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?"

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 of steel, that sort of deal. A very sweet comprehensive defense

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 she

glanced at him and asked

"Well, what about you?"

He shifted slightly.

conditional short-distance teleportation. Kai can see through walls, I can go through walls… while you can just plow through

Effie grinned.

Interesting choice of words.

changed the

your plans, guys? What Citadels are

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

to avoid 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 had forged a bond, and now, depending on

about to go their separate ways. Perhaps fate would

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

looked at her wheelchair, then slumped

ready for the Second Nightmare would be. Maybe I'll

body. Reaching the rank of a Master would free Effie

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

wish of his own,

for a few moments. Then, he

me a very good position in Bastion. So I'll be going there soon. I won't have to fight another Nightmare Creature for

rest of his life, he didn't sound too

Sunny frowned.

having to worry about being eaten

young man smiled sadly

Please forgive my ungratefulness. But what about you,

back of his

earn you money. And! I think I can weasel my way into receiving a salary from the Academy as a research assistant, whatever that