Shadow Slave

By the time the three of them reached the line of footsteps in the sand, Sunny had formulated a rough plan of what he had to do during this particular revolution.

Well... it wasn't much of a plan. There were too many paths he could take, so he simply chose one that was the closest. Jet was not that far, and had to know more about what was happening on the island than he did. So, Sunny was determined to find her before Undying Slaughter did.

He was not enthused about the idea of fighting the dreadful wraith again so soon. Luckily, there was a high possibility that he could snatch Jet and escape without exchanging a single blow with the Defiled.

'What I need right now is not strength, but speed.'

Sunny glanced at Nephis and Cassie.

He would have to share his knowledge with his companions sooner or later, without a doubt. Just imagining that conversation made him uncomfortable, though.

It was a rather bizarre thing to say to someone, that they had been living the same hour over and over again without ever realizing it.

'I'll tell them the next time... hopefully, there will be a next time.'

Sunny suspected that the loop was endless - it should have existed for as long as the colossal whirlpool existed, which had already been hundreds of years - but he couldn't be sure. So, for now, he had to treat each revolution as if it was the last one.

'I'll tell them after I'm back, then.'

Sadly, he had already wasted a lot of time coming to this realization, so there was none of it left for lengthy explanations.

Noticing his intense gaze, Nephis looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

Sunny hesitated for a few moments, considering his words carefully, then opened his mouth and said just three of them:

"Aster, Song, Vale."

Her expression changed slightly, becoming darker and more intense. It was not exactly the same murderous reaction as she had showed on the Ashen Barrow, but Sunny still felt a little uncomfortable.

Nephis frowned.

"Why..."

She paused for a moment, then took a deep breath.

"Are we under a mind hex again?"

Sunny shook his head.

not ask questions and do what I tell you. Can you

the saddle, a troubled expression appearing on her face. She remained silent,

at him for a few long

"Alright."

him... but blindly trusting someone was not easy. It was

of trouble both with the former

out a

ship and hide. Stay safe until I

Breaker was indeed safe... but it was the best temporary

to Cassie,

"I'll need Nightmare."

to hop into the saddle. Looking down, Sunny lingered for a moment, then commanded

was galloping through

avoid fighting Undying Slaughter, which meant that he would not need his combat Shadows. If he still ended up facing the mist

'Faster!'

of his shadows. To find Jet and bring her away from the misty forest unscathed, Sunny would need his steed

sent all five shadows

of them flew along the line of lonesome footprints, swiftly approaching the wall of black cliffs. The black stallion scaled the stone steps without ever

they entered the

the clearing yet, so she could

'Quite a predicament...'

his direction... the problem was that Undying Slaughter would recognize its ringing

to Effie, but not Jet. Otherwise, Sunny would have taken it

reached the clearing where Sunny had died the last two times - or however many times it really was - and crossed it in the blink

from the direction of the beach, so the

veiled everything, making the world appear only a couple

'Damn it!'

on Jet at any moment... however, he could also stumble on Undying Slaughter

shadow in all directions, after all, when he

The stench of blood.

mental command, Nightmare slowed down, and then came to a halt. Sunny looked around, inhaling the wisps of mist, then sent his steed

could see, but there, on its bark, was a spot much darker than the rest of it. A bloody handprint,

and finally

a direction