Shadow Slave: A visionary's guide

Ivan didn't hesitate. He turned on his heel, sprinting back toward the tent.

"Cassie!" His voice was sharp, urgent. She stirred, eyes flicking open underneath the lace blind fold in confusion.

"Get up, we need to move, now!"

He grabbed her, pulling her to her feet.

"What's happening?" she asked, her voice tinged with alarm.

Without responding, Ivan darted towards the exit, dragging Cassie behind him.

"Okay, Cass, we have a change of plans. We're moving west, as fast as possible," Ivan said in a perfectly controlled voice, not allowing any trace of his worries to slip through.

Confusion across Cassie's face. She wasn't sure why Ivan was acting with such urgency. "Why? To where?" Though the questions were simple, there was a layer of worry in her voice. She imagined all sorts of possibilities, from the Nightmare creatures Ivan had seen before to more horrifying abominations closing in on them from the air.

Ivan had two options: reveal the truth, which would likely send Cassie into a panic. Her mental state was already delicate, and adding more stress could have disastrous consequences.

Even though Ivan hadn't been a psychiatrist before transmigrating into this god's forsaken world, his attributes had begun subtly influencing his thoughts and actions. His [Spectator] attribute, in particular, had been affecting his personality, making him more attuned to the psychological states of others.

"Still, even though I'm not envisioning [Psychiatrist], I'm still being affected. Does that mean I don't need to unlock those attributes to benefit from them?" Ivan thought, the question flickering in his mind as he processed everything at once.

The second option was to lie to Cassie, keeping her mental state stable while offering a convincing excuse to cover up the real threat.

But what kind of excuse could he use? Damn it, Ivan mentally groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

Ivan chose the second option, settling on a half-truth. He made his voice carry a hint of excitement as he said, "I have a feeling there might be a human settlement or a citadel in the western direction. Though I'm not too sure, so far my aspect has never failed me."

Cassie's eyes widened slightly. "A settlement? Are you sure?"

Ivan nodded quickly, though the words felt foreign on his tongue. "It's a gut feeling, but I've learned to trust it."

It was all a lie, of course. He knew exactly where they were heading. The novel had given him all the details he needed, but he couldn't let Cassie know that.

His mention of "aspect" was a subtle nudge toward his sailor attribute, a detail that might explain his confidence in navigation. It was a clever way to divert suspicion without revealing too much.

Cassie hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. If you say so."

***

A few moments later, Cassie's curiosity got the better of her. She couldn't help but ask.

"Ivan, what are you doing?" she called out.

The noises from Ivan's direction continued—metal clinking, the low hum of drilling. It sounded like he was trying to build a house, but Cassie didn't press him for answers. She did not want to disturb him.

Ivan had told her to sit near the camp while he prepared something, and she had obeyed. The wind was gentle, a soft breeze that carried with it the scent of wet rocks. It was peaceful, and for a moment, Cassie felt a flicker of calm.

"I'm just setting up a way to get down from this rock formation," Ivan's voice called out from a distance. "It's bloody huge, and no ladders would be tall enough. Using your rope wouldn't be ideal either, as carrying you down would be a... gruesome task."

Cassie, listening intently, felt a strange mix of gratitude and guilt at his words.

"I—I see. Sorry to disturb..." she murmured, her words soft with understanding.

"No biggie," Ivan replied shortly. "Just enjoy the breeze while I work on the way down."

Cassie nodded slightly, even though Ivan couldn't see her. It wasn't like she could offer any help,the only thing she could do was trust him.

She remembered how she'd felt when she first entered the Dream Realm. Her blindness had made everything many times worse. It had been so overwhelming, so terrifying.

Back at the academy, she had cried herself to sleep every night, plagued by the pain of losing her sight and the despair that had followed. And then, Ivan came into her life.

The way he had saved her from the depths of her loneliness, helping her break free from the pessimistic thoughts that had plagued her for so long—she still remembered it vividly. And now, in the Dream Realm, he had saved her again. Not only from the creatures that lurked in the dark sea but also from her own fears and insecurities.

