Chapter Summaries

Shade learned about his Academy rewards, asked Professor Garcia about power and accelerated growth, and received a potion formula called Price of Growth. After Professor Garcia left, Shade and his companions planned how to divide the 1,000-pound fund from the Lake View Manor incident.

• Professor Garcia explained Weather Vane Bluegrass's long growing cycle, promised Shade a supply from the New Continent, and offered him access to an elective course on Folded Space.
• Shade asked to apply early to view the Academy's Canon of Sublimation, and Professor Garcia told him to submit an application through his Poetry Manuscript Paper.
• Professor Garcia advised Shade that power required a price and dictated the Price of Growth potion formula, which could make a child grow temporarily.
• Professor Garcia warned Shade to report future Time Explorations to the Academy before leaving.
• Shade joined Doctor Schneider, Priest Augustus, Miss Louisa, and Miss Annette as they planned to withdraw 910 pounds from the 1,000-pound fund and divide it among themselves.

Shade learned more about his companions’ backgrounds and found a new way to help a girl by using his knowledge instead of supernatural power. He accompanied Priest Augustus to Dawn Church to retrieve the deeds to his house and arrange an inspection of its sealed area.

• Priest Augustus agreed to brew Price of Growth for Shade, while the group confirmed that none of them had a Time Key or knew how ordinary people could gain power.
• Miss Louisa asked Shade what he meant by power, inspiring him to consider using his knowledge to help a girl; she lent him a fairy tale and he promised to treat her to the opera.
• After the study group ended, Priest Augustus told Shade that Louisa came from a wealthy family, while Bill had been an orphan, Annette had lost her parents young, and Shade had once been a vagrant with no memories.
• Priest Augustus invited Shade to retrieve his house and land deeds and have Dawn Church inspect the sealed area; Shade fetched his will and death certificate before they went to the church.
• At Dawn Church, Priest Augustus led Shade to the document storage room, where they found a Father reading a risqué maritime novel.

Shade had the church reopen the sealed first floor of his house and discovered a Miracle Element in the basement. Using his Spacetime rune, he revealed a hidden passage behind the basement wall.

• Priest Augustus returned Shade’s house documents and explained that Dawn Church would inspect the sealed areas before allowing them to be opened.
• Mr. Franchi inspected the house, arranged for workers to clear the first-floor passage, and told Shade the second-floor room key would arrive in a week while the third-floor stairs still needed repairs.
• Shade explored the reopened first floor with Little Mia and discovered a rotten door leading to the basement.
• When Shade entered the basement, he sensed a Miracle Element and used Echoes of the Past to follow century-old bloody footprints to a wall.
• Shade used his Spacetime rune on the wall, making part of it vanish and revealing a narrow hidden passage.

Shade discovered that the two-headed statue beneath his house belonged to the Ancient God Primal Rift and learned to enter a Space Labyrinth through it. He tested its spatial landmark and found that it teleported him back to the same chamber.

• Shade followed the Hidden Wall passage into a circular chamber and found a glowing statue of a two-headed Ancient God.
• The inscription on the statue’s pedestal resonated with Shade, and he read, “Primal Rift, shelter you within infinite space.”
• Shade returned prepared, touched the statue’s base, and used an incantation to enter the Space Labyrinth.
• Shade followed the foggy path and touched its wooden signpost, which teleported him to the chamber containing the statue.
• Shade realized the chamber was the labyrinth’s only existing spatial landmark, so the teleportation had taken him from Saint Derain Square back to Saint Derain Square.

Shade explored the Space Labyrinth and learned that the Primal Rift could connect it to other spaces using White Stone Crystal or divinity. Back in the hidden basement, he found a three-hundred-year-old survey log and old potion bottles, then left the space wondering what happened to the people who had stored them there.

• Shade entered the Space Labyrinth, saw God's Radiance awaken the White Fog, and learned that the Primal Rift required White Stone Crystal or divinity to connect to another signpost.
• Shade returned to the statue chamber and found a parchment recording a 1520 survey of the Primal Rift statue and an investigation into the Creation Ancient God's Birthing Room.
• Shade recalled that the Blood Spirit School was occupied with the Birthing Room on the New Continent and wondered which groups knew about the Ancient Gods' special spaces.
• Shade discovered old reagent bottles marked with a winged figure inside a triangle, but left them and the parchment in the chamber.
• Shade left the basement and considered using the hidden space to store things, then worried that its former occupants might have met an ominous fate.

