Shadow Slave

A few days later, Sunny was in his living room, watching as Rain performed the same strike over and over again, her eyes full of stubborn determination. The practice sword rose and fell, over and over again, cutting the air with a whistling sound.

…Actually, her form wasn't bad.

Effie was currently traveling between Citadels, so she had not come out of her sleeping pod for a while now. Sunny and Rain were alone, which made the training session much less lively.

'Finally, some peace and quiet…'

Despite thinking that, Sunny couldn't help but feel that his home seemed a little bit empty these days.

He sighed.

There were other things on his mind, too.

Now that his part of the deal with Cassie was complete, the journey into the Nightmare was drawing close. No matter how aloof about the whole thing Sunny wanted to remain, he was aware that there was a real possibility that he would not return from that trial alive. Even if he did, there was no telling how long conquering the Nightmare would take.

Which meant that his remaining time with Rain was limited, and he couldn't waste it.

He had to accelerate her training and teach her some actual battle skills.

Observing the teenage girl, who continued to swing her practice sword while drops of sweat rolled down her face, Sunny was in deep thought.

What style was he going to teach her?

Rain was his sister, so his first instinct was to share his legacy, Shadow Dance, with her. Almost as if they were members of an actual clan...

However, that wasn't a very good idea.

Not only was her mentality poorly suited for his shapeless and insidious battle art, but she was also physically incapable of learning it.

Since everyone received extensive combat training in school, there weren't really a lot of weak people in the waking world. But Shadow Dance was simply not meant to be practiced by mundane humans. It demanded a physical constitution of an Awakened, at least.

first step as a Sleeper because of his unique Aspect, hundreds upon hundreds of shadow fragments he had absorbed on the Forgotten Shore, and the fact that this style was

What, then?

mind. It was designed to be a perfect foundational style, after all. However, Sunny didn't like the idea of teaching it to Rain. Not only because he felt that he didn't have

He also had an idea of who Broken Sword's killers were. Who could tell what problems knowing this style could drag

a plethora of various battle styles in the Dreamscape. However, none of them impressed

one choice left. Coincidentally,

solid, grounded battle

seemed to suit Rain's quiet, thoughtful, and meticulous personality very well. It was also the most precise and methodical technique Sunny knew, and one that provided the best defense. His goal was to ensure that Rain survives for as long as possible, and having a

the graceful demon, perhaps there was a reason for that. In any case, learning the style of her idol would

her with a dark expression, Rain stopped and gave Sunny

I

shook his

your form was perfect for the

smile suddenly appeared on the teenage girl's usually calm and collected

practiced every day while you were gone on your trip. All my classmates think that I lost my mind.

corner of

to people as fools? She was such a polite

a couple of times, then

I was doing it right, why were you staring at me with that "curses

I don't have

Sunny cleared his throat.

think that you're ready to learn

Rain beamed.

"Yes! Finally!"

looked around the living room, and

going to show me some real battle techniques? Effie said that you are decent with the sword. At least I think that was what she meant. Are

then shrugged

around a sword. Let me just…