Shadow Slave

‘How did it end up this way?’

The shadow remembered his peaceful past. The tranquil quiet of his lightless kingdom, the uneventful years he had spent slumbering in the darkness...

Now, there was bright light illuminating the vast hall, and not one, but two boisterous voices chasing away the silence.

“Thank the gods... so you're just a disembodied soul, not actually a living doll!"

“Of course. But why are you using informal speech when addressing me?"

"What are you talking about? Look at you. You're so tiny and squeaky!"

“So what?! I might be tiny, but l am a mature, respectable woman! You brat!"

“Who are you calling a brat, pipsqueak? I am Noctis, the Crimson Beast of Twilight. l am a Transcendent hero! I am already nineteen!"

"See! I am... huh, wait, how old am I? Twenty-nine? Yeah, that's right!"

"Oh? Oh... well, sorry then. Auntie."

“Auntie?! Did you just call me an auntie?!"

The shadow sighed heavily.

Currently, they were in the house of the city lord. Snuggle was seated on the table, her chin raised arrogantly. The human youth — Noctis — was sitting on a chair, tied up and unable to move. The ropes that bound him were woven out of shadows, strong enough to hold a Supreme being... so, he wasn't going to cause trouble any time soon.

Or maybe he was. Humans were unpredictable, after all — each possessed a unique Aspect, and if the shadow really wanted to contain one, a simple rope would do him no good. He would have to enchant it, somehow, and that felt like too much effort.

In any case, tying the adolescent Transcendent up was only a temporary measure. The shadow had to figure out what to do with him soon.

‘Should I just kill him?'

There was no reason to, so the shadow knew that he wouldn't. Still, a shadow could dream, right?

‘Maybe he'll just go away on his own...’

The shadow looked at Noctis.

Noctis... did not seem like a problem that would go away on its own.

What was worse, now that a Transcendent human had come to battle him, there would most likely be another, and another, and another... the sphere of human influence was expanding, and the forces of Corruption were slowly dwindling. This distant realm was not so remote anymore.

Another heavy sigh escaped from the shadow's lips.

If he would not kill the human youth, and the youth was not going to go away... then what was there to do? The shadow was a little stumped.

He was a creature of death, after all. All he knew was how to kill; if there was something that had to be resolved peacefully, he was just as powerless as a mundane person.

Luckily, Snuggle was there, and she seemed perfectly suited to solve the problem for him. In fact, even if their conversation sounded like a meaningless exchange of insults, the little doll seemed to be guiding it carefully in some mysterious direction.

“So, Noctis... why did you suddenly decide to come challenge the Shadow, anyway? Even if you are a Transcendent, that seems a little too reckless."

Noctis frowned, then threw a furtive glance at the shadow.

Then, he forced out an arrogant laugh.

“What's so reckless about it? Let me tell you, sister... I have slain plenty of Creatures of Corruption. Among all the heroes in the world, there is hardly anyone more fearsome than I!"

He paused for a moment, his haughty smile dimming slightly.

Noctis remained silent for a short while, then added in a more somber tone:

"Human life is fragile and fleeting. All across the mortal realms, countless people are fighting desperately to survive. There is not enough space for everyone, and not enough food for everyone. Scarcity gives birth to poverty and destitution — two vicious beasts that devour dreams and suffocate joy, turning good people into empty husks."

His expression darkened.

“I mean... have you seen the clothes that poor people wear? Those ugly things are an affront to all that is good in life! And their houses! My noble eyes were not made to look at dusty hovels. And let's not even mention the smell..."

Noctis shuddered, a horrified grimace appearing on his face.

Snuggle stared at him with an indescribable expression.

She did not speak for a few moments, then cleared her throat.

"So... you decided to attack Shadow, a Supreme Titan, because you don't like how poor people smell?"

Noctis looked at the shadow, his eyes widening.

“A what now? A S—supreme... T—titan?"

The shadow smiled politely.

"Indeed."

Noctis stared at him for a moment, then raised his chin.

