Shadow Slave: Back in time

The familiar smell of the slums pierced his nose suddenly. They had traversed the Dark City without any unexpected encounter, and made it to the Bright Castle. Sunny whispered its description to Cassie's ear: the structure rose high in the sky, with towers and spires that seemed to be challenging the Crimson Spire in the distance. With a sigh, he also admitted that there were humans heads impaled on the rusty chains hanging from the gate, and she shivered.

All around them, the slum dwellers were observing them intently. Most had sunken faces and their eyes were unfocused and devoid of emotions, their hope long lost, with only the struggle to survive animating their corpses. However, if one looked enough, the spark of curiosity could be found there. Effie was followed by gazes of both admiration and fear. It was normal, and she didn't give it any care: she was an experienced huntress of the Dark City, who'd been slaying Nightmare Creatures for years alone. Sunny wasn't the object of many of their gazes, either: people looked at him for a second or two, immediately deeming him as non-dangerous. Sunny would have been happy for it, really, if only they hadn't switched to staring at the beautiful bodies of Cassie and Nephis with lust. He stared at those who dared, activating his Weaver's Eye attribute, even if only for a short moment, and they looked down, their instincts screaming at them to look away, even if they didn't realize the source of the danger.

Effie turned to look at them, pointing to a hut.

"You see that? It's my luxury one-bedroom home. It's made from the best crap around here, but it's still trash. I don't host for the night, so I suggest you either pay the entrance for the castle or find some place here. With how many people die around here, there's plenty free. Either way, as I said before, we can talk in my hut a bit more."

Nephis agreed and they followed her there. Although it appeared poor from the outside, it was quite cozy. Furs harvested form many kinds of Nightmare Creatures covered the floor, and a pile of them was used as a bed. Effie immediately sat there, but Cassie followed the example of both Sunny and Nephis, who were still standing up. Sunny looked at the bed with horror: he dreaded to imagine what events had transpired on that bed.

Effie scratched the back of her head.

"Actually, I've already told you guys the basics. You should learn the rest alone. I ain't no babysitter."

Nephis stayed silent for a second. "Will you be part of our cohort?"

Effie sighed.

"Look, girl. I've refused countless offers from the most renowned Sleeper here, and even from the King himself, but I've refused them all. Do you know why?"

Sunny spoke up.

"You think they're weak."

Effie smiled bitterly.

"That's right, Doofus. Gunlaug won't allow anyone who is strong enough and not under his control to exist. And you guys are inexperienced, even if you've got a True Name. You could even be lying, for all I know."

She looked out from one of the small holes in her 'wall'.

"So, I refuse. If you want, you can come again in a couple of years, after you've hunted in the Dark City for a while."

Sunny and Nephis had already known this would happen, but a try was still worth it. He answered.

"Don't go around and tell others of us, ok? We'll be back in a week."

The huntress nodded, unimpressed. However, a tiny seed of doubt was growing in her mind, as she watched the three new arrivals exit her hut. She didn't think she was lying.

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They approached the ornate gates as the sun descended. The castle was as imposing as he remembered. They stopped in front of the stairs, when Sunny leaned toward Cassie's ear.

"Be careful, there are some steps ahead. Remember, don't tell anyone about Nephis' True Name."

Two guards approached them. They squared Nephis and Cassie, completely ignoring Sunny, who scowled.

"You two chicks here to enter the King's harem?"

Nephis wordlessly showed them the shards.

"What a waste."

Don't kill them, Sunny. I know you're petty enough.

What!? Of course I wouldn't… in this particular situation.

They stepped through the gates. Sunny kept describing the environment for Cassie's benefit while they reached the desk. It seemed out of place in the grand hall. A thin man with an unhealthy condition was scribbling nervously. The sight of him made a small part of Sunny pained by guilt. When he heard the steps echoing in the hall, he immediately turned up, asking with a trembling voice.

"What can I do for you?" However, his face relaxed after seeing the two exquisite beauties.

"Hi! I'm Harper! I'm responsible for the accommodations in the castle. I've never seen you before, are you here to pay your stay in the castle? Oh, sorry, welcome to the Bright Castle, welcome! I'm sure you two will love it here!"

Sunny was tempted to kill him again. The two of you! How dared he?

The three of us will love it here, won't we, Sunny?

Sunny didn't deem her teasing worth of an answer.

Harper explained how everything worked and led them to the two rooms they had requested in the Tower of Dusk.

With more than a little bit of annoyance, Sunny noticed that his explanations were far more elaborated and exhaustive than the ones he'd given him when it was only he and Cassie. Sunny stared at him with a bit of his killing intent.

"… the food will be served one hour after sunrise, in the main all…" Harper shivered, uneasy. "Yeah, so, uh, see you." He practically ran away after giving Nephis the two iron keys.

She gave him an amused look.

Was that really necessary?

Naturally.

After that, they went to sleep. No one noticed the silver haired girl exiting her room and entering the one next to hers in the middle of the night.