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

body invulnerable. Well… comparatively, of course. Skin of steel, that sort of

awe. Indeed, that was a very powerful Ability. Combined with Effie's previous one, it turned

glanced at him and asked

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

walls, I can go through walls… while you can just plow through them,

Effie grinned.

huh? Interesting choice of words.

changed

are your plans, guys? What

conversation. For a while, a strange silence settled among them. All three

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

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

a while, Effie

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 a hot commodity are they all suddenly kind and friendly.

at her wheelchair, then

way to get ready for the Second Nightmare would be. Maybe I'll have a better chance of becoming a Master soon if I stay independent and don't have

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

that for her, striving

no wish of his own, Sunny had

silent for a few moments. Then, he too

in Bastion. So I'll be going there soon. I won't have to fight another Nightmare

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

Sunny frowned.

drop that tone immediately, Kai. There's 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. Got

charming young man

ungratefulness. But what about

of his

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