Shadow Slave

"Wake up, Sunless! Your nightmare is…"

"Shut the hell up!"

Trying to remain in the blissful embrace of sleep, Sunny hissed through his teeth and stubbornly closed his eyes tighter. He was warm and comfortable under the blanket, on his own bed, where all the problems of the world seemed less serious and dire.

For a moment, there was silence.

'That's better…'

"Wake up, Sunless! Your…"

'Goddammit!'

Thrusting one arm from under the blanket, Sunny summoned one of his Memories. Immediately, a triangular leaf-shaped throwing dagger appeared in his hand, only to be thrown blindly at the source of the irritating voice. Missing its mark, the kunai clinked against the stone wall and fell to the floor.

However, the voice did fall silent.

Sunny sighed. It was already too late. He was awake.

Far in the distance, the waves were starting to crash against the city wall. The night was coming, so it was time to get up.

Opening his eyes, Sunny sat up and looked around.

His room was beautiful and spacious. The stone walls were engraved with intricate patterns, creating an atmosphere of sanctity and elegance. The furniture was made out of pale polished wood, with several mismatched pieces that Sunny had scavenged from different places himself.

ingenious system of mirrors

the

his best

he stood up and rubbed his face to chase away the last remnants of sleep. His long, dirty hair was

'Let's make some breakfast.'

But first things first…

palm. This was a trick that had taken Sunny quite some time to master: in the beginning, he almost lost a couple of fingers while trying to learn how to control the flying

a wall empty of engravings, he used the kunai to scratch a small line into the stone. All around it, there were dozens and dozens of similar lines, grouped

months since Sunny came to this loathsome,

things had happened during

***

a vast, ruined city surrounded by tall walls, with monsters wandering its narrow

However, they weren't Awakened, as the three of them had hoped. Instead, they were,

they were no Gateway

those who had managed to survive the lethal hellscape of the Forgotten Shore due to their strength or luck — were stuck there with

help but laugh out loud. Oh, what a fool he had been. So full of hope and newfound faith

he bent over and slapped

Good one, Sunny. What do you think

reproach. Its silence only made Sunny laugh louder. He just couldn't

week of living alone in the city.

hands to stop his intestines from falling out. After finding his way to

'Good times…'

Anyway, he survived.

a table that he had scavenged from the ruins of a library and glanced at the grey rock that was lying