Shadow Slave

Mordret was still getting used to the fact that it never got dark in Antarctica. Because of that, the concept of time here was vague and abstract. The landscape itself was not like anything else he had seen in the waking world, and with countless Nightmare Creatures flooding the continent, it was easy to imagine that they were actually in the Dream Realm.

A whole continent of people, pulled into hell.

'No... it's much too early for that...'

The sky was strange, the land was strange, and the beings populating that land were strange.

And yet, wasn't he the strangest one?

'Isn't it nice, to be with family?'

His uncle's wide back was right in front of him.

Saint Madoc was walking across the desolate plain, not at all concerned by the hordes of Nightmare Creatures moving in the distance. A small force of Awakened followed, with Mordret in the lead. They had left their vehicles behind to traverse the last stretch of wilderness on foot, knowing that remaining unseen was more important than remaining safe.

The warriors of Valor were subdued, but full of unshaken resolve. Even surrounded by unspeakable danger, none of them showed the smallest sign of fear. They were ready to face any kind of threat, no matter how dire, and fight any kind of enemy.

Be it abominations or humans.

Mordret, meanwhile, was simply staring at his uncle's back.

How easy would it be to put a sword right through it?

He suppressed a sigh.

Sadly, not easy at all. Not even because of the priceless enchanted armor Whispering Blade was clad in, but simply because Whispering Blade was Whispering Blade.

If any of Mordret's family members were easy to kill, he would not be stuck wearing the cumbersome vessel of Squire Warren for so long.

'There'll come a day...'

forward in

a Nightmare Gate tore reality apart like a dark scar. The whispers of the

Gates. They had started with those

into, and the area of the Dream Realm connected to

territory, and it grew

fortified outpost had been abandoned, and why Saint Madoc was personally escorting them to the

first wave of reinforcements sent to help the Knight secure his prize. Due to the importance of that mission, Whispering Blade was going to transport them across the threshold

long taken the place of

Gate in silence, seemingly unaffected by the maddening pull of the Call, and

"Are you ready, Squire?"

first one to follow the Saint into the Dream Realm would be in the greatest danger. Mordret pretended to

"Always, my lord."

revolting

approval and

The world grew bleak.

Then, it disappeared.

a vast, lightless space between

light flooded his

heat assaulted

of scorching sand

regained his vision. He felt deeply uncomfortable, because there were very few reflective surfaces in the surrounding area - limited to only his own

was a vast

immolating heat. The sands of the desert were flawlessly white, and the azure sky above him

beneath the sand, scattered

in the stark shadows

then shifted slightly, hearing

him... a split second later, however, it was suddenly dismantled, falling apart in the air.

as it

Madoc calmly looked at the remains of the Nightmare Creature

"Stay on guard."