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.

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 ever since. This is my land, my isles. You are only a guest here. I warn you… do not test

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

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

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

stepped forward, his killing intent growing

down, or I will put you

then looked over her shoulder at Sunny and Cassie. Her gaze was calm and

time for the two of you

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

"But… but what about…"

who was approaching with steady steps. Her hair danced in the wind like a stream of pale

You won't survive the fury

of the island. He didn't know what

has gone completely

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

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 the snowfall was already turning into a

them, two vast shadows

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

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

Cormac flew 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 hole in

falling on the snow

'Gods… oh, gods…'

violent tremor threw them to the ground. The hurricane wind threw snow and sharp

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

shadows fell down from the skies, so fast that Sunny couldn't even

Saints collided against 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 away the top layers of the soil, and made

split open, a wide crack spreading to both ends

into the darkness as more and more cracks appeared, and the tension of the heavenly chains tore the

course, could not appreciate the full scope of the disaster. All he could sense was that they were sent rolling down once

ground disappeared, and Sunny found himself falling down, down, down. Down into the endless darkness of the Sky

do was grab Cassie and hold her close, making sure

into the abyss as

Temple cracked, then disintegrated into a rain of black stones. The seven

shot toward the Hollow Mountains, colliding with their slopes with enough force to

his eyes were still closed, so

in all this chaos, the two Saint

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

sounds of the fighting disappeared far

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

falling through absolute darkness in complete silence