Chapter Summaries

Shade investigated Locke Laurel, a lawyer who might be connected to his case, and found that the local bartender and residents considered him a genuine, long-established lawyer. Shade approached Laurel at the Pig's Head Tavern and joined him for a game of Rhodes Cards to confirm his suspicions.

• Shade questioned a drunk at Laurel's residence and learned that Laurel was a lawyer who handled legal matters and inheritances.
• Shade went to the Pig's Head Tavern and paid the bartender for information about Laurel.
• The bartender said Laurel had lived on the street for five years and regularly played Rhodes Cards at the tavern without being a serious gambler.
• Shade watched Laurel win a game, then challenged him to play a round of Rhodes Cards.

Shade investigated Lawyer Laurel’s inheritance by winning a card game and found nothing suspicious. On his way to donate his winnings, he learned Marian Cook’s son Little Ron had gone missing, so he tried to find clues and used Dice of Destiny, though he did not roll a twenty.

• Shade beat Lawyer Laurel at Rhodes Cards, collected his winnings, and followed him home to receive the rest of the money owed.
• Shade concluded the inheritance appeared ordinary and planned to donate his gambling winnings to Dawn Church.
• Shade encountered Marian Cook searching for her missing son, Little Ron, and learned the boy had disappeared about ten minutes earlier.
• Shade asked Marian to check nearby shops while he used Echoes of the Past, but heard no useful clues.
• Shade decided to use Dice of Destiny to help find Little Ron, and the result was not a twenty.

Shade used the Dice of Destiny while maintaining Thaumaturgy to seek a clue about the missing children, accepting the misfortune that manipulating Destiny would bring. He tracked the sound of a boy being lured toward Tobesk Station with Cook TaiTai, where Queen Diana’s visit made the crowded area difficult to search.

• Shade asked the woman in his heart whether she could redirect the misfortune from a dice roll back onto the dice, and she agreed while warning him of the price.
• Shade rolled a 9, damaging the Dice of Destiny slightly and hearing a woman’s voice ask a boy if he wanted candy.
• Shade told Maria Cook TaiTai that a boy had left with a young woman, then used Thaumaturgy to follow the voices and footsteps from the past.
• Shade and Cook TaiTai tracked the sounds across Tobesk’s North District toward Tobesk Station.
• Near the station, Shade found crowds, police, and soldiers gathered for Queen Diana’s opening of the East Hall, making it hard to locate the boy and woman.

Shade tracked the voice of Cook TaiTai’s missing child through Tobesk and identified a suspicious woman, who fled into the crowds near the ribbon-cutting ceremony. As Shade tried to pursue her across Queen Diana’s approaching procession, several familiar figures and a suspicious armed man converged near the intersection.

• Shade followed the boy’s voice from the past through the streets with Cook TaiTai, and Captain Rades joined them after learning her child was missing.
• Shade spotted a scarf-wrapped woman matching the voice and watched her flee when she noticed the group; Cook TaiTai went to call the police while Shade and Captain Rades gave chase.
• The woman outran the pursuers through crowded streets and headed toward Queen Diana’s procession, while Captain Rades tried to cut her off.
• Shade prepared to cross the police line after the woman, as a middle-aged man he had bumped into earlier watched with a hand inside his coat.
• Miss Bayes, Doctor Schneider, Miss Galina, Mr. Dak Anlos, and other familiar figures gathered near the intersection as Queen Diana’s carriage approached.

Shade jumped in front of a gunman aiming at Queen Diana and appeared to be shot, but a commemorative coin in his chest pocket stopped the bullet. He pretended to faint as the authorities secured the chaotic scene.

• Shade pushed through the crowd and leaped between the gunman and Queen Diana's carriage as the gunman fired.
• The bullet struck Shade in the chest, and he fell motionless while Captain Rades tackled a woman and Mr. Anros tried to reach the shooter.
• The gunman shot himself, while Miss Galina, Miss Bayes, Doctor Schneider, and others gathered around Shade.
• Shade sat up unharmed and found the bullet embedded in his Dawn Church commemorative coin.
• Shade told the onlookers he was injured, then pretended to faint beside the gunman's corpse.

After Shade helped thwart an assassination attempt on Queen Diana, he waited at Yodel Palace while officials managed the political fallout and discussed his supposed injuries and rewards. Director Dak Anlos praised him, arranged a cover story for his actions, and said the investigation into the assassin would continue without involving Shade.

