Chapter Summaries

Shade and Ms. Meister explored the ruins and found a strange piece of black metal before returning through the scorching desert with Grandma Sianode. Their journey ended when they discovered a vast pit filled with the bones of elves who had died in terror.

• Shade found a piece of black metal in a buried chest that Toy Making could not turn into a toy, then left the ruins with Ms. Meister.
• As the desert heat wore him down, Ms. Meister warned Shade against letting his thoughts run wild and promised him a gift if he avoided asking for help before finding the Oasis Heart.
• Grandma Sianode met Shade and Ms. Meister and eased Shade's heatstroke-like symptoms with green energy.
• Shade accidentally looked at the blazing Sun and temporarily went blind, so Ms. Meister supported him until his sight returned.
• The group found elven skeletons scattered across the sand, then discovered a nearby pit nearly filled with more elven bones.

Shade tried to lead Grandma Sianode through an illusion-filled Bone Pit after it convinced her that the Moon Creek Clan had perished. Carrying her and the remains of her daughter Liya, Shade followed Ms. Meister onward, increasingly weakened by the heat as the pit seemed endless.

• Grandma Sianode recognized the bones as members of the Moon Creek Clan and broke down in grief, while Shade insisted they were an illusion.
• Shade carried Grandma Sianode through the Bone Pit and asked about her mission to find the Oasis Heart for Zaras Academy of Literature.
• Hands grabbed Shade's feet and toppled him, revealing a skeleton wearing Liya's bracelet and flower crown; Grandma Sianode embraced it in despair.
• Shade picked up Liya's remains, carried Grandma Sianode on his back, and followed Ms. Meister through the pit.
• Grandma Sianode sang an elven lullaby as Shade struggled through the heat, saw illusions, and watched the bones seem to rise around them.

Shade carried Grandma Sianode through a scorching illusion of her clan’s past and helped her reject the temptation to stop searching for the Oasis Heart. They returned to the Sun God Temple, where Shade recovered and prepared to share supplies with the group.

• Shade fought through bone-built scenes from Grandma Sianode’s memories while carrying her toward a young elf girl in a Flower Crown.
• Shade urged Grandma Sianode to continue and showed her a book depicting Emilia Sinode, a descendant of the Moon Creek Clan living in the future.
• Grandma Sianode regained her flesh as the elf girl vanished, and Shade climbed out of the sand pit with her and her skeleton.
• Ms. Meister confirmed the illusion had tested Grandma Sianode, who had passed and remained qualified to search for the Oasis Heart.
• Shade and the others returned to the Sun God Temple, where Ms. Sandel and Ms. Knight helped care for Grandma Sianode and Shade.
• After recovering from the heat, Shade asked Ms. Knight to help sort supplies for the group.

Shade helped the stranded women organize supplies and deciphered records from the ruins, learning that a Compass Fragment pointed toward the Oasis Heart. Before his Time Exploration ended, the group chose another nearby ruin to investigate, and Grandma Sianode asked Shade to gather information about the Oasis Heart before he returned.

• Shade asked Ms. Knight about her loyalty to her Queen and told her that he served his Princess as her husband.
• Shade and Grandma Sianode translated the parchment and stone slab, revealing that the ruins belonged to a temple in a kingdom destroyed by divine punishment.
• Shade explained that the metal fragment was one-third of a Compass meant to locate the Oasis Heart, and Grandma Sianode suggested searching nearby ruins for the other fragments.
• Ms. Knight and Ms. Sandel described a tomb with a knight statue that only someone wearing particular armor could approach.
• Shade said he would leave and return later, while Grandma Sianode asked him to investigate the Oasis Heart before his next visit.

Shade left the women stranded in the desert with a promise to return, then came back from the time adventure overheated and was cooled by Galina. Over breakfast, he explained the search for the Oasis Heart and planned to seek information from Zaras Academy of Literature and Emilia.

