Chapter Summaries

Shade returned to Ashes River Valley for the final lesson and found the Academy increasingly submerged as spacetime collapsed. He reunited with the Witches, Iluna, and Emilia in a tower refuge, where Emilia explained that she had appeared in the valley after being separated from the others.

• Shade entered the Time Corridor for the final lesson of Strange Tree Academy, with fifty minutes to assist the Lord of the Black Robe.
• Shade found the Witches' former camp underwater and followed their messages to a tower above the flood.
• Shade entered the tower and found Emilia, Iluna, Miss Maze, Miss Bister, and the Green Dragon maid gathered around a campfire.
• Emilia embraced Shade and said she had appeared in the forest after being separated from the others, then found Iluna and the firelight.

Emilia ended up in the wrong time after the Murmuring Chapters plan failed, but Shade offered to join her instead of recruiting a Witch from the past. As the group prepared to leave, Miss Maze revealed memories connecting her to Strange Tree Academy, though she did not know when she had lived there.

• Iluna confirmed that Emilia had arrived in the wrong time, and Emilia regretted failing to reach Saint Byron's founding era and recruit help for the Time War.
• Shade offered to travel to Emilia's era in place of Miss Feliana, and Iluna and Emilia agreed that the plan fit the rules.
• Miss Maze suggested Emilia seek guidance from the Lord of the Black Robe and asked to speak with Shade about memories stirred by chewing tea leaves.
• Miss Wilde struggled to hide her secret while listening to Emilia describe Shade's visits to the past and his bringing Miss Feliana and Miss Delago to the future.
• Miss Maze told Shade that she recognized the current tower and their former camp as parts of Strange Tree Academy and remembered its final, declining period.

Shade and the others found the key to the tower’s locked top floor, met the Lord of the Black Robe, and learned Miss Maze’s lesson on the power of names. Shade gained Enlightenment and a sublimated Thaumaturgy, Cherished Item, as the ritual neared completion.

• Miss Maze told Shade and the others she could not tell whether her memories made her a teacher or a student, and Shade reassured her before preparing to open the tower’s upper door.
• Shade used Door Key to unlock the door but refused to enter without its proper key; the group found a silver key in an unclaimed briefcase and used it to open the top floor.
• Shade, Iluna, and Miss Maze met the Lord of the Black Robe, who completed the stone tablet’s holy emblem and told them to return together after the ritual.
• Miss Maze taught the group how names could be used as power and led them through a ritual using papers bearing their true names.
• Shade wrote “Shade Suellen Hamilton,” completed the ritual, and gained Enlightenment as his Thaumaturgy Cherished Item was sublimated.

Shade and the young witches learned different thaumaturgies and prepared to ascend the tower to meet a god. Before they left, Shade deduced that Miss Wilde came from seven hundred years in the past, and the group set out with their reunion nearly over.

• Shade used Lingquan Enlightenment to help Iluna learn Self Verification, while he realized the spell might be connected to a request from the Angel of Wisdom.
• Miss Bister learned Self Power, which let her lend part of her strength to someone whose name she wrote; Miss Wilde and Emilia learned nothing during the lesson.
• As the group packed to ascend the tower, Shade and the others exchanged farewells and left the campfire burning.
• Shade promised Emilia he would ask the god about her situation and whether she could reach Miss Feliana in the past.
• Shade questioned Miss Wilde about a time-related contract, then explained that he had deduced she was from seven hundred years ago.

Shade and the others completed the Academy ritual and met the goddess, who promised to teach them before sending them home. To answer Miss Maze’s questions and help Emilia return to her own time, Shade was asked to teach a story about elves using World Tree Bark, and he began considering what to write.

• Gray Wolf Girl realized she was the only normal person among the group, and Shade arranged for Miss Wilde to take Emilia back to her time.
• Shade led everyone up the spiral staircase, where four stone tablets flew to the goddess and confirmed that they had completed the ritual.
• Miss Maze asked the goddess to reveal who she was and which of her memories were real, while Shade asked for help returning Emilia to the correct point in time.
• The goddess said she would answer their questions if more people taught a class, and she asked Shade to tell and write an elf-related story on World Tree Bark.
• The goddess explained that everyone would become part of the story’s world, and Shade asked for time to think before Iluna and the others sat down.

Shade told a story about Eternal Crystal, in which a merchant tempted several characters with crystals that answered their desires. While the others resisted or turned back, Shade pursued crystals containing the Moon’s fragments, hoping to see her.

