Mordret was bored.
It was odd, he had been trapped for years in a box with nothing to stimulate him. Now he was free in the outside world, able to wander almost anywhere in the Dream Realm with immunity.
He was also now a Saint with tremendous power.
Yet life felt bland. Systems were put in place to accommodate the new surge in the population of the Dream Realm (and Ravenheart specifically). The dangers of this reality had only grown greater.
It seemed that his dear father had dealt with one of the Gate Guardians, that appeared at the end of the Battle of Black Skull.
The weakest, a Great Tyrant, had fallen to his hand. The Great Titan that had nearly killed his Uncle Madoc was pushed back, but unable to be dealt with fully. Finally there was the elusive Skinwalker.
That Great Terror was on the loose and wreaking havoc.
At any moment, entire caravans could fall to the thing, and they would then return, each a vessel of the monstrosity.
Thus Mordret was kept somewhat busy.
Mirrors were installed throughout every entrance of Ravenheart, and when the mystical tools of the guards found the returning humans to actually be corpses, they would send for him.
As he was now a Saint, dealing with creatures that had anywhere between the strength of a Corrupted Beast or a Great Beast was not too much of an issue. Of course, the ones that did have the strength of creatures of the Great Rank were difficult.
It seemed that the higher Rank the human or creature the Skinwalker inhabited, the more of its dire strength it could exude. For that reason, Masters who had fallen into its clutches were quite deadly. Mordret shuddered to think what would happen if a Saint was taken by the thing.
Still, it had yet to go all out in an attack. Instead, it prodded the defenses of Citadels on all Domains, gathering its strength .
Ravenheart was faring much better than Bastion in dealing with the abomination for the sole reason that their defense relied on Mordret.
Over the past year his Reflections had been nurtured to even greater heights. Three had become Supreme Beasts while 2 became Transcendent Tyrants. Finally, one of them was a Transcendent Titan.
This Reflection was kept in reserve, as it was the only one that had been around since he had killed the Winter Beast, and thus the only one who could Reflect that Corrupted Titan's tyrannical power.
It was a nice ace in his sleeve, the ability to throw out such a creature whenever he wished.
It would be even greater if he could nurture that Reflection's evolution. Reflections were naturally weaker than the original article (unless they lived for at least a decade, which was what his first Reflection – Beastie – had accomplished). However this one had been around for several years, so the fury it could unleash was quite similar to the original Winter Beast.
If it became a Supreme Titan, then he suspected he could take on all the Saints in the world and win – with the exception of Changing Star, perhaps.
He wanted to get the Transcendent Tyrants up to the Class of Titan as well. Even if they couldn't reflect the Winter Beast, they could theoretically reflect good old Gehrman.
Though they likely wouldn't be able to reproduce his Madness, the stores of potent Memories they would have would be enough of a boon to double, if not triple, Mordret's personal power.
With all of that, perhaps he could finally go toe to toe with his dear old dad…maybe.
In truth, it wasn't likely that he could do so, even if all his Reflections became Supreme. A Sovereign with such a Domain as Valors was simply too much of a threat.
If he worked together with Gehrman, maybe he could slay his dad, but that guy was still dead.
A while ago, Mordret had sent one of his "Shards" to scope out the area of the Black Skull Citadel.
Shards were what he had called the manifestation of his Transformation Ability.
It was oddly quite similar to what the Skinwalker did.
He now had a theoretically infinite supply of Vessels. So long as he beat the enemy human or Nightmare Creature in a Soul Duel, he could split his Soul Core into a tiny shard and exist with that creature's Aspect and powers.
The Shards were not as powerful as his Reflections, since they could not grow or think for themselves. Instead, they were all extensions of Mordret himself. It was like adding another limb to his body.
Except, now his body had thousands and thousands of limbs.
It was quite taxing to be in all those places at once, but it allowed him to gain a phenomenal amount of power and protect Ravenheart much better.
The Shards were also expendable, as their death did not cost Mordret much. That was why he felt fine letting one get pulled into the Nightmare Desert to see what type of trap that his father had set for Gehrman.
Admittedly, Anvil had prepared well. Well enough that he would consider Gehrman's odds of escaping fairly low, especially if he came back no longer a Titan.
He had already informed Song of this, and their mood became even more dire.
The only ones who seemed to take the news well were those fellows over at the New Workshop.
Come to think of it, maybe I should stop by their place. They are much better company than Song at the moment.
…
Unlike several places in Ravenheart, New Yharnam did not have designated mirrors for him to teleport through.
So Mordret had to get a bit creative.
This time was easy, as there were some reflective silver embellishments on what looked like wooden ale mug in the place he wanted to visit.
