Shadow Slave

Sunny contemplated his answer for a few moments, then sald neutrally:

"I guess it's the same as yours."

Cassle seemed a little surprised.

"The same as mine?"

He nodded and glanced at her with hidden worry. They were climbing a slope of stone debris, the surface under their feet treacherous and uneven.

Cassie seemed to be doing fine, but her movements were a little stiff.

No matter how well she had learned to live with her Flaw, she was still blind. Sharing other people's perception or sensing a few seconds into the future could not entirely replace sight. However, Sunny could not think of a way to support her on this treacherous slope - he could offer her his hand, but he doubted that she would accept it. They were not that close... now.

In the end, he did nothing.

"Indeed. You told me that you had always wanted to destroy fate... but that is not entirely true, is it? You wouldn't want to struggle against fate if it carried you to a wonderful outcome. The outcome you saw must be terrible... so, what you really want is to reach a desirable outcome, not destroy fate. The latter is merely a means to an end, while the former is the end. That is your interest.”

Sunny shrugged.

"It is the same for me. My Interest is to reach a desirable outcome."

Cassie hesitated for a moment.

"So what is the outcome you desire?"

He grinned.

"How can I know? It's too soon to talk about an outcome - I don't even know what will happen, let alone how I might want it to end. I merely have a few ideas. In any case, that question is better aimed at you, Saint Cassia. You are much better informed about the future than I am. So... what outcome do you desire?"

Now, they were on the right track. Mutual trust was the end goal, but it had to be built on the foundation of mutual benefit. To help each other benefit, they needed to know what each of them wanted.

was it

her for so many years, Sunny was not sure. She had always kept

was why he did not expect to hear her honest

want to save the

Sunny almost tripped, startled.

"Wh-what?"

might have

Cassue laughed quietly.

a part of the world, and so are those people I care about - if the world is destroyed, everything I cherish will be destroyed with it. Alright, maybe I was a little grandiose in my statement... I do want to save the world, but purely for selfish reasons. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that I want to save myself. It's just that one and the

at her silently for a

I take it as confirmation, then, that the world is doomed? Ah, it's a bit disconcerting. I did

moon. The background was also

Cassie shrugged.

that you know perfectly well what fate awaits our world. It is obvious that the world is doomed... what most people don't realize is how little time we have left. Those who pay careful attention to the Nightmare

Sunny frowned.

would be natural to assume that Sunny knew, considering that she suspected that he had been on Aletheia's Island with them. More

awakening? The moment that ancient being struggled free of its slumber, the very existence could come undone at the

two

He grimaced.

are

Cassie smiled faintly.

we know each other well enough to share such details... Sunny. Maybe I'll tell

Sunny sighed.

castle? The guards, the runic array, the other safeguards the King must have put in place - you don't

would be Ascended warriors patrolling, and if any of them saw Song of the Fallen escorting an Intruder into the stronghold of their clan...

to just stride into the

for a

about it. I will keep

pulled her blindfold off, tying it around one of her