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.

forgotten, Cormac… I am 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 happen. I have regretted it ever since. This is my land, my isles. You are only a

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

appeared in the depths of his cold,

forgotten, but it is

his killing intent growing

stand down, or

over her shoulder

two of

dry. He opened it, trying to force out

"But… but what about…"

who was approaching with steady steps. Her hair danced

the

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

the world has gone

Sunny was thrown into the air. A violent shockwave passed through

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

two vast shadows rose into

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

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

flew into the skies, soon disappearing in the veil of storm clouds. A terrifying roar rolled across the island, and then,

blood suddenly streamed from above, falling

'Gods… oh, gods…'

run. From time to 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 cacophony of the titanic battle happening

onto the chain, when there was a sudden lull

shadows fell down from the skies, so fast that Sunny

fierce that it instantly obliterated the field of flowers, blew away the top layers of the soil, and made the stronghold on the northern

ground itself split open, a wide crack spreading to

Northern Island shuddered… and then crumbled, large pieces of stone breaking off and flying into the darkness

was that they were sent rolling down once again, this time even more violently than before. Only this time, instead

down, down. Down into

grab Cassie and hold her close, making

they plummeted into the abyss as all around them, devastation

of black stones. The seven bells rang mournfully as they disappeared into

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

the two Saint

be getting further and further away

a while, the sounds of the fighting disappeared

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

through absolute darkness in complete silence and solitude, with nothing