Decretum sat on his throne, observing Mordred fight the Dracolich. "I have warned the Orphan that he should just aid the Dragon." Seeing the Orphan plead with him while still not stopping his assault, he waited a moment longer until he realized the Orphan kept fighting. He had had enough.
He touched the portal, expanded it, and grabbed the string connecting his shadows to Mordred. Pulling it until it broke, causing the Shadows to lose their link, they began attacking one another. This was the first warning. With the Orphan continuing his assault, Decretum had made his choice.
As he extended his hand to draw the Orphan toward his realm, he quickly dispersed, enraged that the Orphan wasn't following orders. Shouting at him, Decretum reminded him who he was and what he should be, and he expressed his disappointment. "Let's see if this Orphan gets up and dares to muster enough strength for me to kill him outright," Decretum said to himself as he slowly pulled his sword from the shadows where it remained hidden, waiting for their response, while at the same time showing his heart at the Orphan as a example of how easy he can crush him.
"I... See... They have certainly made me weak, but they have also given me so much that I have enjoyed that weakness... Yet I know I am nothing without my God..." He watched the Orphan briefly raise his head, trying to look at his own heart as he responded to his question against him. "I- I will do as you say, but I beg you... I truly, truly beg you, my Lord, out of mercy for this foolish soldier. Being alive means having emotions... Emotions mean weakness... Weakness means betrayal... I beg you... I plead with you to remove my 'heart'. I know what must be done, but I do not want the emotions that come with it. I beg you, please take it away... Turn me into a true puppet like my masters intended... Please..." He noticed the orphan bowing his head again after speaking, sensing the despair in his voice as he accepted his fate, fully aware he could not escape him.
Seeing the Orphan broken, he was surprised to watch as the Orphan pleaded for forgiveness for his mistakes. He had expected him to stand up and fight, ready to beat him to a pulp and make him watch how easily he could kill his so-called 'friends' during that time. However, it seemed the Orphan had made his decision. His grip loosened on his sword, reminding him of his own youth. The Orphan reflected the struggles he faced when he became Decretum. Laughing in disbelief, he looked at his old armor, past pride, and the good memories now left in the dust. Since the Orphan wished to prove himself, he quickly ordered his shadows to retrieve pieces of his old armor, which flew around him.
Other shadows began stripping his old armor apart while new pieces flew toward him, refitting each component to his body. Decretum felt a surge of happiness seeing his old armor being used. Perhaps this Orphan was the one he had been waiting for, the one he could teach to lead and mold into a great general to command his army one day.
But for now, as he pointed at the Orphan, he needed to prove himself worthy. "Do not resist, Orphan, for today you are now my Emenator." As he spoke, the armor began to meld into him. "Show your allegiance to the Dragon and kill your so-called 'friends.' Stand up, Orphan. DO NOT FAIL ME," Decretum commanded as he opened a portal. He needed Malgrokis, a tool for the upcoming war. With Malgrokis, he could utilize the Dragon to win battles and end the war quickly.
