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.

I am a vassal of the King… not his servant. Six years ago, I looked the other way and allowed your odious scheme to happen. I have regretted it

rolling across the Chained Isles

depths of his cold, dangerous eyes. The Saint moved his shoulders, as if stretching his muscles, and

courage to warn… me? You say that I have forgotten, but it is

killing intent growing thicker and more

idea that this is a negotiation? You will stand down, or I

shoulder at Sunny and Cassie. Her

the two of you

suddenly dry. He

"But… but what about…"

steady steps. Her hair

the fury of

for the distant edge of the island. He didn't know what a fight between Transcendents would

world has gone completely

was thrown into the air. A violent shockwave passed through his body, causing a short scream to escape from his

to rise back to his feet, then helped Cassie do the same and

vast shadows rose into

and devastating talons forged out of lustrous, polished steel. Her enormous wings were wreathed in thunderclouds, and bolts of lightning

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

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

suddenly streamed from above, falling

'Gods… oh, gods…'

and Cassie could only run. From time to time, a violent 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

the island, ready to jump onto the

two shadows fell down from the skies, so fast

impact was so fierce that it instantly obliterated

to both ends of the isle, cutting

stone breaking off and flying into the darkness as more and more cracks appeared, and the tension of the

the full scope of the disaster. All he could sense was that they were sent rolling down once again, this time even more violently

and Sunny found himself falling down, down, down. Down

could do was grab Cassie and hold her

plummeted into the abyss as all

then disintegrated into a rain of black stones. The

Isles shot toward the Hollow Mountains, colliding with their slopes with enough

closed, so he didn't see what hid

in all this chaos, the two Saint continued their harrowing

be getting further and further away from that clash with

the sounds of the fighting disappeared

signs of destruction disappeared, too, as well as the last remnants

they were falling through absolute darkness in complete