Shadow Slave

Human homes were like a titan. They were full of countless things. From the floor panels to the smallest trivialities, each thing had been designed and created by someone. The materials used in the creation of the things had been produced by someone else. Vehicles that someone had assembled transported them over roads that someone had built.

The amount of effort and life hiding in each human home was staggering. The scale of it was so inconceivable that Mordret could only compare it to something he was more familiar with - an abomination so vast that its mere existence was a calamity.

But really, the waking world was so much more than that. The only creature it could truly be compared to was a god.

'A dead god, maybe.'

Humans were like ants, but he could easily imagine them as carrion worms wriggling as they feasted on a divine corpse.

He could imagine it vividly.

"Honey! Come eat!"

Mordret was looking at the world through the child's eyes.

He put down his toys and ran to the kitchen. He climbed on a chair and grinned at his mother. He made a face at the plate full of expensive, naturally grown vegetables and pouted.

He allowed himself to be coaxed into eating some.

'...I can't taste it.'

Mordret felt a slight disappointment as he studied the mother's face. She was looking at him with a smile. Her eyes were brimming with affection.

Being loved by someone was a novel feeling. But what would it feel like to love someone instead?

Mordret thought about taking the mother's body and caring for the kid. Would

was an easy way to

Mordret stifled his curiosity and remained

the news. There was a propaganda report on the screen, with a dignified male voice delivering

the Southern Quadrant, the heroic warriors of the First Evacuation Army are continuing to consolidate their forces on the continent. Just a few days ago, the relocation of refugees from the impregnable siege capital of Falcon Scott was successfully

at the mention of a familiar name. Sky Tide was still alive, it seemed. He was satisfied... among all the Saints he

helped him get caught. But she had

to

summer, the warmth of being cared for by a loving mother, the delight of playing with friends, and

all fun, but

have loved it,

at the thought, he chased it

never felt sad. But he was not completely emotionless. There were things he could feel:

And hatred, of course.

his traitorous father and Asterion, he

sense in thinking

his attention back on the

expected from a child. The child only saw the

Worry. Fatigue. Loneliness. Fear.

days of idle observation, he left the child and

from her perspective. She put on a brave face when she was with her son, but when left alone, the woman allowed herself to be

in turmoil. Everything was changing. The distant war was already affecting the daily lives of the citizens... her friends, her neighbors, her family - everyone was tense,

left with the First Evacuation Army. Even more enlisted and sailed away

was talk of even people from her immediate circle being pulled into the