Recaps

Shade began the badge hunt by reviving Claire Reinhart, and Miss Sabelle used her mysterious divination to lead the group through the castle’s labyrinth. They found the first badge, but the colorless liquid covering it resisted both Shade’s chains and Claire’s Thaumaturgy.

• Shade followed the yellow gemstone to an ice sculpture and revived Claire Reinhart with a kiss.
• Claire learned that Miss Sabelle was traveling with Shade and showed affection toward him, while Miss Sabelle privately concluded that Claire was a Council traitor.
• Miss Sabelle used her knowledge of divination to guide Shade and Claire through the third-floor labyrinth.
• The group found the first badge beneath colorless liquid in an ice soup bowl.
• Shade’s chains and Claire’s liquid-manipulating Thaumaturgy both failed to move the badge or disturb the liquid.

Shade, Miss Reinhart, and Miss Sabelle obtained the first badge by drinking the freezing liquids, with Shade thawing Miss Reinhart through kisses. Miss Sabelle used the badge to guide them through the third-floor corridors, while Miss Reinhart grew increasingly suspicious of her concealed identity.

• Miss Reinhart drank the first cup of freezing liquid and began freezing over, so Shade kissed her and used Thaumaturgy to thaw her.
• Shade drank the second cup, and Miss Reinhart drank the third, relying on Shade to thaw her again; Shade drank the final cup.
• The three obtained the ice badge, which Miss Sabelle used to divine their route through the third-floor corridors.
• Miss Reinhart thanked Miss Sabelle for helping Shade and offered to ask her grandfather to investigate her identity after they escaped.
• Miss Reinhart and Shade both suspected Miss Sabelle was hiding something as the three continued through the castle together.

Shade and the two Sorceresses found the second badge in a freezing pool, then learned the final badge was locked inside the Maid. Shade realized the lock required a kiss, but the chapter ended before he acted.

• Claire Reinhart offered to enter the freezing pool, but Shade transformed into a giant cat and retrieved the second badge with his tail.
• Miss Sabelle divined the final badge’s location, leading the group back to the stairwell where the Maid waited.
• The Maid revealed the final badge inside her body and said only the palace master’s key could unlock it.
• Shade recalled his past meeting with Chloe and concluded that a kiss was the key to the lock.

Shade obtained the third badge by kissing the Ice Maid, then met Emilia and Ellie on the Fourth Floor. The maid led the group to choose a book as their reward, while warning that the frozen people would only be released after they left the castle and the Demon would then pursue them.

• Shade kissed the Ice Maid, causing the third badge to emerge, and she declared that he had passed the trial.
• The Ice Maid guided Shade, Claire, and Miss Sabelle to the Fourth Floor, where they reunited with Emilia and Unicorn Ellie.
• Shade learned that the frozen people would remain frozen until the group left the castle, after which the Demon would seek them out.
• The Ice Maid brought the group to an ice-book library and offered Shade one book as his reward.
• Claire suggested choosing a book about Snow Mountain's history, Emilia proposed searching for clues about the Snake or the Chosen One Ritual, and Miss Sabelle recommended looking for the castle's master's research on Ice and Snow.

Shade used the Moon Library to find Chloe’s most precious treasure, which turned out to be the Ice Maid herself, and the trial ended just as the Demon arrived. After escaping the castle, Shade and his companions fought to survive for thirty seconds until the frozen Arcanists could recover and join them.

• Shade strengthened Moon Library—Library Retrieval until he found the Ice Maid, who explained that she was part of the castle and that the trial had ended.
• Shade led Emilia, Claire, Miss Sabelle, and the Unicorn toward the third-floor terrace while he stayed behind to confront the approaching Demon.
• Shade used Thunderclap Wave to slow the Demon, then retreated down the stairs as Claire, Emilia, and the Unicorn each delayed its pursuit.
• Miss Sabelle rewound the Demon by less than a second as the group jumped from the terrace, and Shade called for them to hold out for thirty seconds.
• Shade attacked the Demon with Moonlight Slash, but its arrow rain and sword strike overwhelmed the group’s shields.
• Emilia and Unicorn Ellie appeared before the Demon’s sword strike, and the three shields from Lana’s Star Ring Guardian blocked it for one second.

