Chapter Summaries

Shade met Haila Osenfott in the manor’s snowy garden, where she revealed Stone Osenfott’s secret and commissioned Shade to defeat her husband. She asked Shade to prove his strength by fighting a dead gardener, who emerged from the ground as a Corpse Ghoul.

• Haila Osenfott accepted Shade’s Unicorn amulet and invited him to walk in the back garden, promising to answer his questions.
• Haila showed Shade the portrait of Frey Osenfert and led him through the snow to the rear garden.
• Haila identified Shade as a Ring Arcanist and urged him not to gather the three items for Stone Osenfott.
• Shade refused to abandon Stone’s commission without adequate compensation, and Haila asked him to defeat her husband and ultimately drive a sword into his chest without killing him.
• Haila explained that Stone turned his enemies to stone and smashed them, leaving their souls imprisoned beneath the manor, then offered her own soul as payment for Shade’s help.
• Haila asked Shade to prove his strength, and a dead gardener clawed out of the earth as a Corpse Ghoul.

Shade fought and defeated the demonized Gardener, a corpse ghoul summoned by Haila Osenfott, and learned that the dead man’s eyes contained a clue. Haila directed him to Mr. Fernandes, a folklorist and director of the Randall River Valley City Sculpture Hall, where Shade hoped to find further leads.

• The Gardener attacked Shade with an Iron Shovel, using invisibility and spatial movement, but Shade blocked its strikes with the Great Sin Chains.
• Shade trapped the Gardener beneath summoned snowballs, then killed it with the Moonbeam Greatsword of the Red Moon.
• Haila Osenfott told Shade that the Gardener’s eyes had seen part of the truth before he died.
• Shade turned the Gardener’s remains into a toy, collected the Iron Shovel, and cleared the traces of their fight.
• Haila told Shade to seek Mr. Fernandes, the folklorist who directed the Randall River Valley City Sculpture Hall.

Shade visited Osenfott Manor to return an item and locate an antique statue of Edward Marcus, but he discovered demonic traces in Stone Osenfott's sculpture room and could not take the statue without permission. He then rode to a nearby ancient moon-worship site connected to the Words of Sublimation.

• Haila Osenfott had Shade pose for an oil painting while Stone Osenfott stayed in the city with Prince William Anjou.
• Haila showed Shade the statue collection room, where Shade found the Edward Marcus bust he sought and sensed demonic power converging on an unfinished statue.
• Shade left without the bust, planning to seek Stone Osenfott's permission, and saw the Old Butler shrouded in black mist and Crimson Moon eyes.
• Shade rode east through the forest to a protected ancient moon-worship ritual site marked as a Level Two cultural relic area.

Shade investigated an ancient Moon-worship site and identified an inscription for Miss Lathers while helping with her search for her father. He then enlisted Margaret’s help to investigate Stone Osenfott and learned that Osenfott and Prince William were attending a wedding to meet merchants.

• Shade visited the ruins at noon, sensed traces of Moon worship, and decided to return at night to investigate the Moon’s power.
• Shade translated a photograph of an ancient Elvish slab for Miss Lathers and explained that it recorded the elves’ migration north after an invitation from Saint Byrens Comprehensive College.
• After failing to find Osenfott at the Jack Captain Club, Shade waited for Margaret and asked for her help against him.
• Margaret agreed to have Serkses Higher Medical Academy investigate Osenfott’s Silver Mine and to arrange investigations into his other businesses.
• Margaret told Shade that Osenfott and Prince William had gone to a local baron’s daughter’s wedding to meet merchants.

Shade attended a country wedding to meet Stone Osenfott and bargain for the statue of Edward Marcus in exchange for a found badge. Osenfott accepted the badge but returned it, agreed to let Shade collect the statue tomorrow, and invited him to stay and watch an interesting play.

• Shade declined Margaret’s invitation to the wedding banquet, then went to Mason Manor to find Osenfott and Prince William Anjou.
• Shade found Osenfott with Prince William and saw a Ring Arcanist among the prince’s attendants.
• Shade told Osenfott he would not hand over the badge until Osenfott agreed to give him the statue of Edward Marcus.
• Osenfott agreed that Shade could collect the statue tomorrow and required him to find the last item before spring; after confirming the badge, he returned it to Shade.
• Osenfott warned Shade not to try tricks with him, then invited him to stay and watch an interesting play as they approached Prince William and the wedding guests.

Shade and Stone Osenfott followed Maggie Mason’s malevolent spirit at her wedding and watched it make attempts on her new husband, Mr. Enriques. They secretly observed the newlyweds in their bedroom, where the spirit grew more unstable as Enriques spoke of their future together.

