Chapter Summaries

Shade reached Lake Bena and found Grace and Helen preparing to surrender themselves to the God of Vampires. He rescued them with help from their long-lost Teacher, then fled toward the Nature Church as the cocoon above Miburg began to hatch and the final battle intensified.

• Shade found the Bloodkin praying around the coffin at Lake Bena as the water and fog turned blood-red and the Phoenix flew toward the giant cocoon.
• Shade used Confusion and Moonbeam Greatsword to free Grace and Helen from the Blood Mist, then tried to escape with them.
• Two High-Ring Bloodkin blocked their way, but the twins’ Teacher appeared, gave Shade a powerful sword, and stayed behind to confront the pursuers.
• Shade led Grace and Helen through the forest toward the Nature Church while Helen explained that their Teacher had later joined the Zalas Society and died after meeting them again.
• The cocoon above Miburg cracked open as the Church, Professor Pigman, the Phoenix, Sister Devlin, Iluna, and other fighters attacked it while midnight approached.

Shade tried to flee Lake Bena with Grace and Helen, but the Blood Moon’s ritual trapped them at the lakeshore. At midnight, the Blood Coffin opened and the Vampire Duke Lawell descended, while an Undead Behemoth erupted above Middlesburg.

• The old man from the Gods' Wine Party shattered the bloody hand and drove back the Eleventh Ring Bloodkin, giving Shade time to escape with Grace and Helen.
• Shade led Grace and Helen through the forest, but they emerged at Lake Bena, where blood had replaced the water and the Red Moon held them captive.
• Shade resisted the moon’s pull, took out his Fishing Rod and Blood Brew, and watched the Metal Coffin transform as eight relics and the Blood Thorns Scepter embedded themselves in it.
• At midnight, the Metal Coffin opened, and Lester Bernhardt awoke as the Vampire Duke Lawell, whose nine relics merged into his body as he descended onto the Blood Lake.
• The White Fog cocoon above Middlesburg shattered, releasing an Undead Behemoth that struck the Ring Arcanists and undead with a wave of black force.

Shade confronted the God of Vampires, who revealed that he had spent two Epochs preparing to turn Helen and Grace into Blood Brew. As the god tried to claim them, Shade’s plea for help brought forth a faint, illusory manifestation of the Guardian of Innocence.

• The God of Vampires explained that he had guided Helen and Grace for two Epochs so he could make Red Butterfly Blood Brew from their intertwined souls.
• Shade offered his bottle of Blood Brew in exchange for the twins, but the god rejected it and ordered Shade to step aside.
• The god drew Helen and Grace toward him, and they merged into one as Shade tried to stop them with the Soul Fishing Rod.
• The god snapped Shade’s fishing line and taunted him, but the brass hook glowed and the power of Miracle repaired the rod.
• The Guardian of Innocence appeared as a faint golden figure and rebuked the God of Vampires for targeting the twins.

Shade rescued Grace and Helen from the God of Vampires with the Innocent Creator’s help, then used the recovered divinity to ascend as a god. The chapter ended as Shade and the God of Vampires agreed to a divine duel over the Red Butterflies.

• The Innocent Creator used the Fishing Hook to help Shade pull Grace Helen from the vampire god’s grasp, then vanished as the Soul Fishing Rod shattered.
• Shade restored Mia to her true form, protected her and the injured Red Butterflies, and prepared to confront the God of Vampires.
• Shade declared that he would fight to save Grace and Helen, and the God of Vampires described their fate as the Red Butterflies’ Final Death.
• Shade burned the recovered divinity, ascended as a god, absorbed the divinity of Vampire Duke Lawell, and inscribed the Silver Blasphemy Spirit Rune—Red Moon.
• Shade invoked the Upside-down Judge to establish a duel in which the victor would gain the Red Butterflies, and the God of Vampires agreed.

Shade, newly descended as the Child of the Moon, fought the God of Vampires above Sikar Mountain over the Red Butterflies and defeated him. With the Interstice’s White Fog receding, Shade turned to end Middhir Fort City’s crisis by entering the newly opened passage toward death.

• The gods’ appearance stopped the fighting around Middhir Fort City, and their collision froze everyone who watched.
• Shade confronted the God of Vampires, declaring that the Red Butterflies would remain with him.
• The God of Vampires attacked, but Shade used the power of the Ancient God of Death to drive him back.
• Shade and the God of Vampires fought one final duel, and Shade’s Silver Moon destroyed the vampire god at Sikar Mountain’s summit.
• The clash cleared much of the White Fog, revealing the Star Sea and a passage from the Interstice.
• Shade looked toward the passage and prepared to end the crisis by guiding the souls into the Material World and entering it.

