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:

might be many Awakened here, but how prepared are they to fight against a flood of Nightmare Creatures? It takes a lot of courage to 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

gave her a strange

videos on the network, princess? You

Changing Star shrugged.

find him

grinned and

you maybe have a crush on Lord

out his champagne. He turned slightly and

however, remained nonchalant. She showed no reaction, and

just appreciate his skill and his integrity. At first, I was merely attracted by how beautiful his 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 deep

Star shook her

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

glass and forced out an awkward

alone at that Gate, there were other Awakened helping him. As

at

disagree. I think that Mongrel deserves all

at

got

however, the huntress leaned

know that Sunny

The exquisite glass cracked slightly in

Nephis froze.

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

I'll kill

silent for a while, then said in

course. I definitely knew