• Shade promised Ms. Meister, Ms. Knight, the Mermaid Girls, and Grandma Sianode that he would return to the desert, then transformed into a silver dragon and tried to summon a suitable Sunlight Greatsword before disappearing.
• Shade rushed home from the time adventure overheated, and Galina cooled him with an Ice Spell and a kiss.
• Luvia, Leisha, and Galina discussed Shade's Toy Making Thaumaturgy and teased one another while he washed up.
• Shade told the ladies about the Oasis Heart over breakfast, and Leisha agreed to ask Zaras Academy of Literature for information while Shade planned to ask Emilia.

After breakfast, Shade visited the Countess in Moon Bay and met the being beneath the sea, who gave him a powerful dagger and a mission to kill an intruder. She promised to reveal the location of a dragon scale afterward, leaving Shade to hunt the target before the Seventh Chosen One performed a ritual.

• Shade drew a government report from God's Gift Box and told his family he would continue investigating in Moon Bay.
• Shade traveled to Earl Dalmanin's Residence and descended to the reefs, where he met the beautiful being in the sea.
• The being praised Shade for defeating Pharnalius and gave him Madeline's Love, a dagger that could severely wound even powerful beings.
• She tasked Shade with killing a masked intruder in Moon Bay and promised to reveal the location of a dragon scale in return.
• Shade asked whether she had corrupted him, and she denied influencing his inappropriate thoughts before disappearing into the fog.

Shade arrived at Belinder Manor and gathered its residents and guests to discuss Emilia’s role in defeating Misfortune Demon-Pharnalius. The group recognized that Emilia had met the conditions to draw the Sword of Light, but they wondered whether Moon Bay held another threat powerful enough to make her a Chosen One.

• Shade carried the warm dagger away from the sea and traveled to Belinder Manor, where Miss Benanis, Miss Sylvia, and the others welcomed him.
• Shade told Emilia that Miss Danist had agreed to let her and Little Liana stay at the manor until the Moon Bay matters were settled, while warning her not to contact the headmaster or others in the area.
• Shade recounted Emilia’s arrival in Tobesk and the group’s battle against Misfortune Demon-Pharnalius, taking most of the credit himself.
• Iluna said that the Sword of Light’s recorded wielders had all been heroes, and Emilia explained that she drew it because she believed Shade had died protecting her and wanted to stop the Crow Man from hurting anyone else.
• Dorothy and Tifa concluded that Emilia had met the conditions to become a Chosen One, while Miss Sylvia questioned whether Moon Bay could hold another enemy powerful enough to let her draw the sword again.

Shade reconciled with Bella Belinder, who accepted his hidden relationships and pledged to help him lead the Council toward Destiny’s end. As preparations for the Moon Bay Incident continued, Shade planned to leave for home that evening while Tifa and the maids reinforced the manor.

• Bella told Shade she knew about his Great Witch lovers and understood his plans regarding the Murmuring Chapters and the Chosen Ones.
• Bella confessed her feelings for Shade and promised to become his arm and longsword as they kissed.
• Shade arranged to return home with Dorothy that evening, while Dorothy chose to spend the afternoon with Angelina.
• Shade visited Tifa and found the Northern Kingdom Maid Troupe and the manor maids preparing defenses and supplies.
• Tifa offered Shade the troupe’s help with anything he needed.

Shade met with Mr. Bernhardt to review his investigation into Bloodkin collaborating with the Dragon Devouring Order and agreed to help approach five suspects using a blood-detection tool. They planned to visit Tolomay next, then investigate the suspects at Princess Margaret’s banquet, Cassandra Auction House, and through Captain Rudolf’s contacts.

