Chapter Summaries

Shade failed to locate the Yellow Moon through resonance, while Miss Danist and Miss Pawo traced the sought relic to the Sage Level Relic Source of Chaos, somewhere in Tobesk. Before leaving the city, Miss Danist entrusted the search to Shade and gave him a ring that represented her.

• Shade used moonlight resonance in his attic but sensed only himself and the Moon, and Luvia concluded the method could not find the Yellow Moon Relic.
• Miss Pawo told Miss Danist that Source of Chaos was likely the Yellow Moon sought by the Bard and was somewhere in the nearby streets; Miss Danist claimed the relic and let her leave alive.
• Miss Danist visited Shade and told him she had to leave Tobesk, assigning him the search for Source of Chaos, a flawless pearl believed to be in nearby streets.
• Miss Danist gave Shade her rune-covered ring, which could cast light and a weak healing spell and could help him gain the respect of other Ring Arcanists.
• Miss Danist reminded Shade to pass his exams and suggested that, if he advanced to fourth year, she would offer him elective courses and discuss the Moon and the library with him.

Shade returned to Huntington City to prepare for the coming expedition into the Great Swamp, where the Pantanal Voodoo Society planned to weaken a seal and release evils. He found no way to locate the Sage Level Relic Source of Chaos in his house, and the chapter ended with him agreeing to investigate the Voodoo Society’s activity with Mr. Bernhardt.

• Shade gave Little Mia the ring Miss Danist had gifted him and learned that the Yellow Moon sought by the bard was the Sage Level Relic Source of Chaos.
• Shade and Luvia searched Room Two for Source of Chaos, but found nothing in the wall and decided to prioritize the Pantanar Area.
• Shade traveled with Sister Devlin to Huntington City, where she explained that the Great Swamp was part of a seal centered beneath the lighthouse on Lake Heart Island.
• Shade planned to visit Lake Heart Island and learned that Sister Devlin believed she could burn away the Evil of Pantanal with the recovered flame of First Fire.
• Shade visited Mr. Bernhardt, told him he planned to enter the Great Swamp with high-ring friends, and agreed to investigate the Pantanal Voodoo Society’s collection of weapon-type relics.

Shade accompanied Mr. Bernhardt to meet Orlan Wilson, but found a blood-soaked fake corpse and learned that the Pantanal Voodoo Society had attacked Wilson and taken his relic. Mr. Bernhardt followed Wilson’s blood message to a slum inn, where Shade waited downstairs as a strange man in a brown robe passed by.

• Mr. Bernhardt told Shade that Orlan Wilson had acquired a troublesome dagger and asked him to take it off his hands.
• Shade and Mr. Bernhardt found Wilson’s home empty, then learned a stranger had entered and left shortly before their arrival.
• Mr. Bernhardt used blood to open the door and discovered a corpse that released attacking vines, which he burned with Blood Flame.
• Shade and Mr. Bernhardt realized the corpse was a fake, and Mr. Bernhardt read Wilson’s blood message saying that Wilson was hiding after the Pantanal Voodoo Society took the relic.
• Mr. Bernhardt went upstairs to find Wilson at the Blood-Colored Rose Inn while Shade waited downstairs, where a strange man in a brown robe passed him.

Shade reunited with the Demon Scholar Xiao En Asmon at an inn in Huntington City, where Asmon planned to investigate legends in the Great Swamp. Shade bought a damaged first-edition Rhodes Card from him, and Asmon continued a Demon story about a man whose hometown the Demon had returned to.

• Shade encountered Xiao En Asmon at the Blood-Colored Rose Inn in Huntington City and learned that Asmon was investigating Demon legends around the Great Swamp.
• Shade warned Asmon against venturing into the swamp, but Asmon said he intended to investigate the connected lakes near its outskirts.
• Asmon showed Shade a damaged Star 8 Natural Disaster · Blizzard Rhodes Card that he had recovered from a burial ground.
• Shade paid Asmon three crown notes for the card and put it in his notebook.
• Shade recounted the earlier tale of a man who sealed a Demon with his life, and Asmon said the Demon had returned to the man's hometown.

