Shadow Slave

Sunny and Nephis had learned a few things about navigating the endlessly flowing waters of the Great River, but they were still unsure what distance separated each of the Seven Houses from each other. Nevertheless, they quickly understood that something was wrong by looking at Ananke's face.

The young priestess was almost always either calm or smiling. At some point, however, a deep frown twisted her soft adolescent face, and a dark shadow was cast onto her vibrant azure eyes.

Sunny was the first to notice. He studied the teenage girl in front of them, then asked:

"What's wrong?"

Ananke lingered for a few moments.

"We should have reached the Third House by now, my Lord."

There were seven artificial islands where the children of Weave spent their childhood, and although the swift ketch was supposed to reach the fifth one, they were actually numbered in reverse order - starting with the House of Birth far downstream and ending with the House of Youth. So, the Third House would have been the fifth they saw. However...

It seemed to have disappeared.

The young priestess studied the vast expanse of the Great River, then mumbled with uncertainty:

"I guess... the mechanisms of the island could have broken down, sending it adrift. I haven't visited here in a long while. Still, the deterioration shouldn't have reached that stage already..."

Sunny and Nephis exchanged glances. Rising to her feet, Nephis looked north.

"Could it have been destroyed by an abomination?"

Ananke did not answer for a while. Eventually, she sighed.

"It's unlikely, but not impossible. Maybe that is what happened, indeed."

downstream, but the mood of its three passengers had changed. Not only was there a threat of a powerful Nightmare Creature stalking the waters somewhere

'Damnation...'

particularly care about the remaining two of the Seven Houses, but he was concerned about the lower House of Parting - the point where Ananke was supposed to say

she needed another vessel in order to return to Weave. There were supposed to be other boats moored at the House of Parting, but if the island had been destroyed... they

'It's not too bad...'

Even if it was... Sunny could assume the form of the river serpent again, continuing to travel downstream without the ketch. With the Crown of Twilight, he would be able to sustain that

not long enough to reach Fallen Grace. There were less powerful abominations in the past, though... perhaps he and Nephis would

to do for now. First, they needed to reach the House of Parting and

Great River, suffusing it with a soft glow, when Sunny suddenly stirred and peered

moments later, he pointed forward

"I see something. There."

steering oar,

water. It was massive and strangely shaped, rising above the

summoned their weapons. Ananke

weren't

the ominous shape, they saw it

one of its sides, overgrown by seaweed and barnacles. It took

hanging high in the air. Finally, they went around the edge of the drowning island and saw the side of it

of rubble. The gardens had been destroyed, and the tidy streets had turned into a

was what remained of the Third

of violent devastation, Sunny felt a cold shiver run down his

could have destroyed it so

frenzied titan had been let loose on

of her sword tighter. Her face was motionless, but white sparks were dancing

"An abomination?"

studying the ruins with a dark expression. Eventually,