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.'

shadow was still a part of him. It was a manifestation of his Aspect Ability. So instead of asking

going to talk,

beating of his heart, the steady rising of his chest, the slight chill of the shower room. He heard droplets of

there, on the verge of his consciousness,

A completely new sense.

whole other world opened to him. It was hard to describe with words, just

vast forms that 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 an

largest one, but the deepest — didn't feel like an external entity. It

Sunny 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, and the shadow was made from the absence

Then, with a thought,

shadow raised an

it to sit, stand, turn around, kick. Then 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

"Ha! How about that?"

pouted, then

are you

powerful kick. Of course, since it was just a shadow, its leg passed over the towels harmlessly, not

all you

tearing the mighty tyrant into little pieces cracked and shattered mercilessly. It seemed

How regretful.

at him with disdain. Then it shrugged and stopped

took a towel

I will

***

wearing a clean police-issued tracksuit and heading for the cafeteria. Master Jet was waiting for him at one of the tables, with two trays full of steaming synthetic food

"Help yourself."

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

Still, it was food.

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

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

to appear

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

are you

gruel. He felt his mouth beginning 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 soon turned

a perfect moment for you to ask me

him

you almost

Sunny nodded.

I'll begin. As per protocol, I am obligated to inform you of a few things. It

at

entitled to 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 —

his head. Jet

You can also talk to me. Was it very

How could he answer?

I expected and exactly

nodded, satisfied with

won't pry any further. Us outskirt rats are way more resilient than people