Shade explored the newly opened floor of his house, read the story pages Miss Louisa lent him, and joined her to check on Sophie Dais and her family. Afterward, he discovered that Miss Louisa had transformed into a fish-scaled creature and used Silver Moon to subdue her.

• Shade decided to keep the newly opened first floor for storage rather than rent it out, then sent an application to consult the Canon of Sublimation.
• Shade read the pages of “The Little Match Girl,” but the story produced no special effect.
• Shade and Miss Louisa went to the Deis Family home and checked the women inside by having them stand at the door crack.
• As they left the slum, Shade noticed Miss Louisa was soaked and smelled of seafood, then revealed Silver Moon and saw fish scales covering half her face.
• Shade pinned Miss Louisa down and held Silver Moon against her until her struggles stopped.

Shade rescued Miss Louisa from the effects of the Drowned One Scales, but the pair became trapped in a strange fog near the Deis Family’s alley. After Miss Louisa recovered through Rapid Sleep, she concluded their way out led back toward the house and prepared to enter the alley.

• Shade treated Miss Louisa with water infused with Satiety Feast and helped her recover after the Fish Scale infection.
• Miss Louisa could not remember what she saw through the Deis Family’s door, and Shade warned that something inside might be worse than an out-of-control Relic.
• Shade realized the fog had trapped them near the alley and contained dense Whisper and Blasphemy Elements.
• Miss Louisa fell asleep, then woke moments later feeling restored and explained that her Rapid Sleep talent had helped her recover.
• Miss Louisa summoned the Match Girl with a burning page, cleared some of the fog, and led Shade toward the Deis Family’s alley.

Shade, Miss Louisa, and the Match Girl entered the Deis Family house to find the source of the Fishmen and the spreading corruption. Shade guided Miss Louisa through a water-filled space to the open exit, but stopped before they could escape.

• Shade noticed golden cracks appearing beneath his skin as the group approached the Deis Family house.
• Shade took the lead into the house, with the Match Girl in front and Miss Louisa holding his wrist behind him.
• The Match Girl used her first three Matches to drive back Fishmen while Shade sensed and warned of their attacks.
• Miss Louisa recognized clues pointing to an evil god and warned Shade to be ready to hold his breath.
• After the Match Girl spent her fourth Match, Shade and Miss Louisa passed through a space filled with floating corpses and suddenly felt submerged in water.
• Shade reached the open doorway that led out of the house, then stopped halfway through calling to Miss Louisa.

Shade and Miss Louisa escaped the warped area watched by an evil god, but the small fishman remained behind. Inspired by the story of The Little Match Girl, Shade gained an Enlightenment Spirit Rune and caused the scene to transform into a snowy night beneath the Silver Moon.

• An evil god watched the area because of the uncontrolled Fish Scale Disease, and Shade's golden marks drove its gaze away as he carried Miss Louisa toward the closing door.
• The small fishman held the door open for Shade and Miss Louisa, then stayed behind at the edge of Shade's light.
• Miss Louisa urged Shade to leave the fishman, but Shade decided he might still be able to save her and took the fairy-tale parchment from Miss Louisa's pocket.
• Shade declared that he wanted to save the girl, and the parchment returned the power of Enlightenment as he invoked The Little Match Girl.
• Shade inscribed the Brass Enlightenment Spirit Rune—The Little Match Girl—and the room opened to the Star Sea as snow began to fall beneath the Silver Moon.

Shade used the story of The Little Match Girl to create a Mystic Lock, saving the Dais family from the God of Drowning in the Deep Sea before collapsing from exhaustion. He woke at home the next morning, learned what had happened after he fainted, and tried to activate his new Thaumaturgy.

• Shade’s Mystic Lock freed the Dais family from the Fishmen, and the God of Drowning in the Deep Sea withdrew its gaze.
• Dorothy Louisa brought the exhausted Shade back to 6 Saint Derain Square, where he remained unconscious until Sunday morning.
• Shade awoke to find Dorothy Louisa and Mia beside him, and Dorothy gave him water and breakfast.
• Shade recalled completing the Spirit Rune The Little Match Girl and gaining its unique Thaumaturgy, a Mystic Lock.
• Dorothy Louisa explained that she had escaped with Shade as an Orthodox Church squad arrived, while the Church took the Dais family into its protection.
• Shade summoned his Destiny Ring and tried to activate the Mystic Lock.

