Shadow Slave

On the last night before their departure from Fallen Grace, Sunny let out a deep sigh and listened to the Spell whisper into his ear:

[Your Memory has been destroyed.]

[...You have received a Memory.]

With that, the Transcendent charm he had been working on had become a Supreme one. Its enchantment, which enhanced the material properties of objects, was further strengthened. Not only was the nexus of its weave more potent now, but the weave itself had also been made more robust to withstand the increased pressure.

Strings of ethereal light were intertwined with the black threads of shadow essence, forming a mesmerizing tapestry.

Sunny took a deep breath.

«Four down… one to go.»

He had saved the hardest Memory for last — the Transcendent memory of the Seventh Tier meant for Nephis. That one, he was going to have to alter on their way to Verge.

Things were happening so fast now. Looking back at what he had experienced in the Nightmare, it was hard to believe how close the end of it all was. It seemed like Sunny had been sharing the ketch with Nephis and Ananke just yesterday, but now, he was approaching the finish line.

Dismissing the charm, he rose and stretched his limbs, then left his quarters. It was night, but no one in Fallen Grace seemed to be asleep. While Sunny was passing by the windows, he saw numerous people crowding the streets on the neighboring island-ships. They were all looking at the white temple, knowing that their lady, and the Outsider warriors she had gathered, were going to leave come dawn — or rather, dusk.

Leave to challenge the very source of the Defilement.

It was not an exaggeration to say that their fates depended on the result of their journey. However… looking at these people, Sunny did not feel that they were concerned for themselves. It seemed like they were concerned about Dusk and her Outsider companions, instead.

«Funny…»

Sunny could not remember the last time he had watched someone go into battle on his behalf. It must have happened occasionally, but he was usually the one doing the fighting. In Antarctica, he had carried thousands of refugees on his back across the frozen hellscape… which had seemed like a burden, at the time.

But, in a sense, he would have been burdened watching someone fight and die for him more. So, he could easily understand the complicated storm of emotions brewing in the hearts of the people being left behind in Fallen Grace.

He often complained about how harsh and unforgiving the life of an Awakened was… but it was also a privilege.

by such detached thoughts, he entered the hall where Cassie was giving the last orders to the people who would be ruling the city in her absence. ?ìg??օ????????~?օ?. Some of them he knew, like the captain of the soldiers or the carpenter who had been in charge of repairing the Chain Breaker,

of them bowed respectfully when

«Lord Sunless.»

hand on her shoulder. A spark

substantially more powerful now.

shaped like a jade flower, and weighed it on her hand. Soon, the petals of the ornament ignited with a soft glow, hinting

smile appeared on Cassie's

«Thank you.»

for a few moments. There were too many people around them, so he couldn't be too free in what he said.

her shoulder

«Listen. Are you… alright?»

an eyebrow, seemingly

I be? I'm better

a rare hint of sincere relief and anticipation in

lingered for a moment, then

wanted to use this opportunity to retrieve the shadow that followed Cassie around. But hearing that

company for a little while

would be relived in such

shadow behind, he left the hall and went

the seven suns rose from the waters of the Great River once more. Fallen Grace was once again painted by the vivid radiance

streets of the floating city. Their gazes were solemn as they watched the

time, there were no cheers. Instead, everyone was silent, which felt a

Falcon Scott on the last day of evacuation, for some reason. Back then,

behind were going to be safe. The ones who were sailing away would

words. Fear, longing, and shame. Sorrow,

And hope.

Unreasonable, even. It could bloom even in the most terrible of situations, bringing with it strength

knew hope better than most. And

Breaker. Turning back, Sunny looked at the crowd one last time. Most of these youths looked unfamiliar — even if he knew them from before, their appearance