Shade heard the end of the Demon story from Xiao En Asmon, then joined Mr. Bernhardt and helped calm the traumatized Mr. Wilson. Wilson revealed a prophecy of disasters and ancient forces returning, leaving Shade and Bernhardt facing an ominous warning about what was to come.

• Xiao En Asmon told Shade how the Demon devoured a man's family after each person wished to protect another, and how the grandson chose to carry the Demon through his life.
• Shade confirmed that Xiao En Asmon was an ordinary person, then met Mr. Bernhardt, who said Wilson was close to being killed by the Pantanal Voodoo Society.
• Mr. Wilson explained that High-Ring Arcanists had attacked him, and that his prepared Blood-Colored False Body had saved his life.
• Shade used Confusion to calm Mr. Wilson, who described visions of earthquakes, unprecedented blizzards, and disaster approaching the Old Continent.
• Mr. Wilson said his divination had revealed an ancient evil beneath the Great Swamp, a coming cataclysm, and visions of an Angel, returning tentacles, a laughing wise man, and the Purple Eyes female diviner weeping.

Shade learned a dire prophecy about the coming destruction in the Great Swamp Region and prepared for the events ahead. That night, he investigated the Source of Chaos again and discovered that Mia was drawn to the moonlit wall.

• Shade and Mr. Bernhardt arranged for Mr. Wilson to be taken to the Seer Association after his disturbing prophecy, while the Bloodkin Viscount chose to remain in Huntington.
• Shade told Sister Devlin and Luvia about the prophecy, and Luvia described dreams involving snow, Lake Heart Island, a winged man, and a tentacle in the lake.
• Shade asked Vice President Mark to restore the damaged Natural Disaster card and learned the work would cost around twenty to forty pounds.
• That night, Shade tried searching for the Source of Chaos by moonlight but found nothing at the spot where Mischief Boy had left ink marks.
• Mia scratched the same moonlit spot on the wall, leading Shade to suspect that she sensed something there.

Shade discovered a hidden compartment in his wall and recovered the dangerous Yellow Moon relic, which resonated with his Spirit Runes and the Time Mystery stone slabs. By the end, the sealed Red Moon Spirit Rune finally awakened.

• Shade aligned his Destiny Ring with the moonlight and used its reflection to reveal and open a hidden door in the wall.
• Shade and Mia were overwhelmed by the Yellow Moon pearl’s Chaos Spell, but he recovered and returned to the compartment prepared.
• A bard appeared, confirmed Shade had found the Yellow Moon, and left a blue teardrop-shaped crystal for him.
• Shade took the pearl and used it with his Yellow Moon Spirit Rune, the Core Ling Rune Silver Moon, and three Time Mystery stone slabs to trigger a resonance.
• Shade meditated amid the rising moonlight, and the Profane Spirit Rune—Red Moon—finally bloomed with its own light.

Shade unsealed the Red Moon Spirit Rune, gained a new Moon-related thaumaturgy, and learned that Astrologer Euclid had left a Yellow Moon relic and a warning about a Moon’s Chosen One. The next morning, a sudden heavy snowfall disrupted travel, and Sister Devlin confirmed that the Princess and her party could not reach Huntington that day.

• Shade unsealed the Red Moon Spirit Rune, gained Moon Shadow Illusion, and learned that the three Moon Spirit Runes had permanently enhanced his Moon-related thaumaturgies.
• Shade secured the dangerous Source of Chaos and read Astrologer Euclid’s letter, which described the divided Moons and hinted at strange problems in the house.
• Shade discovered hidden writing predicting that the Moon’s Chosen One would stay at his house.
• After heavy snow struck Tobesk and Huntington, Shade traveled toward Huntington by carriage to meet Luvia and await the Steam Airship.
• Sister Devlin told Shade that the Princess and her party could not reach Huntington that day.

