Chapter Summaries

Shade joined the witch, Daknis, and the Creation Church's Thirteenth Ring Warlock in fighting the Scarlet Secret Society's fishman priest inside the temple. The priest died in a sacrificial explosion that strengthened the holy emblem, while the battle for Coldwater Port reached its final stage.

• Shade created an incomplete Mystic Lock that weakened the fishmen and strengthened him, then helped the Creation Church Ring Arcanist attack the fishman priest.
• Shade used the Moonbeam Greatsword and Great Sin Chains to hinder the priest's Destiny Ring, giving the Church Ring Arcanist an opening to rupture space around it with brass mechanisms.
• The battered priest prophesied that the humans would meet tragic ends, then invoked the Lord of the Scarlet Spiral and blew itself up as a willing Sacrifice.
• Shade survived the blast by retreating into the corridor, and the priest's blood strengthened the temple's holy emblem.
• The witch, Daknis, the Creation Church Ring Arcanist, and Shade regrouped as the Scarlet Secret Society made its last stand and the Mermaid Giant Corpse carried waves toward Coldwater Port.

Shade and Miss Aurora fought Ivan Daknis, whose demonic power and status as a Chosen One were revealed, but he escaped into the water. Left alone in the temple, Shade approached the White Bone Holy Emblem to seek divinity.

• The Thirteenth Ring Warlock left to help save people, while Daknis learned from the demon that he was a Chosen One and was urged to seek answers through The Puppeteer's Script.
• Daknis silenced the demon with the Fish Training Ring, and Miss Aurora hired Shade to help capture him.
• Miss Aurora attacked Daknis while Shade bound his Destiny Ring with the Great Sin Chains, allowing her to strike him with Feliana's Witch Light.
• Daknis unleashed his demonic form, broke open the temple floor, and escaped into the seawater after Shade withdrew the chains.
• Miss Aurora jumped into the hole after Daknis, while Shade remained behind and approached the White Bone Holy Emblem in search of divinity.

Shade endured the temple’s divine pressure and defiled the Sea Burial ritual to weaken the holy emblem. As the temple collapsed, he summoned the Golden Pearl from the Mermaid Giant Corpse, but the evil god’s divinity burned him when he touched it, leaving the pearl in the altar’s boiling blood.

• Shade fought through the temple’s illusions and reached the altar beneath the holy emblem.
• Shade crushed a bottle of Drowned Fishman's Scales into the altar’s blood, causing it to rot and triggering the temple’s collapse.
• Shade chanted an ancient Mermaid incantation until the holy emblem cracked and fell, revealing the Mermaid Giant Corpse’s Golden Pearl.
• Shade summoned the Golden Pearl from the corpse’s heart, but recoiled in pain when he touched it, and the pearl fell into the altar’s blood.

Shade absorbed the Golden Pearl’s power, learned Water Walking, and used Space Stabilization Aura to collapse the ancient ruins before confronting the Mermaid Giant Corpse. He destroyed the corpse with Moonlight Slash and ended the Sea Burial ritual, then spotted Ivan Daknis fleeing toward shore with Sivie Aurora in pursuit.

• Shade joined his hand with the Golden Pearl and learned the Old God’s blasphemy and the spell Water Walking.
• Shade used Space Stabilization Aura to expel the ancient ruins and walked out as the Church’s forces and mermaids fought the fishmen.
• Shade hooked the Mermaid Giant Corpse’s hand with the Soul Fishing Rod and dragged its body out of the sea.
• Shade struck the corpse with Moonlight Slash, splitting it apart and destroying the Sea Burial ritual’s core.
• The tide weakened and the red sea cleared as the lighthouse lights calmed the waters.
• Shade detected Ivan Daknis escaping aboard a relic boat while Sivie Aurora pursued him with the mermaids.

Miss Aurora pursued Daknis until he used his new darkness power to knock her beneath the sea, where Shade rescued her and erased the spreading black pus. Shade then struck Daknis with a golden spear of lightning before collapsing, and Aurora carried him toward Sunrise Coldwater Port as the cleanup began.

• Miss Aurora chased Daknis across the sea, but he attacked her with a grotesque hand covered in black pus and forced her underwater.
• Shade found Miss Aurora underwater, used Silver Moon to remove the pus, and guided her back to the surface.
• Shade hurled a golden lightning spear at Daknis, breaking through his darkness and knocking him from his boat into the sea.
• Shade collapsed into the water, and Miss Aurora pulled him out before carrying him toward shore.
• Miss Aurora sent the Mermaid Girls to retrieve the boat and search for Daknis while The Church and others cleared the remaining Fishmen.