In an instant, he traveled many kilometers, draining his Essence Supply slightly, but not anything that really hurt his Titanic reserves.
"Mother fu…oh it's you," a nasally and scratchy voice turned exhausted as Mordret manifested in the main office overlooking the Citadel.
"Oskar," Mordret nodded at the lanky man in greeting.
The man who was once an Outskirt Rat was now outfitted in the style of "Yharnamites". The fashion of fanciful ancient dress had taken the place by storm, and it had become a part of their strange society and customs.
It appeared that the people who lived here ran with the vision of the homeworld Gehrman described.
The thin haired Oskar did not dress up especially well, just having the white sleeves of his button up rolled up and a dark red vest offering the only semblance of professionalism.
Even so, he radiated a unique aura.
"Your form is less grotesque and more well muscled now that you are a Master, no longer gangly, you are now simply tall. Yet even Ascension could fit that gaunt face and dull hair, it seems."
Oskar leveled a detestable gaze at Mordret.
"Not all of us were born with the genetics of a Prince, 'Mordy'."
The eyes of the Prince of Nothing flashed with a bit of malice.
"First that madman and now you? That insufferable little nick name is quite the slight you know? Now that I am a Saint, I could easily take over this Citadel within a night. I could replace all its people, and turn Gehrman's loyal following into nothing but me. I wonder how long it would take for him to notice the difference?"
Oskar said nothing for a long while. Then, he broke the silence by slurping loudly on his drink.
"If you're gonna be here for a while, sit down. With you standing over me it feels like I'm getting progress reports, and I've had enough of those today."
Mordret smiled. Despite the banter, neither one of them meant anything ill towards the other. Though Mordret was incapable of feeling true favor or friendship, he had something close to that with this man.
A total lack of wanting to kill him.
Such a thing was rare, since the impulse always lingered in the back of Mordret's mind.
He did as the man suggested, taking a seat in the leather-cushioned wooden chair.
"Staying busy then?" Mordret asked.
"You're not? I thought the Queen would have you running all over the place," Oskar muttered.
"She did, and I am. So much of me is preparing, doing plenty of rather tedious things. I like to let my main body do as it pleases so as not to completely lose myself in work."
"Right, I nearly forgot you're even more creepy as a Saint."
"It would be a bit disappointing if I wasn't, don't you think?"
Oskar let out a small chuckle, taking another drink from the large mug.
"Is that the alcoholic beverage made for Masters? I hear that those ones are quite pricey, I'd think you'd be more frugal."
Oskar scoffed.
"We manufacture it, I can have as much as I want…but no, this isn't alcohol. It's a Mango-Pinnaple-Banna Juice."
Mordret blinked, having a hard time processing what the hell that even meant.
"Sounds like a personal assault on the taste buds."
"Oh, it is. I don't know how Gehrman stands all this at once. Just another part of the Madness, I guess."
A silence fell between them.
"You miss him?" Mordret asked, his voice more subdued than normal.
Oskar turned his gaze to the side.
"It's not like he could even come around since he's off being a Prince…I'd like to show him what we've built though, I think he'd be impressed."
Mordret nodded, tilting the upper half of his body to get a view of the sprawling city below.
Somehow, that glass was so clear that it wasn't a refelctive surface, and thus unable to be utlized by Mordret.
It was indeed a marvel. Though it could not reach the level of the Great Citadels, at the rate it was expanding, it might very well reach the size of those great places within a decade or two.
Instead of being laid out in a wide area, New Yharnam had gained immense verticality, so much so that the upper regions that housed entire neighborhoods and communities were rather close to the clouds.
There were other advancements as well.
"What are those things called? The little boxes on wires?" Mordret asked.
"...You mean Trams? Their pretty ancient technology, so it makes sense you don't know them, I guess. I designed this version myself. A few of the engineers with the proper Aspects are able to mass produce the parts needed, so we're building more every day."
The little "tram-cars" had lights circling the outside, and they moved with moderate speed, allowing easy access between all levels of the Citadel. There were already close to a hundred, and they formed and interconnected web of convenient transport.
The night of Yharnam was awash with little lights like these, many coming from gothic lamps. However, a good amount came from the skies above as well.
Mordret let out a whistle, genuinley impressed by the change.
"It's odd, but quite impressive to see the whole sky manipulated, how did one child manage to paint the heavens above this Citadel to fit his image?"
Last time he had visited, only a small portion above the castle had been changed, but now for several kilometers out there was a marvelous cloudy pattern of strange colors.
Pale light crept through the ever present cloud cover. A hue of warm lights basking the Citadel in warmth and a calming atmosphere.