• Queen Diana returned safely to Yodel Palace after the station attack, while the assassin’s accomplices and the people at the scene were investigated.
• Shade waited at Yodel Palace under the care of Tifa Servit, who told him that his capture of a child abductor had helped expose the Tobesk child disappearance case.
• Tifa explained that Shade might receive a medal and rewards from Ridgewich Field and Queen Diana, though none would be given that evening.
• Dak Anlos praised Shade and agreed that his story would conceal how he had found the child abductors and reached the station in time to protect the Queen.
• Shade asked who had ordered the assassination, and Anlos said the Gray Gloves were unlikely suspects and that someone might be framing them.

After saving Queen Diana, Shade waited at Yodel Palace and received the Queen’s thanks and a Ruby Ring. Miss Galina questioned him about surviving the bullet with the Dice of Destiny, praised his actions, and warned him not to risk his life by manipulating fate again.

• Mr. Anros told Shade that Cook TaiTai’s child had been found along with two other missing children.
• Queen Diana visited Shade, thanked him, gave him her Ruby Ring, and promised to find him a precious Rhodes Card.
• Miss Galina asked Shade how he had used the Dice of Destiny to avoid the bullet despite a Thirteenth Ring Warlock nearby.
• Miss Galina told Shade he would receive at least one Delarion Honorary Knight Medal and offered to help him obtain a title if he rendered further service.
• Shade promised Miss Galina that he would never manipulate fate again, and she remarked that he seemed to have other stories.

Shade spoke with Miss Galina about his investigations and learned that the Silver-Eyed One was hiding in underground ruins. She tasked him with bringing her the Peace Church’s Metamorphosis Ring in exchange for answers about her favor and the Witch Council’s secret; afterward, Shade received an honor from King Larus III and explained how he had met Galina.

• Miss Galina told Shade that Blood Spirit School reinforcements were coming to Tobesk and that the Witch Council wanted to question them about the Birthing Room of Creation.
• Miss Galina revealed that the Silver-Eyed One was hiding in underground ruins, and Shade said his friend wanted to see him.
• Miss Galina asked Shade to bring her the Metamorphosis Ring, promising to answer his question and reveal the Witch Council’s secret if he succeeded.
• Shade met King Larus III, requested honor as his reward, and was dismissed.
• King Larus III asked how Shade knew Aunt Galina, and Shade said they had met at the Lucky Southern Cross over Rhodes Cards.

After meeting the King, Shade collected the relic Another Face and the White Stone Crystal from Tifa Servit. Tifa asked him to test her experimental potions as payment, but Shade refused to drink anything of unknown origin.

• Shade left Yodel Palace with Tifa and asked her about Larus III’s suspicion that others wanted his power; she told him not to take it to heart.
• Tifa went to Miss Galina’s fog-surrounded estate and returned to the carriage with the Keeper of Secrets Level relic Another Face.
• Tifa explained that Another Face could fly and share its senses, but required feeding on a living person each week or it would consume its user’s soul.
• Shade accepted Another Face and received the White Stone Crystal from Tifa.
• Tifa offered Shade three experimental potions as payment for the crystal, but he refused to drink any potion of unknown origin.

Shade tested three potions with Tifa Servit, then used his nearly shattered wooden key to return to Hope Town in autumn of Fifth Epoch 1068 for the third and final time. Before making his final two wishes, he asked the saint to identify what he had drunk.

• Shade agreed to test Tifa Servit's three potions at his home, where they compared their reactions.
• Shade and Tifa Servit drank the first potion without noticeable effects, both experienced temporary blurriness in their left eyes from the second, and Shade convulsed for half a minute after the third while Tifa remained unaffected.
• After Tifa Servit left, Shade entered the Time Corridor and learned that he had ten minutes to witness the Innocent Creator's final wish before the Old God fell.
• Shade arrived in Twilight-era Hope Town, entered the toy store, and asked the saint to identify what he had drunk before making his final two wishes.
• The saint identified Shade's first drink as sweetened water.

Shade learned that the earlier potions and a delivery mission had been tests meant to conceal someone’s real objective, and the saint confirmed that both his body and soul were male. With seven minutes left to fulfill a boy’s wish to grow up, Shade prepared a revolting growth potion, but the boy refused to drink it.

