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.'

of him. It was a manifestation of his Aspect Ability. So instead of asking the shadow, he really should have been

going to

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

verge of

A completely new sense.

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

he could communicate with vast forms that crowded around him and receive an understanding of both their own shape and the surrounding space,

and

not the largest one, but the deepest — didn't feel like

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

Then, with a thought, he willed it to raise an

raised an

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

"Ha! How about that?"

pouted, then reluctantly raised its

how are

obediently moved and delivered a powerful kick. Of course, since it was just a

that… all you

little pieces cracked and shattered mercilessly. It

How regretful.

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

took a towel

I will explore it

***

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

"Help yourself."

he used to consume in the outskirts, and sighed. Somehow,

Still, it was food.

wolf down the gruel ravenously. He

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

to appear in

your luck, this would be a

are you thinking

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 pain. He endured it for a couple

be a perfect moment for you to ask me about

gave him

almost finished with your

Sunny nodded.

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

glanced at him

shame in asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body — it's only right to keep it healthy. Are you

his head. Jet

talk to me. Was it

How could he answer?

was simultaneously much worse than I expected

satisfied

I won't pry any further. Us outskirt