Shadow Slave

As they ventured further east, the Moonriver Plain started to change. There were fewer and fewer canyons in their way, and the air grew a little warmer. At night, the three beautiful moons seemed more distant.

The wind carried with it swirling black flakes. Rain did not need to touch them to know what they were… ash. It was as if they had returned to Ravenheart, but also different.

Back in the stronghold of Clan Song, the ash fell from the frigid sky because of the raging volcanoes. But here, it was somehow different, making Rain feel uncomfortable.

Eventually, the members of the survey team stopped. No one had given the command, but they simply froze in place, looking at the horizon in stunned silence.

«…Wow.»

Out there in front of them, far away… it seemed as if a snowy mountain chain was rising from the ashen haze. But as Rain studied the towering mountains closer, she couldn't help but feel a sense of incongruity. Because the shape was wrong.

Then, something clicked in her mind, and she opened her mouth in shock… or horror. Or awe.

The mountains weren't mountains at all. Instead, they were bones.

An inconceivably large skeleton lay on the ground in the distance, too large to be seen whole. What Rain had thought to be the slopes of a mountain chain were several titanic ribs, each rising into the sky like ivory pillars that supported its weight.

The skull of the unfathomable corpse was mercifully out of view. The closest group of bone mountains, however, extended far into the Moonriver Plain. It was also shaped strangely, consisting of five lower peaks. Beyond them, a wide ridge rose gradually to a great height, like an eerie stairway to heaven.

The five mountains were the phalanxes of the colossal skeleton's fingers, and the rising ridge were the bones of its arm.

One of the porters whispered quietly:

«G-gods…»

Rain remained silent, but she felt like uttering something like that herself. There were simply no words to describe her emotions.

Awakened Ray glanced at them and smiled faintly.

«Gods? A god, maybe. That is Godgrave ahead of us.»

The porters, who weren't very well-acquainted with the topography of the Dream Realm, looked at him in confusion.

He sighed.

«Godgrave is a Death Zone that serves as the north-eastern boundary of the Song Domain. It is a region of the Dream Realm where Great, Cursed, and maybe even Unholy abominations dwell. As for why it is called that… I think you can see for yourself. Nobody really knows what that terrible skeleton is, but it's easy to imagine that these are the remains of a god. Therefore… Godgrave.»

The porters shivered.

«Awakened Ray, sir… are we going there?»

Tamar, the leader of the survey team,

A Death Zone is not a place for humans. Even if we aren't devoured by some abominable horror, the land itself will kill us. Or the

at the porters and the

so you can't go there. As soon as you do, your souls won't be protected by the Queen's grace anymore, and

She sighed.

and turn back tomorrow… returning to the main camp should not take us nearly as long

of the colossal bones, as if not at

suppressed the

a Legacy

remain calm when witnessing something that unimaginable. Why did she feel

more than a little stuck-up. Rain, who was used to rolling in the dirt, couldn't help but be entertained by how

often felt a compulsion to mock the Legacy heiress mercilessly… well, or at least tease her a bit. Of course, she never did — Rain

idiot would do something like that. Even the best outcome would be receiving a

made a larger fire than usual and roasted

did not join them, either. The dead man remained standing at the edge of

bit creepy to be in his presence, but the members of the survey team had long learned to ignore the

easy smile and friendly demeanor put everyone at ease, so the conversation

you don't mind

was uncharacteristically shy in front of the young Legacy. He mumbled something quietly, and asked in

help but notice that you weren't very impressed by

him coldly, lingered for a few moments, then

with Godgrave. That is

of the porters widened. Even Rain

sent these kids to a Death Zone?

guilty. As it turned out, Tamar had not been acting haughty… she was just familiar with the titanic skeleton. More than that, whatever had happened

«…Talk about being prejudiced.»

sighed, ashamed

the three Awakened in awe.

ah… I would have

solstice, where they had to find a Gateway, anchor themselves to it, and thus Awaken. These days, however, the situation

solstice and anchor oneself in advance. That

prompting Fleur to laugh

there was not a lot of time before the solstice. There is a lot of paperwork involved in getting access to the Dream Gate, as you know. We just went to the

at Tamar

her to the Lake of Tears personally, without the need of using the Dream Gate. Still, we met

at the young Legacy with confusion. After a bit of

lady's father must have

She furrowed her brow.

«He wasn't.»