Shade learned that Miss Chloe’s full name connected her to Mrs. Marcus and suspected the truth about the Witch Echo, while the worsening snowstorm delayed Princess Margaret’s party and darkened the threat beneath the Pantanal Great Swamp. On Sunday, Shade traveled to Huntington with Sister Devlin to await Miss Galina and Miss Sylvia’s arrival by train.

• Sister Devlin told Shade that Princess Margaret’s party had been stranded in Vincent Town and that Legenes Prisha had disappeared after leaving the airship.
• Shade learned from Mr. Edmund that the Demigod Witch’s full name was Chloe Marcus Marcus, which reminded him of Mrs. Marcus’s name, Marcus Marquez.
• Shade showed Luvia the Sage Level relic, and its influence made her sob uncontrollably for half an hour.
• Doctor Schneider canceled the Study Group because of the severe snowfall, and Dorothy urged Shade to be careful before he faced another danger.
• Shade went to Huntington with Sister Devlin and waited at Mrs. Finney’s Tea House for Miss Galina and Miss Sylvia’s delayed train.

Shade met Legenes Presia in Huntington and learned that Presia had arranged Mr. Booker's death to take his books. Their conversation ended with Presia openly admitting he wanted the books for himself.

• Shade heard that a blizzard-delayed train had carried a stolen Relic, then spotted Legenes Presia outside the teahouse.
• Shade and Sister Devlin searched separately, but Presia found Shade near Ancient Tree Alley and invited him into a private book club.
• Shade and Presia shared Shade's fine red wine while discussing how Presia had reached Huntington ahead of the Princess.
• Shade told Presia that Mr. Booker had died in a fire and accused him of involvement; Presia admitted he had caused it to obtain Booker's old books.
• Presia justified taking the books as a way to spread knowledge, then admitted he had done it to obtain them for himself.

Shade fought Legenes Presia after confronting him about the library arson, but Legenes escaped after unleashing the high-ring Thaumaturgy Dawn Justice Sword. Shade then met with Sister Devlin and the Witches, who identified Legenes as a Chosen One and revealed that his ritual would take place on Lake Heart Island, also called the Heart of Pantanal.

• Legenes Presia admitted to burning the library and said he planned to travel to a Promised Land to gain supreme wisdom.
• Shade attacked Legenes, but Legenes used temporary Spirit Runes gained from books and unleashed Dawn Justice Sword, injuring Shade before escaping.
• Sister Devlin and the maid arrived, treated Shade, and helped him leave the alley as the police cleared the area.
• Shade met Sister Devlin and the Witches at the White King Club and told them about Legenes's abilities and his alliance with the Pantanal Voodoo Society.
• Miss Sylvia and the Red-haired Duchess identified Legenes as a Chosen One and revealed that the ritual site was Lake Heart Island, known as the Heart of Pantanal.

Shade learned that the Apna Library had revealed Legenes Presia’s plan to use an ancient ritual in the Great Swamp, where the Pantanal Voodoo Society intended to break a seal and release evil things. As the ritual approached, Shade prepared to witness a Thirteenth Order Witch’s path to demigodhood and asked Doctor Schneider for powerful Demon creations.

• Shade explained to Luvia that the Ancient Ritual - Sublimation Secret Rite could awaken Legenes Presia’s Intellect Angel bloodline, while the Pantanal Voodoo Society planned to use it to damage the Great Swamp’s seal.
• Shade said the Apna Library had confessed its role to the Church after helping Legenes Presia and the Pantanal Voodoo Society, hoping to avoid being destroyed and still pursue the legendary library of knowledge.
• Shade and Luvia concluded that Legenes Presia and the Voodoo Society each intended to exploit the ritual for their own goals, with the Voodoo Society planning to release the sealed evil things once it succeeded.
• Shade told Luvia he would use his Time Key to witness a Thirteenth Order Witch’s demigod road, while the Witches prepared to enter the Great Swamp.
• On Monday, Shade met Doctor Schneider and asked whether he had any powerful Demon creations, such as weapons, alchemy items, or potions.

