Chasing Shadows - Part Three (Bleeding Hearts) is a side story published through the official website of The Dragon Prince. It revolves around Rayla and Stella during their search for Viren. It is part of a short story series called "Reflections" and is the final one of the second volume.[1]
Summary[]
Rayla and Stella are at the rocky northern coast of Scumport one hour before sunrise, waiting for the dark mage that Redfeather told them about. When she finally sees the dark mage, Rayla can feel hatred for Viren boiling in her as she remembered how she killed him at the Storm Spire and came across him in the portal between life and death at the Moon Nexus. She eventually regains her concentration and fixes her gaze back on her target.
Rayla and Stella soon witness the dark mage making a clandestine trade with a winged Skywing Elf before the latter exchanges a little wooden chest for a heavy satchel and flies away. The dark mage then notices Rayla and decides to escape while casting a spell that causes tendrils of water to form and attack the Moonshadow Elf. However, Rayla manages to outmaneuver the spell and captures the dark mage just as he is about to flee on a tiny boat. But when Rayla looks into the dark mage's face, she is disappointed to discover that he is a young boy from Neolandia and not Viren. When the sun rises, the dark mage shows that he purchased a Blood Coral from the Skywing Elf to warm a cold hearth, draw plague from poisoned water, as well as heal the sick and bleeding. When the dark mage notices that Rayla is hesitant in killing him, he seizes the opportunity to use a single Blood Coral piece to cover himself in red armor and uses the riptide to escape the regretful Rayla. Stella comforts her by holding up the single Blood Coral piece that was left behind during the skirmish.
Rayla and Stella bring the single Blood Coral piece to Redfeather before the former confesses that she messed up like in the fighting pit. However, Redfeather is not angry because she likes Rayla and encourages to stay in Scumport since something interesting is bound to wash up on shore if one lingers long enough. Redfeather also discourages Rayla from trying to remain as her past self and that she cannot return to the Silvergrove due to her ghosting. When Redfeather asks Rayla about who she is, Rayla remembers the words Callum said about her being selfless, strong, and caring, which motivates her to embrace her true self and return to Katolis. Knowing that Rayla's mind cannot be changed, Redfeather bestows the younger Moonshadow Elf one of her Finnegrin's Favors as a token for the Ferryman so that she can find her way back.
Trivia[]
- The story plays after the events of "Through the Moon".
References[]
| Reflections | ||||||||||||
| Volume 1 | Patience • The Queen's Soul • Inheritance • The Royal Council • Crackledrake • Dear Callum • Changing of the Guard • Rise Again | |||||||||||
| Volume 2 | Ripples • Lost Child • All Storms End • The Queen's Mercy • Strangers • After Darkness • Deep Below • Chasing Shadows - Part One • Chasing Shadows - Part Two • Chasing Shadows - Part Three | |||||||||||