Recaps

Shade used the golden bracelet to calm Miss Belinder after she witnessed something terrifying, then faced Desire, who had appeared as a Mermaid beyond the reef. Desire allowed him to take the witch and the corrupted maids away, and Shade asked where she had spent the past year.

• Shade gave Miss Belinder the golden bracelet and helped her invoke Chaos, suppressing her rampaging elements.
• Miss Belinder warned Shade to flee and said she had suspected Countess Dalmanin was connected to Ring Arcanists.
• Shade recognized Desire in the Mermaid at the reef and told Miss Belinder to close her eyes while he handled the encounter.
• Desire said she had no need for Believers and teased Shade about his growing desires and the witch in his arms.
• Shade asked to take Miss Belinder and the maids away, and Desire agreed without naming a price.
• Desire asked Shade to guess where she had spent most of the past year, and he replied that he had encountered her in different cities.

Shade met Desire in the waters beneath Moon Bay and learned she wanted him to protect the city from an approaching disaster. She also warned that his current powers could not bind the Black Crow and gave him an address in Tobesk where he could find a new power.

• Desire told Shade she had been living in Moon Bay since leaving Coldwater Port and had chosen the city as her territory.
• Desire demanded that Shade and Miss Belinder mate before her, but Shade refused and asked what she truly wanted.
• Desire instructed Shade to protect Moon Bay City during the coming disaster so she could continue enjoying the desires gathered there.
• Desire warned Shade that his chains could not bind the Black Crow and gave him an address in Tobesk where something that could grant him new power awaited.
• Desire told Shade to eliminate the Black Crow and return to Moon Bay, then disappeared beneath the water.

Shade and Miss Belinder returned safely to Belinder Manor after Desire’s illusion and mental contamination, and Little Unicorn helped dispel the lingering negative power. After they washed and changed, Bella Belinder surprised Shade in his bathtub and kissed him underwater, leaving him wondering whether Desire’s influence still affected her.

• Shade carried Miss Belinder and the awakening maids away from the reef, and Miss Matilda explained that they remembered visiting Countess Dalmanin before waking at the elevator.
• Countess Dalmanin escorted Shade’s group to the gate, where their carriage had returned, and they traveled safely back to Belinder Manor.
• Little Unicorn sensed the lingering evil power and dispelled its oppressive effects, while Shade captured the remaining pink smoke in the Perfume Bottle.
• Miss Belinder left Shade’s arms and went upstairs to freshen up as the others washed and changed before lunch.
• Bella Belinder entered Shade’s room while he bathed, kissed him underwater, and said that she wanted to kiss him even more.

Shade and Miss Belinder grew closer after Desire’s appearance and discussed the danger posed by the Black Crow that had cursed them. The chapter left Shade keeping Miss Belinder company while Emilia remained uneasy about the looming threat.

• Bella asked Shade to confirm his feelings and inspect him, and they became intimate in the bath.
• Shade and Miss Belinder arrived late to lunch, where she told Shade and Emilia that her mother and Younger Sisters would return the next day.
• Shade showed Emilia the Crow Feather and explained that a powerful Black Crow had cursed them, while telling her to trust his arrangements.
• After Emilia left, Miss Belinder asked Shade about Desire and he warned her not to contact Countess Dalmanin or report the entity.
• Miss Belinder asked Shade to stay with her for the afternoon, and he agreed.

Shade met Priest Augustus while investigating a relic that was influencing Vincent Taylor to spread increasingly hostile prejudices in Tobesk. They identified the relic as Prejudice and went to the Jasmine Opera Troupe’s courtyard to observe Taylor, who worked there to support his studies.

• Shade visited the address Desire had given him and unexpectedly found Priest Augustus investigating the same case.
• Priest Augustus described how Vincent Taylor’s growing prejudice had become unusually persuasive, influencing even mild-tempered people.
• Priest Augustus identified the phenomenon as the Poet Level curse-like relic Prejudice, which was difficult to detect and could not be fully contained.
• Shade and Priest Augustus headed to the Jasmine Opera Troupe’s courtyard to observe Taylor and decide how to stop him spreading his ideas.
• Shade and Priest Augustus arrived at the courtyard as the audience gathered and the stagehands prepared for the performance.

Shade and Priest Augustus investigated Vincent Taylor at the Jasmine Opera Troupe and learned that his extreme views had grown increasingly disruptive. They discovered Taylor onstage, where he began delivering a political speech that threatened the troupe, and Mrs. Marian tried to stop him.

