Shadow Re: Slave

Nephis wasn't sure how the next negotiation with Seishan would go.

She had long since realized that the lieutenant serving under Gunlaug—the woman cloaked in composure and grey skin—was no ordinary sleeper. She was a missing daughter of the Song clan. A princess, gone from the waking world for ten years.

The last negotiation hadn't gone well.

Back then, the outer settlement was still raw and fragile. Her promises had felt empty, not because they lacked truth, but because they lacked weight. She had claimed she would lead everyone home.

But she had nothing to prove it.

Now, though… things were different.

The walls had grown stronger. The people had grown steadier. And with Nightingale—Kai—now among them, she had another symbol. Another piece of leverage.

Still, she was wary.

Seishan had never shown hostility, but she hadn't been friendly either. Controlled, sharp, distant. Dangerous in that subtle, sovereign way.

So when the message came—asking for a meeting inside the Dark City—Nephis didn't hesitate to assume the worst.

An assassination, she thought. Or a test.

Either way, she would answer it on her own terms.

That evening, she summoned her cohort and laid out the plan.

Cassie, Effie, Caster, Kai.

Her core.

They would venture into the Dark City together—either to negotiate… or fight.

It didn't matter to her.

She was prepared for both.

⸻

On the road through the ruins, the wind whispered through broken stone. Night hung heavy above them.

Caster was the first to speak.

"I don't like this," he muttered. "Heading toward that cursed cathedral… I've only heard bad stories. Something made its nest there. Something Fallen. Even the nightmares avoid it."

Nephis didn't stop walking.

"You don't need to like it," she said quietly. "We'll pass through anyway."

Her pale eyes gleamed faintly in the gloom.

"We'll have to face the Lord of the Dead eventually. Practicing on another Fallen creature won't hurt."

⸻

But behind them, Kai had gone still.

He stared ahead at the familiar silhouette rising in the distance—the jagged spires of black stone, the ruined towers looming in shadow.

The cathedral.

Sunny's home.

The realization hit him like a falling mountain.

This wasn't just a neutral meeting spot. This was the center of Sunny's epicenter of his influence. His personal fortress. Guarded by a Fallen Nightmare creature that scared away or sloughtered most of the other abominations of the Dark City.

And worse—

It suddenly became clear which "princess" Sunny had been visiting at the castle.

Seishan.

Sunny had turned a daughter of Song into an ally of Changing Star… without Nephis ever knowing.

How far does his reach go? Kai wondered, stunned. How many moves ahead is he always playing?

⸻

When they arrived at the cathedral, there was no ambush.

No dark beasts waiting in the wings.

Just Seishan, standing alone before the ruined entrance.

She wore a long, flowing garment—something like a kimono, black silk with sweeping sleeves. It wasn't made for combat. Not for movement. Not for escape.

But instead of calming anyone, it made the air heavier.

Because none of them believed she would stand in front of a Fallen creature's lair unless she knew exactly what she was doing.

And none of them knew that the creature was alredy dead.

No one expected her to speak first.

And certainly not like that.

In a soft, husky voice—almost warm—Seishan said:

"Alright. I'm glad you made it here unscathed. Would've looked really bad if you'd gotten yourselves killed just because I chose a questionable meeting spot. Could've made negotiations awkward."

She gestured casually toward the towering cathedral behind her, black silk sleeves flowing in the night air.

"Now, come on. Don't just stand there like you're waiting to be stabbed. Step into my humble mansion. It's a little messy—we couldn't clean all the rubble—but there's a cozy room upstairs."

The words slipped out with a playful rhythm that wasn't her own. And the moment she heard herself say them, she wanted to slap her mouth shut.

Sunny, she realized with horror. I sound like him.

Everyone stared at her.

Cassie, as always, remained unreadable.

But Kai and Effie looked utterly stunned. Caster's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

And Nephis…

Nephis said nothing. But her body was tense, her hand never far from the hilt of her sword.

No one moved.

Then Kai blinked. A slow realization dawning behind his eyes. He stared at Seishan, tilted his head—

And slapped his palm to his forehead with a laugh.

Everyone turned to him, stunned.

"I—sorry," he said between chuckles. "I didn't mean to laugh at you, Lady Seishan. You just reminded me of someone I know."

Seishan gave him a sheepish smile. It only made the others more uncomfortable.

Caster finally stepped forward, his voice tight.

"Not that I doubt your hospitality, Lady Seishan… but, respectfully, we all know this cathedral is the home of a Fallen creature. One that would tear us apart the moment we stepped inside."

Seishan laughed.

"Oh, you mean the security system? Don't worry. It doesn't live here anymore. We had to dispose of it to make room for… esteemed guests like yourselves."

The word esteemed came out with visible sarcasm.

All eyes turned to Kai again.

He just nodded.

"She's telling the truth. Except the guest part."

Without another word, Seishan turned and walked through the cathedral entrance, vanishing into the shadows. The others hesitated.

They stared up at the broken spires, at the gaping doorway.

Kai was the only one thinking clearly.

This isn't her lair, he thought. It's his.

They'd walked straight into Sunny's home.

And he could be anywhere.

Watching.

Waiting.

Possibly listening.

They stood there in silence until Nephis exhaled sharply.

"Well?" she asked. "What are we waiting for?"

And walked in.

⸻

The cathedral interior was a strange mixture of ruin and repurposing.

Chunks of shattered stone lay in one corner, half-cleared. The twisted armor of a dead Fallen Devil lay crumpled in the center of the chamber like a discarded shell.

But to the side, a new staircase had been rebuilt—restored with meticulous care. It led upward.

Seishan stood at the top, gesturing down with a faint, polite smile.

They followed.

Upstairs, they entered a small but carefully arranged room. There was a large table, silver cutlery and porcelain cups, even a king-sized bed that looked far too clean for the Dark City.

Seishan sat alone on the far side of the table, one leg crossed over the other, sipping tea.

She motioned to the seats.

"Please. Make yourselves comfortable."

Everyone hesitated.

Everyone except Kai, who sat down instantly and poured himself a cup like he'd done it a dozen times before.

The rest of the cohort stared at him.

He just shrugged.

"If Sunny wanted us dead, there wouldn't be tea." he thought to himselfe.

⸻

Nephis didn't sit right away.

Instead, she walked slowly through the room—examining the details, the condition of the furniture, the strange absence of dust. She paused at the bed.

Then she turned to Seishan.

"Who lived here?"

She sniffed the air, then frowned faintly.

"…Why does it smell like a man?"

Seishan looked at her over the rim of her cup and smiled.

"He is a man. Something like a business partner. Although, if I'm being honest, it's more like I hold 1% of the shares while he owns the rest of the company."

Nephis narrowed her eyes, clearly ready to dig deeper.

But then the smile on Seishan's face faded, replaced once more by her usual composure.

Cold. Perfect. Untouchable.

So Nephis let it go.

Still, the thought lingered.

Who could order someone like Seishan around?

Who lived here—deep in the Dark City—with a bed like that and silver on the table?

There was no record of anyone missing from the castle.

No one absent, except—

Her eyes flicked to Kai, and her thoughts stumbled.

No. That doesn't make sense.

But the scent still clung to the air.

Familiar.

And strangely… comforting.

She shook her head.

Focus.

She moved to the table and sat down beside Cassie.

Let the negotiation begin.