Shadow Slave

1542: Last Journey.

And there it was.

They had left on the last journey of this tumultuous, dreadful Nightmare.

For Sunny and Nephis, it was especially poignant, because they had come from the far reaches of the future — and were now on their way to the furthest reaches of the past, where Verge stood.

It must have been especially emotional for Cassie, as well, because she was leaving the city she had spent a whole year ruling and trying to preserve. Now, its fate depended on whether they would be successful in their battle against the First Seeker.

In any case, she would never see Fallen Grace again.

None of them knew if it would even exist, in any kind of way, should they prevail. However, it was inevitable for Fallen Grace to be destroyed should they fail.

The blind girl did not look back. Instead, she stood at the bow of the flying ship, facing the setting suns. The others gave her some space, knowing that there had to be a storm of complicated emotions weighing on her heart.

Only Sunny could see her face, visible to the shadow that was hiding close by.

Cassie's face was not wistful or sad. Instead, it was full of resolve and determination… impatience, even. It was as though she had been waiting for this moment for a long, long time.

Which was true, of course. Apart from Mordret, she had spent by far the longest in this Nightmare. Sunny knew that he was sick and tired of the Tomb of Ariel. The blind girl had to be feeling the same, but much more intensely.

«We've been here for so long.»

fought against all kinds of underwater horrors on the way to Aletheia's Island, withstood the insidious hell of the time loop, dove into the depths of the Great

more time in the Tomb of

longer

was without even counting the unknown number of cycles the seven of them had lived through before arriving

soared above the waves, flying toward

blazing river, then rubbed his face and retreated to his cabin. There, he concentrated on preparing for the alteration

were en route to Verge, he felt a sense

in meticulous work,

third day, they reached the

was much like the dawnward edge, but also different. The enormous, inconceivable waterfall was the same. The powerful current that threatened to destroy anything plunged into its crushing embrace was the same. The dark void beyond

was burning with an intense crimson glow, almost like it was on fire. ?ìg??օ???w????~?օ?. The inconceivable waterfall that stretched in both directions

was almost as if a sea of

dreadful sight, the members of the cohort gathered on the deck. The distant whispers of the falling water had grown into a deafening roar, making

So, they remained silent.

Chain Breaker crested the breaking point of the waterfall and flew into

Edge grew quieter, and then disappeared in the howling of the wind. They had returned to the dark abyss of

the boundless darkness. That was because, unlike the first time, the Chain Breaker would be crossing the space within the loop of the Great River,

was no threat of the terrifying swarm of the Dark Butterflies becoming aware of their presence — since they would not

would take. The last time, they had arrived back to the surface of the Great River rather quickly

all the way to the dawn

If nothing unforeseen happened.

some time, feeling both wary