Chapter Summaries

The Dark Elf discovered that Yevirk Serpent had been hired to kill Joshua in exchange for a potion that treated the gray mist, then reported the commission to him. Joshua focused on finding the client and the potion, while a message from the king of Frost Country asking about World Tree's Leaf left him startled.

• The Dark Elf overheard Yevirk Serpent discussing a commission to kill Joshua, but the mercenaries began arguing over Tylinn's songs and accidentally drew her out with a magical arrow.
• Reyek ordered his men to capture the client and learn where the gray-mist potion came from, while the man wearing Gold-rimmed Glasses was tasked with the interrogation.
• The Dark Elf told Joshua that Yevirk Serpent had been hired to kill him and that the client had offered a potion that treated the gray mist's effects.
• Joshua asked the Dark Elf to find the client, explaining that his eldest sister's headaches might be caused by the gray mist and that a cure could help the Demon Realm.
• The king of Frost Country messaged Joshua that he wanted to buy World Tree's Leaf in Nolan, and Joshua stopped typing in surprise.

Shael investigated the strange illness afflicting the Frost Wolf Clan after its eldest son and two attendants died in the ruins. She learned that faceless creatures had attacked the clan members and discovered that the gray mist was corroding the World Tree's Leaf, leaving her facing a new and urgent danger.

• Shael attended the funeral of Niff and his two attendants, whom the Frost Wolf Clan chief had executed after they returned from ruins infected by a strange illness.
• Shael learned that a potion from the ruins had eased the symptoms of the chief's second son, Laweier, and stopped the chief from rushing into the ruins.
• Shael used the World Tree's Leaf and a Frost Elf's song to calm Laweier, who revealed that faceless beasts and slimy creatures had surrounded them and that light and noise helped them escape.
• Shael discovered that the gray mist had corroded part of the World Tree's Leaf, then ordered the clan's warriors to prepare while she went to rest.

Shael sought a way to replace her ashing World Tree's Leaf and arranged through the Kindler of the Flame to buy 227 leaves and Source Crystal Stones for Frost Wolf City. Joshua gathered leaves from the World Tree and learned that it wanted him to investigate the frozen land where it had once been meant to protect.

• Shael warned the Frost Wolf Clan chief not to explore the ruin before her strategy meeting and went to seek help repairing her World Tree's Leaf.
• After the Spellcaster Forum and Magic Web Shopping offered no solution, Shael asked the Kindler of the Flame to obtain leaves and records by Miss Tylinn.
• Shael agreed to buy 227 World Tree's Leaves and Source Crystal Stones, arranging for delivery at Frost Wolf City's West Side City Gate.
• Joshua traveled to central Nolan, where the World Tree's Avatar gave him more than two hundred leaves and a pale green crystal.
• The ice dragon relayed the World Tree's request for Joshua to investigate the frozen land, and Joshua left for the entrance to the underground Dwarf city.

Joshua sent Zennas on a mission to deliver a sealed suitcase to Frost Wolf City, while learning that the Prophet's goods were reaching the Magic Network Alchemy Workshop. At Yevirk Serpent's headquarters, Reyek tried to help the gray-mist-infected Shu Lisi by encouraging her to focus on happy memories and using a song Joshua had provided.

• Joshua tasked Zennas with carrying a sealed suitcase to Frost Wolf City and told him to report by Text Message when he reached the outskirts.
• Joshua learned that the Prophet's goods, including a box signed 'Red Robe,' were being collected by humans from Owl's Nest for the Magic Network Alchemy Workshop.
• Zennas took Ai Liana with him and left through a Teleportation Portal for Frost Country.
• Shu Lisi became violent when Tylinn's songs failed to calm her, so Reyek restrained and knocked her unconscious.
• Reyek explained that happy memories might help people afflicted by the gray mist and gave the archer Heretic Inquisitor's Diary to read.
• Reyek used a sheet of music Joshua had given him as another possible way to help Shu Lisi until they found the source of the medicine.

Shael ordered the Frost Wolf Clan to prepare to explore the ruins, then rode through a blizzard to meet the Kindler of the Flame’s contact. He discovered the contact was Zennas, who delivered a fresh World Tree Leaf and a message directing him to the Magic Web.

