Shadow Slave: Foreign shadow

The cafeteria was a sea of noise. The Sleepers conversed incessantly about the rankings shown on the screen above, some staring at it in awe, others in pure disbelief. Many even felt a bitter sting of envy.

Meanwhile, a Shadow was busy trying to solve a far more pressing mystery: where the hell Yuki had hidden that grotesque amount of food.

​Suddenly, Sunny felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned to his right to find Cassie trying to get his attention.

Meeting her beautiful, sightless blue eyes, he saw a flicker of anxiety. ”Sunny? What’s happening now?” she asked softly.

​Sunny clicked his tongue. ”Oh... the interview rankings just came out.”

​Cassie lowered her head, still clutching his sleeve like a lifeline as if resigned to her fate. ”Let me guess... I’m last, aren’t I?”

​Sunny glanced at the board one more time before turning back to her. ”Yes. But don’t give it a second thought. Those rankings don’t mean a thing. Those idiots couldn’t see past the tips of their own noses, let alone recognize your true potential.”

​He reached out with his right hand, gently stroking her head as if she were a lost kitten found in the rain.​

At his words, a radiant smile returned to the blind Seer’s face. She tilted her head slightly, leaning into his hand to guide him toward a spot that felt particularly soothing.

”And you?” she asked curiously. ”Where did you place?”

​Sunny’s grin widened. ”Me? First, obviously.” He said proudly.

​Cassie blinked, her expression shifting to one of mock offense. She puffed out her cheeks in a pout, but that only encouraged Sunny to stroke her head more vigorously. She could have sworn she even heard him stifling a snort of amusement.

​In that moment, Cassie really, really wanted to bite his neck.

***

The world was wrong; only the music flowing through the headphones gave order to the chaos.

​In the background, the chatter of the others was nothing more than frivolous chirping—noise without substance. The notes of the songs provided a rhythm for her mind to follow, and the lyrics acted as fuel for the fire of her ambitions.

​A princess with hair and eyes like shimmering, white silver sat alone, her gaze fixed on the screen of her communicator. Her dull eyes scrolled through her playlist while white flames danced within her irises, yearning to burn. She was a light, yet she was a source of heat fed by a darkness that gripped the heart like a myriads of harrowing tentacles.

​Suddenly, the chirping of the crowd grew louder, sharper, more difficult to ignore. Nephis looked up, the fire inside her continuing to pulse to the beat of the rock music thumping in her ears.

​’The interview results are out,’ Nephis thought, watching the monitor atop the cafeteria’s central pillar flicker.

​Her brow furrowed in a look of mild boredom, already certain of the inevitable outcome. ’Naturally, I am first. No one else could possibly achieve what I have achieved.’ A voice saturated with cold arrogance and ancient pride echoed deep within her. She sighed in disappointment.

​Then, Nephis read the names.

​The white light in her eyes grew angrily. If anyone had dared to look at her in that moment, they would have been struck by the terrifying sensation that the table where she sat was about to ignite.

1⁰-​Sunless | True Name: Everlasting Gloom.

2⁰-​Nephis Immortal Flame | True Name: Changing Star.

​...

​’I... I am not first? HOW?!’

​Nephis didn’t bother reading the rest of the list. Her focus stopped dead at the first two lines. Her left eye twitched with a violent, suppressed fury; the hand gripping her communicator tightened so hard the device groaned.

​The fire within Changing Star seemed to explode, expanding through her chest and searing her lungs. She felt as though smoke were about to pour from her nostrils and ears. Her eyes were bloodshot. All her plans had just gone up in smoke.

​Her gaze shifted away from the screen, scanning the room with the intensity of a predator whose territory had just been marked by a stranger. Her eyes landed on a quiet corner of the cafeteria, where a boy with hair like ink was casually stroking the head of a blonde girl while joking with a silent girl in blue.

​Sunless. Everlasting Gloom.

***

Caster was enjoying the company of the other Legacies at his table. The flow of conversation was pleasant, and despite his ego, he knew how to be charismatic and open. One could even say he was far more approachable than other Sleepers who carried the same pride of noble lineage.

​Caster raised his glass to rinse his throat. The cafeteria food was significantly saltier than the gourmet meals prepared by his Clan’s personal chefs. Then, he heard the whispers rising like a tide.

​”How... how can this be?!”

”I’m not seeing things, right?”

”What kind of monsters are these two?!”

​Lowering his glass and looking around in curiosity, he saw that everyone was staring upward in the same direction. He understood immediately. A proud, confident smile touched his lips as he joined the crowd in looking at the screen.

​But when he read the rankings...

1⁰-​Sunless | True Name: Everlasting Gloom.

2⁰-​Nephis Immortal Flame | True Name: Changing Star.

3⁰-​Yukino | Aspect Rank: Sacred.

4⁰-​Han Li Caster | Aspect Rank: Ascendant.

​...

​A vein throbbed violently on his forehead. The grip on his glass grew fierce. Caster wasn’t just furious; he was livid. Not only had he failed to take the first place, but he hadn’t even touched the podium.

​When the Sleeper sitting to his right tapped his shoulder to draw him back to reality, Caster realized he was pouring water all over his trousers and the table. His grip had been so intense that deep cracks were webbing across the glass.

​”But... it’s impossible. I mean, they must have cheated. Who could possibly receive a True Name in his First Nightmare? Hell! My father is a Saint and even he doesn’t have one!” a Sleeper at his table exclaimed, leaning forward to address the group.

