Shadow Slave: Foreign shadow

​A white space. Not a wall painted white, but a literal void—pristine and immaculate. Infinite as time, eternal as fate, and as unfathomable as the human psyche.

​There, seated in the front row at the center of seven endless columns of single desks, was Sunny. Once again, he found himself trapped in this mental classroom. His very own Flaw dragged him here every single night, commandeering the precious time when his synapses should have been resting, solely to force him to do his homework.

​A true curse, albeit a terrifyingly efficient one.

​DRIIIN. DRIIIN.

​> said the grotesque, monstrous figure of the Jiminy Cricket. Its voice echoed through the dreamscape as it slammed a textbook shut with a dull thud, gripping it between its abnormally elongated joints.

​”Wait, that’s it? It really ends like this?” Sunny asked, tilting his head. Up until a moment ago, he had been resting his chin on the palm of his right hand, desperately hoping to escape this dream by falling asleep within it.

​> the Jiminy Cricket replied, busy wiping chalk from the floating blackboard behind him with a rag. > It gestured to their surroundings with one of its grotesque limbs.

​DRIIIN. DRIIIN.

​”Ah,” Sunny muttered, eyeing the creature from head to toe.

​Then, he thought about it for a moment. It was true.

​The fateful day had finally arrived.

​DRIIIN. DRIIIN.

​”So, it’s time,” Sunny said, sighing heavily. His vacant gaze remained fixed on his desk’s legs. He looked utterly defeated, like someone bracing themselves to swallow a terribly bitter pill.

​> the Jiminy Cricket confirmed. It finished wiping the blackboard and neatly put the rag away. >

​A heavy, dominating silence settled over the white space. It was a moment of profound reflection, a heavy realization slowly creeping its way into Sunless’s heart.

​DRIIIN. DRIIIN.

​> the Jiminy Cricket added, finally turning its gaze toward him.

The comically small hat perched on its massive head tilted slightly as it bent down to gather a stack of books from its desk. It tapped them against the wood—THUD, THUD—to align them, then began making its way toward the door.

​Sunny watched him walk away, fully aware that they would inevitably meet again upon his waking, albeit in a different shape and form.

​Reaching the door handle, the towering, two-and-a-half-meter-tall Cricket turned back to face him one last time. Wearing an expression of scholarly refinement, it said, >

​DRIIIN. DRIIIN.

​Sunny woke up. His eyes snapped open like spring-loaded shutters swinging out into the real world.

​It would have been a perfectly peaceful morning, had his life not been dictated by a countdown that had just reached its final tick. A countdown that wouldn’t just lead him, but violently throw him into a parallel dimension worthy of a third-rate horror novel’s worst wet dreams. And yet, amidst all of this, the only thing Sunny could think about was how desperately he wanted to just go back to sleep.

​’So, the day has finally arrived,’ the thought echoed in his mind. And for the first time since he had arrived at the Academy, his trademark cynicism offered him no comfort, no loophole to crawl through.

​Sunny rolled over in his bed. Next to him lay Thene, fast asleep. Her delicate, beautiful face was the very picture of serenity.

​A vague sense of calm returned to his chest. Sunny leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to Myriad Shade’s forehead. It was an innocent gesture, overflowing with gratitude for the simple fact that wherever he ended up—even though he already had a pretty good idea of his destination—at least he wouldn’t be going there alone.

​After that, he gathered whatever meager strength this morning had left him and dragged himself out of bed. Cursing under his breath, he got to his feet. With a lump in his throat that he just couldn’t seem to swallow, he went to prepare for the day.

***

​The rich, comforting aroma of coffee filled the cafeteria as usual. That morning, however, it wasn’t accompanied by the customary chorus of cheerful, carefree voices from the young aspirants. Instead, the air was thick with muffled sobs and the heavy, ragged breathing of the Sleepers.

​Walking among the tables, Sunny saw girls hugging themselves, crying silently into their arms. Others just stared at their untouched plates with vacant expressions. A few of the more unhinged ones were actually laughing, acting as if they had already accepted their fate—though the bloodshot veins in their manic eyes easily betrayed their true terror.

​Couples clung to one another, desperately savoring their last fleeting moments of tenderness. Friends exchanged tight, solemn hugs. The loners just sat there, trembling in place. And then... there was him.

