Shadow Slave

Hearing his question, the old woman smiled.

"This close to Weave? Huh... I hope it's a Bigmaw. Their meat is very tender."

Before they could ask what a Bigmaw was, she grunted and threw the dead abomination, as well as the stone weights, over the side of the ketch. As the bundle of rope swiftly unfolded, Ananke swiftly tied its end to a wooden post at the stern of the ketch with a sophisticated knot.

Soon, the bleeding carcass of the Nightmare Creature was being dragged a fair distance behind the boat, slowly sinking into the Great River. The old woman took up her harpoon again, this time gripping it with some tension. Her weathered face, however, was calm.

After waiting for a few minutes, she sighed.

"Usually, it would be an entire fishing party challenging the depths. But... I am the only one left, so..."

Ananke remained silent for a moment, and then smiled.

"Do not worry, my Lord and Lady. My harpoon has yet to miss. The fishes I catch never managed to swallow me up, either, and they won't today."

Sunny and Nephis silently looked at each other, then summoned their weapons.

However, there was no need.

When something massive finally rose from the depths, attracted by the scent of blood and the fragrance of soul essence, Ananke swiftly readied her harpoon, gazed at the water, and sent it flying with one decisive motion.

...Soon, they were roasting the meat of a Corrupted Monster over a bronze brazier. The "fish" the old woman had caught turned out to be a giant shark-like creature whose body was covered in tough bone armor. However, the harpoon had slid past the bone plates in the only spot where it was possible - above the creature's hidden gills.

its the weak spot, the harpoon killed the Bigmaw in one blow. The monster was then dressed down, its succulent meat filling the

she seasoned the roasting meat with salt, the

have gone to waste. There are very few building materials to be found in the vast waters of the Great River, so maintaining a city is not an easy task. We River People have learned

meat on the

frugal now, though. I am already thankful to the River for

hesitated for a few moments, then

depths, after all. This time, it was a Corrupted Monster. Next time, it

still concentrating on preparing a

course... it is very dangerous. Many fishermen die. Remember, though, that we were much stronger before. There were elders leading us, as well. The truly harrowing creatures very rarely come down the river, too... when they did, we usually learned in

...Until it didn't.

human city left in the Tomb of Ariel - Fallen Grace. How were they supposed to turn the tide of history

juicy piece of meat on

turned sturdy and white

"My Lord! Please, enjoy."

be in a

the smiling old woman, Sunny

***

at the start, but as the ketch drew closer, the shape of a distant

human-made structure that Sunny and Nephis had seen in the Nightmare. Looking at it filled their hearts with emotions... Nephis, especially, looked at the lighthouse with a distant expression. Its radiance reflected in her eyes, illuminating their

and turned to Ananke, who

"Have we reached Weave?"

for a few

boundary of