Shadow Re: Slave

To say they were surprised would have been the understatement of the year.

For a moment, the entire room seemed to falter—like the world had tilted slightly off its axis.

They all stared at Seishan.

Wide eyes. Uneasy silence. Every person thinking something different—processing a truth none of them had expected.

Caster froze.

Of all the names left out, it had been his. He didn't know why. Not really. But it fit. Or maybe… he wanted it to. He'd told himself he didn't belong to them. That he was always meant to be the outsider.

But in that moment, he realized something else.

He didn't like being excluded.

Not anymore.

Not after everything they'd survived together.

Not when he'd grown used to them.

Even if one of them was the person he was supposed to kill.

⸻

Cassie and Kai both sat in stunned silence.

Cassie's sightless gaze lingered on Seishan as if reading the invisible strings behind her words. And Kai—truth-teller, spy, reluctant participant—was already running the math in his head.

The Second Nightmare.

They had planned for it.

Had discussed it.

But he hadn't even considered it.

Not yet.

⸻

But Nephis…

She didn't move. Didn't speak.

Her silence was different.

Sharp. Calculating.

Because Seishan hadn't just made an offer. She'd delivered a structure. A future. Down to the number of participants, the seed, the route. Everything already planned.

As though this had all been decided long ago.

Nephis didn't like that.

Not because the plan was flawed—but because it wasn't. Because it was too good. Too convenient. Too tailored.

She had been preparing for the Second Nightmare in theory. A distant idea, something she'd face eventually.

But now…

Two thousand soul shards sat on the table—more than any Sleeper could reasonably use.

Except her.

Unless… they know about my Aspect, she realized. Unless they know it's divine.

But how?

Only she, and maybe Cassie, could possibly know it —especially since she only recently obtained her Monster Core.

And yet here was Seishan.

Smiling. Composed. Holding out the perfect answer to every unspoken question.

The unease crept in slowly.

Who has that kind of foresight on the Forgotten Shore? Who could orchestrate this much, this cleanly?

She didn't know.

And that unsettled her more than the offer itself.

She opened her mouth to speak—

But Effie moved first.

⸻

The silence shattered with sudden motion.

Effie stood up and grabbed Seishan's hand, shaking it with wild, chaotic enthusiasm.

"Deal, Princess Number Two," she grinned, eyes blazing. "We have a deal."

Seishan blinked—momentarily startled.

Effie didn't care.

She'd only heard the words she needed: Second Nightmare. Cohort. Everything prepared.

That was more than enough.

She didn't care who planned it. Didn't care if it was too good to be true.

Because for her, this wasn't strategy.

It was hope.

She'd dreamed of facing the Second Nightmare ever since she learned what it could do. A chance to fuse her broken body with her soul-self. A chance to come out whole.

Not just in the Dream Realm—but everywhere.

So she didn't hesitate.

Didn't ask questions.

For the first time in her life, the path to that dream was clear.

And she'd already taken the first step.

Seishan chuckled—a low, husky sound that echoed faintly in the cathedral's dim, hollow air.

"Oh, I see," she said, her eyes glinting. "You're the fast one."

Effie grinned proudly.

But Seishan raised a hand, almost apologetically.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."

Her gaze shifted to Nephis, tone sharpening just enough to draw a line.

"Only Changing Star can approve the deal."

Then, casually—like it was nothing at all—she added:

"Oh, and before I forget. My business partner has another condition."

Everyone straightened.

Seishan's smile didn't falter.

"He wants equal authority in everything we do moving forward."

The words hung in the air.

"But," she continued, "he'll never make a public appearance. Won't take your spotlight. Just your kills."

Her lips curled, amused.

"He prefers to stay in the shadows. You don't need to introduce him. You don't even need to explain him. But you, Changing Star… you'll need to treat him as an equal. The others don't matter."

Nephis's expression didn't change.

But something inside her did.

The phrase "steal your kills" hit too close.

Too familiar.

Her thoughts stalled, overtaken by a sudden surge of emotion she hadn't expected—hope, sharp and bright. Longing, uninvited and unwelcome.

Sunny.

The name echoed through her thoughts like a whisper in the dark.

She didn't even know what she wanted from him—what she expected.

But the ache in her chest told her she wanted something.

And more than that… she wanted to understand why he hadn't come.

Why he would send others if he was alive. Why he would hide from her and Cassie.

After everything they had endured together.

None of it made sense.

But the feeling remained.

Quiet. Persistent. Real.

She inhaled slowly, then finally spoke.

"I'll think about the offer," she said evenly.

"We'll take the soul shards."

A pause.

"But I can't agree to anything until I meet the man behind you."

Seishan smiled again—this time, slowly.

"As you wish."

She leaned back in her chair, folding her hands neatly.

"In two days, go to the closest stretch of the outer wall. Just beyond the settlement."

Her eyes flicked to Effie.

"She can stay here if she wants. He's already moved out."

And just like that, it was settled.

For now.