• Shade brought Priest Augustus backstage and asked Mrs. Marian about Vincent Taylor.
• Mrs. Marian described Taylor’s recent extreme statements about outsiders, Kasonlik people, nobles, and Shade.
• Mrs. Marian said Taylor was working as a temporary actor and pointed him out onstage in a hunter’s costume.
• Taylor began giving a political speech about the coming Civil War and Kasonlik people instead of following the play.
• Mrs. Marian shouted for the troupe to pull Taylor down before his speech caused trouble.

Shade and Priest Augustus lured Vincent Taylor away from the city after his disruptive speech at the opera. In the woods, Augustus confronted Taylor about the Curse of Prejudice and said he could not save him.

• Vincent Taylor interrupted the opera with a political speech, and the king and two dwarves dragged him offstage.
• Shade and Priest Augustus guarded Taylor backstage, where he insulted them and diagnosed Shade with several imagined illnesses.
• Augustus paid Taylor to leave the city with them, claiming that like-minded people wanted to hear him speak.
• The three traveled through the northern outskirts and into the woods, where Taylor realized something was wrong.
• Augustus said the Curse of Prejudice had taken root in Taylor's heart and that he could not save him.

Shade stopped Priest Augustus from killing Vincent Taylor and confronted him about the lingering influence of death. Shade’s Underworld Moon brought Augustus back to his senses, and the priest admitted that death had distorted his thinking.

• Priest Augustus summoned the Death Bringer's Scythe and terrified Vincent Taylor into unconsciousness.
• Shade blocked Augustus’s blow and argued that death’s influence was making the priest view the world too bleakly.
• Augustus refused to answer whether he still carried the dead’s Prejudice toward the living and vanished into the woods.
• Shade fought off Augustus’s attacks as the priest transformed the forest into a realm of black water and silence.
• Shade summoned the Underworld Moon, which calmed Augustus and ended the deathly domain.
• Augustus apologized and acknowledged that he had been influenced by death and could no longer judge the world from death’s perspective.

Shade and Priest Augustus resolved the effects of Prejudice, and Shade gained the Prejudice Spirit Rune. At the Study Group, Augustus revealed that he planned to travel to Moon Bay after the exam, while Shade and Doctor Schneider prepared for their important plan the next morning.

• Shade explained that Prejudice had affected him too, and Augustus arranged for a trusted Dawn Church Ring Arcanist to deliver Vincent Taylor to The Church after giving him a memory-loss potion.
• Shade gained insight into Prejudice and inscribed the Black Iron Whisper Spirit Rune, strengthening his Great Sin Chains.
• Shade and Augustus returned to the city, where Augustus dealt with Taylor and Shade met Little Mia before joining the others at Doctor Schneider's clinic.
• Doctor Schneider announced that the next Study Group meeting would be replaced by exam preparations at Shade's home, and Augustus said he planned to visit Moon Bay after the exam and Saint Prayer Festival.
• After the meeting, Shade stayed with Doctor Schneider to discuss their plans for the next morning and the relic that would let the Doctor use Space Jump.

Shade examined the Sure-Kill Handgun with the Doctor and learned how its Space Jump and deadly cost worked before they prepared to hunt the Black Crow. Later, Luvia brought Shade the locations of Sparrow Hamilton’s photographs, including one taken by a lake near Kalas Mountain in 1850.

• The Doctor explained that the Sure-Kill Handgun could make bullets perform Space Jumps, but each shot demanded a life as payment and traveling with it could harm the user.
• Shade and the Doctor confirmed their plan to meet at Shade’s home the next morning and use the handgun to travel to Moon Bay for the Crow hunt.
• Shade visited Moon Bay with Little Mia, arranged the next morning’s departure with Emilia, and spoke with Miss Belinder.
• Luvia visited Shade in place of Leisha, who had been kept at Yodel Palace by a banquet, and gave him her findings on Sparrow Hamilton’s photographs.
• Luvia’s analysis identified a photograph of a lake near the foot of Kalas Mountain, taken in 1850.

Shade and Emilia prepared for Doctor Schneider’s plan at the Clock Tower during a fierce storm, while Shade left Emilia and Little Unicorn waiting inside. The lights went out, and Emilia began to sense that something was watching her.

