Shadow Slave: Eternal Madness

Cronos walked the streets of Fallen Grace, a lantern in hand.

A cold breeze caressed his face, and the world seemed at peace—or perhaps it only appeared so. In truth, the world was at war. But today, there was no need to worry. If trouble loomed, the Lady would have already warned the city's warriors to prepare for battle.

As he strolled, his gaze drifted to the river, and he froze, stunned. A black spot had appeared on the horizon.

It was a ship moving toward Fallen Grace. Cronos trembled slightly. 'A ship… but it's not time for the fishermen to return. Has something bad happened?'

The ship sailed steadily forward, drawing closer to the city.

The people in the streets didn't recognize the vessel—it wasn't one of their own or a Twilight ship.

"D—Defiled!"

The shout shattered the silence, and panic spread like wildfire. The elderly recoiled in alarm. The Defiled rarely traversed the Great River on ships, but they were sinister and unpredictable. This ominous vessel might very well belong to those abominable monsters. Yet, if it did, why hadn't the Lady warned them? Why was the light atop her palace still white?

Icy dread gripped Cronos.

'Has… has the Lady succumbed? No, no… impossible!'

The vessel loomed nearer, throwing the streets into chaos as people fled toward the city center in search of refuge.

Unlike the others, Cronos stayed put, watching as the ship came to a stop before him.

Four figures disembarked, stepping onto the pier.

The first was a slender young man clad in a dark mantle, his porcelain face cloaked in shadow. His lightless eyes resembled twin pools of unfathomable darkness, cold and piercing. A black metal crown, shaped like a twisting serpent, rested on his head.

Beside him stood a tall young woman with silver hair and calm gray eyes. She wore a white tunic, her face like that of a statue—beautiful yet distant. A bright crown adorned with a single radiant gem rested on her head.

When she appeared, the light of the seven suns seemed to grow brighter. Something stirred in Cronos's heart, a deep and unexplainable longing grasping his soul for a fleeting moment.

The two were like night and day, mysterious and beautiful.

The others, however, resembled monsters. One was a towering knight clad in intricate, fearsome onyx armor. The other was an ogre-like figure forged of black steel, with hungry flames smoldering in his ferocious eyes.

On top of the ship, there lurked something more—a dreadful, elusive presence that sent chills down Cronos's spine.

From the ship's arc, a tall man appeared, his long black hair flowing like silk. His deep black eyes scanned the crowd. He wore a black Chinese kimono with golden dragons embroidered on its shoulders.

The young man with the serpent crown stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tense air as he spoke in a familiar tongue:

"We come from the far reaches of the future, seeking Fallen Grace, the last bastion of the River People. We mean no harm… unless harm is done to us. I am…"

Cronos's heart pounded wildly as realization struck.

'They are! They must be!'

He stepped forward, his voice trembling as he asked:

"M—my Lord… you… are you the Children of Weaver?"

The young man's piercing gaze made Cronos shiver. A flicker of surprise crossed those dark eyes before it vanished, replaced by a glimmer of satisfaction.

"Indeed," the man replied. "We are the Children of Weaver."

His words hit the gathered elders like a thunderclap. Their fear melted away, replaced by joy. Bright smiles lit up their weathered faces.

"Of course!"

"It's them!"

"Just like the Lady foretold!"

"Praise the Lady!"

Cronos couldn't suppress his smile.

'Ah, I must be growing senile… why didn't I realize sooner?'

Bowing deeply, he tried to steady his voice as he spoke:

"It is our honor to meet you. We welcome you to Fallen Grace, esteemed guests."

Straightening, he added reverently:

"Lady Dusk has been awaiting you for a long, long time…"

——————————————

The three walked behind the warrior escorting them toward the temple where Dusk resided.

Raphael sighed in relief. Not only was Cassie uncorrupted, but it seemed there was no need for another loop.

Had she been corrupted, his plan was to seal her and have Sunny go to the Estuary and get corrupted, starting the loops—an outcome fraught with peril. Not only would the Nightmare grow harder, but there was also the looming threat of Nether awakening.

But now, it seemed none of that was necessary.

'Fate appears to be on our side this time.'

