After night fell, Randall River Valley became more sinister than on any night since the Sixth Epoch had passed. The gray snow that had fallen all day turned into heavy snow after sunset. This was also the largest snowfall ever recorded in Randall River Valley during the Month of Rising Winds.
Luvia, Miss Lathers, and the three Witch Apprentices remained behind at the Opera House, while the other Witches set out with their respective teams.
In the backyard of the Opera House, Shade first bid farewell to Miss Aurora, Miss Galina, and Miss Benanis. Miss Sylvia was traveling with him. She watched in the backyard as Shade kissed Luvia goodbye, wrapped in her cold-weather cloak, then held the horses' reins and waited for him to come over.
Even with the ability to teleport through space, without the proper coordinates or power to establish an anchor point, it was best not to casually open a Teleportation Gate to an unfamiliar place:
"Let's go."
The sun seemed to have set far too early today. By six o'clock, when they set off, the sky was already completely dark. But tonight there was neither moon nor stars. It was not yet time for the Gas Street Lamps to light up, and in the wind-swept, snow-filled Randall River Valley, only the windows still glowed.
This reminded Shade of Eternal Night City once again, except that city had been drizzling with Light Rain.
Randall River Valley at night was somewhat livelier than during the day. Because the Guardians had informed them in advance that a major earthquake would soon strike the area, city hall had designated several earthquake shelters throughout the urban district for citizens whose homes might not be particularly sturdy.
As Shade and Miss Sylvia rode through the city beneath the night sky, they