• The Frost Wolf Clan patriarch argued with his younger brother about exploring the ruins again after thirteen warriors became infected while retrieving medicine.
• Shael ordered the Frost Wolf Clan to enter the ruins the next day because his second son and his people were running out of time.
• Shael rode to the West Side City Gate during a blizzard to meet the Kindler of the Flame’s contact, but his World Tree Leaf turned to ash before he could ask for more details.
• Shael mistook the approaching Zennas for a dangerous monster and drew his sword, then lowered his hostility when Zennas identified himself as the Kindler of the Flame’s messenger.
• Zennas gave Shael a new World Tree Leaf and relayed that he would learn the details on the Magic Web, restoring Shael’s connection.

Joshua learned that the gray-mist cure came from unknown ruins in Frost Country and asked Frost Owl to seek information about it. After Zennas delivered World Tree leaves, Frost Owl accepted them and told Joshua she would visit Nolan one day to judge whether she could trust him.

• Reyek told Joshua that the Yevirk Serpent’s would-be assassin had been an intermediary and asked for five bottles of the gray-mist cure if Joshua found it.
• Joshua said an acquaintance could help locate the Frost Country ruins, then Reyek began recording the two songs with the Ghost Orchestra.
• Joshua and Ciri discussed the Hall of Inquisition’s actions and its apparent preparations, while Joshua said he would expose Holy Church Country and wait for others to act.
• Frost Owl told Joshua that Zennas and the World Tree leaves had surprised her, then accepted the leaves despite not having payment ready.
• Joshua offered information or medicine for the gray-mist cure as payment, and Frost Owl said she would travel to Nolan one day to meet him and decide whether she could trust him.

Shael prepared the Frost Wolf Clan for an expedition into the ruins, using World Tree's Leaves and Tylinn's music to counter the gray mist. As the army gathered at the mineral vein, Laweier hoped the new protections would let him survive the exploration.

• Shael opened Zennas's suitcase, finding World Tree's Leaves, Magic Web Terminals, and Tylinn's signed record.
• Shael discovered Magic Web Cloud Music and learned that its songs were free to preview for seventy-two hours after release.
• Shael briefed Marshal Amut, the Frost Wolf Clan chief, and the elders on how World Tree's Leaves and elven songs could suppress the gray mist.
• Laweier's uncle urged him to stay home, but Laweier planned to join the exploration and carried a World Tree's Leaf as an amulet.
• Laweier said he had been looping Tylinn's song and wondered whether they would survive the expedition.

Laweier broke free of the monsters’ sorrowful illusions by playing Reyek’s “The Phoenix,” then rallied the Frost Wolf guards. Shael defeated the black-robed mastermind, but the ground collapsed beneath him and he fell into darkness.

• Laweier, wounded and overcome by grief-inducing magic, opened the Magic Web Cloud Music app and selected Reyek’s “The Phoenix.”
• The song restored Laweier’s anger and strength, allowing him to kill the monster attacking him and order the Frost Wolf guards to change the song.
• Shael prepared to retreat as the soldiers’ morale crumbled, but Laweier and fifteen Frost Wolf guards charged a giant worm, giving Shael the chance to attack the monsters.
• Shael pierced the black-robed mastermind after breaking its magical barrier, but its swelling body triggered a collapse beneath him.
• Shael tried to slow his fall with ice spikes, but the wall crumbled and he plunged into darkness.

Trapped in Nolan’s Underground Ruins, injured and nearly out of magic, Shael found the golden potions he had been seeking and rested in the darkness. A voice call with the Kindler of the Flame eased his despair, but Shael did not ask for help and remained stranded.

• Shael wandered the ruins for nearly a day, suffering worsening injuries and running out of magic and light sources.
• The Frost Spirit led Shael to a metal box containing twelve bottles of golden potion, and Shael sat down to recover.
• Shael told the Frost Spirit to rest, leaving himself alone in the darkness with pain, hunger, and fading consciousness.
• Shael messaged the Kindler of the Flame and asked to speak by voice so he could hear the other person’s voice.
• Shael spoke with the Kindler of the Flame, who noticed his weak voice and asked whether he needed help, but Shael denied it.

Shael was rescued from the Underground Ruins by Zennas, whom the Kindler of the Flame had sent with food, and promised to thank Nolan. In Nolan, Joshua discussed his plans for the entertainment industry with Ciri before Gray Robe arrived and took interest in their game of Go.

