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?"

on her face, then

wanted to demonstrate my second Ability to you. Basically, it makes my whole body invulnerable. Well… comparatively, of

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

glanced at him and

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

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

Effie grinned.

huh? Interesting choice of words.

hurriedly changed the

uh… what are your plans, guys?

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

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

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

a while, Effie

but… you know me. I don't do well with authority. Plus, none of them have moved a finger to

at her wheelchair, then slumped in

would be. Maybe

the rank of a Master would free Effie from her

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

wish of his own, Sunny had ended

silent for a few moments. Then, he too

my agency has secured me a very good position in Bastion. So I'll be going there soon. I won't have

speaking about being safe and comfortable for the rest of his life, he didn't sound too happy. There was a note of reluctance in his voice. Even…

Sunny frowned.

living like a person should, not having to worry about being eaten every goddamn day. Don't even think about feeling bad about

young man smiled sadly and

my ungratefulness. But what about

back of his head,

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