No Return (Shadow Slave Fan-Fic)

The rest of the way to the tall hill did not take a lot of time. With Nephis leading the way, taking all the right turns at all the right places, there was no need to explore the labyrinth and backtrack after encountering a dead end. Additionally, there were no scavengers around.

In fact, they could have moved ever quicker if not for Cassia, who walked slowly even with the help of her staff. Guided by the golden rope, she carefully explored the ground ahead before taking each step. The uneven paths of the crimson forest were not an ideal surface for a blind person to walk on.

Seeing her struggle Levi decided to speak up as walked next to Cassia.

"Cassia , let me carry you."

Since Levi was most likely physically the strongest of the group even if his looks didn't look like it due to his lean build.

Cassie looked at Nephis first asking her silently if it was a good idea.. Nephis glanced over at Levi then looked back at Cassie , then shrugged. She then dismissed the golden rope around Cassia. Sensing that Cassia also dismissed her staff. 

Levi walked in front of Cassia , bending down so she could climb onto his back safely. She draped her arms around his shoulders , holding on tightly. Levi held her legs , being careful not to touch her excessively. He got up and started walking behind Nephis and Sunny. He wasn't having trouble carrying the blind girl. She was light-weight.

"Thank you.."

Cassia muttered. She was most likely embarrassed.

"Your welcome."

***

The sunset was not far off when they reached the hill. After climbing it and approaching the massive growth of coral, Nephis summoned back her golden rope. 

Levi wondered what qualities the magical rope had. Soon, his curiosity was satisfied: right in front of his surprised eyes, the length of the rope suddenly began to increase. Soon, it was thrice as long as it was before.

Nephis calmly tied both ends of the rope into loops and then threw one of them into the air, accurately coiling it around a prominent protrusion near the top of the coral pillar. Then, she tested if the rope would hold, swiftly climbed up and wave from above, giving them the signal to follow.

Sunny went first , after he successfully climbed on top , Levi approached the rope.

"Cassia , hold on tight.."

She coiled her arms around Levi's shoulders , holding onto him tightly. Levi climbed the rope with no hints of hardship , soon they reached the top. Levi led Cassie into the middle and helped her sit. Cassie looked at him.. or at least turned her head his way.. 

"Thank you.."

Levi nodded at her.

The coral mound was much larger than the circular stone platform of the giant knight's neck. In fact, it was almost like a small island. At the highest point of the island, hidden behind some coral blades, the girls had made a little camp. There were piles of seaweed to sleep on, strips of scavenger meat drying under the sun, and a firepit.

Sunny pointed to the makeshift firepit.

"Was it you two nights ago? I've seen an orange light in the distance."

Cassia's face darkened.

"Yes, this was the first time we made a fire. But it turned out to be a really bad mistake."

Nephis sighed.

Sunny raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Why?"

The blind girl touched her hair and turned her head to Nephis.

"At night, any light will attract monsters. We were attacked by scavengers first. And then...then..."

She paled and didn't finish.

"Uh. I see."

Nephis looked at the sky and cleared her throat.

"It should be fine now. We still have time before the sun sets."

After that, she got busy making the fire. Cassia simply sat on a pile of seaweed and waited. Levi also took a seat next to the bonfire , watching Nephis make firepit. She did it in the same was he was thought how to , so he lost interest in it pretty quickly. He looked around , Sunny was laying on the ground , letting his bruised body rest , but then he suddenly spoke up.

"I have fresh meat in my rucksack. Do you have water?"

Cassia smiled.

"Yes!"

After that, she extended an arm to him. A second later, a beautiful bottle made of patterned blue glass appeared in her hand.

"That's a Memory I have. It's always full."

Levi looked at the memory with envy.

"That is sure a very useful memory.."

"Thank you."

Sunny brought the bottle to his lips and greedily drank the cool, delicious water. Indeed, no matter how much he drank, the amount of water inside did not seem to decrease.

"Is it really endless?"

Cassia touched her hair again.

"Uh ... not really. If you turn it upside down and let the water flow, it will stop in half an hour or so. But then it will be full again pretty soon."

Levi looked at Cassia.

"Can I have some too?"

"Of course!"

Sunny lent him the memory , and Levi also drank from the cup greedily. The water was cool and was delicious.. not like the rainwater he drank a while ago. After getting his share of water he lent it back to Cassia.

"Thanks.."

At that time, Nephis was already done making the fire. Without looking up, she took Sunny's rucksack and opened it. Immediately, the soul shard rolled out. The tall girl looked at it, then at Sunny. Then she put the shard back in and pulled out the meat.

Levi also gave Sunny the side-eye , he didn't think much of it , he just did that to tease Sunny. Sunny only smiled in response.

Soon, the rich smell of roasting meat permeated the air. At the same time, the sun was beginning to approach the horizon; a loud rumble came from somewhere beneath, and first traces of the black water began to appear between crimson walls of the labyrinth.

Sunny looked east, where the skies were already growing dark. Then he uncomfortably shifted.

"Do scavengers come all the way up here?"

Nephis turned the meat and nodded.

"Yes. But ... only at night. In the day, most of them seem to disappear."

Sunny grinned. Most likely having something to tell about it , and a few seconds later he finally spilled the tea.

"That's because they all gather near the place I had been spending my time recently. You should have seen it - the tall cliff to the west of here. Well, it's actually a statue."

Cassia opened her eyes wide.

"A...a statue? But for you to survive, it should be..."

"Yes, it's a giant statue of a knight, at least two hundred meters tall. He is missing his head, so I hid on top of the neck. Anyway ... the day we were sent here, two sea creatures fought each other near that statue. When the water receded, I saw an enormous carcass lying there, with hundreds of scavengers slowly tearing it apart."

"How lucky you are."

Levi jabbed and Sunny and gave him a smug smile. Sunny narrowed his eyes at him , making Levi let out an amused scoff. 

Then Nephis continued without reacting to their bickering

"That would explain the lack of Nightmare Creature in the day. How long?"

Sunny blinked.

"How long what?"

Changing Star stared at him for a few seconds, making everyone feel uncomfortable.

"How long ... until they are done devouring the carcass?"

"Oh. One day more, two at most."

Nephis turned away, took the meat away from the fire, and then quickly extinguished it.

'Great.. another weirdo..'

The four of them ate in the dimming light of the twilight. The meat was juicy, tender and indescribably delicious. It was one of the best type's of meats he had ever tasted in his life. But hunger most likely played a role in that too.

From time to time, they would pass the glass bottle to each other.

When they were finished with their meal, the dark sea was back, and the night was upon them. Everything was consumed by absolute darkness.

Levi couldn't see anything unfortunately , but at least he could sense who shifted or who was where..

Breaking the silence , Cassia spoke up..

"How about we formally introduce ourselves? I'm Cassie."

"Neph."

"Levi."

Levi told his name in a calm manner. Next was Sunny's turn.

"I'm Sunless. But you can call me Sunny."