The Underworld Moon opened a path through the Star Sea, allowing countless souls trapped in the Interstice to depart as the city watched. While Iluna and Lacan prepared to face the awakening undead amalgamation, Mia drove off the wounded God of Vampires and took the Bloodkin Ring.

• A silver Underworld Moon appeared above Sikar Mountain and formed a Shattered Light Path through the Star Sea, allowing trapped souls and Star Whales to journey into the Quiet Waters.
• Iluna and Lacan prepared to return the awakening undead amalgamation to the Interstice while the gods departed and the White Fog cleared.
• The wounded God of Vampires approached the unconscious Red Butterfly Twins at Lake Bena, intending to harm them despite losing them to the Child of the Moon.
• Mia stood between the twins and the God of Vampires, whose terror grew as he recognized her and retreated into the lake.
• The God of Vampires threw the Bloodkin Ring toward the twins, and Mia caught it before he vanished from the Material World.
• Mia placed the ring on her tail and settled between Helen and Grace to wait for Shade’s return.

After spending his divinity to defeat the evil god and guide the Interstice’s souls onward, Shade collapsed on Sikar Mountain, suffering extreme pain and emptiness. Sister Devlin arrived and asked him to accept the First Fire, leaving Shade to agree on the condition that she explain the fire, the Order of Spiritual Cultivation, and her fears about the world’s end.

• Shade landed on a cliff at Sikar Mountain and collapsed after using up his divinity to guide the departed souls.
• As Shade suffered, he heard “her” voice and watched the souls follow the Shattered Light Path toward the starry sky.
• Sister Devlin arrived with Helen, Grace, and Little Mia, lit a campfire, and retrieved Shade’s pocket watch.
• Sister Devlin refused to open the watch and asked Shade to accept the power of the First Fire to restore his depleted soul.
• Sister Devlin revealed that she wanted Shade to become a Hero who could gather Kindling and sustain the First Fire, fearing the Sixth Epoch might be the world’s final one.
• Shade agreed to touch the flame, asking Sister Devlin to explain the Order of Spiritual Cultivation, the First Fire, and her suspicions about the world’s end.

Shade accepted the First Fire from Sister Devlin, which eased the emptiness left by his lost divinity but could not heal his severe wounds. Departing souls sent him a stream of light that restored him, and as they passed into the Underworld, Grace and Helen began transforming into Red Butterflies.

• Shade accepted Sister Devlin’s covenant and received the power of the First Fire, strengthening his soul and body while slowing the loss of God’s Radiance.
• Shade and Sister Devlin agreed to say that they had stayed together and witnessed the God Summoner atop the mountain.
• Departing souls sent white Light Rain into Shade, healing his wounds as he watched them pass along the Shattered Light Path toward the Underworld Moon.
• Grace and Helen joined Shade and recognized the souls of people they had known before the twins became relics and the others departed toward the Distant Place.
• Shade noticed Red Butterflies flying along the starlit path as Grace and Helen began turning transparent and transforming into butterflies.

As Grace and Helen prepared to depart, Shade used the Brass Enlightenment Aura and a costly sacrifice to keep them together in the world. The twins remained in the ice coffin, while Shade gained two Red Butterfly curses and the story of the Red Butterfly Twins reached its conclusion.

• Grace and Helen gave Shade their Red Butterfly Pendant and said they wanted to stay together, even if it meant enduring the cycle’s torment again.
• Shade discovered Mia had found the Bloodkin Ring and used the souls’ gift to manifest the Brass Destiny Ring and create a palace around the group.
• Shade warned the twins that saving them would demand a price, but Grace and Helen affirmed their wish to remain together and climbed into the ice coffin.
• Shade kissed Grace and Helen, sacrificing the Red Moon Spirit Rune to transform the power of his Enlightenment into a Miracle that kept their souls from departing.
• Shade learned the story of the Red Butterfly Twins and received the Incarnation of the Red Butterfly and Red Butterfly Illusion curses.

Shade drew the Undead Behemoth’s attention inside the Mystic Lock, creating an opening for Sister Devlin, Iluna, and the assembled Arcanists to defeat it. Iluna drove the Night Watchman into the Saint Tree Scar ritual, and green light spread across the Star Sea as the battle ended.

• Shade borrowed the Princesses’ strength and pulled the battlefield into overlapping Mystic Locks, then met the Undead Behemoth’s black beam with his own silver light.
• The Church’s Thirteenth Ring Warlocks and other fighters attacked the distracted Behemoth, weakening it as the Saint Tree Scar ritual appeared over Sikar Mountain.
• Iluna invoked the first four wishes and unleashed a Golden Thunder Sunlight Gun while Sister Devlin struck the Behemoth with her scythe.
• Mr. Mathis gave Iluna the Sun Holy Emblem, and she drove the impaled Behemoth into the Black Rift, sending it back into the Interstice.
• Iluna knelt in the air and drove the Night Watchman into the center of the Saint Tree Scar ritual, spreading green radiance across the Star Sea.