Emilia and the gathered allies confronted the Ancient Evil Spirit, but its Duel Domain allowed only Emilia to harm it. Shade exploited a loophole to fight the Demon while the others sealed away its Demon Swords, and the chapter ended with Shade and the Demon growing to the height of the castle as their duel intensified.

• Emilia deflected the Demon’s sword strike with Spell Reversal, and she, Shade, and Miss Sabelle used Time Stop to freeze its incoming swords as powerful allies arrived.
• The gathered Ring Arcanists bombarded the Demon until it raised a bronze bell, then formed its Duel Domain, whose one-on-one rule prevented anyone but Emilia from harming it.
• Shade intercepted the Demon’s attack on Emilia and injured it with an explosive Thunder Spear, proving he could affect it despite the Domain.
• Vanessa explained that the Demon Swords were separate living beings, allowing the allies to restrain and seal ten of them with gravity and the Sword of Light Sealing.
• Shade clashed with the Demon using his chains and growing strength, and both enlarged until they stood nearly as tall as Ice and Snow Castle.

Shade and Emilia fought the Demon of Weapons while the Witches and Arcanists worked to sever the ten Demon Swords. Shade’s allies empowered him, but the demon corrupted its sword and renewed the assault as the battle continued.

• Shade used his Thaumaturgies and strength to battle the demon while Emilia and Vanessa helped defend against Relics it controlled.
• Emilia summoned Treants with seeds and her Tree Staff to hold back the demon’s weapons as Shade struck it with Moon Fire.
• Vanessa, Daniste, and Camille Eden empowered Shade, allowing him to knock aside the Demon Sword and punch the demon.
• The demon corrupted its sword by stabbing it into itself, then shattered Shade’s chains and wounded his arms with a powerful blow.
• Megan cut apart the fifth Demon Sword with Night Watchman while Claire helped her and Audrey fend off the remaining swords.
• Megan told Claire that she and Audrey had come to help, and Claire asked whether Megan had known the giant man fighting the demon for a long time.

Shade and his allies destroyed the ten Demon Swords and tried to use Night Watchman to strike down the Demon, but the Demon countered their attack. The chapter ended as Unicorn Ellie used Emilia’s sword to clash with the Demon’s corrupted sword.

• Megan and Audrey copied the Demon Swords’ spirit-expelling technique, helping the Church’s team break the swords while Shade fought the Demon.
• Miss Sabelle used a Time Jump to help the allies destroy the final Demon Sword, leaving Shade’s plan ready to begin.
• Shade shrank to human size and used the Doctor’s bullet to weaken the Demon before taking Night Watchman from Sylvia and attacking.
• The Demon resisted Shade’s strike, regained its corrupted sword, and nearly struck Shade as a golden brick knocked Emilia from Ellie’s back.
• Ellie caught Emilia’s fallen sword and charged into the Demon’s blade, making the two remaining Demon Swords clash.

Shade used the clash between the two Demon Swords to destroy the Angel Level Relic, Sword Spawn Mother Nest, and was caught in the resulting Whisper Element eruption. He gained the Black Iron Whisper Spirit Rune—Sword and new sword abilities, helped defeat the Demon, and was left facing the still-expanding mass of Whisper Elements.

