Chapter Summaries

Shade arranged for the Elven Kingdom to lease land at Saint Byron's from his Academy holdings, giving the fledgling kingdom a territory and a path for elf clans to relocate. News that Professor Alvis Holm might reach Thirteenth Ring interrupted Shade's farewell with Daniste, and Shade later met with the Fatu Elders to discuss the island's recovery and new residents.

• Shade offered the Elves the forest where they lived as territory through his 7.53% share of Saint Byron's, and Grandma Qishala accepted a lease paid from the kingdom's tax revenue.
• Shade asked Bella to coordinate the Academy's arrangements with the Elves, allowing the newborn kingdom to gain territory and welcome clans willing to relocate.
• Daniste left to visit Professor Alvis Holm after he reportedly gained insight that might let him break through to Thirteenth Ring, prompting the Witches to discuss the rise of another Thirteenth-Ring Arcanist.
• Shade went with Claire to Snow Mountain Hall, where the Fatu Elders reported Harald's expected advancement to Twelfth Ring, Ule's to Tenth Ring, and the appearance of seven Talent Awakeners.
• The Elders explained that Fatumonst Snow Mountain would no longer belong exclusively to the Fatu People, as the Seer Association, Five Gods Church, and Three Great Academies would station people there to guard the Mountain Top Ruins and clear monsters.

After the War of Fate, Shade promised Claire they would marry within three years, then spent the night with Luvia and Sylvia. In Long-Haired Luvia’s doomsday dream, she praised him for changing the world’s future and said its ending would be different this time.

• Elder Harald learned Shade was male and pressed him about marrying Claire; Shade promised they would wed within three years.
• Claire accepted Shade’s promise and kissed him before they returned to the ship.
• Luvia talked with Shade about the future and her growing hair, then invited Sylvia to join them for the night.
• Long-Haired Luvia praised Shade in his dream, saying Claire had survived, the Seer Association’s main force remained, and Snow Mountain still suppressed the nodes of Fate’s Net.

Shade learned why Luvia had burned the Snow Mountain: she had sought a way to resurrect Claire, who refused to return to life. After Luvia's bold dream left her with a memory of it, Shade received news that the Demon Broken Sword had been found and prepared to visit Little Beren with Claire and Little Mia.

• Luvia told Shade that she had used Sister Devlin and the Primordial Fire to search Pilgrim's Path for a resurrection artifact after Claire died, but Claire refused to be resurrected.
• Shade brought Luvia from her dream into his own, where they became intimate, and Luvia later remembered the dream upon waking.
• Luvia and Sylvia discussed preparing a surprise for Shade at the party, while the Great Witches noticed that Luvia's Spiritual Power had become unusually strong.
• Winnie told Shade that the lost Demon Broken Sword would return to normal space within about three hours, and Shade went to inform the Doctor.
• Shade returned to Fatumonst Island to take Little Mia, meet Claire, and visit Little Beren at Dawn Church.

Shade and Claire visited Little Beren at Dawn Church on her first-month birthday, bringing gifts and discussing her care and future. Ellie blessed the baby, and the visit ended with her conjuring a white apple beside the crib.

• Shade took a gilded jewelry set from God's Gift Box and learned he was meant to give it away, while Claire bought Little Beren a bear-fur blanket.
• Shade, Claire, Ellie, and Mr. Brooklyn visited Little Beren at Dawn Church and gave her their gifts.
• Ellie held Little Beren, blessed her safety and happiness, and promised to visit again in fifteen or sixteen years.
• Shade and Claire discussed Little Beren's church upbringing and future with Mr. Brooklyn, and Shade made a charitable donation to the church.
• As Shade called Ellie to leave, she stood beside Little Beren's crib and conjured a gleaming white apple.

Shade learned that Ellie could condense fate into apples and accepted her Rebirth Fate Apple to cast down the Snow Mountain. On Peak of Fate, Mr. Mortis revealed the ancient history tying the Clown Troupe to the Mermaid before leaving to become a Masked Prophet, while Shade waited for his meeting with Doctor Schneider.

• Ellie gave Shade the Rebirth Fate Apple, and Shade agreed to throw it down from Saint's Precipice for the Snow Mountain.
• Shade returned through Sylvia's Tower and met Mr. Mortis and two other clowns emerging from the ruins on Peak of Fate.
• Mr. Mortis told Shade that the Mermaid had made the Clown Troupe its vassal in the Third Epoch and continued to influence the troupe after it broke free.
• Mr. Mortis thanked Shade, promised the Clown Troupe would help him in the future, and left to join the troupe's plans as a Masked Prophet.
• Shade watched Mr. Mortis leave, considered the apple's potential use for Dorothy, and waited for his appointment with Doctor Schneider.

