Shadow Re: Slave

They looked at each other—stunned, shocked, unsure. But through each other's presence, they found the courage to follow the offer. Even if unease prickled beneath their skin.

No one truly knew Seishan—the mysterious leader of the handmaidens. There were only rumours about her beeing a legacy. And now, for reasons they couldn't fully grasp, they were meeting her in private.

But when they stepped through the door, it closed behind them with a soft, final click.

Inside, seated calmly at the far end of a small wooden table, was a young man with jet-black hair and a pale, porcelain face. There was something about him—an uncanny stillness, like a coiled shadow.

Seishan walked past them without a word and sat beside him. Then, gesturing to the chairs across from them, she said:

"Please, sit."

They obeyed.

Seishan folded her hands in her lap and spoke, her tone level:

"I know you two would rather be alone right now. You just wanted some time together, away from all of this. But… since we made that possible, I believe you owe us a few minutes of your time."

Kido and Gemma said nothing. They just glanced warily between her and the silent young man, whose presence filled the space like ink spreading in water.

Seishan continued:

"We have an offer for you. Or, well… he calls it an offer. It might not sound like one to you. He's willing to ensure that both of you—and everyone under your protection—makes it back to the waking world. But there's a condition: you must swear loyalty to him."

She paused.

"I had to do the same. Or he would've left me behind—stranded here, while the rest escaped. That same choice is before you now. I hope you choose wisely."

Kido's fists clenched.

She wanted to stand. To shout. To accuse them of arrogance and cruelty. Who were they to make such demands? To hold their lives hostage?

But when she looked at Seishan again… and then at the young man beside her… something in their expressions gave her pause.

Even Seishan had bowed her head to this man.

What hope did they have?

Gemma, sensing the danger, quietly reached over and took Kido's hand.

It grounded her. She stayed silent.

After a moment, Kido asked through gritted teeth, "What do you mean, leave us here? How could you force that—if you've already escaped, how would you keep us behind?"

The young man finally moved.

His voice was calm. Cold.

"There's something unusual about the gateway. Once the Crimson Terror is slain, the gate will weaken… and eventually collapse."

He looked at them without blinking.

"But it can be stabilized—as long as someone stays behind as a soul conduit. The others can leave."

He let that hang in the air.

"You don't have to believe me. But ask yourself, Gemma… what happens if Kido is the one who ends up trapped here? You'll be able to watch it happen in real-time. Her body in the waking world will clearly show how long she survived… how long she suffered alone in here, kept alive in the pod—but never waking."

Gemma's face twisted with rage.

"You're bluffing," he spat. "You're just some worm trying to act like a god."

In the next instant, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

The young man—Sunny—let his killing intent surge.

It was like a tidal wave of death.

A suffocating, crushing force slammed into them both. Their lungs seized. The world narrowed to the oppressive weight of that aura… until Saint appeared behind them, stepping from the shadows like a marble wraith.

She placed a hand on each of their shoulders.

Her presence—an Ascended Demon now, evolved and terrible—amplified Sunny's killing intent. Their auras merged into a storm of silent annihilation. Gemma and Kido went pale.

Frozen.

Only when the pressure finally lifted—slightly—did Seishan speak again, her voice like ice:

"We're being generous. He's being generous. He could've killed you the moment you walked through that door. But he didn't."

She stared them down.

"Because he doesn't need you. But he is willing to keep you alive… to help your people survive. That's more than most would offer."

She let her words settle.

"If we don't work together, there will be a throne war once Gunlaug falls. He could kill Gunlaug at any moment if he wanted to. People will die. If we don't unify, more will perish on the march to the Crimson Spire. All because of pride… or doubt."

She shook her head.

"He could've escaped already. Alone, if he wanted. Let the gate collapse. Leave all of us behind to rot."

Her eyes sharpened.

"But he didn't."

"Even though it may sound bad to swear loyalty to someone," Seishan said, her voice calm but firm, "I can guarantee you—he is better than Gunlaug. And for people like you, not born into great clans, it's not nearly as bad as it is for me."

She paused, letting the words sink in.

"So… make your decision now."

With that, Sunny and Seishan stood up and walked toward the door.

"We'll be back in five minutes," she added over her shoulder. "We'll at least let you talk freely."

The door clicked shut behind them, leaving Gemma and Kido in heavy silence.

Slowly, both of them sat back upright. They looked at each other.

And after a moment, they already knew their answer.

They had witnessed his power.

They had felt his will.

And they had heard the promise he made—freedom, a return home. Something Gunlaug could never give them.

They had only followed Gunlaug because he was strong… because there had been no other choice.

But now… now there was someone stronger. And more than that—someone with vision, and a plan.

