Shadow Slave

Sunny was enjoying a hot shower. After their short conversation, Master Jet had sent him to clean himself, saying that he “reeked of Nightmare”. The unnatural slumber of the Spell would slow down the body’s metabolism, and the medical apparatus he had been strapped into was supposed to take care of the rest, but he was still asleep for three whole days.

Even if only psychological, the scent of bloodshed and despair lingered around him.

‘Ah, I’m in heaven,’ Sunny thought, willing himself to temporarily forget about the looming disaster of the Flaw.

He was alone in the police station’s showers, relaxing under the streams of hot water. After a bit of time had passed, Sunny reluctantly turned the tap off and walked over to the towel rack. Coincidentally, he saw himself reflecting in the mirror.

The changes in his physique were subtle, but noticeable. His pale skin seemed a little healthier, his muscles a bit more pronounced. He looked slender and lean instead of emaciated and frail, as he did before. There was a slight luster to his dark hair and a shine to his eyes.

However, he was still rather diminutive. Not exactly a picture of masculine handsomeness, to say the least.

‘Flower boy, huh?’ Sunny thought, full of bitterness.

Then he suddenly froze, noticing something strange. As he was looking at himself in the mirror, the reflection of his shadow seemed to move. It was as though the shadow lowered its head and quietly facepalmed.

Sunny quickly turned around, piercing his shadow with a nervous look. However, everything seemed normal. The shadow was doing exactly what it was supposed to do, repeating his every motion.

“I clearly saw you move,” he said, feeling a bit strange. “You have just moved on your own, right?!”

Sunny glared at the shadow, which obediently glared back.

“Did you move or not?”

The shadow enthusiastically shook its head.

‘What the?!’

“What do you mean, “no”?! You’ve just moved your head! Do you think I’m a fool?”

The shadow seemed to think for a bit and then shrugged.

Sunny was left with his mouth agape.

“Your shadow is more independent than most. It is an invaluable helper,” he muttered finally.

Right. This was how the Spell had described his Aspect Ability.

But what exactly could his shadow do?

He decided to experiment a little.

“Hey, you. Tell me what you can do.”

The shadow was silent and motionless.

‘Right. It doesn’t have vocal cords.’

As though that made any sense! Shadows were not supposed to have muscles either, and yet it knew how to move.

“Uh… show me?”

No reaction. It seems the shadow was content pretending to be an ordinary, lifeless blob of darkness.

Sunny sighed.

‘I’m doing this wrong.’

not, the shadow was still a part of him. It was a manifestation of his Aspect Ability. So instead of asking the shadow, he really should have been asking

to talk, are

the real world. He felt the beating of his heart, the steady rising of his chest, the slight chill of the shower room. He heard droplets of water falling on the tiled floor. Felt the movement of

verge of his

A completely new sense.

concentrated on it, and suddenly a whole other world opened to him. It was hard to describe with words,

understanding of both their own shape and the surrounding space, guided by the different degrees of

naturally and instantaneously, like an

were shadows. And among them, one — not the largest one, but the deepest — didn’t feel like an external entity. It was like a part

it, he could sense the shadow just like he sensed his limbs. The only

looked at the shadow. Then, with a thought, he willed it to raise an

raised

a line, then a monster. And finally, back to his own silhouette. The shadow was mercurial and fluid, like water. The only constant

“Ha! How about that?”

then reluctantly raised its

how are

willed the shadow to strike the towel rack. It obediently moved and delivered a powerful kick. Of course, since it was just a shadow, its leg passed

that… all you

tyrant into little pieces cracked and shattered mercilessly. It seemed he would not be competing with Shadow

How regretful.

shadow looked at him with disdain. Then it shrugged and stopped moving

sighed and took a towel off

I will

***

a clean police-issued tracksuit and heading for the cafeteria. Master Jet was waiting for him at one

“Help yourself.”

used to consume in the outskirts, and sighed. Somehow, he had expected his first meal after becoming a Sleeper to be

Still, it was food.

and began to wolf down the gruel ravenously. He was very, very

wondered. The Spell told him to find a master, and the next thing he knew there

to

thought with dark irony. ‘Knowing your luck, this

you

to open, and put all of his will into staying silent. A second passed without him saying anything. Then a weird pressure appeared in his mind, which

was thinking that it would be a perfect moment for you to ask me about what I am

gave him a

almost finished

Sunny nodded.

protocol, I am obligated to inform you of a few things. It is mostly a

at him

counseling. No matter what traumatic experience you have encountered, there is no shame in asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body — it’s only right to keep it healthy. Are

shook his head. Jet shrugged

also talk to me. Was it very

How could he answer?

expected and exactly as

satisfied