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?

easy way to

Mordret stifled his curiosity

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

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

alive, it seemed. He was satisfied... among all the

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

have to kill her

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 with friends, and the excitement of learning

was all fun, but he quickly

would have loved

turn dangerous at the thought, he

was not completely emotionless. There were things he could feel: satisfaction, contentment, pleasure... anger, resentment,

And hatred, of course.

and Asterion, he hated

sense in thinking about

focused his attention back on the

as expected from a child. The child only saw the

Worry. Fatigue. Loneliness. Fear.

he left the child and hid within

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

turmoil. Everything was changing. The distant war was already affecting the daily lives of the citizens... her friends, her

Evacuation Army. Even more enlisted and sailed away

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