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?"

looked at him with expectation clearly written on her face, then sighed in disappointment

my whole body invulnerable. Well… comparatively, of course. Skin of steel, that sort of deal. A very sweet comprehensive defense boost, if

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 not been a

at him

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

walls, I can go through walls… while you

Effie grinned.

choice of words.

changed the

are your plans, guys? What Citadels

mood of the conversation. For a while, a strange silence settled among them. All three had contemplative,

they tried to avoid the discussion for as long as possible. Mostly because it was both slightly awkward and slightly sad. Back on the Forgotten Shore, the three of them had forged a

go their separate ways. Perhaps fate would bring them together again,

a while, Effie

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 I am

her wheelchair, then

be.

their physical body. Reaching the rank of a Master would free Effie from her terrible

he knew why she had said that for her, striving to conquer the

through no wish of his own, Sunny had ended up

remained silent for a few moments. Then,

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.

and comfortable for the rest of his life, he didn't sound too

Sunny frowned.

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.

man smiled sadly and

do. Please forgive my ungratefulness. But what about

back of his head,

out, scribbling a few words about the things you see in the Dream Realm can actually earn you money. And! I think I can weasel my way into receiving a salary from the