Shade explained that the Time Key and a god’s help had left traces of him in the past, allowing him to inscribe the Little Match Girl Spirit Rune. Miss Louisa promised to keep his secret and asked him to let her become his teacher.

• Shade demonstrated that he could only make snow fall over a limited area, and Miss Louisa said his low Ring Arcanist level restricted his Thaumaturgy.
• Miss Louisa described how the Little Match Girl story shaped her Words of Sublimation and asked why Shade had inscribed its Spirit Rune.
• Shade confirmed that he was the original author of “The Little Match Girl.”
• Shade revealed that his first exploration used an Unknown Level Time Key, through which he saw a god who helped him leave traces in the past.
• Miss Louisa promised not to reveal Shade’s secret and asked him to become her teacher.

Shade agreed to let Miss Louisa teach him about Enlightenment Spirit Runes in exchange for studying his Spirit Rune, and learned that her close friend is Princess Leisha Cavendish. After recovering from the previous night’s encounter with an evil god, Shade received a letter saying the Church would delay opening his second-floor room until it could perform an exorcism.

• Miss Louisa offered to teach Shade about Enlightenment Spirit Runes and study his Spirit Rune, and Shade agreed to meet her for lessons and research every Saturday.
• Miss Louisa revealed that the owner of the burned pages was Princess Leisha Cavendish, a Fifth Ring Arcanist and her close friend, and promised to explain their connection when Leisha returned to Tobesk.
• Shade and Miss Louisa compared the Blasphemy Element spells they gained after encountering the evil God of Drowning in the Deep Sea: Shade learned Underwater Breathing, while Miss Louisa gained Bubble Head Charm.
• Miss Louisa left to rest, recommending that Shade ask Priest Augustus about the White Stone Crystal and the triangular mark on the medicine bottle.
• Shade read Mr. Franchi’s letter from Dawn Church, which said Room Two could not be opened until Church professionals performed an exorcism, and the voice in his heart assured him there was no evil spirit on the second floor.

Shade spent a hot day preparing for a formal evening, then traveled with Tifa Servit to Duke Lucas’s residence for a Rhodes Cards game. He arrived at the banquet hall and had his cards inspected while the other guests waited.

• Shade cooled his study by making snow fall into washbasins, and Mia jumped into a bucket to play in it.
• Shade read and rested before a tailor and an etiquette instructor arrived to prepare him for the evening.
• Tifa Servit collected Shade and confirmed that he had brought his cards for the game.
• Shade and Tifa traveled to Duke Lucas’s residence, where the butler welcomed them and led them upstairs.
• Shade met Vice President Cindyia Mark, who appraised his deck and admired his newly acquired cards.

Shade learned that Miss Galina could provide the rare White Stone Crystal he needed, in exchange for considering a commission from Tifa Servit. He arrived at Duke Lucas’s Rhodes Cards gathering, where he spotted Miss Bayes disguised as a maid and was introduced to the duke.

• Shade had two special Rhodes Cards from Miss Galina added to his deck during the pre-match inspection.
• Shade asked Tifa Servit about White Stone Crystal, and she offered to bring him some if he considered a commission after the match.
• Shade and the Seer Association group went to the third-floor banquet hall, where he recognized Miss Bayes working in disguise as a maid.
• Duke Lucas greeted Shade and said he had heard of him.

Shade faced Duke Lucas in a Rhodes Cards match arranged on behalf of Miss Galina, with the outcome tied to naval personnel transfers. The deck inspection ended in astonishment over Shade’s Origin · Silver Moon card, and the three inspectors wished him victory before the match began.

• Duke Lucas praised Shade’s Rhodes Cards skill, and the two took their seats for the match.
• Vice President Mark announced a best-of-three format and introduced the three men inspecting the players’ decks.
• The inspectors examined Duke Lucas’s deck, then found several rare cards in Shade’s deck, including Origin · Silver Moon.
• Baron Herle and Baron Scavin were stunned by Origin · Silver Moon, while Viscount Ford asked whether it was genuine and insisted on staying to watch the match.
• The three inspectors returned Shade’s deck and told him, “Victory be yours,” leaving Duke Lucas curious about their reaction.

