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.'

part of him. It was a manifestation of

going to talk, are

his eyes and 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

there, on the verge

A completely new sense.

whole other world opened to him. It was hard to describe with words, just like one would have trouble

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 exerted on his

understanding came naturally and instantaneously, like an

one, but the deepest — didn't feel like an external entity. It was like a part of his

sense the shadow just like he sensed his limbs. The only thing was that his limbs were made out

eyes and looked at the shadow. Then, with a thought,

shadow raised an

then a line, then a monster. And finally, back to his own silhouette. The shadow

"Ha! How about that?"

pouted, then reluctantly

how are

since it was just a shadow, its leg passed over the towels harmlessly,

that… all you

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 altogether,

took a towel off

will explore

***

minutes after that, he was wearing a clean police-issued tracksuit and heading for the cafeteria. Master Jet was waiting for

"Help yourself."

at the cheap gruel, which was not so different from the stuff he used to consume in the outskirts, and sighed. Somehow, he

Still, it was food.

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

and the next thing he knew there was a woman calling herself Master right

thoughts started to appear in

your luck, this would be a perfect moment

are you

saying anything. Then a weird pressure appeared in his mind, which soon turned into blinding pain. He endured it for a couple more

a perfect moment for you to ask me about what I am thinking,"

him

Are you almost finished with

Sunny nodded.

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

at him and

encountered, there is no shame in asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body

head. Jet shrugged

wish. You can also talk to

How could he answer?

than I expected and exactly as bad as

nodded, satisfied

pry any further. Us