Since the expedition team led by Modir had entered the heart of Violet Island, Gawain had been waiting for new word from the north. Now, at last, that long-awaited news had arrived.
The mysterious realm of the Night Lady had finally opened a crack to him, and he had countless questions and thoughts to discuss with that powerful ancient god—whether it was the fate of the gods, the mysteries left behind by the Sailors, or the shadows entwined around Amber. All of it formed a tangled vortex, and the Night Lady stood at its source.
"The entrance to the Divine Kingdom of Shadow is the City of a Thousand Towers..." Gawain said thoughtfully, propping his temple with a finger. "What else did Modir report?"
"With Prince Nash's permission and escort, Modir, Maggie, and Diana, whom they happened to meet up with, took a brief 'tour' through the City of a Thousand Towers," Amber said with a nod, beginning her report on the less important details. "According to Modir, that city still seems to retain certain characteristics of a 'dream.' Only the Dim Palace at the city center—the area where Prince Nash resides—is clear and normal. The farther one gets from the center, the more distorted and hazy the streets and buildings become.
"At the edge of those hazy, twisted regions, Modir looked out through one of the streets and saw vast layers of overlapping, drifting shadows. It looked very similar to the scenery of the Umbral Realm, so he believes that crossing the borders of the City of a Thousand Towers may lead directly into some part of the Umbral Realm. However, that has yet to be confirmed.
"Also, he had a brief exchange with the magical Artificial Intelligence called 'Benadetto.' She claimed that she had been personally created by