Shadow Slave

Sunny looked at the terrified young girl, and then… laughed.

...His laughter sounded more than a little bit unhinged.

His lady shuddered:

"Sir, you… you…"

Sunny waved a hand in the air.

"No, no. No need… I understand. I sound crazy."

The night sky above them was covered in an impregnable veil of clouds, and the one below them was empty and dark. The ancient stones they stood upon were slick with rainwater, and it was too dim to see anything except for vague silhouettes.

The silhouette of the Awakened hunter was towering, menacing, and embodied the very concept of terror.

But Sunny didn't care that much.

Massaging his chest, he smiled crookedly and said, his voice hoarse and raspy:

"...But then again, this whole world is insane. Someone told me once… ah, I don't quite remember who… that we can only reflect what is in front of us. Is it my fault that there is nothing in front of me except for madness?"

He looked down, his smile turning into a wicked grin.

"And someone else once told me that they wanted to destroy the world. Back then, I thought them insane… I think… but now, I wonder…"

took a step forward, his monstrous voice

so weak… his mind is

Sunny laughed again.

am not weak enough, I guess? Somehow, I have a feeling that I wasn't supposed to be able to last that

his sword,

were… did hit a nerve, overall… I am surprised to admit that... they really weren't that

hunter with a concerned expression, then scratch

can impress you that much. Or if you have already watched your mother die once, the second time won't be as… well… maybe it would? I don't know… I am a bit

him, her face painted with fear.

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

really, really hard to break. As it turns out. At least not

his sword and pointed

noticed is that my heart always seems ache, doesn't matter whether it's in a nightmare or in the real life. So, that demands a question… if

step forward, a confused

do something on their own, and sometimes fragments of feelings, ideas, and judgments that I have to cause to possess will just appear on their own. Easy to explain in a dream… not so much in the waking world. And I am awake, am I?

laughed again and assumed a defensive position, waiting for the terrifying Awakened hunter

of darkness in those of the Corrupted. It took me a few nightmares to realize that those were soul cores. Strangely, once again, this ability

smiled, ready to meet his death… once

my nightmares, I met all kinds of creatures. Awakened warriors, Corrupted monsters… even Transcendent immortals. Some of them had one soul core,

enemy, at the mighty black steed

does this damned horse always

from where the hunter's sword flashed, abandoning the young girl he was

jumped to his feet, putting all of his weight into

strike was not directed at the menacing killer… instead,