Shadow Slave: Intertwined fate

Moonlit opened his eyes, taking in the stretch of grass around him, swaying gently in the breeze. The world seemed oddly serene, a stark contrast to the chaos his mind held. "Wasn't this guy supposed to be rich?" he muttered to himself, trying to piece together fragmented memories. Slowly, reality settled in—a harsh reminder of his predicament. He remembered the story, Shadow Slave, the world he'd found himself reincarnated into, and the bitter irony of it all.

The memory of being kicked out of his family flickered in his mind, sharp and brief. It didn't sting as much as he thought it would, likely because he couldn't recall the specifics of his past life. He only knew he had one. The details of who he'd been, what he'd done—gone, as though wiped clean. All that remained was the knowledge that he had read Shadow Slave. That, and the certainty that his fate was now intertwined with this brutal world.

"Well, I guess this is why my fate's tied here," he muttered under his breath, his tone calm. Oddly, he wasn't angry or sad about losing his life. The pain of his death was distant, a faint echo dulled by the new reality before him.

Pushing the thoughts aside, Moonlit surveyed the area. He was standing on a small hill surrounded by a sea of grass. In the distance, he spotted a police headquarters—its imposing structure cutting through the tranquil scenery like a beacon of authority. Resolving to move forward, he walked toward the building.

As he stepped inside, the weight of his new life pressed on him, and his mind turned to the most critical detail of all—his flaw. Every awakened individual bore one, and it could make or break their survival in this world.

"Excuse me," Moonlit said, approaching an officer near the entrance. "I just had my first nightmare."

The policeman barely glanced at him, his demeanor seasoned and indifferent, as if he'd seen countless new Awakened before. "Walk up to the front desk," the officer said, his tone clipped. "We'll send you to the academy."

Moonlit nodded and made his way toward the desk, his pace slowing as his nerves built up. He hadn't checked his flaw yet. What if it's bad? The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

Taking a steadying breath, he focused on the system window and revealed his flaw.

[Attention Lover]

[You will always want to be at the center of everything, whether it's as a villain or a hero.]

Relief washed over him. At least it wasn't something devastating, like Sunny's, which could leave him enslaved to another's will. This was manageable—he could work with this.

But then, another notification caught his eye.

[True Name: Light Thief]

"What... does that mean?" Moonlit whispered to himself, confusion and intrigue filling his thoughts. His True Name was the key to his power, his identity in this world. It was supposed to define him to reveal a deeper truth about his existence. Light Thief? The implications stirred unease in his chest. What light? Whose light?

Distracted by the mystery, he hadn't realized he was dragging his feet until he noticed the annoyed expression on the secretary's face as he reached the desk.

"Excuse me," he said, forcing a polite smile. "I just had my first nightmare."

The woman looked up at him, her expression flickering with surprise before she quickly schooled her features into a neutral mask. "You'll be at the academy shortly," she replied, her tone professional but brisk.

As she began the process of registering him, Moonlit stood there, lost in thought. His flaw, his True Name—what did it all mean? And more importantly, what kind of future awaited him in this unforgiving world?

For now, he could only move forward, one step at a time.