Shadow Slave

Chapter 12

Right now, that obstacle was looking down, avoiding Sunny's gaze. His hand was resting on the sword handle. As always, the young slave had no idea about what was going on inside Hero's perfectly shaped head.

The uncertainty was making him nervous.

Finally, after some time had passed, the soldier spoke:

"I have only one question."

Both Sunny and Scholar stared at him while holding their breaths.

"Yes?"

"You said that one of us must be sacrificed to save the other two. Why him? From what I see, you are far closer to the grave."

'A great question! I was just about to ask it myself.'

Sunny turned to the older slave, trying very hard to suppress a mocking grin. But to his dismay, Scholar had an answer ready.

"Before the first attack, he was already bleeding because of your senior's whip. During the attack, he was drenched in the blood of a fellow slave. His cloak, too, was soaked in it when the previous owner died. The boy already reeks of blood. Keeping him alive will put us in danger. That's why he is the best choice."

The grin died before reaching Sunny's face.

'Curse you and your big brain!'

Scholar's reasoning was appallingly solid. Hero listened, his expression growing darker with each word. Finally, he looked at Sunny, a dangerous light shining in his eyes.

"That is true."

Sunny felt his mouth getting dry. Cold sweat was running down his spine. He tensed, ready to act…

But at that moment, Hero smiled.

"Your logic is almost unassailable," he said, unsheathing the sword. "However, you failed to account for one thing."

raised an eyebrow, trying to hide his own

"What might that be?"

disappearing from his face. Now, he was radiating thick, practically palpable

done, and how you ended up a salve. Just one of the revolting crimes you have committed would be enough to

Scholar's eyes widened.

but the smell of

it. I'll make you bleed enough to overpower whatever residual scent

Hero lunged forward with a speed that seemed almost inhuman. A moment later, Scholar was shrieking on the ground, his leg broken with one strike from the flat side of the young soldier's sword. Not giving him an opportunity to recover, Hero stomped on his other leg, and a sickening sound of shattering bones could

that, Scholar was

actions was in such stark contrast with his usually graceful demeanor that

soldier gave him a calm look and said in a

"Wait for me here."

path, soon disappearing behind a

was left

This is… this is too

couldn't believe how sudden Scholar's demise

though nothing had happened. But it was exactly that normalcy that unnerved Sunny the

the contents of Scholar's rucksack and throwing most of the firewood out, the young soldier put it over

go. We

what to say, Sunny gave him a nod

were only two

stupid,

than scaling the mountain wall. He even had time for unnecessary thoughts. A strange feeling of melancholy descended on Sunny… somehow, he

for some time before

your fault. The decision was mine,

a few steps ahead, so Sunny couldn't see

actually, it's better that you don't. Just trust me

wonder which one

rationalize their actions, always desperate to maintain an

getting an answer,

to talk, do you? Well, fair enough. Silence

again after that, each preoccupied

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