Shadow Slave

In front of them, sitting on the throne of Fallen Grace... was none other than Cassie. The delicate blind girl who had been their companion since the dire trial of the Forgotten Shore, and whom both Sunny and Nephis knew better than anyone else in the world did. There could be no mistake. Cassie had not changed much since the last time Sunny had seen her. She was still the same, with golden hair and beautiful blue eyes. The soft features of her lovely face were just as he remembered them...

But there was something different about her, too.

There was an obvious change, of course. Unlike how she was in the Nightmare Desert, Cassie looked hale and refreshed. Gone were the feverish gauntness, dark bruises, and cracked lips. Instead, her striking beauty had bloomed once more, soft and quiet yet making it impossible to look away. She was also wearing an unfamiliar red peplos, its thin flowing fabric draped gracefully around her supple figure and decorated with white accents.

But there was also a deeper, less obvious change to her. Sunny just couldn't put his finger on what it was, exactly.

Most importantly, Cassie was not Dusk of Fallen Grace.

...Or was she?

He suddenly felt a chill.

"Cassie?"

At the sound of his voice, the blind girl slowly turned her head and looked down from her throne. Even Nephis, who rarely allowed surprise to show on her face, seemed dazed. She stared at the young woman who was... or at least looked like their friend silently, a storm of emotions hiding in her usually calm eyes.

The next moment, however, tension drained from her gaze, replaced by profound relief.

It was because Cassie smiled. Her wide, radiant smile set their hearts at ease.

It was a smile they knew.

"Sunny? Neph? You are finally here?"

The familiar sound and cadence of her familiar voice were just as they had been before, as well.

Sunny slowly exhaled and felt a strong desire to lean on something.

He had been both anticipating and dreading meeting Dusk. He had also been worried sick about the members of the cohort, and especially Cassie, since she was not as fierce of a warrior as the rest of them and more vulnerable than most. Even though Sunny had been suppressing these worries, they gnawed at his soul.

Now that the moment he had been dreading was replaced by an unexpected and joyous reunion, alleviating the gnawing worry, Sunny momentarily felt unbalanced.

Then, a million questions flooded his mind.

role of Dusk in the Nightmare? Wait, then what about Torment? Why was she sent so much further downstream than Nephis and I were? How

put those questions aside. He would be able to ask them all to Cassie, anyway. As soon as they were able to

thoughts, the blind girl turned slightly and smiled at the soldiers who had escorted them into the temple.

for a moment, then spoke

here. Please, leave. There

woman leading the soldiers

Lady! It... it might not be

The blind girl chuckled.

child. I know more

recalling who she was talking to. She hesitated for a moment, then

my Lady. I... I acted out

Cassie shook her head.

to apologize. You only spoke out of sincere concern for me. Go and feel at ease... I also know these

paused for a

think I don't know you're hiding behind a column, brat. You

resounded from somewhere behind, and the elderly

was just... enjoying the splendor of the temple. Sorry, my Lady... I

soldiers backed away and left

Or so it seemed.

shock of the unexpected meeting receded, Sunny noticed two people standing in the shadows of the throne, both of them Ascended. They were an old man and an old woman, dressed in ceremonial robes. The woman wielded an unsheathed greatsword, while the man held a crimson silk

gaze, Cassie let

mind them...

Why did Cassie

that moment, Nephis

teenager, as well? Are all your troops composed of

couple of times,

She is a

his head,

Then why did you call

remained motionless for a while, then sighed deeply

spoke, the words echoing across

for you two for a long, long