• Prince William left the manor after his purpose for attending the banquet had been fulfilled.
• Stone Osenfott led Shade to Maggie Mason, where they saw her arguing with the spirit of a young man who had failed to move on after death.
• The spirit followed Maggie into the courtyard and tried to harm Mr. Enriques by provoking a dog to attack him and toppling a ladder, but others prevented anyone from being hurt.
• Maggie returned to the manor with Enriques, and Shade and Stone Osenfott followed them invisibly to the Master Bedroom.
• As Enriques affectionately discussed their married life and plans for children, the spirit grew more unstable while Maggie nervously watched it.

At the Enriques wedding, Miss Mason confessed her past with a dead former classmate, whose soul became a wraith under the influence of Stone Osenfott’s power. Shade and Osenfott pursued and destroyed the corrupted soul, then discussed its tragic fate beneath a tree overlooking the manor.

• Mr. Enriques recited his vows, causing the dead man's soul to transform into a wraith.
• Miss Mason confessed that she had spent three months with the soul while studying in Wilundell, and the wraith attacked the couple.
• Shade subdued the wraith with the Great Sin Chains after it broke free of his Imprisoning Halo and fled the manor.
• Shade used Guiding Death on the wraith, but the Demon’s corruption overwhelmed it and left behind a rune-covered Black Stone.
• Osenfott called the dead man’s fate tragic, while Shade rejected the idea that he should punish Miss Mason for her past.

Shade learned from Stone Osenfott that a dangerous event would occur near Eldron Lake on Thursday, then consulted Doctor Schneider about Osenfott’s demonic corruption and the suspected demon behind it. The investigation remained unresolved, with Shade planning to visit Osenfott Manor and pursue further clues before the threat emerged.

• Stone Osenfott challenged Shade to a sword duel, and Shade defeated him despite Osenfott’s strength and ability to rise again after being stabbed.
• Stone Osenfott warned Shade that something extremely dangerous would happen near Eldron Lake on Thursday and cautioned him about the Guardians.
• Shade reminded Osenfott that he still expected the Sapphire Earring and information about who held Founding, then took the stone sword and wondered whether Osenfott was the Chosen One of the Earth.
• Shade visited Doctor Schneider and recounted his encounters at Osenfott Manor and the wedding; Schneider suspected the wedding soul had been contaminated and Osenfott had undergone Demonization.
• Doctor Schneider examined the gardener’s demon weapon and listed Trasius, Stone Mirror Demon-Goth, and Valak as possible demons behind Osenfott.
• Shade and Doctor Schneider agreed to investigate separately, with Shade planning to visit Osenfott Manor and notify the local Church about the Thursday danger.

Shade met Miss Danist at Saint Byrens to learn about the Academy’s connection to the Old God Eternal Night Curtain. After Miss Danist shared what she knew, she assigned Shade Moon Thaumaturgy - Moon's Dream as his spring-term test.

• Shade projected himself to Saint Byrens and asked Miss Danist about the Academy’s history and its ties to Eternal Night Curtain.
• Miss Danist explained that the Old God had blessed the Academy at night and described an uncertain legend that the Academy grounds once belonged to the god’s followers.
• Miss Danist offered to have students gather more records about Eternal Night Curtain and send them to Shade.
• Shade demonstrated Imprisoning Halo and told Miss Danist he hoped to develop more offensive moonlight Thaumaturgy.
• Miss Danist urged Shade to focus on his studies and assigned him Moon Thaumaturgy - Moon's Dream to learn before spring.

Shade studied the Moon's Dream thaumaturgy with Miss Danist, then warned Miss Benanis that something serious would happen near Eldron Lake the next night. He obtained the statue from Haila Osenfott and learned that she believed Stone loved her completely.

• Miss Danist taught Shade about Moon's Dream and assigned him to master it before spring, while she could not identify Sand of Time stained by the night.
• Shade discussed his studies with Dorothy, who reassured him that he was not neglecting them and agreed to consider his idea after Luvia returned.
• Shade asked Miss Benanis to anonymously warn the Church of a major event near Eldron Lake on Thursday night.
• Shade visited Osenfott Manor and obtained the statue from Haila Osenfott.
• Over tea, Shade discussed the ghost at the wedding and marriage with Haila, who said Stone had given her his entire heart.

Shade learned that Haila Osenfott’s family was connected to the Grangers and that Stone Osenfott’s relatives had died after his fortune rose. At the Moon Worship Ruins, Shade tried to reach the land’s memories and instead became part of an ancient vision of worshippers praying beneath three full moons.

