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?"

clearly written on her face, then sighed in disappointment when he

Basically, it makes my whole body invulnerable. Well… comparatively, of course. Skin of steel, that sort

Effie's previous one, it turned her into an exceedingly formidable presence on the battlefield. As if she had not been a real menace

glanced at him

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

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

Effie grinned.

choice of words. I wonder

changed the

uh… what are your plans, guys? What

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

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 on their own path,

ways.

while,

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

at her wheelchair, then slumped

It depends on what the fastest way to get ready for the Second Nightmare would be. Maybe I'll have a better chance of becoming a Master soon if

physical body. Reaching the rank of a Master would free

her, striving

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

few moments. Then, he too

good position in Bastion. So I'll be going there soon. I

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

Sunny frowned.

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

young man

forgive my ungratefulness. But what about

scratched the back of his head,

won't believe 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 any of them, since the government