Shadow Slave alternate paths: The sun of song

Previously, Sunny had only thirteen shadow fragments and no idea how to gain more. Now he understood — killing enemies added to his count automatically.

The number of fragments depended on how many enemies he killed, and how powerful they were. Dormant creatures gave one fragment per core; Awakened ones gave two per core. But only enemies he defeated directly seemed to count.

The two Mountain King larva, the slaver, and Mountain King itself — which had five Awakened cores — brought him to thirteen fragments.

After killing the Obsidian Howler, he had sixteen.

Logically, after learning this, he spent the rest of the three days in a cycle of fighting, eating, and sleeping.

But it didn't come without its boons.

He got a new memory!

[You have slain a Dormant demon: Obsidian Howler]

[Your shadow grows stronger]

[You have slain a Dormant demon: Obsidian Howler]

[Your shadow grows stronger]

[You have slain a Dormant demon: Obsidian Howler]

[Your shadow grows stronger]

[You have received a memory: Scaled Cloak]

Memory: [Scaled Cloak].

Memory Rank: Dormant.

Memory Tier: III

Memory Type: Armor.

Memory Description: [Its hide once turned fang and blade away with silent contempt. Now it does the same, draped across a lesser form.]

He almost considered destroying it just to spite the Spell...

But it was too precious.

True to his sister's word, he fought two more of the dreadful beasts the next day. He thought he had lost his right arm from how mangled it looked.

Lonesome just frowned and said he should stop being a drama queen as she summoned some kind of healing memory.

Some great siblings he had.

The day after, he only fought one more, which he gained the memory from.

He was planning on fighting one last one today, but...

Waking up feeling as if he hadn't gotten a blink of sleep, he decided against it.

He was already familiar with this feeling of never-ending, ensnaring sleepiness. It was the same in the days before his First Nightmare. It was also quite similar to what he had experienced while slowly dying of hypothermia on the slopes of the Black Mountain.

Shivering slightly, he reminded himself what today was.

Today was the Winter Solstice.

He rolled his shoulder with a wince and let out a hiss between his teeth. Bruises still bloomed beneath his skin, and something in his ribs gave an uncomfortable grind when he twisted too far.

Although Lonesome did heal him, she healed him just enough so he could move and do his duties, so he could "feel and learn from his mistakes."

As he staggered toward the bathroom to splash some water on his face, he caught sight of himself in the nearby mirror.

Dark bags under his eyes. A white scar line across his cheekbone. His hair was a mess, and he had a weary expression.

He looked… like someone who had spent the last few days wrestling demons in an arena.

Which, technically, he had.

He could no longer be described as "scrawny," but he definitely wasn't "lean."

Sunny stared at his reflection for a moment, then muttered, "Handsome as ever."

He quickly dressed, hesitantly slipping on the Scaled Cloak last — he deserved to show off his new memory. The dark, jagged material clung to his frame. It was surprisingly light, and yet when he shifted, he could feel its dense weight settle like a second skin.

With one last glance at his empty room, Sunny stepped out into the hallway.

The manor was unusually quiet today, as if the whole world was drowsy.

No chatter. No Hel screaming praises to Death.

He hated how that absence made him more tense, not less.

A soft, steady rhythm echoed down the corridor — booted feet approaching.

He turned the corner and came face to face with Lonesome.

She gave him a quick once-over, noticing his worse-for-wear state, and clicked her tongue.

"You look terrible."

"Good morning to you too, venerable sister."

Lonesome crossed her arms. "Eubin wants everyone at the dining hall this afternoon."

Sunny nodded. "Noted."

Then, with that, she turned and walked away.

She paused near the end of the hallway. "Oh, and happy birthday, pup," she said with a grin.

Sunny blinked. He almost forgot — today was his birthday, wasn't it?

It had completely slipped his mind, not that there was much to celebrate. In the Outskirts, Sunny would use most of his credits to buy some decent food.

Something like synthetic curry or a cupcake.

But today, he would have a full three meals!

Well... two, since by dinner he would already be in the Dream Realm.