• Luvia agreed to try divining Detective Sparrow’s former contact with Bella Belinder after exam week, but said they would need more clues.
• Shade and Doctor Schneider synchronized their watches and arranged for the doctor to shoot Shade into Moon Bay at nine o’clock.
• During the storm, Shade reached Belinder Manor, then went with Emilia and Little Unicorn to the Clock Tower while Miss Belinder waited nearby.
• Shade knocked out the Clock Tower’s guards and staff, then left Emilia and Little Unicorn inside while he went outside to meet the doctor.
• After the Clock Tower’s lights went out, Emilia comforted the frightened Little Unicorn and noticed a stain on the wall that looked like a human figure pressed against it.

Emilia and Little Liana were trapped in Belinder Big Ben by the Angel Level Relic Corpse in the Wall, which pursued them up the stairs. Just as they were about to be overwhelmed, Shade reached them and attacked the relic with Moonlight Slash.

• Emilia recognized the moving shapes in the Clock Tower walls as Corpse in the Wall and tried to escape with Little Liana up the stairs.
• The relic weakened Emilia and Little Liana, and both fell as the cracked, mucus-covered wall figures closed in on them.
• Emilia refused to leave Little Liana behind and stood between her friend and the advancing darkness, calling for Shade to save her.
• Shade used Enhanced Space Perception and Laguerre's Leap to reach them as a swarm of red butterflies, briefly driving the relic back.
• Shade returned to human form, raised Night Watchman, and struck at Corpse in the Wall with Moonlight Slash.

Shade carried Emilia and Little Unicorn up Belinder Big Ben while the Corpse in the Wall pursued them, then prepared to confront the Angel Level Relic at the tower’s summit. Outside, church arcanists arrived and recognized the danger as possibly involving an Angel Level Relic.

• Shade carried Emilia and Little Unicorn up the stairs as the Corpse in the Wall’s darkness pursued them.
• Emilia recited the Night Watchman’s Ancient Elvish runes and regained her senses, while Shade used Moon’s Thorn to seal the stairwell against the pursuing relic.
• Shade, Emilia, and Little Unicorn reached the observation platform, where black tentacles and corpse-like figures emerged from the corridor walls.
• Shade summoned the Yggdrasil Staff and prepared with the Night Watchman as the relic’s core approached.
• Creation Church arcanists gathered outside Belinder Big Ben, and a Dawn Church elder suspected the tower’s corruption involved an Angel Level Relic.

Shade drove the Angel Level Relic, Corpse in the Wall, away from the clock tower with a powerful Silver Moon spell, but a crow feather pierced his heart immediately afterward. Emilia watched Shade die as a crow-headed man appeared on the observation deck.

• Iluna Bayes recognized the Corpse in the Wall at Belinder Big Ben, but canceled her attack when she sensed Shade above the tower.
• Shade unleashed Silver Moon from Night Watchman and the Yggdrasil Staff, temporarily driving the relic away and bathing the city in moonlight.
• Emilia realized what she truly wanted while the moonlight washed over her, and Dorothy sent Tifa to check the clock tower while the others went to Belinder Manor.
• Shade collapsed from exhaustion after the relic vanished, and a Crow Feather pierced his heart as he stood with Emilia.
• Shade died in the rain, and the Little Unicorn mourned beside him while Emilia watched in shock.
• A black crow landed on the observation deck, transformed into a crow-headed man, and approached Emilia.

Emilia Sinode confronted Mr. Crow after Shade died protecting her, and refused his offer to become his messenger despite his power. As Mr. Crow prepared to kill her, Emilia took up the Night Watchman and raised it against him, leaving her poised to fight for everyone.

• Mr. Crow revealed himself to Emilia and offered her power in exchange for becoming his messenger and spreading Misfortune.
• Emilia refused the offer, declaring she would protect the world and would not let Mr. Crow have what he wanted.
• The Little Unicorn helped Emilia regain control, but Mr. Crow knocked the Yggdrasil Staff and the Little Unicorn away, leaving Emilia to take up the Night Watchman.
• Emilia attacked Mr. Crow with the sword, but he evaded her and used Crow Feathers to wound her and knock the blade from her grip.
• Emilia rejected Mr. Crow again, called him an enemy of civilization, and drew the Night Watchman as he prepared to strike her with a swarm of feathers.

Emilia awakened the Sword of Light and joined Shade and Doctor Schneider in trapping the Demon of Misfortune, Pharnalius. Shade fell with the burning Demon toward the harbor, while Emilia rode Little Liana after them.

