“Why are we walking around ordering sweets?” The child looked up at Rio, demanding attention. Rio ignored it and continued window shopping. The child pulled on his shorts and then scratched his leg. No normal child could harm a Master, then again, this child was no normal one.

“Stop harming your guardian Mordret, I’ll incinerate your vessel.” A bell rang on the door as Rio walked in. The shop was simple looking, but make no mistake, this was a luxury part of the city.

“Answer me, why are we here?”

“I said ‘let go kill a saint’ a week ago, but in that state I wasn’t killing anything. Now I’m regaining strength.” Rio smiled at the teenager behind the counter. He saw her fears, her desires. Many people put value on seeing another’s soul sea. Rio also valued seeing into the other parts of their soul. ‘She will enter her first nightmare soon.’ Rio could see the nightmare seed growing within her.

“Would you like anything?” Rio looked down at the child, who only gave angry faces. The girl packed Rio’s pastries and Rio started eating them once he stepped out of the store

“Seriously, I wish I could take you over so I could go to the dream realm.” The kid muttered.

“I think that’s the whole point of me being your partner. You're aspect doesn’t work on me. So all you have is an arsenal of beasts and several times more essence.” Rio smirked at the crestfallen child. “Even you can’t defy Ki Song.”

“Then answer why you insist on doing nothing?”

“I am doing something. For example, I’m getting information on Valor’s saints. My friend in the government is quite resourceful.”

“You have friends?”

“More than you.” Rio bit into another pastry and lowered the bag. “Don’t worry. You will get your revenge sooner or later. We have some preparations to do, then we can get this train going.”

“I think the phrase you're looking for is ‘wagon train moving’.”

“And when did you become an excerpt of social works?” The child snatched the bag from Rio and shoved a pastry into his mouth. Rio picked the bag from the boy and turned it inside out. A simple card of paper was attached to the bottom of the bag. Rio flipped it open and read it.

The child licked his fingers before eyed Rio.

“What’s that?”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Work.” Rio answered. The information was surface level, what he already knew about the saints. It seems relying on the government would get him nowhere.

“Mordret, how are you at dancing?”

“Why?”

“You have a lovely fiance, and you don’t know how to dance?” Rio faked being taken aback.

“I’ve never danced. Spend some time in my shoes, you’ll know why.”

“No need to get defensive. Anyways, there’s a lovely ball that you and Seishan should attend. I heard some acquaintances of yours were invited.” Rio didn’t have all the information, but what he gathered was that some of Changing Star’s Cohort had been responsible for Mordred's release.

“A ball?”

“A round object that is used to bounce or roll.”

“I know what it is.” Mordret finished his pastry and looked expectantly at Rio. Rio showed the empty bag and smiled at Mordret’s face.

“Why would I attend such a frivolous thing?”

“When did my little boy learn all these big words?”

“If you don’t want this little boy to bury you, you’ll answer me.” Mordret bared the child’s teeth, making him look cuter than menacing.

“Valor’s ball is a social gathering of many powerful people. If we go, you and I can rub shoulders with the top people of humanity. You get to enjoy some quality time with Seishan and I get some quality time without you, everyone wins.” Rio’s communicator rang and he pulled it out.

Rio read the text. “They are almost done with my memories, let’s head back.” Rio looked back at Mordret who was peering at him.

“What?”

“Your essence. I can tell that you’re constantly expending essence.” Rio flinched and looked ahead. Rio checked his soul sea. It wasn’t nearly time for him to replenish his essence.

“Well?” Mordret demanded?

“Well what?”

“Unless you’re lying, your protection is passive. What are you using your aspect for?” Mordret’s curious face looked like the child just ate something bitter.

“Once upon a time there was a mother and father who loved each other very much--”

“If you’re going into a big long back story then forget it.” Mordret continued eating his pastry.

“The mother was from the house of Night, and the father was from Clan Valor.” Mordret paused and looked at Rio with new found interest. “You can probably guess the rest.”

“Valor messed with your family?”

“A saint, a freaking saint was sent to kill us,” Rio looked ahead with absent eyes, his voice carrying no sorrow or pain. “We were able to escape. Our father left for valor after I awakened and brought us out of the slums.”

“I know what you just told me is important to your past, but what does this have to do with your aspect?”

“Who knows. I seem to have forgotten what I’m doing.” Mordret growled. Curiosity Killed the cat. Rio told him, but Moredret was looking back.

“Can--can we get more?” He asked meekly. Rio didn’t laugh, it was so genuine and cute he took a picture.

“You-” Mordret turned violent and Rio had to imbue essence into his body to avoid being ripped apart.