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.

there were light wells cunningly hidden here and there. Sadly, the ingenious system of mirrors that was supposed

didn't mind. In fact, this was one of the features of his secret lair that he

his

last remnants of sleep. His long, dirty hair was getting in the way, so he moved

'Let's make some breakfast.'

But first things first…

moved his hand, pulling on the invisible string that connected his wrist to the ring-shaped pommel of the kunai. The throwing dagger jumped into the air and landed on his palm. This was a trick that had taken Sunny quite some time

the kunai to scratch a small line into the stone. All around it, there were dozens and dozens of similar

four months since Sunny came

had happened

***

in the west, they indeed found a vast, ruined city surrounded by tall walls, with monsters wandering its narrow streets. And

the castle was full of people. However, they weren't Awakened, as the three of them

no Gateway in

the Forgotten Shore due to their strength or luck — were stuck there with no hope of ever returning

his first days in the castle, Sunny couldn't help but laugh out loud. Oh, what a fool he had been. So full of hope

bent over and

What do you think about

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

had gone a little bit insane some time ago. Probably around his third week of living alone in the city. He was more or less alright after leaving the castle due to that unfortunate falling out with… well, it didn't

from falling out. After finding his way to a secluded ditch and lying there for a few days, too weak to

'Good times…'

Anyway, he survived.

ruins of a library and glanced at the grey rock that was lying in its