Shade summoned Doctor Schneider to retrieve a broken sword altered by Mr. Snake’s power, and discovered it could help him summon Adele Isabella without a Philosopher’s Stone. They discussed the approaching war, Little Beren, and the Doctor’s Destiny, ending with Shade asking what his Third Kind of Fate might be.

• Shade summoned Doctor Schneider with the broken sword and they discussed Tobesk’s conscription and the approaching war as they traveled to the ruins.
• At the ruins, Doctor Schneider caught the sword as it emerged from folded space and found that Mr. Snake’s power had stripped away its demonic attribute.
• Shade accepted the sword and learned that it let him summon Adele Isabella without paying a Philosopher’s Stone and could protect against weaker Doomsday Power.
• Shade told Doctor Schneider that Little Beren was healthy and had gained Rebirth through him, and the Doctor suggested she could choose her own future.
• Shade asked Doctor Schneider whether he would condense a Destiny, and the Doctor declined before Shade asked what his Third Kind of Fate might be.

Shade and Doctor Schneider discussed the meaning and fairness of destiny as they walked across Fatumonst Snow Mountain. They reached Saint's Precipice still questioning what price people paid for what fate gave them.

• Doctor Schneider guessed that his third kind of fate was [Luck] and identified Priest Augustus's other destinies as [Sacred] and duty.
• Shade told Doctor Schneider that the Academy was unlikely to connect his identity as Shade Hamilton to an Academy student, and said he would return in two or three days.
• Shade argued that destiny's fairness lay in consistent cause and effect, while Doctor Schneider described every action as making Fate's Net tremble and rebound.
• Shade and Doctor Schneider crossed Oracle Plaza, where no one had returned since the War of Fate, and continued toward Saint's Precipice.
• Doctor Schneider concluded that apparent Chosen Ones of destiny might still have paid a price that mortals could not see.

At Saint's Precipice, Shade and Bill Schneider discussed the price of power and how to face an uncertain future. Shade found hope in their conversation and in the presence of the voice that accompanied him, as the story ended with him gaining new power.

• Shade threw the Rebirth Fate Apple over the cliff and asked Bill Schneider what price he would have to pay for his power.
• Bill Schneider told Shade that hope could help them meet their Destinies and that their choices could shape the world's fate.
• Shade summoned a Pure Silver Flame and resolved to keep moving forward, believing he had won again.
• The voice told Shade that Fate had two edges and that he had chosen something other than Destiny in the Myriad Phenomena Tower.
• Bill Schneider noticed silver traces and a golden Ouroboros Roulette behind Shade, while the Cat watched the moonlight.
• The voice told Shade that he had gained new power.

President Lenormand and Old Mr. Charat used Charat’s new Ring of Fate to divine the God Summoner’s identity, but the visions of animals and dragons ended when the ring shattered. They left the secret unrecorded and wondered whether the God Summoner was a changeling—or simply resistant to prophecy.

• President Lenormand reviewed the Seer Association’s losses and gains after the War of Fate and considered giving Luvia Annette more responsibility.
• Old Mr. Charat showed President Lenormand the Ring of Fate called [Truth], and the two swore not to reveal the results of a divination into the God Summoner’s identity.
• Charat used the ring and Upper Spring Water to produce visions of cats, wolves, dragons, and a small snake wrapped around a maid’s ankle.
• The ring shattered from destiny backlash, and Lenormand and Charat speculated that the God Summoner might be a changeling or have powerful resistance to prophecy.
• Lenormand and Charat agreed not to record the visions, and Charat joked that the God Summoner might really be only two years old.

Shade and the others celebrated their victory aboard the Radiance Messenger, where the guests relaxed, played cards, and enjoyed the ship’s pools and hot springs. After speaking with Luvia and pulling Sivie away from an argument, Shade followed her into a room, where she reached for him as she had in Coldwater Port.

• Shade played Rhodes Cards with Miss Bell as the guests admired a rare card and celebrated aboard the Radiance Messenger.
• Angelina joined Iluna and Emilia in the pool, and the three changed into bold swimsuits before discussing Emilia’s effort to revive the World Tree.
• The guests spent the afternoon swimming, fishing, eating, and socializing, while Sivie won the fishing contest.
• Shade spoke with Luvia about the Calamity Ritual Broken Sword and pulled Sivie away when she argued with Bella about speaking to fish.
• Sivie led Shade into a room, embraced him, and reached her hand downward as she had in Coldwater Port.