As they approached the temple, the warrior stepped forward and pushed open its massive gates.

They were soon led into a grand hall of white marble, flowing water, and tranquil silence. At the center of the room stood a tall dais with an elegant stone throne. Sitting atop it was Dusk of Fallen Grace, the last sybil of the Estuary.

Dusk's beauty was almost otherworldly. Her petite figure and delicate face were captivating, her pale golden hair shimmering like spun sunlight. But her most striking feature was her pure blue eyes—stunning, yet unseeing. The young woman was blind.

Beside Raphael, Sunny raised a trembling hand and called out:

"...Cassie?"

At the sound of his voice, the blind girl turned her head slowly, her gaze seemingly searching for him. Even Nephis, usually unshakable, looked visibly startled. Her gray eyes, typically calm, betrayed a storm of emotions as she stared at the young woman who looked so much like their old friend.

But then, the tension in Nephis's gaze melted away, replaced by profound relief.

Cassie smiled. That radiant, familiar smile set their hearts at ease.

"Sunny? Neph? You're finally here?"

Raphael, standing slightly apart, narrowed his eyes.

'Look at her, pretending to be surprised… as if she didn't already know we were coming.'

"It seems you're still alive," he muttered dryly. "How lucky you are."

Cassie turned her head toward him and sighed.

"Ah… you're here too."

Raphael chuckled, recognizing her deliberate attempt to irritate him.

"By the way," he said, "can you come down? I don't appreciate being looked down on."

Cassie tilted her head, her lips curling into a teasing smile.

"Is that your pride talking?"

"You could say so."

With a soft sigh, Cassie stood from her throne. Her light steps carried her gracefully down to meet them. Her archaic red dress, vibrant against the white marble, seemed to flow like liquid fire as she moved.

She approached them swiftly, her movements fluid and precise. Before Sunny could decide whether to be wary, Cassie was already in front of them. She raised her hands…

And wrapped Nephis in a tight hug.

"I'm so glad you're here," Cassie said softly. Her voice trembled slightly. "I missed you… I missed you all so much."

After a few moments, she stepped back, releasing Nephis, her bright smile unwavering. Turning to Sunny, she hesitated briefly, then reached out and gently clasped his arm.

"I'm so glad you're here."

Raphael clicked his tongue impatiently.

"Look, I know this is a touching reunion," he said, "but could we please focus on the important matters?"

The trio glanced at him briefly, then returned to their conversation as if he hadn't spoken.

'Fucking hell…' Raphael thought sourly.

After a few minutes, Cassie looked at them, her expression softening.

"Let's talk somewhere else," she said. "This hall is too oppressive. Follow me."

They followed her up a spiraling staircase to a tall tower. At the top, they emerged onto an open platform.

A massive brazier stood at its center, a pyre of white flame reaching high into the crimson sky. This was the flame they had seen from afar—the one that had guided them to Fallen Grace.

Cassie lingered near the brazier, basking in its warmth.

"...Right. I don't need to maintain the flame anymore," she murmured.

Turning back to them with a soft smile, she gestured toward a small table near the platform's edge.

"Please. Sit down. You must be tired after spending so long on the River."

—————————————

Raphael gazed at the River, its surface painted a million shades of red by the fading dusk.

Cassie broke the silence.

"Can I ask you something?"

Raphael turned his attention to her. Cassie sat across from him, sipping tea, her expression calm but curious.

"Sure," he said.

"Why did you declare war on the Sovereigns?"

Raphael remained silent, taking a deliberate sip of his tea. After a few moments, he finally replied:

"Don't ask questions you already know the answers to."

Cassie smiled faintly, her gaze steady.

"I do know. You want to unite humanity against the Underworld… but there's something else, isn't there? Something I don't know."

Raphael sighed, his gaze drifting back to the crimson sky.

"Sunny isn't the only one who wants to be free. I want that too. The Underworld is a prison—my soul is chained to it, unable to escape. By becoming a Transcendent, I might finally break those chains."

He paused briefly, then continued:

"But, of course, the Underworld doesn't want that. My Transcendence would delay Nether's awakening, and they won't tolerate my escape. So I devised a plan. By attacking the Sovereigns, I distract the strongest forces of the Underworld. To gain their trust, I drank the divine water and awakened Nether within me."

