Shadow Slave

Cassie opened her eyes in the darkness.

For a few moments, she was disoriented by the onslaught of colors and sensations.

She was looking at the bright blue sky and the sea of white clouds rolling beneath the Ivory Tower. Sunlight was caressing her skin, and gentle winds were singing into her ears.

She was enveloped in heat, red sparks flying from a crucible where molten steel was shining with an incandescent glow. A tired voice was chanting something in an ancient language, the alien words drowning in the clamor of the forge.

She was locked in a small office, reading a document. The paper was cold to the touch, and smelled of fresh ink. Her vision was blurry from the lack of sleep, and her heart was heavy. The contents of the document were grave...

There were other places, other people. It took her some time to find herself among the strangers.

Cassie's was the only world that had no colors, and no shapes. It was dark, empty, and silent.

She could feel the soft fabric of her pajamas touching her skin, and the warmth of her bed. The smell was all wrong, though. Wrong, but nice and familiar.

'...Where am I?'

She frowned, and then remembered. These were not her chambers in the Ivory Tower. She had returned to the waking world, and was now in her room.

She was home...

Cassie allowed the perspectives of various people marked by her Ability to fade into the background, and concentrated on her own.

She rose from the bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. The layout of her room was orderly and familiar, and she was careful to keep everything in its proper place. That was why she could orient herself without problem here, not needing any help. This darkness was safe.

It had not always been that way, however. For the first few weeks after receiving her Flaw, Cassie had been a walking collection of bruises.

...And then, the solstice was upon her.

After a short, but pleasant shower - way better than anything they had been able to arrange in the Ivory Tower - she walked over to her wardrobe and got dressed. Her clothes were organized according to a strict system, with a tactile script tag added to each hanger to label colors, so Cassie could find anything she wanted quickly.

Finally ready, she left her room and headed downstairs.

Outside of her own space, she felt less confident. Her parents tried to be mindful of her Flaw, but it was still something unfamiliar to them. In the years after becoming blind, Cassie spent most of her time someplace else, after all. How could they have grown accustomed to it?

there would not be a piece of furniture moved, or a random item left carelessly in the way. But the mere possibility of stumbling into something or falling down made her feel tense. Cassie felt... felt like a stranger in her

She hated that feeling.

really harm her. Her Ascended physique was beyond being bruised by

a little, and then activated her Awakened Ability. With so many perspective mediums out there, her essence was in a state of delicate equilibrium. She had to be mindful not to spend more than she could passively replenish, and indulging herself without

for a little

Immediately, the world changed.

the stairs, but she was also cautiously descending them.

foot to the first step, but

reached the fourth step, but she was also on

banister, but it was also hanging by her side. She did not smell anything in particular, but she could

shin slammed into something hard, followed by the sound of a glass

was nothing there

leaned forward a little to smell the flowers. The vase was standing

time, there was the sound of an opening door, and her mother's scent became

turned to the

door opened, and her mother walked inside

baby is

her Awakened Ability. Instead, she sent her essence forward and substituted her sight with her mom's. Immediately, the full room came into view, including an unfamiliar wooden stand with a beautiful vase of natural flowers on top of

...She saw herself, too.

own face, but not

She frowned a little.

'My skirt is wrinkled...'

Birthday! I can't believe it, my lovely daughter

feel like she was twenty...

her mom enveloped her in a

Work is work, but a young lady like you should not forget about her poor, old parents. Would it kill you to visit more often? All, what am I saying? Visit, what visit? This is

Cassie's smile widened.

"I know."

party? I get it that Lady Nephis might be busy, but what about the others?

silent for

"...He's busy, too."

me, I'd give these so-called friends a piece of my mind... missing a

her mom tighter. She couldn't help but cling to her

how many more birthdays they would be able to celebrate