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 disappointment

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

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 presence on the battlefield. As if

him and asked

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

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

Effie grinned.

choice of words.

hurriedly changed the

what are your plans, guys? What Citadels

the mood of the conversation. For a while, a strange silence settled among them.

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

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

while,

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 am a hot commodity are they all suddenly

her wheelchair, then

Second Nightmare would be.

their physical body. Reaching the rank of a

she had said that for her, striving to conquer the Second

through no wish of his own, Sunny had ended

a few moments. Then, he

I'll be going there soon. I won't have to fight another Nightmare Creature for a long,

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

Sunny frowned.

immediately, 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 smiled

ungratefulness.

scratched the back of

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