Contents
Chapter Eighteen
Overview
Aeri gets Sora back to the Gray Shore Inn and decides they must flee Quu before Seok has Sora arrested. Sora reveals Seok sold her sister Daysum, galvanizing Aeri’s vow of revenge. Aeri’s past trauma resurfaces, and their owl Dia warns as an imminent threat closes in on their room.
Summary
Aeri and Sora return to the Gray Shore Inn in Quu, exhausted and shaken from the banquet. Weighing their options, Aeri concludes Seok will target Sora and that staying is too risky, despite her fatigue and the uncertainty of their companions’ progress toward Lake Cerome.
Inside Aeri’s room, Sora sits in shock while Aeri feeds a tiny moon owl, Dia, that nests on the windowsill. Aeri tries to steady her thoughts and form a plan to leave that night to meet Royo, Mikail, and Euyn on the road or at the lake.
When Aeri gently asks what happened, Sora reveals Seok sold her sister, Daysum, to the pleasure houses. The confession unearths Aeri’s own memory of nearly being abducted and sold as a child, intensifying her rage against the men in power who profit from such violence.
Sora apologizes for breaking down; Aeri rejects the shame, affirming that love for Daysum has sustained Sora. Sora demands Seok suffer, and Aeri swears on her mother’s soul to make it happen, strengthening their resolve and clarifying Aeri’s immediate goal: escape now, revenge later.
Before Aeri can outline the escape, Dia shrieks in alarm. Aeri looks out and realizes a predator is not hunting the owl but coming for them, confirming her fears that Seok—or another enemy—has already closed in on their location.
Who Appears
- AeriPOV; decides to flee Quu with Sora, recalls near-abduction trauma, vows revenge on Seok, alerted by Dia to imminent danger.
- SoraShattered after banquet; reveals Seok sold her sister Daysum; demands Seok suffer; relies on Aeri to escape.
- SeokAntagonist; offstage but central—exposed as having sold Daysum and likely moving to detain Sora.
- DaysumSora’s sister; revealed to have been sold to pleasure houses by Seok, catalyzing Aeri’s vow.
- DiaA tiny moon owl on Aeri’s windowsill; her alarm cry warns of an approaching attacker.