Shadow Slave

Sunny settled in a corner and stuffed his mouth with stew. A few moments later, the flap of the tent opened, and Morgan walked in, followed closely by Cassie.

The Princess of Valor seemed to be in a good mood. Her strange vermilion eyes were lively and vivid, shining with barely contained excitement. It was as though the calamitous battle had invigorated the usually restrained young woman, revealing a glimpse of her true self.

Without the habitual mask of composed decorum, Morgan looked... younger.

Her words echoed Sunny's thoughts. A pleasant - and disturbingly familiar - smile appeared on her beautiful face, and with a melodious laugh, Morgan said:

"That was spectacular! Dear sister, venerable Masters... you did not disappoint!"

With that, her lips twisted a little in an expression of wistful regret. She seemed disappointed by the fact that she had not received a chance to participate in the battle personally.

Morgan sighed.

"The whole camp is aflame with the tales of what happened in your corner of the battlefield. Even the feats performed by the Saints seem to have taken a back seat to what Changing Star has achieved. Ah... I'm so proud of my talented, capable little sister. Nicely done!"

She paused for a moment, and then added with a smile that seemed a little sharper than before:

"Your glory is clan Valor's glory, of course. So, I am very happy right now."

Sunny silently chewed his food. Hearing the word "glory" from a descendant of War God really rubbed him the wrong way, but he didn't let it ruin his appetite.

'Indeed, she has a good reason to be happy...'

If the war of the great clans was a popularity contest - which it was, in a sense - then Valor was currently winning. Not only had Sky Tide been the first of the Saints to slay her foe, but the potentially catastrophic breach in the defensive formation had also been repaired by Nephis.

'Was that why Morgan failed to send us reinforcements? To earn her damned clan some glory?'

possibility, but a small one. Anvil's daughter was not someone who would sacrifice strategic benefits to earn a

he simply glanced at

way, what happened to those reinforcements we were supposed

looking particularly guilty or taken aback by

look like you needed any, so

his mind

directly participating in the bloodshed was, naturally, limited. Morgan, on the other hand, had enjoyed the broad

Sky Tide and make sure that the titan

the Fire Keepers had been left for dead from

the other hand, I'm also not

were interrupted by the fact that Morgan was staring at

Sunny shifted.

"Uh... what?"

Her smile grew wider.

Sunless, you gave me a very, very pleasant surprise. It

took a step closer and leaned forward, staring at

has a good eye. You fought beautifully, Master Sunless... we really should

a little. Sunny,

forgot. She's a complete

He coughed awkwardly.

idea. Oh, but I mostly fight Nightmare Creatures, so my habits are a bit... rough. So do tell me if I get

eyes gleamed with a dangerous

get carried away myself, sometimes. That's why it's hard to find suitable sparring partners... most people are

Sunny shrugged.

that

no reason to be concerned. A spar was just a spar, after

suddenly feeling cold? As if he had just gotten himself into a really,