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:

you want to lure him into a trap? By using us

Welthe shook her head.

Song of the Fallen. Just your companion. He is the one

The other knight chuckled.

this… isn't it only

forward and looked

why the bastard chose you as the final vessel, but from his actions, it is obvious that he is fixated on taking your body above all others. Why else would he have gone to such lengths to frame and excommunicate you? Going as far

The Master scowled furiously.

control. He won't escape us again. So… you wouldn't mind making a sacrifice for the greater good, would

shivered and took an involuntary step back. However, there was nowhere for him to go — Welthe and five Echoes were

if I

Pierce smiled.

life at the hands of the escaped murderer… while heroically assisting the great clan Valor and saving lives, of course. And you will do as I say, anyway, only after a few additional… and very,

gritted her

"Sunny! Don't do it!"

moved her saber, making the blind girl fall silent. A drop of

"Quiet…"

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

"I… I…"

hesitated, and then suddenly hung his

Just don't…

too

in Welthe's

"Sunny! No!"

his voice sounded stifled and frightened,

…Almost heroic.

At least this way… this

that, Sunny faced Pierce and

what do I

smirked, then handed

Get down

took the cloth and kneeled in front of the wooden box. Slowly, Welthe moved to stand side by side with Pierce, and

He closed his eyes.

"...Now what?"