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.

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, seemed very familiar

an unassuming wooden door. A mundane-looking key appeared in her hand. Unlocking the

Sunny's frown deepened.

«What the hell?»

first floor of the temple. Why was there a way further down,

River were kept in place by various means, ranging from sails and windcatchers to sorcerous mechanisms. Perhaps Cassie

there were such corridors there, but it made sense. The mechanisms responsible for allowing the island-ship to resist the current had

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

concentrate on weaving anymore.

the enchantment circuits into the underwater wheels that kept the island-ship stationary. It was a bit like entering the insides

a sense, Sunny was looking at

not what attracted

he had been expecting to see. What he had not

menacing hole certainly did not look like something that had been planned by the builders of the temple. Instead, it looked like something that had been created much later, and much more

the sounds of flowing water coming from

is there a well at the

the darkness of the

any attention. Locking the door behind her, she circled around the open chasm and approached the opposite wall of the chamber. There, hidden behind a

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 it with a distant

its heavy lid. Several strings of runes ignited on the wooden surface, and the chest

tilted his head,

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