Shadow Slave

Sunny smiled and leaned back on his chair, then looked at his friends with curiosity.

There was a question he really wanted to ask, but tried not to up until now.

"...What's your second Ability, anyway?"

His words hung in the air for a few moments. Suddenly, Kai coughed with embarrassment and looked away. After a couple of seconds, he said in a strange tone:

"I, uh… can see really far now, when I want to. Even when there's no light. I am also supposed to be able to see through illusions and all forms of obfuscation, whatever that means. And… uh… I can also see through objects.

Sunny and Effie stared at him and asked almost simultaneously:

"Like, through walls?"

"Like, through clothes?"

Kai hid behind his glass, lingered for a bit, and then answered in a small voice:

"...Yes. But I would never!"

While Sunny tried to imagine why would Kai refuse to look through walls, Effie laughed out loud.

"I see, I see. What a great Ability!"

She shook her head, then turned to Sunny and asked:

"Hey, doofus. I bet you often wanted to stab me with something sharp. Wanna try?"

He frowned in confusion, then raised an eyebrow.

"No. Why would I stab you?"

with expectation clearly written on her face, then sighed in

body invulnerable. Well… comparatively, of course. Skin of steel, that sort of deal. A very sweet comprehensive

the gaunt young woman with a bit of awe. Indeed, that was a very powerful Ability. Combined with Effie's previous one, it turned her into an exceedingly formidable presence on the battlefield. As if she had

at him

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

conditional short-distance teleportation. Kai can see through walls, I can go through walls… while you can just plow through them,

Effie grinned.

huh? Interesting choice of words. I

changed the

are your plans, guys? What

of the conversation. For a while, a strange silence settled

slightly sad. Back on the Forgotten Shore, the three of them had forged a bond, and now, depending on their choices, that bond would most likely either weaken or break. The future was going to lead

they were about to go their separate ways. Perhaps fate would bring them together again, one day... or perhaps

while,

know, really. I have received invitations from both clan Valor and clan Song, but… you know me. I don't do well with authority. Plus, none of them have moved a finger to help me when I really needed it. Only now that

her wheelchair,

up on the offer, or I might not. It depends on what the fastest way to get ready for the Second Nightmare would be. Maybe I'll have a better chance of becoming a Master soon if I stay independent and don't have to compete against the actual heirs

became their physical body. Reaching the rank of a Master would free Effie from her terrible disability, so Sunny

had said that for her, striving to conquer the

of his own, Sunny had ended up

remained silent for a few moments.

agency has secured me a very good position in Bastion. So I'll be going there soon. I won't have to fight another Nightmare Creature for a long, long time. I guess.

who was speaking about being safe and comfortable for the rest of his life, he didn't

Sunny frowned.

immediately, Kai. There's nothing wrong with living like a person should, not having to worry about being eaten every goddamn day. Don't even think about feeling bad about it. Got

young man

Please forgive my ungratefulness. But what about

of

way into receiving a salary from the Academy as