Shadow Slave

The outer wall of the mundane district was thick and tall. Rain passed through the gateway, still thinking about what her teacher had said...

'Pretty? I'm pretty? He was teasing me, right? That scoundrel! Maybe if he allowed me to have a mirror at home, I wouldn't have had to ask!’

Her thoughts were interrupted by an Awakened warrior who suddenly appeared in her way. His equipment was visibly more potent than that of the young men and women whom she had met outside, and his face was much more mature.

Unlike those inexperienced greenhorns, he was a true warrior of Song.

"This way, please."

Rain obediently followed the Awakened to the side, where a cohort of veterans like him was keeping a watchful eye on everyone entering the city. They were led by a stunningly beautiful woman wearing an enchanted robe of fine wine-colored silk.

A Master.

There was no sign of Rain's teacher, as if he had dove deeper into the shadows. She approached the beautiful woman and bowed respectfully.

The Ascended smiled.

"Oh, it's you, little sister, Rain, was it? Please don't move”

A torrent of ethereal sparks swirled around her hand, and a red flower appeared on her palm. Its dark petals seemed to be glistening with dew, and it emanated a pleasant fragrance.

The woman raised her hand, as if offering the flower to Rain. Of course, Rain did not take it. Instead, she froze and looked at the crimson blossom solemnly. A few moments passed in tense silence, then a few more.

She glanced at the beautiful Master. The woman was still smiling, but her eyes were cold and full of dark... something.

'Murder math.’

Rain remembered the strange term well, because he often lamented the fact that she seemed to lack that

the powerful Ascended was calmly calculating how to kill her, should the need arise. It was more

the Ascended's smile finally reached her eyes. Moving her hand, she dismissed the red flower and gestured for Rain to

Have

more time

Internally, she sighed.

was actually not strange at all. It was something that everyone entering Ravenheart or any other Citadel in the Song Domain, she would imagine - had to go through. The Sword Domain had their own version of the ritual, and there were versions of it in the

was to prevent the dreadful

were either slain or remained in Antarctica, Skinwalker was different. It had entered the siege capitals by pretending to be human before the Dream Gates were even opened.

the government forces led by Wake of Ruin and the great clans had joined forces to eradicate the creature. The

not managed to

hiding in the vast reaches of the Dream Realm or in the poisonous wilds of the

had already fallen after being infiltrated by Skinwalker, and if rumors were true, a several cities in the Eastern Quadrant had, as well. That was why there were new security

from the appearance of the Dream Gates and the great wave of colonization that followed, the existence of Skinwalker had caused the single most significant change, perhaps, in how humans lived after the Chain

didn't mind being checked while entering Ravenheart. If she had indeed been taken by the harrowing

she

far enough from

I ask you

came almost

"You sure can."

lingered for a

Awakened and a single Master... no matter how powerful she is, a

a longer pause before her teacher

you noticed a bronze mirror installed on the wall

Rain nodded.

There are mirrors like that everywhere in

He sighed.