life... in fact, her condition seemed to be improving little by little. She had more energy now, could remain fully lucid for longer periods of time, and even regained some of her appetite.

At first, Sunny thought that it was simply the result of finally having hope again after waiting for the two of them for gods knew how long, as well as eating better. But as more time passed, the difference became too obvious to be explained by mere inspiration.

Ananke... was definitely changing.

Her hands gradually stopped shaking, and her grip on the steering oar became firmer. Her cloudy eyes regained some of their former sharpness. She wasn't hunching as much anymore, and her voice was not as weak and creaky as before.

She did not grow tired as quickly as she had at the start, and the long periods of silence where she seemed to doze off with her eyes open happened less and less frequently, until ceasing altogether.

It was as though Ananke was slowly growing younger.

Sunny had to admit that he was not just imagining things when he opened his eyes one day to notice that there were suddenly a few black strands in her long, snow-white hair.

'What is going on?'

He looked at Ananke for a few moments, then lowered his gaze to the powerful current of the Great River. Which flowed into the past...

Nephis, who had been practicing the Names the old woman taught her - to no result, for now - noticed that he was awake and carefully pulled on the sleeve of his tunic. Then, she silently glanced at Ananke and back.

Sunny hesitated for a moment.

'Me? Why do I have to ask? Asking a woman about her age, does she think I like courting death?!'

Well, to be honest... his track record indeed suggested that he did.

He sighed, threw an indignant glance at Nephis, and approached the old woman while secretly studying her face and thin frame. There was no denying it - Ananke looked much more hale than she had before. She could not be called young by any means, still, but neither could she be called decrepit or ancient.

second or two, then asked

can I ask you

smiled at him

"Of course, my Lord."

am I supposed

deep breath, then just came clean

are

him with a startled

Sunny coughed in embarrassment.

noticed that you look better... ah, I don't mean that you

woman

It is me who needs to apologize, my Lord. I just... have never met someone entirely from outside the Tomb of Ariel before. That is why it is not easy for me to account for the fact that you might

her head, and

of mine is indeed getting younger. It is because we are

and Nephis looked at each other, perplexed. After a few moments of silence,

Eventually, Nephis said:

seem like Sunny

have become toddlers by

nodded, her

since they have come from outside it. They are free to roam it

She smiled.

travel as far as our lifespans allow... and even then, the only direction that is allowed to us is upstream. We are chained to the stretch of the Great River where we

at her in bewilderment, struggling to imagine

wait... how does it even

same

you move downstream? That is... in relation to

helplessly, then finally decided to answer

"Indeed."

blinked a couple of times, then suddenly opened his eyes

as you stay in place, you are...