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Ryoko AI 18

“…and in three small installments, you can purchase everything you’ve ever wanted for Christmas and test our new hardware…” Before hitting the “Skip Ad” button on UTube, I clicked the link at the bottom of the screen, temporarily halting the voice of a man who sounded like an auctioneer rather than someone on an infomercial. Usually, I wouldn’t have paid much mind to the ads—particularly when there had been some annoying jingles this year and enough renditions of “All I Want for Christmas is You” to shatter every window in the dormitory. But something made me catch my finger before it made contact with the mouse and sent the promotion into oblivion. The advertisement had all the Christmas glamour, jingle bells, shitty plaid, and whatnot, and I stupidly complied with the resounding “STOP” from the announcer. Now bookmarked for the foreseeable future in my browser’s history, I contemplated buying the item right now, watching my bank account throw cobwebs and tumbleweeds at the transaction, and I was already irritated by the fumbling of tabs the ad and its subsequent pop-ups managed to induce. Maybe it was a shady website trying to sell this item? No, the site had an organization extension, so it had to be at least somewhat reputable, right? But regardless, nothing was going to prevent me from getting to the next section of the rom-com I had been watching and whining about not having a girlfriend this winter. Nope. *** A good rule of thumb: Never buy dumb things online for Christmas when you’re lonely and especially when you’re a broke college student. That was like going to the grocery store while hungry and wondering why your pantry was now filled until it burst with subsections for oddly specific cravings. This was precisely why I was at the communal delivery center for about the tenth time this week. With my throat raw after calling my parents about the ethics of monster-fighting video games (an argument in pure jest) for what felt like an eternity, I figured the ladies behind the counter were probably sick of making small talk with me as I laid across the single padded couch. Although I wasn’t lucky enough to get a seat on most of the days leading up to Christmas due to the sheer amount of last-minute packages, I apparently one-upped the few people remaining in the dorm by picking up a box on the morning of the holiday. I would always win when it came to procrastination. While I scanned my feed for news about tomorrow’s snowstorm, a notification caused my phone to vibrate, so I fixed myself up, walking to the counter. “Another parcel, Misha?” Although I was embarrassed (“another parcel”—Christ, I was single-handedly keeping this place in business), I still grinned and nodded at the woman. I always thought that was a beautiful name and was glad I could now stake a claim to it as my own like a snowflake or the lines of a zebra. The employee dug in the back room for new shipments, and when the shuffling of cardboard ceased, a box thumped on the counter in front of me. “Here ya go. Have a merry Christmas, dear!” “You, too, ma’am!” I hoped she would get paid a hell of a lot extra for both working today and dealing with my buying binge since the break started. I strolled up the stairs. (This college, despite whatever it charged for tuition, still seemed too poor to install an elevator that wasn’t constantly drowning in maintenance—and in the middle of the 21st century at that.) Apart from my footsteps up several flights, the dorm was so silent that not even hungry termites’ nibbles permeated its walls. Nearly every other student went home to visit their family, but I was stuck in this one pillar amidst the icy wasteland outside, warm in temperature but not in heart. I lamented how my senior-year finals ran so late, extending to around the 22nd or 23rd of the month and preventing me from making anything useful out of my break. It wasn’t worth it to go home despite how much my parents begged to see me and my longing to speak with them face-to-face, and it equally wasn’t worth it to get turned into a snow angel. After the first or second day of January, classes would be back in session, anyway, and after graduation, I would be stuck in my hometown for as long as I desired. There was no rush to get back; that was what I had to say to myself. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but feel like a salted driveway amid winter—a hole in an otherwise idyllic landscape—since this year’s holidays seemed more akin to a footnote than a grand hurrah. Treating the box gingerly as if it were a magic 8 ball—my miniature clairvoyant—I glanced down to ensure it was still secure in my arms while I was on the first landing. “Are you spending Christmas alone this year? Do you miss the feel of a warm hug, the wisps of a fireplace, the sun peeking out behind the winter storm? Would you like to forget you spent the day full of melancholy?” The advertisement from a few weeks ago was etched into my mind and lingered like the pungent smell of body odor in the stairwells. “Then, if you’re interested in participating in our beta test for a new virtual reality model, please keep listening.” I recalled groaning at the time—as I did now—because this was really how every other apocalyptic hell started. A VR headset would malfunction and voila, another hero’s journey. But for whatever reason, I kept listening, thinking I’d found the newest sexbot-style remedy for loneliness. “The Lonely Hearts VR system is like purchasing an experience. It’s like buying a concert ticket rather than a video on demand. You get to experience your Christmas wishes and have them fulfilled in real-time, but you can’t replay them. The system is no different than a typical headset after the period of its intended use. “But for you, it won’t matter. The system will erase all memories of loneliness and isolation from the morning. For as much as you will know, as if by slight amnesia, you will have been surrounded by your loved ones. Anyone and anything your mind can conjure up will become the reality of your Christmas. Isn’t that exciting?” It almost was. I almost wanted to believe this wasn’t ridiculous. Yes, VR technology had come a long way and could approximate more detailed sensory experiences—but amnesia? That seemed capricious and journeyed into the battlefield of ethics. Absent-mindedly, I traversed the last few flights of stairs and arrived on my floor. I dug through my pockets to check I had my keycard, balancing the box with an arm and knee as if walking a tightrope. What the university had invested in was a scanner akin to a metal detector, which no longer required the tedious lock turning or belligerent card swiping older methods had entailed. So I easily entered my room as the door slid open and closed in my wake. Slipping off my shoes, I headed for the “holiday spirit” corner, wherein I mustered up as much energy for today as a sleep-deprived college student could (a.k.a. barely any), and the flickering, half-dead string of lights was emblematic of this. My Christmas tree—an autumn branch with some lights, at best—was already surrounded by long boxes with clothes, soaps, and other little indulgences inside, none of which had been wrapped for practical purposes. It was my first Christmas since coming out as a woman, and for fuck’s sake, I deserved to pamper myself with things I actually wanted. So that meant eschewing half my wardrobe, purchasing a few online games and DLCs, and sitting my ass in warm water with a bath bomb that smelled of sakuras in the springtime. Online shopping was probably a disease, but I would stay sick if it meant I got to relax during the break. “A party full of kisses underneath the mistletoe, a comfy evening with family and beloved holiday movies, a small outing with a few friends—the clichéd and banal are no more difficult than a Christmas spent riding elephants on the savanna, boarding a spaceship to watch the world light up in spirit, or finding yourself in summer all over again. The only limit is what you believe can happen, and VR will create your ideal day without a single prompt. “Our mission with this technology is simple, really. We made this to help that old lady with Alzheimer’s at the senior center. We made this to give that sweet orphan with no hope something to look forward to. We made this to replace tragedy with joy. Will you help us with this project? Please click on the link to our website if you’re interested, and in three small installments…” I had never known a company to state this type of goal in its advertisement campaign, but I wasn’t complaining, even if it seemed fishy. While I was originally ambivalent about my newest purchase, the recollections of this short promotional video wrenched my soul. It went without saying: “We made this to give you lonely hearts the time of your life.” Reframing pity as excitement, I ripped open the stubborn packing tape. Without hesitation—for I had already read all the small text about liabilities and whatnot on the website before my purchase—I sliced open the inner box, plugged the headset into the nearest outlet without worrying about the current overflowing, and placed the visor over my vision, cascading into the world of real-life fantasies. dreamver2 Surprise holiday story! 3 chapters in total... The rest will release throughout the day!

What I am saying is important to me; otherwise, there’d be no point saying it. One day very soon, I’ll be gone, and it will be too late. So listen, or hand me off to someone who will—I need someone to hear my story—someone to know what I could never tell the people I loved, the people who knew me . . . anyone, really. This is my last chance. Will you stay? I traced the line of moonlight on the ceiling. The wooden bones of the roof stretched broad shadows across the room. The night air was stuffy and, for some reason, I was restless. I tried to lie very still to not disturb my brother. He got grumpy when someone woke him so rubbing the coarse blanket between my fingers and counting the knots in the stitching was my way to tire myself. It wasn’t working. My mind was still alert. I tilted my head back to look out the window at the moon, which was too bright. To my surprise, Michael was standing at our window, looking out into the night. He cocked his head and slowly lowered his shoulders, slumping as if falling asleep while standing. His pale skin and dark hair made him a phantom in the moonlight. I flipped to my belly and pulled myself closer to the head of the bed. “Michael,” I whispered. “What are you doing?” He didn’t respond. So, I crawled out of bed, my bare feet hitting the cool rough floorboards, and tiptoed up to him to minimize the risk of waking our parents. I pushed the sleeves up on my nightshirt. It was Papa’s, and at only eleven it was like a dress on me that I hoped to grow into one day. Looking into Michael’s eyes, they were distant and glossy. “Michael.” I pushed on his shoulder. “Stop that.” He brushed my hand away without breaking his gaze from whatever he was staring at out the window. “What are you doing?” “Be quiet, Henry. I’m listening.” “To what?” “I said be quiet.” I strained to hear whatever Michael was listening to, but the only sounds were the village cattle lowing at the sky and a disorderly racket from the pub two roads over. Maybe a bird or two. “What are you listening to?” I asked again. “The music.” “From the pub?” “No.” “From where?” “The hills,” he said. I tried to trace his line of sight. My eyes shifted along an invisible line that landed my gaze on the hills beyond our town. Lights danced on the hilltops, and a sense of foreboding eked its way into my bones. In these hills lay a grove we had been warned about since we were small children. Light on the hills was a sign of misfortune. “I don’t hear any music.” “That’s because you talk too much.” Michael started pulling himself into the window frame. “What are you doing?” I grabbed his arm. “I’m going to the music.” “No, Michael, there is no music.” “Get off.” He shook loose and began lowering himself down the front of the house. I gaped for a moment. It wasn’t like Michael hadn’t snuck out before this way, it happened far too often, but this wasn’t his usual rebellious nighttime outing. Something wasn’t right. I rushed to pull on some slacks and stuff my feet into my boots. Stopping Michael from leaving hadn’t worked. All that was left was to get him back before our parents noticed we were gone. Tomorrow there would be trouble for both of us if he was caught sneaking out again. Going through the house would wake my parents, as Michael’s early attempts to sneak out proved, so I lowered myself out after him. Michael was bigger than me at sixteen and I struggled to reach many of the handholds and footholds he had used. Michael had already made it a good way down the street when my boots hit the ground. While rushing to catch up, I tucked my nightshirt into my slacks. “Michael, you can’t go to the hills.” I protested. “I don’t want you, Henry,” Michael said. “I don’t care if you want me or not. We’re going home.” I grabbed his arm and pulled back on him, but he kept pushing forward and pulling me with him. How did he get so strong? All he did all day was help Papa with the mending nets. It wasn’t easy work, but it wouldn’t make him this strong. I had wrestled with him often enough to know. But then something glinted in his hand and I looked to see an ornate coin clutched in his fingertips. “Where did you get that?” “I’ve had it.” “No, you haven’t.” “Yes, I have.” “The only way you would get a thing like that is by stealing it.” My brother turned on me, ripping me off the ground by my shirt collar. “No one calls me a thief!” I had taken and given my fair share of black eyes with my brother, but now I was terrified by him. His brow furrowed in anger but there was an absence in his eyes I couldn’t explain. It was as if he really were asleep. “Then where do you get it?” I asked, pushing him away. “It was a gift.” “A gift?” I re-tucked my shirt. “From someone who said I deserved it, and more like it.” He continued walking towards the hillside. I grabbed his sleeve again at the edge of the hills, where the road disappeared into the grass. “Wait.” As his foot hit the grass, a buzz rushed through me. It ran from my hand on his sleeve through every inch of me. Then everything changed. Strange creatures I had never seen before overran the hills, milling about in grass that turned a greyish blue under the moonlight. They were a variety of shapes and sizes and looked as though someone had taken a bucket of different toy parts and glued them together at random. They were slithering things, bouncing things, striding things that milled about on their bellies or limbs that dug into the soft sod of the hillside. As their chilling eyes turned on us, their otherworldly gaze chased the air right out of me. If the creatures had mouths, they stretched into sinister smiles over the creatures’ alien faces upon noticing us. One of the creatures that looked like an old hacked-off stump slithered toward us on roots like snakes. Its large golden eyes fixed on us. It came to our toes and reached its twig-like arm up towards Michael. Its knotted finger touched the coin in his hand, and Michael smiled at it as if he knew what was going on. On the other hand, I couldn’t suck in enough air; everything was too real and too wrong. It didn’t make any sense, like old stories spinning to life off my mother’s tongue. Maybe I was the one dreaming. I heard a crackling noise behind me and, out of nothing, a boy close to my brother’s age came sauntering over. He was dressed in rich clothing and flipped a twisted dagger-shaped scale in his hand. Whatever creature that scale belonged to was larger than anything I would ever want to meet. He had the same eerie calm smile as Michael. Gold accented his brown skin around the eyes, so he wasn’t just pretending to be wealthy. The creatures gathered up around his ankles, and he greeted him like an old friend. Then, turning, he spotted my brother and me. “Good evening.” He walked up to us. “I’m Dietrich. Have we met before?” “No, I think I’d remember,” Michael spoke informally to someone from such a high station. “I’m Michael.” “And who’s this?” Dietrich looked at me. His eyes were glassy. “What?” Michael looked back at me. “Henry, when did you get here?” “I’ve been with you the whole time,” I choked out. “No, you haven’t.” I couldn’t believe it. How could Michael not remember me being with him? We were arguing only a minute ago. The stump-like thing sniffed at me and sneezed before retreating to its like beasts, and they glanced among each other with shifty eyes. “Michael, we should leave,” I urged, but Michael was too fascinated with meeting Dietrich to listen. “Been here before?” Michael asked. “No, but I should have. I mean, look at this place. It’s amazing, and this,” Deitrich scooped up a small ball-shaped creature. Another crackling sound rippled behind us as, this time, a girl stepped through. “Well, hello.” Dietrich sidled up to her. “Name’s Dietrich.” She cast her eyes down and pulled her hands up to her chest. I had seen that kind of reaction among many serving class girls who were used to such “hellos” meaning trouble. The bruises clinging to her dark collarbones were evidence of this. Their bluish-purple hue matched the small flower she clutched in her slim fingers. “Come on.” Dietrich put his arm around her. “What’s your name?” “Alai,” she whispered. “Now that’s a fine name.” Dietrich patted her shoulder and scooped her like a wheat fold over to Michael and me. “This is Michael, and—and—I’m sorry, who are you again?” “Henry.” “Right,” Dietrich said. “This is Michael’s brother Henry.” One of the stump-like creatures scuttled back to me. It looked up at me with its yellow blinking eyes. Then, it pulled something like a fig off one of its few branches and presented the fruit to me. “Go away,” I tried to shoo it but the creature kept pushing the fruit towards me. “What’s wrong?” Dietrich asked. “It is just trying to give you something.” “If you eat spirit food, the spirit steals your humanity. Then no creature can recognize you as human, even your own family,” I said. “That superstitious garbage,” Michael mocked. “You don’t really think we’re in a spirit realm? Grow up already.” “How do you explain all of this?” I pushed the stump thing away with my foot. “I don’t know, but it’s not supernatural. Those stories are for scaring little kids into staying indoors and not taking questionable gifts from strangers. There’s no such thing as spirits,” Michael scoffed. The stump thing threw its fig at me and wormed away on its roots with what I guess you could call an angry expression. “You hurt its feelings,” Dietrich said. “I’m sorry—maybe, we should just go before we upset them further.” I gestured back towards the town. “You go if you want to,” Michael said. “Let’s go exploring!” Dietrich grinned. “What do you say, Alai?” She simply raised a timid knuckle to her lips. “You don’t talk much, do you?” “I agree with you,” Michael said. “Let’s explore.” “It’s settled.” Dietrich grabbed Alai’s hand and pulled her forward. “Let’s go.” “Wait!” I called after them. The three of them ignored me and walked further up the hill. I followed. We crested the hilltop and looked down into a shallow valley. We gasped, seeing more odd creatures the size of grown men. They looked like empty husks of paper hives spiraling up into the air. Yet, aside from their ashy paper skin and being empty inside, they seemed disturbingly human, with arms and legs like ours and faces like people. There were hundreds of them trudging in circles through the wide basin. “Woah,” Dietrich abandoned Alai’s hand, which she appeared grateful for, and rushed over to one of the husks. It seemed to ignore him even as he peeled off a layer of its gray skin. “This is so strange. It’s like they’re made out of paper!” Michael joined in with Deitrich’s prodding. “You don’t have to stay,” I said to Alai. “We can go back.” “No, I want to stay,” she said in a hushed voice. Dietrich turned back to us. “Look at these things, Alai—hey,” Dietrich turned to me. “Who are you?” “Henry?” I said, puzzled. “Are you not sure what your name is?” he laughed. “You already met me, not two minutes ago.” “Did I? My memory is usually pretty good. I’m positive that it was just Alai, Michael, and me,” Dietrich mused. I was moving from wary to perturbed. How could he have simply forgotten I was there? “Let’s keep exploring.” We moved our way through the husks. Some of the other kinds of strange creatures were following us. One looked like the meanest dog you’ve ever seen with taloned bird feet instead of paws. One had a long body with purplish-blue fur. It slithered as much as it walked. Another looked like it had goat feet, a fat man’s belly, and a bird head with short, floppy ears. And those stump things were always following en masse on our heels. We came upon a small grove. A bluish light danced inside it, bouncing off small pools of water and glass plates that seemed to float in the air. We all marveled at it for a moment. As we entered, the surfaces picked up our reflections. Alai touched one, and it rippled like water beneath her finger. Suddenly, an image appeared on it of another place. It was daytime in the picture, and people moved about in strange clothes through a peculiar town. The others were enraptured by it. I thought it was fascinating too, but I couldn’t shake my nerves off long enough to enjoy it like they were. The air of this place was heavy somehow, putting me ill at ease. “You do not smell of the tokens like the others,” a voice hissed. I turned around to see another strange creature. Its gray skin was wrinkled. Its body was like a lizard with a back bent sharply to the sky, its form partially concealed in a kind of cloak. “Most curious. Perhaps—perhaps you hold the answer.” “What are you?” I stepped back. The creature tilted its head to the side. Tracing its line of sight to the others, I put myself in its path even as I realized there was no sure thing to do to protect them if the creature turned out to be dangerous. “What am I? What are you? Your kind could not enter this realm without a token. So I wonder if you are some other kind.” There was an odd glint to the creature’s eyes—something like hope. “What are tokens?” I asked. “Things of this realm; small flowers, long jagged scales. Things to trap and ensnare. To make this pretty place a prison,” the creature said. “What about some coins?” This creature might have answers about what this place was and how to get Michael to leave. As long as it was talking and the others occupied nearby, it couldn’t hurt to ask. “Yes, coins.” Its head bobbed. “Or something like that.” “My brother has one,” I gasped. “And you touched him as you entered this place?” It tilted its long head. “I did.” I nodded, looking back briefly to ensure the others hadn’t wandered off on me. They were captured by a new scene of fast-moving things that glimmered like they were made of steel. “I see.” The creature stroked its hooked jaw with its long fingers. Its wrinkled lips hooked up in something like a smile. “Yes, a rare opportunity. A chance—at last, a chance. I will tell you, human, that I am called Keeper. This grove is where the tales of this land and more intersect. I have seen and told many wisdoms over so many centuries. So heed me. Leave this place, now. It is the only way.” “I want to, but the others won’t listen to me. What do you mean the only way?” I looked back at them again to see the scene had shifted to rolling hills of trees with pink budding flowers. The petals drifted through a breeze like silken rain. “They will not come with you. Those tokens resemble in the physical what is captured in their hearts. This place is like a dream to them. Nothing is real. Nothing is true. That is why these fables can enrapture them.” Keeper gestured towards the standing pools. “You, little one, see this place as it is. If you leave now, you will still be able to return without the beguiling of a token. You may grow and become stronger. Then when it is right, you can return. You can break what has made my home into a wretched curse. Go, please.” “But, my brother—” “No!” Keeper barked. It scuttled towards me and grabbed my wrists in its boney fingers. “You do not listen! You must go, or there is no hope for any of us. There is a creature here that has caught their scent, the Taegorak. None of your realm can survive it while beguiled. None of this realm can defeat it. This creature is what baited them here, to destroy them. Only you can stop this wretched cycle. Leave now. Train, grow, and come back to defeat this monster before it destroys all that is good between our worlds.” “But why is this creature so dangerous? Why does it want to hurt us? How am I supposed to defeat it when you say no one else can?” I look back to see the others now looking at a scene that made it seem like there were flying through the air. The view swooped over mountains, and when they dipped close to a lake, the water exploded around them before they climbed back into the sky. Keeper shook my wrists. “The Taegorak hungers, as all creatures do. It hungers not for flesh but souls, their humanity itself.” Keeper took a ragged breath. It was like the old stories of goblins and spirit creatures had come to life. Monsters that wanted not just your life but whatever it was that made you human. With a choking sound, Keeper continued. “All you see here is a result of it. None of us have the power to stop it. The more humanity the Taegorak consumes, the stronger it becomes, but humanity is also the key to defeating it, and now, at last, we have a chance.” “I can’t do anything about any monster. I’m not a hero from a fable. No magic will make me powerful enough to defend this place from a creature you can’t defeat yourself. There is nothing I could learn or do to change whatever is happening here. I can’t even get my brother to listen to me.” I yanked my wrists free and stared the creature down with false bravery. Desperation choked Keeper’s voice. “Of course, you are not ready. You are too young, that is true; you do not have the skills. That’s why you must go now. Go and prepare and become strong enough to save this realm and your own. Don’t underestimate who you may become, the value of your humanity, or what your being here means. Realize it or not, child, you have opened a door that I thought would forever be closed—hope.” “This can’t be,” I shook my head. “Stop reasoning. This is beyond your reasoning!” Keeper tugged me down so it could grab my face and look me in the eye. I gasped and pulled back, but Keeper’s hands held me with a strength it hadn’t used before. “What you have known is only part of what can be.” Keeper released me, and I staggered back, sucking in a sharp breath as it wrung its hands. “AIf there is something that dangerous, then that’s all the more reason to get them out of here,” I said. “Even if I believe you, there is no way I can fight that thing do what you are telling me to by myself, not with all the time in the world, and not if I somehow could learn how to defeat a monster. They can help me. Michael would be a better help than me, and Deitrich would have the influence to get us access to information and training. Alai knows how to work hard and would help too. If you need humans to save you, we’d be far better off with all of us.” “They will not come. These others are dreaming. If you stay with them, you will only accomplish the loss of your own life, the wasting of this opportunity!” Keeper’s lips trembled. “Never has a chance like this come, and it may never come again. It would be ideal to rescue these people, yes, but it is impossible. You cannot save them, but you may save whoever would come after by leaving now.” “So be it,” I squared my shoulders with the sternest expression I could muster. “I won’t leave my brother behind just because some creature tells me to.” “Impertinent child,” Keeper hissed. “So be it.’ Then so be it! Keeper warned you. A chance, Keeper is a fool. Humans are too dense to hear, always.” The creature howled a mournful cry. “Any trouble you find was bought with your own coin.” Keeper scuttled back into the thicket, muttering angrily to itself. As the rustling leaves settled, I almost thought I heard it whimpering. I turned to the others to see they were laughing at a menagerie of animals dressed in clothing like people and working in a village as people would. I grabbed my brother’s shoulder. “Michael.” “Henry! When did you get here?” “That’s starting to get old,” I sighed. “What is?” Michael raised a brow. “We need to go home,” I said. “Why? Haven’t you looked at all of this? The grove is amazing.” Michael turned to look at the new scene unfolding before Deitrich and Alai. It was underwater, surrounded by colorful corals and fish. They gasped in awe. “Yeah, so very amazing. Let’s go,” I pulled Michael back to face me. “What’s your rush?” he asked. “Don’t you think there was a reason behind all the stories? It’s dangerous here.” I didn’t know if I fully believed what Keeper had told me, but my twisting stomach tightened into a firm knot. It could have been fear or my exhaustion from staying up so late, but I couldn’t shake that feeling of wrongness. “You’re such a baby,” Michael tsked. “I am not,” I huffed. “Let’s go.” “Henry, you are starting to annoy me.” Michael turned a more fiery gaze toward me. Finally, he looked more awake. “I wouldn’t be if you listened to me!” “Why do you have to bother me all the time?” Michael huffed. “If you won’t listen to me, Keeper will tell you.” “Who?” “This lizardy creature.” I looked back into the hollows of the grove. “Keeper!” It didn’t come. “Keeper, help me!” I looked back to see Michael had gone back to watching the images. “Michael!” I shouted. “Henry? When did you get here? Why are you yelling?” “You can’t be serious.” I grabbed his arm and started pulling him out of the grove. “We’re going home.” “What’s going on?” Dietrich asked. The yelling must have broken him and Alai out of their trance. Michael wrenched his arm from my grip. “It’s just my little brother,” Michael said. “Oh, nice to meet you. What’s your name?” Dietrich offered his hand with a smile. “Henry, I told you that three hundred times. Every time you all look away from me, you forget about me. There are all sorts of strange things here. A creepy lizard said that there was some kind of monster out there that wants to eat us. We need to go back home!” They all laughed at me. “Come on, Henry,” Michael said. “We’ve seen dozens of creatures here. None of them talk, and none of them tried to hurt us.” “So you want to wait until they do?” “Maybe we should listen to him,” Alai murmured. “She speaks!” Dietrich gave a jovial slap on her back as his form of approval. “All right, we can go.” “What? Why?” Michael asked. “If Alai is nervous, and so is Hennidy—” “Henry,” I corrected. “Henry,” Dietrich continued. “Then we should go. To respect them.” Alai smiled shyly at him. “But there’s so much more out there,” Michael said. “Yeah, we can come back another time and explore more.” “What if there isn’t another time?” “No, we should just go,” I said, aiming to keep them on track. “Well,” Dietrich mused. “What if we explore one more thing? Like the top of that hill?” Dietrich pointed to a gentle hill not far away. “Would you be okay with that, Alai?” She shrugged. “I guess so. But I wouldn’t want to stay longer.” “Excellent. What about you, Benny?” Dietrich asked. “Henry,” I grumbled. “The sooner we leave, the better. Just to the top of the hill.” “Then a compromise has been decided,” Dietrich declared. “Let’s explore,” Michael urged, and so we left the grove and made our way further into the hills. We reached the top of another dark knoll. The grass was a deep gray under the starlight, but we all gasped at the shimmering purple flowers forming wavering rivers down into the bowl of the next valley. Michael, Dietrich, and Alai laughed together and rushed into the basin. Deitrich threw himself down to roll to the bottom in fits of laughter. I followed cautiously, warily eyeing the empty space and subtle rolls of the earth among the flowers. It couldn’t be that safe, that perfect, could it? Certainly not with the monster Keeper had warned me of looming somewhere. The others began picking handfuls of flowers and breathing in their deep herb-like aroma. I leaned down and plucked one of the blooms. There was something familiar about this unassuming flower. “Michael.” I saw Michael handing flower after flower to Alai as she giggled. Deitrich was more cheery than ever, sitting among the blooms and braiding the dark stems of his plucked flowers into a crown. I crept closer and tugged Michael’s arm. “Michael.” “Henry, when did you get here?” Michael asked. “It’s time to go home. We said we’d go to the top of the hill. This isn’t the top of the hill anymore,” I said. “You go home. I’m having fun.” “This place is lovely, but we shouldn’t be here.” “Maybe you shouldn’t be here,” Alai practically whispered. She took a deep breath of her bouquet. My eyes landed on the one flower tucked in Alai’s hair, and I realized why the flower was familiar. “Where did you get that flower?” I asked. “From Michael,” Alai said. “No, the one in your hair.” “Oh.” She raised her hand to caress the petals. “I’m not sure. I’ve always had it, I think.” “You couldn’t have. It would have died, and the bloom is still fresh,” I said. Alai tilted her head, considering it. “Come on, kid,” Dietrich stood. “Can’t you just let us have some fun?” He placed his crown on Alai’s head. She smiled, a blush rising in her brown cheeks. “I’m not trying to stop you from having fun. I’m trying to make sense of what’s happening. If my brother’s gold piece came from something here, and Alai’s flower probably came from this field, where did your token come from? Is it a scale from some creature or a dagger, or what? What does it belong to? None of you find this strange?” “No. Quit worrying so much,” Dietrich waved me off. “He’s right, Henry,” Michael said. “If you’re scared, go home.” “I can’t go without you.” “Maybe he’s scared to go by himself,” Alai said. “Grow up. You’re not a baby anymore,” Michael scoffed, plopping down and sending up a puff of purple petals. “It can’t hurt to take your brother home.” Alai offered one of her flowers to Michael, and he considered her for a moment. “No, he can take himself.” “Fine, I’ll go with him.” Alai took my hand. “Let’s go. Don’t worry, Michael and Deitrich will be fine.” She started pulling me away. “But—” I began to protest. “Shh.” She winked at me. “Boys are like this a lot. He’ll change his mind.” “Wait,” Michael stood. “I’ll take him.” “What are you all worried about?” Dietrich huffed. “There’s nothing wrong with this place. Let the baby go back by himself. He shouldn’t ruin our fun. Everything is perfectly safe!” Dietrich threw down his token, the pointed end of the scale sinking into the earth. He stomped on top of one of the small knolls. “We’re in a field of flowers. What do you expect to happen? Goblins to randomly appear and kidnap you?” “No, I—” I gasped as the ground began to rumble. Dietrich staggered off of the knoll as it slowly began to rise. We gaped as scaly arms and legs appeared from under the sod. A long neck unfurled, revealing a triangular lizard head and toothy maw. Each long, glittering, twisted scale reverberated with a deep rumble in the creature’s chest. “The Taegorak,” I gasped. “Run!” Finally, everyone listened, charging back up the hill as the creature shifted from an earthen hill to a jaggedly-edged, cow-barn-sized monster. We managed to scramble to the top of the hill before the Taegorak gave chase. It strode after us on claws as long as a man was tall, tearing deep gouges into the soft dirt behind us. It craned its long neck forward, snapping up Dietrich in its massive jaws. We shrieked but kept running. The sounds—the crunching and wet shredding that followed—only speed us forward, sending ice water into our veins. We had neared Keeper’s grove by the time the hulking form reappeared. “Keep running,” Michael huffed while running beside me. “I’ll distract it.” “No,” I cried. “You can’t!” “Alai, take Henry. Get to safety.” Before I could protest, Alai yanked me forward. “Come after me, you ugly demon!” Michael yelled. He charged westward, away from us. Tears pricked my eyes. The pounding of my feet on the sod echoed the vibrations of the booming steps of the Taegorak. Finally, we reached the Keeper’s grove. The bright light from the mirrors that had attracted the others was shuddering and dim. My legs and lungs burned with each step. Between the Taegorak’s size and speed, I knew we had no way to outrun it. Then Michael screamed—so sharp, and then, so quiet. It was a dagger in my ears, in my chest. After a moment of our thudding feet and pounding hearts, we passed the grove, and the thundering of the creature returned. We just had to pass through the valley of husk creatures and climb one more hill to get back to where we had crossed into the foot of the grove. We barreled down into the valley. We forced our way through the husks, their papery skin crackling as we pushed them aside. As we started climbing that last hill, a crunching like charred corn husks fresh from the fire sounded on our heels. Suddenly, Alai’s hand was ripped from mine, and she shrieked. Skidding to a halt and looking back, my breath caught seeing the Taegorak throwing her high into the air before catching her brutally in its jaws. I turned back towards the direction of the village and continued to run. Finally, reaching the stump creatures again. Almost home. The path’s edge where Michael and I had crossed into this horrible place came into view. Too far and so close. The stump creatures began pelting me with their fruit, so that I had to dodge them and whatever else would slow or trip me. The thundering footsteps returned. Slipping on one of the watery fruits, I thudded to the ground. With the Taegorak closing in, the sound of it snuffling as it ran echoed around me, and the smell of its moist stinking breath engulfed me. Pulling myself to my knees and gasping from exhaustion, my eyes meet those of one of the stump creatures. It was so like the creatures from the old stories. The things from the first stories I had ever heard might be the last thing to see me while I was still alive. It clicked. The Keeper’s words about how the creature hungered for our humanity, and the old stories my parents told of the spirit creatures in the hills. Snatching up the fruit, I took a bite, choking it down. The Taegorak skidded to a stop over me, right as the lump of bitter-sweet fruit scraped down my throat. The creature lowered its massive head spreading its jaws wide, its hot breath smelling of putrid metallic gore rolling over its long tongue. I put my hands up as if that would protect me and gasped, seeing my skin turning gray and breaking apart like over-dried paper. Then, with a jolt, shadows burst from every crack in my skin, forming the odd creatures we had seen dotting the grove. The Taegorak snapped its jaws shut, and I pinched my eyes closed, but no pain came. The ground reverberated with the creature’s snarl and the crunching scrape of dirt under its talons. Its feet shook the ground as it adjusted its footing. I opened my eyes, suddenly face to face with one of its massive eyes, and scooted back with a whimper. Its oblong pupil tightened into a pin line of black in a sea of gold. It rolled its neck, curling back and opening its jaw with a gritty growl. The Taegorak’s massive nostrils flared as it took in several huffs of air. It leaned its head back down, its sucking breath shredding free the loose curls of my papery skin. The Taegorak snorted at me, shaking its massive head, and lumbered away. Slowly, I stood on shaky legs I couldn’t quite feel anymore. Then, running my fingers over the papery shell that should have been my skin, the realization hit that I had become one of the husk creatures. It didn’t matter; I was still alive. There had to be some way to fix this if this crinkling form could just get me home. My body wobbled on unfeeling legs towards the village. My breaths no longer rasped in the empty cavity of my chest. The aching was gone. All feeling was gone. I reached the place where the grass met the edge of the village road, still hoping this was some horrible nightmare. Yes, of course, that is what it was. I would wake up any moment now and Michael would make fun of me for having such a dream spun from children’s stories. I stepped forward and then tumbled to my numb knees, my paper skin crunching as they hit the ground. I shook my head and checked if there was damage to this frail form, but there was no easy way to tell with how this body coiled in papery shreds. My form struggled to stand, to find my feet. I tried again to take that last desperately needed step towards home, only to slide to the ground again. I reached toward the road, and my hand met something solid I couldn’t feel. A barrier kept me from going forward. I tried to speak, to scream, but whatever makes a person capable of doing so, I didn’t have anymore. No sound came from me except the rustling of my limbs as I frantically probed the air, trying to find a way to slip through this invisible barrier. I wanted to cry, but no tears could come. The Keeper. Keeper had to know how to help me. He knew what would happen to the others. He had to know how to fix this. I wobbled back towards the grove. It just had to work. I pushed past the creatures that were now odd kin to me and climbed back to the groupings of trees where Keep’s grove was. Reaching the grove with its floating mirrors reflecting the pine needles, leaves, and the night sky, it was so much darker. A few still held images of otherworldly things, but it was as if the grove was falling asleep with what pictures were there slowly fading into reflections of the here. I needed to get the Keeper’s attention, but how without a voice? I grabbed the edge of a mirror and thrust it down. It shattered spectacularly loud. I looked into the shadows where Keeper had come from, but not even a breeze stirred in the grove. It didn’t come. It never came. I returned to the barrier many more times in the coming days and years but never could get through. Eventually, I realized it was because the same act that saved my life had trapped me here. As the legends said, my humanity was traded for my life, so there was no way to return to the human world. I’m almost out of time now. My memories are the last piece of me that remains, and they are slipping away more and more. I can never go back to tell my family what happened—never explain to my parents why they woke up that next morning with no sons. You are my last chance. If you ever find yourself in Gethway, find a fletcher named Wendel. See if he and his wife Addie are well. If you can, help them have a measure of peace. And if you are in another realm and can’t go, please remember for me. Keep this story so that some part of us who died in the grove can survive. And, if you ever think to tempt the truth of your old children’s stories for yourself, be wary. They might just turn out to be true. Thank you for reading! If you’d like to get early access and exclusive stories, support us on Patreon! You are also invited to join the community and stay in touch! Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/worldsmyths Discord Invite - https://discord.gg/dCW3b6g