Shade obtained the Doctor’s Ebony Handgun and three powerful Demon Bullets, then asked for help entering Luvia’s possibly prophetic dreams. He also learned a way to briefly suppress the Angelic power of an adversary carrying the Intellect Angel’s bloodline, leaving open the possibility that he might have to confront and kill that man.

• Shade accepted the Doctor’s Ebony Handgun and three Demon Bullets as a Year-End Festival gift, while the Doctor warned him not to overuse demonic power.
• Shade asked the Doctor to devise a gentle way to enter Luvia’s dream, and the Doctor agreed to consider it.
• Shade asked the Doctor how to forcibly use the Words of Sublimation, prompting the Doctor to warn him about the risks.
• Shade visited Priest Augustus and asked how to restrain the Angelic power of an Intellect Angel descendant he might soon face.
• Priest Augustus taught Shade a ritual combining his Time Angel Thaumaturgy, his badge, and a Hels Language cipher to briefly suppress Angelic power.
• Shade wondered whether killing the descendant would cause the true Intellect Angel to descend.

Shade learned how to question an Intellect Angel and arranged to borrow Priest Augustus’s dangerous time-loop relic for a ritual. As preparations concluded for the expedition into the Pantanal Great Swamp, Shade left for Huntington, while Luvia and Tifa stayed behind to await his return.

• Priest Augustus told Shade to ask an Intellect Angel, “What is the mystery of death?” while holding his round emblem, then agreed to lend him the Time Reversal hourglass for a few hours after Shade’s ritual.
• Miss Sylvia told Shade that an earthquake had struck the Great Swamp and that the group would enter it on Wednesday; Miss Sivie Aurora had arrived in Huntington.
• Shade packed relics for the expedition, while Luvia made a box to suppress the Source of Chaos and agreed to care for Little Mia.
• Luvia performed a final Tarot reading for Shade, drawing Books, which she interpreted as accumulation, wisdom, and harvest.
• Shade departed through the Hidden Wall for Huntington as Luvia and Tifa watched him go.

Shade joined the three Witches in Huntington as they prepared to enter the Pantanal Great Swamp and observe Legenes Presia's ritual. While searching for Presia in the city, Shade found a Keeper of Secrets posing as a beggar, who asked him to help a child in exchange for a wish.

• The Witch Council sent Galina, Aurora, and Sylvia to observe the ritual, study its Enlightenment, and gather information about the Chosen Ones while preventing the Evil of Pantanal from being released.
• Shade dreamed that a monster at Lake Heart Island tried to devour him before Witch Emperor Violet saved him, then woke to Huntington buried in snow.
• Aurora told Shade that Legenes Presia had been sighted in Huntington, and Shade went to investigate the area near the White King Club.
• Shade found traces of a Ring Arcanist battle and then discovered a Humanoid Relic, the Keeper of Secrets, disguised as a beggar in an alley.
• The Keeper of Secrets asked Shade to help a child survive the winter without spending more than one crown, and Shade realized Presia was likely still searching for the Wise Man's Gleaming Stones.

Shade waited in the snow for Sir Prisha, then confronted him after the knight completed the Keeper of Secrets’ trials and claimed a gemstone. Sir Prisha recognized that Shade was concealing his identity, and their fight ended with him summoning a Mystic Lock of towering bookshelves around them.

• Shade turned himself into a stone statue and hid beneath the snow while Sir Prisha recited how he had completed the three trials.
• A gust swept away the cardboard house, revealing a blue teardrop-shaped gemstone, and Shade confronted Sir Prisha as he reached for it.
• Shade and Sir Prisha argued over the knight’s pursuit of Wisdom and Knowledge, and Sir Prisha grew suspicious that Shade was impersonating Hamilton.
• Shade shot Sir Prisha with a Demon Bullet, badly wounding him, but the knight escaped into Fool’s Book and emerged unharmed.
• Sir Prisha summoned towering ancient bookshelves that rose around him and Shade, creating a Mystic Lock.

After surviving Legenes Presia’s attack, Shade joined the witches in preparing an expedition into the Pantanal Great Swamp. Miss Sylvia’s spatial ritual brought them to ancient ruins in Snowfall Forest, leaving the group at the swamp’s edge.

