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?

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

was an easy way to

stifled his curiosity and remained

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

First Evacuation Army are continuing to consolidate their forces on the continent. Just a few days ago, the relocation of refugees from the impregnable

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

had indirectly helped him get caught. But she had also indirectly

to kill

life of a human child. He experienced the heat of summer, the warmth of

was all fun, but

would have loved

mood turn dangerous at the

he was not completely emotionless. There

And hatred, of course.

he hated his traitorous father and Asterion, he

sense in

attention back on

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

Worry. Fatigue. Loneliness. Fear.

left the

she was

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

First Evacuation Army. Even more enlisted and

from her immediate circle