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?"

him with expectation clearly written on her face, then sighed in disappointment when he didn't

a shame. I 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

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

at him and

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

see through walls, I can go through walls… while

Effie grinned.

huh? Interesting choice of words. I wonder

hurriedly changed

are your plans, guys?

while, a strange silence settled among them. All three had contemplative,

slightly sad. Back on the Forgotten Shore, the three of them had

were about to go their separate ways.

while, Effie

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

wheelchair, then slumped in

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

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

that for her, striving to conquer the Second Nightmare was

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

few moments. Then, he too

for me… my 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.

about being safe and comfortable for the rest of his life, he didn't sound too happy. There was

Sunny frowned.

person should, not having to worry about

charming young man smiled

Please forgive my ungratefulness. But what about you,

the 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,