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.

did not know what enchantments Ananke's weapon possessed, but after striking the abomination in its the weak spot, the harpoon killed the Bigmaw in one blow. The monster was then dressed down, its succulent meat

roasting meat with salt,

Skin, scales, bones, swim bladder, fangs... nothing would have gone to waste. There are very few building materials to be found in the

long strip of meat on the

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

a few moments, then

come from the depths, after all. This time, it was a Corrupted Monster. Next time, it could be a Great one,

nodded, still concentrating on preparing a meal for

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 advance, and the whole city assembled to battle them. That is how Weave

...Until it didn't.

thinking about the dying civilization of the Great River. There was presumably only one human city left in the Tomb

were interrupted by Ananke, who placed a juicy piece of meat on a plate and offered it

teeth had turned sturdy

"My Lord! Please, enjoy."

to be

the smiling old woman,

***

but as the ketch drew closer, the shape of

had seen in the Nightmare. Looking at it filled their hearts with emotions... Nephis, especially, looked at the lighthouse with a

to Ananke, who was still holding the

"Have we reached Weave?"

for a

boundary of