Shade and his companions sealed the Interstice at Sikar Mountain, ending the battle over Middhir Fort City, and Shade returned home utterly exhausted. As he finally rested, Luvia and Miss Galina discussed the night’s extraordinary events and wondered where the Chosen Ones would appear next.

• Shade borrowed Sister Devlin’s flames and combined Tree’s Kiss with Saint Tree Scar and Tree Father’s blessing to seal the Interstice beneath a giant tree on Sikar Mountain.
• Shade entrusted the injured Helen and Grace to Sister Devlin and returned to Tobesk with Mia, where he found the problem on his home’s third floor had been resolved at the cost of his Traveler's Travel Door.
• Shade reunited with Luvia, Miss Galina, and Tifa, confirmed the battle was over, and collapsed from exhaustion before he could tell them what had happened.
• Tifa carried Shade to bed while Luvia and Miss Galina discussed the Road of Death, the god’s appearance, and the growing disturbances caused by the Chosen Ones.

After recovering from his ordeal in Middlesburg, Shade woke at home in Tobesk and learned that the battle had ended in victory and the Council was pleased with his role. Tifa welcomed him with breakfast and, after sharing the news, began a flirtatious private meal beside his bed.

• Shade woke after nearly thirty hours of sleep, found the Red Butterfly Pendant and the Founding card nearby, and decided to rest at home before handling his remaining affairs.
• Tifa brought Shade breakfast and told him that Middlesburg had survived the battle, Sister Devlin was the Chosen One, and the Council was pleased with his help.
• Tifa said that she, Miss Aurora, and Miss Annette had gained new Spirit Runes when they opened the Gate of Death for Shade.
• Tifa closed the bedroom door and curtains, then used the hot egg to begin serving Shade in an intimate manner.

Shade recovered from the battle in Middlesburg and told Luvia what had happened, including his role as the God Summoner and the divine battle over two Red Butterflies. As Luvia worried over him and they discussed the aftermath, Shade learned that his actions had resolved the Interstice and left a vast tree rooted across the mountain to guard the seal.

• Luvia visited Shade, confirmed he was healthy, and teased him about his closeness with Tifa before welcoming him back with a kiss.
• Shade recounted his confrontation with Joey Barton and the events in Death, while Luvia warned him not to face such dangers alone.
• Luvia reported that the Church and Royal Army had suffered heavy losses, but the Middlesburg operation had resolved the Interstice, determined the Chosen One, and placed Night Watchman in Iluna's hands.
• Shade told Luvia that the gods had fought over Grace and Helen, and Luvia tearfully asked him to stay beside her as he promised he would.
• Shade explained that Sister Devlin had given him the Primordial Fire and that the souls of Middlesburg had bestowed power on him; Luvia praised the gift and his actions.
• Luvia revealed that Shade's Mystic Lock had caused a giant tree to root through the mountain, resolving the volcano's danger and helping keep the Undead Behemoth sealed.

Shade and Luvia discovered that their third-floor corridor had become a gateway to the Soul Cemetery after the events surrounding the Gate of Death. Shade figured out how to open it, and he, Luvia, and Mia stepped through the White Mist Gate to explore.

• Shade and Luvia discussed the end of the Star Whale observation and the third stanza of The Canticles, then agreed to inspect the third floor.
• Luvia used her new Death Spirit Rune to reveal black iron gates in the corridor, explaining that their earlier adventure had caused a permanent doorway to form.
• Shade recognized the gates as an entrance to the Soul Cemetery and explained that opening it required a Spirit Rune, an incantation, and an item or a bearer of death’s aura.
• Shade recited the Soul Cemetery’s incantation and discovered that his experience of returning from death let him open the gates.
• Shade, Luvia, and Mia entered the White Mist Gate together.

Shade explored the Soul Cemetery and learned how it could summon and restore souls, then reviewed the gains and dangerous relics from his journey through Middlesburg. After storing his new keepsakes and arranging his belongings, he discovered the Heaton Seal parchment he had received from Mathis.

• Shade learned that the Soul Cemetery could summon souls by name, repair shattered souls, and open a one-time door to True Death at the cost of a drop of divinity or a Heart of the Living Dead.
• Shade gave Luvia a Soul Tear Drop to help repair her soul and arranged to see her on Sunday night.
• Shade returned home, stored Miss Olanord's cloak with his keepsakes, and catalogued the relics and other spoils from Middlesburg.
• Shade kept Joey Barton's Blood Brew rather than drinking or selling it, and planned to reconsider returning the soul fragment to Barton in the future.
• Shade found the Heaton Seal parchment from Mathis while organizing his belongings, as Mia settled on his lap wearing the Metamorphosis Ring.

