Shadow slave: a storm of shadows

The Dark city of the Forgotten Shore was filled with all sorts of horrors with the single desire to rip their prey to shreds. From the weaker nightmare creatures to the curious Sleepers of the bright castle, who sought to hunt down the creatures roaming the narrow streets of the city for food and soul shards. It was a never ending game that started every night.

But this night was different. There was a new player to this game tonight. Possibly the most harrowing of them all.

Within the narrow streets of the dark city, a young man was moving at a terrible speed. Carving his way through the territories of different horrors deemed unapproachable by the Sleepers of the bright castle.

Another monster lunged at him from the side, only to be met with a powerful blow of a Transcended Titan that sent the dead creature away, destroying multiple buildings.

' that's number five...'

Sunny knew that killing the nightmare creatures that were powerful enough to hold a territory in Dark city would promise nothing but chaos. Other nightmare creatures would crawl from their own territories to claim the new ones to their own. Powerful challengers would appear, and the weaker nightmare creatures would have to adapt, or be swallowed in the chaos. But that chaos did not only include nightmare creatures, but also the Sleepers of bright castle.

The hunting parties would find it more difficult to find prey in all of the fighting. Which will bring the attention of the lord of the castle itself.

And certain people of the outer settlement.

But this wasn't Sunny's current goal. He was on his way to meet an old friend that he had not seen in a long time.

His lips curled to a small smile.

_________

Six Sleepers were moving with haste in the night. Their eyes were hard and cold, and they were armed to the teeth.

Suddenly, they heard a howl in the distance that made a shiver run down their spines. The howls of nightmare creatures were louder and more frequent this night, more than any other night that they came to visit their prisoner.

One Sleeper came forward, as he spoke in a hushed tone.

" hey chief, maybe we should head back-"

" My, oh my "

The Sleepers flinched and summoned their memories instantly. They formed a protective circle, covering each other's backs.

A moment passed. And then another.

And then another...

Growing impatient, the leader of the group shouted as much in frustration as in caution.

" show yourself! "

The man did not know what to expect from shouting at...whatever this thing is. It shouldn't be a normal nightmare creature, since it spoke. If it was one of the nightmare creatures capable of speech...

' we need to run '

Just then, in the dark corner of an alleyway, a boy stepped to their view. The boy was slightly on the shorter side, and had an extremely handsome face...no, gorgeous, that word explained him best. His dark hair reached his shoulders, and his onyx eyes seemed to absorb all light into its lightless depths.

What frightened the Sleepers however, was that the boy was completely covered in blood.

" what are six Sleepers doing out on a night like this of all nights? You don't really look like a hunting party..."

The leader of the group finally snapped back to reality, taking a step forward with a hard look on his face.

" who are you?! And what are you doing here?! "

The boy seemed to slightly amused as he gave a charming smile.

" me? I am Sunless. I live here. "

" Do you think i am a fool, boy?! No one survives living in the city! "

The other Sleepers seemed to have the same opinion, until one of them stepped forward and spoke with an uncertain tone.

" wait, chief. I think i know this kid. I heard about him in the castel. some crazy kid with a shadow aspect lives in the city and eats the leftovers of the monsters like a rat. I thought they were just telling tales. "

The boy's smile seemed more forced for some reason.

Another sleeper stepped forward.

" yeah! I think I know him now. He came with that bitch, Changing Star. "

At that the leader scoffed.

" he's one of her's? I heard she carried two sacks of shit all through the labyrinth to here. The bitch is fond of them, you know? That delicious little friend of hers is blind, for god's sake! I'm sure this one is no different. "

As they kept talking, the boy's eyes seemed to go even darker, if that's even possible. He stepped forward, Interrupting their conversation.

" i don't appreciate what you said about my friend there. She is very dear to my heart, you see. Both of them. "

Behind the boy, an enormous serpent emerged from the shadows, it's onyx scales as dark as the boy's eyes, it's size easily dwarfed them all. Making them seem insignificant compared to it. Its eyes were two pools of darkness, staring at them was like staring into a lightless abyss. The serpent opened its terrifying maw, revealing long frightening onyx fangs.

The Sleepers simply stood there, unable to move. Their bodies simply gave up, as if surrendering to their fates. It was as if Death itself took the form of an enormous serpent to deliver them to their end.

Yet, the boy paid the monster behind him no mind, as he kept talking.

" and I have a feeling that you are not going to apologize. You can almost say that...I know the future. "

What followed were screams that were swallowed by the howling in the distance. Then, silence swiftly took it's place.

___________

Sunny made sure to wash the blood off himself using the Endless Spring. He did not want to frighten his friend.

Sunny finally reached the ruins of a once magnificent building. He climbed up the collapsed wall only to be met with an empty courtyard, and a well at its center. The well had an iron grate on top of it that must've weighted several tons.

Sunny approached the well. He picked up a stone and dropped it down. He waited for several seconds, until he heard a familiar enchanting voice.

" ah, you are back. How wonderful, I haven't been fed in a very long time. "

The corner of Sunny's lips curled up as he said

" it is nice to meet you "

" oh, no...the pleasure is all mine. "

Sunny had missed the sound of his old friend, Kai. As much as Sunny hated to admit it. Of course, Sunny knew that this wasn't the Kai he was familiar with. And yet, he couldn't help but smile at his voice.

Kai spoke again, his voice uncertain.

" so...are you guys going to feed me or not? No offense, but you guys have been very tardy. I have been sitting here for three days now. Or are you going to try something new? "

Sunny then spoke, a hint of amusement in his voice.

" I think you have mistaken me for someone else. "

The well fell silent for a long moment.

" who are you? "

Sunny then answered as his flaw demanded.

" my name is Sunless. I must say this is a curious place to spend your night in. "

The well fell silent again, but only for a second.

" y-you are not one of them...oh! Oh gods! It's not a human! Heavens...I am going to die! "

Realizing where the conversation was going, Sunny cut him off.

" would you stop panicking? I am a human, you idiot! "

The voice in the well laughed.

" forgive me for not believing you, sir monster, but you wonder here in a harrowing night like this and with no source of light. You might want to work more on your story the next time you are out to devour innocent souls. Just a friendly advice "

Sunny scoffed.

" i am a human, idiot. you know, I might as well leave you here then "

The voice suddenly panicked.

" wait! d-don't go! "

' some things never change '

" tell you what, I'll remove this grate so you can come out, but you have to do something for me. "

The voice did not reply for a moment.

" what do you want? "

Sunny smiled.

" nothing much really, I want you to buy me a meal, and a memory "

The voice seemed puzzled.

" that's it? "

" what? You wanted more? Okay then, i can ask for- "

" no, no! I'll do it! Deal! "

Sunny sighed and then with no effort, removed the grate.

Several seconds passed. Then, Sunny found himself looking at his old friend, as he flew out the well.

Kai landed on the ground, but the moment he laid his eyes on Sunless, he froze.

Sunny frowned ' is there something on my face? '

He simply ignored that and stretched his hand.

" you can call me Sunny. My friends do. "

Kai snapped back to reality.

" oh...I...I am Kai. " he shook Sunny's hand.

Sunny smiled, seemingly satisfied.

" alright then. Let's get going. "

Kai stayed behind as Sunny started walking to the castle.

Sunny turned around with a frown.

" don't tell me you're going to stay there all night, are you? "

Just then, a terrible howl pierced the night, making Kai flinch.

" h-hey! Wait for me! " he hurried after the charming young man.

Both heading for the bright castle.