Shadow Slave

Sunny was enjoying a hot shower. After their short conversation, Master Jet had sent him to clean himself, saying that he "reeked of Nightmare". The unnatural slumber of the Spell would slow down the body's metabolism, and the medical apparatus he had been strapped into was supposed to take care of the rest, but he was still asleep for three whole days.

Even if only psychological, the scent of bloodshed and despair lingered around him.

'Ah, I'm in heaven,' Sunny thought, willing himself to temporarily forget about the looming disaster of the Flaw.

He was alone in the police station's showers, relaxing under the streams of hot water. After a bit of time had passed, Sunny reluctantly turned the tap off and walked over to the towel rack. Coincidentally, he saw himself reflecting in the mirror.

The changes in his physique were subtle, but noticeable. His pale skin seemed a little healthier, his muscles a bit more pronounced. He looked slender and lean instead of emaciated and frail, as he did before. There was a slight luster to his dark hair and a shine to his eyes.

However, he was still rather diminutive. Not exactly a picture of masculine handsomeness, to say the least.

'Flower boy, huh?' Sunny thought, full of bitterness.

Then he suddenly froze, noticing something strange. As he was looking at himself in the mirror, the reflection of his shadow seemed to move. It was as though the shadow lowered its head and quietly facepalmed.

Sunny quickly turned around, piercing his shadow with a nervous look. However, everything seemed normal. The shadow was doing exactly what it was supposed to do, repeating his every motion.

"I clearly saw you move," he said, feeling a bit strange. "You have just moved on your own, right?!"

Sunny glared at the shadow, which obediently glared back.

"Did you move or not?"

The shadow enthusiastically shook its head.

'What the?!'

"What do you mean, "no"?! You've just moved your head! Do you think I'm a fool?"

The shadow seemed to think for a bit and then shrugged.

Sunny was left with his mouth agape.

"Your shadow is more independent than most. It is an invaluable helper," he muttered finally.

Right. This was how the Spell had described his Aspect Ability.

But what exactly could his shadow do?

He decided to experiment a little.

"Hey, you. Tell me what you can do."

The shadow was silent and motionless.

'Right. It doesn't have vocal cords.'

As though that made any sense! Shadows were not supposed to have muscles either, and yet it knew how to move.

"Uh… show me?"

No reaction. It seems the shadow was content pretending to be an ordinary, lifeless blob of darkness.

Sunny sighed.

'I'm doing this wrong.'

manifestation of his Aspect Ability. So instead of asking the shadow, he really should have been

to talk,

to the real world. He felt the beating of his heart, the steady rising of his

there, on the verge of his consciousness,

A completely new sense.

was hard to describe with words, just like one would have trouble explaining how hearing

him and receive an understanding of both their own shape and the

understanding came naturally and instantaneously,

— not the largest one, but the deepest — didn't feel like an external

Sunny grasped the feeling of it, he could sense the shadow just like he sensed his limbs. The only thing was that his limbs were made out of flesh, and the shadow was

opened his eyes and looked at the shadow. Then, with a thought, he willed it

shadow raised

turning into a circle, then a line, then a monster. And finally, back to his own silhouette. The shadow was mercurial and

"Ha! How about that?"

then reluctantly raised

are you

It obediently moved and delivered a powerful kick. Of course, since it was just a shadow, its leg passed over the towels harmlessly, not even

all you can

tearing the mighty tyrant into little pieces cracked and shattered mercilessly. It seemed he would not be competing

How regretful.

Then

a

I will

***

Master Jet was waiting for

"Help yourself."

glanced at the cheap gruel, which was not so different from the stuff he used to consume in the outskirts, and sighed. Somehow, he

Still, it was food.

began to wolf down the gruel

The Spell told him to find a master, and the next thing he knew there was a woman calling herself

thoughts started to appear in

what, Sunny,' he thought with dark irony. 'Knowing your luck, this would be a perfect moment for her to

are you thinking

on the gruel. He felt his mouth beginning to open, and put all of his will into staying silent. A second passed without him saying anything. Then a weird pressure appeared in his mind, which soon turned into

for you to ask me about what I am thinking," he

him a

Are you almost finished with

Sunny nodded.

begin. As per protocol, I am obligated to inform you of a few things. It is mostly a formality. First of all,

glanced at

psychological counseling. No matter what traumatic experience you have encountered, there is no shame in asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body — it's

shook his head.

you wish. You can also talk to me. Was it very

How could he answer?

than I expected and exactly as bad

satisfied

attitude. I won't pry any further. Us outskirt rats are way more resilient than