Shadow slave: A Shadows Friend

Among Gunlaug's followers, there were two other distinct groups of people.

The first group was composed of Sleepers with useful Utility Abilities and their assistants. These individuals, known as Artisans, were crucial to the castle's daily life. Their responsibilities included creating and maintaining essential items that ensured survival and made life on the Forgotten Shore more tolerable. This included crafting clothes, tools, equipment, utensils, and various other necessary gear.

Each Artisan led a small team of less skilled Sleepers who helped in crafting these vital items. In total, there were about a hundred people in this group, with the majority being assistants. This group was overseen by Kido, a young woman with exceptional management skills and a unique Ability that allowed her to alter the attributes of certain plants.

Kido's garden provided the vegetables for Rin's stew. Given the scarcity and lack of variety in food on the Forgotten Shore, her Ability was invaluable. This made it no surprise that she rose to the rank of lieutenant despite her young age, outshining many of her older peers.

Kido was one of the people Rin wanted to recruit as a teammate.

The status of Artisans was a contentious issue in Bright Castle. Guards believed that since Artisans were mostly non-combatants, they should hold a lower status compared to those who risked their lives in battles against Nightmare Creatures.

On the other hand, Artisans argued that their rare Utility Aspects and crucial role in maintaining the castle's living conditions merited greater prestige than the Castle Guard, which they saw as a group of random recruits. This conflict had been simmering for a long time and showed no signs of resolution.

Interestingly, Hunters, who faced the most danger, didn't care about the dispute. Their leader, Gemma, quietly supported the Artisans and their chief, Kido, which kept the Guards from pushing their argument too forcefully. Rin also wanted Gemma on her list of potential teammates.

Another group loyal to Gunlaug was the Handmaidens. These young women quietly handled various chores around the castle, such as ensuring windows were closed before nightfall and distributing food during mealtime.

They were responsible for maintaining the castle itself, as well as serving the high-ranking members of the Host. There were about a hundred of them.

From what Rin knew about the world, these poor girls should have been prime targets for abuse within the walls of the ancient stronghold. However, to her surprise, they were actually strangely revered and even a little feared. The main reason for this was their leader, a mysterious and strikingly beautiful woman known as Seishan.

Seishan who was too creepy for Rin to consider as a potential teammate.

She not only took care of her Handmaidens but also secretly trained them in self-defense. The full extent of their training was unknown, but Rin noticed that members of the Castle Guard were generally very careful to behave themselves around the Handmaidens… most of the time.

Another reason for the Handmaidens' relative safety was that, like everything else in the castle, they technically belonged to Gunlaug. Gunlaug was very particular about people laying hands on his possessions without permission. Even if some foolish Guard was brave enough to anger Seishan, no one with a desire to live would dare to get on the bad side of the Bright Lord.

Rin decided against making Seishan a teammate because of what Sunny had observed. The first time Sunny sent his shadow to spy on the Handmaidens, it almost got caught.

This incident marked the first time someone had detected Sunny's shadow, thats what sunny told her at least. Seishan, standing gracefully with her back to the shaded corner where the shadow was hidden, was calmly giving instructions to a subordinate. In an instant, she turned around and stared directly at the concealed shadow, sensing its presence.

Fortunately, this time, he didn't stir up too much trouble. Once Seishan had returned to her conversation, Sunny quickly dismissed the shadow and has since kept his distance from the enigmatic beauty and her handmaidens.

Rin had also walked past her in one of her many escapades around the castle corridor, normally she could get a good read on people through her sensory pulses

((A/N: im changing the ability sensory techniques too sensory pulse, just sounds better)

As soon as her essence rippled outward and the waves came rushing back, Seishan froze. The energy that returned to Rin carried a chilling sense of dread and darkness, like a warning that gripped her soul. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to get as far away as possible. But she knew—if she gave in to that fear, it would have been the end of her. So, with every ounce of willpower, she fought against the urge to flee and forced herself to walk away, calmly, as if nothing had happened.

The last hundred people in the castle were those who paid tribute but didn't serve Gunlaug directly. Since they didn't have an official title, sunny called them "tenants."

There were two types of tenants: the smaller group comprised those who made a decent living by providing various services to Gunlaug's men, mostly related to craftsmanship and entertainment. For example, one man had set up a music lounge, another ran a small theater troupe, and an enterprising young woman even operated a gambling den.

Many tenants in the castle were like Harper—lucky enough to have found their way inside, but struggling to hang on by a thread. They scraped together soul shards for tribute through servitude and a variety of menial tasks.

These unfortunate souls occupied the lowest rung of the castle's social ladder.

At the other extreme of this hierarchy was the golden serpent, the castle's master, Bright Lord Gunlaug.