• Unicorn Ellie shattered both Demon Swords in a clash, triggering the Relic’s soul shriek and a spreading eruption of Whisper Elements.
• Shade sent Ellie to safety and wounded the fleeing Demon, but was swallowed by the black iron light as it engulfed the battlefield.
• Inside the Whisper Elements, Shade gained the Black Iron Whisper Spirit Rune—Sword, sublimated Steel Snake, and enhanced Moonbeam Greatsword.
• Shade attacked the weakened Demon with Flying Swords and Night Watchman, while Camille Eden, Daniste, and Vanessa destroyed the Demon’s escaping half.
• Shade finished off the Demon’s remaining body and marked its fleeing head with the Sure Hit Handgun before collapsing from exhaustion.
• The Demon escaped toward the Great Ice Cap, and Shade realized the expanding Whisper Element light was now the greatest danger.

After the battle at the Ice and Snow Castle, Ice Maid contained the Whisper Element while Shade and the others returned to Kael-Todd Town to recover. Shade asked about the missing Miss Sabelle, who secretly followed the group, and the chapter ended with Claire meeting Shade’s teacher, Danist Gustav.

• Vanessa caught the exhausted Shade as Ice Maid froze the black sun and told the gathered teams to leave while she handled the danger.
• Lady Eden and Danist divided the Demon Sword hilts and shards, and the Church escorted the strangers who had been frozen in the castle.
• Shade asked Ice Maid where Miss Sabelle had gone; she said he would have to find out, while Miss Sabelle secretly followed the group and noticed Galina nearby.
• Megan led the Witches out of the gorge, and the injured group returned to Kael-Todd Town, where Shade fell asleep at Snow Mountain Hall.
• Vanessa watched over Shade while Claire, Megan, Sylvia, and Emilia gathered; Claire met Danist Gustav and learned she was Shade’s teacher.

While Shade remained unconscious, Claire learned that his teacher Daniste and the Witches knew his secrets, and that Emilia was the Chosen One of Time and the Elf Queen awaiting coronation. The group prepared to reveal more of Shade’s hidden connections when Luvia arrived, while the island faced growing attention after the Demon Sword incident.

• Claire introduced herself to Daniste, who confirmed she was Shade’s teacher and said he would likely become the next administrator of the Academy Library.
• Megan asked Daniste to summon Luvia and others so they could stop hiding their connection to Shade from Claire.
• Emilia told Claire she was recovering from her injury, and Daniste explained that Ellie had been hurt by the Whisper Element released when the Angel relic was damaged.
• Sylvia and Megan discussed the Church’s response to the Demon Sword’s breaking, while Megan explained that she and other Old Keepers of Secrets were guarding the Black Pyramid’s secret.
• Daniste told Claire that Emilia Sinode was the Chosen One of Time and the Elf Queen, and Emilia showed her the royal crown she had brought in her shoulder bag.

Claire learned that nine members of the Witch Council knew Shade Hamilton’s secrets and were hiding their connections to him. Above her, Adele Isabella pieced together Shade’s identity as the God Summoner and decided to continue getting close to him.

• Claire welcomed Galina, Luvia, and Dorothy, who brought Little Mia, into Snow Mountain Hall.
• Galina told Claire that Bella, Sivie, and Cassandra were among the Council members who knew about Shade, bringing the number of traitors to nine.
• The witches checked on the sleeping Shade and shared the story of his connections, while Claire learned that only the Speaker, Moon, Chaos, and Creation remained unaware.
• Adele Isabella listened from the roof and recalled how she had followed Shade and the others into the Ice and Snow Castle under a disguise.
• Adele realized that Shade was the God Summoner and that his secrets included immunity to the Witch Curse, then resolved to continue her contact with him.

Luvia realized that Miss Sabelle was Adele Isabella, the Witch Council’s Speaker, but chose to keep her discovery secret. Adele also decided not to expose Shade and the others yet, and planned to send Sivie to support Claire at the Ice and Snow Castle.

• Shade asked Luvia to divine Delia A. Sabelle’s whereabouts, and Luvia recognized the name as an alias of Adele Isabella.
• Luvia reasoned that Adele had already met Shade and might be concealing her identity to preserve the Witch Council’s unity.
• Shade drew the Pocket Watch, Woman, and Castle cards, and Luvia told him that Sabelle was alive and might help him in the future.
• Luvia kept her suspicion to herself, while Adele, listening from the rooftop, also decided to conceal what she knew about Shade and the group.
• Adele considered meeting Shade again and chose Sivie to go support Claire at the Ice and Snow Castle.

