The draining continued.
Moment by moment.
My genuine emotions fading.
Being replaced with artificial loyalty.
To hierarchy.
To my role.
To Luna's perfect order.
I could feel myself disappearing.
Haven fading.
Omega Servant growing stronger.
Soon there would be nothing left.
Just the mask.
Just the role.
Just perfect obedience.
Astro stood over me.
High Judge required to oversee Omega Servant.
But through the weakening red thread, I felt his desperation.
His refusal to accept this.
His determination to fight.
"I need you to trust me." His voice was quiet. Meant only for me. "I'm going to try something. It's dangerous. Might draw enforcers. Might trigger Luna's wrath. But we're running out of time."
What are you going to do?
"Try to disable your mask. Break the draining mechanism. Free you from the replacement."
That's impossible. The masks are fused. Part of us.
