Shadow Slave: Kindness

The next morning again found Sunny in high spirits.

The reason?

It was the induction ceremony today, and he had to get ready early. Besides, there was something important he had to do before the ceremony.

Sunny stretched and got up from his extra-comfortable bed. Just looking at the bed reminded him how the bare minimum here was quite a luxury compared to the outskirts—especially knowing that thousands of other kids in the slums didn't even have this bare minimum.

If Sunny were to ever become someone important, he promised himself that he'd try his best to change the situation in the slums.

While showering, his thoughts drifted here and there…but mostly landed on his conversation with Aveline last night.

Especially the part with Jet.

Flashback

"Sunny?"

It was after talking for a while. Avi had gone to the bathroom to clean her coffee stain when Jet suddenly shifted—her usual quiet gravity settling into something more focused.

No—she was always serious. It was more like she had just turned her casual mode off.

"Yes, Master Jet?"

"I've been thinking… about getting Aveline admitted into a proper school."

Sunny blinked.

"A school?"

Jet nodded slowly.

"I suppose it'll be the best for her. A little structure. Something consistent."

She paused before continuing, more carefully this time.

"I've made arrangements with one of the old schemes the government still maintains. It's called the 'Lost Child Trust'—designed for orphans and displaced kids."

"It provides some support: basic housing, access to education, some opportunity… a small monthly stipend too."

She hesitated before adding, voice tinged with something colder:

"Of course, the program's big on paper. But in reality, most of the money ends up with corrupt officials. What's left is more of a gesture than a solution. But still—it's something. Enough for both of you to get by for now."

Sunny was silent for a moment, before nodding earnestly.

"That sounds good. For Avi, I mean. I think she'd… like it. She won't say it, but I know she wants to learn. And a place to be. Something stable."

"Besides, I'm only telling you this because it's your choice. I have no intention of letting you or Avi out of my sight.

I quite enjoyed coming home to Avi waiting for me, rather than returning to a cold, lifeless place. Before meeting you two, it was always like that."

"Avi's actually a lot of fun, you know."

That made Sunny snort.

"She is fun. Headache-inducing, sometimes. But fun."

Jet's expression turned amused.

"She tried cooking yesterday—after watching me make breakfast."

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

Jet gave him a helpless shrug.

"She added so much salt we had to throw it away. Then she swore off the kitchen entirely and muttered something about becoming a food critic instead."

What a drag. Though I haven't cooked much myself, I'm pretty sure I'd enjoy it.

I just have this strange feeling that I will.

"She did take up a new hobby, though…"

"Oh? What is it?"

"Apparently, she really likes drawing."

"Since yesterday, all she's been doing is trying to sketch things she saw on the media…"

At this point, Jet smiled and lowered her voice while leaning closer to the communicator.

"…this is only between us but mostly, she's been trying to draw you from memory."

"I told her she needs to learn properly before attempting a portrait, though…"

Sunny was a little surprised, but not much. He had already seen Avi scribbling away enthusiastically on rocks, and sometimes drawing all kinds of twisted things with an evil smile on the faces of poor folks who had tried to scam or threaten her.

Still, the thought that she was drawing him...

It made something warm stir in his chest.

Well… that was enough about Avi. Or himself.

"Anyway… Master Jet, how was your day? Still being worked to death like last time?" Sunny asked with a small grin, trying to keep the tone light.

He genuinely wanted to reach out. Something about Jet—the way she carried herself, the loneliness in her stillness—reminded him of someone who didn't let herself need people, even when she might want to. He'd heard the rumors, sure. But what he'd seen with his own eyes told a different story.

Jet didn't have friends. Acquaintances, maybe. Colleagues, certainly. But nothing beyond that.

Sunny wasn't sure if it was because of the fearsome reputation she carried, the strength, the authority—or something deeper. Maybe something painful.

He didn't care about the gossip. All he knew was, she was strong, kind in her own strange way, and, from what he could tell… very alone.

He knew what that was like. Maybe not to her degree, but he'd spent most of his life that way too—before Avi.

Jet blinked, seemingly taken aback by his question, before offering a wry, tired smile.

"Why, thank you, Sunny. If only I'd met someone as kind, beautiful, and well-mannered as me after my first Nightmare… maybe I wouldn't be working overtime every day now."

She gave a small, mocking chuckle.

Sunny rolled his eyes. "Kind, beautiful, and well-mannered? Self-praise much? That ego's flying higher than a Corrupted titan."

Jet grinned and replied:

"What can I say? A really cute guy passionately declared to me just a few days ago—'You are the most beautiful person I have ever seen'—Pretty sure any girl would become full of herself after that and go head over heels for you, eh Sunny? Seems like you know how to charm, huh?"

Sunny froze.

His face flushed an instant red, and he immediately began stammering an incoherent string of denials and protests.

Jet laughed quietly, amused by the reaction.She waved him off with a chuckle and let him recover as she leaned back.

"In any case, the number of Nightmare Gates is increasing, while our workforce is shifting toward more stable lifestyles. Most people don't choose government service… and so, we're always short on recruits."

"I don't mean to brag, but as one of the higher ascended officers directly under Saint Wake of Ruin… well, my workload is quite a bit more than most."

Knowing she wasn't exaggerating, Sunny apologized again for the trouble he and Avi had caused.

Jet dismissed his apology with a shake of her head.

"What about your hobbies, Master Jet? Do you even have time for anything remotely close to hobbies?"

Jet seemed to think for a moment before replying:

"Well… I bought this camera some time ago. I do enjoy taking good pictures and keeping records.I especially wanted to take photos of the Dream Realm… especially Ravenhart, you know."

