Shadow Slave

Eventually, Nephis was done with the pile of soul shards. Sunny stored a few of them inside the Covetous Coffer, then dismissed the alloy chest and rose, looking around the flooded hall. Although the structure sustained some damage during the battle, it had not collapsed yet. He did not know how much longer the lost temple would last, though. The sight of numerous cracks covering the distant ceiling did not fill him with confidence.

'...It's not the end of the world.'

Sunny had to remind himself that even if the temple collapsed, the three of them would be just fine. They were Masters, not mundane people - it was just hard to remember the difference, sometimes. No one would be able to remain composed when there were countless tons of stone and cold water ready to fall on their heads.

"Shall we go?"

Nephis had finished absorbing the soul shards, and Fiend had finished stuffing his face with what remained of the Drowned. They had rested enough, as well... nothing was preventing them from exploring deeper into the temple.

Rising to her feet, Cassie nodded.

"Yeah. Let's go."

Nephis did a few stretches and brandished her sword in a flowing series of strikes, familiarizing herself with the subtle change of her physical power. Then, she followed the two of them to the far end of the flooded hall.

"What are we searching for, exactly?"

Cassie was looking at the cracked wall behind the dais, her expression glum. After a few moments of silence, she responded in a distant tone:

"This temple used to be dedicated to knowledge. The three sybils who ruled Fallen Grace each had different responsibilities, and this one, as the senior, was the guardian of truths. She oversaw a vast library where everything the sybils knew about the world was recorded. Many faithful priests and priestesses were responsible for keeping and expanding the library, as well."

The blind girl sighed.

"...Of course, most of that knowledge was lost when the sybil succumbed to the Defilement, and the rest had to have slowly deteriorated after her imprisonment. The recent water damage probably obliterated most of what was left. Still, there is a chance that we'll find hints of what to expect on our journey."

Finally, Cassie noticed a small door that was obscured by darkness, most of the narrow corridor it led to submerged underwater. Taking a step in that direction, she said:

what I was able to learn, these maps

or rather, of both the human settlements and the hazardous environments - was constantly shifting. Human cities migrated, while dangerous

had been in the past

'Great...'

but since the battle was behind them, and he was being spoiled by the Crown of Twilight, he simply commanded the water to part instead of jumping into its

much of it, but a few seconds later, the flooded corridor was flooded no more. The three of them descended from the dais and entered through the small door, venturing into the

couldn't help but feel a bit disturbed. There were much more signs of the sybil's rampage here, close to the inner

in the end. A grim expression settled on her exquisite face. The bright glimmer

worried that they should have given the blind girl more

end, Sunny hurried his steps to catch up to her and

"Are you alright?"

few

sure. Why

frightening marks left on the wall by the fury of the imprisoned

here alive. The people of Fallen Grace... they thought that they were showing mercy by not killing her. Or reverence and devotion,

sighed and shook her

been

to answer. It was just a curious question to him - but to Cassie, who had lived an entire year playing the role of a

Eventually, he shrugged:

"I'd rather die, yes."

The blind girl smiled.

just goes to show... that good intentions often produce the most cruel

moment, then suddenly added in

I disagree. I'd rather live, no

surprise,

"Why?"