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 little bit of fame... especially because clan Valor already

simply glanced at Morgan

those reinforcements we were supposed

or taken aback by

needed any,

then changed his mind and turned

directly participating in the bloodshed was, naturally, limited. Morgan, on the other hand, had enjoyed the broad view of the whole battlefield, especially because of Cassie. She must have known that Saint Tyris

have been the one to coordinate with Sky Tide and make sure that the

it seemed as though the Fire Keepers had been left for dead from

not sure that I'm buying it... but on the other hand, I'm also not sure that I'm not buying

the fact that

Sunny shifted.

"Uh... what?"

Her smile grew wider.

fought admirably... but I expected nothing less from a daughter of Valor. You, however! Master Sunless, you gave me a very, very pleasant surprise. It seems that the reports I've read about you were

forward, staring at him with something that almost

take it all back. She has a good eye. You fought beautifully, Master Sunless... we really should spar

mouth twitched a little. Sunny, meanwhile, shivered under Morgan's burning

forgot. She's a complete

He coughed awkwardly.

mostly fight Nightmare Creatures, so my habits are a bit... rough. So do

eyes gleamed with a dangerous

won't be a problem. I tend to get carried away myself, sometimes. That's why it's hard to find suitable sparring partners... most people are

Sunny shrugged.

that I

no reason to be concerned. A spar

if he had just gotten himself into a really, really sticky