Chapter Summaries

He Xi showed Flora the black Adventure Card he had found on Claw, and she identified it as a component of a legendary or greater magical item tied to the Shadow Hand. After Flora cleared Claw’s imprint and He Xi attuned to the card, he discovered its shadow points and exchange list, then learned Flora was a fan of the Sweetheart Songstress.

• He Xi told Flora how he had found Claw’s card and encountered the mysterious cloaked figure, and Flora explained that the Shadow Hand was an assassination and theft organization.
• Flora examined the card, identified it as a possible derivative of a legendary magical item, and erased Claw’s spiritual imprint.
• He Xi attuned to the card and discovered he had 14 Shadow Points and could view quests and an exchange list.
• Flora explained that the card could be used to contact members and receive missions, and told He Xi she earned royalties for Adventure Cards featuring her likeness.
• Flora showed He Xi a Sweetheart Songstress card and shared her admiration for the performer, prompting He Xi to notice an Iris Theater backstage pass on the exchange list.

On the walk back to the academy, He Xi exchanged points for an Iris Theater Backstage Pass and received it from a demon sent by Shadow Hand. He offered the single pass to Flora, who thanked him before flying back to the academy alone.

• He Xi declined Flora’s invitation to see the play because he planned to visit Sea Breeze Street and eat Zoya’s meat pies.
• He Xi chose Bruce as his codename and exchanged six points for an Iris Theater Backstage Pass.
• A demon appeared at Shadow Hand’s order and delivered the pass to He Xi.
• Flora recognized the pass as a way to meet Miss Wennai backstage and realized He Xi had only one.
• He Xi gave Flora the pass, and she thanked him before flying toward the academy.

Flora met Lidona for dinner, and Lidona told her she had begun mastering [Lightning Bolt]. At the academy, He Xi demonstrated the spell’s piercing power and later found a note that Zoya had left home on a trip and planned to return before next Wednesday.

• Flora met Lidona at the Gold Key Restaurant, asked about her studies, and learned she had already cast [Lightning Bolt] once.
• Zoya left home with her luggage after telling Tata she would return before next Wednesday and had left He Xi a letter.
• Lidona flawlessly cast [Lightning Bolt] in practice, and He Xi then pierced one dummy and blasted a second with his own casting.
• He Xi practiced in smaller rooms, exhausting the dummies until he had to mark each room as under maintenance.
• Tata found He Xi at the academy and told him Zoya had left, but admitted she had forgotten to bring the letter.

Zoya followed the memories of Deep Remembrance into the Cursed Land to find the Silver Radiance Temple, the sanctuary where Selene once saved the Moon-Eyed elves. At the temple, a robed figure greeted her as Sylvia’s child.

• The chapter recounted how Asteria’s High Elves studied fallen star fragments, created the Star Barrier, and were later overwhelmed when it collapsed.
• The violet-eyed elves held back the stellar storm long enough for others to escape, and Selene protected the survivors before they became the Moon-Eyed and withdrew into the Supreme Forest.
• Zoya entered the Cursed Land, feeling sorrow from her bloodline and seeking the Silver Radiance Temple rather than treasure.
• Zoya sensed the temple through the mist and found its still lake, silver lotuses, and crescent-shaped stone platform.
• Zoya walked across the water to the platform, where a silver-gray-robed figure greeted her as Sylvia’s child.

He Xi wrote to his absent teacher and arranged for Beilu to deliver a second letter to Anise. Beilu learned that Anise had moved to Fernandez’s Tower District, where He Xi lived, and rushed back in frustration.

• He Xi reflected on his spell training, wrote a letter to Teacher Fivik, and planned to visit Karte Grand Market.
• Beilu arrived late to collect He Xi’s letter and received no reward, then took a second letter addressed to Anise.
• He Xi told Beilu to deliver the letter to Anise and report back if she received a reply.
• Beilu delivered He Xi’s letter to Teacher Fivik’s contact Nimo, then continued to Anise’s former home in Hord.
• An old steward told Beilu that Anise had moved to Fernandez’s Tower District, and Beilu hurried away in shock.