• Haila Osenfott told Shade her maiden surname was Watsont and explained that the Granger Family had helped her after her parents died.
• Shade heard from a logging-camp caretaker that Osenfott Manor was considered cursed, Haila’s family had died, and Stone’s relatives had gradually perished after he became wealthy.
• Shade concluded that Stone Osenfott had made a contract with a demon and rode to the Moon Worship Ruins after nightfall.
• Shade used Earth Power - Healing Aura with a flower and soil to sense impressions from the land, then performed a ritual to learn Moon’s Dream.
• Shade failed to learn Moon’s Dream but saw ancient worshippers in white robes praying around the ruins as three full moons shone overhead.
• Shade rose into the vision and became part of the Silver Moon.

Shade received the Moon God’s blessing in the ancient ruins and gained the Moon’s Thorn Miracle Technique, along with effects from the Three Moons. After collecting Sand of Time and a Unicorn-hair ribbon, he traveled to the Summit of the Mountains to seek Sister Devlin’s help finding information about a rare material.

• Shade chose the Thorn Crown sacrifice and gained the Moon’s Thorn Spirit Rune and Miracle Technique.
• The Silver, Red, and Yellow Moons each granted Shade a temporary effect or guidance, including the clue that the truth lay within the mountains.
• Shade woke refreshed the next morning and teased Little Mia awake before visiting Old John.
• Old John gave Shade four ounces of Sand of Time and the Unicorn-hair ribbon, but said he had found no information about Sand of Time soaked in Black Night.
• Shade went to the Summit of the Mountains and met Sister Devlin at the entrance to the ancient Sacrificial Ground.

Shade consulted Sister Devlin about the demon in Randall River Valley and how to turn the Sand of Time into a more dangerous relic. She directed him toward a Black Night Spirit Temple in the mountains, but preparations for a crisis took priority when black mud began contaminating Eldron Lake.

• Sister Devlin told Shade that she had helped Miss Aurora kill a giant devouring worm and was waiting for Aurora to complete Old Woman Ilal’s final task.
• Shade described the unknown demon in Randall River Valley, and Sister Devlin agreed to investigate it and identified ways black night or death might taint the Sand of Time.
• Sister Devlin suggested Shade pray at a Black Night Spirit Temple and showed him a map locating ruins in the mountains east of Randall River Valley.
• Shade postponed visiting the ruins because Stone Osenfott’s predicted major event was due that night.
• Miss Benanis told Shade that the Church had found Mad Earth at the bottom of Eldron Lake, where black mud threatened to contaminate the watershed, and summoned him to prepare for a possible battle.

Shade and his companions prepared for the Church’s attempt to purify the spreading Mad Earth at Eldron Lake, while Shade examined and restored an auction statue that might point to the Heart of the Earth. As night fell, Shade, Luvia, and Miss Benanis went to the lakeshore to investigate, leaving Miss Lathers and two witches at their camp as support.

• Shade showed Luvia, Miss Benanis, and Miss Lathers Edward Marcus's statue, then cut it apart and used Breath of Time to restore it after they found nothing unusual.
• Shade and the others reviewed the Church's plan to freeze the contaminated lakebed and use a Divine Ritual and the Great Elf Sage Oak Staff to purify the Mad Earth before dawn.
• Shade's group rode to a hill overlooking Eldron Lake, where Miss Benanis told them that Pierre Granger, a Thirteenth Ring Warlock, had been transferred to the region but would likely remain in the city.
• Shade made a wooded camp and used Moon's Thorn to reinforce its fence with silver thorns.
• After sunset, Shade, Luvia, and Miss Benanis went to the lakeshore, while Miss Lathers and two Ninth Ring Witch Followers stayed behind to support their retreat.

Shade, Luvia, and Miss Benanis witnessed the eruption of black mud from Eldron Lake and confronted three black-robed arcanists spreading grains across the ice. Shade fought a Sixth Ring Arcanist who wielded a scythe through a Crimson phantom, and the chapter left Shade identifying the man’s Crimson Specter Spirit Rune.

• The Church froze Eldron Lake to contain the contamination, but an earthquake shattered the ice and a column of black mud erupted before the Church froze it in turn.
• Luvia chose to investigate several figures by the southeastern shore, where Shade’s group found three black-robed arcanists scattering grains over the ice.
• The bespectacled leader said they were preparing a relic’s arrival and attacked Shade, Luvia, and Miss Benanis before the group could question them further.
• Miss Benanis raised earth walls and Shade covered them with Crimson thornbushes, blocking the trio’s escape until Shade’s Moonlight Slash forced them to face their pursuers.
• Shade fought the Sixth Ring Arcanist, who used space movement and a Crimson phantom to wield a black scythe, and Shade recognized the man’s Crimson Specter Spirit Rune.

Shade and his companions defeated or captured three cultists while the Church contained the contaminated zone at Eldron Lake. A massive stone relic rose from the lake as the Whisper Element surged and rain clouds gathered, leaving the gathered Ring Arcanists facing its arrival.