Shade played Rhodes Cards against Duke Lucas, winning the first game and taking two rounds in the second before the fourth round turned on a Founding Series card. The card game ended with Viscount Ford collapsing after Shade drew Origin · Silver Moon.

• Shade won the first game against Duke Lucas after his opponent’s Special Rule Card failed to overcome Shade’s 18 points.
• Shade and Duke Lucas traded wins in the first two rounds of the second game, then Shade won the third round with 20 points.
• Duke Lucas revealed a King in the fourth round and challenged Shade to beat it.
• Shade drew Sun 3, Origin · Silver Moon, whose value could be adjusted from 1 to 5.
• Viscount Ford clutched his heart and fell with a smile on his face.

Shade won Duke Lucas’s Rhodes Cards wager with Origin · Silver Moon and was brought to meet Miss Galina, who confirmed she was a Great Witch on the Witch Council and an Eleventh Ring Arcanist. The chapter ended with Shade learning the extent of Galina’s power.

• Shade used Origin · Silver Moon to win the first two rounds against Duke Lucas, and the Black-Haired Maid said the card belonged jointly to Shade and Miss Galina.
• Duke Lucas took Shade to Miss Galina’s nearby study, where he discussed naval officers with her before leaving in high spirits.
• Miss Galina told Shade that the Myriad Aspects of Impermanence Cards held secrets even the Witch Council only partly understood.
• Miss Galina revealed that she was one of the Great Witches among the Round Table Thirteen Seats and an Eleventh Ring Arcanist.

After helping Miss Galina win the card game, Shade secured her promise of a relic that could transfer energy from a living being into its user. She also introduced him to Military Intelligence Section Six director Dak Anlos, who hired him for a nominal, well-paid position and told him to report the next day.

• Miss Galina promised to have Tifa deliver Shade a suitable energy-extracting relic before the end of the following week.
• Miss Galina introduced Shade to Dak Anlos, the director of Military Intelligence Section Six.
• Dak Anlos offered Shade a nominal intelligence position with a weekly salary and a monthly reimbursement allowance.
• Dak Anlos told Shade to report the next day to collect his sidearm, identification, and firearms permit, and to submit regular reports mentioning the Southern Spy Case.

Shade met Galina Cavendish, who offered him protection and revealed that the final Witch Emperors of the Fifth Epoch inherited the powers of the Thirteen Old Gods. After Galina left, Shade noticed her unusual Whisper Element and wondered what it meant for the Witch Council and the current epoch.

• Galina told Shade that Founding Silver Moon could bring him valuable friendships and that they would have opportunities to work together.
• Galina Cavendish entered the study and offered to answer one more question; Shade asked whether the Ancient Gods were connected to the Witch Emperor.
• Galina said the matter was a Council secret, then promised Shade her protection and revealed that each final Witch Emperor of the Fifth Epoch inherited the power of one of the Thirteen Old Gods.
• After Galina left with Tifa Servit, Shade checked whether she had used Thaumaturgy or a curse on him and found no sign of either.
• Shade sensed that Galina's Whisper Element nearly equaled her other three Elements combined and wondered whether the Witch Council and the Thirteen Chosen Ones shared a mission.

At Duke Lucas's Rhodes Cards salon, Shade met Baron Herle so Iluna Bayes could question him about Blood of Mercury and its leader, Silver-Eyed One Diake. Shade confirmed Herle was an ordinary person and lured him away from the banquet hall, leaving the interrogation to Bayes.

• Duke Lucas introduced Shade to the salon guests, who eagerly sought to meet the Detective holding Founding Silver Moon.
• Miss Bayes, disguised as a maid, asked Shade to help her learn from Baron Herle about Blood of Mercury and Silver-Eyed One Diake.
• Miss Bayes showed Shade a relic called Tamer's Memory Wipe Rod and promised to use it to erase Herle's memory afterward.
• Shade returned to the salon, befriended Herle and his companions, and confirmed through a handshake that Herle was an ordinary person without elements or relics.
• Shade gave Herle a meaningful look, excused himself, and left the banquet hall to draw the baron into the corridor.