I know I’m not supposed to go outside at night, Mama always said so, but he was waiting for me. My friend, the prince of shadows. Mama also told me that fairies weren’t real.  She says a lot of things. I don’t always believe her. My bedroom door creaked as I opened it and I paused in the hallway, the sound of my breathing loud in my ears. Mama’s bedroom door was closed, her snores leaking out under the door. I smiled and continued down the hallway, careful to avoid the squeaky spots in the wooden floor. I knew where they all were now. It was nice, knowing things Mama didn’t. The kitchen door creaked when I opened it, and my breath stopped in my chest, but Mama didn’t stir. I made my way outside and paused at the edge of the grass. Grandmama died last month. One day she was here, the next she was in the hospital, and then we had to go to her funeral where lots of people were crying. I got hugged by so many old people. At least the flowers there were pretty. I missed Grandmama. She believed me when I told her about the prince of princes. My prince! He must be waiting for me. I skipped down to the end of the garden and flung myself onto the grass. I slapped my hands over my mouth before I could laugh but a little giggle slipped out. The stars were bright and sparkling above me as I laid and looked up through the rose brambles at the end of the garden. I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. It was hard not to peek to see if it was working but I had to be good. The prince said I had to play all their games, or else. Tiny feet walked across my forehead, and I wiggled with anticipation. A second set of feet joined them, dancing across my face, stepping on my nose, my eyes, my lips. I wondered if they were leaving any tiny footprints. I should wash my face before bed. The feet vanished and someone tapped me on the forehead. My eyes popped open and I sat up. Sitting cross legged beside me was a boy my age and size, with shaggy black hair and eyes bluer than paint. He wore strange black clothing that was part rags and patches and part old fashioned stuff like out of my book of fairy tales. He smiled at me and my heart fluttered. I felt funny when he was around, but I liked it. The prince of shadows made me feel special. The prince stood and offered me his hand. I took it, letting him pull me to my feet. Other fairies flew through the air around him, wings like bugs’ but large and pretty. Some had butterfly wings, others moths, and some had sparkly wings like a dragonfly.  They flew so fast, I knew I’d never be able to catch one. I had tried once and the prince became so angry he didn’t talk to me for a week, no matter how much I’d cried. I was allowed to chase the fairies but only when the prince said it was time to play. But the prince was smiling now. He kept hold of my hand and led me around a clump of bushes where an old shed stood. My house wasn’t visible and he relaxed as soon as we were out of sight of it. “Are you going to tell me your name tonight?” I asked him. The prince shook his head with a twinkle in his eye. “Only if you can fall in love with me!”  My cheeks turned red. “I’m too young to fall in love, Mama said so.” The prince tilted his head. “No one is too young for love. Or too old.” “Have you been in love before?” The prince looked up at the moon with a distant, sad smile on his lips. “Oh no, it is not my fate.” “That’s so sad,” I said with a frown. “Why not?” His answering laugh made tingles pop up on my skin. “Love is wonderful. But it is a human thing. But enough of this. Catch me, and maybe I’ll tell you my name.” He spun around and leapt into the air, shrinking until he was the size of the other fairies, and darted past me. He tugged at my hair and I tried to grab him but he was too fast. Not that I wanted to catch him. I never wanted the games to end. I chased the prince back and forth across the garden, laughing. He laughed too, like the ringing of a bell, and almost let me catch him once. But he flapped his wings and sped away at the last moment, and I nearly crashed into the bushes before I could stop. I dropped to the ground, breathing hard. Chasing was one of his favourite games, probably because he always won. When we played hide and seek, I sometimes hid better than he did, and he didn’t like that. It was okay with me if he wanted to win. So long as we got to keep playing. I wanted to play with him forever. When I turned around, the prince and the fairies were gone. I groaned and let my head fall back to the grass. Was it midnight already? The fairies had a bedtime too, though the prince never said what would happen if they were late. Did he have a mother who would growl if she caught him awake? I sat up and walked back towards the house. Tomorrow was another night. I wondered what games we would play.   Mama was mad at me. I sat at the breakfast table, trying not to cry as she scrubbed at my nightgown. There were grass stains in it from tumbling around in the garden the night before.  “I told you, Mirabel. I told you not to go out into the garden at night and what do you do? You go outside anyway!” I sniffled and stared down at my toast. “I know, I’m sorry.” Mama wrung my nightgown out over the sink and set it on the radiator to dry. “If you were sorry, you would stay inside. What would happen if you fell into the pond? You could drown!” “I’m a good swimmer, I could get out,” I said. Mama shook her head. “Not good enough. There are weeds in that pond. I would know! I went swimming there once, when I was your age. Plants wrapped around my ankle and nearly pulled me under. I would have drowned if your Grandmama hadn’t pulled me out. She was so upset . . .” Mama looked so sad. I almost felt bad for going outside last night. Almost. Mama sat beside me and took my hand. “I need you to promise me you won’t sneak out again. I can’t sleep at night thinking you’re out there, playing by yourself. It isn’t safe.” “But–” “No buts! I’ll have your promise or you won’t be allowed back at school again.” “Mama! I need to go to school, my friends are there!” “And they will still be there, but only if you promise me.” I poked my toast with a sad finger. It was cold. “I promise,” I said, in the quietest voice I could. Mama squeezed my hand and leaned in. “What did you say?” Tears started to fall down my cheeks. What will I do without my prince? But to not go to school, and stay locked away inside helping Mama with chores all day . . .  “I promise, Mama. I’ll stay inside.” Mama released my hand and patted my head.  “That’s my good girl. Now eat up.” I ate my toast through my tears, and tried not to think about my fairy friends. They would be so mad. But I knew I had to wait until Mama had forgotten before I could go back outside. I lasted an entire week. Pictures of the prince filled the margins of my notebooks and I got called into the principal’s office twice for daydreaming. But at last Mama stopped asking me to stay inside when she tucked me in at night. I was ready. The prince was ready too. He waited for me at the end of the garden by the shed, arms crossed. I gasped at the sight of him. “You don’t want me to pretend to be asleep first?” I asked. He shook his head, lips tight. “Where have you been?” “Inside. Mama made me promise not to come outside at nighttime. She’s afraid I’ll drown in the pond.” The prince glanced over his shoulder, where the pond lay beyond the garden shed. Tiny waves rippled across the surface, caught by the light of the full moon.  “This pond?” He crossed over to it and walked across its surface as casually as he strolled over the grass. His feet left little ripples in his wake and my eyes went wide. “Can you teach me how to do that?” I asked. The prince glanced over his shoulder, surprise flashing across his handsome face. He held out his hand to me and wiggled his fingers.  “I could try. Come with me.” I approached the edge of the pond. The water was all moonlight and shadow as the tiny waves flashed over its surface, and I gulped. “Mama says to stay away from the pond.” The prince’s eyes narrowed. “Your mother says a lot of things. She wasn’t always so strict.” I placed my bare toes onto the surface of the pond but the water didn’t hold my weight and my foot got wet. He wiggled his fingers again, impatiently, but he was too far away for me to reach. I took a step back and crossed my arms. “I don’t want to walk on water,” I said. The prince’s eyes narrowed before a smile flashed onto his face. “Why not?” He spun in a circle and danced a few steps, droplets of water catching the moonlight as they flicked through the air. “It’s fun!” I eyed the water. “I don’t want to get wet.” The prince stopped dancing. “You don’t trust me. I thought we were friends.” My mouth fell open in dismay. “We are friends! I do trust you. I just . . .” His lip trembled as though he was about to cry, and I reached for him. He was too far away to touch, though, so I took a step into the pond, and another, all while he watched with clear eyes. His lip no longer trembled once I stood knee deep in cold water, mud seeping between my toes. The prince bowed and offered his hand once again. I took it, and he pulled me out of the water. He was stronger than he looked; I don’t think I could have pulled him like that. To my surprise, my feet landed on the surface of the water, smooth and cold as glass. His smile was full of wicked delight as his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me tight to him. He stepped backwards and lead me into a dance.  We spun in circles, skating over the surface of the pond like it were ice. There was no music, but I didn’t need any with my prince holding me. The stars reflected off the pond until we were in a bowl of moonlight, illuminated like a stage. The little fairies spun in their own dances around us like darting fireflies. I don’t know how long we danced for, but it wasn’t long enough. The prince loosened his grip on me and pulled back, a startled look on his pretty face. “Someone is coming,” he said tightly. The little fairies vanished into the brambles, and the prince began to pull me towards them. I wiggled in his grip.  “I can’t go into the brambles, I’m too big! The thorns will get me.” The prince gave me an exasperated look. “The thorns will do as I say. But if you truly wish to stay here . . .” The prince shrank into his tiny form and darted away. For a moment after he let go of my hand, the water supported me. Then it turned to jelly and my feet sank. I had only the briefest glimpse of my prince’s light vanishing into the rose brambles before the water closed over my head. My arms flailed and I pulled myself towards the surface. My legs kicked, propelling me up towards the light of the moon. Before I could reach it, arms closed around me and pulled me up. My head broke the surface of the pond and I sputtered in surprise. Mama gripped me tight, anger and concern at war on her face. “Mirabel! My Mirabel, what are you doing?” “I was dancing, Mama. Dancing with the prince of shadows.” “Dancing? Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t care what you think you were doing out here. You disobeyed me,” said mama as she pulled me towards the edge of the pond. She pushed me onto the grass and then hopped out beside me. We sat for a moment, looking at the brambles on the other side of the pond. “You scared me, Mirabel. Do you understand that?” I looked away, down at the moonlit surface of the water. “I didn’t mean to, mama.” “Well, you did. You scare me every time you leave the house at night. This talk of princes and fairies and dancing, it stops now.” Tears blurred my view of the pond and I refused to nod. Mama sighed and stood.  “Come,” she said as she offered me her hand. “Let’s get your dried off and back to bed.” I took her hand. It was large and warm and familiar, but I wished I was still holding the prince’s hand instead.   My bedroom had a lock now. Mama locked me in when she puts me to bed. For my own safety, she says. She even nailed my window shut, to make sure I couldn’t get out! She didn’t listen when I told her I was never in any danger! This was just her being selfish. So what if it scared her? I wasn’t afraid! The weeks passed slowly without my prince, and even my friends at school couldn’t  distract me. The only thing that interested me was Grandmama’s boxes. Mama had cleaned up her room and piled all of Grandmama’s things into my closet. She said mine was the only room that had space for them. That was fine with me. It meant I could look at him again. My prince. Grandmama had always been a good drawer and she had pictures saved that were very old, from when she was my age. And among the flowers and rainbows were drawings of fairies. Not silly fairies like in the movies. My fairies. I recognized my prince immediately. I think Mama did too, the way she got mad when she found the pictures in my bed.The prince was old, he told me that himself. But I didn’t know he was as old as Grandmama. I frowned, jealousy welling up in my chest. Had he danced with Mama and Grandmama too? The prince was mine! He had said so himself. He belonged to me, and if I went with him into the brambles, I would belong to him, too. He would even tell me his name if I went to live with the fairies. The longer I was locked up, the more tempting it seemed. To live with the fairies and to dance under the moonlight forever sounded so much better than homework and chores and Mama being mad at me. And Mama was still very mad. I flopped back on the floor with a groan. I had done more chores in the last three weeks than I had in my entire life. I didn’t know why she was punishing me. Why couldn’t she understand? The wind made the tree outside my window rattle and shake and I stirred, warm under the covers of my bed.  Sometimes it sounded like someone was knocking at my window but whenever I checked, there was no one there. It wouldn’t be my prince; he never came up to the house. I sat up as the knocking came again. That didn’t sound like a tree. Lights flickered beyond the curtain and I sprang to my feet with an excited gasp. I flung the curtain back, and there on my window sill were three tiny fairies. The green and gold of their dresses shimmering in the light given off by their fluttering wings. They looked scared but determined. One waved to me and motioned for me to stand back. The three fairies lined up and peered at the nails that kept my window in place. One by one, the nails twisted, squealing in the wood before lifting up and clattering to the ground.  I wasted no time and heaved the window open. I didn’t even pause to see if Mama heard. I didn’t care. Crawling out of the window was scary but the chiming voices of the fairies encouraged me. Branches from the bush under my window scratched me when I landed on it but I barely felt them. The fairies fled ahead of me as we raced around the side of the house towards the garden. My feet made slapping sounds on the cool flagstones, too late in the season to keep the heat of day. It was almost fall, after all. And then I was in the grass. Wild laughter erupted from my chest, and if Mama heard, so be it. I was home. I reached the end of the garden and pulled up short, aghast. It looked like a tornado had passed through the brambles, tearing them up at the roots and leaving them in messy piles. My insides went cold. Mama. It had to be. She was destroying the fairies’ home! I raced towards the pond, fearing the worst, but it was still there, as were the brambles on the far side.  I fell to my knees. But where was my prince? A hand landed on my shoulder, and I bit off a scream. I spun, ready to apologise to Mama for being out, but it wasn’t her. It was my prince. His clothing was more ragged than ever, and dark circles bit into the skin under his eyes. But he was still the most handsome boy I had ever seen. I threw myself into his arms and he hugged me back just as tight. “I’m so sorry, Mama locked me up! I couldn’t get away!” My prince squeezed me before standing back. “I know, I sent my fairies to spy. Your mother is a wicked woman, keeping you from me.” My heart clenched. “I love my mama, but . . .” “Do you love me?” asked my prince. I look up at him, blushing. “Love?” “Yes, love. The greatest of human emotions. Do you feel it for me?” I stepped out of his arms and looked down at my bare feet before nodding. The prince tilted my head up with a gentle hand. “I’m glad to hear it. I’ve always wanted to know what love is, and I think you can teach me.” I shook my head, confused. “You don’t know what love is?” “No fairy does. Our hearts are too wild.” Shouting sounded from the house and I froze. Mama was awake, and she sounded angry. The prince reached down and grabbed my hands. “Come with me. The summer is almost over and without it, my power will fade. If you want to love me, you must come with me. Now.” I glanced over my shoulder. Mama was running towards us, terror etched into her lined face. “Mirabel!” Her voice shook as she raced forward. I looked back to my prince. There was nothing in his cold eyes, no hope, just that pretty smile. His words echoed through my head. ‘Our hearts are too wild.’ My eyes squeezed shut. Mama’s shouts reached my ears, begging me to stop, to stay. I took a deep breath and reached out my hand.   Thank you for reading! If you’d like to get early access and exclusive stories, support us on Patreon! You are also invited to join the community and stay in touch! Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/worldsmyths Discord Invite - https://discord.gg/dCW3b6g

*Alarm goes off* "Shit what's that noise?." Looking at the alarm clock I realized that it was time to call my body guards and give them some very good news. The shower felt warm today, the great view from the bathroom window...too perfect. I am meeting with my body guards and letting them know they can take the week off as Today I feel like going on a walk in the city. "Hello Johnson and Edward, here is your weekly check and here are plane tickets for both your families. Enjoy the week off!" "But boss, you sure about this? I mean like your pretty known and people might try robbing you or-" "I'll be fine. I've only seen good things come from this city as well as positive reviews." "Hm.....fine, thanks boss and see you next week!" Seeing Johnson and Edward leave for a while was pretty nerve-racking but I'm confident I can survive in the city. I got in my car and headed off to watch a few movies, I've been looking forward to watching "Two Piece Rush" and "Maruto the Finale". After watching both movies I went to a GameHalt in search of a recent Tokemon game that had released as playing games often helps me think. I began talking to myself as I was heading towards my car. "Man I've come a long way, my life is basically complete. I have all this money, all this fame....but no girlfriend. How am I a virgin? I literally look like Clown from that show Predator X Predator." As I approach my car a strange man approached me. He towered over me almost as if he planned to become my umbrella. I wondered why he was here but then he spoke. "Uh hello good sir." The strange man told me. "Do you have some change for the bus?" "Yea sure gimme a sec" I replied. As I was reaching into my pocket the man gave me a glance and then he seemed to recognize me. "Are you ----- ----?" "Y-yea? Why?" "Ah I see, well lets say your father owes me a FAVOR!" Before I could say anything he pulled out a gun and shot me 3 times. "W-why?" "You rich people and your stupid money, let's see your money transfer to hell bitch! I thought to myself and began wondering who will get my money. The small holes in my chest started gushing out blood, coming out almost like a fountain in the town square.  "Shit shit shit shit shit. AHHHHHHH FUCK MAN I'M GOING TO DIE A FUCKING VIRGIN! I got to call an ambulance somehow but I can't move"  The world started spinning and I felt very cold. My eyes had failed me and It was me and the abyss, I've accepted death but man this just sucks, my whole life gone to 3 stupid gun shots. As I was gleaming into the abyss I heard a strange voice in my head. "Hello Adventurer, where would you like to start your quest?" "Huh? Adventurer? w-w-wait what you mean 'where do I want to start my quest'." Am I being reincarnated like they show in those anime? Am I finally going to have a harem? Will I be a cool and badass main character with time bending abilities? Man this exciting, I will become the main character of this new world!  "You have 30 seconds to choose." The voice spoke. "S-shit uh take me to this uh royal capital?" "Teleport will commence in 3...2...1." Before I knew it I was by a large castle and saw many people thriving,  but my suit was riddled with holes and got a backpack from that strange voice. In it was a wooden sword and a bow with 10 arrows. "Heh...Starter weapons..." I hear a lot of commotion coming from the town square and a man known as "Hutch" is being praised for slaying a demon in some place. Walking closer to speak to this Hutch guy I wonder if maybe he could join a party and be my friend. The walk there was interesting, goblins were running around the shops, female elves with some boobs the size of a roll of toilet paper were waving at me.  "Heh...Hey ladies" They laughed at me and walked back inside their restaurant. I had arrived at the capital and got closer to Hutch who was standing on top of some podium. I built up the courage and asked him, "Hello, I'm new and I see that your pretty experienced so would you like to form a party with me?" The area fell silent and not a second later everyone was laughing but me and threw rotten apples and stones. It was a very soul crushing experience. "THIS FOOL THINKS HUTCH WOULD PARTY WITH TRASH?" "HAHAHA HE LOOKS SO PATHETIC!" "GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM LOSER!" Damn, these people sure don't have any heart. As I'm walking away Hutch yelled out, "Hey guys, leave him alone...He's probably got more balls than all of you for wanting to go out on an adventure to slay the Arcane Mage in the Nether Realm. Hey you. I can let you join my party but you have to try out and show us what you got." At first I almost shat myself because we have to slay some sort of stupid mage but he sounds pretty stupid strong. I'm definitely gonna die if I don't try to join his party. The people began to whisper, "Is Hutch really gonna let this pipsqueak join his party?" "If he can try out then it's probably gonna be easier for us to try out as well" Hutch heard these whispers and made a disgusted face and picked up what seems to be like a megaphone and said, "Tryouts are closed for the year. My friend here will be trying out next week from today so be sure to show up and watch this brave man's skill. What do you say friend?" Tryouts? Oh god I just entered this realm and I have to fight now? Man what luck I have like shit man I fucking suck right now, I am a NOOB. Guess I'll accept for now for some training. "Uh I'll accept the offer, I am actually the best fighter out there so I'll probably beat my opponent, and thanks for sticking up for me as well" "Yea no problem but uh I think that 'armor' you got going there speaks another tale but great. I will meet you next week at colosseum, be prepared."  I guess this is where my journey begins....as a-

Gradually, my consciousness wakes back to reality from the land of dreams. It was a weird dream, too, what with all the giant monsters, vehicles, and canonballs the size of 2 story houses that tried to flatten me into a human pancake. Yawning loudly, I roll on my back and stretch my limbs as if trying to reach for the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden that is JUST out of reach. Ah, that felt good. Laying still now, I imagine myself on a tropical island, the sun's warmth on my skin while lounging with my lower body in the lapping waves as my upper one rests on a raised makeshift backrest made out of sand. Ah, life is good. 'Wake up faggot!' A jarring voice suddenly interrupts my pleasurable fantasies after several seconds, and I feel grumpy. 'Who the fuck are you? This is my mind RETARD, you have no right to be here! Also, I ain't a faggot, I love fanny, thank you very much.' I reply, half annoyed, half angry, as my comfortable hallucination seems to take a hit from the lack of concentration. 'You know who I am. And, if you don't, well, I'll just introduce myself! I am... THE AUTHOR! Also, I ain't retarded, YOU ARE!' As the voice cackles out its self-wanking spiel, I can't help but get the the impression that whoever this being is, is now smirking at me while licking its lips as if staring at an especially delicious-looking piece of meat. 'Uhuh, well I'm just going to kick you out of my mind now, I have better things to do than talk with telepathic asshole nr.whofuckingknows you aren't my first rodeo buddy.' Ending my escapade to the tropics, I will whatever connection this so called 'Author' has to me, be severed. After several minutes of trying to coax out a response with insults of various kinds towards his mother and ancestors, I figured I was successful yet again. My peaceful mood taking a hit due to the unexpected event, I slowly open my eyes to an off yellow ceiling illuminated by the soft glow of city lights from outside the window. Pushing the blanket aside, I move into a sitting position then swing my legs over the bed's edge and onto the wooden parquet. Feeling around with my feet, I find the familiar texture of indoor slippers and put them on. Standing up, I take a moment to take in the sight of my bedroom, It is somewhat of a shabby and cramped appartment with peeling layers of paint displaying the growing mould beneath. Leaving the room, I enter the main hallway then head right towards the toilet. After doing the little and big commission, I remove the remaining soap scum off my hands with the flowing water then turn off the faucet. Getting a grip on both sides of the sink, I let some of my weight on it then slowly raise my head towards the mirror to check myself out. Shaggy brown hair and beard? Checked. Green eyes with differing colouring intensity? Checked. Muscles surrounding my left eye twitching uncontrolably while my right eye opens wider than the other? Checked. Apart from that, I'm quite good looking, just short of being able to be called handsome, I think... Though, opening my mouth I see some slight traces of yellowness, I forgot how many years have passed since I last brushed my teeth. But what can you do? I don't want to ingest rat poison thanks but no thanks. Wincing at how many times I postponed looking up for some natural toothpaste, I half-heartedly slurp up some water from the faucet and hold it in my mouth then glance guiltily at my toothbrush sitting in its usual repurposed container that used to hold cotton swabs. Holding the toothbrush in my right hand, I can almost hear it shouting expletives at me 'How dare you use me like a rag then toss me aside for YEARS?! Then now you think you can come back?? A Toothbrush's heart is not yours to play with! I refuse to be used by you anymore! Hey, do you hear me?! You cannot use me without my consent, this is RAPE! At least pay me... Hey, you won't even pay me!? This is slaveREEEEEEE-' I cut off the ramblings of this foolish toothbrush for thinking it has any kind of say in the matter, as I insert it in the depths of my mouth. After several seconds of brushing my teeth with water, I spit the water out, then clean the toothbrush by passing some water over it while running my thumb back and forth through its filaments. Putting the toothbrush back in its original place,  I give myself several double handed slaps to both cheeks until I feel awake enough and leave the bathroom. Once again in the cramped hallway, I feel peckish. Heading towards the open kitchen to my right that is directly connected to the hallway without a door, I alternate staring between the fridge's refrigerator and freezer while pondering whether I want a full meal or a snack. Settling for a quick bite, I open the refrigerator. Carrots, garlic cloves, pieces of fried bacon, eggs and some bottles of water. I grab 2 pieces of bacon, several pieces of unpeeled garlic and a bottle of water then close the fridge. Putting everything on the 1-person table, I search through the kitchen for a bowl, a wooden pestle and a knife. I take a seat at the table and start peeling off several pieces of garlic which I then put inside the bowl. I cut both pieces of bacon into tiny pieces then put everything inside the bowl. I get a good grip over the wooden pestle and start crushing the bits of bacon together with the peeled garlic. After several minutes, I smell the delicious scent of crushed garlic intermixed with the meaty scent of fried, greasy bacon. Weaving my hands in a circular motion as to attract more of the scent towards my nose, I can't help but be proud of myself. 'You know what they say, a clove of garlic a day keeps the vampires at bay!' What? This can't possibly taste good? Pff casuals. Grabbing the bowl with my left hand, I draw the bowl's edge closer to my lips then use the pestle with my other hand in order to push the mush inside my open mouth. The acidic taste of the crushed garlic is only mildly weakened by the meaty taste of bacon. Licking the pestle clean, I put it inside the bowl then put the bowl inside the sink. I use my hands to gather the garlic peels, then throw them into the trash can. Washing my hands with the soap near the sink, I dry my hands on my shirt then open the cold water bottle to take a refreshing drink. gulp, gulp, gulp. Ahh such delicious water totally not spiked with fluoride, heavy water and other such nasties. I give out a burp then put the water bottle back in the fridge. Feeling satisfied, I once again take a seat, lean back against the cushy backrest, and look out the window. The city's high rise buildings could be seen in the distance, along with a myriad of coloured lights. Taking my eyes off the city's skyline, I instead look closer, downwards, and watch the moving shapes of people on the streets below. Relaxedly gazing at the flow of pedestrians going to and fro, I enter a trance state and let my thoughts still. The night sky, lights and shapes all converge into a swirling vortex of grey and electric blue. LrR8eC Hello Humans! This is my first story ever! English is my third language! Hope you liked the first chapter!

