Shadow Slave

Sunny was too shaken by what had just happened to do anything else today. So, he just went down to the basement, entered the Dream Realm, and remained in his small room in the Sanctuary instead of going out to fight Nightmare Creatures.

There, he just slept peacefully for the entire night.

This was a very strange way to act for Sunny, but many Awakened did just that every day. Unless their Citadel was under attack — which happened frequently in most parts of the Dream Realm — or they were assigned a certain duty, people just remained in their quarters, slept, and returned to the real world without throwing themselves into any kind of danger.

Others performed various tasks to earn a livelihood in the Citadel, all the while staying safe behind its walls. Few frequently ventured outside and challenged the wilderness of the Dream Realm.

And who could blame them?

Most people were made Awakened against their will, after all. It was the Spell that wanted humans to risk their lives, go through deadly trials and endure terrible suffering, not people themselves. So there was nothing wrong with a person who wanted to stay as safe as possible, for as long as possible.

If anything, it was Sunny who behaved abnormally.

In any case, he felt refreshed and more balanced when he returned to the real world in the morning. A good night of sleep helped him put his unexpected encounter with Rain in perspective.

Yes, it was an unfortunate mistake on his part, and yes, the fact that she now knew his face and name was less than ideal. But truly, nothing too bad had happened. Rain just thought of him as a neighbor. Not even an acquaintance, just a… stranger.

Which was just as Sunny wanted it. To be on the safe side, he could avoid leaving the house for a while, altogether.

…And yet, in the evening, he found himself sitting on the porch again, enjoying the view and a cup of tea, as he had already grown used to.

'After yesterday, I doubt that she'll ever want to approach this house again. So I should be alright…'

But as it turned out, he was not.

Sunny noticed Rain walking from the public transport terminal long before she came anywhere near his home, because one of his shadows was stationed further down the street to keep a lookout. He sighed, then lowered his eyes and pretended to study the synthwood surface of the porch, hoping to avoid making eye contact with the teenage girl.

This time, he was not going to give her a reason to come closer and talk to him.

However, it was all for naught. When Rain approached the path leading to his door, she slowed down a bit, hesitated, then turned and walked directly to him.

'What the hell…'

stared at her with a

hi. It's you

food container out of it, seemingly full of something delicious. Then, Rain handed

to bring food, right? Oh… and I'm really sorry. For, you

then took the container from her hands

told her to ask for food? I cook great food for the

he pretended to

she did. And no problem. Say

the conversation would be over after that, but Rain lingered. There was a sort of curious expression

with mushrooms and cream sauce. My favorite. Uh… Sunny, right? I'm Rain,

the ingredients she listed were all natural, too. A far cry from synthpaste people like him usually consumed to keep their bellies full in the outskirts. Sunny

smile became

I'm Sunny. Nice to meet

slightly, hesitated for a few moments,

your own house? I mean, with that nice friend

Sunny shrugged.

staying over until she finds a place of her own,

at him with wide

young to live on your own? Aren't your parents

of seconds, then tilted his head a

age to live on my own. And no, my parents aren't worried about me one

hearing the most fascinating thing

you have a stipend from your university? Wait… do you even go to a university? I

Sunny mentally groaned.

'Questions… I hate questions!'

he

cook my food myself. And who needs a university? A stipend! I am a wildly successful young entrepreneur,

Rain stared at him.

you? They're not lecturing you every day about the future, the importance of having a productive career, and how you must be always ready in case you