Shadow Slave

A few days before, far away from the harsh splendor of Ravenheart, Sunny was looking at Cassle while hiding his emotions behind a polite smile.

"Oh, and by the way..."

Her tone was neutral.

"...Happy Birthday."

For a split second, his mask cracked.

Sunny's face did not move, but his gaze changed. For a short moment, his eyes were much deeper and darker than before - the lightless depth contained within them was much too vast, much too cold, and much too unfathomable to fit the image of a harmless shopkeeper.

He froze, a storm of emotions raging in his heart. For a second, Sunny was stunned, not knowing what to say.

The shadows stirred.

But then, he quickly composed himself.

"Why, thank you. But how did you know?"

An irrational, but desperate hope had ignited in his chest, trying to burn away his judgment. A hope that someone anyone remembered him... that Cassie did. The thought of it was both blindingly sweet and ruthlessly painful.

Because it was impossible, The [Fateless] Attribute, as he had called it, was thorough. So, Sunny discarded that futile hope and hid his rattled state.

How had she known that today was his birthday, though?

'Maybe... just maybe...'

Cassie was facing him, remaining silent. Her smile slowly dimmed, replaced by a strange and solemn expression. Sunny felt uncomfortable because her eyes were hidden by the blue fabric, but he did not show it.

to think

immediately, but Cassie looked a little

could he describe it?

would not have noticed, blinded by the stunning beauty of the blind seer. But to Sunny, she looked out of sorts. Her clothes, which had always been neat and tidy, were a little messy. Her hair was like a waterfall of pale gold,

a hint of restless intensity to her which had never been there before. As if Cassie was... not quite stable, having lost

cohort after returning, even if from afar, but it was his first time seeing Cassie,

walked a few steps, as If studying the dining hall

delivered a note asking me to find a person named Sunless and wish him a happy birthday. On a winter solstice, of

say more. Sometimes,

to have known that she would not remember. And therefore, she

He suddenly felt stifled.

fingers across one of the tables and turned her

my surprise... that person didn't seem to exist. Not in the government databases, Academy records, or the archives of the Great Clans. You might not know it, Master Sunless, but I am a rather knowledgeable person. One might even say that there's no one better at collecting

his head

Oh, he knew.

"That is indeed strange."

was

She smiled.

had not existed in either of the two worlds... until this year, when you found your way

hesitated. Even if he did mind, no one in their right mind would rebuke Song of the Fallen, a prominent Saint and one of the most valued seneschals of

turned her head left and right, as if

must admit, you are a fascinating man. Not only do you seem to have appeared out of nowhere, but your establishment is

He tensed.

Cassie's Dormant Ability allowed her a measure of insight into all living things, Marvelous Mimic was not an exception, so she would have realized its nature as soon as

she had stepped into the maw of an Ascended Devil without much worry,

He coughed.

Well, why not? My house might not be able to fly like your Citadel,

him? Weaver's Mask was all the way in Godgrave, and while the Nebulous Mantle could hide