Fate's Slave - Shadow Slave X Honkai Star Rail

The heavy lid of the metal sarcophagus opened, letting out bluish light and wisps of cold mist. Soon, a pale hand emerged from inside.

Jumping out of the sleeping pod, Sunny landed on the floor, felt the ceramic texture of the armored plates beneath his bare feet, and let out a low, satisfied sigh.

’I’m back, finally!’

It was so nice to return to the real world.

After meeting the cohort of the Sanctuary Awakened on the Iron Hand Island, he traveled back to the Citadel with them. Some were curious about where he had been for more than a month, but he used the full scope of his formidable ability to bend the truth ever which way, and left them with the impression that his recent expedition had been long, but not very exciting.

...They did continue to give him strange looks the whole way back, though. For some reason.

But Sunny wasn’t too bothered by that. At some point, Sparkle had intercepted him and dragged him to her room for a lecture, which was followed by him heading straight for the altar. Since it was the middle of the day and the moon was hidden behind the horizon, he couldn’t use the coins immediately. So, instead, he simply touched the altar and left the Dream Realm.

’Home, I’m finally home...’

Even though Sunny had not spent a lot of time in his new room, the feeling of safety both it’s walls and the real world gave him was extremely comforting. Miraculously, even though he had been gone for many weeks, his body felt completely fine. It was as though he had only slept for a night.

”That’s the magic of technology!”

Glancing at the extravagantly expensive sleeping pod, Sunny decided that the Astral Express had spent their money well, and headed for the exit of his room in order to let everyone know he was fine — even if nobody noticed he was gone in the first place.

He froze for a moment, and looked down to the side of the sleeping pod. There were scented candles, pictures of him during his slumber, and flowers?

’What the hell...?’

Feeling a little disturbed, he ended up flinching when the door to his room opened without his involvement. Sunny whirled around, finding two pairs of wide eyed youths.

Staring at March and Dan Heng, he became immediately distracted by the objects they were carrying in their hands. More candles, and flowers, and very creepy pictures of Sunny in his sleep...

”...You guys weren’t... making a shrine for me or anything, right? That’d be ridiculous...”

’Who the hell even does that?!’

Before they could reply, he made another observation.

’The books I stole... I mean, borrowed are still here! That would have been tragic... they look like they moved a little, though...’

Feeling relieved, Sunny was quickly pulled out of his thoughts by a dry voice; courtesy of March.

”You’re back. Way to make your friends worry...”

***

As it turned, back when Sunny had been falling into the Sky Below and thinking about how no one would miss him... he was very, very wrong.

In fact, the opposite had happened.

Only a day after he had disappeared, the two of them broke into his room! Which was locked, by the way!

So now his door was a little broken. How unfortunate.

”My... my door! That was you, you broke it!”

March sneered.

”What are you crying about? Anyway, Mr. Yang kept saying that you’d probably be fine, but Himeko kept nagging us to check on you, so... collateral damage?”

She sent him an offended glare.

”Then Seele started asking questions, and Bronya called me daily! Every day! For a month! Sunny this, Sunny that... enough about Sunny! What about March 7th, huh?!”

As she fumed, Sunny simply sent Dan Heng a questioning glance as he pointed towards the pink-haired girl. He simply shrugged, seemingly unperturbed.

”Regardless, it’s good to have you back.”

As Sunny slowly nodded in response, March crossed her arms and huffed.

”We went all the way to the Chained Isles for nothing!”

Sunny blinked.

”Excuse me?”

***

”Any trip that is expected to take more than twelve hours is something that we should be informed of. At least leave a note.”

Sitting uncomfortably in the Parlor Car, Sunny was currently being given quite the lecture from Himeko. He awkwardly nodded — not exactly taking the words to heart, but stating that he was, in fact, listening.

”Why were you even gone for so long?”

Sunny paused for a few moments at the question, before sighing.

”Turns out the abyss is a really big place. It still has an end though. After falling for awhile, I ended up in the sky above where I started, and that’s how I got back.”

She pinched the ridge of her nose after hearing his nonsensical words.

”...I need some coffee. Welt, you handle this.”

Watching as she walked towards the he turned back towards the others — Welt, March, and Dan Heng.

’Why am I being treated like a rebellious child?’

The mysterious man placed a hand on his chin for a few moments, before evenly saying:

”You need a hobby.”

Sunny blinked, before tilting his head.

”Huh? But I have hobbies.”

The three of them sent him a careful look, their skepticism obvious. March sarcastically asked:

”Oh yeah? What is it then?”

Sunny raised his fingers, counting them.

”Killing monsters, exploring places, finding treasure, gathering weapons of mass destruction, and talking to rocks.”

He paused. That... didn’t sound very normal. It sounded more like he had a mental illness and was looking for an exciting way to die — which he wasn’t.

With an embarrassed smile, he turned to the deadpanned individuals he was speaking to.

”...Any suggestions?”

Welt began, seemingly having an idea already on his mind.

”How about drawing? It may be difficult for someone who hasn’t done it before, but it’s quite relaxing.”

Sunny furrowed his brows, before shaking his head.

”I do that anyways when I make maps or record a Nightmare Creature’s anatomy. It doesn’t sound very productive to do it for fun.”

For whatever reason, Welt seemed to be in visible pain.

March snapped her fingers.

”What about photography? If you have a picture of everything, then you won’t forget anything.”

Sunny pointed towards his head.

”Perfect memory. I assure you, I won’t be forgetting anything anytime soon... and who has the time to take a picture of everything?”

She scowled, staring at his forehead like she was trying to magically break it open. She seemed a little jealous.

As Sunny turned to Dan Heng, the taller boy suddenly took a slightly defensive stance.

”I’m not handing over the archives.”

Sunny sent him a strange look. Did he have a couple screws loose?

”...I don’t think anyone was expecting you to.”

Dan Heng sighed in literal relief, before shrugging.

”I don’t have any suggestions.”

’What a weirdo...’

As he thought about the lackluster range of options he had been given, Sunny pursed his lips.

”Are... you all just giving me your personal hobbies?”

The three of them froze, with March releasing a nervous laugh.

”What...? Of course not...”

She proceeded to hide her blue camera behind her back.

Welt adjusted his glasses.

”...I believe I’m too old for that.”

As he changed the grip on his cane, a sketchbook suddenly flung across the Parlor Car, landing behind a plant.

Dan Heng crossed his arms, a strange aura of pride uncharacteristically being radiated from him.

”It’s not a hobby. Recording everything into the data bank is a duty that I will undertake until the day I die.”

After a few moments of silence, a hoarse laugh escaped Sunny.

”Actually, I just remembered... I need to, uh... do some stuff. Bye!”

Jumping into the shadows, Sunny reappeared next to the Space Anchor. He sent them a wave as he teleported over to Belobog.

’I... I need to eat something.’

As he found himself in the middle of the Overworld, he didn’t move for a moment. Instead, a torrent of thoughts rushed through his head.

’Eating...’

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