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 him with

Then, he chortled.

become one of Gunlaug's minions. Plus,

he suddenly grew quiet and added after a

time. That is the reason why he tolerates my existence, so I don't really have a

then decided that he believed the other Sleeper. He really didn't look like one of Gunlaug's thugs. Besides, if he had been

much more capable

'Interesting.'

the eerie sobs of the Fallen beast had grown sufficiently distant, he shifted his perspective to the shadow and made sure

up, Sunny dismissed the

safe now. Time

the shadow back and prepared to take the first

Can I ask you a question

Sleeper smiled, honesty and eagerness written

"Of course!"

couple of seconds, then

it because it's the best one you could get, or

confusion. Raising

question. Is

his eyes, sighed, and turned

"Never mind. Let's go."

the sun rose above the horizon, they went

***

castle stood on a tall hill in the 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 arches and columns. Grotesque

the castle was as impressive as the castle itself. It was narrow and heavily fortified, circling the hill in a way that allowed the defenders of

it, there had once been a vast stone platform, meant to serve as the gathering ground for the

makeshift settlement, with small shabby buildings made out of stone, wood, and anything else the inhabitants

not look like the outskirts where Sunny had grown up, but it had the same unmistakable air of

them approached the outer settlement, several Sleepers greeted Kai

to see you,

Kai smiled in embarrassment.

around. What about you,

exchanging pleasantries

the last time he was here. The settlement itself seemed to be almost the same, with just a few buildings slightly changing shapes. The people, however… people somehow seemed more energized and confident, as though the ever-present fear of death and starvation was not as pressing

there was a strange sense of tension

she was busy

Kai turned

"Sorry about that."

Sunny frowned.

are they calling

throat and said with a bit of strangeness in