With Gunlaug, nothing would change.

With him whose name they didn't even knew…

There was a chance. A real one.

So their decision was already made.

But still, after a long moment of silence, Kido turned to Gemma, her voice low and uncertain.

"What do you think of that man?" she asked. "Can he really keep the promises he made?"

Gemma exhaled slowly, his eyes still fixed on the closed door. Then, after a pause, he gave a small shrug.

"I've never seen a Sleeper that powerful," he admitted quietly. "Rarely even an Awakened with that kind of killing intent."

He hesitated, then added, more thoughtfully:

"And there was something else… something I couldn't quite identify. But it was there. Something deeper. He's dangerous—but if anyone has a chance of pulling this off…"

He looked at her and nodded, firm this time.

"It's him."

When the door opened again, Kido and Gemma stood up and met the gazes of Sunny and Seishan with steady eyes.

"We've made our decision," Kido said calmly. "We'll swear loyalty."

Sunny smiled faintly, stepping forward.

"Good," he said. "Then give me your arms."

He extended his own hand slightly as Serpent slithered from his sleeve.

"My name is Sunless," he added with a smile. "But you can call me Sunny. And I'll give you something… a gift, for joining."

Serpent gently touched their forearms, and a single drop of black essence flowed out. It spread like ink across their skin, forming the intricate, living design of the Mark of Shadows.

"This mark will help you grow stronger," Sunny explained. "I'm Awakened now. And, in theory, those bearing my mark can help you Awaken too… but no one has made it yet. Except me."

Kido and Gemma looked at the tattoos in awe, then back at him. He continued without pause, delving into their plans for the future—his and Nephis's.

When he reached the part about the expedition to retrieve the Dusk Shard, Kido raised her hand.

"Wouldn't it be better if we joined that expedition too?"

Sunny blinked… then nodded slowly.

"Actually… you're right," he admitted. "As long as we can ensure the safety of those staying behind, the more of us go, the better. Except maybe for one part—there's a stretch where we'll need boats, and space will be tight. But otherwise… yes."

His expression grew more thoughtful.

"That means we'll have to overthrow Gunlaug before the expedition."

He looked at Seishan for a moment, as if weighing something, then nodded to himself.

"Alright. Seishan, would you stay behind and lead while we're gone—if Lady Changing Star agrees to it?"

Seishan tilted her head slightly, studying him with those cool, calculating eyes. She remained quiet for a moment, weighing the implications of his words. Then, slowly, she gave a small, graceful nod.

"If she agrees… then yes. I'll hold things together."

Seishan's smile didn't fade, but something colder crept into her eyes.

Sunny's voice was light, almost casual—almost.

"But make no mistake, Seishan," he said, looking at her without a flicker of hesitation.

"Don't think for a second you can stab me in the back while I'm gone.

Or take precautions to do it later, in the waking world."

He tilted his head slightly, like a predator studying another predator.

"You'll be under watch."

The words weren't loud. They didn't need to be.

It wasn't a threat. It was a certainty.

Seishan's smile remained, but her fingers tapped once against her arm—just once. A tell. She knew what kind of man she was dealing with. He wasn't bluffing. He didn't need to.

She gave a graceful, half-mocking bow from where she sat.

"I wouldn't dream of it, my liege," she said with a trace of amusement, and a trace more respect than before.

Sunny didn't blink.

He glanced back at Gemma and Kido. "But we'll still need to decide when and how Gunlaug will fall. I'd rather not kill him myself. Better if Nephis does it, so no one suspects me."

At that, Gemma finally spoke:

"Why not strike when he's alone? We'll make sure no one interrupts or sees anything. Have him hand over his echo, then you—or Nephis—can decide whether to kill him or not. Afterward, we three appoint Lady Changing Star as the new ruler."

He hesitated, then added, "But what about Harus? No one knows his Aspect. He could be dangerous… even for you."

Sunny's smile sharpened.

"I know it," he said. "He makes people blind."

His tone turned cold. "I can kill him. Quietly. Without causing chaos—which isn't possible with Gunlaug."

Kido furrowed her brow. "Alright… but Tessai? Will he really accept all this?"

Sunny's eyes gleamed faintly.

"Actually… let him challenge Changing Star," he said. "Let her defeat him in front of everyone. Let them see her power, her radiance. Her brilliance. Let them believe in something again."

He turned his gaze serious.

"She'll be the symbol of hope. The star of humanity."

Then his voice dropped, low and intense:

"And as for me—never mention my name. Not to strangers. Not even in passing. If we return to the waking world, I'll say just enough to get designated as a special strategic asset… but that's all. I want to be seen as the weakest among you."

His smile returned, crooked and sincere.

"So help me stay in the shadows."