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.

no! If there's one thing I absolutely despise, it's bullies like him. I would rather die than become one of Gunlaug's minions. Plus, the man has no style. That

that, he suddenly grew quiet and added after a few

lieutenants from time to time. That is the reason why he tolerates my

then decided that he believed the other Sleeper. He really didn't look like one of Gunlaug's thugs. Besides, if he had been one of them, no sane person would have

more capable

'Interesting.'

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

dismissed the glass bottle

now. Time

prepared to take the first step forward. However, then Sunny suddenly stopped and glanced at the charming

Can I ask you a

older Sleeper smiled, honesty and eagerness written all over his

"Of course!"

for a couple of seconds,

wear it because it's the best one you could

him with confusion. Raising one exquisite eyebrow,

question.

his eyes, sighed, and turned

"Never mind. Let's go."

rose above the horizon, they went deeper into the

***

with dozens of towers rising into the air, each supported by a number of elaborate arches and columns. Grotesque gargoyles

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

In front of it, there had once been a vast stone platform, meant to serve

small shabby buildings made out of stone, wood, and anything else the inhabitants of this slum could get their hands on standing

place did not look like the outskirts where Sunny had grown up, but it had the same unmistakable

them approached the outer settlement,

to see you, man.

Kai smiled in embarrassment.

around.

young man was exchanging pleasantries with his

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

there was a strange sense of tension in the

was busy in

managing to end the conversation, Kai turned to him and smiled

"Sorry about that."

Sunny frowned.

they calling you

stared at him, then cleared his throat and said with a bit