Gryphin So I rewrote the original chapter and changed the story a bit. I'm not sure if this is any better. Like I said before, this is my first go at writing, and any feedback would be amazing. I need to find a better way to update chapters so people get notified. The other chapter I will rename something like "draft" and remove at a later date. The village of Oakwood was a place of natural beauty and serenity. Nestled in a peaceful valley, it was surrounded by rolling green hills on one side and a vast, lush forest on the other. The air was fresh and clean, filled with the sounds of nature. The simple, quiet way of life in Oakwood offered a respite from the hectic pace of the outside world, creating a tranquil haven for its residents. It was a place where one could truly relax and escape the stresses of daily life. As the sun rose over the small, cottage-style homes of the village, it cast a warm, golden light that danced and shimmered over the charming streets. The vibrant patchwork of light and shadow that was created gave the village a lively, cheerful atmosphere. Life here moved at a peaceful, unhurried pace, with people going about their days with a gentle rhythm and a sense of calm contentment. It was a place where one could truly relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. As the sun rose over the small village of Oakwood, the villagers would make their way to the bustling village square. They would gather around tables, chatting, and laughing over steaming cups of freshly brewed coffee. The air was filled with the rich, fragrant aroma of the brew, as well as the sounds of clinking cups and friendly conversation. Meanwhile, the village blacksmith, Jethro, would be hard at work at his forge, his strong arms skillfully wielding his hammer as he sharpened the blades of tools and farming equipment. Across the square, Anna and Joseph, the local bakers, could be seen tending to their ovens, their calloused hands expertly kneading dough for the day's batch of bread. The sight and sounds of the villagers going about their daily routines added to the vibrant, lively atmosphere of the village square. The young children of the village spent their days playing in the woods that surrounded their homes. They chased after brightly coloured butterflies, darting this way and that, their laughter filling the air. As they ran, they munched on wild berries that they found growing among the trees. Meanwhile, their parents were busy working on their farms and tending to their gardens, ensuring that their families had enough to eat. As the darkness of night enveloped the village of Oakwood, the villagers made their way to the serene pond, which was a beloved gathering place for the community. They huddled around, laughing and chatting as they toasted marshmallows over the flames of a crackling bonfire. The warm glow of the fire cast a golden light on the faces of the villagers as they shared stories of days long past. Above them, the stars twinkled and shone, a breathtaking sight that filled them with a sense of wonder and gratitude. As they sat together, watching the night sky, they all knew that life in Oakwood was a true blessing. On the outskirts of the village, a small cottage stood, its walls a cheerful shade of yellow and its roof adorned with flower boxes bursting with blooming plants. This was the home of Jack and his parents, a cosy retreat that was nestled away in a quiet corner of the village. Despite its location, the cottage was still within easy reach of all the amenities and activities that the village had to offer. As they sat on their front porch, sipping tea and watching the world go by, Jack and his parents felt grateful to have such a welcoming and conveniently located home. ✧ ✧ ✧ Jack was a curious and adventurous boy, always eager to learn about the world around him. At the age of eight, he was already a well-respected and well-liked member of his community. He often accompanied his mother to the market, where he would watch and learn as she haggled with merchants and bought fresh produce. When he wasn't helping his mother, Jack could be found exploring the fields and forests that surrounded his home, marvelling at the beauty and complexity of the natural world. Despite his youth, Jack was known for his hard work and reliability. His parents were proud of him and did everything they could to support and encourage his love of learning. They knew that with his curiosity and determination, Jack would go far in life. Every day, Jack was an early riser, waking up before the sun even peeked over the horizon. He had a lot of work to do, and he was determined to get everything done efficiently and effectively. His first task was tending to the vegetable garden, making sure that the plants were healthy and free of pests. As he worked, Jack called out a cheerful "Good morning, Shadow!" to his loyal cat, who was curled up in a sunny spot, dozing off. Shadow opened one eye and looked at Jack before closing it again, content to soak up the morning rays. Despite the early hour, Jack was in good spirits as he worked in the garden. He loved being outside in the fresh air, and he enjoyed the sense of accomplishment he felt when he saw the fruits of his labour. He knew that Shadow shared his love of the great outdoors, and he was grateful to have such a faithful companion by his side. After that, he assisted his father in his carpentry work, carrying wood and supplies and running other errands as needed. Meanwhile, his mother worked as a seamstress, mending clothes and other household items. Despite the long hours and hard work, Jack was always eager to get outside and explore new places. As soon as his chores were finished, he would run outside, climbing trees and chasing after rabbits with boundless energy and enthusiasm. The forest on the edge of the village held a particular fascination for him, and he often spent hours wandering its shadowy paths, marvelling at the sights and sounds of the natural world. Jack loved nothing more than spending his days out in the fresh air, surrounded by the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Despite his adventurous spirit and love of exploration, Jack always made sure to be home before the sun set. He knew that his parents would worry if he wasn't there to help with the evening meal, and he didn't want to cause them any unnecessary concern. Though he loved the simple pleasures of life in the village, Jack couldn't help but wonder what lay beyond its borders. He dreamed of adventure and excitement, longing to see all that the world had to offer. He imagined travelling to far-off lands and experiencing new cultures, meeting interesting people, and having unforgettable experiences. These dreams spurred him on, fueling his desire to learn and grow. Jack knew that with hard work and determination, he could make his dreams a reality, and he was eager to see where his wanderlust would take him. ✧ ✧ ✧ 6 Years Later After a long day of hard work, Jack was relieved to finally be finished with his chores. He carefully put all the carpentry tools away, making sure each was properly stored and ready for use the next day. Exhausted but satisfied, he made his way over to the barrel of water that stood behind the cottage. He cupped his hands, feeling the cool water fill them. Jack couldn't help but smile as he brought the water to his lips and took a long, satisfying drink. He splashed some of the water on his face and neck, relishing the feeling of the cool liquid against his skin. As the sun began to set, Jack had a new mission in mind. He and his trusty cat, Shadow, were going to explore the forest that lay just beyond the big oak tree that stood at the centre of Oakwood Forest. They had never ventured that far before, and Jack was excited to see what they might discover. Jack walked into the kitchen to find his mother sitting at the table, busy mending a coat. "Hey, mom, I've finished my chores," he said. "I've just come in to grab my hunting gear, and then I'll be off." His mother looked at him with the same worried expression that she always wore when he went hunting alone. "Just be careful and make sure you're home before midnight," she replied. "I will, mom," Jack reassured her with a warm smile. "Don't worry so much. I've been hunting in these woods all my life, and nothing bad has ever happened. Plus, I'll have Shadow with me." "Okay, honey," his mother said, returning his smile. "I'll let your father know. I don't want to bother him while he's working." Jack nodded and headed to his room to put on his cloak, satchel, bow, and hunting knife. He returned to the kitchen and kissed his mother on the cheek before saying goodbye and heading out the backdoor. He walked around the front of the house, calling out to Shadow as he approached the fence. The old cat was fast asleep in the sun, and Jack couldn't help but smile at the sight. "Hey buddy," he said, gently nudging the cat. "Are you coming with me or staying here for the day?" Shadow opened one eye, lazily regarding Jack. After a moment, the old cat responded with a soft meow, signalling his willingness to join Jack on their adventure. Encouraged by Shadow's response, Jack decided it was time to head into the village to gather supplies for their journey. They knew they would need food for the long hike ahead, and they were determined to be prepared for whatever the forest had in store for them. So, with Shadow by his side, Jack set off towards the village. ✧ ✧ ✧ Shadow's limp had become more pronounced with each passing step, and it was clear that they were struggling to maintain their pace as they trudged along the road towards the village, Jack's face creased with concern. "Would you like me to carry you?" he asked, offering his arms as support. Shadow looked up at them, gratitude and relief clear in their eyes as they meowed. Jack gently picked up Shadow, making sure to support their weight evenly as they continued their journey towards the village. Jack arrived in the village and gazed around at the bustling streets, observing the villagers as they went about their daily routines. Finally, they arrived at the general store, where Jack pushed open the door, the bell ringing out as they entered. Old Tom shouted from the back that he would be with them in a minute. Jack gently set Shadow down on the counter and began to browse the shelves, searching for the supplies they would need for their journey into the woods. He selected nuts, apples, and dried jerky—both salmon and beef—for Shadow and himself. As Jack returned to the counter, he saw Old Tom chatting with Shadow and rubbing his chin. "Hey Tom, sorry for Shadow being on the counter, but his hip is bothering him today," Jack said as he placed his items near the register. "Not a problem," Tom chuckled. "Once you get to our age, any opportunity to sit down instead of standing is a blessing." As Tom totaled up the cost of Jack's purchases, he said, "That will be nine coppers." Jack handed over the money, organising all of his items in his satchel before picking up Shadow and saying goodbye to Tom. As they walked through the village, Jack was greeted by many of the villagers who were milling about. He made his way to the well to fill his canteen with fresh water, chatting with the other villagers who were there. Once he was finished, Jack picked up Shadow, and they set off towards the woods, eager to begin their journey. Jack felt a sense of excitement as he walked. Knowing that the hike would be challenging, he looked forward to exploring the wilderness and spending time with his faithful companion. ✧ ✧ ✧ The duo set out on their journey, making their way through the gate of the village that was closest to the forest. Jack was still cradling Shadow in his arms, the soft purring of the feline resonating through the air as he stroked his head gently. Shadow, who was a small black cat, seemed to be completely at ease and content, snuggled up in Jack's embrace. As they walked, they passed by various houses and buildings, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of the village. The streets were bustling with activity as the villagers went about their daily tasks, the sounds of laughter and chatter filling the air. However, the group was focused on their destination, the dense forest that lay beyond the village gates. As they neared the forest, the sounds of the village began to fade, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the calls of the forest's inhabitants. The forest was dense and dark, the canopy overhead blocking out much of the sunlight. But the duo pressed on, eager to discover what lay hidden within the forest's depths. Shadow seemed to sense their excitement, and he started to meow softly in Jack's arms, as if encouraging them to continue. As they made their way deeper into the woods, Jack and Shadow were awestruck by the dense and lush forest that surrounded them. The tall trees reached toward the sky, their branches intertwining to create a thick canopy overhead. The underbrush was thick and overgrown, making it difficult to navigate at times. The sun was shining brightly, but it was still quite chilly in the forest, with the coolness of the air seeping through the thick layers of leaves and branches. Despite the challenging terrain, Jack pressed on, determined to explore every inch of the forest. He had been carrying Shadow in his arms, the small black cat purring contentedly as they walked. But after about an hour of trekking through the woods, Jack stopped in his tracks. He gently set Shadow down on the forest floor and rummaged through his satchel. He pulled out his winter cloak, a thick and warm piece of clothing that would protect him from the chill of the forest air. As he put on his cloak, Shadow gathered around him, rubbing against his legs and meowing. They knew that the forest would be a harsh and unforgiving environment, but they were determined to see it through to the end. Jack quickly put on his cloak, the warm fabric immediately protecting him from the cold. Feeling refreshed and ready to continue, Jack picked up Shadow and set off once again into the forest. The forest was beautiful and mesmerising, but also deadly and unknown. They were ready for whatever came their way. Shadow, too, seemed to understand the significance of the journey and stared up at Jack with his big green eyes, as if to say, "We're in this together, no matter what". As they continued to make their way through the forest, Jack was surrounded by a diverse array of plant and animal life. Shadow, who had been content to snuggle in Jack's arms for much of the journey, suddenly became energised and decided to explore on his own. He bounded ahead, pausing occasionally to chase after flitting birds and butterflies that fluttered through the trees. Jack, meanwhile, was marvelling at the different types of mushrooms and wildflowers that grew along the forest floor. The riot of colours and textures was like nothing he had ever seen before. He bent down to examine a particularly interesting specimen, admiring the delicate cap and the intricate gills that lined the underside. As they walked, they came across different kinds of mushrooms too, some red, some white, and some brown. Each mushroom had its own unique characteristics and habitat. Jack was fascinated by the way they grew, and he couldn't resist stopping to take a closer look. He realised that some mushrooms were edible while others were deadly, and he made a mental note to study more about it. As they continued their journey, Jack and Shadow found themselves surrounded by a riot of wildflowers, their bright petals and delicate aromas filling the air. Jack couldn't help but be awestruck by the beauty of nature. He bent down to examine the different varieties, taking note of the unique shapes, colours, and scents of each one. All around them, the forest was teeming with life, and the group couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and awe. They knew that the forest was full of surprises, and they couldn't wait to see what other marvels lay ahead. Shadow too was enjoying the journey, chasing after the butterflies and other small animals he came across with a wide grin on his face. As they continued on their journey through the forest, Jack began to feel the pangs of hunger. He decided to stop and take a break beside a babbling brook that flowed through the forest. Jack pulled out a small bag from his satchel and unpacked some dried beef jerky for them to share. The salty and savoury flavour of the jerky was a welcome change from the bland trail rations that they would normally have been eating. Shadow was busy lapping up some cool and refreshing water from the stream while they sat and ate. The sound of the water flowing over the rocks was soothing and relaxing, helping to wash away some of the exhaustion from their journey. As they rested and ate, Jack took a moment to watch his feline companion, Shadow. He saw a butterfly land on Shadow's nose, but to Jack's surprise, instead of chasing it away, the cat just sat there calmly, as if it were a daily thing. Jack chuckled at the cat's antics. Jack couldn't help but be reminded of how resilient and adaptable animals like Shadow can be. He realised that the little cat had just as much of an impact on the journey, and they couldn't do it without each other. The break beside the brook was a welcome respite, and they all felt refreshed and ready to continue on their journey. He knew that the forest was full of surprises, and they couldn't wait to see what other marvels lay ahead. And Shadow, too, was happy to be a part of the adventure, once again jumping and running around with energy, ready to see what the forest has next for them. ✧ ✧ ✧ As they pushed deeper into the woods, the trees grew increasingly dense and the underbrush more overgrown. Jack had to work hard to clear a path through the thick foliage, using his hands to push aside branches and weeds. He could feel the sweat beginning to bead on his forehead, and he knew that the journey was becoming increasingly challenging. But while Jack was still able to push through the underbrush, Shadow began to have trouble navigating the terrain. The small cat had been exploring on his own, but as the forest grew thicker, he started to limp and meow for Jack to pick him up. Jack scooped up Shadow, noticing that his hip must have been bothering him. He immediately felt a pang of guilt for not keeping a better eye on the cat, and he vowed to be more careful in the future. As they walked, Jack cradled Shadow in his arms, trying his best to keep him comfortable. The cat seemed to sense that Jack was trying to help, and he started to purr softly, as if to tell him that everything was going to be okay. They had come too far to turn back now. Jack made a mental note to keep an eye out for a safe place to set up camp, tend to Shadow, and let him rest properly before the journey continued. As the sun began to sink lower in the sky, Jack began to worry about finding a suitable spot to set up their tent for the night. They had been walking for hours, and the dense forest showed no signs of thinning out. Jack's feet ached, and his shoulders were sore from carrying Shadow. He was feeling tired and increasingly frustrated, but he didn't want to give up just yet. Just as he was beginning to lose hope, Shadow, who had been snuggled in his arms, seemed to sense his mood. The cat began to rub against Jack's chest, his purring growing louder and more insistent. Jack couldn't help but chuckle at the small cat's antics, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort from the soothing sound of Shadow's purring. The purring seemed to remind Jack of why they were on this journey in the first place: to explore the unknown and experience the beauty of the forest. He knew that they were close to a clearing, there was supposedly a large oak tree which the village and forest was named after and he couldn't let the hardships of the journey bring him down. He felt a renewed sense of determination, and he pushed on, his feet aching and his body tired. Just when Jack was on the brink of despair, he stumbled upon a beautiful clearing that took his breath away. The sun was setting, casting an orange and pink glow over the landscape, making the clearing look like a scene out of a fairy tale. The sight was so mesmerising that Jack couldn't help but stop and stare in wonder at the beauty before him. The clearing was filled with wildflowers in various hues of yellows, pinks, and purples. The tall grass swayed in the breeze, creating a sea of green. In the centre of the clearing stood a large stone slab that seemed to have been placed there by some ancient hand. The slab was covered in mysterious runes that Jack couldn't quite make out. As he walked towards the stone, he could feel a humming vibration in his chest, as if the stone were alive and calling out to him. Shadow too seemed to sense the mysterious energy of the stone, and he meowed softly as they walked towards it. Jack couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as they got closer to the slab. He realised that this was something beyond their understanding, but he was also filled with a sense of curiosity. He reached out and touched the stone, and as he did, he felt a sudden jolt of energy coursing through his body. It was as if the stone was trying to communicate something to him, but he couldn't quite grasp its meaning. The humming vibrations emanating from the stone grew louder and louder. The hairs on Jack's arms began to stand on end, a warning sign that something bad was about to happen. He couldn't quite understand what it was, but his instincts told him to turn and run. But it was too late, as he saw a bright flash of light coming from the stone. Suddenly, something shot out of the stone and struck both Jack and Shadow, throwing them across the clearing. The force of the impact was immense, and Jack felt a searing pain as he was tossed through the air. He hit the ground hard, and everything went black. As he lay there, his mind raced. He couldn't understand what had just happened. He had been struck by a bolt of lightning, but the sky was clear and there were no clouds in sight. He couldn't understand how it was possible that he had been struck by lightning on a sunny and clear day. He realised that he had to check on Shadow, but he was unable to move, and he felt a sense of helplessness wash over him. He was aware that what had just occurred was not natural and was beyond their comprehension. The clearing that they thought was peaceful and beautiful now looked dangerous and deadly. He couldn't move, but he could see Shadow's body out of the corner of his eye, and he was filled with relief that he was still breathing and there was no blood. His thoughts were clouded, and he couldn't make sense of what had just happened. But he knew one thing for sure: this journey had taken a turn for the unexpected.

 *6 Days before the try outs*     I walked to a nearby hotel and reached for my wallet to pay for a room. As I reached into my pocket, a frog hopped out and found shit in my pocket. Everyone there including staff gave me a disgusted look and started laughing at me. I felt humiliated again but shrugged it off. A woman with some big ass tits approached me and told me , "Hey sweetie, it seems you have no money so I would like to escort you out this hotel ♥." "Uh alright." I turned around to exit the building but a woman taller than me ran in front of me and I fell into her blossom.  "S-so soft and they smell wonderful." I accidently spoke out loud. "P-P-PERVERT!!" She smacked the fuck out of me I thought I was going to die again. Honestly who ever was going out with this woman is lucky but that violent ape strength is scary. "U-Uh I am deeply sorry f-for almost making your tits my home." Everyone there looked at me weirdly but I definitely deserved that for what I said. After I left the hotel I went to the forest for wood to build a home assuming it's similar to the games I've played. To my surprise, I found a shack in the forest near the town.  "Hello....? Anyone home?"  The Silence answered my question so I unloaded what I found a long the way. The shack was old and worn down so I filled up the holes and fixed the door using the skills my guards taught me on building shit incase I had children which ultimately I didn't. It seems like in this world magic exists and the most common affinity seems to be the wind magic. I think magic can be pretty nice for a beginner like me but for now I should practice some sword techniques. For now I will head to sleep in this horrible shack with spiders and mice everywhere.  *The next morning 5 days before the try outs* Jesus It felt like I slept on a rock , this sad excuse for a bed was all I had. The 'Bed' I slept on had a very old mattress with the springs broken and the frame of the bed was made out of fucking stone. FUCKING STONE! The people who lived in this shack are so weird but its whatever. After eating some berries I found yesterday I took a stroll in the woods finding something I could fight. I would kill for some Mcstroke's awesome Huge Mac-attack. Regardless I am not fighting a fucking slime because them shits could probably one tap me so I am looking for the true weakest mob...the peterna. They are similar to slimes but they can't absorb physical attacks, only magic and luckily for me I have a wooden sword so it can definitely slay it. After hours of searching I found one. "There it go,,,,now all I have to do is not startle it-"  *Twig snaps* "AH SHIT NOW I'VE DONE IT" The peterna came charging at me and its body reshaped into something that looks like a dog but the teeth were massive and sharp. They look like they can rip through sleeprock.  "TAKE THIS BITCH!" I said as I swung my sword but the moment it hit it's skin...my sword shattered.  "Dammit it's a fucking wooden sword so of course this shit would break."  I reach for my bow and also climbed a tree where I could see the thing trying to jump to me but ultimately failing.  "Shit don't fail me now 2 years of archery practice"  I saw a weak spot right on its stomach, It's heart was exposed so I took a good aim at it and shot it. I missed. I tried again, I missed.  "Cmon Cmon how will you get home with this thing chasing you?" I take a good aim and I shoot the heart, I watched the thing disintegrate.  "Phew, that was so brohamon. I live another day." I killed a few more of them but it took a while and decided I should use the bow instead. I need to find a cross bow and get some cool arrows to support this new party I am joining, that is if I pass the tryouts. I just hope I barely make it because this Hutch guy seems really cool and can teach me some shit that will come in handy in defeating the arcane mage......  "HOLY FUCK I JUST REALIZED. ARCANE MAGE? WHEN A-A-ARE WE GONNA BE FIGHTING IT? SHIT SHOULDN'T I GET LIKE SOME OVERPOWERED ABILITY? OH GOD I JUST HOPE TO BE IN THE BACK OF THE FIGHT."  I walk back home and eat some more berries before I go to lay down and think of some ways to make weapons. *Back at Hutch's Base* "Welcome back Hutch~" "Yea thanks Shion." "So I heard you are recruiting a new person. Tell me...what's he like? Also if he stares at my chest I'll personally melt him with my lava magic." "Not like you got much in that area-" "SHUT UP IM STILL GROWING!" "Yea sure, you are 20. You won't be growing in that area" She pouted at him but Hutch continued. "As I was saying, this guy seems like utter trash for now but I think he would be a great companion and a great member of our team. It seems he has no one in this new world. We will just have to wait and see what he has to offer at try outs." It seems that Hutch was the only person to have faith in this Rich Man that stumbled upon death too early. 

A knight clicked his tongue. With armor clacking, he quickly entered the room with a ceiling that reaches the heavens. What awaited him was a person of high dignity and aura. As they trained him to do in reflex. He knelt. His face became disrupted as he dashed out. The mighty person sighed and just stared up at the extravagant ceiling. “ I hope you choose the correct person to protect. “ -------------------------------- “Your doing Alchemy again...” “Of course~ It’s my passion~” “Indeed. Passion to kill. Heck, I don’t even think anybody would drink that to even die. It’s literally releasing a purple haze.” “Not blind. Clearly See. Just. Shove it down their throat.” This old man.....right. This guy...Rune...if he gets his eye on something, he’ll never let it go. I fell victim to that... “Aw! You’re looking at me with disgust! Wanna go for another round?” “I like my bones.” “I’ll make a potion to heal it~” “I also like to live.” He doesn’t when to stop! Every day, he always does a “warm-up”. Like, how do swords being pointed at your neck going at least a full power of a human swing is a “warm-up”!? “I feel you're complaining about me in your head! I want to see more! Can I cut it open?” “Focus on your potions dammit.” “Boss, somebody “conspicuous” is awaiting outside. He said he came to me, you boss." “I told you to call me by my name, didn’t I?” “..Sigh...Cara, somebody is waiting for you...” “I see~ I see~ I didn’t schedule any type of meeting with anybody though...” I go down the stairs and open the door with a snap of my fingers. Damn, it never gets old, doesn’t it? The rock wall that once blocked my path opened its path. What greeted me was somebody quite conspicuous indeed. Somebody, I know well... “What brings you to our humble abode?” “Your grinning.” “Am I~?’ “Yes.” “I think it’s just your mind going crazy~ “ “Your the one’s crazy. Grouping yourself with a sadist and masochist.” “Let’s get to the point now.” “...” “What brought you here?” “I just want to inform you about something.” “Isn’t that what you usually do?” “You treat me like I don’t know how to fight, ugh~” “Heh, what is it?” “...Next time we meet, at least bring a weapon.” He stared right into my sight. I could feel my eyelids and mouth rounding. That was involuntary...I haven’t trained my facial muscles much. Getting that worked out is now on my priority list, I guess. “So, you’re telling me. We might be enemies next time...” “..correct..” “I suspected this to happen, I mean.” I slowly stepped onto the grass, right in front of the boy....No, he’s a man now...It is simply rude of me to think he’s still an ignorant boy... “This has happened before. I wish you could just remember...” “Hah?” “Tell me, do you believe in a life where we are already enemies?” “another world?” “Hm. Close enough.” “You act like you know what happened.” “Of course. I was there.” “Wait what!? I have several questions!” I have prolonged it enough. I already knew what was coming. With this snap, I’ll finally join the fog. “It never changes.”

Klangg~ Tssss~ "Die!!!!"  High up in the sky, a being with indescribable features lay waste on the Players below. Numerous kinds of attacks, from elemental spells, rockets, and unorthodox attack methods were sent its way, but it barely did a scratch on its hide/shell/skin. However, unlike the attacks it received, its own attacks were on a different level. From the tips of its tentacles/fingers, glyphs appeared and from it came laser beams that destroyed everything in its path.  "Why.... Why....." One Ranker, a person considered to be one of the strongest in the Tower, lamented at the sight of his fellow Players' demise.  "The Tower doesn't give impossible tasks...and yet...we barely chipped its health..." The Ranker, Kilowag, remarked in despair. Despite having unified every single Guild in the Tower for the sole purpose of completing the Tower, they put all the entirety of their fortune on upgrading their gear and buying every needed elixirs, all of the top 100 Rankers were present in the Raid, and yet, they hardly dealt any damage against the monster above them. "Captain, I'm going to do it." From behind Kilowag, a cold, apathetic voice appeared. Kilowag, already knowing who it was, smiled bitterly.  "You really think it would do anything to it?" The Captain asked in silent disbelief, already seeing that all hope was lost.  The woman, already knowing the futility of her upcoming act, simply smiled. "Either I die doing nothing, or die giving everyone a chance." She could tell at a glance that they were losing. Among the 100,510 Players that came with them, about half remained.  "I'll see you on the other side, yeah?" Without another word, the woman suddenly gained bestial features akin to a dragon, and without wasting time, she flew with her newly gained wings towards the Boss.  Kilowag, still in despair, watched as his friend flew towards her own demise. Seeing her commit a noble sacrifice, Kilowag could do nothing but grit his teeth and regain his previous composure as the Captian of the Unified Players Gulid. "Everyone! Buff Jasmine!!" With his order, various Priests, Mages and other classes with Buffs cast everything they had on the flying woman.  [-Strength has been greatly buffed.  -Strength has been greatly buffed.  -Speed has been massively buffed.  -Regeneration has been buffed.  -Mana Regeneration has been massively buffed.  -Magic Power has been greatly buffed.  --]  Seeing her notification being overflowed with Buffs, Jasmine couldn't help but smirk, surely surprising those who knows of her title. With multiple Speed Buffs stacked with one another, it only took a second for her to reach the Boss, where she received a surprise.  [You are being afflicted with [Insanity]]  Just as she read the notification, Jasmine suddenly experienced excruciating pain in her mind, to the point that she began crying blood! "GAAAAAHHH!!!"  [You are resisting [Insanity]  -x16 [Debuff Resistance] is resisting [Insanity].] [You have partially resisted [Insanity]]  Smirking once again, Jasmine resisted the pain, relying on her own regeneration and the multitude of [Regeneration Buff]s casted on her. "So this is how you look like, fucking uglier than expected." Floating in front of the Boss's face, a mix of tentacles and eyes, Jasmine mocked the Boss, earning a growl in return.  Focusing back on her role, Jasmine now wore a grim expression. Her thoughts ran wildly, all of her regrets, all of her wishes, it all came to her, but she couldn't let it stop her now, not when she had already resolved herself. "So this is where it ends, huh?" After asking a question with no real intention of a response, she flew towards what she could guess was its mouth.  [You are being afflicted with [Insanity]  You are trying to resist [Insanity]  You are being afflicted with [Insanity]-]  A multitude of notifications came and nearly filled her vision, but Jasmine paid it no mind, just as she ignored the pain in her head and the corrosion of her skin.  [Your emotions are fluctuating. Keep hold of your emotions unless you want your mana to run wild.] Despite her notifications being filled, Jasmine was still able to read this particular one, causing her grin to widen. "C'mon, tell me you've got a heart some- YES!!!" With a cheer, Jasmine flew towards the mass that strangely resembled a heart. 'It was a long shot, but it seems they'll have a chance now.'  [Warning! Your mana will cause a rupture if you don't keep a hold of your emotions.] Seeing this message once again, Jasmine flew straight towards the "Heart", but along with her smirk, it was accompanied with tears and her skin tearing with various colors. 'It hurts....' "RAAAAHHHHH!!!"  BOOOOOMMMM!!!!-- With thoughts of regrets and sadness, Jasmine let her sorrow take control of herself, causing her mana to run amok in her body, and eventually, cause a massive explosion of mana.  *** [Welcome, Player Jasmine Opinia, to the world of Amalgi.] As I stare at the floating screen in front of me, I couldn't help but let out a dumbfounded, "Huh?"  Rubbing my eyes, I dismissed the screen and frantically looked around. Although it has been a decade since I first appeared in the world of Amalgi, I could still clearly remember what the Tower looked like. And there it stood, the Tower of a Hundred Floors.  "H-How in the world?" One would question my sanity with how jittery I was paired with my constant shifty glances, but my actions can be forgiven when everyone else was in varying degrees of insanity themselves, or rather, many were in disbelief and in denial.  Looking at my hands void of calluses and scars, I then frantically looked for anything with a reflective surface, which I quickly found in my pocket, which turns out to be my phone! Quickly swiping to open the camera, I finally got to see my face. Staring back at me, was me, but 10 years younger.  "How is this even possible?" For some unknown reason, I was sent back in time. I don't know how, but everything seems to be pointing towards that answer. "How about..." I trailed off, focusing on opening my Status Window.  [Name: Jasmine Opinia Class: None Title: None Level: 1 Strength:  12 Agility: 15 Constitution: 13 Magic Power: 14 Innate Skills: [Friend of Mana] [Beast Takeover] [The Outer's Blessing]  Skills: None]  'Huh? Why's my stats so high? I distinctly remember having average stats.' The average stats for level 1 Players were 10, it was an established fact. There are those, of course, who have stats around 12-13, and those Players are considered to have high potential. I, however, never heard of someone having 14, heck, 15 at level 1! Not even Astral, the Legendary Ranker of the Tower, had such stats at level 1! 'And what's this?' Other than my average stats, the only eye-catching thing about me at level 1 was not only having 2 Innate Skills, but 2 Innate Skills with S ratings!  [Friend of Mana Rating: S- To most, Mana is simply a fuel for the likes of Magic Spells, Rituals, and Runecraft, but to some, Mana is alive. As a friend of Mana, Mana related attacks are Amplified and Mana Regeneration, and Sensitivity are raised. However, as great as this is, Mana is sensitive to emotions, and once it notices a spike in your emotions, Mana will try and help you. The problem is, Mana has no way of holding itself back, eventually causing Mana to rupture itself.  -Mana Regeneration 100% -Mana Attacks +50% -Skill: [Mana Sensitivity]]  Rereading this description, I can't help but let out a bitter chuckle. In the end, it was my most relied skill that got me killed, of course, it was intentional.  [Beast Takeover Rating: S Beasts, creation of the Tower, are strong. It can take thousands of Players to defeat one Named Beast, and you can have such strength. Defeat a Named Beast to earn their forms.  -Beasts: None]  This is my most used skill, one that helped me earned my moniker, [The Beast of Silence]. 'This, however, was something I never had.' I eyed the screen silently, wary of the new skill. Taking a breath, I then proceeded to open it's description.  [The Outer's Blessing Rating: S+ You have been blessed by an Outer.  -Outer's Mark -???  -???]  "This... This doesn't help me, at all." The rating was definitely surprising, but the description and the question marks were of no help whatsoever.  Kling, Kling-- ["Welcome, New Players!"] I was, then, brought out of my stupor by the familiar sounds of bells notifying the appearance of a Tower Administrator and the Tower Admin themselves.  A commotion immediately started at the appearance of the Angelic-like being above us, with long blonde locks, a gorgeous face, and a gentle disposition, you can't help but think that she is an Angel. The only thing missing were a pair of wings.  "H-hey! Where a-are we!"  "An Angel! An Angel has come to sa-save us!"  "This- this isn't real!"  People immediately began clamoring at her appearance, asking for way out, asking about their own sanity, and just generally making a commotion. If I really have been sent back to the past, then this introduction was of no use to me. Looking around, I got to see something I have neglected in the past. We were in the middle of a wide expanse of land, to accommodate the summoning of thousands of New Players, and surrounding this Summoning Area were tents put up for the new Players and for Players who came down to what was generally called as Floor 0 for some sick form of entertainment or to search for promising Players they can invest in.  ["Now, let the Tutorial, Begin!"]  [Tutorial 1: The Beginning Survive for 30 Minutes against waves of goblins.  Time: 30:00] Before I knew it, we were transported to some part of Amalgi for our Tutorial. 