"But I've never gotten proper time to travel and take pictures. It's so tiring, especially after I ascended..."

Jet exhaled loudly before continuing.

"Really, you just reminded me that I have a life outside of work, huh?"

"I should take a leave..." she muttered quietly, stretching and yawning.

"You should take a break sometime," Sunny offered softly.

"I wouldn't have expected Master Jet to be into something as aesthetic as photography," Sunny teased gently.

Jet gave a light shrug."Well. Appearances can be deceiving."

They both smiled at that.

There was a small lull in the conversation. Jet stretched, then checked the time.

"Well, I should probably head to bed. It's getting late, and I've got to be up early. Besides, it's your induction ceremony tomorrow, you should go to sleep now."

Sunny nodded.

"Of course. Good night, Master Jet. I'll see you soon."

He was about to end the call when he heard her say something softly.

"Juliet…"

If possible, Jet seemed to have a shy expression on her face.

But surely Sunny was imagining it. His sleepiness must have caused him to see things… in the cold beauty's face?

"Hmm?"

"My real name. It's Juliet. Jet is short—I use it for others and for work..."

"It seems like a beautiful name to me. What does it mean?" Sunny asked curiously.

"It has runes for youthfulness, womanhood and…"—she really seemed embarrassed now—

"And…?"

"And beauty."

Sunny couldn't resist.

"Ah, really—such a beautiful name for such a beauty as you. Truly, fate must like you… giving you such a perfect name that describes yourself. Ah… if only fate also liked me as much as it likes Juliet…"

Juliet glared.

"Shut up!"

But her blush deepened, and she looked away.

"But you know," Sunny teased again, "Avi will be upset if she knows her Big Sis told me her real name first..."

"...Well then, this will be our second secret now."She frowned at the thought, controlled herself, and calmed down a little.

"In any case—good night, Sunny."

The now-revealed Juliet bid him farewell.

Sunny hesitated… and smiled.

"Good night, Big Sis Juliet."

And before he could see her reaction—or let her see his own embarrassed face—he quickly cut the call.

____________________________________________________________________________

When Sunny had asked her—"Master Jet, how was your day? Are they still slaving you away like that time?"—she had smiled. She had laughed. She had even teased him, which was easy enough to do.

But deep down, the question had scraped across an old wound.

She hadn't thought anyone would ask her that question, much less care about the answer.

The truth was… her days were hard. Not just physically, but in ways no healing relic or ascended core could patch up.

Her Aspect, strong and merciless, demanded aggression to be of use. Her Flaw made her so that she will have to fight, and no matter how many she kills, she has to keep on, it's never enough.

So she had learned—no, been forced—to take every shot, to make every strike first, to slaughter anything that felt even remotely wrong.

And over time… people began to look at her with wary eyes. Whispers of "unstable", "too ruthless", even "a little crazy" echoed wherever she went.

She hadn't cared.

At least that's what she told herself. Jet had always prided herself on keeping that iron wall up. No one came in. No one got to see past the cold, focused soldier.

But it had hurt.

There had been no one to come home to. No one to talk to. Just orders and blood. Monsters and endless nights. Even among her comrades in the Nightmare Division, she was respected—but never welcomed.

Until recently.

Until them.

Jet leaned back against her couch, arms folded as the soft hum of the communicator faded.

The call had ended, but her heart still beat faster than usual.

"Good night, Big Sis Juliet."

She smiled again—this time, not with practiced indifference or feigned confidence. But a soft, honest smile. One that came from somewhere deeper. Somewhere… untouched for a long time.

Juliet.

She hadn't heard her real name spoken like that in years.

Not since the woman who gave it to her—her mother—whispered it with so much love and pride, even as her life bled away in a ruined shack on the outskirts.

"Your name is Juliet. It means youth and beauty. My precious girl… you'll grow up to be strong and radiant. A light they can't smother."

Her mother's hands had been warm even as her body grew cold.

Jet hadn't spoken her real name to anyone since.

Not until now.

He's the first… she thought, a little dazed. The first person I've told. And the first person to call me that, since…

Her eyes stung for a moment. She exhaled quietly, brushing her hand over her face.

It was strange. She had left the slums a long time ago—climbed her way out of that pit, bleeding, bruised, and alone. But the loneliness… it had followed her like a second skin.

Even now, most of her battles weren't fought in the Dream Realm—but in silence, behind carefully built walls, among people who only knew the name Jet, the soldier, the executioner, the fearsome officer.

But tonight—just tonight—it felt like something had changed.

It felt like, for the first time… she'd truly left the slums.

Not just physically.

But the life of the slums.

The chains around her chest felt lighter.

Warmth bloomed inside her. Foreign. Tender.

She stood slowly, brushing off the blanket from her lap and stepped into the next room. Avi had fallen asleep on the couch again, curled into a bundle like a cat, the communicator still faintly glowing beside her hand.

Jet knelt down.

She looked at the girl—this stubborn, reckless, fierce little hurricane of energy who had bulldozed her way into Jet's quiet, cold life.

She smiled again.

Then, gently, she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on Avi's forehead.

"Thank you… both of you," she whispered.

"For coming into my life."

Avi mumbled something incoherent and turned over, pulling the blanket tighter.

Jet exhaled a soft laugh and stood.

She stared out the window for a while, watching the faint glimmer of city lights beyond the Academy towers.

Then she sighed.

"...Now how the hell do I tell Avi that I told my real name to Sunny first?"