The black dragon beast Claire mentioned was one of the four Guardians of the World Tree Remnants. Later, Shade used its heart in the Dragon Devouring Ritual, gaining the abilities to breathe attacks and fly.
The Witches saw nothing wrong with Shade seeking Laplace Howard's help, so Bella asked:
"Shade, are you going to row your little boat to see him?"
Shade shook his head.
"Rowing in there can only send souls away. If I want to truly communicate with departed souls, I still need to take the proper route."
The proper route meant offering a Heart of the Living Dead at the Soul Cemetery. Shade did not have one on hand for the moment, but fortunately, during the Gravestone Wasteland mission, he had asked Iluna to use Church channels to acquire one.
Before Iluna could give him an answer, Shade and Stella obtained a Heart of the Living Dead during the case involving Mrs. Otto, who had been waiting for her husband, and used it in the temple on the wasteland.
But the Church had indeed found another Heart of the Living Dead afterward. Since Iluna did not need it for the time being, that heart should still be stored in a warehouse.
Iluna was coming over tomorrow anyway, so Shade wrote her another letter asking her to get that heart. It definitely was not on Fatumonst Island at the moment, however, so Shade did not know when he would be able to get his hands on it.
Aside from the matter of the snake people, Shade could also ask Laplace Howard about the Ring of Fate. He certainly knew much that Shade did not.
"But will the Ancestor honestly answer your questions?"
Audrey asked again at the dinner table. Shade considered that a minor problem. He had far