• Emilia was struck by golden lightning and awakened a white Sword of Light that healed her and inscribed the Hero Spirit Rune on her Destiny Ring.
• Shade revealed he had survived, and he and Emilia attacked Pharnalius while Doctor Schneider briefly restrained the Demon with a giant hand.
• Shade stopped Pharnalius with Adele's Time Stop long enough for the Great Sin Chains to bind it, and Emilia struck it with the Sword of Light.
• Shade pierced Pharnalius with the Red Glass Bead, igniting the Demon in scarlet flames, then grappled with it as the chains bound them both.
• Pharnalius dragged Shade off the Clock Tower and fell with him toward the harbor, while Doctor Schneider flew after them.
• Emilia mounted the recovered Little Liana and flew south toward the coast with the Sword of Light.

Shade and his allies cornered and defeated the crow-like Misfortune Demon at Moon Bay Port, while Emilia’s Sword of Light appeared in battle. After Doctor Schneider took the Demon away to banish it, Shade reunited with Iluna and met Illustrious Miss.

• Iluna left Mr. Kamora to hold back the Angel Level Relic and rode toward the harbor to keep the Church from interfering with Shade.
• Shade escaped the burning water with the crow-man, but exhaustion forced him to sink beneath the sea as Doctor Schneider tried to seize the Demon.
• Emilia, Doctor Schneider, Illustrious Miss, and Iluna attacked the crow as it tried to flee, and Shade returned to strike it with Thunder using the Yggdrasil Staff.
• Shade ordered Doctor Schneider to banish the weakened crow, then told Iluna to give the Church a Crow Feather and say the God Summoner had tried to seal Misfortune Demon-Pharnalius.
• Shade embraced Iluna, explained that Emilia had only fulfilled the sword condition, and greeted Illustrious Miss when she said, "Long time no see, Shade."

Shade reunited with Miss Illustrious after the sea battle, rescued Emilia, and learned that Doctor Schneider had emerged safely with a gift for Miss Sianode. As the city prepared to welcome Princess Margaret Anjou, Countess Bella Belinder worried about the complications awaiting Shade at her manor.

• Miss Illustrious appeared before Shade, promised to meet him again at Princess Margaret’s welcome banquet, and reminded him that he owed her three kisses.
• Shade comforted the exhausted Emilia, then Doctor Schneider emerged safely and gave Shade a Red Glass Bead for Miss Sianode before returning to Tobesk.
• Shade rode away with Emilia on the Little Unicorn and wondered whether Doctor Schneider might suffer from the effects of wielding inhuman power.
• Countess Bella Belinder waited at the train station for Princess Margaret Anjou and worried that the Duke Galina’s maids might encounter Shade and Emilia at her manor.
• The nobles, reporters, and orchestra gathered as Princess Margaret’s train arrived in Moon Bay City.

Princess Margaret arrived in Moon Bay City for a political visit, then secretly left her manor to meet with three Great Witches at Belinder Manor. The Witches learned about the battle at Belinder Big Ben and prepared to speak with Shade, while Margaret worried about his condition.

• Earl Belinder, Earl Eddington, and Earl Hawthorne welcomed Princess Margaret at the train station, where she greeted Countess Belinder first.
• Margaret rested at Margaret Manor while Siris used her appearance and memories to impersonate her, allowing Margaret to leave secretly.
• Miss Belinder told Margaret, Miss Benanis, and Miss Sylvia that Shade had helped defeat and drive away the Misfortune Demon-Pharnalius after an Angel Level Relic appeared and Emilia drew the Sword of Light.
• Miss Benanis and Miss Sylvia questioned whether Emilia could be the Chosen One of Light and Dragon, while Margaret quietly asked whether Shade was all right.
• The Witches and Margaret arrived at Belinder Manor, where Miss Belinder welcomed them and Margaret accepted being treated only as a Witch Apprentice.

Shade revealed his true identity to Bella Belinder and reconciled with the Witches over his relationships with them. The reunion was interrupted when Miss Benanis opened the door and found a small white beast outside.

• Miss Belinder and Miss Benanis visited the room where Shade watched the sleeping Emilia with Tifa and the Black-Haired Maid.
• Bella confronted Shade about his relationships with Tifa and the Witches, and he admitted that he was Shade Hamilton.
• Miss Benanis listed several women close to Shade, and Shade identified Luvia Annette as his partner.
• Shade apologized to Bella and introduced himself as Shade Suellen Hamilton, while Bella and Miss Benanis agreed to put their disagreement behind them.
• Miss Benanis opened the door after hearing three knocks and found a small white beast trying to knock with its horn.

Shade confirmed that Emilia was no longer marked by the Crow, then told her how she helped Doctor Schneider defeat the Misfortune Demon and explained the Chosen Ones and the Sword of Light. Emilia chose to stay at the Belinder estate, where she could face the attention her sword-drawing had attracted alongside Shade and the others.