• Shade told Tifa to prepare for a long stay in Moon Bay, then visited Miss Belinder and asked Emilia to check whether the Moon Creek Clan knew about the Oasis Heart.
• Shade met Mr. Bernhardt at Spider Hotel and learned that his investigation had uncovered five Bloodkin suspects but no clear lead on the holy relic Blood of Sorrow.
• Mr. Bernhardt showed Shade a detection tool made with monster blood that could identify a blood source at close range, requiring them to get within handshake distance of each suspect.
• Shade agreed to obtain an Invitation Letter so they could approach the three suspects attending Princess Margaret’s welcome banquet.
• Shade agreed to meet Mrs. Jude at Cassandra Auction House the next morning and proposed visiting Captain Rudolf that afternoon through Princess Trading Partner’s contacts.
• Mr. Bernhardt asked Shade to visit Tolomay first because Tolomay had new leads.

Shade and Mr. Bernhardt met Captain Rudolf to ask whether he knew which local Same Race was cooperating with the Dragon Devouring Order. Rudolf said he spent most of his time at sea and knew nothing about Moon Bay’s affairs.

• Mr. Ptolemy Albert told Shade and Mr. Bernhardt that two healthy married men with mistresses had recently died of unexplained heart attacks.
• Shade and Mr. Bernhardt went to Princess Trading Partner, where Mr. William Kidd arranged a meeting with Captain Rudolf.
• Shade and Mr. Bernhardt found Captain Rudolf playing cards at the Golden Lion Tavern, where he explained that he did not possess the rumored Ancient Alchemy Transformation Stone.
• Mr. Bernhardt questioned Captain Rudolf about a local Same Race cooperating with the Dragon Devouring Order, but Rudolf denied knowing anything about Moon Bay’s affairs.

Shade and Mr. Bernhardt questioned Captain Rudolf by winning two arm-wrestling matches, and he shared information about Mrs. Jude’s orphanage, Viscount Crown, and Old Billy. He knew nothing about who was cooperating with the dragon-devouring cultists, leaving Shade and Mr. Bernhardt to investigate Mrs. Jude themselves.

• Shade beat Captain Rudolf in their first arm-wrestling match, earning his first piece of information.
• Shade won their second match, and Captain Rudolf dismissed the crowd to speak privately with Shade and Mr. Bernhardt.
• Captain Rudolf said Mrs. Jude had paid him to bring helpless orphans to her orphanage, though he had verified that the children were safe and living there or with adoptive families.
• Captain Rudolf said Viscount Crown had asked him to transport unspecified goods from the New Continent, but he had refused.
• Captain Rudolf reported that Old Billy had recently come into money, and Mr. Bernhardt explained that his wealthy illegitimate son wanted to support him in his old age.

Shade and Mr. Bernhardt exchanged intelligence with John Flynn’s party about Moon Bay, the Seekers of Light Research Society, and Eternal Light. Shade then visited Margaret and Miss Sylvia at the Princess’s Manor, where they had been reviewing confidential documents about the city.

• Captain Rudolf asked Shade and Mr. Bernhardt to handle John Flynn’s arrival, then left with his men to avoid being drawn into Moon Bay’s troubles.
• Shade and Mr. Bernhardt met John Flynn and his companion and agreed to exchange intelligence about Belinder Big Ben and the Seekers of Light Research Society.
• John Flynn revealed that Light Chaser, a Thirteenth Ring Warlock, was in Moon Bay and that the Society was trying to infiltrate Eternal Light, which it had funded but neither founded nor controlled.
• Shade and Mr. Bernhardt declined to arrange another meeting with John Flynn’s party, and Shade later parted from Mr. Bernhardt.
• Shade transformed into a silver cat to enter the guarded Princess’s Manor, then met Margaret and Miss Sylvia in her study.
• Margaret told Shade that she and Miss Sylvia had spent the afternoon reviewing confidential Moon Bay documents sent by the Gray Gloves.

Shade visited Margaret and Miss Sylvia, discussed the success of their stockings business, and explained determinants to Sylvia before leaving for Moon Bay with Mia. The chapter ended as Shade and Mia arrived at the brightly lit Goth Grand Hotel.

