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.

chief… I hear they are establishing a

He grimaced.

job, especially now that we are so far away from Ravenheart. We have strict orders to prioritize the strongest and most resilient recruits for

that her expression fall, the manager hesitated for a

out. Just don't pout

«I… I'm not pouting!»

The man laughed.

if you just want to get out of

Her eyes glistened.

«Really?»

then

you're a 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

manager paused for a

still recommend strong men for the position, but this team is a bit special. It is actually run by a young

looked at Rain and

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

a moment, then

team? That's great! Thank you,

out the best route for the road to take. Of course, the nature of the job was quite peculiar

scout out the Nightmare Creatures populating it. If there were especially dangerous abominations

grin wavered

seemed like a safer bet

an actual

even better for her than running to an advanced camp — the fewer people were around her, the lesser was

opportunity was

gave the road manager

treat you to something nice

The man chuckled.

return in one piece, girl… that will be

pointed her to a certain tent in the northern part of the camp

time the morning shift is

As she was walking away, he called

Queen's grace protect

halted for