Shade spent a busy afternoon visiting Sivie, Vanessa, Galina, and Sylvia before joining Megan and Audrey, then attended a romantic dinner on the ship’s deck. The chapter ended with Shade serving food to Little Mia and Ellie as the evening banquet began.

• Sivie tried to spend time with Shade, but became exhausted and fell asleep before asking Hailey Aurora to help her to the washroom.
• Vanessa and Siris suggested that Shade admire them instead of painting, and Vanessa led him away while Siris gave them half an hour.
• Galina pulled Shade into the hot spring, then left with Sylvia for a forty-minute walk and encountered Megan and Audrey, who took Shade with them.
• Shade emerged from his room with Megan and Audrey near dinner time, while Illustrious Miss prepared a sheltered, warmly lit deck for the banquet.
• At dinner, Shade served squid to Little Mia and Ellie as Leisha and the Princess praised the romantic evening.

After the banquet on Fatumonst Island, Shade joined the women for a staged private game before spending the next day touring the island with Claire. As the journey drew to a close, Shade and Claire watched the sunset together at Saint's Precipice and kissed.

• Shade finished the banquet with Iluna, then entered his room to find eight women waiting to perform a four-act game with him.
• Dorothy began the first act, titled “The Incompetent Wife,” with Shade choosing Luvia and Sivie as his partners.
• The following morning, Shade returned to Snow Mountain Hall and invited Claire to tour Fatumonst Island with him.
• Shade and Claire explored City of Time Wheels, shared a meal, and visited the island’s winter scenery hand in hand.
• At Saint's Precipice, Shade and Claire watched the sunset, exchanged affectionate words, and kissed.

After returning home with Winnie, Shade discovered the proper entrance to the Fate Casino and learned how its high-odds gambles could fulfill specific wishes. He left the casino without wagering, put away the relics from the War of Fate, and spent a peaceful night at home with Little Mia.

• Shade brought Winnie to 6 Saint Derain Square, where she inspected the house, prepared dinner, and installed a door linking it to Ice and Snow Castle.
• Shade used the Destiny Spirit Rune to reveal the hidden door to the Fate Casino, and Little Mia followed him inside.
• Shade learned that sacrificing divinity or three Rings of Fate could raise the odds of his next gamble to 99/100, allowing him to pursue a specific turning point in Destiny.
• Shade asked Little Mia if it would study at Saint Byron's, but the Cat seemed unwilling, and he left the casino without gambling.
• Shade stored his War of Fate relics and the glowing bottle of essence in the basement, then went to bed with Little Mia.
• After Shade fell asleep, Little Mia curled against his shoulder and fell asleep beside him.

Shade spent the day handling Association and royal-family affairs, meeting Luvia, and arranging a visit to the Academy before his trip north. At dinner with Dorothy and Leisha, he shared research on Rhodes Card Thaumaturgies and began explaining a technique that could suit them.

• Shade read Luvia's letter saying her Association training would keep her away until the end of the month, then met her at Snow Mountain Hall to prepare ink for Spirit Runes.
• Shade accepted an interview with the Three Penny Newspaper about the Association's Founding gift, then attended a royal-family luncheon with Larus III, Galina, and Leisha.
• Daniste told Shade to visit the Academy on Friday to handle the land transfer and enrollment procedures, and outlined a plan for his public appearance there as the God Summoner.
• Dorothy and Leisha joined Shade for dinner at home, where Leisha said Queen Diana was recovering and hoped to leave her bed within a week.
• Shade told Dorothy and Leisha about Mr. Rod's research on his Myriad Aspects of Impermanence Cards and explained Contract of Sealing Objects, which stored inanimate objects in specially made blank cards.

Shade discussed card Thaumaturgies and the origins of the Myriad Aspects of Impermanence Cards with Dorothy and Leisha, then learned Leisha’s High-Ring Words of Sublimation. After the three agreed to preserve Dorothy and Leisha’s Two-in-One state, Shade ended the night with an ominous answer from the moonlight: “Flesh.”

• Shade recommended [Contract of Sealing Objects] and [Card Sigilcraft] to Dorothy and Leisha, explaining the cards’ uses and the demanding study required for Card Sigilcraft.
• Shade said he would investigate the Myriad Aspects of Impermanence Cards through the Ancient Ones, since the Association’s materials offered little about their origins.
• Leisha told Shade that her High-Ring Words of Sublimation were [Evil Acts as Good, Blade Grants Rebirth], based on The Wolf and the Girl, and that she and Dorothy planned to share [Rebirth] as their final Spirit Rune.
• Shade told Dorothy and Leisha he might travel with Daniste to Kalas Mountain for up to a week, while the young women said they would choose a new fairy tale for him later.
• Dorothy and Leisha asked Shade not to resolve their soul connection, and he agreed to leave their Two-in-One state unchanged while continuing to collect Red Butterflies cards.
• After Dorothy and Leisha fell asleep beside him, Shade asked the moonlight what his intuition had foreseen, and it answered, “Flesh.”