​’No way!’ Sunny mentally screamed, his eyes wide and his jaw practically hitting the floor as the scene unfolded before him. How his hands unconsciously found the strength to keep holding his food tray, only the heavens knew.

​> Even Jiminy Cricket on his shoulder—dressed in its usual tailored suit, holding its walking cane, and wearing that comically oversized top hat—was left entirely speechless, mirroring Sunny’s exact expression of utter bewilderment.

​There, sitting alone at a table, was Sleeper Jayden. Not only was the golden boy sitting completely by himself, but he also sported a vivid black eye and was missing a few strands of his usually flawless hair. He wore a ridiculously dark, brooding scowl, looking exactly like a cartoon villain whose flawless evil plan had just been thwarted by some unworthy plebeian.

​With his one good eye, burning with visceral, unadulterated hatred, Jayden was glaring at a table a few spots to his right.

​There sat Sleeper Markus.

​Unlike Jayden, Markus was very much not alone. He was surrounded by a gaggle of beautiful girls who were actively doting on him and hanging onto his every word—the exact same girls Sunny had always seen orbiting Jayden. Markus didn’t just look satisfied. He looked absolutely, triumphantly proud.

​’No way,’ Sunny repeated to himself, still frozen in place as he stared at the spectacle. ’Did... did Markus just steal Jayden’s harem?!’

​The possibilities were endless, but facts were scarce. The questions just kept multiplying in his head. ’HOW? WHEN? WHERE?!’ Sunny had no idea how it had happened, but he knew with absolute certainty that he had just missed out on an incredibly epic side-plot.

​After standing there like a complete statue for a few seconds—thankfully unnoticed, as everyone else was far too absorbed in their own personal tragedies—he finally shook his head. A genuine, entirely unexpected smile tugged at his lips. Shaking off the shock, he resumed walking toward his usual table, where the girls were surely waiting for him.

​Sunny arrived at his table to find Nephis, Cassie, and Yuki all squeezed together on the same side of the booth. The blind seer was crying silently into the arms of the other two. Changing Star was softly whispering words of comfort, while the Ice Maiden gently rubbed circles on her back.

​The moment he sat down across from them, Cassie pulled away from the girls and practically threw herself into his arms.

​There was no exchange of words. Sunny simply caught her, welcoming the tiny girl into his embrace. As his dark t-shirt slowly grew damp with her tears, he held her tight, resting his chin gently on the top of her head and softly stroking her blonde hair.

​Sunny looked up at Nephis, and then at Yuki. The two of them met his gaze. There was no need for words; the shared silence spoke volumes.

​Finally, he looked down at Cassie again, pulling her delicate, fragile body even closer to his own, hoping to transfer as much warmth to her as he possibly could. His expression grew vacant and deeply melancholic.

​The final day had finally come.

***

​”Where exactly are we going?” Sunny asked, being inexorably dragged by the arm down the academy corridors, completely unable to offer physical resistance or verbally veto the situation.

​A magenta cloth blindfold—which he had been strictly forbidden to remove—covered his eyes, completely blinding him to his surroundings.

​”You’ll see,” was all his kidnapper offered. Her voice was giddy and bright, ringing clear as a silver bell.

​The delicate, graceful blonde girl with sapphire-blue eyes—the right one adorned with an elegant crystal monocle—was currently holding his right arm hostage, pinning it firmly between her own arms and her slender waist.

​Sunny sighed, resigning himself to his fate. It was a rather absurd picture: anyone passing by would surely wonder why a blind girl was escorting a blindfolded boy.

​Sure, seeing Cassie so radiant and carefree after he had spent the last hour holding her while she soaked his shirt with tears was a beautiful change of pace. But he still had absolutely no idea what was going through her mind.

​> the Jiminy Cricket voiced the sudden doubt in his mind.

​A cold shiver ran down Sunny’s spine. ’No... No. I mean, I highly doubt that’s the case here. Right?’ Suddenly, he felt as if he were being marched straight to the gallows.

​And unfortunately, his fate was already sealed.

​As they walked, Sunny’s shadow sense suddenly picked up on a familiar presence nearby. Caster.

