She awoke on the temple floors, confused as to the sudden change in her surroundings.How did I get here?The forgotten temple, illuminated by the sun, was truly an artifact of the past. Scribbled across its walls were words in a language she could not, even if she bothered to, read.Yet the bright midday sun, in all its glory, could not warm the frozen ice that was Renée’s heart.She dragged herself to sit against a pillar, her gaze dull and lifeless. For a long while, she simply stared at the cracked ceiling, tracing the faint golden shafts of sunlight spilling through.What's next? She asked herself.Voyne had tormented her and thrown her away. She spent days out in the docks trying to find the Shards. And when she did, they cast her away too. She came back to kill Voyne, to at least do something useful herself.She ended in an underground prison.Even the person who saved her hadn't bothered to even take her somewhere to be treated or even stayed to watch over her.A laugh escaped he

Reese would never understand women. He could only hope that Lyann, the only one acquainted with the sea in the group would understand his description. He was lucky as it turned out. "The Eye is located on a deserted island." He said at the war tent when they were all gathered in an impromptu meeting. "Almost all important places are located on deserted islands. So which one?" Lyann asked, yawning. "That's the problem. I could see the layout of the island, but I don't know its name." "......" The rest were speechless. "Then, how do you expect us to find it?" Jonelle questioned. "I was hoping you would help." Reese said, referring to the pirate. "There are lots of deserted islands, love. You would have to describe this one pretty well." Lyann replied. "Can you describe anything unique about this island?" Kane asked Reese. "Well, it's, uh, circular. " "There are a lot of circular islands that I know." The pirate replied. "OK then, it's not just circular, it's like

Just before Luthen made his daring break in to Sophie’s Manor "We left her at the old site, the one underneath the temple. It would be too much trouble to bring her. Besides, she'll most likely die there anyways." Voyne said. Mother didn't immediately answer. She was busy with her drink. "How about-" She started before she cut herself off. A presence seemed to be searching the manor. It was a sophisticated intent. Definitely a Shard. Why was one here? "Which of them is protecting the room?" Voyne knew which group of people she was talking of. "Maron." He replied. "Interesting choice." Mother even smiled. "Continue." "Most of the personnel are assembled at the pickup point. Only our expendable members remain here." "Why?" "The Great Nobles are onto us and not just Klare. " Voyne said. "The Nobles? I wonder how frustrating this must be for Klare." Mother tried to pic

Luthen stood some distance away from Sophie’s house, sufficiently concealed in the shadows yet observing the commotion he had caused. "Find him!" came an authoritative voice. "He couldn't have gone far! By Order of the High Council!" He saw soldiers scurry in different directions, some entering the building to support those already there, others surrounding the house and searching every nook and cranny. He wished he could tell them it was of no use. ******* "I swear I saw him!" A solider tried to explain to his captain and his fellow colleagues. Their faces were the epitome of disbelief. "He was real like you and I!" "He could have teleported!" One of the more tactless soldiers replied him. The rest looked at him like he was stupid. However, the serious face of his captain bore a semblance of anger. The tactless solider whitened as he realized his mistake. He had indirectly insulted his superior. "I am sorry, Captain!" He quickly excused himself from the area. The

Water rocked the ship slowly, like a mother singing its child to sleep. Lyann’s crew scambered around the ship, performing one task or another, happy to be back on the ship.But not everyone was happy. Some for instance were a little seasick."I know we are desperate," Somen started as he emerged from below the deck. But I didn’t know we were desperate enough to look for a deserted, long-forgotten island, emerging from the sea at a point that we don't know and that may or may not be real. How do we even know if it's the one?"'I'll know when I see it." Reese countered."Which is when exactly? Roaming the oceans for 50 years isn't my dream life." He moaned."If we are alive." Lyann added unhelpfully, emerging from the bridge, holding some scrolled up paper.Somen wasn't watching her since he went to vomit into the sea. "Can't take much more of this."She unfolded her scrolled up paper, which turned out to be a map. It was quite old by the looks of it."I thought you said you didn't kno