He turned on the light, and couldn't help but cough. There was dust everywhere. Normally, this room was unused. He didn't have the time or the mental strength to go in. These days he just wanted to rest after coming home exhausted from work. And although his job was nothing special, it was just very demanding and had long hours. Months without cleaning, without wiping the furniture, without airing it, the room itself was attacking him at this moment. Today was the beginning of his vacation, so he decided to take advantage of it and started cleaning. It took him all morning but in the end he was able to finish. Then once he finished and relaxed, he felt a stabbing pain in his chest. “One of these days I'm going to end up in the hospital if I don't properly rest.” he said as he related the pain to the lack of exercise and rest, nothing he hadn't felt so many times before. After preparing a small refreshment, he turned on the TV, prepared what he was going to watch and sat down on the sofa. The anime called One Piece started to play, right now the opening was playing, then the chapter started. At this moment, the anime was in the part where Rosinante's tragic past was explained. After leaving Mary Geoise, and trying to live like ordinary people, the locals, who were filled with anger against the celestial dragons, took it out on them. They were chased, lynched to an abandoned house surrounded by garbage. He was engrossed in the anime when suddenly a sound interrupted. *Ring Ring Ring* It was the sound of an incoming call. “Ugh… Did I forget to silence it? Oh, that's right, it's on silent for everything except important calls. I should have turned it off” He grabs the cell phone and prays it's not who he thinks it is. “No, no… This week was my week off! He always does the same thing, this time I will ignore him. Yes! That’s what I’ll do!” It rang once, it rang twice, it rang three times... It went on and on. Then it stopped, he gave a sigh, and relaxed again. *Ring Ring Ring* It rang once, it rang twice, but this time, on the third time, he could not contain himself any longer, he thought to himself, "I need the job," although he knew damn well that was an excuse and answered. “John, are you there? I need you to come ASAP, the person who was going to replace you this week is sick. Take a cab, I'll pay for it. About your vacation, we'll sort it out later.” I didn't even get to say hello before he hung up on me. All John could do was sigh. He changed his clothes and when he was calling a cab, in the middle of the call his chest began to hurt. He clutched his chest and then lost his strength. He started to fall to the ground. As he fell, he thought how great it would be to be able to live in the world of One Piece. Then, he lost consciousness. —--------------------------------------- “Rosinante... Don't worry. Your mother… Your mother will recover.” A tall man, with dark blonde curly hair that reached his shoulders was kneeling on one leg in front of me. As he spoke, he put a hand on my shoulder. His trembling voice lacked conviction, he obviously did not believe in what he was saying. “Rosinante, go to sleep. It's late.” The man called me back with the same name, one that was obviously not mine, but was very familiar to me. The man turned his head slightly, then looked at me and spoke again. “Don't worry about your mother, I'll keep an eye on her.” The place was completely dark, there was no illumination except for the moonlight that was coming through all the many holes in the place. I moved my head a little to one side and looked where the man briefly stared. The moonlight shining through the non-existent window shone on a woman with a haggard face. This woman, who was bedridden, had a small rag on her forehead. The woman was sick, maybe it was a fever, but it was hard to see in such poor lighting. Then, when I focused my vision to get a good look at her, something appeared above her head. A name enclosed in brackets and a "critical condition" in dark red. [Donquixote Merry] [Critical condition] I was stunned, I couldn't believe what was happening in front of me. I started rubbing my eyes. I didn't understand what was going on or where I was, and those letters above her head didn't help either. None of this made any sense except for one thing, the surname… Donquixote. I knew very well who that word referred to but that couldn't be possible. As I was analyzing my situation, the man gave me a little push towards the bed. I started to move towards the bed as I didn't understand what was happening yet, but not before giving the man, or rather the top of his head, a glance. [Donquixote Homing] [Severe Condition] The surname Donquixote… The way the man called me… And that bedridden woman. No way... no way... no way… I don't want to believe it. Besides, Doflamingo is yet to appear. Until he shows up, I can't be sure of anything. I must be dreaming. Yes, that must be it. Okay, I'll go to sleep, and tomorrow I'll wake up in my bed, in my house or in the hospital, either one of the two. The bed was not very comfortable. It was just a collection of dirty rags on a couple of wooden boards. It had an awful smell, but even so, I climbed up and rested my head on it all while holding back the urge to throw up, or rather, this body was so tired that it didn't even have the strength to. Before closing my eyes, I took a last look around me. Doflamingo's father was there, next to the bed, holding the hand of the woman who was sleeping, which is probably the mother. Doflamingo was nowhere to be found in the room. His younger brother, Rosinante, was not there either, but from the way the man addressed me, I have no choice but to accept that I am dreaming as if I were Rosinante. The younger brother of the antagonist Donquixote Doflamingo, Donquixote Rosinante. But it’s okay, this is all a dream and I will wake up in my comfy bed in a few moments once I fall asleep. Thinking like that, I finally closed my eyes and fell asleep immediately. The next day I woke up in my comfortable bed, then I made myself a cup of coffee and left for work… or that's how the story was supposed to go if I hadn't woken up again in this abandoned house on the verge of collapse. I sat on the bed, thinking for a while. It seemed that this dream was going to continue. I looked at my surroundings. Now with the sunlight everything was clearer. The house, if it could be called that, was a single room surrounded by four wooden walls. There were holes everywhere, and most of the wood was rotten. It was a miracle that it has not yet collapsed. Homing was still there, asleep but holding the woman's hand. As for the woman, she was still sleeping but every now and then she would be writhing in pain and groaning. It seems that her situation did not improve at all during the night. Well, it's not like a wet rag on her head will cure her. “So, what should I do?” It was a very realistic dream, I could feel the rough texture of the sheets against my skin, I could smell the foul odor of the place, I could even hear the sound of the waves breaking in the distance. Hold on... Waves? If I can hear the sound of the sea, then.... Right! Why didn't I think of that before! I have to take advantage of this dream and go exploring! I stood up on the bed and raised both arms to the sky, all while I shouted, “Let’s go!”. My scream echoed throughout the place, causing something to fall and brush against my cheeks. When I looked, it was a piece of wood from the ceiling. A red liquid began to fall and it was at that moment that I began to feel a stabbing pain near my face. Doflamingo's father and mother had reacted to my shout but before I could cry out in pain, the door of the house suddenly opened. Someone had entered. A boy wearing a button-down shirt with a low collar, shorts, and sunglasses he never takes off. It was at that moment that I realized that maybe this was not a dream. That man, or rather, boy, was none other than Doflamingo when he was a kid. —-*About the mother: The name was never given so I chose one for the mother.

??????????? ?? ???… ??????????? ????????? ????????… ??????????? ?? ? ????????? ?????? … … "Yawn!" Zero got up, feeling drowsy. Maybe it was because of the strange dream he had. "??????????? ?? ???…" "??????????? ?? ? ????????? ??????" "Ah, forget it." Zero went to his closet, grabbing a white collar neck with a black leather jacket. Why? Because it was his only choice of clothes or you could say he didn't want to waste a single dollar on clothes. He got the clothing from his mother on his 15th birthday, but it ended up being too big. Now that he was 18, he could wear the clothing. You could say Zero was a simple guy. Simple guy with 'godly' looks. Honestly, he was far from simple. He was smart enough to get enough college credits to stay in college for a year, and his looks were far better than any man living. All his 'friends' were girls, as every boy hated him in college. He was the bane of all men. All girls loved him and all boys hated him. Zero put on his clothes and went out of his bedroom. He lived alone, but his family was rich enough to get him his own house. Zero grabbed a box of cereal and took out some milk. He poured the cereal in and did the same for the milk. He grabbed a spoon and sat down on a kitchen barstool and ate slowly. ????????????... ????????????... He picked up his phone and checked who had called him. It was one of the girl's in his 'friend' group. He picked up and was met with a loud voice "Hey Zero! I need you for a model shoot, the professor asked us to find one of friends and use them as a model." "Again?!" "Yeah, meet me at XXXXXXX. Love you! Bye." "I didn't even-" Before he knew it, she cut the call. Zero was used to this, but he was getting tired of doing this. He hoped that one year would pass so he could get over this. Zero sped up eating the cereal and left in the sink. He walked out of his house, taking in the outside's view. Like always when he walked out, all the ladies will stare at him. He ignored this and went towards the location of the shoot. It was a short walk, so he got there around 5 minutes. The location was a beach in a isolated area. He walked towards the girl who was on her phone waiting for him to show up. She saw him heading towards got up, getting everything ready for the shoot. Zero asked "Why are we shooting at the beach?" But he got one of the worst answers "Because I want to." He didn't really care about the answer and went to sit where he thought the shoot would be done. "This time we should do the photo shoot standing up." He got up and moved to the place of the shoot. He naturally looked at the shore of the sea, as this was what the girl always liked to see. ?????! ????! ?????! ????! Just like that, the photo shoot ended. He looked at the photos and nodded in respect. The girl was a talented photographer. Then the girl boasted, "I am the best photographer!" Okay. Semi-talented. If she could stop boasting, then I'd call her talented, but she's too full of herself. Zero leaves the scene of her boasting. On the way, he buys a small snack and walks towards his home. When walking he saw another photo shoot. He stopped, staring at the photo shoot. The photographer was a girl with brown hair with a shade of orange. She looked prettier than most girls and had a curvy body/ no fat. She looked like the ideal girlfriend. Zero looked over at the model it looked like she was posing as a 'gangster'. Then he looked at the way the girl was shooting. She had a free style shoot. Scenes than entered his head. "??????????? ????????? ????????…" "????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ? ?????..." … "You like the picture?" "Hm? Yeah, I like it, I've never used that style before" "Your a photographer?" "Yeah" "I've finally found one… Can I have your number?" "Hm? Sure" Zero traded numbers with the girl. When he turned back, he saw the girl jumping up and down saying, "I've finally found a photographer!" then she yelled, "My dream is to become the best photographer!" What an interesting girl… Zero walked home and stopped at the doorstep. "Best Photographer, huh?" "Maybe that's what I want." "Yeah, I like that idea…" Zero walked into his house. He slumped onto his couch. Zero was bored, he would rather have his lecture as there was nothing to do at home. All the boys hated him and he couldn't really 'hangout' with his friends. Zero called on his mom to quench on his boredom. "Hey Mom!-" "Did you find a girlfriend yet?" "Um, no-" "If you don't get a girlfriend, don't call me." His mom ended the call. Zero felt like burying himself into a hole. Why? Why do I need a girlfriend? I need a girlfriend to talk to my own mother. Zero decided to take a nap. He closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep. "??????????? ?? ?????? ????????? ?? ???? ?????..." "??? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ?????????..." "???? ???? ????..." "? ???? ??? ??? ?????e ??? ??? ?? ???????????..." "??????????? ?? ??? ????????!" … "?????!" Zero woke up sweating. All his clothing was wet and his leather jacket made it worse. He took it off. He was panting deeply. For what felt like a year was only a few hours on earth. He tried to sort all the knowledge he had gotten. "??????????? ?? ?????? ????????? ?? ???? ?????..." When he said this, his eyes seemed to open up a blue interface. When he moved his eyes, the interface moved with it. He wasn't scared, he was in fact very calm. He opened up his windows for some air and looked around. He saw a girl sitting on a bench. When the girl came into to contact his eyes seemed to take a 'picture' of the girl and then it showed a style that would fit the girl sitting down. The style was superb. It was above what one would think is professional. Zero had gotten an idea. He went to get his camera and when he did went back to the girl. The interface did the same to the camera snapping at it. The difference was that when he looked at the camera; it showed witch position would fit well with the style! Zero thought… Could this make me the best photographer? Zero thought about this and smiled. I'm on the path to become the best in my own ᒪEᑎᔕE

Wen Zilong was a little depressed.  Because at this time, his whole body was soaked in a viscous transparent liquid.  But that wasn't the main reason he was depressed.  The main reason is that his body is no longer human.  Instead, it was a translucent brown body, which looked like a wingless dragonfly, but was much smaller than a dragonfly, less than a millimeter long.  To be precise, at this time, he was in a mosquito egg the size of a needle's eye.  After he was reborn, after two days, he had just grown a body in this egg.  After death, others are all crossed or reborn, they all become gods and immortals, become Buddhas and demons, pour themselves well, and directly become mosquitoes.  Where does this Nyima go?  With a word in his heart, Wen Zilong opened a virtual interface in his mind.  Although the reborn mosquito made him feel very depressed, god was not too thin for him, and the necessary plug-ins for the reborn and the crosser were still equipped with a set for him.  I saw a few lines of words on the pale blue virtual interface.  [Name:Wen Zilong]  [Species: Mosquito]  [Level:0]  [Strength:0]  [Speed:0]  [Innate Ability: None]  [Ultimate Goal: Evolve into a Dominant Dragon]  Every time he saw this ultimate goal marked with a striking red line, Wen Zilong wanted to laugh - but he couldn't make a human expression now.  Nyima, I'm a mosquito, you let me evolve into a dragon, or dominate a dragon?  You let the sow "on" the tree, is it more reliable than this?  However, he had a little expectation in his heart.  If you can evolve into a dragon when the time comes, the wind and rain will be called, the world will be turned upside down, the left and the right will be embraced, and the three twilights will not be cool?  YY For a moment, Wen Zilong controlled the virtual interface with his consciousness and turned to the next page.  I saw a line on the next page:  [Tip: Please upgrade to level 1 as soon as possible to get a talent skill.]   , I also want to upgrade as soon as possible.  But I'm just an egg now, you tell me how to upgrade an egg as soon as possible?  Is it difficult to find a female mosquito to sit on top of me and cover it?  Once again, he spat a groove in his heart, and Wen Zilong tried to open his mouth and yawn.  But he found that he had not even grown his mouth, and yawned with a yarn.  In desperation, he could only close his eyes.  Although I can't see everything outside for a while, I can feel the temperature of the sun.  The warm sunlight makes him feel comfortable, and this kind of weather is best for sleeping lazily.  In the past, when he was a college student, because of the poor family conditions, he could only get up early every day to study in the dark, and work tired and tired.  His only wish at that time was to sleep beautifully, and to sleep in the dark of the day?  Now that it has become a mosquito egg, it can finally get its wish.  It didn't take long for Wen Zilong to fall asleep.  While he was asleep, his body slowly absorbed the mucus around him and grew silently.

It's still very egg-conscious. After two days, I didn't have to think about anything, I didn't have to worry about eating or wearing, and I woke up to sleep and woke up like a god. But happy days are always short-lived. By the night before, the mucus from the mosquito eggs had been almost absorbed. Click- Wen Zilong suddenly heard an extremely subtle sound. If it hadn't been in his ears, he wouldn't have heard it. He hurriedly looked with a pair of compound eyes in the direction where the sound was coming from. Unfortunately, the mosquito's vision is close to zero. And it was night, and he couldn't see anything. Click- The very subtle sound came again. Click, click, click— There were a few soft sounds in a row. Wen Zilong could feel a stream of cold water flowing into the egg, quickly submerging his whole body. He subconsciously held his breath. As more and more water flowed into the eggshell, Wen Zilong felt suffocated. His body floated upwards with the current. And it was head down, tail up, and quickly floated up. A few seconds later, when he felt almost unconscious, his tail finally emerged from the water. The snorkel at the end opened, and suddenly, the long-lost fresh air poured into the body. Huh-huh-huh- He took a big breath of air, like a wolf-like prisoner who hadn't touched a woman in ten years. At the same time, in his mind, the pale blue virtual interface was displayed without warning. The pale blue interface, after he got the system, finally changed for the first time: a firework exploded with a bang, exploding into countless small flowers. As the small flowers continued to fall, four large silver glittering characters appeared on the interface: [Congratulations on the upgrade] Wen Zilong was overjoyed, it could be regarded as an upgrade! Then, those four words disappeared and were replaced by the previous body data: [Name:Wen Zilong] [Species: Mosquito] [Level: Level 1] [Strength:1/10] [Speed:1/10] [Innate ability: vision beyond the usual mosquitoes + night vision] [Ultimate Goal: Evolve into a Dominant Dragon] Finally upgraded! Wen Zilong was a little excited. After evolving to level 1, his strength and speed increased a little. And first, try the strength and speed of these 1 points. Thinking of this, he tried to swim twice in the water. As a result, his speed was twice as fast as the other mosquitoes around him who had just broken out of their shells (the scientific name was Xiao Xiao). He tried again to use his tiny body to stir a weed. As a result, the water weeds that could not have been stirred by the widows at all were forcibly moved by him. Wen Zilong was overjoyed: It seems that the speed of this 1 point is equivalent to twice as fast as that of ordinary widows; the strength of 1 point is also equivalent to twice as big as that of ordinary widows.

Even opened his eyes to see his familiar room replaced with cold, dark stone. As his eyes searched his surroundings, he found himself in a small cavern, roughly 3 meters in diameter. Water slowly fell from a lone stalactite on the ceiling and dripped against the hard stone floor, forming a small pool. ‘It looks so real…’ he thought to himself, as he slowly began to stand up. After hobbling to his feet, he reached out and touched the cavern wall. His fingers brushed against the stone, only to be pulled back covered in a fine layer of dust. “Well, it wouldn’t be called one of the greatest games of all time if it wasn’t at least this real, right?” Content with his thoughts, Even turned around and started to look for a way out. He was met with barren stone walls. “Maybe there’s a secret passage or something?” he muttered to himself. Even started to feel around the stone walls, exploring the surface for any secret buttons or levers. Thirty minutes later, he had gone all the way around the room and returned to his starting place. “It’s got to be here somewhere, it just has to be. I must have missed it.”, he said while starting his second pass around the room. Thirty minutes later, he once again found himself right back where he started. “AAHHHH! Why can’t I find this stupid exit!” he yelled, squeezing the unforgiving stone in his frustration. <TRING> Even stopped, looking around himself in confusion. Only to see a blue window pop up in front of his vision. <New Title Unlocked – Stone Groper*> “UUhhhh”. Even looked at the blue window with intense disgust. “HOW ON EARTH DID I GET THIS TITLE!” A voice appeared in Even’s ear. <Answer. User has groped a stone wall for a period of over one hour> Even looked down at his hands holding the stone wall, then back at the notification, then back at his hands. He let go of the wall, a guilty expression on his face. “So… Can I refuse the title?” <Answer. No. Title has already been added to the user’s account> “Ahhh, I see…” Even fell to his knees and started to cry inside. “Why did my first title have to be so stupid?!?” he screamed to the cavern ceiling. “Why!” <Answer. Because the user has groped a stone wall for over one hour> “I didn’t ask you!” he screamed at the system. Even started to forcefully take deep breaths. The cold damp air moved in and out of his lungs as he slowly started to calm down. Rationality had returned to him once more. He couldn’t get rid of the title, so he might as well get something out of it. His voice came out steady once again. “So, what effect does the “Stone Groper” title give?” <Answer. The ‘Stone Groper’ title gives a 1% increase to skills that analyze stone objects when equipped> “Please define skills that analyze stone objects.” <Answer. Previous answer was sufficient> Even took more deep breaths. “So, how do I equip titles” <Answer. Titles can be equipped from the status screen or in the tutorial by request.> “Ahh, I see…” <Question. Would you like to equip your title now?> Even thought deeply. ‘Equipping the title is super embarrassing, but it may be helpful in the future…’ His reason conflicted with his emotions. Reason won. ‘I can always equip a different title when I get a better one.’ “Please equip the new title” <Title Equipped – Stone Groper*> <Congratulations, you have equipped a title! New title earned – Title Bearer (upgradable)> <New Title has the (upgradable) feature. Perform greater feats to upgrade the tier of this title!> “Eh…” Even looked at the new notification that had replaced the previous one. “Another one? I thought titles were supposed to be hard to get? What’s this title even do?” <Answer. The ‘Title Bearer’ title has no function. Upgrade it to increase functionality.> Shrugging to himself, Even dismissed the blue screen and brought himself back to the problem at hand. He had already checked the stone walls, twice even, and had yet to find any sort of hidden passageway. The room had almost no ceiling to think of, and the stalactite obviously wasn’t going to help. All that left was the pool in the center of the room. Walking over to the pool barely two feet in diameter, Even carefully avoided the stalactite with his head and peered downwards. He Froze. Looking back up at him was a man with chestnut hair and turquoise eyes. A plain face on the upper side of average was framed by a short beard. Slowly, the man in the pool’s hands reached up and touched its face. Even feeling his own hands run across his beard confirmed that this new face was, in fact, his. “They weren’t kidding when they advertised immersion.” Even whispered to himself. His eyes locked on his new beard. A grin forced its way onto his face as he ran his hands through his beard again. And again. He never was able to grow a beard in the real world, just patchy stubble. If only for this, he had got his money’s worth out of the game already. Small ripples distorting his face snapped him out of his reverie. Looking just slightly above his head he noticed a banner floating there in his reflection. [<Unnamed> - Stone Groper*] <TRING> Another blue window appeared in front of him. <User has not selected an account name. To enter the tutorial, the user must select a name.> <Please select a name.> “Uhhhh…” Even said, startled by the unexpected prompt. <I’m sorry, that name is taken. Would you like to select the name “Uhhhh231” instead?> Even snapped back to himself. Being stuck with a name like that would be atrocious. In fact, he felt sorry for the people who had accidentally picked that name. “No thank you, are there any requirements for picking a name?” <Answer. Yes. Name must be unique, less than 32 characters, and cannot be only blanks.> Even fell into thought. He obviously couldn’t pick his real name, that could cause all sorts of problems and was nearly guaranteed to be taken already. He hadn’t really played games all that much before, so he couldn’t just grab an old ID and call it good. Coming up with some random name would work, but whatever name he picked he would be stuck with for the rest of his gaming experience, so it shouldn’t be hard to say or cringe-worthy. ‘I can’t use my real name, but maybe I can do a spin-off of it’ “Hey System, is the name ‘Eventide’ taken?” <Answer. Yes. Would you like to select the name ‘Eventide21’ instead?> “No thank you. Hmmmm. What about ‘InEvenable’?” <Answer. No. Would you like to select the name ‘Inevenable’?> It was a bad pun. A really bad pun. But the name wasn’t taken, and Even was not really in the mood to guess names all day. “Yes. Please set my name to ‘Inevenable’.” With a loud rumble, the ceiling started to crumble. The stalactite in the center of the room broke off and fell from the ceiling into the pool below. Water from the pool rushed up like a geyser, covering the floor. When the rumbles subsided, Even saw to his surprise that the rubble had formed a staircase leading upwards. <Name has been set. Tutorial will now commence. Welcome ‘Inevenable’ to the world of Meldrava.>

Around 60 km offshore of Mayhak Port, Principality of Kwa Toine The Pima, a naval vessel belonging to the Second Fleet of the Principality of Kwa Toine, was heading toward a suspicious large vessel. The boat is loaded with sails, which are turned into power by the wind, and the oars are rowed to the sound of drums. The warships are already in combat mode. All the crew were clad in leather armor, and those who bore swords were ready to bow on the top deck. On the top deck, wooden shields to ward off arrows are placed and a large crossbow [Ruby: Varistor] is set sideways. Aburatsubo (oil pot) for hiya (fire arrow) is also equipped, and battles are always started. But as Midori approached an unidentified large ship, he began to look pale. He realized why it was so hard to get there when you approach a big ship. "Captain, the unidentified ship seems to be slowing down rapidly, perhaps because it has detected our approach." The vice-captain, who did not understand the situation yet, spoke to Midori. "Well, ......, vice captain, I'll lead the inspection. If anything happens, I'll leave everything to you." "Did you have any concerns at ......?" Since Midori does not move his face while staring at the large vessel, the vice captain also watches the large vessel carefully. After a while, we realize that we are supposed to be close, but we have not yet reached the opponent, and only the outline becomes larger and larger. It was so big that I misunderstood the distance. "...... Deputy Captain. Isn't that bigger than the ship?" "Yes ...... I can only see a small island moving." The panting Midori managed to squeeze out the conversation. "There are flags with lines drawn vertically, horizontally and diagonally on the ship. Do you recognize that flag?" "No. I've never seen it or heard of it." "Do you know any country that has such a big ship?" "Well, ...... I've been to training in Parpardia, and it's obviously bigger than the imperial superweapon called the '100 class ship of the line'" As the sailors of the naval ship Pima are overwhelmed by its massive size, they approach a large ship. A dozen people waved their hands at Pima on the boat, showing that they had no hostile intent. Midori looks back at the bow and tells the crew with a grim expression. "The ship was then inspected. You must never attack us unless you are directed or attacked by me. Also, it's not clear who the other person belongs to, but it might be an emerging country. You understand that we are not allowed to unwittingly use coercive attitude because it is an exchange between the government and the government." "Yes!" Midori, the captain of the vessel, was guided by the crew of a large vessel and moved to the vessel. 7th Fleet Air Carrier (nuclear-powered aircraft carrier) "Ronald Reagan" The government of the United States, knowing that all of a sudden communication with other countries was cut off, satellite signals became undetectable, and the satellite signals were transferred to completely different stars, was flying patrol planes in various directions. A country cannot live alone. The U.S. government's determination that it was absolutely necessary to establish diplomatic relations with civilized countries as soon as possible was faster than ever. First of all, the government decided to dispatch diplomats on an aircraft carrier of the Navy's Seventh Fleet "Ronald Reagan" in order to find the possibility of entering into diplomatic relations with a people, who were discovered south of Hawaii Island and, judging from their scale, were thought to have had civilization. Aircraft carriers are not only for battle, but also for general use. As the Navy was ready to dispatch immediately after the transfer, it was dispatched immediately after the diplomats boarded. Several destroyers are standing by far behind the aircraft carrier. Normally, multiple vessels would accompany the vessel, but this was an encounter with an unknown vessel, and the purpose was to prevent the other vessel from becoming too cautious. The Navy, which detected a small boat on its radar, decided that the boat belonged to a certain ethnic group and approached it, eventually finding a small sailing ship. The design was so old that it seemed to appear in a history textbook, and if you look closely, you could see what appeared to be an oil pot on the deck of the ship and wooden shields against arrows were installed neatly, and soldiers in armor were lined up in a stupor. We cannot hurt the local people when we have no idea what the structure of the world is like. "Ronald Reagan" carefully slowed down and opened the boarding gate to lower the ramp. Since there is no accompanying ship, unarmed personnel will manually pull up the local people. The crew guided the natives onto the deck and the diplomats had to talk. Midori was confused. This is a large deck, large enough to warrant a cavalry fight, and with strangely dressed men without arms in front of them, a man in crisp clothes, who will probably talk to him, stands in front. A ship of this size would have an unimaginable crew. If they were killed, they would not be able to return alive, but there seemed to be no hostile intent, so they gathered their courage and spoke. "I'm Captain Midori Pima of the Second Fleet of the Duchy of Kwa Toine. This is the sea near our Principality of Kwa-Toine, and if we keep going, we will enter our country's territorial waters. Please tell me your nationality and the purpose of your voyage." The person in charge and those around him look surprised. "Oh, my God! You can communicate in English!!" Midori doesn't understand what's strange. The person in charge continues. "Excuse me. My name is Orion from the United States Department of Foreign Affairs. your country is the name of the Principality of Kwa Toine. The Government of our country and the United States of America want to have exchanges with your country. Depending on the situation, we are considering the conclusion of diplomatic relations. I would appreciate it if you could put me through to the person in charge at your country." "You are an envoy of a country, aren't you?" "Yes, it is. Everyone behind you seems nervous, but please rest assured that we have no hostile intentions." Midori's men relaxed a little, and her shoulders dropped a little. "Okay. I'll let you know. One question, is the horse that appeared over our country's Maihak a your country knight?" "That's right. I would like to explain that officially from our country." Orion pauses and begins an unbelievable story for Midori. "our country suddenly came to this world. To find out what's going on in this world, they flew patrol planes in multiple directions, and one of them apparently crossed into your country's airspace." Midori's men looked at each other, and even the soldiers looked confused. No wonder. It is absurd that the whole country moves around the world. But from the serious attitude of Orion and the men around him, he doesn't seem to be joking. Midori decided to report what she had just heard as it was. "...... I understand the situation. I will let you know so please wait for a while." "Yes 。―― Well, how long should I wait?" "Oh, no. Just a moment, please. I'll call Maishin (It's about magical communications.) right now and ask them to make a decision. I cannot judge such a thing by myself." "Oh, ...... you have a means of communication." Second Naval Command of the Duchy of Kwa Toine "Commander Noca! I got the news from the military ship Pima!!" "Read it!" "'Upon inspection of the large ship, there was no hostile intention against the ship. A person in charge of foreign affairs from the United States, the source of the vessel, was aboard the vessel, and hopes to have talks with our country with a view to establishing diplomatic relations. The ship was 330 m long and 80 m wide, and neither sails nor oars were used.'" You know what? I heard it was a large ship, but it was like a palace. "'In regard to the unidentified cavalry incident that occurred the other day, it was reported that a United States patrol vessel had entered our country during a patrol flight. Officials claim that ...... countries have been sent to the world in the case.' ...... ......" "The whole country has been transferred!? How absurd, you should report that to the political meeting!!" he cried, unable to listen in silence. It was fortunate that they seemed to be able to communicate, but it was much better for those who could not yet communicate. "The fact that the ship is 330 meters in motion is pretty ridiculous, but since this is a fact that has been confirmed by their eyes ...... I think it would be too bad not to report. And then he goes, 'I would like to have a formal meeting with the Government of the United States of America in our country at a later date. First of all, we are requesting the liaison to the foreign affairs section of the host country.'" The correspondent answered somewhat more calmly than Nouka, and then finished his work. "Gugu ......!! What a mess ......, yes." "What's the matter?" "A political committee meeting on unidentified horsemen should be held now. I'll report to him as soon as possible." "Got it." The correspondent sent a report on the inspection to the Kwa Toine Kingdom and the capital through magical communications.

