Shadow Slave

Not long after the black stallion's Ascension, the day of their departure arrived. The weeks they had spent in Fallen Grace flew by fast... so fast, in fact, that Sunny was sad that they had felt so short.

It was nice, spending time with Nephis and Cassie again. Back in the waking world, there had always been invisible walls between them... the great clans, the war, the complicated feelings of the past, the dark promises of the future...

But Nightmares had a way of simplifying things. All of these matters had been made small and insignificant by the dire necessity to conquer the Seed, and so Sunny found himself enjoying the feeling of closeness he had not felt in a long time.

It was funny, really... ever since becoming a Sleeper, he had been told over and over again how dreadful and deadly Third Nightmares were. And there was truth to these rumors, of course - after all, Sunny had already been forced to battle a damned Great Beast to survive here. But, strangely, most of his time in the Tomb of Ariel had been rather peaceful.

He had a feeling that peaceful days would become a thing of the past very soon, though.

From today onward, theirs was a straight path. First to the dangerous waters where Effie and Jet were marooned. Then, to the mysterious city of Twilight, to find Kai and Mordret.

And finally to Verge, the throne of the Defilement. To burn it down and conquer the Nightmare.

Of course, the Chain Breaker was going to return to Fallen Grace between each step to resupply, receive repairs, and give its crew an opportunity to recover. But those stops would be brief and far between.

For the remainder of the Nightmare, Sunny and his companions would be going from one dire battle to another.

Looking at the dreamlike view of the last city of the River People from the height of the temple's tower, Sunny sighed and looked at Cassie and Nephis. The suns had just risen, and the whole world was drowned in countless shades of red. Illuminated by the crimson blaze, both of them looked solemn... and ready.

He lingered for a moment, then asked:

"Is it time?"

Cassie nodded slowly.

"It's time. Let's go."

Together, they descended from the tower, passed the grand hall of the temple, and walked outside. The blind girl's guards were following them from behind, just like always... but today, many more people had come to bid their sybil farewell.

the beautiful young

did not know how to describe the emotion that shone in them. Was it pride? Sorrow? Fear? Love? Guilt? Or all

felt only one thing. Most of the time, their hearts were a irrational and contradictory

manage to save these people? Or are

and yet, he also knew that the shadows of living beings he killed in the Nightmares were still within his soul,

what exactly was the

and approached the piers. The Chain Breaker rested on the water, freshly repaired and refurbished. Its tattered sails were replaced by new ones, each of a gorgeous,

Cassie, and Nephis climbed aboard. The two deaf guards remained

they left, Cassie turned to the crowd of elderly

was like a ray of pure sunlight in

"My people..."

far and wide. The inhabitants of Fallen Grace - the last humans in

gazed at the crowd and soon noticed a familiar figure. Cronos was also here, looking at the graceful ship

waited for a moment,

apologize! Usually, I would have taken you all to the House of Parting to celebrate and enjoy a delicious feast. Sadly... the Lower House is no

from the crowd as

Someone yelled:

alright, my Lady! Feed us when you

motionless for a

for celebration. This journey I am leaving on is not my last. Instead, it is the beginning of a new era... a better era. An era of

her hands... and pulled them apart, easily breaking the

fell into the

Cassie smiled again.

Changing Star, Lord Sunless, and I... we are leaving to gather powerful Outsiders and vanquish the Defilement, once

for the people of Fallen Grace, Cassie was Dusk, the last

wide eyes. In the next moment,

"Our Lady knows!"

"She saw it!"

Our victory is