​The Legacy, spotting them down the hall, froze in his tracks. He then immediately spun on his heels and speed-walked in the exact opposite direction. Apparently, Cassie’s mighty right hook had left him with a trauma much deeper than just a dental prosthetic.

​’That’s right, stay off the radar, Richard the Lionheart!’ Sunny thought with a sly smirk, his only regret being that he couldn’t witness the Legacy’s cowardly retreat with his own two eyes.

​After a few more minutes, Sunny and Cassie finally reached their destination. He immediately reached up to yank the blindfold off, but she grabbed his wrist at the last second.

​”Not yet,” she warned. He couldn’t see her, but judging by the tone of her voice, Cassie was definitely pouting.

​Still holding his hand, she guided him forward. Sunny heard the click of a door opening. He stepped into a room filled with shadows he didn’t immediately recognize, turning his head slightly as he heard the heavy door click shut behind them. A tomb-like silence reigned in the room; even the air felt completely still.

​Cassie finally let go of his hand. Stepping directly in front of him, she said with a radiant smile in her voice, ”Okay. Now you can take it off.”

​Sunny didn’t exactly know what was happening. His first logical deduction was that Cassie had organized a surprise birthday party for him. The problem, however, was that in the Outskirts, birthdays weren’t exactly a welcome occasion—especially in those miserable slums where people usually just went to starve to death. Literally.

​In fact, neither he nor Jet had ever truly celebrated their birthdays, nor did they even know each other’s exact date of birth. To both of them, it was entirely irrelevant information. Not to mention the fact that, possessing the memories of a previous life, Sunny didn’t exactly view his second date of birth as a reason for grand festivities.

​Nevertheless, trusting her, he brought both hands up to the magenta fabric. He tilted his head slightly, mentally preparing himself to look upon whatever surprise awaited him, and slowly pulled the blindfold down.

​Clap. Clap.

​Clap. Clap. Clap.

​Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

​The moment he did, the scene before him overwhelmed his heart with an indescribable, melting warmth.

​As his eyes adjusted to the light, finally free from the fabric, Sunny was greeted by the sight of Professor Julius, Jet, Kurt, Yuki, Nephis, and Cassie. They were all gathered in a circle around a table adorned with a birthday cake. And framing the entire picture, hung high above them, was a colorful banner that read: ”Happy Birthday, Sunny.”

​Sunny didn’t even realize it, but he was smiling.

***

​The party was intimate, brief, but beautiful. It was easily the best birthday Sunny had ever had across two lifetimes—a warm ray of light piercing through an otherwise bleak and gloomy day. But unfortunately, all good things must eventually come to an end.

​Once the festivities concluded, Professor Julius bid his favorite student farewell with a warm, heavy pat on the shoulder, followed by a firm, academic handshake. ”And remember, my boy. None of my students are allowed to kick the bucket in something as trivial as their first expedition into the Dream Realm,” the old man had told him.

​He didn’t say it like a command, but rather as an absolute certainty. It was the unshakable trust of a mentor in his student. And Sunny couldn’t help but believe him.

​”Try not to act too much like a hotshot out there, squirt,” Shadow Blade Kurt had said, flashing a wide grin before his departure. He affectionately locked Sunny in a headlock, aggressively rubbing his knuckles against the top of his head in a textbook older-brother noogie. It was annoying—extremely annoying—but altogether, deeply reassuring.

​And as for Jet, well...

​”You seem more mature,” she remarked, stepping closer to him with her arms crossed over her chest. She studied him from head to toe with a deeply curious expression.

​At that moment, it was just the two of them in the Academy’s atrium. The girls had already gone ahead to listen to Professor Rock’s mandatory speech before departure.

​”What do you mean?” Sunny asked, tilting his head and scratching his cheek with one finger in genuine bewilderment.

​Jet straightened her posture and shrugged. ”You have a more serious look about you. You’re making fewer jokes, you carry yourself differently... I don’t exactly know how to describe it, but your presence has completely shifted since the last time I saw you. More adult, I’d say.”

​Sunny blinked. ’Is it because I finally lost my V-card? Honestly, no idea. Is it really that obvious to everyone else?’ he wondered inwardly.

​He felt an intense, almost biological urge to make a terrible joke about ’plucking the flower,’ but instead, what actually came out of his mouth was: ”Ever heard of PTSD?”

