Shadow Slave: Heir of the daemons

"As for where we'll go… Sunny will fill you in on that."

After being called on like that, Sunny – with apparently some hesitation – stood up and looked at all the other people currently present.

"That's right. But before I continue, I will answer the question that was previously brought up, 'Am I back?' The simple answer… no. You can see me as a mercenary if you want, nothing more, nothing less. …though, if you wish, I can also be a businessman, in the case you have memories you don't need." Sunny said those last words while having a slightly creepy grin on his face, and while rubbing his hands together, earning some awkward looks.

'Has he now really gone crazy?' Ray, Caster and Effie all thought at the same time.

Sunny saw these looks, coughed once in his hand… and then ignored them, rather continuing. "Okay, back to the topic at hand, for those of you more experienced in the dark city, you should be more familiar with some of the usual landmarks, like for example the destroyed library, or… the cathedral ruin. You all will stay in the vicinity of said cathedral, but I must warn you. Do not enter it."

Ever the easy spoken person, Effie was the first to respond, "Ah, so we're just gonna sit inside one of the ruins around the cathedral, and make it our hideout for the next few days, or what? And, what then, where are we going after that?"

This time it was Neph who answered, "That is all the necessary information for now, anything else of importance will be told to all of you when the time is right."

Ray narrowed his eyes, upon hearing that, "Hah, since when were we just nameless soldiers who run wherever you want us to, Neph-, no Changing Star?"

"You will get to know everything important once we're outside of the settlement." Nephis said matter-of-factly, not backing down a single inch.

Both of them held eye contact for a full minute, before Ray eventually stepped back. His plan was still getting out of this hell, and it would be too easily compromised by causing the camp to split right now. Nevertheless, he would remember it. After all, even he was allowed to be petty once in a while.

After the tense atmosphere was slowly subsiding, Caster's turn to speak came, "Good, now that all this is clear, how do we make the pairings, Lady Changing Star."

The gray haired girl looked over each of them again, before sighing once, "It'd be best to have one person with a lot of experience per pairing, of course. I say Sunny will return today, alone. The day after tomorrow, Effie and Cassie, then two days later, it will be Night and Caster's turn, and then another two days later will be Ray and me. Is everyone okay with this arrangement?"

Ray noticed two pairs of eyes nearly drilling holes in him. One of them Neph, whom was apparently waiting for any objections, and the other Henry. His pale friend hadn't been mentioned, and was as it seems not planned to be part of this operation.

This time though, Ray did not speak, causing both stares to decrease, before eventually disappearing completely. Nephis first, and eventually Henry's too, who now had a somewhat betrayed look on his face, though.

Nephis nodded, and concluded the meeting soon after. When everyone was beginning to leave – with Sunny being the first to head out – looking as if he was a fleeing lamb – Ray was approached by multiple people, namely all people he still really considered his friends.

Effie, Kai, and especially Henry all looked at him with accusatory looks, causing Ray to sigh and shake his head, "I know what you want to say, but I had my reasons for it, okay?"

"Oh, and what reasons were those then? I'm all ears," as expected, it was Henry who said it eventually.

Ray looked around, it seemed as if most other who had attended were still here, somehow. He didn't know if they still had things to do here, or were a bit overly nosy, and eventually decided gesture to the door.

This behavior was caught by the three of them, and while Henry was still a bit grumpy, he agreed. Henry, too, could guess why Ray didn't want to speak freely here. It just felt… uncomfortable, and oppressive, as if every move of theirs was watched by a predator.

Only when they were all outside of the building, and slightly away from the usual turmoil, did Ray start talking. "Alright, my first reason was most likely the same one – or at least one – that Nephis also had, Your Flaw. Honestly, last time was pure luck, it wasn't something I can replicate just like that, and it seems this time it could be a harder mission, judging from the way she behaved."

Kai just looked from the side, as he was not that heavily involved with everything here – something he hoped would change soon, but Effie and Henry had indeed complicated looks on their faces.

