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…"

monstrous voice permeating the darkness like an insidious

so weak… his mind is

Sunny laughed again.

wasn't supposed to be able to last that long. Who

at his sword,

were… did hit a nerve, overall… I

a concerned expression, then scratch the back of

your mother die once, the second time won't be as… well… maybe it would?

him, her face painted with fear. The Awakened killer tilted his head a

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

least not to the point where I'll be unable to think. And notice things. Oh, and

slowly raised his sword and pointed

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 the heartache is the same, then maybe the nature

a confused expression

thing I noticed was that 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. Easy to explain in a dream… not so much in the waking

laughed again and assumed a defensive position, waiting for the

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

monsters… even Transcendent immortals. Some of them had

the mighty black steed standing motionless

my question is… why does this damned horse

he dashed in the opposite direction from where the hunter's sword flashed, abandoning the young girl he was sworn to protect without

blade and jumped to his feet, putting all of his weight

the menacing