Shadow Slave

In the morning, they set out for the castle.

Before leaving the safe haven of the granite tower, Effie gave them a list of instructions:

"Follow behind me. Listen to everything I say. Don't make any noise. Don't bleed. Don't think too much. Some of the creatures out there can hear noisy thoughts, others can sense strong emotions. So don't feel fear, either."

Sunny stared at her with a grim expression. How was he supposed to control what he feels?

The vigorous huntress grinned.

"What? You never tried to solve math equations in your head to impress a lovely lady? Just do the same."

As Sunny's сheeks began to turn bright red, she giggled and turned to Cassie and Neph:

"Correction. The two of you, try not to feel fear. Doofus, you try not to get too excited. If walking behind me turns out to be too much, ask to get slapped, alright?"

Sunny scowled and uttered through gritted teeth:

"That… won't be a problem."

Effie blinked a couple of times, then smiled.

"Ah! Playing for the other team? I see, I see…"

What… what was that supposed to mean?!

Trying to get his emotions under control, Sunny took a deep breath and counted to ten.

who does she think she is?!

sure that they understood her instructions, the huntress turned around and rolled the massive slab of granite that blocked the exit from the tower to the side. Lean muscles tensed and moved under her olive skin, making

her back and gulped. That slab of granite had to weigh a couple of tons, at least. How strong

his stare, Effie raised an eyebrow and

"Like what you see?"

He answered on autopilot:

why I was looking. How are you that

at the granite slab, then

Aspect Ability. It's a

and powerful Ability to have. While not as flashy as many others, it was practically the ultimate warrior Ability. With not only her strength but also her speed, agility, endurance and resilience boosted, Effie was like one of those ancient heroes Neph sometimes talked about.

likely absorbed a very large amount of soul essence over the years of hunting monsters in the Dark City. All those shards the recalcitrant huntress refused to pay as tribute to the

not a wise

his surprise,

pair of eyes knows what my Ability can do. Do you

was a mischievous glint in her

anyone is insane

all my physical needs. Why

laughed and

it was fun, not gonna

hard to come by, it was a dangerous Flaw to possess. It

at its severity, but not Sunny. He knew what hunger, real hunger, felt like. What it could do to a

here in the first place. Perhaps she had become a huntress

Sunny thought, a little confused. "Air, then water

said not to

Effie, who was staring at

'Don't flatter yourself, beanpole!'