The Snake-Eyed Man caught Shade's die. After giving it a light shake, ten copper coins clattered out and floated around it in a ring.
The brass die then returned to Shade, along with a green vial.
"That will do."
It carried the ten copper coins back behind the wall. The die that returned to Shade now read "35–54." Its original expected value had been 54.5, but it was now 44.5. The snake had indeed taken away ten points.
Everyone looked at Shade, and he showed them the die.
"It seems that snake really does possess part of Destiny's authority. Stop staring at me. We have half an hour—hopefully we can find something in this Temple."
The Church, the Seer Association, and the Witch Followers thus went to examine and record the Temple's interior details. The three candidates, however, did not head toward the altar beneath the Ouroboros relief, because Old Man Charat approached Shade with the child in his arms.
"It said this child cannot be saved, but we have to try anyway. Everyone, prepare your Mystic Incantations. Don't give up until the very end."
Shade pulled the stopper from the green vial and carefully fed its contents into the critically ill child's mouth. The potion's effects were obvious. The snake scales covering her skin gradually faded away, a process that lasted five minutes.
But as the snake scales vanished, that fragile life also approached its end.
Neither False Immortality nor any other Mystic Incantation could slow the process. Shade had exchanged points for her freedom, but her death corresponded to her grandparents' survival. It was a fair trade. It had been destined.
After their efforts failed, everyone could only watch as the child's breathing gradually weakened, until her closed eyes never opened again.
Ellie gave a soft cry at