​This time, Jet was the one who blinked. ’What the hell...’ she tilted her head, visibly wondering what on earth that was supposed to mean.

​But a second later, Sunny slipped right back into his usual, shameless smirk. He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and, with a tone as bold as it was mischievous, added, ”Well, if you think the fruit is finally ripe enough, I highly recommend you pick it while you still can.”

​THWACK!

​”Ouch!”

​This time, Jet didn’t just flick him with two fingers. She went straight for the blunt haft of her scythe, smacking him squarely on the top of the head.

​”I take back everything I just said. You are a completely lost cause,” she sighed in total resignation. A prominent vein pulsed on her forehead as she firmly gripped the Memory in her hands, the deadly curved blade resting casually behind her back, pointing at the floor.

​Sunny aggressively rubbed his head to soothe the throbbing pain. She had actually hit him pretty hard this time. But then... something soft, cold, and distinctly moist pressed against his skin.

​His pitch-black eyes shot wide open. Unable to trust his own physical sight due to the fresh lump forming on his head, Sunny reflexively checked through his shadow’s perspective to figure out what was happening.

​Jet had leaned in. The lethal scythe had been dismissed into a flurry of sparks. Her hands were now resting gently on his shoulders, and her striking red lips—popping vibrantly against her pale, porcelain skin—were pressed firmly against his right cheek.

​Pulling back with a soft smack, Jet looked at Sunny.

​Sunny looked at Jet.

​Silence stretched between them. Then, she pulled him into a tight embrace, letting his face rest softly against her chest.

​”See you soon, Sunny,” she murmured, gently holding the back of his head with one hand.

​”See you soon, Jet,” he replied softly, wrapping his arms around her to return the gesture.

​She was warm.

***

​A few minutes later...

​”Are you really sure you don’t want us to come in with you?” Cassie asked, her sightless eyes turned in Yuki’s direction, her face etched with deep concern.

​The four of them—Cassie, Nephis, Sunny, who had finally caught up with them, and Yuki—were now standing in front of the heavy metal door leading to Yuki’s pod room.

​It was time to say goodbye.

​Yuki turned to look at the blind girl, then glanced at Nephis to her right, and finally at Sunny to her left. Her friends. Having people care for her was still a somewhat unfamiliar concept, yet, a soft, genuine smile graced her lips.

​”No,” Yuki said, gently shaking her head. ”From here on out... I have to walk forward alone.”

​Cassie didn’t hesitate. Completely ignoring the unnatural, biting chill radiating from the Ice Maiden’s body, she practically threw herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Yuki’s waist. Yuki returned the embrace, and a moment later, before the final parting, both Nephis and Sunny silently stepped in, joining them in a warm, collective embrace.

​”I’ll see you on the other side,” Yuki said, turning to look at them one last time before stepping into the room and pulling the heavy door shut behind her.

​It was a door that only time would tell if, or when, it would ever open again. When Yuki spoke those words, she hadn’t been entirely certain they were true. But deep down in her frozen heart, she desperately hoped they were.

​The quiet click of Yuki’s door locking echoed in the corridor. A heavy silence settled over the remaining three as they walked the short distance to their next destination. A few minutes later, they found themselves standing inside Cassie’s pod room.

​Sunny held the blind seer tightly against his chest. Cassie reciprocated with desperate intensity, pressing her fragile body against his as if trying to fuse their very flesh together. Her face, once again slick with tears, was buried in his chest. She breathed in heavily, using his scent as an anchor, a solid foundation in a world that was about to vanish beneath her feet.

​Nephis stood to their left, observing the scene like a silent, neutral spectator.

​As Sunny gently stroked Cassie’s golden hair, resting his chin softly on her shoulder, his pitch-black eyes wandered around the room. It was an empty, austere chamber, dominated solely by the cold, metallic sleep pod—a mechanical coffin designed to preserve the physical body while the spirit wandered the merciless Dream Realm in a desperate search for a way back home.

​’She was so alone the first time this happened,’ Sunny thought, his heart aching as he held Cassie even tighter, overwhelmed by a sudden, fierce wave of affection. ’And so was Nephis. And so was Sunny. What a cruel irony... to think that the pain they’ll feel upon returning will be even worse than what they’re feeling right now as they leave.’ A bitter, cynical smile tugged at the corners of his lips as that dark realization washed over him.

