World of Shadows, surface layer, unnamed hill.
Sylutia woke from her restful sleep. Her weary body felt much better now, and her spirits had recovered somewhat. She was not back to 100% charge, but she was probably at around 80%.
Standing before the Weathered Iron Sword once more, Sylutia recalled the scenes she had witnessed in her dream.
At the end of that battle, the Knight gripping the longsword slowly fell, yet the blade he had driven into the stone became a Beacon for this World of Shadows, briefly parting the heavy fog shrouding the sky.
Within that fleeting gap, another figure crossed the boundary of reflections, descending from the continent above the Cloud Sea into the World of Shadows below it.
She was a practitioner of the moon Aspect Power, with a graceful figure. In many tales, people like her were called "Witches."
The Witch in a broad, pointed-brimmed hat descended into this World of Shadows and confronted the crone.
"You shameless traitors! You actually threw in your lot with those stone lackeys!" At the sight of the Witch descending into this world, the crone's face twisted with hatred and fury.
"Betrayal? I wouldn't say that. We were only barely managing to stick together in the first place." The Witch's voice was ethereal. She pressed one hand against the brim of her hat, revealing a pair of silver eyes.
"The Moon Council had long existed in name only. The Golden Honey Dynasty that once supported its founding had long since crumbled as well. What alliance was there left to speak of?"
"For this continent, we fought the Silver Radiance Church for centuries. In the end, neither side won. Instead, that black rabbit obtained the legacy of the 'Radiant Moon' and became a newly ascended Hour. Now, even when we