Shadow Slave

Dropping the bow, she hurriedly picked up a long javelin that had been laying under the ash.

Rain's weapon of choice was a bow. However, that did not mean that she was only versed in using a bow. Her teacher insisted that a ranged weapon was only good if one could keep the enemy at range, and in the Dream Realm, not even Saints could guarantee something like that.

Therefore, she was proficient not only with ranged weapons, but also with a wide range of weapons.

Rain was nothing if not resourceful.

By the time she grabbed the javelin and jumped to her feet, the Stone Worm was almost upon her.

With fetid blood spilling from its torn maw, the horrid creature raised its front limbs to slice her into pieces…

And suddenly disappeared from view.

The pit Rain had dug up and covered with branches might not have been deep, but it was perfectly placed to stop the charge of a mindless monster.

There was a great benefit in being able to handle a multitude of weapons, but there was an even greater benefit in always being prepared. Her teacher had hammered that simple principle into her head a long time ago.

Before the Stone Worm could recover from suddenly dropping through the ash, the heavy javelin struck it with all the force she could muster Its white scales were broken by the wide spearhead, and the abominable monster let out a piercing screech.

Rain paled a little and finally drew her sword. The enemy was severely wounded, but it was not dead yet.

A mess of hideous flesh and thin limbs staggered out of the pit, only to be met by the blade of the tachi. Rain severed the front limbs of the sluggish monster, then delivered a ruthless slash across its scaly neck, putting a gash into it.

A few more precise strikes and well-timed dodges, and the abomination finally grew motionless. Only half of its vile body managed to crawl out of the shallow pit, and was now laying on the ash.

Rain slumped and grabbed her knees, panting heavily. She could feel a trickle of foreign essence seeping into her soul, and a river of adrenaline coursing through her blood.

«D-d-dam it..!»

Then, a voice resounded from behind her.

«You have slain a Dormant Monster, Stone Worm Your shadow grows stronger!»

Turning around, she threw a dark look at her teacher, who had finally deigned to crawl out of her shadow in all his shameless splendor.

«…What the hell are you on about?»

her, wearing light armor woven out of dark silk, looked away in

Don't mind me. Just something i used to hear

and turned away with a stoic expression on her pale,

definitely going to

to kill a

—— —— ——

was a

she had gone insane and was hallucinating, but after spending some time with the mysterious

not only that, but

toward her. On the contrary, it… he… treated Rain with something that resembled familial affection. It was almost as if he was the spirit of her

that her family had such an ancestor, though. But then again, Rain was adopted, and didn't know much about her biological parents. So…

a little bit like her. A much

if he was

called himself Shadow was a strange being. When he emerged from her shadow, he looked like a young man with flawless alabaster skin, raven-black hair, and beautiful eyes that resembled two pieces of glistening onyx. His exquisite appearance was perfectly human, if a

did not have

she was prohibited from having any in her vicinity.

her to believe that her

did not seem interested in drinking her blood. Or any

even after spending four years in the company of her

him questions about his identity resulted in nonsensical answers that simply

Like:

please tell me.

you already? Gods, how many times do

sure I would remember having

estuary of the river of time, which flows inside the great pyramid that an dreadful demon had built from the blood and flesh of an Unholy Titan, I was attacked by

«…Uh-huh.»

I was very famous. Not only was I famous, but even my secret alter ego was famous. World-renowned, even. I was a war hero, too. And extremely wealthy. In fact… do you know Princess Nephis? Changing Star of the Immortal Flame clan?

«Uh-huh…»

Or:

a question? How old

complicated question! One might say that I am a few years older than you. But, at the same time, this incarnation of me has only been born about four years ago? Oh, but actually, I guess I'm thousands of years old. I've just forgotten most of it after my cursed magical sword rebelled against

cursed magical sword? How did you destroy

be gone. And it was gone. Your

«…»