"Well, so what? I must admit — even I, the great and astonishing Noctis, have not slain a Supreme Titan yet. And I might have expected to find something like a Corrupted Tyrant... perhaps a Great Beast or two... here. But! You refused to battle me, using a cunning trick to restrain me instead. So who's to say that I won't win if we fight?"

He scoffed, then sighed and shook his head.

“But that is not what I mean. Beyond the reaches of this wild realm, humans and the Creatures of Corruption are fighting a war for dominion over the world. Transcendent heroes like me are the champions of humanity. Unlike many, I've lived a life of privilege and abundance — I've never been exposed to the bitterness of destitution, let alone to suffering and tragedy."

Noctis coughed and tried to scratch his nose, but failed — his hands were tied, after all.

“Truth be told, I grew up in a temple of the Moon, my grandmother. Once I came of age and Ascended, I left to wander the world... and once I saw how bitterly humans fought to live, I was rattled. It was only then that I truly understood the lessons that the priests had taught me and my siblings — all those words about duty, courage, and the Path of Ascension. About what those who wield power ought to do. So, I endeavored to distinguish myself, like other heroes had."

He sighed.

“Only, the thing is... as it turned out, it's actually not that easy to distinguish yourself these days. There are already plenty of heroes around, and most of them are older, wiser, and more experienced than me. Plus, the Creatures of Corruption are not endless either — with so many of them already slain, finding a worthy opponent is such a hassle! And lastly, I am a direct descendant of a god."

Noctis flashed them a smile.

“So, the burden of expectations piled onto me is truly great! Almost as great as I am... and I am the greatest there is, of course. As well as the most handsome, gallant, charming, and refined. Not to mention the most humble."

He looked at them with a self-satisfied smile.

"If I want to have a legend or two to my name, killing just any random abomination won't do. I need to accomplish something outstanding!"

The haughty youth cleared his throat.

"That was why I thought to slay the mysterious creature that had been scaring people away from this realm for generations."

The shadow and Snuggle glanced at each other.

After a few moments of awkward silence, the shadow spoke:

“So you just went and challenged this supposedly terrifying creature without learning anything about it first? Weren't you afraid that I will slay you instead?"

Noctis scoffed.

“Slay me? As if! Nothing has managed to slay me yet, and there is a reason for that. In truth, I know a secret heroic technique that makes me all but immortal."

The shadow raised an eyebrow.

"You do?"

The youth nodded with an expression of absolute confidence.

“Of course! It's called running away."

As the shadow and Snuggle stared at him silently, Noctis laughed.

“If an enemy is too strong, running away is always an option. And even if boasting is not something I do often — or ever, really, the refined gentleman that I am — let me tell you one thing. There may be heroes who are older than me, wiser than me, and more famous than me. But there's no one who is better than me at running away! If I say that I am the second most elusive man in the world, no one would dare to say that they're the first!"

The shadow suppressed an exasperated groan.

Snuggle, meanwhile, asked in her squeaky voice:

“Aren't you sitting here tied up right now?"

Noctis looked at the ropes binding him, then glared at the little doll for a split second, and then put on a condescending expression.

“What, these ropes? Ha! I am just tolerating them out of courtesy. If I wanted to, I could give you a slip in an instant. One blink, and I'd be out of this crumbling palace. Another blink, and I'd disappear into the darkness!"

The shadow tilted his head.

“I don't blink, though."

The smile froze on the youth's face.

The shadow, meanwhile, added:

“And the darkness outside is just a part of me. So... where exactly are you going to disappear to?"

Noctis remained silent for a while, then opened his mouth.

Then, he closed it again.

Finally, he said in a small voice:

"Well, anyway. You wouldn't want to offend my grandmother, right? So... let's just forget I ever said anything?"

Snuggle nodded a couple of times.

“Indeed, indeed. We should respect the elders. Oh, by the way..."

Her beady eyes glinted.

"Did you say that you wanted to accomplish something outstanding?"

Her mouth twisted into a smile.

"I have just the thing in mind!"