Cassie's expression darkened, her voice cold as she responded.

"You killed thousands of people for a selfish purpose… You disgust me."

Raphael chuckled softly, the sound laced with irony.

"And you're any different? You've let people die, manipulated Sunny by exploiting his goals. And you'll kill many more in the future, just to change fate."

Cassie didn't respond immediately. She merely smiled, though his words struck a nerve.

She knew the truth. With her ability, she could have helped the government and warned them about the Chains of Nightmare. Countless lives could have been spared.

Cassie's disgust wasn't just for Raphael—it was for herself, too.

The two sat in silence for several minutes, the weight of their choices pressing down on them.

Finally, Raphael broke the quiet.

"How did you avoid corruption?"

Cassie didn't reply at first. Her gaze turned inward, as though she were searching for an answer she wasn't sure she had.

"I can't see any visions."

Raphael blinked, caught off guard.

"What?"

"I said I can't see any visions."

"No, I heard you the first time. But… how? The shackles haven't been made yet."

Cassie shrugged, her tone calm but laced with confusion.

"I don't know. From the moment I found myself in Dusk's body, I've been unable to see any visions."

Raphael clenched his teeth, his mind racing.

Another vulnerability in his plan had surfaced.

'How? The only reason Cassie couldn't see her visions was because of the chains the Mad Prince created. But he hasn't even been born yet. So why…?'

After a moment of thought, he looked back at her.

"Is it possible for someone with the power to control or manipulate fate to obscure another oracle's visions?"

Cassie frowned, considering his question carefully.

"It is possible… But just to remind you, Torment hasn't been born yet. There's no one stronger than me when it comes to fate. Even the other oracles can't compare."

"I'm not talking about Torment or the oracles."

Cassie's expression froze as the realization hit her. There was one being whose knowledge and control over fate far exceeded her own—a being so powerful, they couldn't even be compared.

She took a shaky breath.

"You don't mean…"

Raphael nodded, his expression grim.

"Weaver. The Daemon of Fate."

Cassie's voice wavered.

"But why? Even if he's still alive, why would he care about us?"

"Have you forgotten?" Raphael said, leaning forward slightly. "Not only does Sunny carry his bloodline, but I also carry his brother's bloodline."

He sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"Of course, this might just be speculation. But it's something we can't ignore."

Raphael stood, brushing invisible dust from his coat.

"I'm heading to my room. If anything happens, let me know."

Cassie watched him descend the tower, her thoughts heavy and tangled in the silence he left behind.

——————————————

It had been weeks since they arrived at Fallen Grace, and at last, the day of their departure had come.

Raphael was already aboard the ship, busy with the final preparations for their journey.

From his vantage point, he could hear the distant shouts and cheers of Fallen Grace's residents.

Cassie was likely giving her farewell speech to the people. Raphael knew he should have been there, but he'd declined.

He had witnessed this scene far too many times, and now it only brought him headaches.

Sitting beneath the sacred tree, Raphael noticed Sunny and the others boarding the ship.

As Cassie approached, Raphael looked up at her and asked,

"So? Which one of us is taking control of Chain Breaker?"

"I will," Cassie replied without hesitation.

Raphael nodded and said simply, "Suit yourself."

Sunny, busy ordering his shadows to organize supplies, glanced at Cassie and asked,

"You mentioned a memory that could help us locate the others. What is it?"

"[Guiding Light]," Cassie replied. "It's a memory that's supposed to guide people to what they seek. If it works as intended, we should be able to use it to find the others."

"Well," Sunny said with a skeptical tone, "we'll see if that's true when we have it."

Soon, the sails of the Chain Breaker were filled with wind. The graceful vessel moved slowly, leaving the voices of the crowd behind. The people of Fallen Grace watched as it sailed away, waving and wishing their lady good fortune in the days to come. But then, they disappeared from view, obscured by the crimson haze. There was nothing but a vast expanse of water left in front of them. The first of the many battles was approaching. 

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I don't have an excuse why I didn't upload, I was too lazy to even get out of my bed. Forgive me🙏

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