After waking at Aurora Manor, Shade learned that Leisha Cavendish had left for Tobesk, where Prince Sax had been arrested after leading an armed group into Yodel Palace. Shade dined with Sivie Aurora, who confirmed she had failed to catch Daknis and explained what she had found in the Wine Cellar.

• Shade woke in an unfamiliar bedroom at Aurora Manor and summoned the servants with a bell pull.
• Sivie Aurora told Shade that Leisha Cavendish had left Coldwater Port for Tobesk an hour earlier and had not left him a letter.
• Shade guessed that the royal family had uncovered the culprit behind the attempt on Queen Diana's life.
• Sivie Aurora revealed that Dak Anlos had found the culprit and that Prince Sax had stormed Yodel Palace with guns before guards arrested him.
• Shade and Sivie Aurora dined together while discussing Leisha's departure and Shade's relationship with her and Galina.
• Sivie Aurora said she had pursued Daknis into the sea but failed to catch him, then described finding an empty hidden chamber and an old Fishmen's passage in the Wine Cellar.

Shade discussed Ivan Daknis’s escape and the aftermath of the Coldwater Port crisis with Sivie Aurora, who offered him a home there and promised to help him obtain a Spirit Rune. As the city recovered, Shade reflected on what he wanted and was invited to meet mermaids.

• Shade learned that a Ring Arcanist’s successful suicide could cause a painful reversal between the Arcanist and Another Me, though the fishman’s soul had instead been taken by a god.
• Sivie Aurora told Shade that Ivan Daknis had stolen valuables and Relics from the Blood Spirit School, including the Puppeteer’s Script, and had likely left Coldwater Port.
• Shade realized Daknis might travel to Tobesk to complete a ritual, while Sivie said she would remain in Coldwater Port for another half month and offered Shade access to her manor whenever he visited.
• Sivie promised to help Shade obtain the Vibration Spirit Rune and explained that the Witch Council had gained an advantage over the Orthodox Church, even as the Church had helped save Coldwater Port.
• Sivie invited Shade to see the mermaids, then teased that he could choose one of her maids; Shade declined, saying he knew what he truly wanted.

After the Scarlet Secret Society’s defeat, Shade visited the mermaids with Miss Aurora and returned home to find Dorothy waiting for him. He ended the night uncertain whether Dorothy Louisa or Leisha Cavendish had kissed him, then looked up at the bright Silver Moon.

• Shade told Miss Aurora that the Scarlet Secret Society had chosen the wrong time to act, then followed her to meet the mermaids at the beach.
• Shade asked the mermaids about Desire, but they had no information about the intelligent Level 0 Relic; Miss Aurora suggested that mermaid legends may have influenced its form.
• Shade retrieved the Soul Fishing Rod from beneath Coldwater Port and returned home through the Hidden Wall.
• Dorothy welcomed Shade with a kiss, thanked him for saving Leisha Cavendish, and kissed him again after he told her he had destroyed their shared relic, Drowned Fishman's Scales.
• Shade and Dorothy talked until ten o'clock, and he remained unsure whether Dorothy or Leisha had been speaking with him.
• After Dorothy left by carriage, Shade declined to invite her to stay and looked up at the Silver Moon from Saint Derain Square.

Shade visited the lighthouse at Coldwater Port with Mia, enjoying the sea after the cult incident had ended. He met Mr. Edmund, reassured him about his identity, and handed over the promised Scarlet Secret Society tome before their discussion continued.

• Shade took Mia to the lighthouse and watched the sea while reflecting on the aftermath of the Coldwater Port incident.
• Mr. Edmund returned from fishing and recognized Shade, but said the Hermit Order had no interest in his secrets.
• Shade helped Mr. Edmund carry his catch inside, where the lighthouse cat ran out and Mia startled it with a roar.
• Mr. Edmund explained that the Hermit Order preserved knowledge to confront the world's end and regretted that Shade was not the God Summoner.
• Shade gave Mr. Edmund Mysteries of the Ocean, a tome taken from a Sea Burial ritual node, and Mr. Edmund returned the money he had paid Shade.

Shade traded the dangerous book with Mr. Edmund, learned that the Guiding Light Hermitage was searching for thirteen Sanctuaries, and declined an invitation to join for now. After reporting the Level 0 Relic Desire to the Church, he returned to Tobesk and headed to Miss Galina’s, wondering whether she was angry with him.