That atmosperhe was not just from the colors, Mordret realized.
"Does the whole thing offer an ambient aura-effect?"
Oskar grinned, it was evident that the sky of New Yharnam was also a point of pride.
"It's rather weak, but yes. My ki– I mean, one of the new Masters put it well. It's like we are surronded by calming inscence wherever we go in the city."
Mordret shook his head.
"I can't understand it, but the fact that a mere Ascended could pull it off is ridiculous. I suppose that is the power of a Sacred Aspect."
It was nothing like Mordret or Nephis's Aspect. Technically, there's were more powerful, but that kid's ability to warp the world was unlike anything he had ever seen.
As a Saint, he wouldnt' be able to go to war against Legacy Clans like Mordret could, but with his ability, he could irrevocably change the world itself, not just the people in it.
"You can't tell, but the sky-art is diveded into several parts. He can't tell us how his Aspect works exactly, but from what we gathered, his Awakened Ability allows him to use any 'surface' as a canvas. His Ascended Ability allows the art to actually affect the world permenantly depending on the quality and Essence he supplies. He' managed to make this much progress only because he spent over several months on it."
Mordret nodded.
"Right, if not for his Flaw, I would very much like to engage in a friendly conversation with him."
Then again, he didn't really have to engage in conversation. What he really wated was a couple of Reflections to stand in front of him, that way he could use the boy's Aspect whenever he desired.
It wasn't destructive, instead seeming totally reliant on utility and support, but the applications of it also seemed genuineley limitless.
A sound akin to a whip cracking suddenly sounded.
Mordret only noticed his approach a few seconds before he was at the door.
"Milo is a good kid, I doubt he would enjoy your pressence," the smooth voice of Caster sounded as he entered the room.
Even amonst the strongest Saints, he was a now a true force. Enough so that he could leave Clan Valor with impunity, as no matter what they threw at him to get revenge for him using them, it would be far to costly.
If that guy so choose, he could easily elimantate Mordret's true body in a one on one fight, even with the [Threaded Cane], [Envious Executioner Gloves], and War God Lineage. He had simply grown that powerful.
"Nice to see you too, Caster," Mordret said. He offered the man a clearly disengenous grin. Even though the speedster had earned a modicum of Mordret's respect for using Valor like he did, the still did not get along swimingly.
The Saint gave him a fittingly shallow glare, as if he did not want to waste any time on Mordret, yet still wanted to make it known his presence was unwanted.
"Do you need anything, if not I'd ask you to leave, we have Workshop business to discuss."
"He's bored," Oskar replied before Mordret could. "And I am done with business for today, so just…leave a memo or something."
Caster's eye twitched as Mordret gave a smug smile.
"I suppose it can wait until tomorrow morning." Caster turned to leave, but Mordret spoke before he disapered.
"Hey now, you just finisehed work as well, why don't all of us go down to a bar and have a drink for old times sake?"
Caster paused and looked over his shoulder.
"You just want some vistor from Valor to see you to cause a panic. Thanks, but no thanks."
With that, he was gone.
Not just out the door, but out of the castle.
He really didn't have to use his Aspect to leave like that, it was solely to tick off Mordret, he was certain.
"That guy…is still so unpleasent," Mordret sighed.
"Yeah, he's an acqcuired taste, for sure. At least he's real though, not giving out fake smiles and half truths every time he opens his mouth."
"Was that insult for me?"
"I certainly didn't mean for it to be. If you think it applies though, then by all means, be upset."
Mordret chuckled.
Oskar stood and gave a stretch. Despite being Ascended, multiple pops were heard.
"Before you threatan murder again, let me treat you to some actual drinks. Even if you are spread out amonst a bunch of Vessles, I got a new concoction that should give you a solid buzz. We're drinking in my cellar though, I don't want to deal with those Valor asshats again."
"They are contemptable, aren't they? I suppose I will allow it this time."
As they went toward the door though, there was suddenly a profound change in the air.
Rippling throughout the entire Citadel, there was a great shift in power as something appeared.
Both Oskar and Mordret's hearts quickened as they sensed a familiar aura radiate from a certain enclosed room in New Yharnam's Castle.
However, it was also joined by two other auras, both rather deadly in and of themselves.
"Finally he's–wait who is that with him. I don't recognize this specific brand of fearing for my life," Oskar spoke fast and excited. An overwhelming amount of emotions was running through him. At the same time, the pressence of the other Saints that just warped here from the Dream Realm shook him.
Mordret's grin strained a bit.
"One of them is a Shadow Creature, I suppose he's been a bit busy because I haven't felt anything quite like it. The other…well it seems I am about to be chewed out for not working. He appears to have brought his wife."