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?"

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

my second Ability to you. Basically, it makes my whole body invulnerable. Well… comparatively, of course. Skin of steel, that sort

awe. Indeed, that was a very powerful Ability. Combined with Effie's previous one, it turned her into an exceedingly formidable presence on

at him and

"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, I guess. In your usual barbarous

Effie grinned.

of words. I

hurriedly changed

are your plans, guys? What Citadels are you

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

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 bond, and now, depending on their choices, that bond would most likely either weaken or break. The future was going to lead each on their own path, perhaps in opposite

were about to go their separate ways. Perhaps fate would bring them together

while, Effie

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 I

wheelchair, then

fastest way to get ready for the Second Nightmare would be. Maybe I'll have a better chance of becoming a

Reaching the rank of a Master would free Effie from her terrible disability, so Sunny

for her, striving to

enough, through no wish of his own, Sunny had ended up

a few moments.

me a very good position in Bastion. So I'll be going there soon. I won't have to fight another Nightmare Creature

being safe and comfortable for the rest of his life, he didn't

Sunny frowned.

Kai. There's nothing wrong with living like a person should, not having to worry about being eaten every goddamn day. Don't

charming young man

Please forgive my ungratefulness. But what about you,

the back of

I am rich now. You won't believe it, guys, but as it turns 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 Academy as a research assistant,