Anise received Galen’s terse request for the remaining payment and learned from Beilu that he would be home Wednesday night, prompting her to prepare for a visit. Meanwhile, He Xi returned home, found Zoya’s letter explaining that she had gone to Star-Seer’s Pool to recover sealed memories, and wondered about the legendary Priestess Alus and the Moon Pupil Elf clan’s past.

• Anise finished sword practice with Instructor Matthew and continued weighing potential shop locations in Fernandez.
• Beilu delivered Galen’s letter asking Anise to send the remaining payment to his address on Sea Breeze Street.
• Anise gave Beilu a jar of candy and learned that Galen would be home Wednesday night, then began trying on dresses.
• He Xi returned to Sea Breeze Street after finding the Karte Grand Market stall empty, while Tata prepared minced beef and worried about Zoya’s absence.
• He Xi found Zoya’s letter explaining that she had left for Star-Seer’s Pool to complete a recollection ritual and promised to return afterward.
• He Xi wondered why Priestess Alus had not intervened during the Moon Pupil Elf clan’s upheaval.

Zoya learned the basics of Star Magic from Priestess Alus and talked her into letting her return home, while He Xi received a letter confirming the black Adventure Cards were tied to the Shadow Hand. He Xi accepted a timed assassination mission and left for the Iris Theater, and Zoya arrived at his home as Tata waited for her mistress to return.

• Zoya learned that understanding Star Magic could help her remove her seal, but Priestess Alus insisted she remain and eventually bear children with a High Elf.
• Zoya failed to cast Starfire Spell at first, then used the spell successfully after Alus taught her its principles; she convinced Alus to let her return with notes on Star Magic.
• He Xi received a letter from Nimo explaining that the black Adventure Cards were connected to the Shadow Hand and offered valuable rewards for their missions.
• He Xi found a mission on his card to kill Allen West, owner of the Iris Theater, before 9:00 p.m. and headed out to investigate.
• Tata prepared a bath and dressed up for He Xi, but learned he had left; Zoya then opened the front door and confronted Tata.

Annis prepared to visit Galen under the pretense of confirming the address for repaying her debt, choosing a striking scarlet dress and plotting to make him wait. She left her departure delayed, imagining that the late hour might give her an excuse to stay at his home.

• Annis tried on several outfits while Ella praised each one, then remembered that Galen had tricked her about the scent of his cloak with Wake-up Mint Leaves.
• Annis suspected Galen had watched her in Sunset Plaza and deliberately sent her a letter with an address in the docks.
• Annis chose a scarlet silk dress and insisted she was only going to confirm the repayment address and would not pay Galen a copper nail if he disrespected her.
• When Bass said the carriage was ready at six, Annis delayed her departure so Galen would grow anxious before her grand arrival.
• Annis imagined that arriving late might force Galen to let her stay the night, then blushed and asked Ella for matching boots and pearl earrings.

He Xi infiltrated the Iris Theater to investigate the organization behind his mission and discovered signs of trouble among the theater staff. His Adventure Card added a new, optional mission, and he waited as Sienna approached Gareth’s dressing room.

• He Xi found the theater’s entrances heavily guarded and used his invisibility spell to enter through a storeroom.
• He Xi overheard theater workers say Gareth had been smashing things because the owner was personally coaching his fiancée, Rolinde, and that Sienna might comfort him.
• He Xi checked his black Adventure Card and found a new mission to locate a secret ledger, check in at Allen West’s office, and leave it in a restroom stall after 9:15.
• Sienna arrived at Gareth’s dressing room with tea, knocked, and called out to him.

He Xi investigated the theater’s backstage and discovered Gareth’s anger over Rolinde and his ominous plans for that night. As Wen Nai Kefu Si began her performance, He Xi sensed a familiar magical aura, but a gloved man caught him sneaking in without a ticket.

• Sienna told Gareth that Rolinde had left Allen West’s office looking as if she had been crying, and Gareth erupted in anger over his fiancée’s situation.
• Gareth declared that the nightmare would end that night, then composed himself and went with Sienna to prepare for the show.
• He Xi mapped the theater’s layout, located Allen West’s office, and waited in the shadows as the performance began.
• Wen Nai Kefu Si captivated the audience with her beauty and song, while He Xi sensed magic and found her strangely familiar.
• A man in a black leather glove grabbed He Xi’s arm and accused him of sneaking in without a ticket.

