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?

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

easy

Mordret stifled his

listened to the news. There was a propaganda report on the screen, with a dignified

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 concluded. Under the valiant leadership of Saint Tyris of

the mention of a familiar name. Sky Tide was still alive, it seemed. He was satisfied... among all the Saints he wished to kill, she was the only one

But she had also indirectly helped him escape.

to kill

a human child. He experienced the heat of summer, the warmth of being cared for by a loving mother,

was all fun, but

would have loved

at the

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

And hatred, of course.

and Asterion, he

sense in

his attention back

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

Worry. Fatigue. Loneliness. Fear.

idle observation, he left the child and hid

on a brave face when she was with her son, but when left alone, the woman allowed

was already affecting the daily lives of the

First Evacuation Army. Even more enlisted and

now, there was talk of even people from her immediate circle being