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

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

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

arrogance is so tiresome, Tyris. Warn me? What gives you the courage to warn… me? You say that I have forgotten,

forward, his killing intent growing thicker and more suffocating, almost

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

over her shoulder at Sunny and Cassie. Her gaze

the two of you to

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

"But… but what about…"

was approaching with steady steps. Her hair danced in

won't survive the fury of this

He didn't know what a fight between Transcendents would look like, but had no doubt that mere mortals like the

world has gone

something collided with a thunderous roar behind them, and Sunny was thrown into the

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.

shadows

polished steel. Her

abyss, with mighty muscles rolling under them like iron chains. The head of the creature was crowned with

terrifying roar rolled across the island,

from above, falling on the

'Gods… oh, gods…'

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

of the island, ready to jump onto the chain, when there was

from the skies, so

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

split open, a wide crack spreading to both ends

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

of the disaster. All he could sense was that they were sent rolling down once again, this time even more violently than before. Only this time, instead of soil or stone, what they found

down, down. Down into

he could do was grab Cassie and hold her close, making sure that

they plummeted into the abyss as all around them, devastation

stones.

that served as one of the anchors of the Chained Isles shot toward the Hollow Mountains, colliding with their slopes with enough force to make the ancient slope shatter and create a momentary hole in the veil of flowing

still closed, so he didn't see what hid

chaos, the two Saint

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

the sounds of the fighting disappeared

signs of destruction disappeared, too, as well as the

darkness in complete silence and solitude, with