Shadow Slave: Eternal Dawn

Nico sat within his makeshift home — a crude shelter formed from rubble and rotten wood, seeped with cracks and moss. A single broken slab of stone lay forlorn in the center that had perhaps been used as a table by its last resident.

He loitered for a bit, then sighed and sat himself on the meager stone, discarding the severed leg of the centurian to a corner.

Tomorrow, he might go bring some amenities from the Bright Castle.

Letting himself unfurl on the stone, his irritation spiked further after realizing it wasn't even half his height in width, and his legs brushed against the horrid moss.

He frowned

'What did I expect, anyway?'

All the intense emotions simmering in his head in response to his cohabitation with the Sleepers of the outer settlement were muddying his thoughts, making it easier for him to feel different things.

He remembered a subtle relief when the first boy took his chunk of meat earlier, and excitement when the rest dug in. Even relaxation as they all began roasting their meats and chattering with each other within their hovels, wary not to let any light leek out in fear of attracting monsters.

It was so... novel.

It was frightening, too.

All it would bring was more pain.

'Clear my mind,' he mentally ordered the shaman, ushering his consciousness away to the depths of his Soul Sea immediately after.

Appearing a couple feet or so in front of his grand Soul tree, he felt his mind purged and let out a calm exhale, cold indifference washing over him like a high tide. He was no longer someone else. All his senses were focused on the illusory realm.

Slowly, as if waking from a spell, he lowered himself against the sprawling, ghostly trunk, and rested his head on one of its roots.

With his mind sealed within his Soul Sea, he basked in the pleasant warmth and soon fell deeply asleep.

***

...In the morning, he groggily opened his eyes. Above him was the stone ceiling of his new hovel. It seemed that overnight his mind had returned back to the real world.

He was horribly cold.

After a moment, he discarded the makeshift clothes he'd gotten from the Handmaidens and summoned the [Silver Wraith]. The full armor manifested from a scattering of sparks and solidified around his figure, warmth returning to him as several layers of fabric and metal trapped heat around his body.

Stretching slightly, he thought:

'I guess I'm still under the shaman's enthrallment.'

The foreign emotions of the slums hadn't yet clouded his thoughts, and he hoped to keep it that way for now since he'd be leaving soon anyways. When he came back, he would try to brave it without his Echo's help.

Yawning, he pushed open the ramshackle door and surveyed the area.

Night had just been dispelled by sunrise, and long fibers of orange light were stretched across the gray horizon like tendrils of some ancient monster. He could sense the many dormant souls of the outer settlement crowding the platform.

Not much appeared to have happened overnight. Everyone had slept, and nothing climbed the hill towards the outer settlement in the meantime.

Turning towards the castle interior, he began to take a few steps, then noticed one of the dormant souls heading his way.

Turning his head, he glanced at the stranger.

A tall, extremely athletic woman was walking down the path towards the spiraling road that led to the Dark City. She had braided brown hair and playful hazel eyes. She wore a short, white tunic, accompanied by bronze vambraces and greaves that clung to her olive skin tightly. A single cuirass with leather pteruges was strapped onto her chest.

She moved with the casual ease of someone entirely at home, her steps unhurried and confident. He didn't need his Attribute or Flaw to tell. She was content. Happy, even.

When she spotted him, a broad grin lit up her face, and she approached enthusiastically.

Nico rose a brow.

"Hey! You're new here, right?" she called, stopping a couple feet away. Then, she paused for and looked up at him blankly. "Huh. Pretty tall, too."

She laughed — loud and thunderous — and extended a hand:

"Where are my manners? My name's Effie! Nice armor you got there."

Nico eyed her before accepting her gesture with a light grip.

"Nico," he said. "Were you just going to hunt, Athena?"

The grin faltered. Her eyes narrowed as a spark of realization clicked in her head, and she retracted her hand, sheepishly rubbing her nape with a grimace. Then, she puffed herself up and straightened as if nothing had happened.

"Yup. That's the plan," she replied.

Then, with a darker tone:

"But don't bother trying to tag along. I already told that prick, Gunlaug, he could go buzz off. Really thought he'd take the hint after so long, too."

Nico shrugged.

"The Bright Lord didn't send me for you. I'm just... staying here now."

The huntress gave him an incredulous and confused look.

"You what? Why? Cozier than the Bright Castle, or something?"

His statuesque face tilted. She certainly was a sarcastic one.

"No. I'm here to help you all."

Athena blinked, then threw her head back and laughed — really laughed. Tears prickled the corners of her eyes, and she slapped her thigh in amusement.

"Oh! Oh, really?! That's just great! How noble of you, Sir Nico! You're a true paragon of the human race! Justice and salvation for all, am I right?!"

After that, she stifled another chuckle, then erupted into a second bought of laughter.

Nico waited, eyes half-lidded.

The boisterous huntress' laughter began to still a few seconds later, and he heard her click her tongue before turning and muttering to herself:

"Seriously, where's the fun in that? Not even a twitch! I heard he was stoic, but really, that's just too much..."

After that, she glanced back at him — more carefully, this time.

"Oh. You're serious, as well."

Another moment passed.

Nico nodded slightly.

"I suppose."

Without waiting for a response from her, he began walking back towards the castle.

Athena, behind him, smirked and shook her head, disappearing over the crest of the road a minute later.