After the battle at the Ice and Snow Castle, Shade and his companions discussed the new destiny prompts and the wounded Demon’s likely recovery. Galina stabilized Miss Larson’s strange inner chill, while the Witches summoned to the Council returned saying Speaker Adele had asked about the island and arranged for Sivie to help Claire next week.

• Claire told Elder Harald that the gathered girls were Shade’s friends who had come to help with the Demon, and Claire and Emilia shared the new stories on their Serpent’s Sheddings.
• Shade and the others concluded that the castle battle had been an important scene in destiny, and Shade said the badly injured Demon might be hiding in the Snow Mountain or leaving the island.
• Elder Harald recalled a children’s tale about a terrifying witch on the Snow Mountain, and Shade later identified the castle as Chloe’s, a Demigod Witch’s, from the early Fifth Epoch.
• The Speaker summoned Claire, Sylvia, Megan, and Vanessa to explain the island events, while Galina went with Shade and the others to check on Miss Larson.
• Galina balanced the forces inside Miss Larson and woke her, but warned that the chill was an outside power that could cause another loss of control.
• The four Witches returned from the Council and said Adele had questioned them about the castle and Demons, then planned to send Sivie to help Claire the following week.

Stella Larson’s Serpent’s Shedding revealed her past and marked her as a Candidate of Fate after her role changed. Luvia identified Stella as third among the candidates, but warned Shade that the rankings could shift as the Ninth Chosen One’s story unfolded.

• The Serpent’s Shedding showed that Stella had become a Protagonist Candidate after visiting the Ice and Snow Castle.
• Claire revealed that Stella was born among the Far Northern tribes, became a Ring Arcanist after secretly entering the Winter Pilgrimage Ritual’s forbidden area, and was expelled for touching a holy relic.
• Claire explained that Stella’s resulting coldness had tormented her for years, while Luvia confirmed that Stella was a Candidate of Fate.
• The group departed, and Galina returned to Shade’s home with him under the pretext of helping prepare for the night.
• Luvia told Shade that Stella ranked third among the Candidates of Fate, but that the rankings could change before the story’s final curtain.

Shade discussed the aftermath of the Demon Sword incident with Luvia, Dorothy, and Galina, explaining that the sword’s Mother Nest Consciousness had died but its two hilts might eventually develop new souls. He planned to leave the dangerous hilt with the Academy and test whether the shattered blade fragments could reinforce Night Watchman.

• Luvia explained that candidate rankings rose when candidates took part in important events, and she believed the Witch Apprentice had reached third place.
• Shade and the others discussed the Demon’s plans, the unexplained castle and Ice Maid, and Shade’s private relationship with Chloe.
• Shade said the Demon Sword’s Mother Nest Consciousness was dead, but its damaged hilts might eventually generate two new souls.
• Shade explained that the Academy and The Church would study and contain the remaining hilt, while he kept the shattered blade fragments for testing.
• Shade planned to use the Earth Furnace and his accumulated earth aura to see whether the fragments could strengthen Night Watchman.

Shade planned the next stage of his investigation and went to Fatumonst Island to comfort Claire, who had left home after their difficult conversation. He searched for her in town and learned she might be in the city, leaving him to check the black market beneath the Clock Tower.

• Shade assigned Galina and Luvia tasks for making the fate-related ink, while Dorothy offered to help Luvia with the process.
• Luvia told Shade to visit Claire on Saturday and comfort her, and Long-haired Luvia praised him in the Dream of the apocalypse without explaining why.
• Shade arrived at snowbound Fatumonst Island with Little Mia and discovered Claire was not at Snow Mountain Hall.
• Elder Ursa directed Shade to Elder Harald, who said Claire had returned to her parents' home after being upset the previous night.
• Professor Reinhart told Shade that Claire had gone to the city to shop at a black market, so Shade went to search beneath the Clock Tower.

