Shadow Slave

Sunny was in his quarters, going over the plan for altering the Transcendent charm. Outside, Fallen Grace was bathed in the beautiful glow of the iridescent water. The short night had descended on the world, shrouding the sky in absolute darkness.

In that dark hour, Cassie was walking along the corridors of the temple — which wasn't that strange, in and of itself, if not for the fact that she was alone. Usually, the two deaf guards would be following behind her, but they were nowhere to be seen.

The only thing accompanying the blind girl was the shadow Sunny had sent to keep an eye on her.

Back in his quarters, he straightened and frowned, distracted from envisioning the complicated tapestry of the charm's spellweave.

«What is she up to?»

Cassie had not given him any reason to feel worried in these past two months... honestly, monitoring her movements was an afterthought by now. Sunny had certainly hoped that it would remain that way.

Feeling a bit somber, he glanced at the motionless figure standing a few meters away. The Sin of Solace was staring at him silently, not bothering to say anything. However, his gaze expressed more than enough.

Sunny winced, then looked away.

«Don't you glare at me. I'm sure it's nothing.»

He said that... but did not command the shadow to back away. Instead, he dedicated more of his attention to observing Cassie.

The blind girl certainly did not seem pensive or secretive. She calmly walked along the winding stone corridors, tracing her fingers on the wall. Her other hand was holding the leather-bound journal.

«Maybe her guards are asleep.»

Sunny returned to considering the weave while keeping an eye on Cassie.

that he was not familiar with. These chambers were used for preparing for public rituals, so Sunny had no business being there. 𝐥ìg𝚝𝔫օ𝑣𝓮𝓵w𝓸𝓻𝐥𝓭~𝙘օ𝕞.

door. A mundane-looking key appeared in her hand. Unlocking the door, Cassie entered

Sunny's frown deepened.

«What the hell?»

on the first floor of the temple. Why was there

the Great River were kept in place by various means, ranging from sails and windcatchers to sorcerous mechanisms. Perhaps Cassie was on her way to inspect the moving parts

service tunnels running under the temple. Sunny had not known that there were such corridors there, but it made sense. The mechanisms responsible for allowing the island-ship

especially, was reliant on such mechanisms. It was situated not too far from the Edge, after all, and so the pull of the current

a little bit and

unable to concentrate on weaving anymore. His

was just what he had expected it to be — it housed a complicated mess of gears and chains that spun and moved, transferring the energy from the wind and the enchantment circuits into the underwater wheels that kept the island-ship stationary. It was a bit like entering the insides of a tower clock, if that tower clock had

was looking at the River Civilization's

that was not what attracted

had been expecting to see. What he had not expected, however, was that the floor of the chamber

something that had been planned by the builders of the temple. Instead, it

of flowing water coming

well at the bottom

the darkness of the underground chamber, observing

her, she circled around the open chasm and approached the

in sight. Of course, Cassie had no need for them. Coming closer to the desk, she lingered for a few moments, facing it with a distant

she moved past it and kneeled near one of the chests, placing a hand on its heavy lid. Several strings of runes ignited on the wooden surface, and the chest opened noiselessly, revealing what was stored inside

his head, his expression turning

journals, just like the one Cassie was carrying. Dozens of them, or maybe even hundreds. There were several