Shadow Slave

Sunny was not unfamiliar with the Castle, since he had to come here every time he wanted to return to the waking world without raising any suspicions. However, he would usually spend quite a lot of time following the main thoroughfare to the main keep, where the Gateway was located.

This time, Nephis led him on a shorter path to the pinnacle of the stronghold, across narrow stairs and hidden posterns that he had not even known existed. There was no need to waste time at each checkpoint, either, so their progress was rather fast.

Who would dare to stop the Transcendent daughter of a Sovereign?

After a while, Sunny asked with a hint of curiosity:

"By the way, Lady Nephis... where, exactly, are we going?"

He knew that they were about to sign a contract, but wasn't sure where the signing would take place. Was he going to make a deal with Clan Valor, or with the Fire Keepers directly? Who else would be involved?

She looked at him with a hint of confusion, then suddenly seemed a little embarrassed.

"Oh... please forgive me. I have forgotten to explain properly

With that, Nephis raised her hand and pointed to one of the tallest towers in Bastion. The tower was not much different to all the others, with one big exception.

There was a graceful flying ship floating in the air near it, moored to the higher floor of the tower with thick cables. A beautiful tree was growing around its main mast.

‘The Chain Breaker...'

Sunny unconsciously looked up, at the beautiful visage of the Ivory Island drifting in the air high above the lake.

"I see."

Nephis lingered for a moment.

"Very few people have ever visited my Citadel, but you don't have to worry. Everyone there is a trusted friend and ally. It is... it is also quite peaceful there. We won't be disturbed."

'Right.'

Sunny was not supposed to have ever been in the Ivory Tower, so he had to act as if the whole experience was new to him.

He put a sufficiently believable expression of wonder on his face, making sure to keep a proper level of decorum, of course.

the Ivory Tower.

appeared on

sure you'll like

their way, soon reaching a lesser courtyard in front of the tower. There were quite a few people here, although most of them were different

of the stronghold one was, the fewer mundane people there were around. At this point, Sunny could

gazes directed at him were not in any

it was natural. He was an outsider,

the colors of Clan Valor - a Knight, from the looks of

I can have a minute of your

She frowned slightly.

"What is it?"

Knight hesitated for a moment, then said in a dignified

problem with the supplies you requested. They were delivered on time, but the specifications... I'm afraid you will need to inspect them personally. If everything is in order, I'll give

the inner working of Clan Valor, so he

a bit, then glanced

Eventually, she said:

to deal with this issue... my apologies, I'll be back

He smiled.

"It's no problem"

no doubt that someone would inevitably try to bother him as soon as she left, but it was really of no concern to him.

moments, then nodded curtly and

left alone, thinking that it was

to the lakefront ramparts of the lesser courtyard and gazed into the distance. He could see the young city stretching along the

and radiant.

and the warm breeze, he

could sense two shadows approaching him from

‘That was fast.’

than him by a few years walking toward him. One was walking with purposeful strides, while the other was trying to hold him back with

the colors of Clan Valor. So, they must have been noble scions from vassal Legacy

'Legacies…’

the two

had been purposeful gave Sunny a glare and said, his

Ascended Tristan of the Aegis Rose clan. This is Ascended Mercy of