Shade learned from Miss Larson that Claire had gone to Fatumonst Snow Mountain to clear her head after struggling to process the revelations about Shade and the others. He searched the mountain with Little Mia’s help and followed a flute melody to find Claire standing alone near the summit.

• Shade met Miss Larson in the city and learned Claire had gone to the Snow Mountain, where she felt confused rather than truly angry with him.
• Shade offered to help Miss Larson with her affairs and left to search for Claire, bringing Little Mia and a gemstone Claire had given him.
• Shade let Little Mia choose which part of the mountain to search, and she picked the eastern area near the summit.
• Shade heard a flute melody after searching for hours and followed it through the snow to a high cliff.
• Shade found Claire playing the Holeless Willow Flute alone at the edge of the cliff.

Shade found Claire on Fatumonst Snow Mountain, where they reconciled and promised to stay together. After descending with her, he learned more about the Frozen Castle and a spring that could sharpen animals’ awareness, while Claire prepared for her Crown of Glory Trial the next morning.

• Shade found Claire playing her flute on the snowy peak, and she embraced him, cried, and kissed him after asking whether he considered her his lover.
• Claire told Shade she was hurt by how the others had kept his identity secret, but forgave him and promised not to let go of his hand as long as he did not let go of hers.
• Claire asked Shade to stay by her side until he left the island, and they descended the mountain together after reaffirming their relationship.
• At lunch, Elder Harald and Elder Ursa told Shade that the Church was investigating the Frozen Castle and that three of its survivors were Fatu People who might return to their villages.
• Elder Ursa offered Shade access to a spring that could make animals more spiritually aware, and Claire said he could take Little Mia there the next day after her Crown of Glory Trial began.

Shade left Fatumonst Island after seeing Claire off for her Crown of Glory Trial and went to Schneider Psychological Clinic, only to learn that its doctors had been taken to Ridgewich Field over a Doppelganger incident. He reunited with Luvia, Dorothy, and Priest Augustus, who explained the threat and the Churches’ investigation.

• Elder Harald explained Claire’s Crown of Glory route, its hazards, and the three azure jade pieces she had to collect, while Shade promised to meet her at nine the next morning.
• Shade used Leisha’s Crystal Shoes to leave Unicorn Nest with Little Mia, and Claire discovered a new line in her personal story about receiving Shade’s sincere heart.
• Shade arrived late at Schneider Psychological Clinic and learned from Iluna that its three doctors had been summoned to Ridgewich Field and would not return that weekend.
• Shade followed Iluna’s hint to a restaurant, where he joined Luvia, Dorothy, and Priest Augustus and learned that the Sun Church and Creation Church were investigating a Doppelganger.
• Luvia explained that Doppelgangers were dangerous humanlike derivatives of the Sage Level Relic House of False Men, and that a single discovered individual could signal many more hidden in the city.

Shade’s group discussed the Doppelganger outbreak in Tobesk and the Church’s Mouse Hunt Operation, while Doctor Schneider remained under investigation. After the meeting, Shade received a relic for a Time Exploration and heard Dorothy explain the powers associated with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

• Luvia explained that the Five Gods Church had launched the Mouse Hunt Operation and that the House of False Men would be difficult to locate and destroy.
• Shade described how Doppelgangers could overrun Tobesk, and the Academy rewarded the group 50 pounds for reporting on the relic.
• Priest Augustus gave Shade a black stone from True Death for his Time Exploration, and Luvia said Iluna had not yet found the Heart of the Living Dead.
• Shade recounted his trip to Snow Mountain with Claire Reinhart to Dorothy and Luvia, then invited Luvia to stay for dinner.
• Dorothy resumed Shade’s lesson on fairy tales and described Snow White’s False Death Art, Storm Snow Blessing, and Summon Dwarf Guardian.