Cassie reached up to her face, tracing the delicate lace of the blindfold that covered her eyes. She hadn't quite gotten used to it, but it was comforting in a way. It almost felt like a protective layer, one that shielded her from the harshness of her reality. She ran her fingers over the fabric, feeling its softness.

Her thoughts drifted to the clothes she wore—the ones Ivan had envisioned for her. They were simple but comfortable, not too fancy, but not plain either. They felt surreal to her, like she was in a dream within a dream. It was mildly cold, but not in an uncomfortable way. The chill was a comfort, almost like a reminder that she was alive, that she was here.

still adjusting to the sensation of wearing these new clothes. Envisioning, the aspect ability that he shared with her.

It's beyond anything I've ever heard of. It's not just survival—it's like he's crafting his own reality, bending it to his will.

The realization hit her harder than before. Ivan's power was like something only gods should possess. Every aspect, every ability has its strengths and weaknesses, but his? It was bizarre, almost absurd in its potential. What would he be capable of if he awakened?

Cassie's heart skipped a beat at the thought. How powerful would Ivan be if he awakened?

For the first time since arriving in this twisted world, Cassie felt a glimmer of hope. She wasn't entirely helpless.

And yet, guilt gnawed at her. But why did he choose me? she thought. I'm just a blind girl. What use can I be?

Despite her ability to see the past and future through her visions, they were erratic, random, and often out of her control. They weren't the kind of power that one could rely on. And yet, Ivan had chosen to stay with her. He had chosen to team up with a blind girl when there were so many others who could offer more.

Cassie's fingers trembled as they rested against the blindfold again. She felt a strange emptiness growing within her.

Trust… That was all she had to offer.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Ivan called out to her.

"Cass, I'm done. Let's start moving."

***

"Okay, have you ever bungee jumped before?" Ivan asked.

"Bungee… jumped?" Cassie tilted her head, confused by the sudden question. Bungee? That's rubber or elastic, isn't it? Jumping… with rubber? Wait, does he mean a trampoline? But then why didn't he just say trampoline?

"Yes! I have! In fact, it's one of my favorite things to do!" Cassie replied quickly, hoping to mask her confusion. She suspected he was trying to distract her again.

She wasn't naive. Ivan had been using random topics to shift the flow of their conversations, pulling her out of the dark abyss of her thoughts. Strangely, it always worked. Whenever he said something absurd or out of nowhere, she felt clarity and peace wash over her, pushing away the chaos in her mind. She didn't understand how he did it, but after so many times, she had begun to adapt. While she still struggled to accept her flaws, she was starting to come to terms with them.

"That's good, that's good…" Ivan said after a brief silence. "Now come here. We need to get down this place, so let's get you strapped to my back."

Cassie blinked, surprised by his tone. Why does it sound like he was surprised? Also he's treating me like a child again.

Still, she didn't argue, letting out a soft barely noticable, reluctant huff as she allowed him to secure her. Ivan fastened straps and belts around her, then instructed her to climb onto his back. Once she was settled, another set of straps tightened around her, securing her in place.

Her chest pressed tightly against Ivan's back, and for a moment, it felt suffocating. But she knew it was necessary for safety, and it wasn't unbearable. She noticed, however, that Ivan seemed to tremble slightly, his body heating up.

"A-are you okay? You're heating up," Cassie asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"U-uh, yeah, I'm fine. Just… thinking about something," Ivan replied, his tone unusually flustered.

After a few more exchanges of reassurance, Ivan resumed checking the ropes and anchors he had drilled into the rock formation. Meanwhile, Cassie found herself observing his attire: a simple shirt and vest. She assumed it was for better mobility, as he had mentioned before that he wasn't a combat type. Despite this, his body was well-toned and strong, a fact she couldn't help but notice.

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly broke away from her thoughts when Ivan tapped her arm, signaling the final check.

"You ready?" he asked.

"Yes," Cassie replied.

"Great… Let's just hope we don't die."

"Yes—wait, what do you m—"

Before she could finish, her stomach lurched as the ground seemed to drop away. Her insides hollowed out as if she were falling from the sky. Cassie tightened her grip on Ivan, clutching him with both hands and legs as her world turned into a blur of motion and adrenaline.