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?

for the kid. Would it feel rewarding? Would it feel burdensome? Would it

was an easy

his curiosity and

kid chewed on the vegetables, the mother idly listened to the news. There was a propaganda report on

Just a few days ago, the relocation of refugees from

was still alive, it seemed. He was satisfied... among all the Saints he wished to kill, she was

helped him get caught. But she had also indirectly helped

won't have to kill her

the heat of summer, the warmth of being

fun, but he

would have loved

turn dangerous at the

he told the kid that he never felt sad. But he was not completely emotionless. There were

And hatred, of course.

and Asterion, he hated the other the

sense in thinking about

focused his attention back on

rather stupid, as expected from a child. The child only saw the mother's smile,

Worry. Fatigue. Loneliness. Fear.

observation, he left

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

of the citizens... her friends,

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

from her immediate circle being pulled into the whirlwind of