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.'

It was a manifestation of his Aspect Ability. So instead of

going to talk,

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

on the verge of his

A completely new sense.

it, and suddenly a whole other world opened to him. It was hard to describe with words, just like one would have

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

naturally and

— not the largest one, but the deepest —

like he sensed his limbs. The only thing was that his limbs were made out of flesh, and the shadow was

looked at the shadow. Then, with a thought, he

shadow raised an

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

"Ha! How about that?"

pouted, then reluctantly raised its

how are

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

that… all

tyrant into little pieces cracked and shattered mercilessly.

How regretful.

him with disdain. Then

and took a towel off

will explore it

***

cafeteria. Master Jet was waiting for him at one of

"Help yourself."

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

Still, it was food.

began to wolf down the gruel ravenously. He was

next thing he knew there was a woman calling herself Master right in front of him. He tried to imagine being an obedient slave to

started to appear

your luck,

are you

the 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 into blinding

perfect moment for you to ask me about

gave him

you almost finished

Sunny nodded.

inform you of a few things. It is mostly

at him and

no shame in asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body — it's only

his head. Jet shrugged and

can also talk to me. Was it

How could he answer?

much worse than I expected and

satisfied with that

pry any further. Us