"You actually survived! Impressive!"
An obsidian tower rested in a dark void, a storm of flames dancing across the sky.
Mordret had known Sunny would survive, but it was still quite the achievement.
Talking to the boy pleased him. Speaking to people was something he hadn't done in a very long time.
"The Ebony Tower… so it really exists," he whispered deliberately, knowing Sunny would take the bait.
"Wait… you knew about this?"
After briefly explaining his motives, Mordret calmly answered the questions and told him the story of the Chained Isles.
The discussion went on until it reached the real point.
"What I was interested in wasn't the copy, but the original. The Ivory Tower…"
After seeing Saint—something that sparked a flicker of excitement in Mordret, since he had always wanted to see her—his energy ran dry again, and silence returned.
"He's starting to trust us. We need to be careful not to ruin the relationship at the Night Temple."
'What do you suggest, then? That we become friends?'
"Isn't it obvious? The opportunities we'll have just by staying close to him are countless. I value that more than our revenge."
'…'
"When Cassie and Sunny arrive, we'll only take the Masters. First impressions matter most, don't they?"
Mordret watched as Sunless finally escaped the obsidian tower and reached the Ivory Tower.
The corners of his lips curled slightly into a faint smile.
"Watching history unfold… it's certainly incredible."
After stopping Sunny from accidentally entering the Nightmare Seed, Mordret carefully planted the desire to conquer the Second Nightmare in him.
Before long, that seed would sprout.
"Do you know about the demons?"
His lines were almost rehearsed.
…
"There's a black altar in the place you call the Night Temple. Upon it rests an ivory knife…"
---
'Who would've thought there was such a vast story behind those people… them and the Nine, such bold ambitions…'
"But they failed in the end." Mordret's voice echoed within the prison.
A hollow, humorless laugh reflected across the seven mirrors.
Watching Sunny fall from the island and survive the crushing descent, Mordret let out a quiet sigh of relief.
'Now it all depends on that seer…'
"There's nothing to worry about. If Cassie acts like before, she'll lead Sunny straight to the Night Temple."
'That girl… I don't like her.'
Mordret tilted his head.
"I understand. Feeling like a puppet, like others are pulling your strings without truly knowing you—that must be suffocating. But honestly? Her plans benefit us. So I don't really care what she does, as long as it doesn't harm me."
'… Will Fate change because of us?'
"Probably not. We're far too small to be noticed in that enormous web. If every speck of dust demanded attention, the spider would never know peace."
'…'
"… "
'Then let's make the most of it.'
"Then let's make the most of it!"
---
Several months passed, and autumn approached swiftly.
"Hey, which one do you think we should take? Pierce or Welthe?"
'Either works… actually, why not both?'
His lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"I was thinking the same."
Unfortunately for Mordret, he would have to wait until Sunless reached the Night Temple with the broken mirror shard before he could finally be free.
He felt that if he spent one more year inside that cage, he would truly lose his mind. His thoughts never stopped for even a second.
Scenarios upon scenarios formed endlessly…
"The Lost might have some value… but they're worth more alive than dead."
'And the Second Nightmare?'
"That? We'll consume one from the North. And if fate allows it, Noctis would make a fine meal as well. Of course, only when he's away from Sunless. After all, if he insists on dying, he might as well make himself useful in the end."
'… Hope is also an option.'
"Huh… are you insane? Consume a Divine? I'd rather walk into the Hollow Mountains than attempt something that reckless."
'Then let's just go down the obsidian tower… it's not that bad.'
"Who said we're ending there?"
This was only the beginning.
---
At last, autumn arrived. And with it, hope.
Mordret saw Sunny dressed in ragged cloth. The short sleeves exposed skin pale as snow. The loose garments made him look like a child wearing his father's clothes.
Some random sentinel inspected Sunless's belongings, looking mildly bored.
He also noticed Cassie and Pierce arguing, everything perfectly ordinary.
He didn't care.
Mordret's eyes grew moist as a relieved smile formed on his face.
All seven reflections mirrored the same expression.
He exhaled slowly.
"Sunless… I'm so glad you made it."
Sunny replied in a barely audible whisper:
"Mordret! Where the hell have you been, you bastard?"
The words sounded harsh, but his tone was actually bright.
Mordret drew in a breath, a light chuckle slipping past his teeth.
"Me? Oh… my essence ran dry. After I recovered, I followed you while you traveled through the Dream Realm. I simply chose to remain silent."
Sunny blinked a few times.
"You… chose not to talk? Why?"
The sentinel slowly opened his eyes, curious about what was reflecting the light from inside the pile of objects.
In silence, Mordret searched for a convincing excuse, then answered pleasantly:
"If I spoke too much, I might have run out of essence again. I also didn't know whether I could contact you if that happened outside the void. The scenery here is rather monotonous, you know."
The sentinel picked up a broken mirror shard, examining it carefully.
Mordret paused for a moment.
"I was also afraid that if I spoke too much, you wouldn't come here. Given how cautious you are, it was necessary."
He watched Sunny freeze.
"Come where? Here, to the Night Temple?"
With a warmth in his voice brighter than the morning sun, Mordret replied:
"That's right. Thank you for bringing this piece of mirror to me, Sunless. I am truly grateful."
Pierce casually glanced toward the sentinel while responding to Cassie. His gaze landed on the mirror. In the next instant, his pupils dilated.
"…And I'm sorry. But don't worry, nothing bad is going to happen."
The formidable Master suddenly stood beside the table, the Lost thrown aside. The mirror shard was in his hand.
Looking wildly at Sunny, he shouted:
"Where did you find this, boy?! Answer me!"
Sunny took a step back, stunned.
"I… I…"
Mordret's voice echoed in his mind.
"Nothing bad. At least not for you."
A thin crack appeared in the shard in Pierce's hand.
And in the next moment, the only sound that remained was that of shattering glass.