Shadow Slave

Cassie turned sharply and stared at him, her mask of composure barely holding.

"You... you know why I did what I did. I was young and naive, back then. Stupid, and helpless. I... know better now."

Sunny raised his hands and clapped them, applauding her. "Good for you! Really. What stunning growth. But..."

He lingered for a few moments, and then said through gritted teeth:

"But, you know... you never even apologized for taking my freedom away. So, I guess, you aren't that burdened by having done that."

She flinched.

The cold winds rose, making the sails of the ketch flutter. Nevertheless, it stayed in place, its bow lodged into the icy shore of the desolate land.

Cassie remained silent for a while.

Then, she said, her voice trembling slightly: "But... I did. I did apologize."

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"Somehow, I don't remember. And I would have remembered something like that. When did you ever apologize for what you had done to me?"

The blind girl hesitated for a few moments, and then said quietly:

"It was... right after we escaped from the Soul Devourer. When we were sailing across the dark sea on the boat Nephis made."

Stunned, Sunny stared at her for a few moments.

Then, his face was twisted by a grimace of anger.

"What? What the hell did you say? You apologized... in advance? Almost an entire year before we stormed the Crimson Spire? What kind of crap is that?! Does it make sense, in that twisted little head of yours?!"

his anger, Cassie lowered her

appeared on her face. She looked

yes, Sunny. You're right. That was cowardly of me." A fragile smile appeared on

saying sorry? It wouldn't have changed anything. Words are worthless. If someone is truly sorry,

Sunny chuckled.

have you done to redeem your mistake? Huh? What can you even do? It can't be

remained silent for a while, and then suddenly pierced him with a fierce

could not see, at that moment, Sunny did

voice was a little hoarse when she spoke:

slightly taken aback. Glancing at her with a frown, Sunny

mean?" Cassie smiled bitterly. "Who says that it can't be undone? Who says

She shook her head.

what if it's impossible? I'll do it

at her in

the hell are you talking

her hands and rubbed her wrists, where the golden shackles

I am talking about breaking fate, Sunny. Wasn't that what you wanted to do, too? Wasn't that your entire goal, too? I wish to break

for a moment, then said

endured... it was all for this. For this moment. It's so impossibly hard, to break fate. No matter how fiercely you attack it, it

memories of them long after they

faint smile bloomed on her

strikes? Ten thousand strikes? If each one of them damages its tapestry a little bit, misaligns its strings by a tiny fraction, obstructs its flow by a miniscule amount... then, put together, they can tear fate apart. One just needs a sharp

to look her in

to become such a weapon, Sunny." Suddenly, he felt a chill run

felt was back, making him tense with fright. "What... what did you

She shrugged.

it was hard. All of it, though... all of it was almost unbearable. Is unbearable. But not for long, now. Because

stared at her,