Far from the Three Great Civilizations, there was a continent in this area called the Great East. It is about half the size of Australia, small enough to be called a continent, too large to be called an island. There are three nations on this land called Rotenius. ・an agricultural nation 'Duchy of Kwa Toine' having rich soil and extensive grain-producing regions ・a poor country 'Kingdom of Quila' with large desert areas and no crops ・a nation of only man who continued to persecute elves and dwarves and beasts etc., with the aim of unifying Rondenius 'Kingdom of Lauria' Quila and the Principality of Kwa Toine each have 1/3 of their inhabitants as subhuman beings, including elves, dwarves and brutes. There was no way to maintain friendly relations politically with Luria, who advocated the extermination of the Hypocrites, but they cooperated with each other and supplemented each other to counter the threat of the kingdom of Luria. Knight of the Dragon on a Patrol Mission in the Sixth Flying Dragon of the Principality of Kwa Toine The clear blue sky. Clouds can be seen only in the distance, and are highly transparent and visible in the distance. In the sky fluttered a creature of a most heroic figure. It had a jet-black body and a sharp tail. If modern people saw it, they would call it a mythical creature, the dragon. Above the dragon was a man in light armor. The armor is simple in design but functional and beautiful. The Knight of the Dragon Knight, Marpatima, of the Principality of Kwa Toine, was on a warning mission to the northeast of the Principality, steering a flying dragon called 'Wyburn'. Even if we go to the northeast or east of the dukedom, the sea is just expanding and there is nothing, but as the tension with the Lauria Kingdom continues now, we can expect a surprise attack from such an empty area. As a patrol mission to detect and respond quickly, he sent his partner into the northeast skies of his dukedom. Many adventurers travelled eastward in search of a new world in the sea below them, but no one has ever returned. "!?" He found something. "What's that?" I see something in the sky where there is no one but me. "Friends, ......?" From the Kingdom of Lauria to this point, there is an absolute lack of cruising range on Wyburn, so it is impossible to think of anything other than our ally, Wyburn. But I'm sure I'm the only one currently flying through the airspace. In the three major civilizations, there seems to be a Hiryu-class mothership called the 'dragon mother' but it cannot be located in this area which is outside the civilization sphere. A flying object that looks like a grain grows larger and the whole picture becomes visible. As it gets closer, I'm sure it's not my Wyburn. "Aren't you flapping?" He immediately reports to headquarters using a communication magic tool. "I confirmed an unidentified horse. We will intercept and confirm. Location: ......" Fortunately, there is little difference in altitude. He intended to narrow the gap after passing each other once. "Big ......" He passed an unidentified horseman. The object, as he recognized it, was enormous. It's not flapping, there are four things on the wing, spinning at high speed. Stars were painted on its body, and the tips of its wings were flashing and flashing. He turns around, flapping his horse. The pressure of the wind is so strong that they are almost blown away. I was going to shorten the distance to ......, but I couldn't catch up. Wyburn's top speed is 235 km/h. It is almost the fastest creature in the world (In the three major civilizations, there seems to be a higher rank species with improved varieties.), faster than a horse, and more mobile than any other in the sky. I don't even know if it's a living thing or anything. "Damn ......!! What the hell is he!!" What a surprise. "Command! Command! I tried to identify the unidentified rider, but the speed was too great! I can't catch up with you! Unidentified horse soldiers headed toward the main land 'Maihak'. I repeat, we're moving in the direction of Myhak!" The dragon knight Marpatima was pulled away from the flying object. Base of the Sixth Flying Dragons of the Principality of Kwa Toine Karmia, the correspondent, cannot believe the report which she hears from the devil;. 'The unidentified flying object is flying about 130 km northeast from the base, no, cannot catch up!! The flying object is very large and does not flutter. The speed is much faster than us!!' "nationality？." Karmia asks for the nationality of the kingdom of Lauria, which has been in a state of tension in recent years. 'Unknown nationality!' "Is there any possibility of ancient dragons?" 'It is not an ancient dragon, nor is it the Wyburn of the Kingdom of Lauria. I don't even know if it's a living thing! Please support immediately!!' "Copy that!" Calmia reports immediately to her boss, who is close to her. "Unidentified horse!?" The commanding officer asks Karmia. "Yes. The Knight of the Dragon, Marpatima, reported that the speed was far greater than that of us, and that the horse was not flapping." The commander had no idea of a creature that could surpass a dragon. "No flapping ...... No way." He mumbles and recalls the rumor that some of the great powers operate abiotic machines called flying machines. "The unidentified riders were said to have advanced toward the mainland, in the direction of Mihawk. From the reported location, it will reach the mainland immediately." It seems that the unidentified horseman was coming toward our country at an extremely high speed. Urged to make a snap decision, he panics. "Wha, what!? Raise all the horsemen of the 6th flying squadron waiting!! If it is a single rider, the possibility of reconnaissance is high, but if it is attacked by any chance, it will affect the prestige of the army!!" The impatience of the commander spread to the entire headquarters, and it became a beehive. An unidentified horseman, unable to catch up with the Wyburn, is said to be flying, of all places, to the economic hub of the Principality of Kwa-Toine, Maihak. Judging from the speed, the horse must have entered the airspace of the mainland. A command is sent by communication magic to the entire base of the 6th Dragon Camp. "The 6th Hiryu-tai troop started with all its soldiers. It is thought that an unidentified horseman entered the airspace while approaching Maihak. Shoot him down as soon as he is found. Repeat, shoot down as soon as you find it." From the runway, the Dragon Knight of the 6th Dragon Squadron, Wyburn, rises one after another. With 12 cavalrymen, it was an all-out sortie. They flew up into the clear blue sky. Fortunately, the 6th Hairyu-tai troop faced the front of unidentified horsemen. An unidentified plane the size of a dot will soon grow. "How embarrassing ......" "What the hell? That is!!" "A monster?" The members tweet their impressions. "It's fast ......" The distance with unidentified horsemen was shortened. The speed and relative speed are considered to be considerably high. The other party, as reported, seems to be able to fly at very high speeds. The leader of the No. 6 flying dragon unit will give precise instructions to each member of the team by a communication method called a "magic machine.". "They fired a volley of flame shells. There is information that the opponent is much faster than us. A chance only comes for a passing moment. Show everyone the results of your daily training." The captain cuts off the magic and murmurs. "...... What the hell is that?" 12 Wyburn cavalrymen lined up side by side and opened their mouths. a volley of conducting flames. If this hits, no flying dragon will not fall. A fireball gradually forms in the mouth. As he waited for the right time, unidentified cavalrymen began to climb. For those of us who were already flying at Wyburn's maximum altitude of 4000 meters, that was unexpected. He rapidly increases his altitude with his tremendous climbing ability. The 6th Hairyu-tai troop was separated without taking any unidentified horsemen into its range. "The 6th Hiryutai Squadron notified the headquarters. I found an unidentified horseman. Although they prepared to attack the enemy, the unidentified riders rose and advanced toward Mihawk while maintaining an extremely high altitude. Repeat ――――――――" Duchy of Kwa Toine, Mayhak The Principality of Kwa Toine is located in the northeast of the continent of Rotenius. Blessed by the god of the earth, the land is fertile, yet weedy, and the grass and grain for food grow rapidly even if left untouched. The nation's food self-sufficiency rate is well over 100%, and it is said that water and food are free, and even livestock can eat plentiful food. Maihak is an economic hub city located in the northeast of such an agricultural nation. Old Western-style buildings line the streets, and the main street running through the center of the city is paved with stonewalls, where carriages and land birds come and go. A woman in her mid-twenties jumped out with a look of color. The woman wears armor and carries a sword on her waist and a bow on her back. The woman, who started running as if she were going to run, was followed by what appeared to be her subordinates. An alien scene in a peaceful city. Everyone was wearing armor and their faces were tense. They run on a ridge in the corner of Meyhak Castle. "Ha, ha, ha, ......" Wearing their armor, they ran up the ridge and looked up while holding their breath. The Lord Commander of the Mayhak Defence Order, Eine, recalls the report from the Sixth Flying Dragons and gives instructions to his men. "Soon an unidentified horseman will be flying over the Maihak! According to the report from the 6th Hairyu-tai, unidentified horsemen will invade at a speed faster than that of Wyburn, arrange the whole crew!!!" The knights, holding bows in their left hands, set their arrows and looked up again. When he looked over the watchtowers on all sides of the city, it seemed as if the placement of the chiefs had been completed. She thinks. According to reports, our country's elite Sixth Fly Dragons seem to have outpaced its rivals by speed and altitude. In general, the only way to attack the ground from a flying dragon is through its mouth. Hairyu is the only one who can carry heavy things. If you come alone, you won't suffer much damage even if you are attacked. It is assumed that the enemy's purpose was reconnaissance. But what is it that a flying dragon can't catch up with? A terrifying existence that flies easily beyond the ascending limit of a flying dragon. It will soon appear above the economic city of Maihak. Eine was staring at the sky. "Here it comes!!" The Knights of the North Tower, who had been watching the North, shouted loudly. They all turned their heads in that direction at once. It looked like a grain, but it soon became the whole picture. There was a faint, unfamiliar buzzing sound, and after a while the flying object reached the top of Meyhak. The object descends and turns in the sky beyond the reach of the bow. It has a larger body and wings than the Wyburn. "It's fast ......" A bizarre object flying faster than the Wyburn, the most skilled dragon knight in the Duchy of Kwa Toyne, is apparently a violation of the airspace but does not appear to be attacking it. The 6th Hairyu-tai troop scrambled and was on its way back. There is a way to attack, but this time it is too close to be ready for additional equipment. At present, the only countermeasure is shooting with a bow from the ground, but it is clearly impossible to reach. It makes an eerie buzzing sound above the Maihak and turns around many times as if it is aiming at prey. "Ah ...... what is that!!?" "Wow, it's a monster!! The monster is coming!!" The faces of the townspeople twitch with fear. Fear drove the people in the house to close the windows and doors one after another. The streets are clamored with people running around in search of a place to hide. Even dumb animals such as horses and land birds run out of their way in fear of the sound and objects, causing accidents everywhere. It was a frightening object in the peaceful streets, but after a while it flew away in the northeast direction.

T/N:  This is the first volume from the series 'The Four Great Female Constables' and there are a total of four stories.  All four volumes will be translated as they are connected and the titles are listed below.   Volume 1 - Wangye, this concubine is busy! Volume 2 - This killer is easy to deceive. Volume 3 - The unhappy clingy man. Volume 4 - Beloved at the door.   Please note that the first chapter is posted here while the rest of the chapters are posted on Foxaholic.   Please read the story on the following link. Wangye, this concubine is busy! Chapter 1 - Ambushed In the wilderness, Si Liujing tried hard to endure the pain from the slash wounds on his body.  With one hand pressed over the deep wound on his abdomen while his other hand gripped the handle of a sword, he staggered on the rugged mountain road. As the blood from his wounds flowed, the blood from the sword in his hand dripped intermittently all along the way.  He was not only injured but was also poisoned.  His pair of beautiful eyes had lost the usual sharpness and brightness and his vision was a layer of black.  At this damn moment of escape, he was blinded.  Three days after leaving the imperial city, he encountered an ambush.  To ensure his death, the other party dispatched more than a hundred assassins to intercept and kill him while he only brought along thirty guards with him.  In the attack, the guards beside him desperately tried to protect him as he fought out of the heavy encirclement.   All the brave guards who were skilled in fighting blocked off the assassins.  However, they could not withstand the tactical siege of the enemy’s sea of people and eventually became exhausted.  As they were outnumbered, they began to retreat in defeat. Si Liujing knew there must be a traitor beside him.  He was ordered to leave the imperial city in secret to visit a hermit on behalf of the Emperor.  They had kept their whereabouts hidden, avoided the official paths, avoided staying in government dwellings, avoided contacting the local government and kept a low profile.  Unexpectedly, they encountered an ambush.    His body had large and small slash wounds and the deepest wounds were on his left arm and abdomen.  Fortunately, he had already sealed several acupuncture points on his body to stop the poison from spreading.  However, he still had to find a place to hide so that he could circulate his internal qi to self-heal. This time he was too careless and if he can go back alive, he will make sure the other party repays this debt. Due to his sightless eyes, he suddenly stumbled when he stepped on some loose soil and rocks and as a result, he fell down the hillside, rolling several times before coming to a stop.     Even when he rolled down the hill, he did not let go of his sword.  Enduring the pain from his wounds, he stuck the blade of the sword in the ground to support his body as he stood up.  While he was fleeing, he was unable to obliterate his footprints along the way due to his blindness.  Those assassins would definitely follow his tracks to catch up with him.  When they finally get to him, it would be difficult for him to fight back alone and it is afraid the result would only be his death. Thinking up to here, his whole body suddenly stiffened.  Holding the blood-stained sword in his hand, he exuded a killing intent as he turned his body to face the movement coming towards him. “Who is there?” Although he was unable to see, his ears were sharp and with his whole body soaked in blood, he looked like a trapped beast that refused to accept defeat.  Even if he dies, he wants someone to accompany him in death! “You’re badly hurt.  You must treat your wounds quickly.”  It was a woman’s voice and her tone was neither high nor low.  It sounded pleasant to the ears and as she spoke, she was moving towards him. Si Liujing listened to the sound to discern the person and immediately raised his sword to point at her.  The sharp blade was precisely aimed at the other party’s nose. Bai Yuxiao looked at the blade that was only a short distance from her nose and if this is not handled well, her nose would be gone.  She cautiously kept a distance, cleared her throat, and kindly explained to him.  “I.......” “Get lost!” She had only said a word and she was unceremoniously interrupted by him.  Actually, she wanted to tell him that she was here to save him and tell him not to be afraid.  However, he did not even listen and his body exuded an aura of death with a warning that no living person should come near him.  Otherwise, if she were to take a step closer, her blood would splatter and she would die on the spot. Bai Yuxiao did not say anything and tactfully retreated far away. Si Liujing listened carefully and although the sound of the other person’s footsteps was in the distance, he still held on tightly to the handle of the sword with a murderous aura.  The present him does not believe in anyone and also he is poisoned and blind which caused him to be always on guard.  As long as someone approaches, he would be like a beast gone crazy. At this moment, not even a guard is with him, so there is no other way but to rely on himself.  Therefore, he used his sword as a crutch to drag his injured body and walked forward step by step.  He did not know which direction he was going and could only carry on walking blindly.  The mountain road was rugged and all along the way, he fell countless times.  Bai Yuxiao who was secretly following behind him felt her body hurt every time he fell.  Each time he fell, she would feel the pain once.  “Be careful!  There are thorns in front.  This time, if you fall again, you’ll become a hedgehog.”  She reminded from behind him. Si Liujing immediately pointed the sword to the back and exuded a devil-like murderous aura again. This woman has not left yet! “Are you following me?”  His voice sounded grim and bloodthirsty. But Bu Yuxiao was not afraid of him and she said angrily.  “If I don’t follow you, how can I clean up the blood trail on the road?  Do you want those who attacked you to find it?  And also, wolves roam in this valley at night.  Your whole body is covered with the fishy smell of blood which easily attracts the wolves.  By that time, even if you’re not killed by your enemies, you’ll be swallowed by the wolves!” Si Liujing did not believe this woman.  It was because he was afraid that she was deliberately deceiving him to make him lower his guard.  Once he lets down his guard, she would seize the opportunity to kill him. Martial arts practitioners are capable of tracking the sounds of strangers with their sensitive ears.  Since this woman had followed him for several hours without making a sound, it could be deduced she is also a martial artist and he must be cautious. “Who are you?  What is your name?!” “My.........you can just call me Shui’er.  Let me help you.  By the looks of it, you must be poisoned.” However, even if Bai Yuxiao wanted to help him, she did not dare to step forward.  Presently, he has an extremely ferocious look of wanting to kill someone and for the time being, she could not get close to him, so she could only try to persuade him first. Si Liujing ignored her and continued to move forward, knowing that the woman was still following him. He walked for several hours and throughout the entire time, he could hear the woman blabbering and the contents were nothing more than giving him directions and guidance. “There are vines in front, don’t get entangled.......be careful where you step!  Ai, didn’t I tell you?  Look, you fell again.......there’s a poisonous snake!  Don’t worry, I killed it.  Don’t go over there!  There’s a beehive!  Be careful of being stung into a bun-head........” At first, Si Liujing would tell her to shut up or suddenly swing his sword at her, forcing her to stay away from him but it was useless.  The woman made it clear that she was going to follow him and completely ignored his warnings.  At the same time, she would say whatever she wanted.  “Hey, are you thirsty?  I have some water here, take it.  There is a gourd near your right foot. (The gourd mentioned here is a plant that is dried and hollowed out to keep drinking water.  Gourds were commonly used as water bottles during ancient times especially when traveling.) When he heard, Si Liujing kicked the gourd away fiercely, refusing to accept her kindness but she was not angry and continued to talk to herself......... “Fortunately, I have the foresight.  I was afraid that you’ll kick it away, so I put a fruit shell there instead.  The gourd is still in my hand.  Since you don’t want to drink, I’ll drink.”  After speaking, the sounds of gurgling water could be heard. Si Liujing was actually very thirsty and his mouth was dry.  When he heard the sounds of water, it became even more unbearable for him but even if he died of thirst, he could not take the risk.  Who knows, the water might be poisoned. He snorted coldly.  Even if he did not eat or drink for three days, it was nothing to him.  He had once fought in the Northwest and the environment was even more sinister than now.  So what’s the big deal with the present situation? He used his hand to touch a big tree nearby then used his sword to cut the bark and drank the sap that flowed out.  Although the sap tasted sour and unpleasant, it was better than nothing.  There was another murmur behind him.  “That is a Rosseau tree and the sap is tart and sour.  You can even drink that?” Si Liujing suddenly swung the sword and slashed behind him but he struck nothing except air.  “Wa, that’s scary!  Fortunately, I was quick to dodge!  Alright, I won’t say anything.  If you want to drink, just carry on.  If my eyes don’t see, it’s considered as clean.”  The voice came from far away.  It seemed that in just a few moments,  she had distanced herself ten zhang* away which showed her excellent qinggong skills. (Zhang is a measurement of distance and one zhang is equal to 3.3 meters.) Si Liujing snorted coldly and drank the sap to quench his thirst.  After drinking, he continued to walk on. 

(It's 12:00 am at night. So why am I still up this late.)  I look around my room. I get up and turn on my lamp.  (Dam. This place is still so empty.) I turn on my computer and look at my unfinished homework that is due last night.  (Oh well what's done is done. I should see who up with me.) I scroll through my Facebook page to see if anyone else is online. I see that my friend Elese is awake as always. I click on her portrait and messaged her. {Hey you awake?} ... (Fine I guess its just a ghost on her account.) I shut my computer of and decide that now is as good as any time to go for a walk. I sneaked down the stairs like I was trying to not wake my parents. The doors open quietly and I find that there only sandals on my porch. (I think to myself. Sandals or more of my time. Guess it can't hurt to wear actual shoes for a walk.) I sneak back inside the house to look for some socks and the shoes that aren't on the porch. After that I walk up to the road and start walking. I take out my phone to play something in my earbuds. After a hour of walking, I arrive at the local stop sign.  When I arrive at my destination I trip, right in front of the stop sign as my witness. I look up at the stop sign to sing my grievances but I see something weird on it. (I thi-) [Please wait as we update] ... (Guess I'm crazy.) I look up to the stop sign to see if I'm going crazy or not. I see the stop sign in moonlight in all its glory. (Well lets trek back to my house.) When I arrive at the house there was the new popup like near the stop sign. [The first roll will now commence.] [Doppelganger] (I guess I am crazy?) I look around to see what the popup meant by Doppelganger. A few feet away I see a pair of feat. (Those look like the same type of shoes I'm wearing.) After a few seconds the thing materialized. The obviously good looking man stands a few feet away from me. Then he charges at me. I bolt to my door and lock it. I check my other entrances to see if they're locked too. I give a sigh of relieve. (Man I haven't been that scared in a long time.)  I sit down on my sofa and think about what has just happen to me but then the popup appeared. [Update Complete] [Loading Stats] [Name: Rubik Fawn] [Race: Human] [Prime Stats - str: 4 dex: 3 end: 4 int: 5 mem: 4 wiz: 3 luck: -1 ] [Skills - None] [Trait - None] [Title - "He who will get better (maybe?)"\-11 luck] (So that's why I've been tripping all over myself my whole life.) I take another peak outside to see if I can spot the doppelganger. Seeing nothing I close the blinds. I hear a knock at the windows were I just peeked at. As I reach to move the blinds, I hear a thud against the window. Examining it I see a rather large crack on my window and myself hitting it from the other side. I look for a weapon to defend myself. I grab my fire poker from the fire place and get ready to engage with my doppelganger. I walk out the front door and look for him. He runs at me around the side of the house. (What the heck man.) I strike a pose to attack him. I grit my teeth and swung as hard as I can at him. The pointy fire poker stabs into the mans eye. As the mans head recoils the eyeball stays on the fire poker and the man falls to the ground. I see him trying to get up and I run to hit his head. As the fire poker lands, blood, bone, and brain bits flew onto me. My body goes cold after the adrenaline runs out. I sit down to calm myself. [Lesser Doppelganger Killed] [Rewards Obtained] I look at the corpse of the doppelganger to see if anything would happen. Seeing nothing happen and not wanting to deal with a corpse that looks like myself. I go back inside to clean myself up. I look at my clock and it says 5:48 am. I look for my phone to call my parents. {...} (I hope they're okay) I call Elese to see if she's okay. After waiting a while the phone doesn't go through. I call my best friend Cale to see if he's still alive. With nothing to do I fiddled with the system that I learned from various medias. I called out system. "System." Seeing nothing happen I think about the popups and do it again. "System." [What what would you like to do.] (What?) [I can respond to both thought and words.] (Oh ok. Can you tell me what's going on.) [No] (Why not?) [No] (Fine what can you do then.) [I can show you your Name, Race, Prime Stats, Skills, Traits, Titles, and Rewards] (What are Rewards?) [Your Rewards are loot that are given to you for accomplishing task] (How do I get my rewards?) [You will receive all your Rewards in out of combat state] (I am in an out of combat state) I see a ticket that is in my hand from out of nowhere. (What is this?) [That is a tutorial ticket] (How do I use this?) [...] (Hello. You still there.) [...] (Such a great tutorial. I don't even know how to initiate it.) I hear a bell and a different popup appears. [Roll duration has been completed] [This reality is now accessible to other realities.] [Your Laws will no longer be the same as before and has been changed accordingly] My head feels like its about to explode and then I pass out.

*ding ding* (God that ringing is so loud) I look up at the screen telling me the status of the new planet.  [New dominant species discovered] [Race: Human Stats average: 3 Traits: None Population: 78%] [Calculating survival chance] [0%] (Another blank state race? I hope this time they will evolve to something good. I’ll give them some more lifespan see if that changes stuff.) [0%] (Are they really intelligent people? I’ll just leave it to the Ai.) I tap on the randomize traits for the humans. [Increasing survival chance] [Removing lifespan and adding Mutations] [15%] [Adding increased emotion] [5%] [Magic pulse] [1%] [Optimizing completed] (Perfect now I got paperwork for all of these problems I have to deal with) I check to see what was the first round for the planet. I see the words doppelgänger on the screen.

