shadow slave, Echoes of the forgotten

The drive was unexpectedly uneventful. The rhythmic hum of the PTV's engine filled the air, blending with the soft patter of rain against the windshield. Sunny kept his eyes on the road, his hands steady on the wheel, but his mind was far from the present. A heavy weight sat on his chest, the kind of burden that no amount of focus could fully push aside.

Rain's power… it wasn't something to be taken lightly. On the surface, it seemed easy to misunderstand, almost mundane compared to the flashier Gifts others possessed. But Sunny had spent enough time thinking about it to recognize its depth. It wasn't just a power—it was transformative, life-altering, and, in the wrong circumstances, terrifying.

As the PTV glided through the quiet streets, Sunny's thoughts shifted, almost unwillingly, to the ball at Clan Valor. It was today, only a few hours away. Nephis would formally join Clan Valor, a monumental step in her journey. Sunny's lips twitched in a rare smile. He would dance with Nephis tonight—a promise they had already made to each other. The memory of their conversation replayed in his mind, and for a moment, he allowed himself the luxury of imagining her smile.

The PTV slowed as they approached their home. Rain's mother stepped out first, the gentle curve of her lips betraying her exhaustion. Rain followed soon after, hesitating briefly before turning to her mother.

"Mom," Rain said, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and something else—something harder to place. "Can I go with my brother to train? I promise I won't overdo it."

Her mother turned, studying her daughter carefully. For a moment, the older woman's expression softened, her hand coming to rest on Rain's head.

"Sure," she said, her voice warm and full of quiet reassurance. "But come home soon. You know how your dad gets when you overwork yourself."

Rain grinned, her earlier hesitation fading into eagerness as she hopped back into the PTV. Sunny started the vehicle again, the engine's low rumble filling the space between them. The drive to their training spot was mercifully short.

When they reached the doorstep, Sunny paused, turning to face Rain. His expression was uncharacteristically serious.

"Alright," he said, his voice low but firm. "What did you want to tell me?"

Rain blinked, her surprise evident, but it lasted only a moment. A sly smile crept onto her face as she crossed her arms.

"Well… the description of one of my attributes mentions a person I've never heard about. I was wondering if you knew who they are."

Sunny raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his gaze. "Alright," he said, leaning slightly toward her. "Tell me. I might know."

Rain took a breath, steadying herself. "It says my powers were given to me by the unpredictable doing of the treacherous 'Lost From Light.' And it warns me to be careful of him."

The air between them seemed to freeze. Sunny's eyes widened, his usually impassive face betraying a rare flash of emotion. For a moment, he didn't speak, his thoughts swirling too fast to grasp. When he finally opened his mouth, his voice was barely a whisper.

"Well…" He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. "I certainly know that person."

Rain's face lit up with anticipation. "Who is it?" she asked eagerly, her voice rising despite her attempts to remain calm.

Sunny exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "It's… me."

Rain's mother stepped into the house, a deep sigh escaping her lips. The past few days had been a whirlwind of worry and exhaustion. Though she trusted Sunny to care for Rain, the anxiety of knowing her daughter was out there, exposed to the dangers of the world, had gnawed at her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. Turning, she saw her husband, Fort, sprinting toward her. His face was etched with panic, and tears streamed freely down his cheeks. He stopped abruptly in front of her, his breathing ragged.

"Where… where is she?" he stammered, his voice cracking with emotion.

The sight of his distress made her heart ache, but she remained calm. Stepping forward, she gently placed her hands on his shoulders.

"She's with Sunny," she said softly, her voice a soothing balm. "She's safe. He's taking care of her."

Fort's knees buckled slightly, and for a moment, it seemed like he might collapse. But Noble, Rain's mother caught him, her arms wrapping around him in a steady embrace.

"She's fine," she whispered, her tone firm yet comforting. "I promise. She'll be back soon."

Fort clung to her, his sobs muffled against her shoulder. The tears continued to flow, but slowly, his breathing steadied. He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his own filled with a mixture of relief and lingering fear.

"I was so scared," he admitted, his voice trembling. "I thought… I thought we'd lost her."

Rain's mother smiled softly, brushing a tear from his cheek. "I know," she said. "But she's stronger than we give her credit for. And so is Sunny. He's done more for her than we could have ever asked."

Fort nodded, though the weight of his emotions still clung to him. He pulled her into another hug, this one tighter, more deliberate—a gesture of love and gratitude.

They stood there for a while, holding each other in the quiet of their home. The storm outside had softened to a gentle drizzle, its rhythm a backdrop to their moment of connection.

Finally, Fort straightened, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "We should sit down," he said, his voice steadier now.

