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.'

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

going to

directed his perception within, exploring himself for the first time since returning to 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

there, on the verge

A completely new sense.

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

crowded around him and receive an understanding of both their own shape and the surrounding space, guided by the different degrees of pressure they

understanding came naturally and instantaneously, like

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

grasped the feeling of it, he could sense the shadow just like he sensed his limbs. The only thing was that his limbs were made out of flesh,

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

raised an

he willed it to change shape, turning into a circle, then a line, then a monster. And finally, back to his own silhouette. The shadow was mercurial and fluid, like water. The only constant was its

"Ha! How about that?"

pouted, then

are you

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

that… all you can

mighty tyrant into little pieces cracked and shattered mercilessly. It seemed he would not be

How regretful.

shadow looked at him with disdain. Then it

took a

will

***

tracksuit and heading for the cafeteria. Master Jet was waiting for him at one of the

"Help yourself."

was not so different from the stuff he used to consume in the outskirts, and sighed. Somehow, he had expected his

Still, it was food.

wolf down the gruel ravenously. He was

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

to appear in

with dark irony. 'Knowing your luck, this would be a perfect moment

are you

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

for you to

him a weird

Are you almost finished

Sunny nodded.

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

glanced at

receive free psychological 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

his head. Jet shrugged and

You can also talk to me. Was

How could he answer?

was simultaneously much worse than I expected and exactly as

satisfied

won't pry any further. Us outskirt rats