Prologue The sky was dark with rain cloud filling up the blue sky. A girl who was wearing a hoodie looked up to see the sky slowly darkening and frowned. Only her face was seen. One could see her blue eyes and straight black hair that emerged a little from within her hood. She was no older than 16. She looked at the time on her hand and mused. “6 pm, way beyond curfew time for me and I didn’t bring my umbrella….” She looked at her hand and saw two 100-yen coin, altogether 200-yen. She just sighed tiredly as she looked to a store near her side. She entered it and went for the counter. A young boy, a high-schooler from the look of his face, a part-timer probably working to buy a PS2 that had just come out last month. It was the ongoing trend as she had heard many of the kids talking about it while they walked towards their school. He looked at her and asked politely. “How may I help you?” She did not reply as she looked at the little things in the counter like stacks of pen, chocolates, etc and finally found what she was looking for. A white pack was there sitting in the farthest part of the counter. She stretched her arm and hand while trying to catch it. After her 3rd attempt she finally caught it and placed it in front of the boy. He took it and looked what exactly the girl was buying. He frowned as he read. “….Seven Star, cigarette? Aren’t you too young to smoke?” Quite a hypocrite, considering his age was the same as her's. However, she did not mind and said. “I may look like a midget but I am 5 years your senior, boy.” She lied. She had just turned 16 but who knew? Students like the boy who worked part-timers were pretty gullible when they think you are older than you looked. Some of them even bowed to apologize. The boy in front of her just frowned but shrugged before saying. “175 yen please.” She gave him the two coin while he gave her a two 10 yen and a 5 yen. She took it and kept it inside her left pocket. She also grabbed the packet of smoke and kept it in her right pocket as she walked out of the store. She then felt a drop of water falling on her nose. She looked up to see the darkened sky and ran to her destination. She traversed alley ways, some blocks and finally arrived to a bridge. She went under it when it started to rain lightly. She looked at a cardboard house and the beggar in front of it. The beggar saw her and smiled. “Did you bring it?” She nodded and threw the pack of cigs to him. He caught it deftly, showcasing that he just wasn’t some ordinary beggar. He sat down and gestured her to sit as well which she did. He opened the cigarette pack and took one cigar out. He kept the pack inside his stitched pocket while taking out a matchbox. He used it to light the cigar and slowly drew the smoke in before letting it out in front of her. Her face scrunched up in displeasure as she waved her hand to clear the smoke. She spoke out in displeasure. “Anything about the yakuza I was talking about?” The beggar just grinned and shook his head. “No news whatsoever. He knows that my information network is keeping him tabbed. He is young but he is not a fool. But he can’t do anything to me as there are many other yakuza organizations in this city who rely on my information. He is still new to this business otherwise he will be destroyed soon if he did not know how to navigate in this city. You know girl? I give you my information for cheap because I owe a favor to the ones who take care of you, otherwise few thousands would be the least price for my information.” She nodded as she asked. “Do you know what he will do next?” He just shrugged. “Well, I got only paid for one question.” She scowled as he just smirked. “Then I will give this one for free. Despite being new he has many high connection, he might as well had used something already. Hehehe from the looks of it, he is clearly obsessed with you; why don’t you reciprocate his feeling? You might as well be his wife and live your life in luxury.” Her scowled deepened which answered his question as he guffawed even harder. That bastard simply wanted to get a rise out of her misery. “No need to give me death glare lass, go back to your place. It’s going to rain hard.” She just stood up and looked outside. It was gradually raining harder. She looked at him as he just waved and she ran out scowling. It took her 30 minutes, many left and right turns when she finally reached to a gate. An iron gate which creaked as she pushed it open. A little further was a big poorly maintained church which also acted as an orphanage. She entered the church through the door and was greeted by rows and rows of old squeaky benches. There was an alter in the front with an angry looking woman in nun attire standing near to it. “Sister Fubuki…” Sister Fubuki just looked at her sternly before sighing. “Dear Lord, Kimiko!…. Just what am I going to do with you? Do you know what time it is? 7 pm!” Kimiko just looked away in shame. Sister Fubuki just went closer as she crouched and looked at her. “O’ heaven, just look at you! You are drenched! Just where and why did you go in this rain?” Kimiko just looked to the side, refusing to meet the pleading eye of the Sister, as she said in a low voice. “To run some errand.” Fubuki just looked at her sadly while patting her head. “You don’t need to do this for money, Kimiko. We are responsible for your well-being you know. Hurry to your room to change your clothes. I folded you towel and kept it on your bed. Be sure to be quiet as the other kids are already sleeping.” She thanked Fubuki as she went upstairs slowly. She opened her door carefully and walked inside. The room was small with barely enough space for 1-meter wide bed but considering she had almost nothing with her, it was enough. She only had few clothes, a photo, a piggybank and some copies and books from her younger days before she dropped out from 1st year High-school. She was the only one who lived alone because she was nearly an adult while the others were younger kids. They all huddled together in a big room while she slept alone. She was always alone, even kids usually stayed away from her as she really did not seem to connect to kids who were 10 years her junior. She looked the only thing she considered her precious thing; a faded picture of a young couple with a baby in the middle. It was a picture of her parents before an accident took them away. From there, her life swirled downwards. Her parent’s relative took most of her possession away and sent her to orphanage. She started her study and studied up to 1st year of High school until someone took a fancy to her. Why did he fancy her? Because she was the only one who actively resisted his advance. A cocky man who was the leader of a Yakuza family. Harassment was a constant and she had to leave the school because he pulled some string with the Principal. Now she was here. She smiled ruefully. “I guess it can’t get any worse, can it?” She changed her clothes into her nightgown after drying her soaked hair with a towel. She felt a thirsty due to the fact that she jogged her way to the Orphanage. She slowly got out of the room and tip-toed to the kitchen at the end of the corridor. She took her glass and drank two glasses of water to quench her thirst. As she was returning she could hear muffled voices from the room of the Sisters. There were two sisters taking care of this old and worn out church; Sister Fubuki and Sister Rachael. Kimiko pressed her ear to the door to hear what they were talking about so silently. “We can’t go on any longer.” The voice belonged to Sister Rachael. She seemed to be stressed out by something. “I will try to do something. I will ask the Mayor for his reason to cut off the funds. We barely live by with the help of the fund but now? Who will take care of the orphans?” Sister Fubuki seemed to be worried as well. Suddenly Kimiko remembered the word that the begger informant had given her. “He has many connection…” Kimiko just stared at a distance. She questioned to herself like always. “Why…?” *Pit pat* Tear dropped from her eyes as she clenched her fist. She silently went to her room and closed it. Then she went to her bed and used the pillow to muffle her scream of frustration. “Why me?” “Why do these things always happen to me?” “There are many girls in this world, why did he had to choose me?” “Why does this world hate me so much?” “First it took away my parents, then my only friend, then my school and now? It wants to take what little happiness I have left?”  That night, for the first time, she cried herself to sleep. The next morning was hazy. She woke up quite late with her long hair all tangled up. She was yawning out a bit while her eyes were slightly swollen. The sun had already risen as she looked through the window. She looked at her watch and it was 9 am. “Oops..” She changed her dress to the one she had worn before; grey hoodie and black tights. It was a bit worn out but it was the only thing with her that wasn’t patched. The kids would already have breakfast so she looked at the piggybank near her. She got out of the room with few 100 yens. She decided she would eat out of the Church. She went to the bathroom and washed her face. Then she slipped out of the door of the Church without raising the sound as she sprinted across the lawn. She watched the children play in the garden while the Sisters were looking out for them. They saw her but before they could say anything, Kimiko sprinted out of the gate. A bit of a dick move to the people who took care of her for 13 years. She knew her way as she weaved between people to a stall which sold cheap ramen. She ordered the cheapest one as well to fulfill her stomach. The taste was bland but it was filling her stomach well and was warm. However, she looked distracted as a thought occupied her head. ‘What should I do? To stop him from cutting off the fund?’ Just as she was musing while eating, she felt herself be grabbed and yanked away. She fell down and kicked the offending person from beneath her. The man who had grabbed her was caught by someone as he straightened up. Her eyes widened as she snarled in rage. “YOU PEDOPHILE!!” The man simply smiled, showing his disgusting yellowed teeth. He was around the age of mid-twenties. His face was horrendous as many acnes littered his face while his goons were surrounded him. Probably the one who caught him while Kimiko kicked him. “Yes it is me. Missed me, darling? By the way, pedophile is such a crass word.” She shivered in disgust at the pedophile. The man in front of her was the one responsible for her current situation. The people surrounding them parted away so as to not to get in the way of their business. Cowards, the lot of them. She snarled as she spat her words venomously. “Never will I ever miss you, fucker!” The man seemed to revel in her disgust as he shivered in, what looked like, pleasure. He swaggered haughtily as he spoke. “Yes, I just can’t get enough of your expression. That lovely little snarl and how I wish to twist you into my pet will be a sight in of itself. You do care for your Orphanage right? If so, then knell and submit to me. If you did, then I might consider refunding that decrepit Church of yours.” Her face suddenly turned into worry at the mention of her home. It quickly turned fierce as he was the one responsible for it. But every glimpse of her face seemed to enthrall the man as he questioned her. “What is your answer? Be my woman and live in lavish lifestyle or…. There is no ‘or’. That is simply your fate from the day you crossed my path.”   She simply ran away while the shop owner said nothing to the Dine and dash scenario. Probably, wishing the Yakuza to go away. The ugly man just sighed as he commanded his goons. “Get her. Whoever brings her to me will get a million yen! Today I shall make her mine.” His goon whistled and cheered as they ran after her. After several minutes of being chased she was finally cornered in a dead end alley way. She looked front only to see 5 of his goons blocking the only way to escape. She had no training whatsoever to take them on. They just looked at her as if she was some kind of misbehaving pet and the thought of being in his mercy, disgusted her to the core. She smiled wearily. ‘Better to die than be broken.’ Without any hesitation she took a pocket knife, a knife she always brought everywhere with her, from her hoodie and aimed it at her throat. But before she could do anything the ground beneath her glowed and suddenly she was gone, leaving a pocket knife behind. Kimiko felt like she was suddenly in a high-speed roller coaster as she tumbled here and there with the blue light works. She was sure that the moment when everything turned normal; she would barf out all the food she had just eaten. Then the vertigo ended and she found herself in an old looking room with what looked like stone built room. It had many bookshelves crammed with books, tables stacked with paper, quills and pens and what looked like a chandelier. There was a weird circle with many different kinds of symbols below her and smoke was coming out of it. An old man with a long grey beard who wore a robe with a book in one hand was staring at her in utter surprise. The other people, his colleague by the same dress code, also looked at her with wide eyes. Then a pandemonium broke out in the room. The old man seemed to laugh before he shouted happily. “Hahahahaha! I was right! This is the circle that I have created which can summon Heroes from another world!!” ‘What?’ But before she could voice out her thought, suddenly the door to the room banged open and several people came in wearing armor like they did during the time of Kings. She wondered why the heck were they cosplaying? They seemed to talk to each other and to the robed people in small voice. They all pointed to the old man and her before they ran out of the door. Then she was alone with the crazy old man and the cosplayers. One of them came before her to grab her. She flinched, causing her to stumble and fall on her butt. But the man in armor seemed to not mind and simply yanked her. She yelped in pain as she tried to pull her hands away from him. But it seemed that his grip on her hand was simply too strong. “Hey!” The armored man seemed to grumble in minor annoyance. “Be quiet, otherwise you will be executed!” Kimiko stared in confusion. Damn it! She did not what was going on! Then a scream startled her. It was laced with confusion as well, just like she was. “What? What is going on!” It was the old man as he backed away. “What are you doing!” She looked to the side at the old man as he stumbled and fell to his back. The mad man had said something about Heroes. She looked downwards as she thought of a very impossible scenario. ‘Wait a damn minute! I…… was summoned? You can do that? That genre was real? Isekai do exist?’ whoosh *Slice* But before she could ponder, she heard a ripping sound and something wet hit the side of her face. She touched her face with her hand as something slippery and red graced her fingers. It smelled like iron and her hand was shaking. Just like in the movies when a man gets cut with a slicing object or something. Kimiko had seen such a movie in her friend’s house before she passed away. She looked to her side and saw another armored man, who was  different than the others. While the solders wore iron forged armor that was grayish in color, this one was wearing a black cape and dark bluish kind of armor. He had sliced the old man on the chest with his sword. The old man gurgled as his own blood choked him. “….W..hy?...” The caped man simply stated coldly. “According to Amrita Empire law: Any form of experiment on the summoning of Heroes, without the consent from the Temple of Origin, is rewarded with Death. Thank the Death Goddess that you are swiftly taken out. Otherwise, you’d be tortured to death. Though I have to ask why? You were a genius old man who taught another rising genius, Solomon. Why commit this felony?” The old man just laughed trails of blood spattered the ground. “You…. know….. that the Temple….. is going… to lose….. You all…. Are just….. too arrogant…. to…. see that…..However….. you were….. waiting for…. Me to… do this, weren’t you? …… It’d be too….. convenient that….. you arrived…. just when…. the savior….. was summoned….” The guard just shook his head as his voice turned cold. “Yeah, someone wanted to deal with you then your protégé. Thought that you were a threat to Amrita and her interest. And that little girl is no savior. Remember old man, we are not going to lose against some Demon King. Amrita Empire has already sent 30 million troops to aid the Temple. We will overwhelm him and kill him off. Let him tremble before the might of the largest Empire of Vesperia.” The old man just coughed as his eyes turned weaker and weaker but one could hear he say few words before he died. “Pride…. Cometh… before…. The…. Fall….. Oh Amrita!.... how…. I have….. failed you….” Kimiko’s heart chilled when the blood coated armored man looked at her. She could not see his eyes through his helmet but knew it was probably analyzing her. The guard who was in front of her asked the caped man who seemed to be his superior. “What should we do with her?” She was scared of the man who killed others so nonchalantly. She was shaking because she thought that she was next. She was pretty sure she would have leaked in her pants. The man just wiped the blood off of his sword before the sheathing it. He just looked at her before shrugging, casually dismissing her as a threat. “Don’t know. She is supposed to be this ‘Hero’ or something. Bring her before the Emperor and let his majesty decide her fate.” This was how she found herself in front of a huge hallway laced with marble and chandelier with hand cuff on her hand as well as chains on her feet. In front of her was a 20 feet Throne with a man sitting on it, who looked very menacing and intimidating. He had a rough black hair with a hook nose, small eyes and a scar that started from the left side of his chin and ended to his left forehead. He wore more militaristic kind of clothes with medals on the left side of his chest and a big bastard sword on the right side of the Throne. At the side were a group of people who wore gaudy and tacky clothes. She felt like she was in a zoo with people squinting their eyes to look at her. Then she was rudely shoved onto the ground before the caped man himself kneeled in front of the man. He snarled at her. “Kneel before the Emperor! This is your first as well as the final warning and respect him! Love live the Emperor!!” The Emperor just raised his hand to keep silence as silence reined in the room. He spoke in a gruff voice. “What do we have here, Colonel?” The scary man, who was a colonel, just raised his head as he spoke. “Your majesty, we found that the [Sage] Bernold had committed a crime of Summoning Heroes on his own and she is the result of it.” The room seemed to erupt in murmur and discussion. The emperor just looked at her and shook his head before raising his hand to silence the crowd. “What happened to him?” The colonel explained. “I executed him for violating the law.” The Emperor just sighed as he gestured the man to go on. “So why have you brought her here?” “So as to decide what should be done to her, your majesty.” The Emperor just stayed in silence as he seemed to ponder. Kimiko just gulped, thinking how ironic that her fate was to be decided by a man as well. She was feeling a bit lost as well, could she even go back? Was there a way to even go back? Did she even want to go back? The Emperor commanded. “Bring her status over here.” The colonel nodded before grabbing her by the hair as she instinctively tried to defend herself. Then he took out a knife as Kimiko turned stiff, her eyes at the knife which was coming closer. “No!” She struggled as the colonel grunted. She then felt a stinging pain on her cheek. He had smacked her on the cheek with his gloved hand. He said with the same cold voice. “Stay still otherwise this is going to hurt you more, little girl.” She whimpered as she did so. He nicked a little of her hand with a knife as a drop of blood formed on it. He brought out a big paper from somewhere (Magic? She thought) and dabbed it on her blood. Then suddenly words started to form on the paper. He, unceremoniously, let her go as she curled herself on the ground to make herself smaller. He took the paper to the Emperor who looked at it. “Pretty average…. [Unique Skill]? [Devour]. Able to take a skill or magic from the target? A skill fit for a thief not a Hero….” The crowd burst into laughter as she curled even further. The Emperor looked at the little girl with no emotions in his eyes. “I have decided your fate, little girl.” Her body shook a little. Was she about to die? “You are to be trained in the art of combat.” The crowd murmured in disbelief. The Emperor banged his hand on the arm of his Throne before standing up. “Silence! She is to be trained and to be put into battle. She will be fighting for the Amrita Empire. We do not need Heroes, only soldiers. She will be put into good use!” What? She will be trained? One of the member of the crowd voiced his confusion. “Who will train her? And what about the Temple?” The people in the crowd looked at each other in disgust. The Emperor spoke. “She will be sent into the Border Town under the supervision of Captain Petra. I know none of the others will train her due to the prejudice of foreign blood annexed into Amrita during our Bloody Campaign before the Demon King arrived. No need to deny that there is no discrimination going on. Only Captain Petra and her squad can train her properly without them discriminating her. Captain Petra's record is impeccable as she valiantly defended the Border Town from [Demons] and [Cultist] alike. She was already on her way to become a General if not the intervention of someone just because she was of foreign blood." He looked pointedly at the figures sitting in the crowd as the person shifted uncomfortably. He continued on. "She is going to be an asset in the future and I don’t need someone else hampering her growth. Send her to the Priscilla Border Town. As for the Temple? I will deal with them about this botched Summoning.” Then she was yanked by her chain. It was the asshole from earlier. But she felt a little faint from all this fiasco and him doing such thing added more needless stress. He scowled as he looked at her. “Move, your fate has been decided.” ‘Such an asshole!’ Then she was again rudely pushed from the place as she walked away a little faster, not wanting to be pushed. As she went out of the door a boy entirely garbed in white and yellow with a staff seemed to enter the place. Though he wore a white hood she could see white long silky hair coming out from the hood. Then she was led to a dining hall where she was given bland food and then shoved into an old carriage after finishing her food. Her cuff and chains were removed by the normal guards before she was sent inside the carriage. She massaged her wrist and leg. Then the guard locked the door and said something to the coachman as he nodded. ‘Welcome to a foreign world where people need a Hero, huh? What a load of Bullshit! Burn this place to the ground for fuck’s sake, I don’t give a shit!’ This is just a prologue. The chapters will be published later on in the future but not before I have published more chapters to my other story. Yup her personality was like this.

I don't plan to release this story to the public because I feel it will be sullying the series. I will be releasing the ideas that made me make it. Rough outline: A forty year old symbol of peace version Deku gets thrown into the past in the middle of a fight by a villain. This version of Deku has complete control over his quirk and all of the quirks he inherited. Deku's quirks not in order, I can't remember. Float. Exactly in the name. One for all makes it almost a true flight quirk, or maybe a solid air quirk, not sure. Black whip. A magical black whip like energy that comes out from his body. Gets stronger, but less controllable with emotions. Fa jin. Untranslatable Chinese word. Allows him to increase the power in an action, especially using other quirks. One example in the manga is black chain. Black whip powered up by Fa Jin reforms itself into a much tougher black chain. Fa Jin has a requirement to hold a certain pose to charge up the action. The pose doesn't matter but it needs to be held for several seconds I think? Gear shift. A minor time acceleration quirk. Allows him to shift anything he touches into higher gear, making them faster. If the quirk works like the name says, (it might not in canon but it does here) it could be possible to shift into park and reverse, freezing and reversing time. Danger sense. A powerful sense that detects hostile intent. Very overwhelming, but could be used to see in situations you can't otherwise. Smokescreen. A basic smokescreen ability, produces white gas. Gas is probably breathable? One for all overclocked the production aspect of the quirk, it can fill a city block in seconds. If gas isn't breathable that could cause a lot of deaths. This story also has the theory that Deku had a quirk in childhood, but the doctor worked for all for one and the quirk was stolen. This is important because in this version, for a reason I haven't come up with yet, (probably all for one dying) Deku regains his original quirk. I know Deku's mom had a telekinesis quirk and I heard somewhere that his dad might have a fire breathing quirk so I threw together his quirk quickly. In this AU Deku has the quirk starlight, which normally makes little sparkles wherever he wants them. Juice it up with one for all and Fa Jin and suddenly they're not sparks, but literal, fusion power stars. Moving on I had the brilliant thought of, well what would happen if he used all of his quirks at once? Only including the canon ones of course. Well the black chain combination of black whip and Fa Jin gave me an idea. What about the black armor? He covers himself with black whip and fills the space between with smokescreen gas. He hardens the black whip with Fa Jin and he is now inside an incredibly pressurized suit of armor with no gaps.  Several problems, one no airholes, two no sightlines, three why? This is only viable if smokescreen gas is breathable, by the way, if it isn't he would be able to choke out an entire block in seconds, himself included. Sightlines is taken care of by Danger sense if it's under control. Third is because I want it to and I can't think of any other way to make smokescreen a vital part of the ultimate maximum quirk usage ability. He can use float to fly and he can use gearshift to make himself faster. He is gonna be teleporting around like he has ultra instinct.

Before the story starts, the author has something to say! I don't support scheming or pretending to be somebody you're not just to make the person you like like you back. I am just using it as a plot-driver of this story. It's always better to show your true self in relationships, don't you think? This way, the relationship would be genuine! *** Valentines day at S Company. "This is so stupid. I should've been on a date with my boyfriend right about now, but instead I'm rotting here," Hana turned to look at the woman complaining beside her. Her name was Sue, a woman in her mid-20s. Within the three months of working with her, Hana could only describe her as a person with beautiful curly hair and a loud mouth. "You're not the only one who's been stolen precious time from. Even Edith over there had plans with her fiancé." "Ugh," Hana almost rolled her eyes at Sue's groaning. If you wanted to go on tons of dates so much why don't you just go ahead and resign, but of course they weren't that close for her to say out loud. Hana gathered the printed-out files that had been sent to her to the next room to get it punched with holes and put it into folders. After doing so, she went to knock at Hubert's door. "It's Hana." "Come in," A muffled voice from the inside came, and she took it as cue to come inside. Hubert's office was messy as usual. It hasn't been even a day since she last cleaned the place, and now another pile of documents were sat on a corner, and the chair for guests was even occupied by binders stacked on each other. "Here are the reports that you requested to be printed out." "Good, good, put it right there." Hana frowned. "Where?" There wasn't even a place on his office table. "There, on top of the binders," Hana could only sigh as she worried whether the printed-out reports would get lost somehow. Even though it was supposed to be a holiday, the company still made them work their usual shifts. It wasn't a problem for Hana since she was a single dog, but for those who aren't and initially had plans for today, they spent the day feeling bad. She had to endure their whining until it was ten o'clock pm. "What did you say? General manager Rossmann would take us out for dinner?" "No, company dinner." Jake, from floor five who just arrived to tell them the news, nodded. "Valentines company dinner." "Are you kidding me? And now I have to cancel my valentines dinner with my boyfriend,"Sue almost cried. Just when they were about to be let off, here came this. Hana could sympathize with her coworkers who just wanted to go home. She wanted to just sink in her white mattress and sleep, doesn't matter if she'd change clothes. She was that tired. And so, after cleaning up, they all headed towards the nearby restaurant just as instructed. The restaurant was a 4-star buffet. When they've arrived, surely everyone inside was an employee of S Company. "They really went all out and rented the whole place, huh," Hana took the lead and went to find an empty table for their team, but after going around, there were only empty chairs in different tables. Since they were a tad bit later than the rest, they had no choice but to go scatter ahead and sit with another team. "Hana, sit here!" She searched for the source of Hubert's voice and found that he was sitting on a table at the farthest back of the restaurant. While she was reluctant sitting with him and his friends, she still went. It was Hubert who called her, afterall. Hubert had pulled the chair beside him for her, and she gave him a smile as thanks. "Do you want me to introduce you to them?" Hubert asked. But before she could answer he already turned to his company. It was a pretty long table. Hana's eyes raked through the people she could see, and the ones who had their eyes on her gave her a smile, to which she returned. "Everyone, this is Hana, my assistant." "Hello, Hana," "Hi," "Nice to meet you," "Likewise,"she could only smile wide, crinkling her eyes into crescent moons. "Hana? Like, Hannah Bailey, the actress?"A guy had joked. At the mention of the film empress, the people at the table laughed at this, including Hana. "Hana, Hana Lin," She 'corrected', leaning forward to show herself chuckling along. Because he was seated two seats away from Hubert(who was at Hana's left side), she didn't have the opportunity to look at his face, and realize that this guy had beyond average looks. Very beyond average, in fact, she had thought she deluded herself into seeing an angel. Wavy strands of hair shadowed his creamy white-skin that reddened at the area of his cheeks and the tip of his nose due to alcohol. His long lashes trembled slightly when they met eyes. If she were to pick a word to describe him most... it wasn't 'handsome', but beautiful. It was indeed like that of an angel; pure and soft. This was ridiculous. How can there be a human being who looked this celestial? It seemed like she had stared so much to the point Hubert, who was beside her, had to cough like he had swallowed in the wrong pipe. "Looks like another one has turned into Kris' victim."He chuckled, and the others followed suit in his teasing. "As expected of Kris," "This rascal's face always causes trouble," "Now we know miss Hana's type," Heat crawled upward her face as she laughed her embarassment off. "He's just too good-looking. As a woman, I got ashamed for a moment," Hearing her humorous self-deprication, she was automatically regarded as a fun person by the people at the table and they became more relaxed and welcoming towards her. They spent the night away laughing and chatting under the influence of alcohol. Hana eventually became distracted from Kris as she listened to the woman before her talk about her kids at home, but little did she know, a pair of eyes discreetly observed her every action. - Holy shit. My head hurts so fucking bad. Hana cradled her 'pulsing' forehead with her hands. It hurt so much to the point where she couldn't even join conversations anymore as she concentrated on making the pain ache less. She'd thought that she'd be pretty okay when it comes to alcohol tolerance, but she seemed to have overestimated herself. Only five cups in and she was already a mess. Or was it the alcohol? She had no idea what brand it was, how strong it is. "Hey, are you okay?" After a solid 30 minutes, Hubert had just noticed his little assistant being ridiculously quiet. "...I think I have to go home." Hubert understood that she was clearly feeling sick, and announced to everyone that she'd be leaving first. "How will you get home?" "Are you sure you don't need a ride?" "It's alright. I'll just call for a taxi." she dismissed the polite offers and stood up. She can no longer endure the stench of mixed liquors and fried food, she had to get out of the restaurant before she barfs. Once she went out, she breathed in the cold night air and immediately her mood became slightly better. She leaned at the near lamppost as she brought out her phone to get a taxi, but a voice spooked her out of her wits first. "I'll drive you home." She turned around abruptly and sighed in relief after seeing a familiar face. "Sir Kris." Examining his face once again, her heart shook. Under the orange-ish light of the lamppost, his face glowed like it was illuminated by the sunset. Again, brilliant. Beautiful. "Stay here while I get my car." Before he could even leave, she immediately shook her head. "Oh no! I dare not to. I'll just call for a taxi." "Are you sure?" He frowned. "I'm not drunk. My head's just hurting." She gave him a small smile in assurance."I could take care of myself, so you can go right ahead." She could not just take up the offer of being driven home by a person—a superior, that she had just met that day. First reason was that she was really embarassed about the state her house was in. It was undergoing construction so everywhere was dirty, with cement blocks everywhere. Second reason was that, even though a person was attractive, you wouldn't know their intentions. The only people she'd trust to give her address to would be online stores, definitely. He still had his pretty face crumpled in concern, and at that moment Hana almost offered him a ride instead. "If it makes you feel at ease, you wouldn't be accountable of my death."Hana joked, and at this, his expression finally laxed. "If you really insist... but know that you're not allowed to refuse next time."He gave her a small smile, before walking away to the parking lot. As his figure slowly vanished from her sight, she couldn't help but chuckle. "Next time...as if." - hanamari uploaded a new post! hanamari Today I met an angel at our company dinner. I have been humbled to the extent of wondering whether I had the right to breathe the same air as him. A smile graced the man's lips as he read the post. Hanamari... She was a user who has 10k followers on Instagram. An influencer who posts pictures of herself with the most whimsical lens and editing. Ever since Kris saw a picture of her at an ad, he scrambled to find her social media handle and even went as a far as to even make an instagram and twitter account just to follow her. Today was Valentines. He had no plans for himself, so just like last year, he let himself be dragged to the usual restaurant the company always arranged in whenever there's any event. When he downed his first shot, he had thought that the night was set off to be a long one. Until she came over. "Everyone, this is Hana, my assistant." He blinked, as he stared at the newcomer at their table. Long black hair that draped over her face like a veil. She wore huge thin-rimmed square glasses, but the mole underneath the corner of her right eye was still visible. She gave all of them a small smile that seemed coquettish, but lovely all the same. It was her. There's no mistaking that the woman before him was the flesh and blood of hanamari, the woman who he has been following online for the past year. She greeted everyone with a smile and a small nod, and he couldn't help but want to catch her attention. "Hana? Like, Hannah Bailey, the actress?" Finally, she turned to look at him. "Hana, Hana Lin." But what's this? "Looks like another one has turned into Kris' victim." "As expected of Kris," "This rascal's face always causes trouble," She looked like she was in a trance for a second, and once she snapped out of it, she laughed. "He's just too good-looking. As a woman, I got ashamed for a moment," Too good looking? His lips curled into a smirk. It really was a wonder for him to hear the voice of the woman who he had just saw posing behind the screen compliment him. Throughout the night, she interacted with the others warmly but at the same time, politely. She seemed to know that the table she was in at the moment was all occupied by her superiors, so even though she exchanged playful banter with them, she dare not cross the boundaries of a lackey. He didn't expect her to be this kind of a cautious person, but that doesn't mean that it was a bad thing. Kris actually found this amusing. Before he knew it, she went outside after bidding farewell, and he caught himself catching up to her. "I'll drive you home." The act of her jumping a bit in shock was such a funny thing for him, his eyes had a hint of laughter, which she failed to notice. "Sir Kris." By now she was red all over, from her cheeks up to the tips of her ears. Even her lips was red and plump after eating a lot of the spicy chicken wing. He frowned. Such a tempting appearance, wouldn't someone take this chance of weakness to pounce on her? "Stay here while I get my car." Before he could even leave however, she immediately shook her head. "Oh no! I dare not to. I'd just call for a taxi." "Are you sure?" It was more of a question to himself than to her, to be honest. Was he really going to leave her alone to her own devices? "I'm not drunk. My head's just hurting." She gave him a small smile in assurance."I could take care of myself, so you can go right ahead." Isn't it still the same? A woman as frail and thinly as her infected with a headache, would she be able to fight off a huge burly man with nasty intentions? "If it makes you feel at ease, you wouldn't be accountable of my death."Hana joked, and at this, he could only sigh at her stubborness. She seemed to be a person who treasured privacy, personal space, and pride more than anything else. Such a person, he'd rather not force. Besides, it was their first time meeting, so it was understandable for her to be uncomfortable with him. Someone who's on their guard always... wasn't that a good thing? Like a cat who's always wary, even if it was at its own home. Unbeknownst to him, a small smile slowly formed at his lips. "If you really insist... but know that you're not allowed to refuse next time." - hanamari uploaded a new post! hanamari random q&a because i have nothing to do. i'll answer as many as i can :D Kris thought for a moment, before his fingers start to type a question he had initially wanted to ask her in person. skribo what do you look for in a partner? Surprisingly, the reply came fast. Not a minute had passed and he could already see the reply to his comment. hanamari you mean, ideal type? i don't require much, i simply prefer someone who's dog-pure*. (*Dog-Pure = level of naivety/innocence is like that of a dog's) The eagerness in Kris dissapitated in the air like water vapor. What do you mean 'don't require much', a dog-pure person does not even exist in this world! If there ever was, Kris would cut his arm off. He shut off his phone in disappointment. By now he could only see black, but eventually, he stared at the reflection of his face from the phone's glass screen. She did say that he had a face like an angel. And angels do seem like nice people. The type of person who wouldn't hurt a fly even if someone put a gun beside their ear. Because of his face, did her first impression of him meant like this? The crinkle between his brows finally smoothened, and he comfortably leaned back on his couch with a dazed expression. - Hana widened her eyes at the news brought upon her by Hubert. Earlier this morning, she received a call from him. He vaguely told her to come to work earlier than usual, and she did precisely that in hopes for a raise. But if she only had known that she'd lose her job instead, she would've went with less enthusiasm! "You've resigned? For real?" Where was she to go if he leaves? She was hired independently by him, naturally her fate would be in his hands. Now that he's going, wouldn't that mean that she'd have to go as well? "Yes. So I want you to clear out the office for me." She was still restless. Yes, she was a social media influencer at the side, but she still had huge debts to pay, and not to mention it was the start of March—her WiFi, electricity and water bills were about to come. She went closer to him and dared to exchange looks with him using watery eyes. "Is it really final? Do you really have to go?" Hubert's spine chilled as he heard her use a coquettish tone with such questionable words. "...you don't want me to leave?" "I don't!" She really doesn't. His pupils shook before he loudly sighed at her. "Look, I don't want to say this but,"he paused to give her a look that somehow stems from pity."I am already a married man." What? Suddenly bragging about his marriage? Here she was about to lose her mind because of the fact of her being unemployed soon, was he treating her like a joke? "Is that important?"she said in aggravation. "I love my wife very much." Hana thought that she had finally got what he meant. Does he love his wife that much to the point he had to resign in order to spend more time with her? To make another lose their job? Wow, not only was she fed dog food*, she was also forced to see how people with lots of money live their lives smoothly! (*comes from the expression 喂狗粮 (wèi gǒu liáng) ‘To feed dog food’ – A couple show love in front of single people) Meanwhile, Hubert on the other hand also misunderstood. Her eyes seeming to beg for him not to go, her looking offended when he brought up his wife. He didn't know that the young-woman-from-work-seduces-married-man trope from dramas would actually happen to him, and precisely because it was from dramas he would not let Hana be lead on. He could only give her a look of pity as she seem to give him a heated look. A good woman, what made her mental to fall in love with a guy like him? "This would be the last time we meet each other. If you have anything else to say, you could just call me." He walked away from her but then paused at the doorway to look at her over his shoulder. "But after I finally leave, I want you to delete my number." When he finally left, Hana could barely stop herself from spitting on the ground. Instead, she managed to just fan herself with her hand to cool down her blood pressure. Did he really have to make his exit that dramatic? Naturally, she'd erase the numbers of people she wouldn't get in contact with. He wanted her out of his life that badly? With a heavy heart, she then started cleaning. - The next day, Hana thought for a long time if she'd go to work. Hubert was gone for good. Did she have a reason to stay? Maybe if she applied for another job in S Company. So she finally dressed herself up and went with the reasons of re-employment...and also for cleaning up the last few things she put off yesterday in Hubert's office. Arriving at the company late was a first for her, but at the moment she didn't give it much thought. Pressing the button for the fourth floor in the elevator, she waited for the doors to close. Until a hand suddenly spooked her and came in between the closing doors. She immediately pressed the open doors button, and as the elevator doors did, the person she saw was someone she didn't expect. The man's facial features was soft and graceful, even more so when he gave her a smile. "Sir Kris." She greeted, almost breathlessly. "Good morning." he finally stepped in. Being alone with him at the small enclosed space pressured her, she started praying to every God she knew to make people enter and get in between the two of them. However, work hours already started not too long ago, so very few would even do so. "Where to?" She finally spoke once the elevator passed the first floor. She noticed that he handn't pressed any buttons since entering. "I'm also headed to the fourth." he answered lightly. Fourth? What was he going to do on our floor? She frowns, but decide to not think about it too much since it's none of her business. With no more words exchanged between the two of them, she entertained herself by glancing at Kris who was at her front from time to time. Maybe because it wasn't dark and she was finally clear-headed, but she had just noticed how built he was. Broad shouldered with a muscular back. Even his lower half was equally pleasing, sporting thick legs and round buttocks. She'd just seen and remembered his pretty face, she thought he'd be scrawny— so seeing him in this body-hugging business suit was a surprise. After gawking at him for awhile, Hana secretly cursed in her heart. How come she only had two encounters with him? Now that she's leaving, she not only feels down for losing her job, she also feels down at the probability of not seeing another Kris in her lifetime. A man with a pure and delicate face but with a body that says otherwise. A beautiful art of contradiction, was this really the last time we meet? They went out of the elevator at the same time. It was perfectly normal, but what's not normal was him taking the same path as hers. They both headed to Hubert's office. "Excuse me, but what are you doing here?" Not that she needed to know. He walked around the room for a moment as if he was inspecting a house for lease, making her frown. This attitude, where was it coming from? Kris then turned to her and answered, "I got promoted to replace Hubert." Re...place...? "You're the new marketing director?" He seemed to find her being in a state of shock funny, the laughter in his eyes and lips showed. "My assistant doesn't seem to have trust in my abilities." "That's not it," she says almost immediately. "I honestly think you're good at your job, I—" She had just now procesed what he had just said previously. Say what? "...'my assistant'?" she repeated what he had said, doubting her ears. "I'm the new marketing director, aren't I?" "I'm not fired?" If the assurance went on, her excitement and relief would reach its peak. She begged him in her mind to take her in. "Since when were you fired?" "I was hired independently by Hubert, not the company, so when he left, I thought I'd leave as well." "Haven't you heard? The independently-hired employees were eventually turned to actual company employees last month. Because technically, that's how it's supposed to be. "Independently-hired employees was only allowed initially because the company was new and out of sorts." Hearing his explanation, she felt enlightened, but at the same time she felt stupid. How come she doesn't know this? How come she's only knowing about this now? All those worrying for nothing! "Thank you," She then said, full of emotions. "What are you thanking me for? I did nothing."He chuckles at how she thanked him out of the blue. But she firmly shook her head. "I still want to thank you—because of your news I no longer worry about unemployment. Sir, I believe an angel like you would do well in the marketing department." That wasn't enough ass-kissing. If she could, she'd also dare call him a saint, but it was his first day, no need to rush. Developing good boss-and-lackey relationship should start early, however, so she already laid down the tracks. "An angel, huh..." She froze as she saw Kris smile bashfully, and his ears and neck that was previously creamy white in color was soon dyed bright red. He's shy...? Oh no. He was a grown man—even taller than her, and was now even her boss, but why... Why does she find him so cute!?

