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…"

a step forward, his monstrous voice permeating the darkness like an insidious

his mind is

Sunny laughed again.

weak enough, I guess? Somehow, I have a feeling that I wasn't supposed to be able to last that long. Who would be able to endure that much pain, that much horror, and

glanced at his sword, then at

I did. Actually, while some of those nightmares… gods, how cruel they were… did hit a nerve,

at the Awakened hunter with a concerned expression, then scratch the back of his

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 confused about what is real, and what is not.

face painted with fear. The Awakened killer tilted his

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

out. At least not to the point where I'll be unable

his sword and pointed it

the real life. So, that demands a question… if the heartache is the same, then maybe the nature of both the dream and the

a confused expression

Sometimes my hands will try to do something on their own, and sometimes fragments of feelings, ideas, and judgments that I have to

assumed a defensive position, waiting for the terrifying Awakened

of living beings… or vile orbs 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 pursued me from the nightmares into reality, making the two seem so much alike. So… with all that said… I am really only curious about

meet his

nightmares, I met all kinds of creatures. Awakened warriors, Corrupted monsters… even Transcendent immortals. Some

looked past his enemy, at the mighty black steed standing motionless behind him,

my question is… why does this damned

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

the wet stones, Sunny dove under the flying blade and jumped to his feet, putting all of his weight

not directed at the menacing