Shadow Slave

Master Roan grew silent for a few moments, then smiled after noticing Sunny's troubled expression:

"The heavenly chains near the Sanctuary are all fine, though. So you have nothing to worry about."

'That's not what I am worried about…'

Sunny had already received a piece of valuable information that could help him find the mysterious treasure. But he wanted to know more…

Before he could ask another question, however, a sudden shadow shrouded the pavilion, the stone chateau, and the expanse of weathered stone surrounding it — as though a cloud moved across the sun, hiding it.

The sleeping griffin stirred and raised its head, its vertical pupils narrowing.

Just a moment later, the shadow disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. Simultaneously, a strange sound reached Sunny's ears — it was as though a thousand wings rustled as they cut the air.

Then, a woman was suddenly standing at the edge of the stone ring, her silhouette outlined against the rising sun by a bright halo.

It seemed as though she had always been there, but Sunny could swear that there was no one near them just a second ago.

'Oh…'

The woman was tall and slender, her posture straight like an arrow. She was wearing a light steel armor, its pauldrons and greaves decorated with white feathers. Her long blond hair was fluttering in the wind like a cascade of pale gold.

When she turned around, Sunny saw two piercing amber eyes staring at him, and shivered. Her face was cold and stunningly beautiful, more akin to that of a goddess than of a human being.

…The woman's pupils were narrow and vertical, exactly like those of the mighty griffin.

The ruler of the Sanctuary had returned home.

'Crap!'

With a shudder, Sunny forced himself to look away and hurriedly bowed.

This was his second time meeting Tyris of the White Feather clan, also known by her True Name, Sky Tide… one of the few Saints of the human race, the demigod in charge of the Chained Island.

Just by virtue of existing, the Saint exerted a strange influence on everything that surrounded her. It was not oppressive, like the dreadful aura of Gunlaug's golden armor, just… different. As if the world itself was reacting to her. The blades of grass seemed to bent slightly toward her, the winds sang subtly lower as she approached, and even sunlight appeared to become a bit brighter in her presence.

Roan shifted and rose from

"Good morning, sunshine!"

Sunny flinched.

'Uh… what?'

seconds to realize that the fearless griffin rider

'Sunshine… sunshine?!'

he addressed a

she is his wife, after

the idea of addressing a

wide smile on Roan's face. Saint Tyris herself, however, was as

"Good morning, Ro."

was cold and heavy, like the howl of an approaching

looked at Sunny with a silent

they saw the

wow... wait, what

on

demon he encountered on the Iron Hand Island. It was a Chain

Tyris lingered for a few moments, then

on the Isles is far away from the Sanctuary, connecting Shipwreck Island

away, then sighed

connected, after all. After the Twisted Rock falls, its demise will echo through the entire region. Many islands will shift, causing changes to the severity of the Crushing on others. The migrations patterns of the Nightmare Creatures

should probably

his throat, then

honor to meet you again, Lady Tyris. I… uh… shall take my leave,

Tide nodded

for informing us of your

nodded, then rose from his seat and

was almost out of the pavilion, however, the cold voice of the Saint stopped

"Wait."

and

can I help

for a few moments, then

from the Forgotten Shore,

Sunny nodded.