Shadow Slave

A familiar road manager was leaning on the side of the wagon, drinking a cup of coffee and watching the sun rise. Noticing Rain, he spared her a crooked smile.

«Ah. It's you again, Rani.»

Rain almost stumbled.

«Damn.»

Rani is what she was known as on the road crew. Since she was hiding here, using her own name would have been silly… the problem was that Rain had not thought about that right until the moment she was asked to introduce herself.

So, put on the spot, she had failed to come up with anything and mumbled the first thing that entered her mind.

Which was why her teacher had mocked her relentlessly for a whole week.

«No, really? Rani? The best you could do was shift two letters around? I just can't… gods, everything I've been through, and I'll die of laughter…»

Rain had endured the mockery for as long as she could, and then kindly reminded her teacher that he went around calling himself Shadow.

So, he wasn't in a position to critique her naming sense, was he?

That, luckily, had shut him up.

In any case, by now, she was more or less accustomed to responding to «Rani.»

Which was not to say that she wasn't embarrassed every time she heard it.

«Good morning, chief.»

The man stared at her for a few moments, then sighed.

«Listen, Rani… I get it, the pay in the advanced camps is higher. But what's the use of having money if you are dead? It's quite dangerous out there, you know! A young girl like you should just stay here in the main camp. Actually, even the main camp is not a good place. If my daughter wanted to come here from Ravenheart, I would have locked her up.»

He took a sip of coffee and shook his head.

«Why don't you change your mind?»

Rain gave him her best smile.

are establishing a new camp soon. Please reassign

He grimaced.

the spots are already filled… it's a tough job, especially now that we are so far away

that her expression fall, the manager hesitated for

you out. Just don't pout

«I… I'm not pouting!»

The man laughed.

get you a spot in an advanced camp, but if you just want to get out of

Her eyes glistened.

«Really?»

cautiously, then leaned forward

good kid and might be suitable for the task. There's a new survey team being formed. The core of the team are Awakened warriors, of course, but they need mundane porters, as well as someone to tend to their daily needs… wash the dishes, patch up tents,

manager paused for a moment, then

advanced camp. Usually, I would still recommend strong men for the position, but this team is a bit special. It is actually run by a young lady from a Legacy Clan, so… I thought that

looked at Rain and

up as a retainer of the Legacy clan! Legacies can be snobbish, but still. It's a good opportunity

for a moment, then

team? That's great! Thank

best route for the road to take. Of course, the nature of the job was quite peculiar here in the Dream Realm, where different regions could have entirely different terrain, climate, geology, sky, and even unique

meant to study the landscape, but also to scout out the Nightmare Creatures populating it. If

grin wavered

Dream Realm. A survey team seemed like a safer bet to

wonder they put an actual Legacy

any other mundane person here. Plus, being on a survey team was even better for her than running to an advanced camp

this opportunity was a

road manager

treat you to something nice once my team

The man chuckled.

yeah. Just return in one piece, girl… that will be

that, he pointed her to a certain tent in the northern part of the

things and report there by the time the morning shift is supposed

and turned to leave. As she was

the Queen's

for a