Shaya

Biography

The Serholm expedition

Shaya is a newly advanced level 3 acolyte and one of the artifact-bearing members Jayden recruits to search for Great Magus Serholm's inheritance. She treats Leylin Farlier cordially because he is a peer and useful Potioneering specialist. When another acolyte ambushes the party, Shaya responds with mockery and silver projectiles that split the fallen enemy's head, reflecting the ruthlessness required of survivors from the academy bloodbath. (Chapters 104–107)

The expedition finds only solid ground until its members decode the entrance condition: jump from a blade-filled cliff without protective magic while carrying a Beta Daisy. Shaya questions the apparent suicide, helps observe a captive test, and accepts the method only after seeing the person transported. Inside she supplies illumination and continues despite exhaustion, but the group remains an alliance of convenience competing over inheritance rather than a trusting unit. (Chapters 108–110)

Death against the Black Horrall Snake

The first guardian is a Black Horrall Snake beyond any single acolyte's strength. Shaya activates the Comb of Vengeful Spirit, spreading her red hair across the cave as a restraint while Bosain's artifact supplies another binding effect. When the snake enters a transparent state that negates attacks, Shaya initially mistakes it for mere concealment and keeps hold of the comb while the party searches for it. (Chapters 111–112)

The snake strikes from that protected state and kills her. At the moment of death, Shaya self-destructs the Comb, releasing an energy wave strong enough to seriously damage the guardian and help the survivors finish the fight. The sacrifice turns a failed restraint into the party's decisive opening, though her companions show only brief grief and later accusations list her among people Leylin supposedly killed. (Chapters 112–126)

Appearance and personality

Shaya has beautiful fire-red hair, which becomes the medium of her signature artifact. She is sharp-tongued, practical, and battle-tested, friendly toward useful peers but merciless to enemies. She challenges plans that appear suicidal instead of following blindly, yet commits once evidence establishes a route. Even her final reaction is aggressive enough to damage the creature killing her. (Chapters 104–112)

Magic, bloodline, and abilities

Level 3 acolyte

Shaya has the spiritual force and general spell training of a newly advanced level 3 acolyte. With a Magic Artifact she ranks above Roth but below Bosain and Leylin in the expedition's initial assessment. No later advancement, bloodline, meditation technique, or elemental affinity is established before her death. (Chapters 104–105)

Silver projectiles and Arrow spell

Shaya launches silver lights that kill a downed enemy and casts bright white-silver arrows at a summoned night hawk. The hawk evades the arrows, so the spell's speed and homing ability are limited against agile aerial targets. The text does not establish whether the earlier silver projectiles are the same spell or ordinary flying knives. (Chapters 106–107)

Comb of Vengeful Spirit

Shaya combs her natural red hair with an old wooden Magic Artifact, causing it to grow rapidly until it covers the cave floor. The mass of hair binds the Black Horrall Snake and works alongside a second artifact's restraint. It does not prevent the snake from entering an attack-negating transparent state, and keeping the comb active leaves Shaya vulnerable when the unseen creature repositions. (Chapters 111–112)

Artifact self-destruction

Immediately before death, Shaya detonates the Comb of Vengeful Spirit. The release is much stronger than its ordinary binding function and seriously injures the Black Horrall Snake. It is a terminal, one-use application: the artifact is destroyed, Shaya still dies, and the attack succeeds tactically only because surviving companions can exploit the damage. (Chapter 112)

Illuminating Spell

Shaya throws a ball of light that bursts overhead and lights a cave like the sun. This is a demonstrated utility spell with no offensive effect stated. (Chapter 110)

Relationships

• Jayden: Fellow acolyte and expedition organizer.
• Leylin Farlier: Expedition companion who survives the remnant.
• Roth: Companion killed during the same fight.

Items

• Comb of Vengeful Spirit: An old wooden Magic Artifact that turns Shaya's red hair into a cave-filling restraint. Its self-destruction badly damages the Black Horrall Snake but consumes the item.