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?"

expectation clearly written on her face, then

wanted to demonstrate my second Ability to you. Basically, it makes my whole body invulnerable. Well… comparatively, of course. Skin of steel, that sort of deal. A very sweet comprehensive defense boost, if I do

powerful Ability. Combined with Effie's previous

at him

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

type of conditional short-distance teleportation. Kai can see through walls, I can go through walls…

Effie grinned.

of words. I wonder

hurriedly changed

what are your plans, guys? What Citadels are you going

strange

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

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

while, Effie

authority. Plus, none of them have moved a finger to help me when I really needed it. Only now that I am a hot commodity are they all suddenly kind and friendly. Rubs me the wrong way,

at her wheelchair, then slumped in it

ready for the Second Nightmare would be. Maybe

of a Master would free Effie

knew why she had said that for her,

through no wish of his own, Sunny

few moments. Then, he

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.

comfortable for the rest of his life,

Sunny frowned.

not having to worry about being eaten every goddamn day. Don't even think about feeling

man smiled sadly and

forgive my ungratefulness.

back of his head,

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, whatever that means. So, uh… actually, I haven't decided on a particular Citadel yet. But I can pick pretty much