Shadow Slave-Chapter 2293: Finer Things in Life

After the drinks, it was time for the treats.

The treats were attractive and tasty — granted, they weren't as tasty as what Rain was used to, having been spoiled by her brother's pancakes and waffles. His selection was somewhat limited, though...

Savoring a perfectly glazed eclair, Rain couldn't help but grin with pleasure.

'Should I show him about custard?'

Everything about this morning was splendid. Their elegant clothes, the stylish interior of the cafe, the sparkling view of the Mirror Lake, the extravagantly presented drinks, the fine and tasty treats...

'Ah, that is what I've been lacking!'

Her final teenage years had been spent in Ravenheart, pursuing Nightmare Creatures. The city had been in the stage of being constructed from scratch back then, as well, filled mostly by uprooted refugees. There had been a lot of tasks to be handled, but not a lot of elegant culture.

Eventually, Rain ended up on the battlefield, and after the war was done, she spent her time among active engineers and workers.

The finer aspects of life had mostly evaded her until now, so she was appreciating the unusual chance to feel like an actual girl for once. Plus, new cities in the Dream Realm had spots like this one now, as well as theaters, operas, dancing halls, and much more. People wanted to enjoy rest and fun after working hard, so local entertainment culture was growing quickly.

Rain, Telle, and Tamar talked casually as new snacks and pretty drinks arrived.

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"It feels odd, really. Now that there is no Crushing, the Chained Isles are totally different. It is much safer there, and we can actually fly as high as we want. Of course, the Nightmare Creatures feel just as free, so even those of them who used to remain still are moving around. It's a real mess, but once we clean the islands near the Sanctuary, we will be ready to welcome settlers..."

"They are working on making more flying ships. There are several thousands of Fire Keepers now, but only one Chain Breaker... sadly, while building a flying ship is not that difficult, building one that is not going to break into pieces at the first hint of danger is a big issue. So, not much success on that front, for now. Our Spellsmiths are trying to make flying Echoes as a temporary solution, instead, but they are not creating them fast enough. Only the Masters get one."

"...Oh, I don't know. I am quite busy these days. Right, have you heard, girls? Saint Thane is apparently creating a new version of Dreamscape, this one designed specifically for the Dream Realm. It is supposed to serve as a communication area between different cities, as well as a training tool to prepare ordinary citizens for the First Nightmare."

Telle couldn't help but release a sigh.

"Really? Oh! That would be fantastic. I love the Chained Isles, but being stuck all the way up north is so dull sometimes."

She sipped her drink, watching the Mirror Lake with a faraway expression on her incredibly beautiful face, then turned to Rain and Tamar.

"Speaking of Nightmares..."

The cheerful mood turned a little gloomy all of a sudden.

The blonde girl paused for a few moments.

"I am thinking of facing the Second Nightmare in no more than a year. What about you two?"

Although she did not ask directly, her underlying question was obvious. Telle was asking if they wanted to face the Second Nightmare with her.

For an Awakened, there was no question more personal than that. There was also no clearer sign of how much the person trusted you.

Rain felt both moved and sad.

She glanced at Tamar briefly, then smiled gently.

"Well... I can't, for various reasons. But Tamar was actually thinking the same."

Rain would have loved to face the Second Nightmare with Telle and Tamar... however, she was not a carrier of the Nightmare Spell, and therefore, she couldn't.

She was following a different path from them.

Tamar nodded calmly.

"Actually, I already have the base of the cohort gathered, including a healer... as well as a few people in mind I want to recruit. If you are not going to gather a team out of members of your clan, then we will be happy to have you. After all, it is hard to discover warriors of the same quality as Telle of White Feather."

A corner of her mouth lifted slightly.

Telle stayed still for a moment, then cleared her throat to hide a shy smile.

"Oh... well, you aren't wrong. I am indeed quite powerful."

She quickly picked up her drink, took a long sip, and then added in her usual calm tone:

"There is no one else in White Feather who can go into a Nightmare with me, at the moment. So... I am very interested in that cohort of yours, Tamar. Are they Fire Keepers, too?"

Tamar shook her head.

"No. But we... practice together, I guess. And our instructor is a real devil."

Rain pretended to be busy with her glass.

Tamar was talking about the Shadow Clan, of course. It was no secret that her brother and his graceful Shadow, Saint, were readying his subordinates for the dangers of the Second Nightmare. Tamar, Telle, Ray, and Fleur — two fearsome warriors, an elusive scout, and a healer. That was a good base for a cohort of challengers. With a few more talented people involved, they would stand a very good chance of becoming Masters.

'When will I become a master?'

Rain did not know, since things on that front were unclear and advancing slowly.

She finished her drink, called a waiter, and smiled at him, making the young man blush.

"Can we get the bill?"

Then, Rain looked at her friends and grinned.

"You do know what comes next, right?"

Tamar and Telle looked at each other with confusion.

"What?"

Rain sighed dramatically.

'Ah, these sheltered Legacies...'

"...Shopping!"