• Shade told Margaret and Miss Sylvia that the Thirteenth Ring Light Chaser was likely investigating elven legends in Moon Bay, and they discussed the stockings business's rapid growth and production limits.
• Miss Sylvia kept Margaret occupied with a locked chest and mathematics problem, then asked Shade about his relationship with Bella while he helped her change her stockings.
• When Margaret returned, Shade claimed he and Sylvia had discussed mathematics and explained determinants, impressing Sylvia enough that she asked him to stay the night.
• Shade declined Margaret's invitation to dinner, promised to see her the next night, and left after she kissed him goodbye.
• Shade collected Mia from home and took her to the Goth Grand Hotel in Moon Bay.

Shade met with Miss Benanis and Siris, then left to meet Dorothy at Belinder Manor, while Emilia returned to Saint Byron's through a projection ritual to speak with Grandma Qishala. Grandma Qishala offered Emilia information about the Oasis Heart in exchange for answers about Shade, and ended by asking whether he had a cat as warm as the midday sun.

• Shade joined Miss Benanis and Siris for dinner, and Siris showed him the restored parts of Herman Wood's sewer memory, revealing the Dragon Devouring Order cultists.
• Miss Benanis embraced Shade and Siris joined them, but Shade left at seven fifty to keep his promise to meet Dorothy at Belinder Manor by eight.
• Dorothy and Shade said goodbye to Miss Belinder and the others, and Emilia received a message from her family at Saint Byron's asking to see her.
• Emilia projected herself to the sacred clearing beneath the giant tree and spoke with Grandma Qishala, who said she knew Emilia had been helping someone and offered information about the Oasis Heart for answers.
• Emilia told Grandma Qishala that Shade had used the Moonbeam Greatsword but that she had never seen him use the Sunlight Greatsword, and Grandma Qishala asked whether he had a sun-warm cat.

Emilia heard an elf prophecy about the return of ancient blessings and the Chosen Ones, but declined the chance to claim Ocarina of Time. Shade and Dorothy spent the night together before agreeing to focus on their exams, and Shade then returned to Moon Bay.

• Old Elf Granny told Emilia that the world’s order was collapsing, named several newly blessed mortals, and offered her the chance to become a Chosen One by taking Ocarina of Time.
• Emilia refused for now, leaving Ocarina of Time for the children, and Old Elf Granny warned her that large-scale time manipulation could no longer alter reality in the Sixth Epoch.
• Shade told Dorothy he planned to abstain until exams ended, but Dorothy seduced him, and Little Mia spent the night in the wardrobe.
• On Tuesday, Dorothy explained that Shade felt awkward because he treated Little Mia like family, then said she and Leisha would study all week and stay away until Saturday night.
• Shade escorted Dorothy back to Quill Street and returned to Moon Bay, where he found Emilia and Angelina at Belinder Manor while the Countess attended a City Council meeting about tsunami precautions.

Shade and Mr. Bernhardt investigated Mrs. Jude at a charity auction and confirmed she had drunk human blood. When she tried to flee, Shade intercepted her as she transformed into a cloud of blood mist.

• Shade met Miss Swift at Belinder Manor, received her letter for the Cassandra Auction House, and traveled with Mr. Bernhardt to its charity auction.
• Shade and Mr. Bernhardt approached Mrs. Jude, and Mr. Bernhardt's signal ruled her out as one of the Dragon Devouring Order's blood suppliers.
• During the auction break, Mr. Bernhardt used a Divine Art Item to confirm Mrs. Jude had consumed human blood that morning.
• After learning Mrs. Jude was leaving through the rear entrance, Mr. Bernhardt blocked her carriage while Shade confronted her escape attempt as a swarm of bats.
• Mrs. Jude changed into a cloud of Crimson Moon blood mist and lunged at Shade.

Shade and Mr. Bernhardt confronted Mrs. Jude over secretly drinking blood from the orphans she cared for, but Mr. Bernhardt let her go despite condemning her actions. As they left, Shade explained why he would not have intervened and reminded Mr. Bernhardt that their different identities shaped their choices.