• Shade chose to tell a story about greed, temperance, and Eternal Crystal, writing it on World Tree Bark.
• A Gray Wolf Girl rejected crystal glasses, and Emilia refused a potion deal that would give her an advantage over her friends.
• Elfina Wilde gave up trading for more crystals because she needed to return to her duties at the Academy.
• Iluna traded increasingly costly goods for Eternal Crystals that slowed time, but refused to sacrifice a soul and threw away the crystals she had collected.
• Shade learned that some Eternal Crystals contained fragments of moonlight, then traded increasingly valuable goods to amass crystals and pursue a vision of the Original Moon.

Shade completed the Crystal Light story by refusing to give up his pursuit of the Silver Moon, and the deity granted him a second chance by turning Temperance into power. He awoke in the tower with a new Spirit Rune and Mystic Lock.

• Shade met the merchant in the Crystalline Forest and demanded the final crystal so he could see the Original Moon.
• The merchant warned Shade that taking the crystal would end the story and urged him to temper his obsession, but Shade reached for it even after seeing Luvia's eyes.
• Shade became an Eternal Crystal Statue, then used his Soul Power to break free and hurled himself and the last crystal into his gathered crystals.
• The crystal forest expanded in brilliant moonlight as Shade's Destiny Ring absorbed the radiance, and the deity granted him a second chance to learn Temperance.
• Shade inscribed the Silver Blasphemy Ling Rune - Crystal Light and obtained the Thaumaturgy Mystic Lock - Crystal Light.
• Shade opened his eyes before the blackboard on the tower's highest floor, with the complete story of Crystal Light floating beside him.

Shade realized he had failed the deity’s lesson on Temperance because he still could not let go of his desire to reach the Primordial Moon Remnant. The others tried to help Miss Maze leave the abandoned Academy, and Shade used Lingquan Enlightenment to restore her memories before she faced the god.

• Shade accepted that he had failed the final lesson, gained the last eight-ring Spirit Rune, and wondered whether he could still reach the Primordial Moon Remnant.
• The god explained that Miss Maze had remained at the Academy for centuries, unable to let go of her life as a teacher, and invited the others to help her.
• Iluna, Emilia, Miss Wilde, and Miss Bister met Los Metz at the Academy gate and urged her to leave; Miss Bister condemned her for confusing obsession with devotion.
• Los Metz broke down, and Shade used Lingquan Enlightenment to restore her memories before telling her to decide for herself whether to leave.
• Los Metz turned toward the Academy Castle and saw the god walking out of the light.

Los Metz became an Angel as the deity ended the final lesson and gave gifts to the students before they were separated from the collapsing Academy. Shade remained behind with the deity for one last look around, carrying Miss Bister’s Moon Pendant as a keepsake.

• The deity comforted Los Metz, whose appearance transformed into that of an Angel before Shade and the others.
• The deity sent Emilia and Miss Wilde toward their shared time, gave Iluna a golden-wing mark, and awarded Miss Bister her glasses.
• As the Academy began to collapse, the girls were pulled away from Shade, who tossed Miss Bister a piece of World Tree bark.
• Miss Bister threw her Moon Pendant to Shade, and the deity let it pass through the gate.
• Shade followed the deity into the fading Academy after agreeing to take one last look around.

Shade and the cat witnessed the Strange Tree Academy god depart, receiving a final gift before being carried away from the Void. Emilia awoke among Unicorn foals and recognized the city below as Saint Byron's.

• Shade learned that the god and Strange Tree Academy would vanish, and the god said his obsession could Freeze Spacetime.
• The god advised Shade to cherish mortal life, then sent him and the cat away and bestowed Miracle and books for his Moon Library.
• Shade heard the departing god's Words of Sublimation before a phantom tree carried him and the cat through the Void.
• Emilia awoke among Unicorn foals, remembered falling into the Void with Miss Wilde, and wondered if she had reached Saint Byron's.
• Emilia saw an ancient castle city with Saint Byron's school crest and enrollment banners, confirming that she had arrived at the academy.

After returning to her own time, Shibel Beast realized her memories of Ashes River Valley were fading and used Shade’s bark to preserve a record of her companions. She planned to hide it for Shade and Iluna to find in the future.