​Gently, Sunny lifted his head. He cupped the back of Cassie’s head and pressed his lips firmly against the crown of her hair, right at the center where the golden waterfall seemed to originate. It was a long, tender kiss, heavy with unspoken worry.

​”Take care of yourself,” he whispered, pulling away with a soft smack that echoed in the quiet room. He looked down at her with eyes like pools of dark ink.

​For a moment, Cassie didn’t look up; their bodies remained tangled together in that warm embrace. Then, Sunny let go of her head, and she slowly lowered her hands from his waist.

​And then... Cassie grabbed Sunny by the collar with both hands.

​For the second time in three days, he tasted strawberries.

​Nephis, who had been quietly watching the emotional farewell, literally let her jaw drop to the floor. Her silver eyes widened in absolute shock, and a deep, furious blush exploded across her pale cheeks, looking for all the world like she had just walked in on something highly illegal.

​Cassie had stood up on her tiptoes, yanking Sunny down by his collar. Their noses brushed against each other as their mouths crashed together with an unprecedented, fiery passion. Cassie’s eyes were squeezed tightly shut as her tongue boldly slipped against his. Sunny, in stark contrast, stood there with his eyes wide open, utterly paralyzed by the sudden assault, while he clumsily tried to kiss her back.

​[You have received...]

​Right at that moment, the Spell attempted to communicate something to him. But Sunny’s brain—currently short-circuiting in a sudden, violent waltz of hormones and saliva—completely failed to register the prompt.

​’Wait a second,’ a terrifying thought suddenly pierced Nephis’s mind, sending a cold shiver down her spine. ’Did he... did Sunny just get me pregnant from watching that?’

​Recently, Changing Star had finally mustered the courage to open that book on human reproduction Sunny and Yuki had gifted her. However, after reading just one page, she had not only lost all will to live but had somehow ended up even more confused about the subject than before.

​After two intense, breath-stealing minutes of boundless passion, their lips finally parted, leaving a thin, glistening thread of saliva that quickly vanished into the air. Cassie lowered her heels back to the floor, her hands still gripping Sunny’s collar. She looked up at him, her beautiful, unseeing blue eyes shining with fresh tears, but a massive, radiant smile adorned her face. She looked endlessly grateful.

​”Thank you, Sunny,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, but her smile never wavering. ”It has been a truly beautiful month.”

​Before Sunny could even formulate a response, Cassie let go of him, spun on her heel, and practically ran toward her pod. She laid her delicate body down into the mechanical cradle and willingly surrendered herself to the sleep.

​Sunny stood frozen, watching her slip away into the Dream Realm. With every fiber of his being, he wished her luck. He prayed to whatever god might be listening that when she woke up, this Cassie—the sweet, affectionate girl who clung to him like an anchor—would be the one to return. And that in her place, that cold, machiavellian, scheming machine known as Song of the Fallen would never manifest.

​Finally, it was Nephis’s turn.

​The heavy atmosphere of Cassie’s room faded, replaced by a crackling, almost suffocating tension as they entered Changing Star’s pod chamber.

​Nephis stood perfectly still, glaring at the metallic pod in front of her with a gaze heavy with burning determination. Her fists were clenched so tightly at her sides that her knuckles were entirely white.

​Vivid silver flames seemed to dance within her irises. Flames that threatened to burn her father and the clan that had used her. Flames that threatened to incinerate the Nightmare Spell in its entirety. Flames that promised to reduce the whole damn world to ash, along with anyone foolish enough to stand in her way.

​Behind her stood Sunny, hands casually buried in his pockets, observing her as if she were a puzzle he was trying to solve.

​’It pisses me off,’ he thought, dropping his gaze to the floor and grinding his teeth.

​> the Jiminy Cricket, standing on his shoulder, tried to comfort him.

​Yet, it still gnawed at him. Over the past month, Sunny had given everything he had to forge strong, genuine bonds with Nephis and Cassie in preparation for the brutal trials ahead. Everything had been going perfectly. He had become their friend, he had helped them grow closer to each other... and then, that damn letter arrived.