• Shade defeated a Blood Spirit School arcanist by countering his mist and bat transformations, then stopped his final leap with a Thunder Spear.
• Miss Benanis subdued the bespectacled arcanist, who surrendered and revealed that a larger group planned to obstruct the Church while awaiting a relic.
• Luvia defeated the arcanist with the Obsidian Pendulum, then claimed the relic after he died from her knife wound.
• Miss Benanis questioned the surrendered cultist and knocked him unconscious after he said he could not reveal what relic they awaited.
• A powerful earthquake shattered the newly frozen lake, and a deep whirlpool appeared beneath the black mud pillar as rain clouds gathered.
• A gigantic ancient stone statue rose from Eldron Lake, bearing the inscription, “I offer everything I have, only to seek even a single drop of rain.”

As the Rain-Praying Statue threatened to spread polluted mudwater and bring blizzards to Eldron Lake, Luvia and Miss Benanis sought a way to stop it. Miss Benanis summoned a colossal Earth Power Statue to move the relic, but the Rain-Seeking Golem struck first, piercing her statue with a stone pillar.

• Miss Benanis and Luvia identified the giant relic as a Rain-Praying Statue whose polluted water could transform the surrounding land into Mad Earth and bring a massive blizzard.
• The Church’s Ring Arcanists halted their purification ritual and tried unsuccessfully to strike the golem, while preparing to contain it and seeking aid.
• Miss Benanis said she would handle the threat with Earth Power Statue, a Thaumaturgy she had mastered using the statue Shade obtained from the Stone Masons Association.
• Miss Benanis summoned a gigantic stone statue from Eldron Lake’s surface and sent it charging toward the Rain-Seeking Golem to move it out of the lake.
• The Rain-Seeking Golem suddenly moved, seized a frozen black-mud pillar, and hurled it through the chest of Miss Benanis’s stone statue.

Shade, Luvia, and Guardian Johnson Fleming sailed toward the center of Eldron Lake to use Earth Power - Healing Aura against the spreading Mad Earth. Fleming revealed that the crisis was a trap aimed at him and hinted that his enemy was someone Shade already knew.

• Miss Benanis's Earth Power Statue fought the Rain-Seeking Golem for three minutes before it was destroyed, absorbing some black mud from the lakebed along the way.
• Shade warned that another threat might appear and planned to use Healing Aura at the lake's center, while Miss Benanis agreed to stay behind and summon her statue again.
• Luvia sensed Johnson Fleming approaching, and he introduced himself as a founder of the Stone Masons Association and the Third Guardian of Randall River Valley.
• Fleming offered to join Shade and Luvia, saying that his enemy had set the night's trap and that they needed to act before Mad Earth overwhelmed the city.
• Miss Benanis gave Shade her Witch's Golden Ring - Left One, and Shade took Luvia and Fleming across Eldron Lake in his Small Wooden Boat.

Shade, Luvia, and Mr. Fleming advanced across the frozen lake to purify the Mad Earth while the Witches’ Colossus fought the Rain-Seeking Golem. They discovered that the Demon and the cultists had laid a trap to draw out the Guardians, and the Demon’s power began transforming the golem.

• Shade questioned Mr. Fleming about the Guardians and learned that contact with another earth-related Old God could strengthen Healing Aura.
• Shade, Luvia, and Mr. Fleming crossed the ice and began casting Healing Aura near the Rain-Seeking Golem while the Witches and the Church fought it.
• Mr. Fleming moved Shade and Luvia onto the Witches’ Colossus to protect them from the golem’s attack.
• Luvia drew the Demon card, and Shade used Vision Demon to see the Demon’s power spreading beneath the ice.
• Black lines and stone spikes spread over the Rain-Seeking Golem, reversing the battle as the Demon’s power transformed it.

Shade, Luvia, and Guardian Mr. Fleming fought the Demon-possessed Rain-Seeking Golem, which was attacking the stone statue beneath them. Mr. Fleming sacrificed himself to pass his Earth Power to Shade, who took control of the Colossus and began to cast Imprisoning Halo as the battle reached its decisive moment.

• The Rain-Seeking Golem attacked the stone statue with black beams and stone arms while Mr. Fleming shielded Shade and Luvia.
• Luvia blocked the Golem’s beam with her Blessing of Books, and Mr. Fleming explained how Shade could use Earth Power to control the stone statue.
• Mr. Fleming used an ancient ritual to repel the Golem, then sacrificed himself to strengthen Shade’s Earth Power.
• Shade used Puppet Manipulation to control the stone statue, whose broken hands regrew under his command.
• Shade raised his hand and cast Imprisoning Halo through the Colossus as the Golem approached again.