• Emilia arrived at Saint Byron's Witch Academy with Fiona and Miss Wilde, who brought her to meet Principal Feliana and Teacher O'Lanod.
• Shibel Beast awoke at her campsite in Acorn Forest and confirmed that her journey through Ashes River Valley had been real.
• Shibel Beast lamented being separated from Shade, Iluna, Emilia, and the others, and resolved to remember their adventure.
• When Shibel Beast’s memories began to fade, she used the glasses to resist their loss and carved crude portraits of her companions into Shade’s piece of World Tree bark.
• Shibel Beast decided to hide the bark and leave a riddle at Saint Byron's for Shade and Iluna to discover in the future.

Shade and Iluna returned from their adventure through the Time Key, where Iluna learned Emilia had been sent back to the middle of the Fifth Epoch and gained power from an Angel. Shade then told the Witches that Emilia was safe and proposed dealing with the remaining obstacles before she returned.

• The Time Guardians invited Miss Bister to join them, but she refused and promised not to show anyone the World Tree bark.
• Shade asked the Tree Father for power against the World Tree Remnants, then returned with Iluna to the Radiance Messenger.
• Iluna told the Witches that Emilia had been taken back to the middle of the Fifth Epoch, and Miss Danist left to investigate at Strange Tree Academy.
• Iluna showed the Witches an Angel's mark that could temporarily raise her power from Ninth Ring to Thirteenth Ring.
• Shade explained that Emilia had arrived at Saint Byrens Comprehensive College and would return within four days, then urged the Witches to deal with their remaining obstacles.

After planning the next battles, Shade studied a Youthful Immortality Leaf and discovered clues to a ritual that could turn one of his Spirit Runes into a Core Ling Rune. He suspected the ritual and the origins of his body were tied to the collapsed Moon Tower on Kalas Mountain, leaving him with nine riddles to investigate.

• Shade assigned Luvia and Bella to investigate the Bennett children's bloodlines, prepared the academies and the Church for a battle against the Watcher, and chose to investigate the dragon beast's nest first.
• Shade absorbed the information in a Youthful Immortality Leaf and learned the requirements for a Newborn Ritual that could transform an existing Spirit Rune into a Core Ling Rune.
• Shade guessed that the ritual's components might involve the Philosopher's Stone, Lady Helena Carter's remains, Astrologer Euclid's finger bone, and the collapsed Moon Tower on Kalas Mountain.
• Shade concluded that he needed to discover the origin of his body and solve nine riddles, many likely connected to the Moon Tower.
• Shade examined Miss Bister's silver crescent Pendant and wondered whether the Newborn Ritual celebrated or granted rebirth.

Shade tested the new abilities of his Cherished Item thaumaturgy by signing his name on cards, Illustrious Miss's ship, and Matilda. The experiments revealed that signed objects gained strength and control while signed people received enhanced physical and spiritual protection, and the chapter ended with Matilda kissing him.

• Shade signed several Rhodes Cards, strengthening them enough to withstand his Moonlight Slash, and accidentally damaged the ship while testing them.
• Shade signed his name inside the ship's Captain's Room and discovered he could partially control the ship and perceive activity in its cabins.
• Shade signed Matilda's hand and found that she gained physical and spiritual enhancements while he could sense her emotions and protect her soul.
• Shade observed that his protection over Matilda weakened with distance and that her signature faded quickly.
• Matilda kissed Shade and told him he was still happy despite the kisses happening in the wrong order.

Shade learned that the grave in the Dragon beast nest was a Tree Hollow preserving Kindel’s corpse, and he uncovered its contents without disturbing the powerful curse and roots. The Pointy-eared Elf began working to open the Tree Hollow, expecting to finish before nightfall.

• Shade recalled the Tree Hole Spell, which created a time-stasis hollow inside a tree for storing items.
• Shade, Sylvia, and the Owl reached the Dragon beast nest and found the grave at its deepest point.
• Shade revealed the grave pit with the Black Key and found a living tree trunk wrapped in roots beneath the soil.
• Shade identified the trunk as a Tree Hollow preserving Kindel’s corpse and warned that disturbing its roots might release the Dragon beast and Paradox Worms.
• The Pointy-eared Elf arrived on Little Liana and said she could open the Tree Hollow, though it would take until before nightfall.

Margaret discovered that her missing half-sister Ashley Bethany had died and become a ghost in a well, so she and Shade visited her to learn what happened. Ashley revealed that she had been shot after stumbling upon two people meeting secretly in an alley, leaving Shade and Margaret with a possible murder to investigate.