Dorothy showed Shade several thaumaturgies tied to Snow White Princess and discussed how he could study the fairy tale through the Princess. At Moon Sanctuary, Dorothy asked whether Shade planned to use Serpent's Shedding to alter her and Leisha's Destiny, and urged him not to harm himself for their sake.

• Dorothy demonstrated Pure White Blessing, which improved Luck and resisted curses, hypnosis, and charm, then showed Shade her limited Magic Mirror thaumaturgy.
• Dorothy explained the few thaumaturgies associated with the Seven Dwarfs, including Leisha's ability to create a temporary stone house, and Shade chose the Princess as his focus for future lessons.
• Shade and Dorothy discussed the next Red Butterfly Day, which was expected to arrive on the twenty-second, and Dorothy said Leisha might arrange their date.
• At Moon Sanctuary, Dorothy asked whether Shade meant to use Serpent's Shedding to alter her and Leisha's Destiny.
• Dorothy told Shade not to pay a price or suffer harm for their freedom, and she made clear that what she and Leisha truly wanted was him.

Shade saw Claire off as she began the Crown of Glory trial on Fatumonster Mountain, her rank suppressed by the relic Day of Atonement. After promising to meet her at the summit, Shade planned to investigate strange knocking at Claire’s mother’s house with Miss Larson, but he considered secretly following Claire into the mountain.

• Shade examined the bloodstained ivory comb Day of Atonement, which Claire would use to suppress her rank for the trial.
• Claire told Shade not to follow her and asked him to investigate the knocking sounds at her mother’s neighboring, long-abandoned house with Miss Larson.
• The five Great Elders painted Claire’s face with mineral pigments, and she set off alone up the snowy mountain with a positioning runestone.
• Shade learned Claire had left her Witch’s ring behind because she wanted to face the trial seriously and hoped to reach the Twelfth Order.
• Shade asked Miss Larson whether she would tell Claire if he secretly followed her, and she left the decision to him.

Shade and Miss Larson investigated the midnight knocking at the Reinhart home and traced it to the empty house next door. Echoes of the Past revealed a voice calling for Miranda, and Mrs. Reinhart explained that Miranda Otto had waited for her missing husband for more than fifty years.

• Miss Larson told Shade that Mrs. Reinhart had heard knocking from the neighboring house around midnight on two successive nights.
• Shade and Miss Larson searched the Reinhart home and the neighboring storage house but found no abnormal signs.
• Shade used Echoes of the Past in the empty house and heard a man’s voice calling, “Miranda, Miranda, I'm back.”
• Miss Larson identified Miranda as Miranda Otto, the house’s former resident.
• Mrs. Reinhart told Shade that Miranda’s husband had disappeared during a mountain climb decades ago and that Miranda had stayed on the island waiting for him to return.

Shade and Miss Larson tracked the icy presence that had been knocking on doors to a mutated Corpse Ghoul in a mountain cemetery. Shade discovered it had once been an Ice Sculpture, but its body and soul could not be restored to life.

• Mrs. Reinhart told Shade and Miss Larson that Mrs. Otto’s husband had vanished on the Holy Mountain and gave them Mrs. Otto’s address in the City of Time Wheels.
• Miss Larson used her Ice power to follow the cold traces from town into the Snow Mountain, leading Shade to a cemetery in the Cedar Forest.
• A frost-covered Corpse Ghoul crawled from a shallow grave and fled into the forest, then transformed into snow and mist to escape Shade’s Moonlight Ring.
• Shade and Miss Larson pursued the Corpse Ghoul up the mountain, where it attacked them before hiding beneath the snow.
• Shade stopped the Corpse Ghoul with Time Stop and used Guiding Death to see its memories of a man who had become lost and frozen in the Snow Mountain.
• Shade realized the Corpse Ghoul had once been an Ice Sculpture, but it had died more than fifty years earlier and could not be brought back to life.