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…"

forward, his monstrous voice permeating the darkness

weak… his mind is

Sunny laughed again.

yes… I 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

at his sword, then at the approaching

of those nightmares… gods, how cruel they were… did

at the Awakened hunter with a concerned expression, then

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

painted with fear. The Awakened killer tilted his head a

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

least not to the point where I'll

raised his sword and pointed it at the

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 the dream and

took a step forward, a confused

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

defensive position, waiting

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

smiled, ready to meet

creatures. Awakened warriors, Corrupted monsters… even Transcendent immortals. Some of them had one soul core, some two

enemy, at the mighty

my question is… why does this damned horse always

sword flashed, abandoning the young

blade and jumped to his feet, putting all of his weight into an attack of his

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