Contents
Chapter 31
Overview
Aris and Raker travel under the Eldress’s starlight, joining hopeful immortals seeking the Traveling City. After brief camaraderie and a glimpse of Raker’s softness, the group’s guiding orb shatters at night, unleashing demons that slaughter the pilgrims. Daphne dies; Raker forces Aris to stay on a cliff until dawn. Grief turns to fury as Aris attacks Raker; their brutal duel ends with her collapse and his carrying her away.
Summary
Guided by the Eldress’s necklace, Aris and Harlan Raker trek through dangerous woods. They discover a camp of peaceful immortals following a trapped starlight orb toward the Traveling City. Aris persuades Raker to travel with them for cover and safety. Among the group, Aris meets Daphne and hears of their hopes; Raker even play-duels with children, revealing an unexpected gentleness.
After days of restless marching to constant music, the group selects a child to carry the orb. At night, the boy trips and shatters it. The liberated starlight streaks skyward, plunging the forest into darkness except for Aris’s necklace. Demons, long waiting at the edge, erupt from below, dragging immortals underground. Amid chaos, an immortal tries to rip Aris’s necklace away, but Daphne saves her—and is then torn in half by demons.
Raker carves a path while Aris tries to pull survivors into the light, but the onslaught is overwhelming. Raker hoists Aris and forces her to a cliff ledge, caging her there despite her pleas to help. Through the night, screams fade into silence as the demons massacre the group.
At dawn, the forest is carnage. Aris, shattered by helplessness and loss, declares her hatred for Raker. When she strikes at him, Raker’s reflexes deflect the blow and he demands she prove her hate. Their duel explodes with ferocity: Aris pours grief and rage into every strike; Raker overpowers her without unleashing full strength, driving her to the cliff.
When Aris abandons her blade to attack barehanded, Raker finally restrains her and ends the fight. The fury drains into sobs as she collapses against him. Wordless, Raker retrieves her sword and carries Aris away from the blood-soaked woods.
Who Appears
- ArisNarrator; wears starlight necklace, joins immortal pilgrims, survives demon ambush, loses Daphne, attacks Raker, breaks down after brutal duel.
- Harlan RakerBound knight; taciturn protector who plays with children, then restrains Aris on a cliff, duels her, and carries her away.
- DaphneYoung immortal pilgrim; befriends Aris, saves her from a thief, is gruesomely killed during the demon attack.
- Immortal group leaderFriendly organizer who selects orb-bearers and leads the hopeful search for the Traveling City.
- Immortal boy orb-bearerChosen to carry the starlight orb; accidentally drops it, triggering the catastrophic demon onslaught.