• Shade gave Mr. Edmund the dangerous book in exchange for access to it and help translating it, then asked about the rumored Level 0 Relic in Coldwater Port.
• Mr. Edmund invited Shade to join the Guiding Light Hermitage, but Shade declined and agreed to reconsider in ten years after hearing about the thirteen Sanctuaries.
• Shade delivered a warning about Desire to the Nature Church, searched unsuccessfully for coin-type Relics, and returned home.
• Maid Tifa Servit collected Shade for Miss Galina and told him that Dorothy’s Detective novel had become popular in the Steam Bird Daily.
• Shade asked Tifa whether Miss Galina was angry, and she teased him by asking what he had done to upset her.

Shade visited Galina and gave her a pearl from Coldwater Port, which she asked him to save as a birthday gift for Queen Diana amid coming political turmoil. Galina warned him that Leisha was ambitious and intended to gain power by supporting a royal heir; after returning to Tobesk, Shade found the Seer Association’s leaders arriving and went to greet them.

• Shade showed Tifa a large pearl and brought it to Galina, who told him to keep it for Queen Diana’s birthday.
• Galina discussed political turmoil and the attempt on Queen Diana, then asked Shade about his relationship with Leisha.
• Galina warned Shade that Leisha sought influence by supporting one of the royal children rather than becoming queen herself.
• Shade and Galina discussed the Council’s search for Daknis, who was traveling inland from the West Coast.
• Shade went to the Seer Association to find Luvia but instead saw Vice President Mark and President Addis Stan arrive, so he went to greet them.

Shade learned that the injured guest at the Seer Association was Princess Angelina Cavendish, who had been visiting under the name Weaving Machine Lady. Chairman Stan asked Shade to investigate the incident, and Shade entered the VIP room where the Princess and her companions were gathered.

• Shade joined Chairman Stan and Vice President Mark for drinks and a discussion about Great City Player and Rhodes Cards.
• A diviner reported that a distinguished guest had been injured during a reading in the VIP room.
• Vice President Mark told Shade that Weaving Machine Lady was Princess Angelina Cavendish.
• Chairman Stan asked Shade to investigate the incident as a paid commission from the association.
• Shade entered the VIP room and saw a doctor bandaging a red-haired girl while several young ladies and maids watched.

Shade investigated Princess Angelina Cavendish’s hand injury during a fire-divination game and found no clear evidence that the tortoise shell had been tampered with. He proposed using Little Mia to sniff the young ladies’ hands, and Angelina volunteered to go first.

• Shade arrived with Little Mia on his shoulder and learned that a tortoise shell had burst during the young ladies’ fire divination, cutting Angelina’s hand.
• Shade questioned the ladies and discovered that Angelina had suggested the divination and brought the tortoise shell and charcoal.
• Shade examined the basin and bone fragments, then used Echoes of the Past and heard nothing beyond the accident as the ladies had described it.
• Shade reconsidered the tortoise shell after Little Mia reacted to its burnt smell and decided to test whether the cat could detect a scent on the ladies’ hands.
• Shade asked the young ladies to present their hands to Little Mia, and Angelina volunteered to go first.

Shade completed Princess Angelina Cavendish’s investigation by identifying a young lady who had touched something suspicious, then received his fee from Chairman Stan. Later, he told Luvia about his escape from Coldwater Port and the power he gained from the Level 0 Relic Desire, while she worried about the strange course of his life.

• Shade had Mia sniff the noble ladies’ hands and noticed a chestnut-haired girl rubbing hers against her skirt.
• Shade questioned the girl after Mia reacted, and Angelina recognized her, bringing the investigation to an end.
• Angelina left with the girl and her friends, while Chairman Stan warned Shade that the matter involved palace politics.
• Chairman Stan paid Shade two thousand pounds in one-shilling notes, which Shade counted in the Divination Room.
• Shade told Luvia that Daknis had escaped and described his encounter with Desire and the Great Sin Chains.
• Luvia examined Shade and cautioned him that the power and experiences surrounding him were abnormal.

Shade and Luvia discussed how to confront Daknis and the demon empowering him, then Shade received a letter and twenty pounds from Princess Angelina Cavendish. He recognized Angelina from a past encounter at Lake View Manor and decided not to pursue her invitation to a salon.

• Shade described Daknis's four combat states and the demon's abilities, and Luvia said they would plan how to stop him from taking the second Chosen One position.
• Shade asked Luvia whether it was the Sixth Epoch, and she confirmed that it was.
• The next morning, Shade found a letter and twenty pounds from Princess Angelina thanking him and Little Mia for finding the real culprit.
• Shade remembered seeing a red-haired young woman at Lake View Manor and realized she was likely Angelina.
• Shade put away the money and set aside Angelina's invitation, choosing to focus on Daknis and renovating his home.

