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.

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

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

the depths of his cold,

me? 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. And what

his killing intent growing thicker and

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

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

the two of

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

the

hesitated for a split second, then grabbed Cassie and ran. They dashed away from the two Saints, heading for the distant edge of the island. He didn't know what a fight between Transcendents would look like, but had no doubt that mere mortals like the two of them had no place in the middle of

the world has gone completely

the air. A violent shockwave passed through his body,

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 the snowfall was already

shadows rose

forged out of lustrous, polished steel. Her enormous wings were

of the creature was crowned with twisting horns, and in his maw, countless sharp fangs glowed darkly, illuminated by immolating red flame

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

falling on the snow

'Gods… oh, gods…'

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 cacophony of the titanic battle happening

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

two shadows fell down from the skies, so fast that

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

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

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

the disaster. All he could sense was that they were sent rolling down once again, this time even more violently than

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

could do was grab Cassie and hold

and weak, they plummeted into the abyss as all around them, devastation

of black stones. The seven bells

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

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

somewhere in all this chaos, the two Saint continued their

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

a while, the sounds of the

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

absolute darkness in complete silence and solitude, with