Shadow Slave

Inside the lacquered box, an intricately engraved vambrace was laying on black silk. It was forged from a light silvery metal and decorated with a pattern resembling interlaid feathers. The vambrace emanated a feeling of restrained power, and just from a passing glance, one could tell that it was an extraordinary item.

Awakened Telle, however, seemed unimpressed.

Well… from what Sunny could remember, she always seemed that way. The young woman raised an eyebrow.

«Master Sunless. From what I remember, I commissioned you to procure a suit of armor.»

He smiled.

«Your memory is stellar, my lady. But don't be concerned… this vambrace possesses a rare enchantment that allows it to unfold into a full plate of impregnable armor, just like what you wished to purchase. The process only takes a second, and consumes very little essence. While such a trait might bring a slight inconvenience in case of a sudden attack, it also makes this Memory uniquely adaptable.»

Telle's eyes gleamed.

«…I assume that it can be used by a Saint?»

Sunny nodded.

«Indeed. It can accommodate any type of Transformed creature up to about fifty times the size of an average human. The speed with which the vambrace unfolds remains the same. Of course, the essence expenditure grows in proportion.»

He continued to smile, but really, Sunny wanted to cry on the inside.

That was because it took him an incredible quantity of magical alloy to create the damned vambrace. The thing looked small, but he would have had to bankrupt the Brilliant Emporium in order to purchase the materials needed to forge it… if anyone would even sell them to him. In the end, he had been forced to track down and kill a dozen Corrupted Beasts with metallic carapaces to complete the commission.

Which meant that Sunny had not suffered a loss… but he could have sold all that Transcendent steel, instead!

His heart was bleeding.

In fact, he was even lamenting the cost of the expensive lacquered box with silk furbishing that Aiko had made him buy for the vambrace.

«But it is for a good cause.»

Sunny had to remind himself why he had put in extra effort to make sure that this Memory was particularly potent and durable.

Awakened Telle finally showed a hint of satisfaction. She studied the Memory for a few moments, then asked in a slightly warmer tone:

«You have conducted a thorough study of its other enchantments, of course. What are they? Oh, and what is its name?»

Sunny carefully picked up the vambrace and began the description:

«My lady, this Transcendent Memory of the Fourth Tier is called the Belated Apology. Apart from the unfolding enchantment, it also possesses three others. One vastly enhances its physical durability. The other grants the person wearing it greatly increased protection from elemental attacks. Finally, the third enchantment might interest you the most. It allows the master of the Memory to make it as light as a feather.»

a smile appeared on the

course it did. That set of enchantments was almost perfect

and put the vambrace back in the box. Then, he asked, pretending to do it only out of politeness: «Oh? And how is

Feather clan. She was the daughter of Saint Tyris and Master Roan…

into her a few times in the Sanctuary of Noctis, and later in Falcon Scott. To his shame, though, he had never known that the standoffish girl was actually the daughter of his benefactors, mostly

after coming to Bastion that Sunny realized his mistake. Telle smiled

well, apart from lacking a good Transcendent armor… and still being in the doghouse because of having challenged the Third Nightmare against

She fell silent abruptly.

why am I telling

at Sunny with

she blushed a little and looked

in any case, both of my parents are fine. They are awfully busy, of

perplexed by her

«Unsurprising.»

Feather's prominence had risen greatly since

smiled and lowered his head

I wish them all the

—— —— ——

up purchasing the Belated Apology and leaving the

Sunny knew that the Memory he had painstakingly created would serve

customers visited the Brilliant Emporium to enjoy tea and snacks after a long day of work. The evening crowd receded, and the sun disappeared beyond the horizon. Moonlight and darkness enveloped the streets of Bastion, and

Sunny in the

went to the porch to

city surrounding him, full of countless people…

he couldn't help

a while, watching the pale

he sighed

go to bed. Everything else can wait until

had been

suddenly rang again. Surprised at the appearance of a late

sorry, but we are about to

words died

a delicate young woman in a seawave cloak. Her hair was like a cascade of pale gold, and her eyes…

hiding her eyes, the young woman's ethereal, otherworldly

her head in the

I am sorry. I'm afraid I'm a bit

silent, trying to

what is she

and put on the polite smile