• Margaret told Shade that records had identified her missing younger half-sister as Ashley Bethany, who had vanished two years earlier from Creekwood Town.
• Shade recognized Ashley’s name and explained that he had encountered her ghost in a well at an abandoned Lumber Mill camp.
• Margaret asked Shade to take her to Ashley, and he brought her to the camp, where she confirmed they had found the right person.
• Shade asked Ashley how she had died, and she recounted being shot after entering an alley and witnessing two people meeting secretly.

Shade and Margaret helped Ashley Bethany recover her corpse and leave the well so she could search for her long-lost twin brother. After Margaret departed, Luvia asked Shade to divine the Chosen One Ritual and its first candidate.

• Shade and Margaret learned that Ashley Bethany wanted to find her twin brother, and she rejected a photograph of the man William Anjou had killed as a false lead.
• Ashley agreed to leave with Margaret, and Shade retrieved her decomposed corpse and the bullet from her chest.
• Flora examined Ashley's soul and confirmed it was stable, while Vanessa criticized Margaret's distraction and Flora offered to send local helpers.
• Margaret thanked Flora, met with Vanessa, and left to continue her search for Ashley's brother.
• Luvia told Shade that Megan and Audrey had sent two Multi-Eyed One's Eye Coins and proposed divining the first candidate or the Chosen One Ritual.

Shade and Luvia investigated the Chosen One Ritual and concluded that its tree planting might create a new sapling to stabilize time. That night, Shade and the Great Witches began an operation against the dragon-beast, which ended with Bill Kamora trapping it in a Dragon-Hunting Net.

• Luvia divined that the complete Chosen One Ritual could be found through Shade’s copy of Creekwood Town and the World Tree, then identified planting a tree as its central requirement.
• Shade worried Emilia might have to become the World Tree, while Luvia proposed that the candidates’ gathered power could instead grow a time-stabilizing sapling in Vesta Woodland.
• Shade and the Great Witches loosened the roots around an old man’s corpse, and Shade struck its neck with a crimson greatsword.
• A Black Dragon attacked the hill with black Thunder, but the blast marked the operation’s start as the group drew it into a coordinated assault.
• The Hunting Griffin’s Flute, the Dawn Church’s Divine Ritual, and other attacks weakened the dragon-beast’s defenses and forced it to flee.
• Bill Kamora manifested his Destiny Ring and trapped the dragon-beast in a colossal Dragon-Hunting Net.

Shade and the Church’s forces nearly defeated the dragon beast with rituals and a Thirteenth Ring Crystal Dragon, but Clockmaker Marva Wyman intervened and reversed time to restore it. Marva then darkened the sky and appeared to side with the ancient evil.

• The Thirteenth Ring Crystal Dragon attacked the weakened dragon beast, while Shade and his allies watched from the concealed Radiance Messenger.
• Shade told Dorothy he had considered summoning Kindel’s soul to make the dragon beast surrender, but feared their bond might not overcome the ancient evil.
• The Church’s rituals and attacks stripped the dragon beast of its wings and sent it falling toward the forest.
• Clockmaker Marva Wyman appeared on the dragon beast and reversed time, restoring it despite the Divine Ritual.
• Beast Hunter challenged Marva for siding with evil, and she raised her hand as dark clouds covered the sky.

The Clockmaker challenged Yuri Aston and used her power to transform the dragon beast into a colossal Dragonborn Treant that unleashed Decaying Time across the battlefield. As a time barrier began enclosing the area, Shade divided his companions between the hotel and the Radiance Messenger, where the ship’s main cannon finally struck the monster.

• The Clockmaker challenged Yuri Aston to a duel and summoned two Black Dragons from the past to fight the Sky Blade.
• The Clockmaker struck the dragon beast with an emerald-green beam, causing a massive tree to grow through it and turning forest creatures into Dragonborn Treants.
• The dragon beast unleashed Decaying Time beams as snowflakes and fog walls signaled that the battlefield was being cut off from normal spacetime.
• Shade sent Luvia, Sylvia, Sivie, and Miss Danist to the hotel while keeping other allies aboard the Radiance Messenger.
• The Church’s forces struggled against the dragon beast and its Dragon Blood Treants as Iluna failed to stabilize time.
• The Radiance Messenger’s main cannon fired a sea-blue beam at the dragon beast.