Shadow Slave

Sunny froze, trying not to move a muscle. His face grew pale and solemn.

”W—what is going on? Master Welthe?”

The woman stared at his back, the blade of a slender saber pressed against Cassieʼs throat. She remained silent, as though unwilling to answer. However, Pierce spoke in her stead, a dark grin appearing on his lips:

”Donʼt worry… weʼll tell you shortly.”

With that, he commanded two Echoes to step forward. One was holding a large wooden box, its surface engraved with a complicated weave of a beautiful, but disorienting pattern. The other was holding a folded piece of black cloth.

Pierce carefully took the box, then placed it on the floor in front of him and closed his eyes for a moment. A loud click resounded from inside, and its lid rose by a few millimeters. He didnʼt touch it, though.

Instead, the fearsome Master sighed and took the folded cloth.

Sunny stared at the wooden box with a bit of apprehension.

”What is that thing?”

Welthe finally spoke, her voice cold and even:

”It is a mirror trap. A very special artifact created by the elders of our great clan. With its help, we can capture and bind the prince.”

He blinked a couple of times, then forced out a weak smile.

”Well, that is… good? Right?”

Pierce snarled.

”Indeed… the problem is, the ritual requires some time to be performed. And that monster has proved to be too devious to be held back long enough for it to work. Every time we cornered him, he simply destroyed the vessel and slipped away. Because we were always a step behind, and he was the one in control of the battlefield.”

The Master smiled.

”Well… that is about to change.”

Sunny frowned.

Behind him, Cassie suddenly spoke:

”You… you want to lure him into a trap? By using us as bait?”

Welthe shook her head.

”Not you, Song of the Fallen. Just your companion. He is the one Prince Mordret wants, after all.”

The other knight chuckled.

”He is the one who caused all this… isnʼt it only fair that he would be the one to end it?”

Pierce took a step forward and looked down at Sunny.

”I donʼt know why the bastard chose you as the final vessel, but from his actions, it is obvious that he is fixated on taking your body above all others. Why else would he have gone to such lengths to frame and excommunicate you? Going as far as to risk sneaking into our camp… the mad prince is ill and unhinged. If we present an opportunity to possess you, he wonʼt be able to resist.”

The Master scowled furiously.

”...And this time, we will be the ones in control. He wonʼt escape us again. So… you wouldnʼt mind making a sacrifice for the greater good, would you, Awakened Sunless?”

Sunny shivered and took an involuntary step back. However, there was nowhere for him to go — Welthe and five Echoes were behind him, blocking the path of escape.

”W—what if I do mind?”

Pierce smiled.

”Then Lady Cassia will tragically lose her life at the hands of the escaped murderer… while heroically assisting the great clan Valor and saving lives, of course. And you will do as I say, anyway, only after a few additional… and very, very unpleasant… steps.”

Cassie gritted her teeth, then shouted:

”Sunny! Donʼt do it!”

In the next moment, Welthe moved her saber, making the blind girl fall silent. A drop of blood rolled down her neck.

”Quiet…”

Sunny froze, as if not knowing what to do. His eyes darted around the chamber, as if searching for something to save him. But there was nothing he could use — only the two Masters and the ten Echoes, all ready to pounce at him if he were to try something.

”I… I…”

He trembled, hesitated, and then suddenly hung his head, as if defeated.

”...Iʼll do it. Just donʼt… donʼt hurt her. Please!”

ʼThat wasnʼt too much… right?ʼ

Cassie struggled in Weltheʼs grip.

”Sunny! No!”

He looked back, a solemn expression on his face. When he spoke, his voice sounded stifled and frightened, but also certain and full of resolve.

…Almost heroic.

”Itʼs… itʼs alright. Donʼt be sad, Cassie. At least this way… this way, one of us will survive.”

With that, Sunny faced Pierce and shivered.

”What… what do I need to do?”

The fearsome Master smirked, then handed him the folded piece of cloth.

”Good choice. Get down on your knees, first.”

Sunny took the cloth and kneeled in front of the wooden box. Slowly, Welthe moved to stand side by side with Pierce, and the Echoes dispersed, hovering near the walls as they surrounded him.

He closed his eyes.

”...Now what?”

Welthe spoke, still holding Cassie with an iron grip. Pierce, meanwhile, bent down and put one hand on the lid of the box.

”Open your eyes. Unfold the cloth, the look at the item inside. Donʼt think of playing any tricks…”

She moved her saber, making Cassie whimper.

Sunny flinched, but remained on his knees. Gritting his teeth, he glanced at the blind girl, then lowered his head and slowly unfolded the cloth.

Inside, laying on the black fabric, was a single piece of a broken mirror.

Sunny stared at it, and saw his pale reflection staring back.

The Masters tensed.

…And then, nothing happened.

Well, of course it didnʼt.

If Sunny had thought otherwise, he would have never allowed himself to end up in this situation.

In fact, he was pretty sure that he knew what Mordret was planning, and why. For that reason, he believed that staring into a mirror was perfectly safe for him, at least right now.

Thatʼs why he and Cassie had acted out this little performance, pretending to be frightened and clueless, or at least resigned to their fate. Sunny was actually pretty proud of himself. It seemed that his acting ability had really improved. That last line, especially… such intensity…

Cassie had done surprisingly well, too.

Pierce and Welthe stared at him, waiting for a sign that Mordret took the bait. However, after a few seconds of nothing happening, slight confusion appeared in their eyes, and then a hint of doubt.

…And then, fear.

Welthe was the first one to understand.

Her face paled, and she suddenly looked up, as if hoping to pierce countless layers of stone with her gaze.

And see the fortified camp that they had left behind.

Her lips trembled.

”No…”