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

to talk, are

steady rising of his chest, the slight chill of the shower room. He heard droplets of water falling on the

there, on the verge of his consciousness, something

A completely new sense.

him. It was hard to describe with words, just

their own shape and the surrounding space, guided by the different

naturally and instantaneously, like

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

shadow just like he sensed his limbs. The only thing was

Then, with a thought, he willed

shadow raised an

a line, then a monster. And finally, back to his own silhouette.

"Ha! How about that?"

then reluctantly

how are you

shadow to strike the towel rack. 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 causing them to sway

all you

the image of shadow tentacles tearing the mighty tyrant into little pieces cracked and shattered mercilessly. It

How regretful.

at him with disdain. Then it shrugged and stopped

sighed and took a towel

I will

***

Master Jet was waiting for him

"Help yourself."

not so different from the stuff he used to consume in the outskirts, and sighed. Somehow, he had expected his first meal after becoming a Sleeper to be more

Still, it was food.

down the gruel ravenously. He was very, very

a master, and the next thing he knew there was a woman calling

started to appear

irony. 'Knowing your luck, this would be a perfect

you

saying anything. Then a weird pressure appeared

that it would be a perfect moment for you

gave him a

Are you almost finished

Sunny nodded.

you of a few things. It is mostly a formality. First of all, concerning

at

asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body —

shook his head. Jet

talk to me. Was

How could he answer?

than I expected

satisfied with

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