Shadow Slave

It began slowly.

Red Hill was a small city, as far as human settlements in the Dream Realm were concerned. It was situated in one of the most remote regions of this dire world, far away from both Bastion and Ravenheart. The Glass Hell bordered the Chained Isles to the east and Godgrave to the west. From the south, it was confined by a breathtaking sea. The sea was placid like a lake and gorgeous like a dream, but its water was deadly poison. In fact, it was capable of melting human flesh in a matter of seconds — in a minute or two, only bones remained. That was why it was called the Bone Sea.

From the north, the vast plain of the Glass Hell was washed by the mists of the Hollow Mountains.

Considering how remote the Glass Hell was, Red Hill rarely saw visitors. The only people who visited it were the merchants travelling from Bastion to Ravenheart or the Lake of Tears. The caravans from the east arrived battered and in need of respite after a long journey, so they spent some time in the city before leaving for its final leg — the arduous crossing of Godgrave.

The caravans arriving from the west, meanwhile, needed rest and repairs because of that crossing.

The merchants brought with them building materials, food, and luxury items. They left loaded with mystical glass, which was the main export of Red Hill. Apart from the merchants, the Lord of Hell himself was a source of resources that locals needed to survive — as a Saint, he was capable of bringing plenty of supplies from the waking world.

That was one of the most vital roles Saints played in remote settlements like Red Hill. Their power and martial prowess were of grave importance, naturally, but their value as logistical powerhouses was perhaps even greater than that. With a Transcendent watching over a settlement, its citizens were not going to starve to death or die of thirst, at least.

Masters were the same, even if they could only carry a modest load across the boundary of two Realms. Having a personal relationship with a Master meant living a more comfortable life than your neighbors. People of Red Hill were split very visibly between those who had little and those who had more. The latter could enjoy privacy and shade in their homes, because the walls of their homes were covered by wood or stone. The former lived in full view of their neighbors, because the walls of their homes were made of bare glass.

There were very few secrets in Red Hill.

Life here was simple and rewarding. Apart from hospitality services aimed at the passing merchants, the main local industry was mining, processing, and transporting glass.

Mining glass in hell was a tough and dangerous job... and sometimes, it was very hazardous.

If a quarry grew too deep, it ran the risk of collapsing into the tunnels below and unleashing a swarm of the ghastly abominations of the Hive. Luckily, the forces of the Maharana clan were strong and disciplined, while its fearsome lord seemed almost omniscient.

Not only did the Lord of Hell govern the city and guarded the miners, but he also watched over the entire region, extending his protection to the caravans travelling from Godgrave or the Chained Isles. So, even if he was stern and strict, at times ruthless, the citizens of Red Hill had a lot of goodwill toward him and his clan.

They felt like they had a future under his rule, which was a stark difference from the quiet hopelessness they had felt on the dying Earth... and, of course, there was their radiant goddess, Changing Star, whose grace reached the subjects of the Human Domain even in this remote region. Protected by the Lord of Hell and guided by Changing Star, people felt satisfied with their lives. Most of all, they felt motivated to work hard and look forward to the next day because of how palpable the rewards of their labor were.

Like all human cities in the Dream Realm, Red Hill was young. It was still in its founding stage, with an endless ocean of work that needed to be done — but because of that, people saw their city transform a little every time they woke up. Every day, there was something new to see. Their city constantly took steps forward, growing and becoming better suited for human life.

So, it seemed like the future was bright. The present was bright, as well. Nothing really cast a shadow on the hellish, measured lives of the people of Red Hill.

Until strange ideas started to spread among the people.

They seemed to have been brought into the city by the passing merchants, or perhaps by those Awakened who still dwelled in the waking world, only travelling to the Dream Realm in their sleep.

At first, no one really paid the odd conversations any attention.

A miner who was sent to the field hospital with a gruesome burn on his shoulder scoffed when he heard a patient on the nearby cot denouncing Changing Star and revealing dire crimes she had supposedly committed.

An Awakened warrior of the Maharana clan frowned when he heard a member of his cohort sharing the news she had heard in the waking world, feeling like the Human Domain did not need a new Supreme stirring up trouble.

A waitress working in an inn near the city gates was confused when she heard the cook using an unfamiliar name as a blessing. Because of how remote and isolated Red Hill was, news took time to reach it — and when it did, many facts were usually twisted or lost. So, it took time for the news of the Dreamspawn’s clash with Changing Star to get here. Even when it did, locals did not pay it much attention.

They did not know, back then, that this news was a sign that the plague had already reached their city.