• Legenes Presia escaped after Shade endured the explosion of the bookshelves, and Shade revealed that his Divine Art Items had stopped the dagger from reaching his heart.
• Miss Galina warned Shade about the powerful curse on his right hand, while Miss Sylvia reported that a Voodoo Society arcanist had appeared to receive the Chosen Ones.
• Shade resolved to show Legenes Presia the Outlander’s power as he and the witches set out for the Great Swamp.
• Miss Sylvia led Shade, Miss Galina, Miss Aurora, and three Witch Followers through a spatial ritual supported by the Witch Council.
• The group emerged through a silver door into a snowy clearing of ancient ruins in Snowfall Forest.

Shade and six Witches rode through the blizzard-struck Pantanar Area toward the central lake, facing spatial distortions, traps, and a dangerous relic along the way. They camped for a brief rest, still heading toward their destination as the Fourth Chosen One’s story neared its end.

• Miss Sylvia led Shade and the six Witches along the Langma Ancient Road on summoned Bone Horses after spatial interference put them three miles off course.
• The group crossed a frozen wetland by having Miss Sylvia use Shade’s Night Watchman to split open a path, then heard distant fighting that Miss Sylvia attributed to The Church’s team.
• The six ladies incinerated Man-Eating Corpse Vines planted beneath the snow as a trap.
• Miss Galina and Miss Aurora identified an unmapped abandoned village as the Sage Level Relic Udeer Ghost Village, but the group entered it despite changing course and fought their way out with Shade leading and Miss Aurora covering them.
• At six in the evening, the group camped to rest, while Miss Avril and Miss Scarlett set up a Defense Ritual, Miss Catherine prepared hot soup, and Miss Aurora reported to the Council.

Shade and the witches continued their dangerous journey through the Great Swamp, pausing by a campfire before an Angel Level Relic’s fog forced them onward. After a strange dragon attacked and fled, the group continued toward the central lake with the seal and Chosen One mission still ahead.

• Shade learned from a note from Sister Devlin that he could stabilize the Primordial Fire’s seal by touching the flames if it was about to break, and he said he would prioritize the seal over Legenes Presia.
• Shade told the witches a story about two princess sisters while they rested around a campfire in the blizzard.
• Miss Aurora noticed dense white fog spreading from the swamp’s center, and the witches suspected it came from the Angel Level Relic Unfading Mist, so they ended their rest and set out for Lake Heart Island.
• A huge shadow flew over the group, and the witches later fought off a strange dragon, with Galina Cavendish dragging it into the Withered Forest and Miss Sylvia severing one of its claws with Space Cutting.
• Miss Aurora watched the dragon escape through the fog while Shade looked at her, and another Me confirmed that he was looking.

Shade continued toward the ritual site through the Great Swamp as its supernatural forces separated him from the witches accompanying him. Alone, he encountered Miss Pawo, who relayed Legenes Presia’s warning that the road ahead held five trials, and Shade began questioning her about the Chosen Ones.

• An undead creature hidden beneath the snow corrupted Miss Aurora’s summoned horses until Miss Aurora and Miss Galina dragged it from the swamp and burned it.
• Miss Aurora disappeared with Miss Scarlett, and Miss Galina led the remaining party onward; later, Miss Galina, Miss Avril, and Miss Catherine vanished after an earthquake.
• Miss Sylvia gave Shade the Sage Level Relic Ancient Witch's Golden Ring - Left Two, then disappeared when they reached the fog’s boundary near the lake.
• Shade crossed into the fogless region alone and deduced that the Evil of Pantanal was disrupting the seal and keeping the Angel Level Relic Unfading Mist from advancing.
• Miss Pawo appeared and told Shade that Legenes Presia expected Spectators to pass five trials before reaching the ritual site.
• Shade asked Miss Pawo whether The Truth Society knew Legenes Presia was not certain to be the Chosen One, then offered to reveal the next candidate in exchange for an answer.