Shadow Slave

Sunny froze, trying not to move a muscle. His face grew pale and solemn.

"W—what is going on? Master Welthe?"

The woman stared at his back, the blade of a slender saber pressed against Cassie's throat. She remained silent, as though unwilling to answer. However, Pierce spoke in her stead, a dark grin appearing on his lips:

"Don't worry… we'll tell you shortly."

With that, he commanded two Echoes to step forward. One was holding a large wooden box, its surface engraved with a complicated weave of a beautiful, but disorienting pattern. The other was holding a folded piece of black cloth.

Pierce carefully took the box, then placed it on the floor in front of him and closed his eyes for a moment. A loud click resounded from inside, and its lid rose by a few millimeters. He didn't touch it, though.

Instead, the fearsome Master sighed and took the folded cloth.

Sunny stared at the wooden box with a bit of apprehension.

"What is that thing?"

Welthe finally spoke, her voice cold and even:

"It is a mirror trap. A very special artifact created by the elders of our great clan. With its help, we can capture and bind the prince."

He blinked a couple of times, then forced out a weak smile.

"Well, that is… good? Right?"

Pierce snarled.

"Indeed… the problem is, the ritual requires some time to be performed. And that monster has proved to be too devious to be held back long enough for it to work. Every time we cornered him, he simply destroyed the vessel and slipped away. Because we were always a step behind, and he was the one in control of the battlefield."

The Master smiled.

"Well… that is about to change."

Sunny frowned.

Behind him, Cassie suddenly spoke:

to lure him into

Welthe shook her head.

companion. He is the

The other knight chuckled.

is the one who caused all this… isn't it only fair that he would be

step forward and looked

your body above all others. Why else would he have gone to such lengths to frame and excommunicate you? Going as far as to risk sneaking into our camp… the mad prince is ill and unhinged. If we present an opportunity to possess you, he won't be able

The Master scowled furiously.

will be the ones in control. He won't escape us again.

step back. However, there was nowhere for him to go — Welthe and five Echoes

I do

Pierce smiled.

hands of the escaped murderer… while heroically assisting the great clan Valor and saving lives, of course. And you will do as I

gritted her teeth, then

"Sunny! Don't do it!"

blind girl fall silent. A drop of

"Quiet…"

chamber, as if searching for something to save him. But there was nothing he could use

"I… I…"

suddenly hung his

it. Just don't…

too

struggled in

"Sunny! No!"

solemn expression on his face. When he spoke, his voice sounded stifled and frightened, but also certain and full of

…Almost heroic.

least this way… this way, one of

Sunny faced Pierce

do I

then handed him the

down on

wooden box. Slowly, Welthe moved to stand

He closed his eyes.

"...Now what?"