According to Effie, he was a man who was nearly immortal.

On their fifth day within the ancient stronghold, they finally encountered the despised tyrant.

The sight of him made her stomach turn.

*****

Though Gunlaug's presence loomed over every corner of the castle, the Bright Lord himself remained an enigma, rarely showing his face. He preferred to rule through his six proxies, whether out of arrogance, paranoia, or some deeper, hidden motive. Rin couldn't be sure of his reasons.

After the troubling events with Seishan, Rin was on edge. She had warned Sunny to avoid using shadow walking too recklessly and to steer clear of Gunlaug at all costs. The fearsome master of the ancient stronghold was not someone to take lightly. These cautious steps had ensured that none of them had seen Gunlaug since arriving at the castle.

But when Gunlaug, also known as the Golden Serpent, did decide to make an appearance, he left no room for subtlety. His arrival was always an event, something that made the air in the castle feel thicker, more charged.

Rin, Sunny, and Cassie stuck together constantly now, especially after Rin's run-in with the red-hooded cultists. Luna had warned her that these fanatics were everywhere, always lurking, their presence a shadow that clung to every place they visited in the castle.

That morning, as they waited for their usual breakfast in the grand hall, a strange tension settled over the room. Conversations died out, and a heavy silence fell. Unease crept through the group as they instinctively turned towards the entrance, just in time to see a flood of guards pouring into the hall, their arrival like the gathering of a storm. Something was coming.

*What's this?*

*Sunny DONT DO ANYTHING STUPID*

*yeah yeah*

*Sunny im serious*

Fearing the worst, her mind raced, scrambling for an escape plan... but to her surprise, the menacing soldiers barely glanced their way. Instead, they fanned out across the hall, methodically shifting the long tables to the edges of the room, clearing out a wide open space in the center.

Cassie leaned in close to Sunny, gripping his shoulder, and whispered:

"What is going on?"

He paused for a moment, then spoke the truth that was on both of their minds:

"I'm not sure…"

She heard sunny speak to her

*Look casters over there*

She followed Sunny's gaze, her eyes landing on Caster in the crowd. His striking features were softened by a serious, almost troubled expression. He stood still, his focus drawn to a shadowy alcove at the far end of the hall.

As if drawn by some invisible force, the Sleepers all began to turn, slowly facing that same dark corner. Those around them, uncertain but compelled, mirrored the movement.

Everyone, that is, except Cassie—because, well... being blind tends to complicate things like that.

Out of the shadows of the alcove, five figures slowly emerged and positioned themselves at the base of the throne's steps. They were Gemma, Tessai, Seishan, Kido, and the fifth lieutenant.

The moment Rin's eyes fell on him, an uncontrollable shiver raced down her spine. She resisted the urge to activate her sensory scan, knowing full well the risk. These weren't just ordinary people—they radiated power. If they caught her probing their abilities, there would be no question about what would happen next. Death was inevitable.

The fifth lieutenant, despite holding no official role in the Bright Castle, inspired a deeper fear than any of the others. His appearance was unsettling: a pale, gaunt figure with hollow, glassy eyes devoid of any emotion. His twisted spine gave him a hunched posture, making him seem shorter than he actually was.

Dressed in plain black clothing without a single ornament, he stood awkwardly, as though the attention he drew made him uncomfortable. Yet, despite his uneasy stance, there was something about him that made even the most hardened warriors avert their gaze.

His name was Harus, the Bright Lord's second hidden blade and silent executioner. When someone needed to be eliminated, Harus was the one sent to deliver the final blow. He was the weapon Gunlaug wielded in the shadows, dispensing punishment with ruthless precision. If Gunlaug wanted his wrath to be known, it was Harus who painted the streets in blood, a brutal reminder of the cost of defiance.

For those in Gunlaug's way, vanishing without a trace was a common fate. One moment, they existed—enemies, traitors, or simply unfortunate souls—and the next, they were erased from the world, as if they'd never drawn breath.

Harus moved like a phantom through the castle, a figure of whispered legend, a presence that seemed to flicker between the seams of reality. Many of the castle's inhabitants had seen him only in nightmares, waking with cold sweats, haunted by the memory of his cold, empty eyes peering from the shadows. But for the unlucky few, those nightmares bled into the waking world.

To Harus, no command from Gunlaug was too vile or grotesque. He followed orders with an eerie willingness, his soul as cold and lifeless as the bodies he left behind. He was more than a killer; he was Gunlaug's silent vengeance, lurking in every dark corner, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

'yep my next target'

Rin fought to suppress the smile tugging at her lips. Harus was a key piece in this dangerous game—a pivotal pawn that could tip the scales. If she could secure him, the information he held would be priceless. The secrets he knew, the vulnerabilities he could expose—it would be a treasure trove for any nation. A spy of his caliber was more than an asset; he was a weapon.

