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

Sunny laughed again.

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

at his sword, then

of those nightmares… gods, how cruel they were… did hit a nerve, overall… I am surprised to

Awakened hunter with a concerned expression, then scratch the

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 confused about what is real, and what is

him, her face painted with fear.

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

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

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 of both

a step forward, a

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 world. And I am awake, am I? Or am I? Or am I not? Sometimes, it's hard to

a defensive position, waiting for the terrifying Awakened

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

ready to meet his death… once

all kinds of creatures. Awakened warriors, Corrupted monsters… even Transcendent immortals. Some of them had

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

question is… why does this damned horse

flashed, abandoning the young girl

the flying blade and jumped to his feet,

his strike was not directed at the menacing killer… instead,