Shadow Slave

Observing the confused look on Kai’s face, Sunny couldn’t resist grinning.

’Oh, yes. This is the sensation! This is the emotion!’

He had guessed correctly. This quest was going to resemble the fantastic past times...

Unaware of the silent contentment Sunny was experiencing, Kai eventually managed to clear his mind. He stayed quiet for several seconds, then inquired with genuine perplexity:

”Sunny? Your name is... Sunny?”

Sunny lifted one eyebrow.

”Yeah. Well, I guess it’s basically a moniker. How come?”

Kai opened and closed his eyes twice, then displayed a slight grin.

”No, it’s just... somewhat paradoxical, given that you are the Lord of Shadows. Not exactly the title I would have anticipated for the Lord of Shadows to possess.”

Sunny shot him an odd glance.

”You didn’t actually believe that when I emerged into existence, my mother took one peek and declared... oh, you shall be called the Lord of Shadows! Did you?”

Kai angled his head slightly, a pensive expression crossing his features.

Shortly after, he exhaled dejectedly.

”When you phrase it that way, it does appear absurd. But somehow, that seems to be precisely what I imagined. How foolish of me.”

He grinned.

”Not that I devoted much consideration to your birth... I simply sort of pictured you emerging from a gloomy cavern as a fully developed adult or being delivered in a sinister dark sanctuary somewhere in the Dream Realm. Things of that nature.”

Sunny gazed at him, speechless.

”...I was born in a shabby public clinic just a short distance from here. It was a totally standard delivery.”

Watching Kai nod with comprehension, Sunny pondered briefly, then added casually:

”Well, to be honest, a massive shadow did consume the sun the instant I arrived, casting the entire planet into blackness. But such occurrences happen regularly, right?”

Complete solar eclipses weren’t particularly uncommon, after all.

Kai turned utterly silent, for whatever reason...

It appeared that celestial knowledge wasn’t his forte!

Sunny peeked at him and shrugged.

”If it provides any comfort, my complete title is Sunless.”

The appealing Saint suddenly appeared much more comfortable.

”Ah! Supreme Sunless. That sounds far more appropriate.”

Then, he fixed Sunny with a prolonged stare and mentioned hesitantly:

”But, I must confess... I did hear certain things about your actual appearance from Effie, yet, to think you would conceal such a visage behind a mask, Sunless! That covering truly doesn’t showcase your features. So many aspects make sense now!” ℝＡ𝐍O͍₿Ё𝘚

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

”Like what?”

Kai smiled.

”Well, uh... various matters. Shall we proceed now?”

Sunny shrugged and seized his shoulder.

”Fine... let’s move.”

Kai focused, tugging on his connection. A frigid breeze abruptly swept across the alleyway, knocking over a heap of trash nearby.

And then... nothing transpired.

Sunny viewed Kai with an unspoken question, prompting him to cough awkwardly.

”That... I apologize. It seems I can’t transport you to the Dream Realm. It feels like attempting to shift a mountain.”

It was logical, in retrospect. It would have already been challenging for a Saint to ferry a Sovereign across the realm boundary. But Sunny was also holding tens of thousands of shades, many of Supreme Rank, within his soul — not to mention the Sacred shade of Condemnation. It wasn’t surprising that Kai couldn’t bear his burden.

Shaking his head, Sunny sighed.

”That’s somewhat inconvenient.”

Kai seemed genuinely troubled.

”So... will you need to cross the Hollow Mountains? Or bring your entire Citadel to Ravenheart?”

”Not really.”

Kai released a relieved breath.

”Thank the... wait. Who said that?!”

He whirled around and spotted a second Sunny who had materialized from darkness a moment before. The newcomer lifted a hand in greeting, then placed it on Kai’s opposite shoulder.

Soon enough, the trio stood in an isolated gorge in the wilderness outside Ravenheart. The second Sunny offered them a serious glance, then turned away.

”Well, I’ll be going.”

A second later, he vanished, melting into the darkness.

Sunny glanced around with an inquisitive expression.

”Huh. The fields lie this near, already?”

Kai, meanwhile, stared at him with a faraway look.

”Lord of Shadows... Sunless... Sunny. What just occurred?”

Sunny paused for several moments, distracted by examining their environment.

”Oh, that? It was merely another version of myself. Actually, I maintain seven connections spread throughout the Dream Realm. This guy still holds a link in Ravenheart, even though he mostly resides in Bastion these days. So, he delivered us here and departed... poor fellow! Now, he’ll either need to ask Cassie to return him or journey all the way to the Mirror Lake by foot.”

Then, he added in a grumbling voice:

”But that’s the minimum that rascal deserves! Among all of us, he enjoys the finest position.”

Living with Nephis and unwinding on the Ivory Island. Even though that representation was merely a segment of Sunny, Sunny still coveted his... own situation.

Kai blinked several times, gradually processing what he heard. Then, he frowned suddenly.

”Hold on... but if you had a connection in Ravenheart, then why did you request me to collect you in NQSC?”

Sunny gave him a skeptical glance.

”Because I was able to? Listen, Nightingale... the complexities of handling seven forms simultaneously are no small task. The least you can do is simplify my existence slightly.”

Kai seemed contemplative for several moments, then nodded.

”That must be difficult. I apologize... I should mention I’m amazed to learn that one of your incarnations has been linked to Ravenheart all this time.”

Sunny shrugged.

”Why not? I dwelled here for four years.”

Kai appeared surprised.

”You did?”

Sunny smiled, then nodded.

”Certainly. I even observed a grand dragon soar across the heavens occasionally.”

Kai coughed.

”Oh... I understand. It’s somewhat unusual, though — as you’re aware, I possess exceptional vision. I believe I would have noticed someone like you watching me.”

Sunny chuckled.

”Well, I was existing in the shadow of a regular girl back then. I only ever surfaced when nobody was looking.”

Noticing that Kai was examining him with an unusual expression, he frowned.

”What? Why are you eyeing me that way?”

Kai released a lengthy sigh, then shook his head.

”It’s... nothing. Are we going to inspect the volcano first?”

Sunny nodded.

”Yes. You can soar there... I’ll trail behind.”

With that, he dismissed his human form and concealed himself in Kai’s shadow.

Kai trembled, for some reason, and then forced a weak smile.

”Oh... alright. Make yourself comfortable... I suppose.”

With that, he ascended into the sky and flew toward the smoking volcano.