Shadow Slave

So much had happened since the last time Sunny had seen Wind Flower, but the spacious chamber at the top of Aletheia's Tower was still the same. Dozens of lanterns floated in the air, shining with a warm orange light. The world outside the window was dim and dark. The silken canopy of the wooden bed was half-transparent, revealing the delicate shape of the beautiful sleeping Saint.

Sunny ascended the stairs and remained motionless for a while, looking at the vague silhouette with a heavy expression. Then, he sighed and shifted his perception, peering into Wind Flower's soul. There, the seed of the repulsive darkness had already grown larger.

'So fast.'

Corruption was spreading so fast. Its seed had been like a tiny speck before, but now, it was already like a pearl. If Sunny did not act soon, the darkness would spread and consume Wind Flower's soul entirely. There was no time to waste. And yet... he could not simply kill her. At least not without talking to the beautiful Saint one last time.

Dissolving into the shadows, he allowed Nightmare to bring him to her dream. Soon, Sunny found himself standing on a tall cliff overlooking the vast expanse of the Great River. The seven suns were slowly rising from the flowing water. The tranquil expanse of Aletheia's Island was shrouded in the dim twilight of the early dawn.

Wind Flower was standing at the edge of the cliff with her back to him, gazing at the water. A cool breeze was playing with her wavy hair, and her azure robe looked like the midnight sky in the dimness of dawn. Sensing his approach, she shifted slightly and let out a quiet sigh.

"So, you have succeeded?"

Sunny froze for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes. The loop... is gone. We destroyed it."

She turned around and looked at him. Then, a soft smile illuminated her enchanting face.

"How marvelous. And on your first try, no less."

He walked over to stand beside her on the edge of the cliff. Looking at the dreamlike expanse of the Great River, Sunny said darkly:

"First try? It might have been, but I spent an eternity preparing for it. Months of torment... countless deaths... all for this single moment. I wouldn't call it marvelous."

Wind Flower studied his face silently, then looked away and sighed.

"Countless deaths, huh? Dying once does not sound so terrible, in comparison."

She paused before asking:

"You haven't forgotten what you swore to do, have you?"

Sunny gritted his teeth.

"I remember."

Saint fell quiet. A few moments passed before she spoke again, her voice losing some

my body. I don't want anything to sprout from my corpse and walk around wearing my

he simply nodded. Wind Flower took a deep breath, then took a step back from the

my grandmother was when she passed away - by a

her head, she walked to the edge of the forest and put her hand on the trunk

going to visit

into the forest, Sunny nodded

cohort are there. We hope to find something else to

for a few

crown you wear will be of help if the city still stands. It is another enchantment key, in a sense... the defensive array that was meant

her back

"The defensive array?"

She shrugged.

sure what the exact effect of the array is now. It should be similar to what Aletheia had done. You saw the black stone in the hidden chamber of the tower,

He frowned.

"...Yes."

Wind Flower smiled.

of them found by the River People. These fragments are said to have absorbed the essence of time, and so,

not knowing if it was wise to deal directly with anything that had come from the Estuary. Wasn't that where the Defilement had

his soul. It looked very similar to the black stone of Aletheia's Tower. Where

vile madman actually been to

shallow puddles of water glowing softly in the gentle light of dawn. Wind Flower slowed her steps

pond. Its lotus-like petals glistened with drops of dew, and

the charming Saint smiled and presented the

"Here. Take it."

then accepted the azure blossom and looked at it in confusion. They were in a

"What is it for?"

Wind Flower laughed.

something to remember me by. What, has no one

his head, prompting