Shadow Slave

Sunny staggered back, stunned by the sudden appearance of Saint Tyris. A tense, dangerous silence settled over the island after she spoke, with only the wailing of the wind breaking it.

Snow danced in the air, slowly settling onto the cold ground.

His heart was beating like a caged animal.

'Where did she come from… what is going on, damn it?'

Cormac scowled and looked at the slender woman with a dark expression on his stern, weathered face. The Saint did not seem amused by the sudden appearance of the leader of the White Feather clan.

"Sky Tide… stay out of this."

Saint Tyris didn't move, still shielding Sunny and Cassie with her slender body. The wind picked up, and the clouds seemed to become heavier, as if expressing her suppressed emotions.

…Only, as Sunny realized, they weren't suppressed at all. Sky Tide just didn't show them on her face. Instead, the world itself did it for her.

"I think not."

Cormac winced, resentful sparks appearing in his eyes.

"You don't know what you are interfering with, Tyris. Get out of my way. This is not your business."

She shifted slightly, the howling of wind growing louder. The violet flowers bent, pressed down to the ground.

"...This is my land. These Awakened are of my Citadel. Anything that happens here, and to them, is my business."

The other Saint sighed, then took a step forward.

"The entire garrison of the Night Temple was wiped out. These two are the only witnesses. Are sure that you want to make their fate your burden?"

Sky Tide frowned, then spoke, her voice even:

"If that is true, we can question them together, back in the Sanctuary."

Cormac smiled darkly, then shook his head.

"I'm afraid that won't be convenient. You might not know my task here, Tyris, but you know who gave it to me. Obstructing me in this matter is the same as obstructing the will of Valor… you wouldn't want to do that, would you?"

A corner of Sky Tide's mouth suddenly twisted upward. She stared at the fearsome Saint, and said, a hint of mocking in her voice:

"What is he going to do? How is he going to punish me? Exile my clan to a remote frontier region, maybe? Oh… wait…"

She took a step forward, as well, her tone changing, becoming darker and heavier. The clouds swallowed the sun, submerging the world into shadows.

looked the other way and allowed your odious scheme to happen. I have regretted it ever

he spoke the last words, a deafening thunderclap resounded, rolling across the Chained Isles like a herald

of contempt appeared in the depths of his cold, dangerous eyes. The Saint moved his shoulders, as if stretching his

Tyris. Warn me? What gives you the courage to warn… me? You say that I have forgotten, but it is you who doesn't seem to remember. Who I am. What

killing intent growing

this is a negotiation? You will stand down, or I will put you down. Either way, the result will be

a moment, then looked over her shoulder at Sunny and Cassie. Her gaze

the two of you to

back, his mouth suddenly dry.

"But… but what about…"

already looking at Cormac, who was approaching with steady steps. Her hair danced in

You won't survive the fury

They dashed away from the two Saints, heading for the distant edge of the island. He didn't know what a fight between Transcendents would look like, but had no doubt that

the world has gone completely

with a thunderous roar behind them, and Sunny was thrown into the air. A violent shockwave passed through his

back to his feet, then helped Cassie do the same and continued to run. Shards of stone

shadows

her feathers white, her sharp beak and devastating talons forged out of lustrous, polished steel. Her enormous wings were wreathed in thunderclouds, and bolts of lightning danced around her body like

them like iron chains. The head of the creature was crowned with twisting horns, and in his maw, countless sharp

into the skies, soon disappearing in the veil of storm clouds. A terrifying roar rolled across the island, and then, another shockwave hit, tearing

suddenly streamed from above, falling on the

'Gods… oh, gods…'

tremor threw them to the ground. The hurricane wind threw snow and sharp bits of ice into their faces, and their ears were ringing from the thunderous cacophony of the titanic battle happening somewhere above

island, ready to jump onto the chain, when there was

two shadows fell down from the skies, so fast that Sunny

the center of the island with such force that its surface swayed like water. The shockwave of the impact was so fierce that it

spreading to

pieces of stone breaking off and flying into the darkness as more and

All he could sense was that they were sent rolling down once again, this

down, down, down. Down into the endless darkness of the Sky

Cassie and hold her close, making sure

the abyss

Temple cracked, then disintegrated into a rain of black stones. The seven bells rang mournfully as

the anchors of the Chained Isles shot toward the Hollow Mountains, colliding with their slopes with enough force to make the ancient slope shatter

were still closed, so he didn't see what hid

chaos, the two Saint continued their harrowing

and fell, happy to be getting further and further away from that clash with

of

well as the last remnants of

complete silence and solitude, with nothing threatening their