Shadow Slave

In the next ten minutes, the foundations of Sunny's worldview were shaken to the core. Kai had drowned him in a torrent of questions… all of which had nothing to do with anything even remotely important!

What interested the charming Sleeper were very strange things like what types of shoes were in fashion, which celebrity wore what to some pompous award ceremony, who of them had a scandal and what was that scandal about, what was the latest dance craze, and so on.

He was endlessly curious about that type of stupid crap and absolutely indifferent about all of Sunny's dark secrets.

It was almost insulting.

What's worse, Sunny felt like a complete fool because he couldn't provide even a single answer. What did he know about fashion and high culture? Nothing!

After a while, Kai's enthusiasm had waned. Looking at Sunny with a comically disheartened face, he sighed and gently asked one last question:

"Sunny, tell me honestly… were you a hikikomori in the real world as well?"

Sunny blinked.

'What is this fool talking about?'

"A hik… a what?"

Kai cleared his throat and offered him an apologetic smile.

"Ah, you know… a recluse? A shut-in? Someone who lives under a rock?"

Sunny stared at the gorgeous young man, feeling like the world completely stopped making any sense ever since they had met.

"What are you talking about? Why would I live under a rock? You would freeze to death! I lived in a cargo container once, but it had four walls and a roof, at least…"

Kai sighed one more time and turned away.

"I see. Well, sorry to bother you. It's just that I've been stuck in this place for about two and a half years now, and life here is so monotone."

His beautiful profile was radiating melancholy and sadness, as though Kai was lamenting something serious, as opposed to utter rubbish.

'Two and half years… that dimwit survived here for two and a half years?'

Sunny was surprised to hear that. Kai seemed like a nice guy, but not exactly someone well suited for the ruthless nightmare of the Forgotten Shore. Perhaps he had underestimated the charming Sleeper… or perhaps there was another, much simpler reason.

Sunny frowned.

There was a group of people who tended to live here the longest. Suddenly suspicious, he asked in a cold tone:

"Are you a part of Gunlaug's gang?"

at

Then, he chortled.

than become one of Gunlaug's minions. Plus, the man has no style. That armor of his

after saying that, he suddenly grew quiet and added after

from time to time. That is the

if he had been one of them, no

more capable

'Interesting.'

grown sufficiently distant, he shifted his perspective to

the

safe now.

to take the first step forward. However,

Can I ask you a question as

older Sleeper smiled, honesty and eagerness written all

"Of course!"

silent for a couple of seconds, then said in

the best one you could get, or because it

at him with confusion. Raising

don't understand the question.

his eyes, sighed, and

"Never mind. Let's go."

horizon, they went deeper into the city, slowly approaching

***

middle of the cursed city. It was grand and magnificent, with dozens of towers rising into the air, each supported by a number of elaborate

It was narrow and heavily fortified, circling the hill in a

been a vast stone platform, meant to serve as the gathering

turned into a makeshift settlement, with small shabby buildings made out of stone, wood, and anything else

outskirts where Sunny had grown up, but it had the same unmistakable air of misery, fear, and

the two of them approached the outer settlement, several Sleepers greeted Kai with

see you, man. Where have

Kai smiled in embarrassment.

you know. Flying around. What about

pleasantries with his acquaintance, Sunny

buildings slightly

strange sense of tension

she was busy in these

end the conversation, Kai turned to him

"Sorry about that."

Sunny frowned.

they calling you

throat and said with a bit of strangeness