Shade recounted his role in the Middlesburg battle to Miss Galina, then spent the afternoon and evening at her manor, where Princess Leisha arrived and found him there. A message from Miss Danist summoned Shade to project himself to the Academy Library, leaving Galina and Leisha alone together.

• Shade studied the Heaton Seal and added the defensive Thaumaturgy to the abilities he planned to learn.
• Shade told Miss Galina that he had defeated Joey Barton Within Death, and she explained the aftermath of the Middlesburg battle and the Church’s investigation into the God Summoner.
• Shade spent the afternoon riding with Miss Galina, then demonstrated his new Red Butterfly Illusion when Princess Leisha arrived at the manor.
• Shade explained his presence in Middlesburg to Leisha and said he would stay at the manor, while she hinted that she had something important to tell him.
• A message from Miss Danist summoned Shade to the Academy Library, and Miss Galina asked Leisha what she thought of him after he left.

Shade met with Miss Danist at Saint Byron’s Grand Library, where she asked him to help prepare for the arrival of a Kasonlik royal delegation and its member, Legenes Prisha. He also learned that several organizations might hold clues about a spell for enhancing Time Perception, leaving him with three places to investigate.

• Shade arrived at Saint Byron’s Grand Library and learned from Miss Danist that students were researching the Star Sea Whale and the Shattered Light Path.
• Miss Danist told Shade that Legenes Prisha, a distant relative of the Anjou Royal Family, would travel to Tobesk with Princess Margaret’s delegation in mid-November, and asked Shade to prepare to help.
• Miss Danist described the library’s history and revealed that its First Librarian, Blaine Olanode, had the Yellow Moon as her Core Ling Rune.
• Shade used the Library Retrieval spell, which fetched a student paper about enhancing Time Perception, and Miss Danist explained that the spell could function in the library because it was a divine art of the same origin.
• Miss Danist told Shade that Apna Library and the Guiding Light Hermitage had absorbed some of the Old God’s believers and materials, giving him three organizations to investigate alongside Saint Byron’s.

Shade told Leisha the stories of Joey Barton and the Red Butterfly Twins, then gave her the Crimson Butterfly relic so she and Dorothy could spend a full day together every twenty-one days without a price. Leisha kissed Shade, while Miss Galina and Tifa arrived and teased her; Shade began planning a dramatic surprise for Dorothy.

• Shade met Leisha in the dining room and told her Joey Barton's story of love, death, and reunion.
• Shade recounted Grace and Helen's story and explained how he had helped them during the events in Middlesburg.
• Shade gave Leisha the Crimson Butterfly, which would let her and Dorothy spend one full day together every twenty-one days without paying a price.
• Leisha embraced and kissed Shade, moved by the gift and his efforts to help her and Dorothy.
• Shade proposed a plan to arrange a dramatic surprise for Dorothy the next day, while Miss Galina and Tifa arrived and teased Leisha.

Shade and Dorothy followed Leisha’s cryptic messages through a series of memories and clues, growing concerned that something had happened to her. The chapter ended when Dorothy found Leisha’s final note about their regret at the Hairos Banquet, with the reason for her strange messages still unknown.

• Shade and Leisha returned to Tobesk, where the Study Group discussed the events in Miburg and Doctor Schneider asked Shade to check on Priest Augustus.
• Dorothy told Shade that Leisha had left a tear-marked diary message and refused to exchange identities, then received Leisha’s letter comparing them to the two sides of a mirror.
• Shade and Dorothy visited Mary Jane Flower Shop, answered a question about Leisha’s favorite flower, and found a note recalling their first meeting.
• Shade found Leisha’s message behind an old advertisement on a lamppost, and Dorothy remembered their earlier conversation about kissing Shade.
• Dorothy and Shade went to her apartment, where they found a formal outfit Leisha had ordered and a note hidden behind a framed leaf specimen about their regret at the Hairos Banquet.

Shade helped Dorothy follow the clues Leisha had left at places from their past, leading Dorothy to a long-awaited reunion with Leisha at Shade’s house. After the two women embraced and spoke privately, they called Shade upstairs to help bring the evening to a close.

• Shade and Dorothy attended the Helos banquet’s Sunset Hotel and found Leisha’s riddle directing them to Three Cats Inn.
• Shade and Dorothy collected Leisha’s letter and wine at Three Cats Inn, then watched fireworks as they read her message about Dorothy’s eyes.
• Shade and Dorothy followed a red butterfly from Saint Derain Square to Shade’s house, where Dorothy found Leisha waiting among flowers.
• Leisha and Dorothy embraced at last, then spent the evening talking while Shade ate dinner downstairs.
• Leisha and Dorothy called Shade upstairs, and he cautiously went to meet them.