Shade traveled with Daniste beyond Saint Byrens Comprehensive College’s protective barrier and flew across the Far North snowfield to the Academy’s main gate. He met Principal Pigman and the welcoming professors, then entered the Academy through its White Fog.

• Shade wondered whether Dorothy and Leisha’s bodies faced hidden dangers, then dreamed strange images before waking beside them.
• Daniste led Shade through the Academy’s barrier and explained its defenses, entrances, and mysterious Tenth Gate.
• After Daniste returned to meet the principal, Shade flew across the snowfield using the Invitation Letter to find the Academy’s main gate.
• Shade met Principal Pigman, Daniste, and the welcoming professors, then entered the Academy and saw its buildings and castle emerge from the White Fog.

Shade visited Saint Byrons Comprehensive College to finalize the Elven Kingdom’s designation over Academy lands and enroll the Little Unicorns. While following cats to rescue a trapped kitten, he found an old Time Key, which he chose to set aside until after his coming trip to Kalas Mountain.

• Shade signed documents converting the Academy’s lands into territory of the Elven Kingdom while leaving ownership with the Academy.
• Shade and Emilia followed two cats and freed their kitten from a crack in the castle wall, where Shade also discovered an old wooden Time Key.
• Shade accompanied the four Little Unicorns through their tests and enrollment procedures at Saint Byrons Comprehensive College.
• Daniste told Shade that Academy Unicorns received living expenses and pocket money, and Shade arranged for Ellie to receive one and a half times the usual amount.

Ellie completed her enrollment and returned to the Unicorn herd, while Shade and Daniste discussed rescuing Mrs. Carter and prepared to travel to Kalas Mountain. The chapter ended with Daniste planning to guide Shade in Red Moon thaumaturgy.

• Ellie finished enrolling, gained permission to travel freely, and returned with the other Unicorns to Lake Heart Island for a welcoming ritual.
• Shade declined to join the Unicorns' ritual and went with Daniste to the Academy tower, where they spent the evening together.
• Daniste told Shade she planned to leave the following Monday to meet him in Tobesk before they traveled to Kalas Mountain to rescue Mrs. Carter.
• Daniste proposed using Dragon Egg Fossils as living, soulless containers for the seeds that would carry Mrs. Carter's soul, and Shade agreed to bring his fossil.
• Daniste discussed Shade's study plan and said she would focus on teaching him Red Moon powers related to flesh, reproduction, and Life Energy.

Shade learned more about the Red Moon’s power from Daniste, who told him the fairy tale The Blood-Red Deception and offered to help him catch up on his studies. Later, Shade attended the group meeting, where Doctor Schneider warned everyone about the coming civil war and the dangers of Ring Arcanist groups exploiting it.

• Daniste showed Shade how the Red Moon could mutate flesh and explained that he needed to study this aspect of its power.
• Daniste told Shade The Blood-Red Deception, a tale about animals whose greed and deception led them to fight over pinecones, and explained its possible connection to the Red Moon.
• Daniste offered Shade a separate elective course and reminded him to catch up on his required assignments before the summer exams.
• Shade returned home, took Little Mia out, had lunch with Dorothy, and went with her to Doctor Schneider’s clinic for the group meeting.
• Doctor Schneider, Priest Augustus, and Dorothy discussed warnings from the Academy and the Church against Ring Arcanists joining the coming civil war or exploiting it.

Shade and the women learned new Thaumaturgies in Vesta Woodland, where Shade’s Toy Making ascended and let him seal toys into cards. After a series of farewells, Shade prepared to leave Tobesk with Daniste and Little Mia on Monday.

• Shade learned that the coming Civil War would keep Leisha busy with army logistics, but she and Dorothy joined him for a final outing before he left.
• Dorothy and Leisha learned Contract of Sealing Objects, while Shade’s Toy Making ascended and gained the ability to turn objects into cards and seal his toys.
• Shade tested the new card ability and decided he should ask Megan to arrange more Red Butterfly Cards.
• Iluna, Winnie, Tifa, Galina, and Megan visited Shade before his journey, and Megan revealed that she would soon leave Fatumonst Island.
• Daniste arrived for breakfast on Monday, and Shade collected his weekly gift before setting off with Daniste and Little Mia.