Shadow Slave: Back in time

The corner corpse was now occupied solely by a lithe girl with beautiful blond hair…

Sunny wasn't sure if he should talk to her or not. He walked over to where she was standing.

"Hi, I'm Sunless."

Sunny waited for a few seconds. After not hearing anything, the girl flinched.

"Huh? Were you talking to me?"

"Yes."

"Why? I'm useless. I can't even walk without someone helping me."

She was tormenting her hands.

"You aren't useless. I know this may seem a little unsensible, but the Spell is… somewhat just. It just hasn't a human conception like us. I'm sure that with a Flaw as daunting as yours you must have got a tremendous power. Trust me. I'm the most honest man in the world, two worlds actually."

Or more, if one considered the multiple realms absorbed by the Dream Realm and the Tomb of Ariel.

She looked relieved. A small smile found its way on her face. She made an embarrassed squeak.

"Oh! Sorry for my poor manners, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Cassia, but you can call me Cassie."

"Sunless, but call me Sunny."

As soon as he raised his head a pair of striking grey eyes bore into his.

Sunny flinched, but held her gaze. The corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.

After a few seconds, she turned her head.

A tall man in a dark suit appeared on the stage. He resembled a giant. Sunny remembered his theories about his mother sinning with a bear like Nightmare Creature. He still wasn't sure…

"I'm Awakened Rock. Sleepers, welcome to the Academy."

Everyone listened without making a sound. Except Sunny. He knew more about the topic than the bastard!

Maybe more than anyone on the world, with the exception of the Sovereigns…

Finally, he dismissed them.

Sunny was assigned the same room. Well, of course he was.

At the interviews he refused the psychological counselling and downplayed his Aspect leading them to believe it was Utility-related. He knew its true potential, but needed to be underestimated even with the old version of the Shadow Bond.

He sat next to Cassie and ate as a ferocious beast. Even if he'd eaten much more exquisite plates, and was an extraordinary cook, his body was malnourished and needed as much food as it could get.

The next morning Sunny was eating breakfast when the list of the Sleepers' rankings were revealed on a screen. Sunny was placed just above the blind girl. He chocked silently. Who would've guessed that the least rated Sleeper on the list would so quickly become the pillar of humanity?

The others were staring bewildered at the top.

'Name: Nephis

True Name: Changing Stare.'

Cassie was wearing a confused expression.

"There's a girl, Nephis, who got a True Name in her First Nightmare, Changing Star. "

Cassie's frown deepened.

"How is that possible? Not even all of the Saints bear a True Name."

"She must have accomplished something thought impossible."

Sunny entered the Wilderness Survival classroom.

It was tastefully decorated, spacious… and empty at first sight. Sunny's mouth formed a fond smile.

A gloomy figure perked up when he noticed the Sleeper.

"Ah, come on in, young man!"

His professor was a familiar, lively old man. Julius looked a little younger than the last time his soon-to-be-one-more-time favourite student had seen him.

"I am Awakened Julius. You can call me Teacher Julius. Sit down, sit down! What's your name?"

Sunny obediently sat down.

"Sunless."

Julius raised an eyebrow.

"Ah! What an ominous name. But that is good, very good. After all, we have to deal with a lot of ominous things!"

"Say, young man. Why did you choose Wilderness Survival of all things?"

"Ascended Jet suggested it. She was monitoring my Nightmare."

The old man gossiped about the murderous savage Soul Reaper Jet before saying that it wasn't in his character to badmouth people behind their backs.

The teacher started interrogating him to find how were to start teaching him.

At first, he was pleasantly surprised: it was rare to meet a young man with such an understanding of the need of knowledge. Then, his surprise muted to shock.

"I must tell, Sunless. In all honesty I don't know if there's much I can teach you. Say, how have you learnt all of this?"

Of course, Sunny had avoided revealing the most guarded mysteries, such as the Dream Realm becoming one with Earth and his knowledge of the unexplored regions.

Sunny looked down.

"I knew a wise man who loved history. I'm afraid I'll never meet him again."

Julius nodded and didn't ask anything else. He wasn't aware that Sunny was talking about him: even if he was the same person, he wasn't the person from Sunny's memories. Sunny wasn't the same, so their relationship could never be the same, too. He still cared deeply about him.

The professor dismissed him, mumbling about making a suitable program.

Sunny was standing in a dojo, together with many others.

"As you are aware of, I'm Awakened Rock."

He showed them some basic motions and ordered them to repeat them.

"Now, you will be testing your strength." He pointed to a punching bag. "Punch it with all of your might. It will show a number representing your power."

Finally, it was Sunny's turn. He hit it with good technique, and got an eleven. He believed he could've got a 13, or maybe a 14 if he really put himself. However, his goal wasn't to let himself be known, but leaving little sign to an angel that things were different.

Caster earned many compliments by using his Aspect and receiving a twenty-one.

Sunny put special attention to Nephis. She obtained a 17, more than she originally would've.

He observed with enjoyment the spectacle unfolding in front of him.

The fight against Caster had the same outcome, but Sunny did not let that discourage him. In fact, if his theory was right, she would know he was a killer sent to get rid of her, and defeating his objective would give a wrong sense of confidence.

Finally, it was Sunny's turn. The crowd watched as he managed to dodge a couple of punches, but eventually was hit in the face and fell on the floor.

Sunny was back in his room, practicing Shadow Dance, augmented by his shadow. He was frustrated: he knew what he needed to do, but his body was lagging behind his mind. He had needed a saturated Core and the [Unbroken] enchantment of the Midnight Shard to do the first step.

A knock interrupted his training. He swiped the sweat off his face with a towel and froze. An athletic girl with shoulder-length grey hair was standing outside, waiting.