He Xi sneaked backstage to kill Iris Theater owner Allen West, where Flora caught him and learned his purpose. As Wennai’s enchanted performance continued, He Xi spotted signs that the dancer Rolinde had been mistreated, and Gareth’s violent confrontation with her began onstage.

• Flora caught He Xi backstage, but he tricked her into revealing herself and told her he had come to kill someone.
• Flora explained that Wennai’s performance used fey magic called [Intoxicating Performance], while He Xi judged that Wennai meant no harm to the audience.
• Flora pointed out Allen West in a private box and identified him as the person He Xi was looking for.
• As the second act began, He Xi noticed fresh bruises on Rolinde’s knees and saw Gareth grab her wrist and accuse her of deceiving him and the Saintess.

He Xi and Flora discovered Rolinde leaving the theater performance in a hurry and followed her to Allen West’s office, where she found him missing. They searched the empty office for the ledger and check, and He Xi found a newspaper article praising the play and announcing that its revenue would be donated to an orphanage.

• Flora noticed that Rolinde had left the stage in the wrong direction, and He Xi realized the theater manager had disappeared from the third-floor box.
• He Xi and Flora secretly followed Rolinde to Allen West’s office, where she found the room empty and hurried away.
• He Xi and Flora entered the office to search for the ledger and check while Allen was absent.
• He Xi found a Magic City Weekly article promoting Gilded Mercy and announcing Allen West’s pledge to donate its ticket and sponsorship revenue to the Dragon Roar Dock District Orphanage.

He Xi and Flora uncovered Allen West’s scheme to pocket nearly all the charity money, then arranged for Gareth to kill him during the play’s climactic scene. He Xi left to return home, where Annis arrived and found Zoya at the door.

• He Xi and Flora found Allen West’s ledger showing that he had disguised more than two thousand Gold Shields as theater expenses and planned to donate only 100 Gold Shields.
• He Xi and Flora decided to expose Allen during the performance, with Flora arranging the scene and He Xi preparing the final act.
• During the play, Gareth stabbed Allen in the throat while the audience mistook the killing for part of the show; Rolinde was left unconscious beside Allen’s body.
• Gareth followed an anonymous note to a restroom stall, found evidence against Allen, and left the theater resolved to judge him.
• He Xi discovered that his Adventure Card still showed an 8, then headed home hungry while Flora departed.
• Annis arrived at He Xi’s home and, finding Zoya at the door, asked whether she was the goblin’s maid.

Annis visited He Xi’s home to repay him and met Zoya, who hid the nature of her relationship with him while growing jealous of Annis’s memories and gifts. The visit ended with Bruce caught between the two women over whether he preferred Annis’s biscuits or Zoya’s meat pies.

• Zoya recognized Annis as He Xi’s former fiancée and introduced herself as his companion when Annis came looking for him.
• Annis entered the house, saw Tata, and offered to pay the rent so He Xi and Zoya could move somewhere more convenient.
• Zoya defended their home and said He Xi liked her meat pies, while Annis claimed she had met him before Zoya and recalled how he had helped her.
• Annis brought Bruce his favorite milk biscuits, but Zoya warned him that eating them meant he could not have her meat pies.
• Bruce tried to avoid choosing between the biscuits and meat pies, then fled to his dog bed without eating.

Annis visited He Xi’s house late at night, then admitted to Zoya that they both liked him and proposed competing fairly. He Xi rushed after Zoya and kissed her, while Annis witnessed them together and fled in heartbreak.

• Annis left cookies and a check for He Xi and Bruce, then walked out with Zoya.
• Annis told Zoya that she liked He Xi and wanted to compete fairly for him.
• After He Xi returned, Bruce told him what had happened, and He Xi ran outside to find Zoya.
• Zoya worried that others, including Annis and Madam Flora, might claim He Xi, and wondered whether she should tell them he belonged to her.
• He Xi embraced and kissed Zoya, telling her not to hide their relationship or accept being wronged.
• Annis saw He Xi and Zoya kissing, dropped the box of cookies, and fled in distress.