Rain's mother nodded, taking his hand as they walked to the living room. The space felt both familiar and foreign, as though the absence of their children had reshaped it into something quieter, emptier.

As they sank onto the couch, the weight of the past few days seemed to catch up with them. Fort leaned back, his arm draped around her shoulders, while she rested her head against his chest.

"It's moments like these," he murmured, his voice low, "that remind me how lucky we are. Even with everything going on… we still have each other. And our children."

Rain's mother closed her eyes, her lips curving into a small smile. "Yes," she agreed. "And that's all that matters."

The exhaustion finally caught up with them, and they drifted into a light sleep, their breathing syncing as they found comfort in each other's presence.

In the background, the soft creak of the front door opening barely registered. A tired voice called out, hesitant but warm.

"I'm home," Rain announced.

Hearing no reply, she peeked into the living room. Seeing her parents asleep, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. They looked peaceful, and for once, so did her father.

Rain smiled to herself, quietly making her way to her room. As she slipped under the soft covers of her bed, the warmth and comfort enveloped her, and sleep claimed her almost instantly.

Sunny entered his home, closing the door behind him with a heavy sigh. The quiet hum of the house felt like a brief reprieve, but it wouldn't last long. Tonight was the ball at Clan Valor, and the weight of what it represented loomed large in his mind.

The house wasn't silent for long. From the living room, the sounds of movement and hushed conversations filtered through. Sunny stepped inside and took stock of the scene.

Kai was already dressed, and as expected, he looked annoyingly perfect. His suit was sleek and tailored, the deep charcoal fabric complementing his sharp features. His hair was styled with meticulous precision, each strand seemingly in place to add to his effortless charm. Sunny felt a twinge of irritation—it wasn't that he envied Kai, but the archer's ability to always look like he'd stepped out of a fashion magazine was, frankly, infuriating.

Across the room, Effie sat on the couch, a plate of food in her lap. She was still munching, though the portions were smaller now. Her hair was a mess, her clothes stained with the remnants of whatever she'd been eating. She grinned at Sunny as she caught his glance, entirely unbothered by her disheveled state.

"Looking sharp, aren't I?" Kai teased, breaking the silence. He adjusted his cuffs dramatically, the smug smile on his face practically daring Sunny to comment.

Sunny rolled his eyes. "If sharp means insufferable, then yeah, you're doing great."

Before Kai could retort, Sunny's communicator buzzed. He glanced at it and saw a message from Cassie: On my way. Don't let Effie eat all the food before I get there.

Effie snorted, clearly reading the message over Sunny's shoulder. "Too late," she said, popping another bite into her mouth.

Sunny ignored her and glanced around the room again. Nephis wasn't there, which wasn't surprising. She was likely upstairs, preparing for her grand entrance. Nephis never did anything halfway, and tonight was no exception.

As Sunny turned to head to his own room, he paused, his gaze landing on Kai's shadow. A thought nagged at him, one that had been bothering him for a while now. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing it carefully. When realization struck, he turned fully to face Kai, his expression sharp.

"Hey, Kai," Sunny said, his voice laced with impatience.

Kai looked up, surprised by the tone. It wasn't every day that Sunny asked questions—let alone with that edge of urgency. "What's up?" he asked cautiously, his usual smile faltering just slightly.

Sunny took a step closer, crossing his arms. "I have a question for you," he said, his voice firm.

Kai raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued but laced with unease. "Go ahead…"

Sunny's lips curved into a small, almost predatory smile. "When exactly are you planning to confess your feelings to Aiko?"

Kai blinked, caught completely off guard. "What—"

"And don't bother denying it," Sunny interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. "Those magazines you've been collecting? They're not for fashion tips. They're for ideas. Don't think I haven't noticed the way you're trying to figure out how to impress her."

Kai's face turned a shade of crimson that even Effie couldn't ignore. She let out a loud laugh, almost choking on her food.

"I—" Kai stammered, trying to find a way out of the conversation.

Sunny didn't give him the chance. "You're both hopeless," he said, exasperated. "You think she's out of your league. She thinks the same about you. It's ridiculous. Just talk to her already and stop wasting everyone's time."

Kai's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, but no words came out. Finally, he managed to croak, "You… you're unbelievable."

"Thanks," Sunny said, flashing him a satisfied grin before turning on his heel. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have my own preparations to make."

Effie was still laughing as Sunny disappeared down the hall, muttering something about Kai's embarrassment being the highlight of her evening.

Sunny entered his room, closing the door behind him. He stood there for a moment, looking at the simple suit happy laid out earlier. It wasn't flashy—just enough to look presentable without drawing too much attention. That suited him just fine.