Jimmy was sitting in an armchair, eagerly awaiting her arrival, when he heard a knock on the door. He jumped up excitedly and opened it, revealing the sight of a disheveled Nancy. She looked exhausted. Her hair hung limply from her head and she was clutching the edges of her coat in a vice grip."Are you alright?" Jimmy asked her, taking her by the hand and leading her into the living room. Nancy dropped into an armchair."No," she said simply."Did something happen at work?" he pressed.Nancy sighed. She took another sip from her drink and put it down on a nearby table."I got fired.""You didn't!""I did." Jimmy gasped. This couldn't be happening. And just today when he decided to admit his feelings to her. How can he tell her now in a situation like this? What if he screws it all up? His heart began beating faster."What for?" he managed to stammer out, despite knowing the answer to his own question."I was late for work again."She stood up suddenly and paced back and forth between two chairs."My car broke down so I couldn't get to work on time. My boss, of course, didn't believe me. When I told him what happened, he accused me of lying. He told me that this was not the first time I was late and that he can no longer tolerate it. That's when he kicked me out of the company."Jimmy remained silent. He wasn't sure what to say. All he could think about was how disappointed she must have been."He's right," Nancy continued. "I always arrive late. But this time it wasn't my fault." She turned to face Jimmy, her eyes burning angrily. He wanted so badly to hold her in his arms and tell her that everything will be okay, but the fear of messing things up prevented him from doing so. She walked towards the window and stared outside at the rain. Then she spun around and faced Jimmy once more. Jimmy smiled encouragingly."It will be better. You'll find a better job, trust me."Nancy gave him an appraising look and shook her head. "No. It won't be as easy as that." She let out a deep sigh, then added, "But thank you, Jimmy."And with that she left. Jimmy sank back into the chair and rested his chin on his hand. If only Nancy would see how much he cares. That afternoon he and his friend Gary met at a coffee shop."Did you finally tell her how you feel about her?" Gary asked him."She was so sad that she got fired, I just couldn't.""I think that was just an excuse for you. Admit it, you didn't have the courage." Gary smirked and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. Jimmy rolled his eyes and chuckled."You're right.""I think you should tell her as soon as possible. After all, you said your feelings are getting stronger, the question is how much longer will you be able to hide them." Gary raised his eyebrow again. Jimmy sighed. Gary was right. It had taken him almost two months to realize how in love with Nancy he really was. Now that he did, he found himself unable to stop thinking about her. Whenever he saw her, he felt butterflies in his stomach. Every time he saw her smile or laugh it sent chills down his spine. He felt the need to hug her whenever he came across her, kiss her whenever they were alone together and just be near her. He couldn't imagine life without Nancy Wheeler in it. And as hard as he tried, Jimmy never knew how to approach Nancy about his feelings. After finishing his latte and paying for his drinks, Jimmy exited the coffee shop and went home. He'd been thinking all night about what Gary had told him, and this time he was determined to tell Nancy everything. He woke up the next morning around 7 p.m. He got dressed quickly and by 8:30 he reached Nancy's house, when he saw something through the window that broke his heart. Nancy was kissing some guy on the doorstep. They were laughing and seemed happy with each other. Jimmy's chest felt heavy. This was the last thing he ever hoped to see. Broken-hearted, he immediately headed home. That day, Gary called Jimmy countless times. He wanted to hear how it went with Nancy, but Jimmy didn't want to answer the phone. He was unable to talk to anyone because all he could focus on was the way that Nancy kissed the guy.  Jimmy spent the rest of the evening staring at his ceiling and wondering why this happened to him. The next morning, when he had calmed down a bit and collected himself, Jimmy called Gary."Why didn't you answer my calls? I was seriously worried." Gary sounded genuinely upset."Sorry, I wasn't able to talk.""From your voice, I would say that things did not go well. Did she turn you down?""No," Jimmy muttered."What happened then? Why are you in such a bad mood?" Gary pressed.Jimmy was thinking what to say when he heard a knock on the door. Without thinking twice, he ran over and opened the door. Nancy stood on the threshold of his house, wearing sweatpants and a Turtleneck sweater. Her long brown hair was pulled into a ponytail and she wore no makeup. She seemed tired; but her smile was wide, as if she couldn't be happier to see Jimmy."We'll talk later." He told Gary before hanging up and turning to face Nancy. 

Marē walked through the camp her army set up, her helmet hanging from a rope tied around her waist. Her eyes scanned the campsite, her normal blank expression more of a frown. From across the camp, a couple of knights watched their Commander while playing a game of cards, resting in what little shade the tent they were sitting next to provided them. Granted, the weather isn't actually harsh and is rather quite pleasant but, shade is still shade. "Is it just me or does the Commander look a bit different, like her eyes are less dull than usual?" One, named Grace, asked. The other two looked at Grace and Petie, the small short brown-haired knight, studied her Commander again before shaking her head. "Nope. She still looks the same to me," Petie said, failing to see what Grace was talking about.  "No...Grace may be right," Kandy, the knight with half black and half white hair and grey eyes. Out of the three friends, she isn't human. On the left side of her head was a white horn, standing out on the black side of her hair.  She was an oni, a type of demon. Normally, around the place where the Kingdom Of Alsmar, demons aren't treated kindly due to the brutal war they had with them not so long ago, but the Dark Knights don't discriminate. "She seems much more alive. Like she is eager for something...even more eager than how she normally is for battles." Petie let out a sigh and took another look at her Commander who was currently checking inside a barrel that holds potatoes, goods from a good deal away from the Kingdoms Faction.  "I guess I can see it...but why is she checking the potatoes? Normally, if she is bored she would go do some training. Besides, it's not like anyone is going to steal those things anyway. They taste horrible." Grace and Kandy nodded, recalling the taste of the food with disgust. Everyone in the Dark Knights had tasted the potatoes and not a single one liked them. Aga had said that it must be a thing only people in the West like. Although Grace didn't believe in different culture can result in different taste buds, mostly because her grandmother had drilled that into her head, she does agree with Aga. The only reason why they were bringing back potatoes in the first place was because, apparently, they lasted a long time. Because of this, they are useful as rations for armies.  "Hopefully we won't be the ones using those rations. Then again, we have three whole caskets full of em," Kandy muttered, causing Grace to let out a groan. "Barrels! Those are barrels, Kandy," Grace snapped at the oni, who scowled in response. "Yeah well, from where I come from, they're called caskets!" Kandy snapped back. The two started arguing much to Petie's annoyance, though she kinda expected it to happen. The smart yet uptight Grace and the lazy and stubborn Kandy always find something to argue about. Across the camp, Marē watched them, her head slightly cocked to the side. After a bit of watching them, she turned and started walking towards the northern entrance to the camp they set up. Once she got there, she looked at the big wooden fort in the distance. There next destination is there. Once they arrive, they will drop off their payload and return home which, from that fort, is a short walk.  Marē reached up in her hair and took out a little white flower, seemingly out of place on such a grim figure. She played around with it for a bit, her eyes closed. For some reason, Marē had suddenly found herself wanting to return home ever since she left, and she doesn't know why. Though, now that she thinks about it, it probably had something to do with that little girl who gave her this flower. Years have passed since then and Marē knows full well that the little girl probably isn't so little anymore, and probably isn't the same either. She was certain that she wouldn't recognize her either. While Marē's figure sure does stand out, that girl met her once and gave her a flower. It wouldn't be anything special to the girl but, to Marē, it was.  Even knowing this, Marē still wants to see that girl again, even if it is just for a moment. She wants to see if the person who somehow gave her light was doing well. Now that they were so close, Marē found herself feeling something she hasn't felt like in such a long time. .... .... ....She felt like a child.    ........   Nearby, a Dark Knight watched her master stare off into the distance, her hands absentmindedly yet gently playing with the flower. She had never known that her master could make such a face. Well, not anymore at least. She had seen Marē make a different expression from her normal blank and expressionless one once, and that was years ago, back when she, Rōma, first joined the Dark Knights. For some reason, she and Marē got along. However, after the past couple decades, Marē started treating her with what can almost be called indifference, like the rest of the Dark Knights.  Rōma's smile grew a little and she felt her heart start to beat faster. She had hope that maybe, just maybe, whoever that little girl is may be able to make Marē smile again.         The Princess And The Dark Knight Part 2 - An Odd Friend         Marē watched the young princess walk into her room with her friend, who she introduced her as Ruby Costella. Marē had heard of the last name, Costella before, and she was sure she even fought with someone going by that name once. However, it was quite a long time ago so Marē had forgotten it.  When she arrived with the princess, the young Costella looked at her with a mixture of awe and fear, emotions Marē is very familiar with.  On the other side of the door, the two girls were sitting on the bed, talking in a hushed manner even thought the doors are soundproof. Their topic is, to no one's surprise, about Marē, or as Ruby calls her, the- "The tall crazy-eyed woman. Care to tell me about her?" Ruby asked her friend. Sventlina let out a sigh and shook her head. "I don't think she looks old enough to be called a woman," Sventlina pointed out, not sure if she meant it as a joke or she said it seriously. "Well, the giant crazy-eyed person. Who is she?" Ruby asked again, changing her question slightly. "I honestly don't know," Sventlina admitted, shrugging, "but my father wants me to be her friend." Ruby raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that Sventlina's father has some...tendencies. "Not even her name?" Ruby asked. "Well, I know that much. Her name is Marē, like the horse, though I don't think her name is actually spelled that way." "Oh! She also has to be some kind of warrior in training since she takes orders from my father like a soldier would," Sventlina explained, recalling how Marē wouldn't stand up until her father gave the order. "...Isn't her name pronounced with a reh at the end instead of the horse name'?" Ruby suddenly asked. "I wouldn't know. Why do you think that?" Sventlina asked. "Well, I did some study on language and I think the name may be Japanese or Latvian. I don't know what it means though but, it is said in Latvian as Mar-reh." Sventlina blinked before stiffening a giggle. "Thanks for the lesson, teacher," Sventlina teased, causing Ruby to scoff her arms, "but both my father and Marē pronounced the name like the horse." "Yuck, you're beginning to sound like my mom," Ruby complained. Ruby's mother has been pushing her to start training as a teacher instead of trying to marry Ruby to some other house like most noble parents do. Since her mother has been so pushy about it, Ruby started to hate anything relating to teachers, even studying. That's also why she has been spending more time with Sventlina as of lately instead of staying at home and studying. Still, as the saying goes, once a bookworm, always a bookworm.  "Well, she probably isn't from Senshi but she doesn't look like she doesn't have Zhenshi and Senshi blood. Still, her name and bloodline doesn't tell me where she is from. Is she from another Kingdom?" Ruby shrugged this time. "How would I know? Your best bet is to either ask your father or ask her herself," Ruby pointed out before adding, "and your father is kinda out of the question." Sventlina looked at the door where she had a strong feeling Marē was waiting behind.  "Yeah but, won't that sound rude?" Sventlina asked. "I mean, it can be but that's not true most of the time," Ruby explained, "Besides, asking that is the most reasonable thing to do in this situation." 'She's not wrong.' Sventlina thought, looking back at the doors to her room. Sventlina was silent for a while before she shook her head, a sudden determined glint in her eyes. "You know what!? You're right. Let's just go and ask her," Sventlina said, getting off her bed. "That's the spirit!" Ruby said, getting off the bed with Sventlina. The two made their way to the bedroom doors and, after a brief four second hesitation, opened it and-   ....   ....   "Is she eating a chicken leg?" Ruby asked, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Why are the bones stacked up in a tower?" Sventlina asked, her expression mirroring Ruby's. In the middle of the hallway was Marē. She was on the floor eating a large drumstick in her left hand while playing with a small tower made of chicken bones, taking out one piece and putting it on top of the tower. All around her were bones and on a dark grey plate was what had to be twenty other untouched drumsticks. Nearby, a maid was watching this scene with an expression half in disgust and half in bewilderment.  Marē, after hearing the two girls talk, looked up from what she is doing and, completely oblivious to the situation she is in, waved at the two girls with her right hand before taking another big bite of the drumstick in her right hand. She swallowed quickly and stood up, dusting herself off and putting the mostly eaten drumstick on the plate. Once she did that, her hands flashed a light blue color. Sventlina recognized the spell as a basic cleaning one. "Hello! I was thinking if there was a game you two would like so I started setting up Bone Tower!" Marē cheerfully explained, pointing at the bone tower she had set up. "...Um, how do you play it?" Sventlina asked, surprising herself that she wanted to know. "Well, you take out a bone from the tower, not on the top, and try to make the tower not fall down. I played this with my comrades all the time," Marē explained. "Comrades? Is she Rolan?" Ruby asked herself under her breath. "But she doesn't look like a harpy...but then again, not everyone there is from the harpy family." Sventlina ignored her friend's muttering and focused on the beaming expression on Marē's face. 'She really does look like a puppy dog.' Sventlina thought before catching herself and shaking her head. "Um...is there a way to play without bones?" Sventlina asked, not wanting to touch bones that are...well, bones, but have also been close to if not in Marē's mouth. Marē cocked her head, reminded Sventlina of a child, and put a finger on her chin. After a couple of seconds of silence, Marē finally answered. "I don't know." Ruby and Sventlina raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?" Sventlina asked. "Nope!" Marē confirmed, leaning forward like how she did when Sventlina met her in the throne room, "We've only ever played with bones. Swords and other such weapons is a waste of tools and can cause some injury if not handled with care." "And those can't?" Ruby asked, pointing towards the bone tower.  Sventlina and Marē were confused by what she meant and looked at the bone tower again. After looking it over, Sventlina realized with a jolt that the end of the bones were gone, giving the bones a sharp point on both ends. "No, they won't," Marē said, looking up at Ruby with a perplexed look on her face, "Human skin can naturally withstand a full swing from a dull steel blade that's under one hundred and eighty pounds. Chicken bones won't pierce your skin." Ruby took a step back, flustered from how Marē explained something to her in such a "you should know this" way.  "What happened to the ends of the bones?" Sventlina suddenly asked, giving Ruby a much needed distraction. "Why I ate them," Marē simply said, smiling once again. "...." "...." "...." "...You ate them?" Sventlina asked, raising an eyebrow yet again. "Yep! Shame I couldn't eat the marrow or the rest of the bones." .... .... .... .... The silence that came after what Marē said was broken when Marē opened her mouth again, another perplexed look on her face. Realizing that she was about to give them another fact about human biology, Ruby ran forward and put a hand on Marē's mouth, a feat she was able to do because Marē was still leaning forward. "Hey, Sventlina! Why don't we go find some wooden blocks or something to use as replacements for the bones?" Ruby asked Sventlina, hoping she got the hint. "Oh! Y-yeah, sure," Sventlina quickly agreed. Ruby took her hand off Marē's mouth and walked past Marē. "Follow me! I know where we can get some." Sventlina walked past Marē and after her friend. Marē didn't join right away, instead standing upright. She doesn't really know what is happening but, seeing as they want to play and aren't unhappy, Marē was happy. So, with a tiny giggle, Marē walked after them...   ....a smile on her face.     Rolan: A somewhat large Faction that is the home of the harpies. They are known for calling their friends in battle comrades and having a somewhat strange accent. They used to be a Faction that loved war but, ever since their allies, the Demons, were defeated in battle, the Rolan Faction has been less frequent with their attacks. While some may call them cowards, one must take into account that the Rolan Faction were previously nearly wiped out by a disease and are still recovering, making them a rather weak Faction.   Western42 Sorry for the short chapter. The next one hopefully won't be as short.   Also, yes. Harpies are Russians.   Here's my schedule! Skashrim: A Fatal Error, Magical Girls Might Be Psychopaths, Pissed Off Loli, The Grand Revolution Of War, and maybe The Princess And The Dark Knight as well as The Wandering Last Boss.

'I wish, that I could turn back time' I thought as my mom's hands slipped past into my hand. Covid sucks, and the rising prices, the inflation, the war, everything. how I wish things would be better. I know that my mom doesn't have a long time with me before my mom used to tell me that everything is going to be all right. But now, my mom is gone it's just me now. It's me and my autistic self against the world. Honestly, I don't know what to do right now. I watched as the nurses and doctors took my mom away from me. I watched as tears fall down my eyes, I usually don't cry like this, the last time I cried is when the body of my father got home being delivered by a military officer and talking to my mom. And at that time, I realized that life is not pretty, I mean we all have troubles and problems that we can fix, but there's just this thing called mortality that can't be fixed, not at least right now. I know that in the future I may also die, but right now, I feel empty, I can't foresee myself in the future without my mom. I already have a plan for the future, and it is quite grand, I'm a semester away from graduating college, and I told my mom before she got Covid, I told her that after graduating I'll pursue the internship that I already have and come to work overseas and I'll take her with me, and well live to a better place. But then just after graduating college, my mom told me she doesn't have much time here with me. Life's such a fickle thing, we don't appreciate things until they are gone that we truly appreciate them. My mom is dying and I feel bad, I do appreciate her every day and I'm very grateful for all that she had done for me, but now, how will I ever show her the fruits of her hard work, the fruit of raising me as a good son? I know that I'm not a saint, but I'm not a devil too. I have my flaws and cons. I wonder how mom raised an autistic kid like me before to be as normal as an autistic kid can be. But growing up with a single mom, I know that she is having a hard time, so I did my best to be good for her, followed everything she said, every rule she set for me, and it worked wonders for me, made my academics smooth as butter. But now that she is gone, I don't know what to do, I know that I'm set for life, I have an Internship with a big company a house that my mom left for me, and the savings she left, I'm set for life. But how will I live my life from here onwards, knowing that the reason I'm living is already dead, I want to show mom that her son succeed in life, I want her to be proud of what she raised and know that she made me what I am today? I watched as the room clears, and I'm left alone in the room. It's just me and my tears now, crying helps relieve pain right? I should go home now, go home to the empty house, that I may no longer call home. Home is where we live right? But that house is no longer my home, it's empty, I don't know if I want to live, Am I being suicidal? I don't know, but right now I want this bad feeling to go away, It hurts to think that I'm now alone, just like the people who don't have anyone, just themselves against the world. I got up clearing the tears in my eyes with a handkerchief from my pocket, I feel shit right now, going home is also a hassle, but then going back to the house is painful, I don't know what to do, I sit in the bench outside the room, and my eyelids fall and I find myself asleep.