With that gloomy thought, he set out toward breakfast.

***

Hours later, he was standing in front of the doors to the dining hall.

He could feel the palpable power radiating from inside. He could already guess who was inside.

All of them.

All his sisters.

He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

The dining hall was alive with a quiet intensity as Sunny stepped inside, but conversations hushed, and all heads turned toward him. For a moment, all he could do was stand still — blinking into the light of the chandelier above, its glow reflecting faintly in the jagged ridges of his new cloak.

Hel lounged near the window, for once not rambling on about Death. She gave him a crooked grin, eyes glowing faintly.

Silence sat to her right, composed as ever, sipping something dark from a ceramic cup. She glanced at him, gave the slightest nod, and returned her gaze to the table — but Sunny didn't miss the flicker of approval in her expression.

"She's smirking," Hel whispered loudly, grinning. "Which means she thinks you look halfway decent."

Sunny gave her an appreciative look and kept walking. Ashryn had delivered some clothes to help him fit in the small banquet, and Sunny had to admit he looked rather good.

Ashryn stood in the corner of the room, like a dark sentinel, his arms crossed and blindfold firmly in place.

Moonveil and Lonesome sat further down the table. Moonveil gave him a quick wave and Lonesome just rolled her eyes.

Then finally, near the end of the table, sat Beastmaster and Revel herself. He took a seat near them as well.

"The guest of honor finally arrives," Revel muttered.

"Guest of wha—" Sunny was going to object, but he was interrupted.

Eubin tapped her glass lightly with a spoon.

Clink clink clink.

"Attention, please," she spoke solemnly. "As you all know, today is the Winter Solstice. Today is the day our dear brother steps into the Dream Realm."

She paused.

"And thus, we are all here to give him a proper send-off from the waking world and into the jaws of the Dream Realm."

The silence that followed wasn't awkward or grim. It was reverent, heavy with understanding. Every person in this room had gone through it before — the journey from the safety of the waking world into the madness of the Dream Realm.

Sunny remained quiet, unsure how to respond.

Eubin continued, her tone lighter, "Let it not be said we sent him away with an empty belly and a heavy heart. Tonight, we feast and revel."

Ashryn walked over with a pre-prepared cup of wine and handed it to Sunny.

"A gift from... our mother," Eubin said. "Only saved for special occasions."

Sunny frowned. "Isn't this illegal?"

A round of laughter from all of them.

"So what?" Revel said in between laughter. "Do you think the government has any power to do anything to us?"

"You forget that you are part of Clan Song," Moonveil added. "There is only one power that rivals us, and they couldn't care less."

'One' noted Sunny, 'Even though there are two more great clans.'

Sunny hesitated but grabbed the cup, and without further ado, he drank it all in one go.

The wine was sweet and fruity, flowed smoothly down his throat, and it heated up his face slightly, although it ended in a metal-like taste.

His sisters followed suit.

There was a beat of silence, and then — laughter. Dishes clattered, voices rose, and the mood shifted. Just like that, it was a celebration. A strange one, to be sure. But real.

And for the first time in a long while, Sunny ate surrounded by people who, despite their sharp tongues and sharper blades, felt something like…

Family.

Even if they were all completely insane.

***

The sun was nearly going to disappear behind the horizon.

All his sisters silently escorted him to the basement, where a sleeping pod of the highest quality was waiting for him.

At this point, Sunny could barely stumble into the pod.

But he managed.

"Good luck, Sunny," Revel said.

"You better not die," Lonesome Howl added. "Or I'll kill you myself."

"I hope you weren't a waste of time," Silent Stalker added. For some reason, her voice was very raspy.

Everyone said a word of encouragement.

But at long last, his eyes began to drift...

And then:

In the vast echoing darkness, he heard:

[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Sunless!]

***

WOW, just WOW, you guys decimated the goal

Only a shameless person would ask for more.

Unfortunately for all of you, I am very shameless.

Best i can do is more words ;p

DAY 2 of the tomato chapter-thon!

Goals:

55 power stones and 5 comments telling me how handsome I am