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.

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

rolling across the Chained Isles like a herald of

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

courage to warn… me? You say that I have forgotten, but it is you who doesn't seem

growing thicker

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

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

for the two of you

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

"But… but what about…"

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

won't survive the

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

the world has gone completely

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

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 continued to run. Shards of stone flew past them like bullets, and

them, two vast shadows rose into the

forged out of lustrous, polished steel. Her enormous wings were wreathed in thunderclouds, and bolts of lightning danced around her

ferocious wyvern, his black scales as dark as the 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

the veil of storm clouds. A terrifying roar

falling on the snow like vermilion

'Gods… oh, gods…'

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

to jump onto the

fell down from the skies, so fast

center of the island with such force that its surface swayed like water. The shockwave of the impact was so fierce that it instantly obliterated the field of flowers, blew away the top layers of the soil,

split open, a wide crack spreading to both

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

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

and Sunny found himself falling down, down, down.

do was grab Cassie and hold

the abyss as

a rain of black stones. The

toward the Hollow Mountains, colliding with their slopes with enough

were still closed, so he didn't

all this chaos, the

getting further and further away from that clash

of the fighting disappeared

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

darkness in complete silence and solitude, with nothing