Shade asked Priest Augustus how to deal with someone possessed by an Evil Spirit Demon and agreed to meet him at a cemetery that night in exchange for a powerful potion. Later, Dorothy explained that a major political faction was about to fall and advised Shade that a pearl gift could help him win Queen Diana’s favor.

• Shade visited Dawn Church to ask Priest Augustus for ways to fight Demons, and the priest said true-god churches, divine arts, and Divine Rituals could suppress them.
• Priest Augustus offered Shade a bottle of Weak Angel Potion if he helped with a task at a rural cemetery, and Shade agreed to meet him at midnight.
• Shade decided not to involve Doctor Schneider in the matter, fearing that provoking the Demon connected to him could make it more dangerous.
• Dorothy visited Shade and delivered Leisha’s message about Princess Angelina’s train schedule.
• Shade showed Dorothy the giant pearl he planned to give Queen Diana for her birthday, and Dorothy said a political faction was about to suffer a major downfall.

Shade met Priest Augustus at Hangman's Path and followed him to the Unnamed Cemetery to dig up a grave for a ritual. They left the drunken Gravedigger safely asleep in his cabin and began their secret operation.

• Dorothy urged Shade to give the pearl to Leisha, and her words left him distracted for the rest of the day.
• Shade finished Professor Garcia's report on Locked Space and set out at night with Mia to meet Priest Augustus.
• Shade reached Hangman's Path, where Priest Augustus arrived carrying two Iron Shovels and explained that they would dig up a grave for a ritual.
• Shade and Priest Augustus used Shade's illusion to enter the Gravedigger's Cabin, found the Gravedigger passed out drunk, and left him covered with a blanket before taking a lantern.
• Shade and Priest Augustus headed into the cemetery to begin digging, with Mia accompanying them.

Shade and Priest Augustus investigated Muir Lee Nem’s grave after a peasant woman reported dreams of her dead husband being tortured. They discovered a cursed dagger animating the corpse, and the chapter ended with the dagger withering Priest Augustus’s hand after he pulled it from the ground.

• Priest Augustus told Shade that a peasant woman suspected the scholar who arranged her husband’s funeral had committed Blasphemy against the corpse.
• Shade and Priest Augustus dug up Muir Lee Nem’s grave and found a black dagger clasped in the decayed corpse’s hands.
• The corpse seized the dagger again when Priest Augustus tried to remove it, then rose from the grave and attacked him.
• Shade and Priest Augustus fought the undead creature, and Shade cut it in half while the priest set it ablaze.
• The dagger blackened the earth, and when Priest Augustus pulled it out, his right hand shrank, blackened, and dried up.

Shade and Priest Augustus tried to destroy a corpse that wielded a strange dagger, but it repeatedly revived and attacked the Priest. After Augustus used Corpse Explosion, the corpse crawled from the crater even fresher and more agile than before.

• Priest Augustus healed his wound, sealed the dagger in a consecrated box, and explained that the corpse needed an exorcism to prevent it from contaminating the cemetery.
• The green flames restored the corpse, and Shade detected faint traces of the Whisper Element coming from its body.
• The corpse reappeared with the dagger and attacked Priest Augustus, blocking both his lightning and Shade’s great sword.
• Priest Augustus used Corpse Explosion to blast the corpse into a crater while Shade retreated with Mia.
• The corpse crawled out of the crater, looking more human and moving more nimbly, and charged Priest Augustus again.

Shade and Priest Augustus restrained the resurrected corpse and summoned the soul of a Fifth-Ring Arcanist, who tried to raise the dead in the graveyard. Shade’s Great Sin Chains corrupted the soul, and he destroyed it with Moonbeam Greatsword, leaving the ritual’s purpose unresolved.

• Shade trapped the corpse beneath a tree with Great Sin Chains while Priest Augustus sealed it with holy light.
• Shade and Priest Augustus identified the corpse as a scholar who had buried himself in the grave, and Shade found ancient ritual markings inside the coffin.
• Priest Augustus summoned the corpse’s soul, which appeared as a Fifth-Ring Arcanist and began trying to raise the graveyard’s dead.
• Shade threw Mia at the soul to disrupt its attempt to enter the corpse, then pierced it with chains formed from Gluttony and Greed.
• The chains corrupted the soul and its Destiny Ring, so Shade destroyed the mutated spirit with Praise the Moon.