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?»

but it was Tamar, the leader of

Even if we aren't devoured

at the porters and the

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

She sighed.

us nearly as long as it took to come here, since we'll be going in a straight line, The marching will be more intense, so prepare

that, she turned her back to the Incredible sight of the colossal bones,

the desire to

a Legacy for

calm when witnessing something that unimaginable. Why did

than a little stuck-up. Rain, who was used to rolling in the

a compulsion to mock the Legacy heiress mercilessly… well, or at least tease her a

something like that. Even the best outcome would be

made a larger fire than usual and roasted all their remaining monster

join them, either. The dead man remained standing at the

members of the survey team had long learned to

Awakened Fleur who cooked for everyone. Her easy smile and friendly demeanor put everyone at ease, so

Lady Tamar… if you don't

in front of the young Legacy.

couldn't help but notice that you weren't very impressed by that huge skeleton. Have

lingered for a few

us are familiar with Godgrave.

the porters widened. Even Rain was

hell? It sent these kids to a Death Zone? How were

she felt surprised, she was also feeling a little guilty. As it turned out, Tamar had not been acting haughty… she was just familiar with the titanic skeleton. More than that, whatever had

«…Talk about being prejudiced.»

ashamed of

staring at the three Awakened in awe. Eventually, old

I… ah… I would have thought that Lady Tamar would use

every Sleeper was sent to the Dream Realm on the winter solstice, where they had to find a Gateway, anchor themselves to it, and thus Awaken. These days, however, the

advance. That way, there was no risk of being sent to some unforgiving

darkened, prompting Fleur to laugh

so there was not a lot of time before the solstice. There is a lot

glanced at Tamar and

the Lake of Tears

young Legacy with confusion. After a bit of awkward silence, one

father must have

She furrowed her brow.

«He wasn't.»