• After resting and speaking with the Kindler of the Flame, Shael ended their call and sensed a powerful surge of magic in the Underground Ruins.
• Zennas emerged through ghostly green flames, offered Shael roast venison, and explained that his master had sent him to bring her away.
• Shael accepted Zennas’s help, asked him to take sealed potion boxes with them, and promised to visit Nolan and thank him.
• At the Hearthstone tavern, Joshua and Ciri played Go while discussing Joshua’s work on video, music, and the Magic Web Savings Bank.
• Gray Robe joined Joshua and Ciri, examined the Go board through his glasses, and was invited by Joshua to try the game.

Joshua introduced Go to Ciri and Gray Robe, whose intense match drew a crowd of Spellcasters in the Hearthstone tavern. Gray Robe delivered Joshua an invitation naming him a candidate for the Skjerrona Award, but Joshua returned to the game.

• Joshua showed Ciri a Go board, and after losing several games to him, she yielded her seat to Gray Robe.
• Gray Robe studied Go and played Joshua while Ciri and a crowd of Spellcasters watched.
• Purple-robed One came to take Ciri back to her lessons and found her watching Gray Robe and Joshua's match.
• Gray Robe gave Joshua an Invitation Letter naming him a Skjerrona Award candidate, with the ceremony scheduled at Nolan Crystal Palace two months later.
• Joshua put away the Invitation Letter and resumed his Go match with Gray Robe.

Messiah explored the ruined Hall of Inquisition with the Desireless One, who revealed the origins of its experiments and warned that the inquisitors had only changed locations. After joining Herolia, Messiah learned that the new ruler was writing songs and was recruited to star in a film.

• Messiah entered the ruined Hall of Meditation with the Desireless One and saw the bodies of the inquisitors killed in Herolia’s purge.
• The Desireless One showed Messiah a hidden Alchemy Workshop and explained that the Hall of Inquisition’s experiments began after researchers found creature bones beneath the Holy City.
• The Desireless One revealed that the inquisitors had not been destroyed but had changed locations, and he sent Messiah to protect Herolia from their disguises.
• Messiah found Herolia writing a new song and questioned why she was not focused on consolidating power after overthrowing the Pope’s rule.
• Herolia asked Messiah to make a film with her, and Messiah reluctantly agreed.

Madam Si discussed films and Falosi’s artistic establishment on a television talk show, while Joshua watched and negotiated with Liya about bringing movie theaters to the Holy Church Country. Joshua considered making a profound film to persuade its people to watch.

• Madam Si told the Bronze Dragon that audiences, not artists or critics, would decide whether films harmed or advanced Falosi’s performing arts.
• Madam Si said Falosi’s Saint Fandell Hall was unlikely to select a film script by the mysterious director, and the Bronze Dragon addressed Joshua through the television.
• Liya asked Joshua to provide screening equipment for movie theaters in the Holy Church Country, and Joshua offered it for free if Nolan’s films were also shown there.
• Ciri joined Joshua at the Hearthstone tavern and asked whether the theaters would mean victory for the Demon Realm.
• Joshua explained that films could serve as powerful preaching tools but worried the Holy Church Country would reject anything associated with demons, then considered creating a profound masterpiece.

White Thorn Flower Jazz and the Dark Elf Thousand Faces read Joshua’s new script, “Shawshank Redemption,” and Jazz sensed a deeper meaning in it. In Falosi, Morgan decided to travel to Nolan to read the script, and Galolie arranged to go with him.

• White Thorn Flower Jazz hurried to the White Thorn Flower Theater and received Joshua’s script from Thousand Faces.
• Thousand Faces and White Thorn Flower Jazz judged “Shawshank Redemption” less exciting than “Avatar,” but Jazz was deeply moved by Andy’s escape and asked to read the script again.
• Thousand Faces told White Thorn Flower Jazz to choose actors and returned the script to Joshua.
• Morgan approved a filming location for Mrs. Si’s movie, then learned Joshua wanted him to star in a new film and decided to go to Nolan.
• Galolie asked Mrs. Si to let her travel with Morgan, and Mrs. Si agreed while asking about Galolie’s relationship with Joshua.

Reyek prepared a street concert in Nolan after realizing the suspicious people outside his camp were fans, while Mrs. Si and Galolie arrived on Squirrel Street and discovered the performance. The chapter left them approaching the crowd just as the concert began.

• Reyek's music helped Ke Ya forget her troubles, and she fell asleep after drinking heavily.
• A member warned Reyek that three people were lurking near the mercenary group's base, but Reyek identified them as fans rather than assassins.
• Reyek and two companions prepared to perform, and Ke Ya insisted on joining the group.
• Mrs. Si, Morgan, Galolie, and the butler traveled toward central Nolan and passed the statue of Hachi at Kriya Station.
• Mrs. Si and Galolie learned that a concert was taking place on Squirrel Street, and an electric sound began as they approached the crowd.

