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…"

his monstrous voice permeating

so weak… his mind

Sunny laughed again.

I am not 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

his sword, then

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

a concerned

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. Maybe I am myself not real. There's one thing

painted with fear. The Awakened killer tilted his head a little,

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

to break. As it turns out. At least not to the point where I'll be

and

doesn't matter whether it's in a nightmare or in the real life. So, that demands

a confused expression

many of my thoughts, actions, and reactions don't really make sense. Sometimes my hands will try to 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.

and assumed a defensive position, waiting for the

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,

smiled, ready to meet

all kinds of creatures. Awakened warriors, Corrupted monsters…

moment, and then looked past his enemy, at the mighty black steed standing

is… why does this

dashed in the opposite direction from where the hunter's sword flashed, abandoning the young girl he was sworn to protect

to his feet, putting all of his weight into an

not directed at the menacing killer… instead, it was directed at