​One cursed, insignificant piece of paper—the contents of which only time would reveal—had been enough to derail all his carefully laid plans. For the past week, Nephis hadn’t just built a wall between herself and him; she had shut out Yuki and Cassie, too. It felt as if Fate itself was mocking him, and he didn’t even have a target to shoot back at. It was infuriating.

​Sunny let out a long sigh. ’Whatever. It just means I’ll have to win that trust back once we’re on the Forgotten Shore.’

​He clapped his hands together once, a sharp sound that broke the silence and drew her attention. ”Well... I suppose, if Fate allows it, I hope to see you on the other side,” he said, lifting his head to look at her back, framed by her vivid silver hair.

​Nephis turned around, meeting his dark eyes. A faint, almost imperceptible half-smile touched her lips, and she gave a single nod. ”Yes. I’ll see you.”

​Without warning, Sunny closed the distance between them. Taking two calm steps forward, he wrapped his arms smoothly around her waist. Nephis was entirely caught off guard by the gesture; her body tensed, almost ready to leap backward instinctively before he fully captured her in his embrace.

​Nephis blinked, staring blankly ahead. She thought back to the insolent, mischievous brat who, just a few weeks ago, would have done anything just to avoid her.

​’It’s... not such a bad feeling, actually,’ she admitted to herself, slowly relaxing her shoulders, closing her eyes and returning the embrace, finding the sudden physical contact unexpectedly good. ’I think I kind of understand why Cassie hugs you all the time, Sunny. You’re warm.’

​And with that, Everlasting Gloom and Changing Star said their final goodbyes. Destined to meet again later in the Dream Realm—and, as Sunny was already well aware, much sooner than any of them expected.

***

Sunny was alone. Just as it had all begun.

​He stood before the cold, metallic pod in the dead center of an empty room, with not even a shadow of a person left to keep him company.

​He swallowed hard. The soles of his shoes felt as though they had been glued to the floor. His heart weighed as much as a boulder, and the invisible avalanche he had been holding back for who knows how long felt as if it were finally about to crush his shoulders. It was the crushing weight of a dread he had always managed to ignore by focusing entirely on the present—until that very dread became the present.

​”It’s all downhill from here,” Sunny muttered to himself, clutching a hand over his heart as he struggled to catch his breath.

​He was on the verge of summoning the [Hero’s Solace] just to force some courage into his system, but then... two pitch-black arms wrapped around him from behind in a warm, deeply comforting embrace. Without moving his legs, Sunny turned his head, finding Myriad Shade’s sweet, familiar face looking back at him with a reassuring smile.

​It was a smile that silently told him she knew exactly how hard he had fought these past few days. And that even if it still wasn’t enough, she would always be right there with him. Until the very end.

​The suffocating weight on his chest instantly dissolved, replaced by a soothing, pleasant warmth. Sunny smiled back, gently rubbing his cheek against hers like an affectionate lover. Then, he raised his right arm, feeling the phantom presence of Serpent wrapped entirely around his body in the form of a coiled, snake tattoo.

​’I’m not alone,’ he reminded himself, feeling like an idiot for having forgotten it even for a moment.

​His courage fully restored, Sunny dismissed Serpent and Thene, sending them back into the dark abyss of his Soul Sea so they would be ready and waiting for him on the other side. He turned back to the pod with a solemn expression, his dark eyes heavily shadowed by the dim light of the room’s single ceiling bulb.

​’You know what, dear Cricket?’ Sunny addressed his Flaw—or rather, his perpetually, brutally honest conscience.

​> The mental manifestation of the Jiminy Cricket appeared on his shoulder.

It wore its classic tailored tuxedo, leaned casually on its walking cane, and tipped that ridiculously oversized top hat on its tiny head. Its voice, as always, dripped with scholarly wisdom.

​’When I was reborn into this life, sixteen years ago, I was terrified of this world. But eventually, I got tired of being afraid, so I decided to just keep moving forward. Always forward, no matter what.

​When I faced my First Nightmare, I felt this deep, gnawing guilt for living a life that didn’t truly belong to me. But by the end of that trial, I finally understood that a life only belongs to you once you actually start living it.

​When I first arrived at this Academy, I kept wondering what role I was supposed to play. What kind of person I wanted to be in a world on the brink of collapse.