She forced herself to break her gaze before the hunchback could sense her staring. Turning her head, she caught sight of the figure that had finally stepped out of the shadows.

She squinted slightly, unsure. It looked like a man, but with that shimmering gold skin, there was something otherworldly about him—almost like a demon cloaked in human form.

Bright Lord Gunalug was clad in a strange, gilded armor that covered his tall figure from head to toe, not leaving even his eyes exposed. It seemed simultaneously solid and liquid, almost flowing over his mighty muscles and broad, powerful shoulders.

In the spot where his face should have been, there was instead a smooth, polished surface of gold that glimmered ominously, reflecting the terrified expressions of the hundreds of Sleepers surrounding him. Rin caught sight of her own image staring back, and in that moment, she felt a rush of realization wash over her: she was so small and fragile compared to this towering figure.

She gritted her teeth, fighting against the wave of fear. The pressure emanating from Gunlaug was almost tangible, a heavy force that seemed to weigh down the very air around him. Those standing near Rin were experiencing a similar sensation. Their faces had gone pale, eyes wide with shock, and beads of sweat began to form on their temples. Even the lieutenants, usually composed and confident, were visibly unsettled, caught in the grip of this overwhelming aura just like everyone else.

*God… damn… it… that's not an aura, that's a mind attack!*

As Sunny's warning echoed in her ears, her Irises bled red, and the overwhelming sensation began to fade. Instead of cowering before the towering figure, she stood her ground with a fierce sense of defiance. Shaking off the lingering effects of Gunlaug's psychic pressure, she took a deep breath to steady herself. Turning her gaze toward Cassie, a wave of concern washed over her, and she silently hoped her friend was holding up well amidst the chaos.

*Is Cassie alright?*

To her surprise, the blind girl was doing absolutely fine. Unlike the rest of them, she wasn't showing any signs of distress.

Sunny also stared at her and blinked a couple of times.

*The reflection… this all started when I saw my reflection in the visor of that bastard's weird armor… but Cassie is blind, so…*

Gunlaug didn't appear to be launching a real attack against them; rather, it felt as though he was wielding some kind of enchantment linked to that peculiar golden armor he wore. Anyone who gazed upon its reflective, mirror-like surface was instantly overwhelmed by an intense mix of emotions—an unsettling sense of awe, a deep-seated dread, and an almost irresistible urge to submit. It was as if the armor itself held a power that compelled obedience, ensnaring their minds and leaving them grappling with their own will.

*What… what kind of a Memory can practically paralyze several hundred people just from its passive effect?*

*His apparently*

*But How was this possible?*

As Gunlaug walked toward the empty white throne, he moved with an air of confidence and grace. He settled onto the throne, and the soft light streaming through the many openings in the alcove's back wall danced off his armor, giving him an ethereal glow that seemed to illuminate the entire space.

The golden mirror that served as his visage turned to survey the rows of Sleepers trembling at his feet, their anxiety palpable in the stillness. Each of them was aware of the power he wielded, and their unease was a reflection of the weight of his presence.

There was an unsettling presence that lingered in the throne room, pulling at her instinct to look away from the shadowy corner. Yet, thanks to the unique ability she had just activated in her eyes, she couldn't help but gaze into the darkness.

What she saw sent a chill down her spine: five figures encircled a foreboding throne made of black wood. A man sat upon that throne, draped entirely in black. His collar rose high, obscuring his neck, and his face was concealed by a mask resembling a demonic fox, its fangs bared menacingly. Surrounding him were four figures clad in flowing red cloaks, their presence as ominous as the dark lord they served. Her expression shifted, clouded with unease and a deepening sense of foreboding.

'the sixth lieutenant'

Gulags first hidden blade the ones who don't leave any blood behind, when your a target there is no coming back, you disappear

The same individuals who had dispatched a hit squad to eliminate her just days earlier were now the ones harboring a mole within their twisted little cult of assassins. Her focus shifted as the masked man turned his gaze toward her, causing her to turn her heaven's eyes off. She allowed herself to be ensnared by his invisible skill, intentionally surrendering to the illusion of being overlooked and unnoticed.

'he has a skill or item that makes him unconsciously hard to look at even sunny s falling for it'

A few moments later, an unsettling and sinister voice echoed from every corner, as if the very walls of the castle were murmuring secrets directly into their ears:

"Ah, what a nice day it is today. A perfect day for justice, don't you think, my precious wards? I've heard that there's a criminal hiding among us today. Well… am I not fair? Am I not just? Let me show you how just I am…"