Shadow Slave novel Chapter 2175

Chapter 2175 Blind Faith

After having a short discussion, Cassie and Helie were ready to set out. There was no reason to linger, anyway — the decision had been made, and there was no going back. Helie was concerned for the clan, but at the moment, the best way she could protect them was to play dead for a while. The abominable jungle rustled eerily around the two of them, making Cassie's skin crawl. She shivered and placed her hand on the hilt of the Quiet Dancer, trying to find comfort in its familiar texture. Altering Jest's memories had burned most of her remaining essence… in fact, she had been forced to cut the connection to most of her marks while delving into his past to preserve some, and as a result, she was truly and utterly blind at the moment. She could not even activate her Awakened Ability — or rather, she could, but only for a short while. Which meant that it was better not to use her Aspect unless there was an emergency. Both of she and Helie were beaten and battered, still reeling from the fierce violence of the battle and utterly exhausted. Nevertheless, Cassie spoke after hesitating for a few moments:

"Saint Helie… I'm afraid I am running quite low on soul essence. So, while my Echo will be of some help, I will have to rely on you to get us out of this appalling jungle."

She could not see what expression the beautiful Saint made, but it somehow felt like someone was giving her a dubious look. In the end, Helie coughed. "Sure, no problem. Luckily, I wasted very little essence myself — that old goat prevented me from using my Aspect throughout most of the battle, after all. And I am sure that your Echo will be very helpful, as well."

She paused for a moment, and then added in a slightly stifled tone:

"...Where did this creepy Echo come from, anyway? What kind of vile, ghastly Nightmare Creature did you kill to get it, Lady Cassia?"

Cassie tilted her head a little, then answered honestly:

"Oh… it is an Echo of myself."

Helie seemed to have lost the ability to speak for a few moments. Then, she asked in a small voice:

"W—what?"

Cassie shrugged. "Well… certain events transpired in my Third Nightmare, and as a result, I had to kill a Corrupted version of myself. I happened to receive an Echo, as well."

Helie took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. Then, she looked back to the delicate young woman standing motionlessly in front of her. 'Right. Of course. Why not? Sounds perfectly reasonable!'

...Not!

"And you just keep an Echo of yourself around?"

Song of the Fallen nodded elegantly. "I do."

Then, her expression changed slightly, and she added hastily: "Of a Corrupted version of myself. Hence the tentacles… please don't misunderstand, Saint Helie! I absolutely do not have those myself. After all, I am not some eldritch horror wearing human skin. I am most definitely a perfectly normal human woman."

Helie stared at her for a bit, then forced out an unconvincing chuckle. "Sure… sure, of course! If you say so."

It was funny — she was old enough to be Cassia's mother… no, maybe a cool aunt… but, somehow, it did not feel that way. If anything, the exquisitely beautiful young woman gave her the opposite feeling. Shaking her head, Helie called upon the power of her Aspect and assumed her Transcendent form. Then, she offered Song of the Fallen her hand. "I don't say this often, but… please climb onto my back, Lady Cassia. I'll give you a smooth ride."

Saying that, she grinned.

The young woman hesitantly raised her hand, grasped Helie's own, and mounted gracefully.

"Hold tight!"

Summoning her bow, Helie delved into the jungle at a swift trot. Both of them had to remain alert due to all the dangers that the Hollows hid — however, they had a good chance of emerging to the surface alive. Cassie had never ridden a centaur before, let alone such a friendly one, so she did not know what to expect. However, the journey turned out to be far more comfortable than she had thought it would be. At some point, she spoke:

"Saint Helie… I will need your help once we arrive at the Song encampment, as well."

Helie turned her head a little, looking back. "How so?"

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