Shadow Slave

'Mordret… he has taken Welthe.'

Sunny shifted, lowering the Cruel Sight and slightly turning its blade. His heart was full of unease, his mind in the throes of a dark premonition. The banished prince had already been monstrously powerful… how much more deadly would he become in a body of a Master?

A few things were now clear, at least. Out of the two Ascended knights, Welthe had been the more powerful one. Her Aspect possessed Abilities that could debilitate her enemies, all the while enhancing her own physique. That was why she had been the one to sap Mordret of a large portion of his strength and attack him.

And yet, it was strange to see that the Prince of Nothing had struggled to defeat her so much, and for so long. If he couldn't win against one of the Masters, how had he ever planned to face both?

However, if he had decided to take Welthe's body and thus couldn't harm it too much… that would explain his tardiness. Fighting an Ascended elite while not being allowed to wound her was a dreadfully harsh task.

Had Mordret been aiming for Welthe's body from the start, or had he changed his plans on the fly when the opportunity presented itself?

Was his intention to take Sunny as his vessel just a ruse, a misdirection… or was Sunny still in danger?

'No way… he already has a body of a Master. There is no reason to abandon it for the sake of mine. Right?'

"Ah! That is much, much better!"

Mordret straightened, then stretched, looking at his own arms with curiosity. He clenched Welthe's fists, then grimaced slightly and let his hands relax. Finally, the Prince of Nothing turned slightly and looked at Sunny with a smile.

"...Wouldn't you say, Sunless?"

Sunny lingered for a moment, then nodded cautiously.

"I guess. How does this work, exactly? Are you an Ascended now?"

Mordret's smile widened a little.

"So curious. Your inquisitive nature is truly worthy of an Academy researcher."

questions like always,

sensed the slender saber laying by the former Master's feet, then concentrated on the corpse

How are we going to

down, picked

I am not sure that you are going to like

shivers running down his spine. Mordret's tone was still friendly, but the implication behind his words did not promise anything

He's going to double-cross

Sunny had not been planning to do

his teeth, then said

you said… there's no quarrel between us. We can just

Mordret chuckled.

But, Sunless… if you really want to be my friend… why

slightly awkward step forward, as if not

to trust someone who refuses to look you in the eye, you know. Why don't you look at

then backed away

rather not. My eyelids

Mordret grinned.

to tell you the truth, we

took another step back,

yeah? Why

he spoke, Welthe's voice

a fool? Did you really think that I would not smell the stench of Dreamspawn on you? Huh? You better tell

Sunny scowled.

'...What?'

he would be

by Asterion? I've never met anyone by that name, let alone knowing anything about their schemes! Are you

the prince… the Dreamspawn… could

tilted his

truth. But if you never met