He dressed quickly, his movements efficient. The suit fit well, tailored to his lean frame, and while he wasn't one for appearances, he had to admit he looked… decent. Running a hand through his dark hair, he gave himself one last glance in the mirror. Hoping for a second that bastard wasn't there.

"Good enough," he muttered to himself before stepping out of the room, and dropping the speculation.

As Sunny headed back to the living room, another presence entered the space—Nephis. She moved with her usual grace, a quiet confidence that seemed to command the air around her.

She was stunning. Her gown, a shimmering silver that seemed to catch and reflect the light, clung to her figure with understated elegance. Her platinum hair was swept up in an intricate style, leaving her face framed perfectly. Yet it wasn't just her appearance that drew attention—it was her presence. She carried herself with an aura of command that made it impossible to look away.

The room fell silent as Kai and Effie turned to look at her. Kai, who usually had a quip ready for any occasion, was struck speechless. Effie, for once, stopped eating, a piece of bread frozen halfway to her mouth.

Nephis raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two. "What?" she asked, her tone neutral but tinged with amusement. "Have you never seen me in a dress before?"

Kai blinked, finally finding his voice. "Uh… no, not like this," he admitted, his usual charm nowhere to be found.

Effie snorted, shaking herself out of her stupor. "You look ridiculous," she said, though the grin on her face betrayed her real thoughts.

Nephis smirked, a faint glimmer of humor in her eyes. "Thanks, Effie. I'll be sure to consult you on fashion next time."

With that, she moved toward the kitchen, helping herself to a small plate of food. She ate quickly but with the same composed demeanor, clearly readying herself for the night ahead.

Meanwhile, Sunny reentered the room, now fully dressed. His suit, though simple, somehow made him look sharper than usual. The dark fabric complemented his shadowy aura, making him seem both polished and dangerous.

"Wow," Effie commented, still munching on her food. "Who knew you could clean up so well, Sunny?"

"Don't get used to it," Sunny replied dryly, adjusting his cuffs.

As if on cue, there was a soft knock at the door. Sunny checked his communicator—it was Cassie. He moved to let her in, and when the door opened, she stepped inside with her usual poise.

Cassie wore a deep blue dress that flowed like water around her, its color accentuating her pale skin and golden hair. Though her blindness was still evident, her confident posture made her seem as though she could see the world clearer than anyone else.

"Cassie," Kai said, his voice soft with admiration. "You look incredible."

Cassie smiled warmly, tilting her head in his direction. "Thank you, Kai. You clean up well too."

Effie rolled her eyes dramatically. "Enough with the compliments. Are we leaving or what?"

Nephis returned to the room, glancing at the group. "We're ready," she said simply, her tone leaving no room for debate.

Sunny nodded, motioning toward the door. "Let's go," he said, his voice steady.

The group filed out, the air buzzing with anticipation. The ball awaited, and with it, a night that promised to be anything but ordinary.

The group piled into Sunny's PTV, with him taking the driver's seat as usual. The vehicle hummed quietly as it moved smoothly through the streets, the city lights casting a soft glow on their faces.

The ride was calm, fast, and efficient—Sunny's driving style in a nutshell. He didn't speak much, his focus on the road, but that didn't mean the silence dominated the vehicle.

Effie took it upon herself to keep things lively. She leaned forward from the back seat, a mischievous grin plastered on her face. "So, Sunny," she began, her tone dripping with mock seriousness, "when's the last time you danced? Or do you just plan to stand in a corner and scowl at everyone all night?"

Sunny didn't bother looking at her, his expression unchanging. "I'll be doing exactly what I need to do. Anything else is irrelevant."

Effie snorted. "Translation: no one's safe from your terrible dancing."

Kai chuckled, finally relaxing a bit. "Don't worry, Effie. I'm sure Sunny's 'scowling in a corner' strategy will win the night."

"Unlike you, Kai," Effie shot back, "who'll probably spend the whole evening trying not to trip over his own charm."

Kai rolled his eyes but didn't respond, while Nephis remained quiet, her gaze fixed out the window. Cassie smiled faintly, enjoying the playful bickering but not joining in.

As they neared the grand entrance of Clan Valor's estate, Sunny found himself wishing, just for once, that things could be simple. But deep down, he knew better. His attribute, Fated, had been eerily quiet lately—too quiet. It was never a good sign when the whispers of destiny held their breath.

Sunny tightened his grip on the edge of his sleeve, his expression carefully neutral as the others chatted around him. He didn't say a word, but in the pit of his stomach, he already knew.

Disaster was coming. It always did. But today, it seemed closer than ever.