Mrs. Si and Galolie watched the Yevirk Serpent perform a street concert, while Reyek found a new purpose in singing and raising funds for his mercenary group. After his companions questioned whether he had written his songs, Reyek announced that he might retire for a while.

• Mrs. Si recognized Reyek as the captain of the Yevirk Serpent Mercenary Group, which Galolie’s father had once hired to slay an Iron-Eating Dragon.
• Galolie tried to join the crowd, but Mrs. Si stopped her, and Galolie decided they would walk to find Joshua behind the stage.
• Reyek sang “The Phoenix” and “Back In Black,” reflecting on how music and his fans gave him a reason to continue.
• Home took over the stage as Reyek and his companions stepped down, and the archer and his sister praised the songs and asked whether Reyek had written them.
• Reyek admitted he could not write songs and tentatively told his companions he might retire for a while.

Joshua gave Reyek an antidote that suppressed the gray mist in the archer’s sister and offered the Yevirk Serpent a long-term commission. He proposed that the mercenary group create a new program for Nolan Radio, introducing them to a camera.

• Reyek stopped the gray-mist-afflicted archer’s sister from attacking him, and Joshua tossed him an antidote.
• Reyek gave the potion to the woman, whose symptoms eased as she fell asleep, then sent Ke Ya to take her back to camp.
• Joshua explained that the diluted potion could treat many more members of the Yevirk Serpent, and Reyek offered the group’s services in return.
• Joshua asked about the group’s knowledge of monsters, herbs, and alchemical materials, then suggested they change careers.
• Joshua clarified that he did not want the mercenaries to become actors and revealed a camera for his planned Nolan Radio program.

Joshua proposed hiring Yevirk Serpent to film magical-beast hunts as a television program, and Reyek took the offer to his members for discussion. Joshua then traveled with Mrs. Si, Morgan, and Galolie to the White Thorn Flower Theater, where talk of their Minecraft adventures alarmed Mrs. Si.

• Joshua offered Yevirk Serpent a long-term contract to film hunting guides, and Reyek left to discuss the proposal with his members.
• Joshua told Mrs. Si that Ciri was both his assistant and his lover.
• Morgan explained that he had accepted Mrs. Si's invitation but was curious about Joshua's new script and its role intended for him.
• Joshua, Mrs. Si, Morgan, and Galolie squeezed into Mrs. Si's vehicle to go to the White Thorn Flower Theater.
• Galolie excitedly told Joshua about fighting a Hydra and a Yeti in a game, and Joshua realized Mrs. Si thought the dangers were real.

Joshua brought Morgan, Mrs. Si, and Galolie to the White Thorn Flower Theater, where Morgan read the screenplay for Shawshank Redemption. Morgan and Mrs. Si debated whether its central message was hope or freedom, and Joshua left them reconciled by saying viewers could interpret the film in different ways.

• Joshua showed Morgan the theater’s popcorn counter and explained that movies welcomed audiences to relax and enjoy snacks, unlike stage plays.
• Joshua took the group to his study and gave Morgan the screenplay for Shawshank Redemption.
• Morgan read the script and identified hope as its central message, while Mrs. Si argued that it was about freedom.
• Morgan and Mrs. Si debated the screenplay’s meaning as Joshua and Galolie watched and talked quietly.
• Joshua said great works allowed different interpretations, which helped Morgan and Mrs. Si reconcile.

After curing the last of Yevirk Serpent’s members, Reyek celebrated their freedom from the gray mist and explained Joshua Anoroth’s long-term commission. The group would film educational monster-hunting programs for Nolan Television Station, though Luo Na worried audiences might prefer a deadly spectacle.

• Reyek cured the last member affected by the gray mist and ordered the apothecaries to care for the others.
• Reyek ordered Luo Na to buy food and alcohol, and Yevirk Serpent celebrated its recovery into the night.
• Reyek told Luo Na that Joshua Anoroth wanted to hire the group long-term, and showed him the Camera Joshua had provided.
• Reyek asked Luo Na to film the group’s hunts in the style of Leon: The Professional, explaining that the footage would be broadcast on Nolan Television Station.
• Luo Na worried the audience would want to watch deadly fights, but the swordsman explained that Joshua wanted the mercenaries to teach viewers how to hunt magical beasts.