Shadow Slave

The journey back was, sadly, uneventful. Sunny had hoped that they would stumble upon a few Nightmare Creatures, but this close to the Sanctuary, there weren't many — except for those too powerful for the cohort to attack without a serious reason and thorough preparations.

Come to think, these powerful abominations were probably the reason why the weaker ones kept away. Perhaps that was why Noctis had not eradicated them.

Well… that, or he was simply too lazy.

They returned to the sorcerer's stronghold at dawn, and went to find him without wasting any time. However, Noctis was not at his residence, and the wooden door remained shut. Eventually, they located him at the far side of the island, where the immortal was… making a statue.

There were several giant slabs of marble laying on the ground, and a dozen or so chisels hacking at them without anyone's help. The sorcerer stood some distance away, his luscious black hair powdered by marble dust, and watched it all with a satisfied expression on his face while sipping from a glass of wine.

The first of the statues seemed to be close to completion, and resembled… something. It might have been a human, or a horse. Sunny found it hard to tell.

Noticing them, Noctis grinned.

"Oh, you're back!"

Then, he looked at the hideous stone abomination and raised his chin proudly.

"What do you think? Majestic, right?"

Sunny hesitated for a few moments, and then said cautiously:

"Uh… that is one word to describe it, without a doubt. But… what is it?"

The sorcerer frowned with confusion.

a vision of my matchless beauty. They deserve the privilege of witnessing

the terrifying marble monster, scratched the back of

uh… might have failed to grasp a couple of nuances of the sculpting art, just yet. This one is really not too bad, but it is

at the hideous statue for a bit, quite sure that it looked more like a monstrous gargoyle than Noctis. Then, he

Meanwhile, we have retrieved

silent for a while, then sighed

to take a break. Come, let's have something to eat… and drink, of course… and discuss the future. Now

***

grew in the heart of the Sanctuary. Noctis poured himself some wine, then offered them

be curious

each other,

nothing much. By now, the other Chain Lords already know that I am collecting the knives. The death of the One in the North would have distracted them for a bit, but at the same time, it would have made my actions look much more suspicious. So, they will hold a council

took a sip of wine

After that, predictably, they will send a herald to give me some sort of an ultimatum. And only then, after their polite request is denied, will they act, joining forces to invade my

his head, then

hand, shivered and asked, his voice full

something to laugh about? How are we going

sorcerer grew silent, then shook

Simple, really. We

up, at the flying ship that hovered

attack them first. We will lay siege to the

stunned gazes,

that having more power doesn't always mean achieving victory. The three Lords that oppose us are very powerful, indeed… but they are not

then looked at them, his eyes glinting with