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 Sky Tide of the White Feather clan, not Valor. 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

words, a deafening thunderclap resounded, rolling across the Chained Isles like a herald of

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

forgotten, but it

growing thicker

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

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

for the two

a step back, his mouth suddenly dry. He opened it, trying

"But… but what about…"

steady steps. Her hair danced in the wind like

won't survive the fury of

away from the two Saints, heading for the distant edge of the island. He didn't know what a fight between Transcendents

world has

a thunderous roar behind them, and Sunny was thrown into the air. A violent shockwave passed through his body, causing a short scream to escape from

felt it shifting, as if a powerful earthquake was happening mere meters away. Sunny struggled to rise back to his feet, then helped Cassie do the same and

shadows rose into the

bird of prey, 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

abyss, with mighty muscles rolling under them like iron chains. The head of the creature was crowned with twisting horns, and in his maw, countless sharp fangs glowed darkly, illuminated by immolating red flame burning in the depths of the beast's adamantine

storm clouds. A terrifying roar rolled across the island, and then, another shockwave hit, tearing a hole in

above, falling on the snow like

'Gods… oh, gods…'

ground. The hurricane wind threw snow and sharp bits of ice into their

island, ready to jump onto the chain, when there was a sudden lull in

the skies, so fast that Sunny couldn't even

that it instantly obliterated

crack spreading to both ends of the isle, cutting

Northern Island shuddered… and then crumbled, large pieces of stone breaking off and flying into the darkness as more and more cracks appeared, and the tension of the

were sent rolling down once again, this time even more violently than before. Only this time, instead of soil or stone, what

down, down, down. Down into

was grab Cassie and hold her close, making sure that they weren't

they plummeted into the abyss as all around them,

of black stones. The seven bells rang mournfully as they

their slopes

his eyes were still closed,

in all this chaos, the two Saint

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

while, the sounds of

of destruction disappeared, too, as well as

darkness in complete silence and solitude,