• The saint explained that the first two potions had hidden the purpose of the third, which identified whether someone was male or female.
• Shade connected the potions to Miss Galina’s delivery mission and realized that opening the makeup case may also have been a test.
• The saint assured Shade that his body and soul were purely male.
• Shade asked God for ingredients and made the Price of Growth potion with the saint’s help.
• The boy recoiled from the potion, raised his Toy Wooden Knife, and called Shade a liar.

Shade helped the children understand the meaning behind their wishes, first showing the boy who wanted to grow up the responsibilities of adulthood. He then offered the girl a broader kind of strength through technology, institutions, and culture, which she accepted as her wish.

• The Saint gave the boy who wished to grow up the Price of Growth, briefly transforming him into an adult before he realized he did not want the responsibilities that came with growing up.
• The boy changed back to his original form, and the Saint said that understanding the price of growth counted as fulfillment of his wish.
• Shade asked the girl what strength meant to her, and she explained that she wanted strength she could bring about herself to protect what she cared about.
• Shade guided the girl to see how technology, institutions, and culture could make people stronger together.
• The girl accepted Shade's explanation as the strength she wanted and said she was satisfied.

Shade witnessed a girl awaken as a Witch and learned that Witches’ power came with a curse that made contact with men repulsive. After fulfilling God’s final wish, Shade learned that his promised gift would be hidden in God’s final work, and God began to disappear.

• The girl underwent Witch Awakening, growing older and gaining supernatural power as Shade and the Saint watched.
• The awakened girl tried to embrace Shade, then explained that Witches were cursed with revulsion toward men and could not bear the next generation.
• The three children said farewell to Shade and the Saint before leaving the toy shop.
• The Saint told Shade what each child would remember and confirmed that Shade had fulfilled God’s final wish.
• The Saint promised Shade a precious gift hidden in his final work because the Father of Infinite Tree would not allow him to carry an item across eras.
• The toy shop and the Saint faded as the Saint said that he was the one leaving.

Shade witnessed Innocent Creator’s final departure, learned that the thirteen Myriad Aspects of Impermanence cards could guide him to a final Redemption, and returned to the Sixth Epoch with two leaves from the Father of Infinite Tree. He realized that God’s Gift Box was hidden in the underground ruins alongside the Silver-Eyed One Miss Bayes sought, and resolved to go after it with her.

• Innocent Creator told Shade that all Old Gods would awaken during a future great event, promised they would meet again in the Sixth Epoch, and warned that there would be no Seventh Epoch.
• Before departing, Innocent Creator urged Shade to collect the thirteen Myriad Aspects of Impermanence cards, which could guide him toward the final Redemption.
• As Innocent Creator entered Slumber, Shade heard a Word of Sublimation and received two leaves from the Father of Infinite Tree before returning to the present.
• Shade considered what he had learned about the Witches and Words of Sublimation, then decided to pursue the thirteen Founding Series cards and seek the Gift Box he was destined to encounter.
• Shade recalled that God's Gift Box was hidden in the underground ruins with the Silver-Eyed One Miss Bayes sought, and decided he would have to accompany her to claim it.

After completing the first Time Key’s adventures, Shade prepared for his next journey and dealt with the relics and gains he had brought back. On Thursday, he received news about the child disappearance case, a large reward, and an upcoming royal award ceremony, while rumors surrounding the Queen’s assassination attempt raised new questions.

• Shade stored Another Face behind the Hidden Wall, postponed testing the Old Gods Statue, and decided to ask someone how to use the Spirit Rune and Thaumaturgy leaves.
• Shade received letters from Doctor Schneider and Miss Bayes about his safety, an invitation from Priest Augustus to visit Dawn Church, and Captain Rades’s news that he might return to the Royal Army.
• Mr. Anros delivered Shade three hundred pounds, including the case reward and his personal thanks, and told him the child disappearance investigation was expanding into a nationwide inquiry.
• Mr. Anros told Shade that he would receive a Delarion Honorary Knight Medal at a Sunday ceremony, where Queen Diana was expected to appear amid rumors that she had been shot dead.
• Shade questioned the speed of the rumors and the assassination attempt, then mailed replies to Doctor Schneider and Miss Bayes before heading to the Seer Association with Mia.

Shade visited Luvia Annette to discuss Miss Bayes, the Silver-Eyed One, and Mia, then asked Miss Louisa how to use two leaves. Louisa explained that the answer lay in the fairy tale “Tree’s Kiss,” leaving Shade alarmed by its grim ending.

