Shadow Slave

There had been a time when Cronos possessed a youthful body and an even younger soul. His soul was still young, all things considered, but his body had turned decrepit and frail. It was full of aches, felt stiff in the mornings, and had to be handled with care.

Still, there were pleasant things about being old, as well. Cronos had burned with all kinds of hopes and desires when he was young, but now that he was in his twilight years, life was calm and peaceful. Or rather, his feelings about life were calm and peaceful... or was it one and the same? Since one thing he didn't possess was the actual wisdom of old age, it was hard to say.

One thing was for certain - not having to worry about the future, he had much more time to enjoy the trivial delights of life. Like the warmth of his cot, the companionship of his friends and neighbors, or the beauty of the world.

Since Cronos did not sleep much, old as his body was, he had developed the habit of walking to the piers at the break of night, to watch the suns rise from the water. Today, just like always, he left his home carrying a lantern and walked to the edges of the city. Despite the fact that the streets were still dark, there were many early risers just like him out and about. Some greeted him with words, some with smiles.

Their faces were just as wrinkly as his, and their bodies were just as stiff as his. That also made being old feel less lonely.

Eventually, Cronos crossed a few rope bridges and reached the piers. Several people were already there, waiting in the darkness. Some of them he knew from his days in the House of Youth, some he had met after. Joining them, he extinguished the lantern, sat down, and looked at the water.

They chatted as the night lived its last minutes.

Shrouded in darkness, the Great River glowed with a beautiful red radiance. Then, slowly, its light grew brighter. The chatter quieted down as the old men and women enjoyed the view of the flowing water.

Somewhere far away, the black veil covering the sky rippled. Hints of lilac and azure were mixed into its dark expanse. The River seemed to ignite, fiery colors spreading across its surface. Then, finally, the suns rose from the depths, painting the world in a million shades of scarlet. Reflected in the water, their light was like a spreading flame.

Cronos sighed lightly.

"It's a new day."

A cool breeze caressed their faces, and the world was at peace... or maybe it just seemed to be at peace. Of course, it was actually at war - but they did not have to worry about that today. Otherwise, the Lady would have already warned the warriors of the city to prepare for battle.

for a while, not in a hurry to leave. There was gossip to share and idle conversations to be had. As the youngest of the bunch, Cronos had not grown tired of hearing the same old stories over and over again yet, so he received a lot of

and laughed,

a note of confusion entered

old woman who had left the House of Youth a few years before the rest

black

moving in the direction of Fallen

Cronos trembled slightly.

time yet for the fishermen to return.

vessel as well. The conversation died down, and all of them stared into

Then, their expressions changed.

for them to discern a few details... its size, the color of its

suddenly gripped with

"It's... it's not..."

indescribably menacing as it emerged from the crimson glow of dusk. Its hull was battered and covered in

was unfamiliar. It was unmistakably alien to their city and its fleet of fishing boats, all

Fallen Grace. They had received guests in the past, when his parents were young, but that time had long

the last human city on

"D-Defiled!"

silence,

traversing the Great River on ships, but they were also sinister and unpredictable. The ominous ship

Lady not warned them of an approaching attack? Why was

Icy dread grasped Cronos.

the Lady succumbed? No,