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?

the kid. Would it feel rewarding? Would it feel

was an easy way

his curiosity and remained

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

en route to 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

seemed. He was satisfied... among all the Saints he wished to kill, she was the only one

But she had

I won't have to kill her at

days, Mordret lived the life of a human child. He experienced the heat of summer, the warmth of being cared for by a loving mother, the delight of playing

fun, but he quickly grew

have loved it,

dangerous at

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

And hatred, of course.

hated his traitorous father and Asterion, he hated the other

No sense in thinking

focused his attention

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

Worry. Fatigue. Loneliness. Fear.

left the child and hid within the mother's

was not all warmth and joy from her perspective. She put on a brave face when she was with her son, but when left

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

with the First Evacuation Army. Even more enlisted and sailed

immediate circle being pulled into the whirlwind of