Shadow Slave

A torrent of shadows flowed into the corridor, submerging it in total darkness. The light of the glowing gemstones was swallowed and disappeared without trace, turning them bleak and lifeless.

Sunny had summoned a swarm of vast and ancient shadows to do the job. These old shadows were unfathomable - it would have taken an equally potent source of light to dispel them. The gemstones had been created from the mind of the Demon of Imagination, true... perhaps they would have chased away the darkness if the shadows were alone.

But they were in the presence of their Lord, and that alone made them much more tyrannical.

A few moments later, a long stretch of the corridor had turned completely lightless. The infinity mirror of its walls was now dull and empty. Nothing reflected on their dim surface, and no reflection haunted the hidden sanctum.

Sunny let out a quiet sigh.

'Who knew that I would use this trick today?’

What he had done was not pure improvisation. Instead, it was one of the methods he had contemplated when thinking about how to deal with Mordret,

Cassle seemed impressed.

"These shadows... obey you?"

Sunny shrugged.

"If I treat them nicely."

Wild shadows were like that. Most were devoted to Sunny, but some were obstinate and willful. The former would obey him out of affection or reverence, but the latter needed to be coaxed and enticed.

"Let's go."

The two of them returned to the corridor. It seemed much smaller without the countless reflections stretching endlessly into the ghostly distance. Claustrophobic, even - still, Sunny felt much more at ease now than he had before.

Cassie suddenly spoke, drawing his attention:

"Are we going left again?"

Sunny smiled.

"That is a good question!

try right this

turned right and started walking at a measured pace. The shadows moved with them, keeping the corridor dark both ahead and behind. Just like that,

corridor crossed the one they had been traversing, and so, Sunny had

slight bend to it, as well,

then another,

Intersections formed four paths, some only three... there were even bizarre ones that had six, seven, or eight turns. There were dead ends, as well, and corridors that led to one of the crossroads Sunny and Cassie had already passed. The corridors themselves weren't straight, either, bending and twisting at

was a mirror

Sunny sighed and stopped, covering

was an open door leading to a small stone chamber. The same chamber they

"Have you noticed it?"

Cassie's voice was calm.

for a

"Yeah. Damn it."

of how convoluted the maze of mirrors was, but he was certain of it they had

was not beholden to the size of

head, he leaned on the wall and summoned the Endless Spring. Drinking deeply from the beautiful glass bottle, he then handed it

moment. Then, forgetting the meaning that it held, she brought it to her lips and then returned it

"We can try again."

a bit, then slowly shook his

before sunrise, but I won't be able

Cassie raised an eyebrow.

agreed that I will bring you inside

Sunny smiled.

more... and I want to explore this place more. It works out perfectly, does it not? We can meet once a month,

She hesitated.

how long I'll remain in Bastion, though. Maybe there is something else

smile turned a

things I want, Saint Cassia. But this is the

frowned, remained silent for

you inside the castle once again, next month. In exchange for another

the Endless Spring

on a show if we both knew that she would