​”Actually, the interviews are monitored with a Lie Detector Memory,” another pointed out with his arms crossed, adjusting his glasses with his middle finger. ”And I heard this has happened before. Smile of Heaven of the Immortal Flame Clan received her True Name in her First Nightmare, too. And Changing Star just happens to be her daughter. But still... that first guy...” He sighed clueless. ”I’d never heard of him before.”

​Arguments and theories flew back and forth until Caster finally spoke up, his voice regaining its practiced composure.

​”Friends! Friends... there’s no need to torment ourselves with speculation. Why don’t we just go and ask him?”

​His proposal was met with a chorus of general agreement. One by one, the Legacies rose from their table, fueled by a mixture of burning curiosity. Led by Caster, they began to make their way toward the corner of the room where Sunless—Everlasting Gloom—was sitting.

***

Sunny was thoroughly enjoying himself, basking in the glory of his first-place ranking while boasting to Cassie and Yuki. However, his amusement was cut short when his Shadow sense perceived a dozen shadows coming toward him.

​Sunny withdrew his hand from Cassie’s head. Hidden from everyone’s sight, he put on the mask, preparing to step onto the stage. Turning his head, he saw a large group of fellow Sleepers led by Caster approaching his table. Their shadows radiated a cacophony of questions—to him, they were a swirl of different hues of shade.

​Among them, Sunny spotted Markus lingering at the back of the line. Right behind Caster was that womanizer with pale, blonde hair and golden eyes, trailed by a small parade of girls from his harem.

​Just as Han Li Caster opened his mouth to initiate the conversation, a bolt of lightning struck the dawn.

​Changing Star abruptly phased through the crowd, cutting him off entirely. She slammed both hands onto the table in front of Sunless with a resounding crack.

​”Everlasting Gloom! I challenge you!” Nephis declared, leaning forward. Her eyes burned with a hellish, white light.

​Sunny’s jaw dropped mid-sentence. He stared at her, completely dumbfounded. This behavior was the last thing he expected from her.

’No, wait... was Nephis always this impulsive? Or is this another ”Settlement crack” of Fate?’

​> the Jiminy Cricket remarked from his shoulder. It was currently holding a folder, busy archiving the ”Case of Yuki and the Disappearing Food,” swearing to one day solve the mystery.

​After a few brief seconds, Sunny composed himself. He crossed his arms, hooked his right leg over his left under the table, and lifted his chin.

​”Ehm... no,” he said, giving her a small, dismissive shake with his head.

​Nephis was genuinely stunned. The sparks in her eyes flickered for a moment. Straightening her back, she demanded, ”Why not?”

​Sunny tilted his head, arching an eyebrow. ”Because no.”

​Without another word, he shifted his gaze back to his plate and began cutting his meat, effectively ignoring her. A petty reflection of the politeness she had shown him when they first met at the gate.

​Bristling with indignation, Nephis spun on her heel and stormed off, her fury almost visible as heat haze.

​

’Let’s see if that teaches you some manners,’ Sunny thought with a satisfied smirk as he speared a piece of steak. Then, he looked up, remembering that Caster and the others were still standing there, frozen in awkward silence after witnessing the scene.

​”Can I help you with something?” he asked Caster, his voice dripping with casual indifference as he arched an eyebrow at the prestigious Legacy.

Caster cleared his throat, bringing his right fist to his mouth before offering a polite smile. ”Sleeper Sunless... or Everlasting Gloom? How would you prefer I address you?”

​”Sunless is fine,” He replied with a nod, his gaze indifferent as he sized up the Legacy.

​”In that case... Sleeper Sunless, my dear friend.” There was a trace of acid in his tone as he let out the last word. ”You never mentioned receiving a True Name before. I wanted to offer my most sincere congratulations.” He placed his right hand over his chest, as if on the verge of a formal bow.

​Behind him, the rest of the Sleepers watched in silence. Only two figures stood out from the crowd: the blonde playboy, who was busy ogling Yuki’s glacial beauty, and Markus, who was rolling his eyes in the back and mockingly mouthing Caster’s words under his breath.

​Sunny waggled his eyebrows playfully. ”What can I say...” He chuckled, crossing his arms. ”I’m a person full of surprises.”

​”Wait,” Cassie cut in, her voice brimming with shock. ”You really have a True Name, Sunny? That’s incredible!” Then, she turned toward the other side of the table, her expression shifting to one of mock betrayal. ”Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, directing her grievance at the ice maiden.

​Yuki’s lips twitched upward ever so slightly. ”Sorry.”

​”Ahem...” Caster cleared his throat again to reclaim center stage. ”Since we are all celebrating, why don’t you join our table and tell us the tale?”

He clasped his hands in front of him, then shifted his gaze to the black-haired girl with the blue-braided streak. ”Miss Yukino, you are more than welcome to join us as well.”

​Caster did not extend the invitation to Cassie.

​The exclusion was deafening. Silently, the blind Seer lowered her head, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her skirt as a familiar pang of dejection gripped her heart.

​Then, a Sleeper standing directly behind Caster and the blonde womanizer—perhaps emboldened by a surge of petty pride or the collective arrogance of the group—leaned forward to bolster his leader’s ”kindness.” The words that left his mouth next effectively signed his death warrant.

​”Come on, join us. We can offer you far better company than that blind slut.” He said with a bright smile.

​Deep within the darkness of Sunless’s Soul Sea, beneath the rays of the black sun, the flat surface of the water trembled and the gloomy shades shifted in the eternal night. They stood ready, prepared to welcome a new kin.