​But now... after looking into the eyes of everyone I care about as they wished me a happy birthday, seeing their smiles and their brief moments of carefree joy... I finally get it.’

​Sunny glanced at the Jiminy Cricket on his shoulder. The creature was listening intently, both hands resting on the pommel of its cane, a proud smile etched onto its face.

​’I realized that I need to stop giving a damn about my doubts and this useless guilt. I don’t owe anyone an apology. And if I want to become someone great, I just have to take it.

​I want to be an incorrigible egoist. A greedy bastard who takes exactly what he wants, and a man who can look in the mirror and be undeniably proud of who he has become.

​That is who I want to be. So I can keep those smiles for myself.’

​Those were his final truths. The Jiminy Cricket nodded approvingly, tipping its hat to the boy who had finally found his true compass.

​With that, Sunny was finally ready to step into the Dream Realm. But before he could even take a single step forward...

​Knock. Knock.

​Knock. Knock.

​A series of sharp, hesitant knocks made him turn his back on the pod. Curious, but completely bewildered by the sudden and unexpected interruption, Sunny walked over and opened the heavy metal door.

​Standing right in front of him, hands clasped formally over her skirt, was Yuki.

​”Yuki? What are you doing here? Is something wrong?” he asked, genuinely confused, thinking they had already left no words unspoken.

​”Neph is lying,” she blurted out, looking at him straight in the eyes.

​Sunny stared at her for a second, blinking slowly as he processed her words. Then, realization dawned on him.

​”Ahh...” he muttered, furrowing his brows and glancing up at the doorframe for a moment. ”You mean about what she told us regarding the Clans and all that? Yeah, I already knew.”

​Yuki blinked, genuinely taken aback. ”You knew?”

​”Yep,” Sunny nodded casually. ”I mean, it was pretty obvious. You just had to put two and two together to realize she was lying. And besides...” He let out a soft huff of amusement before adding the last part. ”...Shadows never lie.”

​Yuki tilted her head, clearly not understanding the true weight of that statement. Yet, despite herself, he still managed to pull a tiny smile from her lips.

​The two stared at each other for a moment without saying a word, letting the silence fill the void between them.

​”Well, if there’s nothing else, I suppose I’ll see you on the other side?” Sunny finally said, breaking the quiet.

​Yuki nodded. Then, she reached out and took two steps forward, closing the distance. Sunny welcomed the hug naturally, wrapping his arms around her. ’Brrr...’ he shivered slightly. ’It is literally like hugging a snowman.’

​They pulled away, but at the very last second, Yuki grabbed his hand and pressed something into his palm, folding his fingers over it into a tight fist.

​”I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking down at the floor. A dark, deeply saddened shadow obscured her beautiful blue eyes.

​Before he could react, Yuki spun on her heel and sprinted down the corridor. Sunny tracked her through his shadow sense, watching as she hastily climbed into her pod and fell asleep, immediately crossing over into the Dream Realm.

​Sunny stared blankly at the empty hallway where she had just stood. He looked at the open door, and finally down at his clenched right fist, feeling the crinkle of folded paper against his palm.

​”If she wanted to confess her love, she could have just done it earlier,” he muttered in a sudden surge of pride.

​Sunny unfolded the small piece of paper in his hands and read the contents.

​”...”

​Sunny blinked. Then, he read the note again.

​”...”

​He read it again.

​And again.

​And again. Again. Again.

​With every frantic pass of his eyes over those words, the arrogant smirk slowly melted off his face. His brows knit together tightly, and an expression of pure, unadulterated, blinding rage violently took over his features.

​Sunny ground his teeth so hard his jaw ached, feeling as though black flames were practically erupting from his pores. He glared at the open doorway, fully aware that Yuki was already gone—already in the Dream Realm, completely out of his reach.

​With literal venom pumping through his heart, Sunny crushed the note in his fist. Spitting vicious, unholy curses with every single step, he marched straight toward his pod. Finally, Sunny entered the Dream Realm.

​Had anyone walked into the room, pried that crumpled piece of paper from the pod, and read the words written upon it, they would have found: ”Your father never left you.”

​[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Sunless!]

’F*** YOU!’

[End of volume one: The Shadow that learned to fly.]