Shadow Slave

Effie smiled, then gestured at the dancing crowd and added:

"After they return from the Dream Realm, most Awakened spend at least a part of their day training to raise their usefulness to the Citadel and increase their chances of survival. Some have important jobs to perform in the waking world, as well. Our infrastructure runs on spelltech, after all."

She shook her head.

"But other than that, here's plenty of time to live and have fun. It doesn't have to be all work, without stop… some might even say that not having any other interests is detrimental."

The huntress looked at them and shrugged.

"I mean, how can you be motivated to fight for this world if you never experience all the nice things that it has to offer? Maybe that is why your counselor told you to participate in mundane human activities, Neph. Awakened and especially Masters like us need to anchor ourselves to humanity, somehow. But there's no Gateways here."

Sunny took a sniff of the strange sparkling liquid in his glass, then carefully tasted it. This champagne, or whatever it was called, was way too expensive for him to pass the chance of getting his money's worth out of it. Well… he wasn't paying today, but still. It was a matter of principle!

Of course, Sunny had sworn off alcohol, but with him being a Master now, there was no way for him to get drunk unless he wanted to. Not because of mundane drinks like this one, anyway. Unless he consciously willed otherwise, his body was going to treat alcohol as a weak poison and resist it.

'Tastes… sweet. But also bitter. Very refreshing, though. How strange!'

Effie's words made him thoughtful. She was not entirely wrong… Sunny himself felt a bit ambivalent about the waking world, which had not been kind to him in the past. He only liked it better than the Dream Realm because it was safer and had nice things, like delicious food, comfortable furniture, and network dramas.

Also, Rain was here.

But what if an Awakened was indifferent to all those things? Would they even feel compelled to do anything to protect the waking world? What was going to stop them from abandoning the mundane completely after they became a Master or a Saint?

Or a Sovereign?

Nephis, meanwhile, continued to study the dance hall. After a while, she said:

face an opening Gate. Out of those who are courageous, how many are competent enough to make a difference? Not everyone is like Mongrel. Very few can stand

her

of videos on the network, princess?

Changing Star shrugged.

find

suddenly grinned and said in a

have a

turned slightly and

showed no reaction, and

swordsmanship is. Flowing, unpredictable. Supremely adaptable. I watched a few of his duels, as well as his performances in the Dream Tournament. His dedication, versatility, and... domineering attitude... left a

Star shook her

a Gate that I truly grew to appreciate his character. In my opinion, he is what a true Awakened should strive to be. Someone who is not resigned to bowing down to the Spell, and is determined to resist it instead. His will, mastery of combat, and wisdom are commendable. It warms my heart to know

and forced out

were other Awakened helping him. As for

looked at him

I think that Mongrel deserves all the praise. He

were looking at

suddenly got

huntress leaned forward and whispered

do know that Sunny is

choked on his champagne. The exquisite glass cracked

Nephis froze.

as ever. However, despite the dim lighting of the night club, he could swear there

Effie! I'll

a while, then said in

course. I definitely