• Shade told Luvia Annette that he had befriended Miss Bayes and received a Sunlight Gun brooch from her, but Annette refused to change her plan to gain Bayes’s trust.
• Shade revealed that Doctor Schneider had found the Silver-Eyed One’s location in underground ruins containing the Sage Level Relic, God’s Gift Box, and Annette discussed the remaining steps for Bayes to become a Chosen One.
• Luvia Annette used cards to divine that Mia was a normal cat and would stay with Shade forever.
• Shade visited Miss Louisa and showed her two leaves, asking how to use them.
• Miss Louisa told Shade the fairy tale “Tree’s Kiss,” in which a giant tree sheltered Princess Tavel until people found her dried corpse inside its trunk, and Shade wondered whether such a story would frighten children.

Shade learned how to use the leaves from the Ancient God Father of Infinite Tree and discovered that one was a valuable Relic. The other leaf gave him a powerful time-based Thaumaturgy, leaving him with two gifts whose origins lay in the Fifth Epoch.

• Miss Louisa explained that the leaves had to be held before the eyes to receive the knowledge bestowed by the tree.
• Shade used one leaf and acquired the Thaumaturgy Chaotic Time Blade, while Miss Louisa discovered the leaf could still be used afterward.
• Miss Louisa identified the leaf as the Poet Level Relic Youthful Immortality Leaf and explained its effects and containment method.
• Shade described Chaotic Time Blade, which could repeat an attack within three seconds even if the initial attack had been blocked.

Shade gained the Echo Spirit Rune by using Witch's Copy Paper and discussed how to develop his Ring Arcanist abilities with Miss Louisa. After lending her his extra Youthful Immortality Leaf, he told her about saving Queen Diana, and Miss Louisa reacted with intense excitement on Princess Leisha's behalf before Shade left to meet Priest Augustus.

• Shade used Witch's Copy Paper to gain the Echo Spirit Rune, leaving Whisper as the only one of the four Spirit Runes he had yet to obtain.
• Miss Louisa advised Shade to focus his studies on his Silver Moon and Spacetime Core Runes and explained how he could approach Echo.
• Shade lent Miss Louisa his extra Youthful Immortality Leaf to keep, explaining that he had no immediate need to sell it.
• Shade told Miss Louisa about the missing children investigation and Queen Diana's assassination attempt, and she became excited when she realized he had saved the queen.
• Miss Louisa thanked Shade on Princess Leisha's behalf and cooked lunch for him and the cat before Shade left to meet Priest Augustus at Dawn Church.

Shade visited Dawn Church, accepted Bishop Owen’s offer to join the faith of Mister Dawn, and was baptized. As he returned to Saint Derain Square with holy water and religious books, he wondered what the Church’s exorcist would find in Second Floor, Room Number Two the next morning.

• Shade arrived at Dawn Church with Priest Augustus, who reminded him to act injured before they met Bishop Owen.
• Bishop Owen asked Shade to convert, and Shade agreed after pretending to consider the offer.
• Shade was baptized under the church’s rite requiring him to stand in both light and shadow.
• Shade gave Bishop Owen the commemorative coin and donated ten pounds to the church; Bishop Owen gave him religious books and Holy Water No. 3.
• Shade rode back to Saint Derain Square and wondered what the Church’s exorcist would find in Room Number Two.

Shade welcomed Captain Rades, who thanked him for helping change his fate, then investigated the newly opened Second Floor, Room Number Two after the Dawn Church declared it safe. Finding no hidden wall or suspicious presence, Shade enjoyed the expanded home before leaving to attend an academic lecture.

• Shade finished his report on Lawyer Locke Laurel and mailed it to Mrs. Lemmer, then welcomed Captain Rades, who thanked him for helping change his fate.
• Shade received Mrs. Lemmer's letter confirming that he would accompany her to collect her inheritance the following Friday.
• Shade visited the Black Raven Library to look for Echo Thaumaturgy but rejected the costly options and planned to check Saint Byron's library the next day.
• Hels Nidro led nine Dawn Church Ring Arcanists in an exorcism of Second Floor, Room Number Two, and declared the rooms safe.
• Shade searched Room Number Two with Echoes of the Past, Blood Echo, and his Destiny Ring but found no suspicious sounds or hidden walls.
• Shade prepared snow for Little Mia and left home to attend an academic lecture at the Delarion Royal Mechanical Academy.