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.

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

he spoke the last words, a deafening thunderclap resounded, rolling

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

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 I am.

his killing intent growing thicker

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

looked over her shoulder at

two of you

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

"But… but what about…"

steady steps. Her hair danced in

the fury

dashed away from the two Saints, heading for the distant edge of the island. He didn't know

world has

roar behind them, and Sunny was thrown into the air. A violent

away. Sunny struggled to rise back to his feet, then helped Cassie do the same and continued

shadows rose into the

sharp beak and devastating talons forged out of lustrous, polished steel. Her enormous wings were

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,

A terrifying roar rolled across the island, and then, another shockwave

streamed from above, falling on

'Gods… oh, gods…'

hurricane wind threw snow and sharp bits of ice into

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

skies, so fast that Sunny couldn't

the 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

itself split open, a wide crack spreading to both ends of the isle, cutting it

then crumbled, large pieces of stone breaking off and flying into the darkness as more and more cracks appeared, and the tension of the heavenly chains tore

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

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

was grab Cassie and hold

the abyss as all

a rain of black stones. The

Hollow Mountains, colliding with their slopes with enough force to make the ancient slope shatter and create a momentary hole

for Sunny, his eyes were still closed, so he didn't see what

this chaos, the two Saint continued their harrowing

Cassie tightly and fell, happy to be getting further and further

sounds of

signs of destruction disappeared, too, as well

absolute darkness in complete silence and solitude, with nothing threatening their