• Shade fought Mrs. Jude barehanded until Mr. Bernhardt used a holy emblem to force her back into human form.
• Mr. Bernhardt accused Mrs. Jude of secretly drinking blood from orphaned children and warned her that she had violated the Blood Products Regulations and Blood Covenant.
• Mrs. Jude admitted what she had done, defended her care of the children, and challenged Mr. Bernhardt to kill her if he believed she deserved judgment.
• Mr. Bernhardt let Mrs. Jude leave, but told her he would return to address the matter.
• After Mrs. Jude departed, Shade told Mr. Bernhardt that he would not have interfered if the children were safe, while acknowledging that their different identities led them to different choices.

Shade learned that the Oasis Heart was an Earth Mother blessing with powerful environmental and healing abilities, while Emilia’s questions hinted at a hidden concern about large-scale time manipulation. He then traveled with Miss Belinder to Margaret Manor for Princess Margaret’s banquet, knowing the royal family feared retaliation in Moon Bay and that Gray-headed Eagle was nearby.

• Mr. Bernhardt promised to investigate Mrs. Jude’s orphanage himself, and Shade told him he helped people when he could without too much cost to himself.
• Shade told Mr. Bernhardt that the child rescued from a trash can was working at a hotel and would receive sponsorship for his schooling.
• Emilia gave Shade an elf-made leaf containing information about the Oasis Heart and privately asked whether time could be used on a large scale to affect reality.
• Shade learned that the Oasis Heart was a green crystal blessing that could transform an area’s soil and climate and provide immense healing power.
• Miss Belinder had Shade prepared for Princess Margaret’s banquet, and she explained that the royal family chose her manor because it feared retaliation after Gray-headed Eagle’s past killings in Moon Bay.

At Margaret’s welcome banquet, Shade and Mr. Bernhardt investigated the remaining suspects connected to the Blood of Sorrow and the Dragon Devouring Order. They ruled out Baron Chandler and Miss Angerei Rice, leaving the absent Marquis as their final suspect, though Bernhardt warned Shade to be careful around Miss Rice.

• Margaret read her father’s letter to the nobles of Moon Bay as the welcome banquet began, and Shade later met Mr. Bernhardt in the hall.
• Mr. Bernhardt told Shade that poor summer weather threatened the quality of the 1854 wine harvest and had prompted people to stockpile older vintages.
• Shade and Mr. Bernhardt questioned Baron Chandler, who complained about his factory workers; they ruled him out as the Bloodkin cooperating with the Dragon Devouring Order.
• Shade led Mr. Bernhardt to Miss Angerei Rice, and Mr. Bernhardt determined she was not the source of blood either.
• The manor’s butler confirmed that the Marquis had arrived and was meeting Earl Eddington upstairs, so Shade and Mr. Bernhardt decided to wait for him.
• Mr. Bernhardt warned Shade to be careful around Miss Angerei Rice.

At Margaret Manor's banquet, Shade and Armand Bernhardt discovered that Baron Chandler was the likely Bloodkin culprit hiding behind anti-divination measures, and Bernhardt prepared to deal with him. Shade then received a letter from the Black-haired Girl and met Illustrious Miss in the garden beneath the Moon.

• Shade learned from Mr. Bernhardt that Marquis Morrison's disturbing hunting habits were only rumors, then confirmed that Morrison was not the Bloodkin they sought.
• Shade determined that Baron Chandler had powerful anti-divination protections, and Mr. Bernhardt revealed that Chandler had left after his factory caught fire.
• Mr. Bernhardt said local Bloodkin would deal with Chandler the next morning, while Shade planned to go near the factory and obtain the information he needed.
• Shade returned to Miss Belinder at the banquet, where a manor maid delivered a letter from the Black-haired Girl asking him to meet her in the garden.
• Shade found Illustrious Miss standing beneath the Moon by the angel-shaped fountain and wondered whether she could answer his questions about the Moon across the ages.