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?"

her face, then

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

Combined with Effie's previous one, it turned her into an

glanced at him and

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

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

Effie grinned.

Interesting choice of words. I

changed

what are your plans, guys? What Citadels are you going

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

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

to go their separate ways. Perhaps fate would bring them together again, one day...

a while,

know, really. I have received invitations from 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

looked at her wheelchair, then slumped

on the offer, or I might not. 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

Nightmare, one's spiritual body became their physical body. Reaching the rank of a Master

that for her, striving to conquer the Second

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

remained silent for a few moments.

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

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

Sunny frowned.

having to worry about being eaten every goddamn day.

charming young man smiled

do. Please forgive my ungratefulness.

scratched the back of his head,

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