Shadow Slave

The problem was, he just didn't know enough to make a good decision. And even then… was he even qualified to make it?

Sunny had a lot of experience dealing with various situations, possessed a quick wit, and was street smart, as well as having a real talent for killing things and remaining alive.

Without wasting time on false modesty, he could admit that he excelled at many things.

But were the things he excelled at even applicable to training a young girl for the Nightmare Spell? After all, what he wanted to give her were not combat skills or survival tactics… those she was being taught already, in an elite school that someone like him would have never been able to attend.

What he wanted to give her was a mindset that would allow her to survive in the unforgiving hell of the Dream Realm. And mind… mind was a delicate thing.

If he went about it in the wrong way, he could bring more harm than good.

Not to mention that everyone was different, and what worked for him was not guaranteed to work for someone else. Take his own friends, for example… all of them had wildly diverging mindsets, but each had been able to thrive even in a place as dire and harrowing as the Forgotten Shore.

'So… what the hell do I do?!'

Sunny massaged his temples, then sighed.

First… he had to observe more and understand more. Whatever he wanted to decide, it was stupid to try and base that decision on observing Rain for a single day as she went about her classes.

'Maybe I'll get inspired. Or my intuition will give me a hint…'

With that thought, he frowned, finished his tea, and went inside.

***

morning, Sunny left his house early and used the transit

sister around. Instead, he went ahead, returned to the cafe he had hidden in the last time, and sent one of his shadows to keep watch on the entrance of the school as it waited for the young

later, he noticed her figure and silently ordered the shadow to

to have to keep studying her demeanor for a while… a few weeks, at least. By then, it is going to be clear if my initial impression was right, or if I need to reconsider

to stop himself

really eat into his time. Both the hunt for shadow fragments and his training with Effie and Saint were going to suffer. Which was

capable of only straightforward thrusting attacks. And on the surface, it was… more than that,

thousands of years — unlike the sword, a person

different beast. It was swift, deadly, and unpredictable, capable of a vast variety of attacks at a wide array of ranges. It was a truly versatile weapon capable of dealing devastating damage to anyone who would dare to

its long blade, which could both piece and slash. Not to

still much more comfortable with swords, though. Especially familiar ones, like the Midnight Shard of the great odachi form of the Soul Serpent. He was growing rather fond

a lot. That was not even the main reason why he felt malcontent about the prospect of spending weeks observing Rain at school,

reason

after being forced to watch the young elites attending the prestigious school making life difficult for both themselves and the teachers. Even after having to fall into an endless abyss while eating the rotten meat of a devil and burning in the ocean of divine flames, he would rather repeat the

Well, almost.

Not really…

a sigh, Sunny concentrated on the pastry in front of him and prepared for a long and arduous day. That pastry alone made his mood

the

learn as much as you can. Knowledge is a privilege… these classmates of yours are too stupid to

the cornerstone of the social hierarchy in this elite school, so the competition among the students was fierce. It was just that

their priorities were any of Sunny's

hour, and at some point, he decided to leave