• Miss Benanis mistook Shade for an illusion, then discovered that Miss Sylvia had found a young unicorn at Bella's estate, which ran to greet Emilia.
• Shade tested Emilia with Doctor Schneider's medicine and confirmed that the Crow tattoo had disappeared, ending her confinement.
• Shade recounted how Doctor Schneider swallowed the Misfortune Demon and praised Emilia's role in banishing it, then gave her Doctor Schneider's Red Glass Bead as a memento.
• Shade explained the Murmuring Chapters, the Chosen Ones, and the attention Emilia's drawing of the Sword of Light had drawn from powerful Arcanists, the church, and other factions.
• Emilia agreed to remain at the estate with Shade and learn more about the situation; Shade told her Princess Angelina was downstairs.

Shade spent the day at the manor with the newly arrived Witches and reunited Angelina with Emilia, then left for the Doctor’s clinic. The Doctor celebrated their successful hunt of the Ancient One and revealed that its power could help him reach the ninth ring before winter.

• Emilia told Shade that her clan’s records described the Witch Council, and Shade explained her companions would return to Saint Byron’s after their Academy assignment.
• Angelina reunited with Emilia and gently stroked the Little Unicorn while Dorothy and Shade left them to talk.
• Shade reviewed Moon Bay’s situation with the arriving Witches, then promised to return the next day and attend Margaret’s welcoming banquet.
• Dorothy stayed at the manor with Angelina, while Shade returned home, took Little Mia to dinner, and went to the Doctor’s clinic.
• The Doctor told Shade their hunt had gone better than expected and said he planned to use his gains to advance to the ninth ring before winter.
• The Doctor gave Shade the Demon remains, six coins, and several gemstones as his share of the hunt’s spoils.

Shade and the Doctor discussed the Sword of Light, its powers, and the Doctor’s confidence that Shade would stop him if he ever lost control. The Doctor looked ahead to the group’s future journey to Saint Byrens Comprehensive College and urged Shade to keep everyone together.

• The Doctor gave Shade the coins and gemstones recovered from Pharnalius and offered to help locate its nest in Moon Bay.
• Shade asked the Doctor what he knew about the Sword of Light, and the Doctor explained its cost, different forms, and possible connection to the Moonbeam Greatsword.
• Shade told the Doctor about the succubi at an Earl’s manor, and the Doctor offered to help with dangers in Moon Bay if needed.
• Shade asked whether consuming demons could make the Doctor lose control, and the Doctor said Shade was his safeguard and should kill him if that ever happened.
• The Doctor described his hope that their group would travel together to Saint Byrens Comprehensive College and asked Shade not to let anyone go.

Shade returned home to find Miss Danist waiting to question him about Emilia drawing the Sword of Light. After explaining the sword’s effects and Emilia’s experience, he asked whether the rituals for Moonbeam Greatsword and Sunlight Greatsword could reveal how to draw it.

• Shade arrived home and learned that Miss Danist had come in person and was waiting upstairs.
• Miss Danist asked Shade for a detailed account of Emilia drawing the Sword of Light during the operation at Belinder Big Ben.
• Shade described the sword’s Space Locking, its enhancement of the Night Watchman’s abilities, and Emilia’s exhaustion and recovery afterward.
• Miss Danist said Emilia’s perception of the Demon stopping time likely came from her High Elf nature, not the sword.
• Shade asked whether the rituals for Moonbeam Greatsword and Sunlight Greatsword could help uncover the Sword of Light’s drawing ritual.

After Miss Danist left, Shade reunited with the women at home and discussed the Moon Bay Incident, the Sword of Light, and the relic coins recovered from the Demon. The evening ended with Luvia, Leisha, and Miss Galina insisting that they study together for their upcoming exams.

• Miss Danist arranged for Emilia and the Unicorn to remain with Shade until the Moon Bay Incident ended, then left after reminding Shade and Luvia about next week's exam.
• Shade told Leisha, Luvia, and Miss Galina that Tifa and the others had reached Moon Bay safely, Angelina was staying with Emilia, and Emilia had been unable to reproduce the Sword of Light.
• Shade showed the group five relic coins, and Luvia, Miss Galina, and Leisha identified the Pirate's Blood Money, the Coin of Wisdom, and the King's Egg.
• Luvia declined to perform a divination until Shade found the third dragon scale and brought back the incomplete rune it revealed.
• Luvia, Leisha, and Miss Galina invited Shade to review for their upcoming exams together, and he agreed.