After Annis’s failed attempt to give He Xi her cookies, Zoya accepted the gift on his behalf and walked home with him. Back at 46 Sea Breeze Street, He Xi ate dinner, wrote to Teacher Fivik about Shadow Hand, and Beilu arrived to an uneasy atmosphere.

• Zoya asked He Xi whether he would have joined Annis as an adventurer if Annis had invited him when he first came to Rose Town, and He Xi honestly said he probably would have.
• Zoya picked up the cookies Annis had dropped and asked He Xi to take the tin home, calling it a precious gift.
• He Xi took Zoya’s hand, and the two walked together toward 46 Sea Breeze Street with the tin.
• At dinner, Tata came downstairs bundled against the night wind, and He Xi listened as Zoya described Starfall Land and the Moon Pupil Elves.
• He Xi wrote to Teacher Fivik to ask about the Shadow Hand after the assassination mission at the Iris Theater.
• Beilu flew through a miniature portal and declared her arrival, then sensed that something was wrong.

He Xi confronted Beilu for selling information to Annis and sent a letter to Teacher Fivik. Fivik’s reply, relayed by Nimo, confirmed He Xi’s suspicion that the black Adventure Card’s mission was abnormal, while He Xi resolved to investigate its risks before using it again.

• He Xi questioned Beilu about Annis, and Beilu admitted she had traded information for a roomful of candy.
• He Xi ordered Beilu to deliver his letter to Teacher Fivik and threatened to trap her in a lampshade if she leaked more information.
• Nimo brought back Teacher Fivik’s reply and a note from Piper Brightfoot, who warned that the card’s killing job seemed suspiciously easy compared with his own strange assignment to catch a boot thief.
• He Xi examined Piper’s heavily censored note and concluded that the black Adventure Card had a problem, including failing to update its points.
• He Xi reviewed his level and attributes, decided to pursue the third-circle spell Earthstone Eruption through the card, and planned to investigate its mechanics and risks first.

He Xi and Zoya discussed the expense of her regular trips between continents and her promise to bring back a method for making scrolls. While He Xi studied Starfire Spell, Zoya went to the Adventurer Guild to collect payment for an old commission and encountered someone who recognized her.

• Zoya told He Xi she planned to return to the West Continent on the third of next month and explained that the return teleportation cost 50 Gold Shields.
• He Xi offered to ask Madam Flora about making scrolls, but Zoya declined and gave him Priest Alus's notes on Starfire Spell to study.
• Zoya left He Xi at home and went to the Clocktower Square Branch of the Adventurer Guild in Fernandez.
• Zoya submitted an investigation commission and received 2 Gold Shields and 60 Silver Scales.
• A voice from behind Zoya greeted her as the lightest shadow in the dock district.

Kazimir Nightfire recruited Zoya for a dangerous investigation into a suspected Undead Mage, and Zoya invited He Xi to join the party as its mage. He Xi accepted the commission, which was scheduled to begin after his classes the next morning.

• Kazimir Nightfire showed Zoya a 150 Gold Shield investigation commission and asked her to join his party.
• Zoya agreed to take the commission and said she knew a suitable mage to recruit.
• He Xi struggled to decipher an Elvish blueprint before Zoya returned home with the commission notice.
• Zoya explained that her teammates would return the next day and invited He Xi to investigate the strange thief and undead in Hidden Valley District.
• He Xi agreed to join the commission.

Bankrupt Cracklings was a rundown tavern where factory workers and desperate adventurers drank and traded rumors about skeletons near the factories. Kazmir arrived with Ulag and Grot, and as Ulag argued with the innkeeper over the liquor, Kazmir secretly traced a spell model.

• The chapter described how Crackling Drip became known as Bankrupt Cracklings after customers joked that the failing shop was as bankrupt as they were.
• Workers at the tavern discussed seeing skeletons near the waste pit and a bear-sized skeleton outside a factory, and feared an Undead Mage was targeting them.
• Kazmir approached the workers, who recoiled at his tiefling appearance, and asked to speak with them.
• Ulag complained that the tavern's liquor was terrible while Grot apologized to old Burton for his companion's behavior.
• Kazmir watched the commotion and secretly traced a Spell Model, which flashed pink in his palm.