Shadow Slave: Possibilities Without Meaning

Sunny's POV 

"You made it out."

Sunny spoke in a calm voice. Without any hidden tones.

However, his voice was not as calm as his turbulent mind. 

Sunny had still not come to grips with the utter betrayal at the hands of Cassie. With the revelation of his shadow bond with Nephis, he had learned the truth behind the source of her overpowering prowess. 

However, what had completely shattered was the future of anything that Sunny and Nephis could have built. It was obvious to Sunny that their dynamic would never be the same. 

The shadow analysed the young man in front of him. 

It was strange. 

In the same way that shadows emanated from his newly awakened body due to his lack of control, it seemed that Aldric did not struggle as much as he did. 

That was not to say that the hunter's darkness was not obvious to him. 

A feeling of emptiness and cold was concentrated around his figure. Even in his distance away from the man, he could feel the subtle effects of his aspect being inhibited. 

But that was the least of his worries. 

"It's good to see you, Sunny."

A small smile spread on the caramel-skinned awakened, happy to see his friend in the waking world.

Sunny was struggling.

Struggling to figure out whether Aldric had known about what was going to happen.

With the mystery surrounding the younger man, there were many things that made him question Aldric. 

His overbearing strength. 

The way that he had never seen Aldric absorb essence from a soul shard.

The ball of divinity concentrated near his chest. Not spread through his body in the same way as Nephis. 

There were many things that didn't make sense. With more than enough ambiguity to make Sunny question whether Aldric knew. 

Logically, he shouldn't. In the same vein that he wouldn't suspect Effie or Kai to know about his secret. 

But there was a singular itch at the back of his mind, trying to tell him something. 

Ignoring the feeling, he spoke.

"How was your battle with that thing?"

Asking the question seriously. It was something that he had been wondering about ever since he had returned. It was not usual for someone else to cover his back as he ran away to safety.

"It was strong. But me and Bael sorted it out."

Aldric responded. With a voice of casual conversation.

'What is he talking about? The feeling that thing gave off, it had to be a Fallen-ranked creature with a high class.'

Continuing the question, Sunny asked.

"What rank was it?"

Sunny's lips formed a hard line as he readied himself for the answer. He could already feel that it was going to be something ridiculous.

"It was a Fallen Terror. With it's birth, the creature was a lot weaker than it should have been."

Aldric responded.

The response sounded familiar to Sunny. Ironically, it was similar to how Nephis spoke of defeating the Crimson Terror. With the creature being vulnerable in the moment before it evolved into a titan. 

'He defeated a Fallen Terror just like Nephis did. He really is the only one in her league.'

Feelings of inadequacies filled Sunny's mind for a moment. With the revelation of Nephis' having a divine aspect like himself, it answered the question behind her strength. 

A sudden thought came to mind.

'Did Aldric also have a divine aspect?'

Sunny connected the loose threads of ideas to form a conclusion. 

It made sense and answered many questions. 

This increased Sunny's opinion of Aldric. Vowing to keep an eye on the younger man. 

After all, Sunny knew that anyone with a divine aspect had the capabilities to change the world, or at least have the ambition to. Nephis was proof of that.

There was a final question to ask Aldric that was on the back of his mind.

'How did he make it back? How did I miss him entering the gateway?'

'Did he leave after my battle with Nephis began?'

Had he known that Aldric was still in the spire after the death of Caster, then Nephis would not have had to make that decision.

However, he couldn't simply ask it.

'Hey Aldric! When did you leave for the gateway after holding back a Fallen Terror for us? Because if you did after I killed Caster, then I would have saved Nephis and left you in the Forgotten Shore.'

The sombre thought made him realise that choosing between friends wasn't really that hard. 

'Is this what you felt, Cassie?'

Sunny threw the thought away as a familiar burn of anger built up in his stomach. Too hot to consider having an ounce of empathy for Cassie's position. 

Luckily, Aldric asked a question that drove his focus away from his errant thoughts.

"So what do you plan to do after this?"

Sunny did not take a moment to think about his response. With his flaw, he had assessed that the information he was going to give was not detrimental to him in a split second.

"Honestly, I'm going to be an independent. Legacy clans aren't really my thing."

Sunny responded.

With a small snort, Aldric responded.

"Yeah, that really suits you."

Aldric began to step away from him, speaking as he walked. 

"I'll talk to you later. I have an interview."

With that, he turned the corner, leaving Sunny alone in the dark hallway.

----------

After leaving the building that housed all the sleeping pods, Aldric made his way to the entrance of the government headquarters.

He was escorted by a woman wearing a black suit, in typical governmental fashion. However, this woman was a Master. He could tell. 

It made him think of exactly who he was going to meet. 

The young woman led him deeper into the main building where the government based their operations. The Academy City had a multitude of structures outside of the one that held him for the past year. 

They were now walking down a long corridor that was devoid of any doors or rooms. Only leading to a door than stretched from the ceiling to the ground. 

With a knock, the young woman opened the door and led him inside. 

Immediately, bright lights enveloped him. This was not something that weakened Aldric to any degree. It was only essence-powered light that could inhibit him depending on its strength. 

A massive open space that looked like a war room opened to Aldric. With a large round table in the centre. Behind the table was a smaller ring of circular tables that surrounded the centre. In the back and on the walls, military-grade technology displayed all sorts of numbers, graphs, and maps that Aldric was unfamiliar with. 

However, this was all secondary.

A figure stood alone by the central round table.

There was some kind of force projecting from the person. It felt as if the figure was one with the world. Projecting their being onto the world and being welcomed in return. 

Aldric could feel it through the air. Every inch of his skin felt vibrations just from the presence of the person. In a physical sense but also in the metaphysical. 

He could not feel an ounce of essence from the figure, unlike the small amount released from the Master beside him unconsciously. Showing just how much control they had over their soul essence. 

'So this is what a Saint is.'

Aldric thought in amazement. 

The figure spoke out. 

"So you are the one they call Singularity."

A tall, robust man in his mid-fifties came into view. With sharp features and a head of pitch black hair that looked amiss on such an old person. A piercing gaze and a sharp demeanour met Aldric. 

"My name is Saint Cor. Otherwise known as Wake of Ruin."

The man who represented the current peak of humanity spoke out. The champion of the government and one of it's only Saints.

"You know why I am here today."

He spoke in a voice devoid of nonsense.

It was time to get into business.

*********

Thanks for reading.

Going to start using POV's. Assume that when not stated, it will be Aldric or just a general third person POV given the context. Let me know if this is a good idea.

A reminder that Aldric is a few months younger than Sunny. So he is still 17 about to turn 18 in a few months. 

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Till the next one.