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…"

step forward, his monstrous voice permeating

his

Sunny laughed again.

am very, very weak. But 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 endure that much pain, that much horror, and that much suffering without losing their

glanced at his sword,

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

the Awakened hunter with a concerned expression, then scratch

won't be as… well… maybe it would? I don't know… I am a bit confused about what is real,

backed away from him, her face painted with fear. The Awakened killer

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

real or not, I am really... really, really hard to break. As it turns out. At least not to the point where I'll be unable to think. And notice things. Oh,

slowly raised his sword and pointed it at the approaching

life. So, that demands a question… if

took a step forward, a confused expression on

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

assumed a defensive position, waiting for the terrifying Awakened hunter

or vile orbs of darkness in those of the Corrupted. It took me a few

ready to meet his death…

of creatures. Awakened warriors, Corrupted monsters…

for a moment, and then looked past his enemy, at the mighty black steed standing motionless behind him, barely visible

is… why does this

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

and jumped to

was not directed at the menacing killer… instead, it