Not even giving them the chance to say anything to rebuke him, Ray continued, "And then we come to my second reason, I still don't fully trust Nephis. At least not since we were stranded here. And since Mason is someone that follows her, most likely mainly for her Name and prestige, but nonetheless he does. If only he stays back, then I wouldn't know what might happen on our return. I need someone I can trust around here."

These words seemed to calm down Henry a bit, though he still appeared frustrated. After all, it wasn't his fault to receive such a flaw, and now he couldn't even help his friend because of it. "Alright, I'll stay here. I will also keep an eye on Mason then."

Ray was relived to hear this, "Thank you, my friend. I won't forget this," 'and truly hope you won't too…' the last parts were left unspoken, since he really didn't know how [Heir of Oblivion] would interact with people, if he wasn't around.

The group then said some last few words, before eventually heading back to each of their homes, and since it would indeed not be for long, Ray eventually agreed on Kai's pestering, and allowed him to stay with him for a while, or rather sleep at his place.

All, of course since Ray was still unable to sleep.

Now he had just began to at most go with two nights without sleep at a time, well, rather two night without meditating. Even this was only possible thanks to his [Guardian's Shackles], because of it's enchantments allowed him passive Stamina regeneration, and therefore allowed his body to work longer without exhaustion.

His mind could become rested in that one night, and he could continue his studies on the other two days.

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And just like that, the days eventually passed, after the agreed two days, Effie, together with Cassie headed out, which was a slight comical sight to see, for those lucky enough to.

The giant huntress had simply picked up the blind seer – startling her in the process – and carried her with her like one would carry bag, under her arm. She then simply stormed off, heading towards the previously given location.

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Continuing two days later, Kai and Caster also headed out. One running on the ground while the other was flying above, appearing to keep guard. Ray had also warned Kai again, to remain somewhat cautious around the young legacy.

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Now, only Nephis and Ray needed to follow, which would happen in two days.

Ray had also made great progress with the Sorcery of Oaths, and was now nearly ready to use it for the first time. But, the question was, on who should he use it, and would it be ready in time, for whatever the figure had meant?

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It had been on the sixth night, that Ray finally managed to completely master it, doing so while sitting in his soul sea.

His 'roommate' noticed this, and as if somewhat delighted – or relieved – by it, threw in another tip, "Before you use it, summon whatever memories you may require in the next few days…"

After that, it had not even once responded to Ray, and just sat there and continued reading or observing some of the floating lights – his memories – circling around his sou-, no, demon cores.

Eventually morning arrived, and a commotion took place. Multiple members of the castle guard, as well as multiple pathfinders, along with their respective lieutenants suddenly walked through the settlement. Heading straight for Ray's house.

By now, most had been awake, and Ray was no exception. The previous evening, Nephis had notified him that they couldn't leave as early as the other had done, because there were still some things she needed to take care off.

'Well, sure hope she didn't actually mean me with that,' Ray thought in a sarcastic manner, upon seeing the whole squad that has come her for him specifically as it seemed.

Though, this seemed unlikely, since before they even reached his door, Nephis was already there and stood directly in their way. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded.

It was Gemma, the leader of the hunter party, as well as the pathfinders, who stepped forward, not appearing as in the mood for jokes, "Changing Star of the Immortal Flame, we're not here for you today. The king has ordered for the individual Lost Witness, or how he is normally called, Ray to be brought to him. By all means."

"That won't be hap-" "Alright, I'm coming with you," Nephis wanted to retort, but was cut short by the voice of Ray, who was now actually intrigued, what this was all about. It seemed too real to be some elaborate scheme of Neph.

And besides, he could escape nearly everything any sleeper on the forgotten shore – if not in general – could throw at him.

He stepped forward, but stopped for a second on the same height as Nephis, "I don't think anything will happen, besides, just make yourself ready and tell the other to stay down. This probably won't take long, but depending on how it ends, we may need to make haste afterwards."

After saying those words he just settled into the group of the host, that so generous to 'pick him up' and continued towards the castle.

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