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.

eventually entering the part of the temple that he was not familiar with. These chambers were used for preparing for public rituals, so Sunny had no business being there. ?ìg??օ???w????~?օ?. Cassie, on the other hand,

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

Sunny's frown deepened.

«What the hell?»

the temple. Why was there a way further

ranging from sails and windcatchers to sorcerous mechanisms. Perhaps Cassie was on her way to inspect the moving parts of one such

entering a dark and damp network of service tunnels running under the temple. Sunny had not known that there were such corridors there, but it made sense. The mechanisms responsible for

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

corridors for a little bit and unlocked another door, entering a small

to concentrate on

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

looking at the

was not

he had been expecting to see. What he had not expected, however, was that

hole certainly did not look like something that had been planned by the builders of the

could hear the sounds of flowing water coming from its dark

a well at the

in the darkness of the underground chamber, observing

Neither did she pay it any attention. Locking the door behind her, she circled around the open chasm

absolutely dark, and there were no lanterns anywhere in sight. Of course, Cassie had no need for them. Coming closer to the desk, she lingered for a few moments, facing

a hand on its heavy lid. Several strings of

his head, his expression

carrying. Dozens of them, or maybe even hundreds. There were several chests like that one in the underground chamber, as well, all locked with