Shadow Slave

There was movement in the darkness.

Nephis could not see it, but she felt the shadows that drowned the great hall of the ancient temple shift and surge, as if celebrating the arrival of their master. The Fire Keepers behind her tensed, looking up with somber expressions.

Thud.

A heavy sound resounded, followed by another. It seemed that someone was descending from an unseen dais, the weight of their unhurried footsteps echoing in the lightless hall like an ill omen.

Suddenly, the enchanted lanterns ignited with bright radiance, chasing away the darkness. As if they were finally allowed to shine.

As soon as they did, a dark figure stepped into the light, the shadows shrouding it like a mantle.

Even Nephis, who rarely felt fear, sensed a slight chill at the sight of the Lord of Shadows. She didn't quite know why.

The man in front of her was as elusive as his voice. His figure was encased in a fearsome onyx armor, its polished surface glistening like black glass. His features were hidden behind a mask of a fierce demon, nothing but darkness dwelling in the narrow slits of its eyes... as if there was no human face behind the mask, and no human flesh beneath the intricate black armor.

Just a formless shadow.

Strangely enough, Nephis could not say how tall the man was, exactly. But it felt as if he dwarfed everyone in the ancient temple, looking down at them with cold, malevolent arrogance.

...He was unarmed.

the Lord

[Cassie?]

after a moment of

eyes. But I still can't sense him.

her eyes and ears. The great advantage of information superiority had spoiled her... this time, though, she would not be able to know

for the best, then, that Shadow had offered to duel her and the Fire Keepers. She would learn what

and took several unhurried

his head a little. "What? You are not going to fight, Changing Star?" His cold

all of us, haven't you? But... I don't draw my sword for

unnerving black mask stared at her for a few moments, and then the elusive voice resounded once again,

You, there... come all at

floor, assuming a long and sinister shape. A few moments later, a great odachi formed from the

Fire Keepers moved

***

Seven Fire Keepers...

felt a little tense. Of course, there was no question that he could crush a

could he

little, while acting out the role of the cold and mysterious Lord of Shadows. Not only had he promised to avoid using his

was easy, but doing so while not receiving

intention of winning, to begin with. He just wanted to put on a good show and lose gracefully, thus laying the necessary groundwork for infiltrating the war machine of the Sword

he needed to impress was Nephis. And now, he had to