Hey, Please Come Back to Me? Tags: School Life, Love Interest Falls in Love First, Tragedy, Misunderstandings Feelings in disorder, the boy reminisces. “Hey, Brian!” My friend, Lawrence, cried out as he ran and huffed. I subconsciously stopped my tracks and looked at him lividly. He held both his knees to support himself and slumped when he finally caught up, panting. “What the hell, Brian?! Why are you so enraged? You even ignored Claire!” Lawrence admonished. I scowled and stayed silent.  “Brian!” Lawrence rebuked as he noticed my ridicule.  “You’re not my fucking mom, Lawrence,” I growled out as I gritted my teeth, tilting my head down to hide the raging feelings flashing in my eyes. I know what I did was wrong, but the fault wasn’t on all me (even if the people who witnessed the scene think otherwise). But think about this seriously: how would you feel if a woman suddenly invaded the peace that you slowly built up, and slowly but surely, broke down the walls that you made sure were impregnable to protect yourself from any possible hurt? The someone unnecessary in your life, but still became part of it anyway? Walls that were impenetrable, so laughable. It was just frustrating, okay? How was she able to laugh and smile like that even with so many rejections she received from me? How could she be that strong? How was she able to continue moving and going forward? Or maybe her confessions were just a bunch of bullshit just to spite me? This seemed more plausible, to be honest. Not anyone could bravely confess as she did. So full of energy, confident, and bright; never wavering even when she was shot down so many times. Not anyone could do that. Even I had no strength to do that. Or maybe it’s because I was simply a coward?  But in the first place, I never met her in my life. How was she able to interact with me like we’ve been friends for so long? It’s not like I met her since we’re young right? I had no recollections about this woman named Claire and we never talked until she suddenly confessed. Without noticing that I was clenching my fists until they were trembling and pale, I was poked by Lawrence, waking me up from my messed up thoughts. “Hey.” He softly called. “What?” I hissed. He silently handed me an envelope. I looked at him in confusion. Lawrence smiled weakly. “It’s from Claire.” From his words, I suddenly felt a fit of unprecedented anger. But this time, I hid it and glared at him. “No need. You can throw it away.” I carelessly spat, yet an agonizing ache from my chest told me something else. Lawrence then forced the envelope to me, scowling. “Okay, Brian.” He started as his eyes flashed dangerously. “I don’t care what fucking problem you have today, but what you just did in front of Claire was not nice.” He huffed. “You even ignored her and left!” He exclaimed in anger. “You will not throw that letter away and put her feelings for you in vain.” Then we parted and went to our own homes. Thinking about how I acted earlier made my hand—holding the envelope—tremble. I could only hurriedly put the envelope in my pants pocket in trepidation.  I have never fallen in love. Period. In the first place, what the hell is love?  Most of my friends were incredibly sappy and said so many things that I totally didn’t comprehend. They were so happy to explain—with foolish grins on their faces—that love is a feeling of warmth; that love is something unexpected.  Though, at first, they looked at me like I was a ghost because they were astonished to hear me asking such a question. Why? Was it really weird of me to ask something like “What is love for you guys?” I heard numerous people feeling so elated when they found their “The One”, but then after a short while, I witnessed some crying over that “The One” and declared that they won’t love ever again. Yet, they repeat such mistakes and fall in love again. I can’t understand. If they were to be hurt in the end, why be stubborn and go look for a new love to be only hurt once more? There were also some cases that those people you knew once, could change so much just because of “Love”. Love sure is scary. It made people change so much. Then, when I asked about my Pops about that sort of thing, he just gave me a strange smile and a pat on the head. “You’ll know it when you meet that someone, Brian.” Why was Pops so vague?! He could just tell me outright what love meant! “Love can’t be really explained in mere words, Brian." But if I were to put it in my own words—or maybe it’s something I forced out just to console my doubtful self?—Love is something sacred and something that mustn’t be joked about. Funny, isn’t it? Here I was, asking Pops about ‘Love’, yet my thoughts were just unbelievably full of crap and shallow. Why did the people I know easily met their other halves? How were they able to know that this certain someone will be the person they will be forever together with?  Were there signs, or maybe some indications that this someone would be their fated person? How were they able to find out? How were they so sure and confident? It’s just so confusing. Arriving home with a mind in total chaos, I dragged myself towards my room. But before I could finally get my long-awaited reprieve, I heard my mom calling for me. “Brian, dear! Go fix yourself up! We’ll be eating out with our relatives!”  I groaned when I heard my mom’s voice. I threw my bag onto the coffee table and went towards my wardrobe, opening it and looking for what to wear.  Angrily ransacking my cabinet and found nothing decent to wear, I consequently decided that changing clothes was just a hassle and went down to the living room to wait for the people to finish their own preparations.  As I waited for them to finish their shit, I reached for my pockets to grab my phone, only to feel a smooth texture of something which was not a phone. I pulled it out and was shocked to see that it was the envelope I got from that obstinate woman. The envelope was color peach and was unbelievably thick. There were no written names of the sender or receiver outside it like what I saw in dramas. There was no heart-shaped sticker on the area where the envelope could be opened either. It was just a plain-colored envelope.  Just what the hell is inside of this anyway? Are love letters supposed to be this thick? “Oh?” Pops suddenly entered the living room and raised a brow in interest as he saw the envelope I was holding. Feeling a bit guilty—what, why—I hurriedly put it back inside my pocket. “Hey…” He placated as he sat down on the sofa beside me. Then he curled his lips in an amused smirk. “Our son received a love letter…” He marveled. Then he chuckled. “I see, I see… So, that’s the reason why you asked something like that, huh…” He guessed.  My cheeks flushed in embarrassment and slight frustration. “No!” I exclaimed as a bolted upright. Pops tensed and widened his eyes in surprise, looking at me with a slight reprimand in his expression. He sighed. “Do you know who it was from?” He asked, giving me a teasing look.  Feeling a bit bad at my sudden outburst, I growled out one word. “...Claire.”  And without rhyme or reason, Pop’s playful expression froze and shifted into a look of horror. He looked at me like he saw a ghost and opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. There was a long moment of silence before he could speak once more, but it was very soft and it even sounded a little bit raw and shaken and broken. “...Can you please repeat that?” I was perplexed as to why Pops reacted that way. Why would he react like that when he heard that woman’s name? Maybe he knew something about her? Having no idea what was happening, I cleared out Pop’s request and answered with a louder and clearer voice. “It’s from Claire, Dad. Do you know her?” Dad’s face got paper-white and he wobbly stood up. He even stumbled in his panic and hurriedly ran towards the hallways and screamed. “Grace! We’re going to Daryl’s home!” Everything happened in a muted and fast-forwarded manner. Everything was unclear and I had no idea what was happening. So much happened in a few hours.  After answering Dad’s question, he immediately grabbed my arm, and hurriedly pulled me towards the car. After that, mom followed suit and rushed towards us. I heard them getting panicked and everything just blanked out. I couldn’t remember what happened after that. I never knew that my parents are acquainted with that woman’s family. Pops and Ma didn’t tell me anything. If the letter wasn’t seen by Pops, I would never have known about their relationship.  Why was it that Pops and Ma were so panicked? Just because Pa saw the letter, he changed.  Pops and Ma weren’t really sociable and only had few friends. Those friends they had were very treasured and treated like family. I never met them, but I know that Pops and Ma were always concerned about them. Regularly calling to ask how they were, or sometimes, visiting them to have fun. However, it was sometimes a bit too much because there were times that Ma called her friend every two hours, and worriedly walked around the house. Also, Pops was restless and talked about things that didn’t make any sense endlessly. It was a bit scary, but at the same time heart-warming because it was appalling that they were very close until now. Deep in my thoughts, I didn’t notice myself being pulled once more, and my body moved on its own. I am now inside a dark and gloomy house with Pops and Ma talking to two people who were obviously distressed, with their faces left unwashed and clothes all wrinkled. Upon arriving in a dim hallway, my mom immediately rushed and hugged the haggard woman. “Crystal…” She sobbed. The haggard woman was expressionless. But when mom embraced her, I saw her hiccup painfully and buried her face on mom’s shoulder. “Grace…” She sobbed. It wasn’t even that long when the other woman finally collapses and cried loudly. “Grace! Claire is…! Claire, my daughter!” She screamed.  “She doesn’t want us to enter! She doesn’t want us to see her!” …What?  The hell is going on?! Where is this?! Claire? What?!  My thoughts got so messed up that I looked around the area dizzily. And in a strange way how the God of Fate played this situation, that was the moment my head cleared up and looked at the two pairs of people looking grim and with a dark atmosphere that felt like death.  The woman and Ma were hugging each other. Ma's face was in total agony, but she bit her lip to stifle her sobs and acted strong for the other woman who was having her mental breakdown.  Then, I saw Pops walking closer to the man who was looking down, but the atmosphere around him was also in chaos as his whole body was shaking. Pops patted his shoulder and the other man just crashed. "Warren… Fuck! Claire is…" The man sobbed and whimpered.  "Let's just do what she wants." Pops tried to console the other man.  "I know, damn it! But Claire is dying, Warren! We want to see her final moments!" Daryl cried.  I felt my blood running cold. Without notice, the cries and wails suddenly muted. The movements around gradually flowed in slow motion, then my mind suddenly blanked. Those words I just heard repeated numerous times inside my mind. Those words haunted my whole damned being.  Dying. Claire. Claire. Dying. SHE IS DYING.  WHAT THE FUCK!  FUCK. WHAT THE FUCK! THIS ISN'T HAPPENING!  What the fuck!  Who the hell would go destroy my peace, wreak havoc in my mind, change my world, then fucking disappear?!  How dare you do this?!  THIS ISN'T FAIR!!  THIS ISN'T FAIR!!  THIS ISN'T FUCKING FAIR!!  FUCK!  Claire how fucking dare you do this to me. What the fuck is this feeling in my chest?! Fuck this!  My mind can't think of anything. Total chaos. Total destruction.  Her face was the only thing in my mind. That smile of hers so bright, that it lit up the dark world I had in my heart.  Her voice rang in my ears, her voice that was so melodious and sonorous that I would look for it every single day just to say my name.  And her laughs… Fuck! Hearing it just one time would push all my bad feelings away!  The smiles and grin she would show me… They were the things I was looking forward to everyday… And my day would go well.  It just felt so… warm. So warm that I wished that I could look at her every single day.  And that was the moment I realized.  I love her. I fucking love her.  But I was too damn late.  Then, the sound of a beep inside the locked door gradually made way towards my ears.  A scary kind of beep.  Why?  Why?  Why why why why why why why whywhyWHY?!  I gasped and heaved as I felt my consciousness started up. My body sat upright and held my chest and groaned, feeling the rapid and painful beats of my heart. I hacked and coughed, wheezing. My body was drenched in a cold sweat. “Brian!” A voice worriedly exclaimed at my side. My eyes turned to her figure, but my vision was blurry and unfocused. “...Mom?” “Son…” A warm embrace then covered me, and I just sat there. What happened? Why am I on a bed? And it even looked like I wasn’t in my room since the interior was not the same as my own. It was unbelievably plain and desolated. “Ma…” I hoarsely trailed off. “Where are we?” I hurriedly bolted out of the room I was confined to, disregarding all the people’s shouts and calls.  . Mom smiled gently, but it was with obvious grief because of the haggardness of her face. “We’re in the guest rooms inside Daryl’s family home.” She caressed my cheek and sighed quietly. “You suddenly collapsed.”  She took a deep shuddering breath as she started telling me a story. "Actually, you and Claire were pretty close when you guys were young…" She grinned widely, albeit obviously strained.  "You guys together was very cute." She smiled gently. "But Claire was very frail and needed to be hospitalized frequently, but even so, you still visited and played with her." She held my hand tightly and her face became pained.  "But then her condition worsened. And they left the country for treatment. You thought everything was your fault, and without rhyme or reason, you lost all memories about her."  I looked at mom in horror.  . Evading the people on the way, I dashed more madly, looking around the unfamiliar place, but strangely, it also looked a bit familiar to me, and the feeling of homeliness and warmth inside was heart-wrenchingly painful for me.  Ah… So she grew up in this family? She wasn’t treated terribly then. . "Miraculously, her condition improved, and was permitted to go out, albeit a short time." She chuckled softly like she was remembering a good memory. "She desperately asked for you when she heard that she would be able to go out." Ma looked at me gently.  "We tried to stop her, but she was relentless. We even told her about you losing your memories, but she was such a strong girl." She sighed. "Did you know what she told us?" Her breath hitched.  "It's no problem! I'll just wreak havoc in Brian's peace and make new memories!"  She tried to speak more, but it gradually became painful for her as she was sobbing.  “Mom…” I shakily breathed out, looking at her with a feeling of dread climbing up my heart. “...Claire?” Was the only thing I could voice out. I tried to stand, but I noticed that my hand was still holding a certain plain envelope, and the ache became excruciatingly painful that it became hard for me to breathe. My breath hitched in pain. My eyes darted back to mom and waited for her answer. Mom tried to smile widely to show some positivity, but the agony was obvious.  . Finally having a glimpse of the room where she was bedridden a few dozen steps away, my legs moved more quickly and when I arrived, I pushed the door open. The room was barren and almost devoid of light. The smell of sickness permeated the dim room that made my whole being ache with unbearable anguish. There were figures clad in white uniforms cleaning and fixing the machines that served to prolong her life, but the person I was looking for wasn’t there. She… Claire wasn’t there. I thought that I would still have a chance to change something, but it seemed like… I was too damn late again. Brian, you fucking idiot. . . The next day, the campus was in an uproar due to the news that Claire had dropped out of college. Many asked me if I knew anything about it, but I just ignored them. I could only try my utmost best to act normally like everything was okay, that Claire being gone was simply like a friend transferring to another university. That I would be able to meet her again if she visited… It was so damn difficult. So I hid in my shell. I didn’t go to classes for a few weeks.  . . *knock* *knock* *knock* “Brian, dear? It’s time for dinner… You need to eat.” Mom called out. I was still feeling guilty about what happened so I hid deeply in my blankets and tightly shut my eyes, hoping that I would be able to vividly see her face and hear her voice. I missed her. So, so much. How I wished that I looked at her when she called me for the last time.  How I wished that I stayed. How I wished that I simply listened. Claire must’ve something she wanted to tell me that day. Fuck. Remembering that, I just found myself sobbing and painfully crying.  "Hey, Claire… Please come back to me?"  Hello, Such Handsome Man Brian, First of all, this is just something I wrote to tell you. Well, I’m sure you know what it is already, but I wanted to tell you one last time, in person, you know. But, reality really is such a bitch.  Thank you for giving me the strength to carry on. If not for you, I would have totally disappeared in a blink of an eye and never met people I would have come to like. Thank you for giving me the privilege to have an opportunity to meet people, meet you, and simply living life. I have to thank you. I like you, Brian! Thank you very much for everything! P.S. Btw, I have a picture of you half-naked in the locker room. It’s blurry though, damn. And most of them were stolen shots. There was even a picture of us together when we’re still kids! AHHHHHH! I liked the picture where you were serious reading a book, or where you were laughing with your friends. Looking at your pictures really encouraged me. Though, don’t ask how I got them. ;) Those pictures were my lucky charm. Hehehehe. They're at the back of this letter, by the way.  Hello and goodbye, Brian. I like you! I hope you will have a good future ahead of you! Go all out for my sake too!    - Claire  

Meep.

It doesn't look like I can add more polls. I'll make more chapter's then.

On a long, solitary road that seemed to have neither a beginning nor an end, there traversed a lavish wedding procession, escorting a sedan on the night of the Ghost Festival. Those in the procession were decked in finery and wooden masks hid their faces. Various exaggerated expressions of joy were painted onto the masks. Ornate yellow lanterns swayed with every footstep, lighting the procession with a bright yet eerie light. They walked as one with a ceremonial cadence to their stride, the uniformity unsettling. Step, pause, step, pause, step. The hollows of the night were threaded with their solemn melody. The ritualistic beat of drums melded with the haunting trill of a flute and the echoing clang of bells. Accompanying the music, the procession chanted as one: Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. On the path to Xijing,As the cranes take wing,Hear the copper bells ring,And the wedding procession sing. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. Inside the sedan draped in brocaded red silk, studded with polished gems, and hung with golden tassels, Xie An lifted the edge of his veil heavy with embroidery and peered out. It seemed they had begun the song anew. Was this the seventh or the eighth time? How much longer would it be before they reached their destination? A breeze blew into the sedan, perfumed with the fragrance of spiced honey. Red petals floated in through the gaps in the fluttering curtains along with snatches of the song. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. Pure moonlight,Dyes the flowers white.Where our feet tread,The flowers turn red. Xie An carefully lifted one of the red petals to his nose. Yes, these flowers were the ones emitting the fragrance. Another strong gust caused the curtains to dance and swept away the petals as swiftly as they had drifted in. Xie An looked at the solitary petal left in his hand and brought it up to smell it again. The familiar fragrance softened his gaze with memories. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. The night wind whips,Silk shining with golden thread.A pair of smiling lips,Painted an auspicious red. Xie An touched his lips and found that yes, he was indeed smiling. He looked at the red smudged on his fingertip and chuckled silently. He let the veil fall back down to cover his face. For a coarse farmer’s son to be wearing so much finery and dolled up into a beauty was such a ridiculous notion. Especially when said son was just an unfavored, overlooked one. And yet… his current appearance was the result of him being the center of his family’s attention for once, so Xie An couldn’t bring himself to hate it. For the first time, Xie An had attracted his entire family’s focus, all because he was going to be married off to someone as important as a Gatekeeper. Of course, all that attention came at a price: unprecedented torment. To prepare for the wedding, Xie An had been dunked in various herbal baths and had his body scrubbed until it was on the verge of bruising. His hair had been soaked in strange goops while his skin had been slathered with pastes. When it was all washed away, he hadn’t been able to stop sneezing at the intense floral scent emanating from his own body. The overpowering stench of a dozen unwashed men after a day of sweating in the field while slinging manure couldn’t match the headache the strong flowery scent had given him. Thankfully, the next wave of torture in the guise of applying cosmetics and creams to every inch of his skin managed to suppress the assault on his nostrils. By the time he had been dressed and suitably adorned, Xie An had felt too numb to even care anymore. But when he had stepped into the sedan at midnight after the procession arrived at his house, the numbness had quickly dissipated. He was about to marry the man he loved, a man he had truly met only once. Another gust of wind blew into the sedan, and Xie An’s veil swung up to expose a glimpse of the nostalgic smile curving on his fair face. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. A breeze flutters the veil,A pale curve revealed.The tasseled curtains sway,A smear of red on grey. Xie An took another sniff from the flower petal in his hand and felt the memories suffuse him along with the scent. It was exactly a year ago when he met his beloved. On that idyllic day during the Ghost Festival, Xie An had been summoned by the village council, along with other unwed youngsters who were of age. While Xie An had vaguely heard that all settlements in this region, including their village, took turns holding such a gathering on the Ghost Festival every few years, this was the first time he was to be a part of it. The last time their village sent out the summons, he was but a baby. The gathering was held in the morning, in a large pavilion open on all sides and situated in the shaded glade by the village council. As Xie An joined the others, he noticed the tense atmosphere and the uneasy looks. He supposed the others must have heard something about this gathering from their families that caused such alarm. As for his own family… well, none of his younger siblings were of age. He doubted his family even remembered that he would be called to the gathering this time. They were too busy following his father in preparing for the Ghost Festival and honoring his late mother. How could they have the mind to care about him? If they even noticed his absence, they would at most grumble at his audacity to be missing today of all days. But Xie An was too used to their inconsideration to be bothered for long. No matter what was to happen today that caused such a fuss among the others in the pavilion, he’d adapt and get through it as he always did. Ignoring the low buzz of the worried mutters filling the pavilion, Xie An casually leaned against a pillar with crossed arms and settled in to wait. After half an hour the village council finally arrived while respectfully escorting a masked man garbed in black. When they stopped, the other elders stood to the back as if to allow the stranger to take the lead. The village head bowed towards the stranger and waved towards the front of their group. “Lord Jing, please.” The man silently stepped to the front, his presence imposing. Xie An straightened with interest and studied the new face―er, mask among them. Speaking of the mask, it was dark iron and carved into a dignified and expressionless mien. Ornate designs filled the mask’s forehead up to the brow. The two eyeholes swooped up at the ends like wings. The darkness of the stranger’s mask and attire together made him seem like a person-shaped hole cut through the fabric of the world rather than a living being. Xie An’s gaze roved over the rest of him and noted that the man’s leather gloves, boots, and many layers of black robes seemed to be of exceptional quality and quite sturdy. The outer robe was decorated with complex embroidery surrounding the neck and the hem. This man emanated a quiet yet oppressive weight, like a giant, otherworldly monolith of dark stone that had sat unmoving for millennia in an unexplored corner of the world, having stood the test of time unscathed and radiating the allure of mystery. Every aspect of this stranger seemed out of place in this mundane, dusty old village, like a slab of gleaming obsidian standing straight and tall in a common field. Xie An itched to throw a handful of dirt at this man just to see a different color on this block of pristine shadow and make him stand out less. The village head stepped forward and cleared his throat. The pavilion fell into deathly silence. The village head solemnly asked, “Who among you will accompany Lord Jing for a day?” The young men and women all hastily looked down and stilled, like pitiful prey fearing that the slightest sound or movement would attract the predator’s notice. Xie An looked around with puzzlement. Was this masked man’s reputation that terrifying? He hadn’t said a word and this group of young people, who were usually like a coop of squawking and bickering chicken, had gone as quiet as plucked poultry ready for the cooking pot. Faced with this less than welcoming sight, Xie An expected the masked man to show some displeasure, maybe even get angry. But the man waited patiently as if he had expected this, as if he was so used to such a reception that he was unaffected. Xie An felt a pinch in his heart. He knew how it was to be lonely and unwelcome. As much as he knew that this man’s circumstance wasn’t at all the same as his own, he still didn’t feel comfortable just standing by. Also, he had a feeling that if things were left as they were, the stalemate would just continue on and on until someone collapsed from hunger or a burst bladder, and the others would heave breaths in relief that the weakest among them could be offered to the scary man. Xie An suppressed a chuckle. He shouldn’t find this as funny as he did. As the tense silence stretched on and on, with the village head’s temple breaking out in sweat, Xie An spoke up, “I’ll accompany him.” Whatever that meant. Hopefully they meant it like a companion who showed the visitor around rather than a bed companion. The others turned to him with shock and relief, some even patting their chests as if finally able to breathe again. The village elder’s shoulders relaxed even as his gaze grew tinted with guilt and worry. He motioned for Xie An to step closer. “Boy, come and let Lord Jing take a look at you.” Xie An went to stand before the gloomy Lord Jing and peered up curiously. Ah, what a cheerful ray of spring sunshine you are, he commented to himself sarcastically. The masked man leaned closer and reached up towards his face. A vague, spicy-sweet scent tickled Xie An’s nostrils. Xie An instinctively bent back with wide eyes. Hey, no touchy! The village head snapped at him, “Stand properly and let him read your face to see if you’re suitable.” Xie An looked at him doubtfully. “Suitable for what? A sacrifice during the full moon?” Xie An swore he heard the masked man let out a quiet laugh. It echoed strangely through the mask. “What? No!” the village head replied irritably. “Lord Jing has a…special constitution, so those who stay around him for a while need to have a constitution that can withstand it. Reading your face will help him know if you’re suitable, that’s all.” “Oh.” Xie An immediately straightened and lifted up his face. After a pause, Lord Jing’s glove-clad hand gently gripped his chin. Though Xie An could see nothing past the two shadowed eyeholes cut into the mask, he felt the man’s gaze roving over his face. It made Xie An’s skin tingle and he felt self-conscious. So he tried to stiffen up his face into a suitably dignified expression hoping it would say only good things about him while being read. The masked man chortled softly and leaned back, then gave the village head a small nod. The village head let out a breath in relief and patted Xie An’s shoulder. “Listen well to Lord Jing and nothing will happen.” And that didn’t sound ominous at all. Xie An suppressed a sigh and showed a cheerful grin instead. “Of course!” Shaking his head as if he could already see troubles on his horizon, the village head turned to the masked man to speak a few words in courtesy before hurrying to discuss things with the other elders. The other summoned youngsters didn’t want to risk staying any longer and hastily bowed in goodbye to the masked man before fleeing like their tail feathers were on fire. “Like chicken before a wolf,” Xie An snickered. Lord Jing turned to him. Xie An told him seriously, “I think you’re more like a giant black beetle though.” Lord Jing, “……?” Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult? Xie An went on, “You’re silent, imposing, and tend to freak people out, because who can guess whether or not a beetle that size is poisonous and if its bite can cause an entire finger to swell up painfully for several weeks?” He stroked his left index finger and bitterly added, “Or maybe that’s just me.” Lord Jing, “……” He should’ve guessed that any young man who volunteered to accompany him would be at least one egg short of a dozen, sanity-wise. “Oh, I forgot to introduce myself.” Xie An smiled sunnily and sketched a short bow. “I’m Xie An. My family owns and farms the lands you must’ve passed by on your way in.” He straightened. “I guess I’ll be accompanying you for today. You can count on me to answer your questions and show you the sights. Is there anywhere in particular you want to go first?” Lord Jing remained still and silent, and Xie An had the feeling that his enthusiasm may have left the other man at a loss. Taking pity on him, he pulled Lord Jing by the arm and declared, “Well, let’s just look around then and you tell me if you want to know something. Off we go now.” Lord Jing let himself be dragged forward and adjusted his stride to match the younger man’s quick one. They exited the pavilion and were about to step out of the glade. Just when Xie An was delighting in Lord Jing’s obedience, the other man abruptly stopped, causing Xie An to jerk to a halt as well. Xie An turned back. “What’s wrong?” Lord Jing shook his head. If there was nothing wrong, why did he stop? Xie An frowned and pulled on Lord Jing’s arm but found him immovable. Xie An blinked and yanked harder. Lord Jing still didn’t budge. He didn’t even look like he was straining to stay in place. Now Xie An was intrigued. “Just how strong and heavy are you?” Xie An muttered wonderingly and began amusing himself with trying to push or pull Lord Jing in various angles, all to no avail. Sensing his enthusiasm, Lord Jing silently indulged his experiment. Growing increasingly adventurous, Xie An hugged Lord Jing from behind and pressed the full weight of his body into the older man’s back, straining to make him bend forward. Lord Jing easily remained in place. “Oi, Xie An!” a passing-by girl’s shout rang out. “You seem to have very quickly gotten real familiar with that visitor! But limit your acts of affection to your bedroom!” Xie An sprang back with a red face and glared at the girl. But the girl had already begun walking away. So he shifted his glare towards Lord Jing. Even though he couldn’t see past his mask, he could almost feel his amusement! Or maybe he was just projecting his expectations onto his victim. Either way, Xie An decided Lord Jing was to blame and accused huffily, “It’s your fault for not moving!” Lord Jing’s sigh reverberated strangely through his mask. Despite being muffled by the iron barrier, his voice flowed smooth and deep, “I would prefer not to be under direct sunlight. Though the energy drain is infinitesimal, it causes discomfort.” Xie An blinked. “What do you mean?” Reverting to silence as if unused to speaking, Lord Jing shrugged. Xie An decided not to press him and instead ordered, “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He sped away and returned within ten minutes to find Lord Jing still dutifully standing in place. Letting out a breath in relief, he loped over and held the umbrella he’d gone to fetch over the older man. Lord Jing turned to him. Xie An grinned. “Now you won’t be directly under the sun. Honestly, you should have thought this through before you came outside. How did you even get this far in your travel without an umbrella to protect you?” Lord Jing maintained his silence. This young man seemed completely oblivious to his identity. Lord Jing would rather not enlighten him than risk this young man growing frightened of him like the other villagers. “Ah, well,” Xie An easily dismissed his own questions. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Now that I’m here as your volunteer companion for the day, I’ll make sure you’re safe, comfortable, and having fun.” He offered the umbrella’s handle with a smile. “Here, take it.” Lord Jing stared at the smiling young man for a long moment then carefully accepted the handle. The pair began walking again, with Xie An leading him along the most shaded pathways. Acrid smoke drifted into the street. Some of it was from the joss paper and incense sticks being burnt as offerings for loved ones who had passed away, while the rest was from the paper money burnt in the hopes of appeasing any nearby wandering ghosts so they wouldn’t make trouble. Most storefronts were closed, but some people still busied about. The villagers always grew quiet and respectful when they caught sight of Lord Jing passing by. Some bowed, uncertain of what else to do, while others hurriedly looked down with tense postures. Lord Jing expected the strained and solemn atmosphere to dampen the young man’s spirits and thought it would be a shame for that bright smile to dim. But Xie An seemed to not even notice the other villagers. He was too used to being ignored, and in turn ignoring others, to care about conforming to the mood. He did his best to shield Lord Jing from the atmosphere with his cheer and kept chattering without lowering his volume at all. Before he knew it, Lord Jing found himself walking closer by the young man than before. This was a much pleasanter place to be. “Say, what’s your name?” Xie An asked. “And where are you from? What work do you do? I just realized I don’t know anything about you.” Lord Jing replied, “I’m Jing You, guardian of the Xijing Gate.” The young man could make of that what he would. And Xie An did just that. “Oh, so you guard the gate for someplace called Xijing? Is it a brothel?” Jing You, “……” Sensing that he was rendered at a loss again, Xie An chuckled happily. Jing You watched him quietly. This young man never seemed to run out of ways to amuse himself. His interest piqued about Xie An, he asked, “Why did you agree to accompany me?” Xie An looked at him. “Mn?” “You must have noticed the others’ caution, even if you seem to not know the reason for it,” Jing You said, his voice echoing from the mask. “Why did you still agree?” Hands folded behind his head, Xie An explained casually, “Well, I didn’t like the thought of you ending up alone and uncomfortable. And it isn’t like anyone will miss me if I’m gone, so I can afford to gamble with my life.” After a moment of silence, Jing You asked, “Why do you consider being treated as such by others to be normal?” For a moment, Xie An didn’t know how to reply. He smiled awkwardly as he said, “That’s a long and boring story. Are you sure you want to hear it?” Jing You patiently waited. Xie An shrugged and began, “My mother was a lovely and outgoing person who was always ready to cheer others up and offer help when needed. The entire village loved her and my father had to struggle against many other suitors before successfully wooing her. She ended up dying while birthing me. Father blamed me and…the sentiment kind of stuck around. “Father later remarried and went on to have a couple of concubines as well, but he still loved his late wife. It makes his current wife and concubines either feel resentful or indifferent towards me, and they feed my father’s dissatisfaction at me in the hopes that I won’t hog all the inheritance. Knowing that I had no backing made me an easy target to be bullied, I suppose.” Mind wandering, Xie An recounted, “There were a few instances where Father’s lack of care towards me fed the gossipers’ tongues for a while, like that time when I got lost and it took Father days to realize, or that time when Father had the entire family get their fortunes read by a passing by Daoist. Father ended up forgetting my name and giving out a wrong one in full view of the rest of the village. I was pitied but also endlessly mocked as someone who had such bad fortune that it not only negated my mother’s good karma and caused her to die, it also caused my own family to treat me so callously.” Xie An chuckled softly and shook his head. “Of course, I don’t let any of that nonsense get to me. Some of the villagers who sympathize with me told me that my mother had already known she might die and still chose to give birth to me, so I shouldn’t blame myself. I won’t deny that I felt guilty for the longest while. But I don’t anymore.” Jing You’s steps slowed and he grew silent in thought. Then he asked, “Do you hate your family?” Xie An laughed and shook his head. “At most, I just don’t care about them, just like they don’t care about me.” He paused, then continued in a wistful tone, “There are times when I wondered what it might be like to have their attention and regard for even just a day—just a few hours, even—but I know better than to hope for such things now. I would rather focus on being cheerful and making myself happy than wallow in such things.” Jing You said, “I think you’re well on your way there.” Xie An grinned. “Me too!” The thread of understanding strengthened between them, bringing a vague feeling of closeness, and they settled into a companionable silence as they walked. The morning passed as Xie An took Jing You to various little nooks and crannies of the village he thought were interesting, like the cluster of strangely capped mushrooms at the back of an abandoned house, a small bush of adorable wildflowers growing within a circle of tall boulders, a nest of baby pigeons in the eaves of a clothing store, the one tree in an old man’s backyard that sometimes dropped its delicious fruits outside the fence… While Jing You had visited the village countless times since its founding, this was the first time he had the chance to see it from this close. And Xie An’s proud little smiles when he shared these secret places he’d discovered and the happy gleam in the young man’s eyes when Jing You showed interest in them caused Jing You’s heart to warm. Being with Xie An was slowly dusting off layers of his ennui and bringing back the joy in life. When afternoon came, Xie An was in the midst of strolling among the fields with Jing You. “…And see that large patch of wheat over there?” Xie An pointed in a certain direction. Under the shade of the umbrella, Jing You dutifully turned to see where he was pointing. Xie An sheepishly said, “Well, I guess you can’t make out the wheat when it’s still young, but either way, that’s the field being cultivated by the children of that old man whose tree I said drops fruits occasionally. And that beside it is that bald old uncle’s―” “Look, it’s Xie An!” a little boy’s shout interrupted them. A gaggle of boys had congregated in one of the fields, probably charged with pulling weeds. All turned towards Xie An at the first boy’s shout. Most looked uninterested and went back to work while some showed ridiculing expressions. One of them sneered, “Be careful and stay away from him. My mother says he’s bad luck and if you get too close to him, it’ll rub off!” Another snickered. “And what? Our father will forget our names too like Uncle Xie did for him? How pathetic!” Xie An rolled his eyes and bared his teeth at them. He continued walking as he spoke to Jing You, “Anyway, as I was saying, that paddy beside the old man’s grows rice and―” Shrill screams suddenly sounded and Xie An whipped around. The boys who had been ridiculing him had all gone white with fear. Some of them trembled fiercely, on the verge of tears, while others had fallen backwards. Following their gazes, Xie An saw Jing You, who was still standing at the same place and was just refastening his iron mask. Xie An looked like he had just realized something. “Ah, so that’s why you wear a mask!” Jing You paused. “You saw?” Xie An solemnly said, “No, but I can guess the reason.” Jing You turned to him. “Oh?” “For you to always wear a mask and to make kids scream when you take it off… you must be exceptionally hideous.” Jing You froze. Then sighing, he began walking away, muttering under his breath, “You’re such an idiot.” Behind him, Xie An yelled, “Wait, what was that? Did the dignified Lord Jing just call me an idiot?!” Ignoring him, Jing You kept striding away. Xie An laughed and observed gleefully, “Now that you’re speaking more, your true personality is starting to peek through the wall of steel!” Jing You paused, then continued walking. He had indeed begun to feel more like himself than he had in centuries. But as if he’d admit it to this idiot who dared to call him ugly! Laughing harder, Xie An ran to catch up with him. Seeing a new side of this person felt delightful! He wondered what other new sides he’d get to see by the end of the day. When afternoon verged on evening, Xie An brought Jing You outside the village to escape the smoke from all households burning incense at their thresholds and choking the streets. In the village outskirts, Xie An laid on the grass under the shade of a tree while Jing You sat beside him, one leg extended while the other was pulled up to support his elbow. “Ahh, so tired…” Xie An groaned, looking not the least bit tired. Jing You remarked, “And here I thought you had boundless energy like a toddler.” “If I started throwing a tantrum like a toddler, would you feed me milk?” Xie An asked playfully. Jing You snorted and pretended to pat his chest as if searching for something. “Sorry, no milk production possible here. I suppose I can only give you away.” Xie An laughed. “Mean!” Jing You’s gloved hand twitched as if wanting to reach over. “Alright, maybe I’d buy you milk and raise you to pass the time. Happy?” Xie An grinned. “Yes, ecstatic.” Shaking his head, Jing You smiled under his mask. Xie An squinted at the sky and cheerfully pointed up. “Look, look, doesn’t that cloud resemble a misshapen pancake?” Jing You peered up and sighed. Technically, every one of those shapeless clouds could be said to look like a misshapen pancake. Realizing something, he asked astutely, “Are you hungry?” Rubbing his stomach, Xie An shrugged. “A little.” “Did you even eat anything today?” Jing You interrogated with narrowed eyes. He’d almost forgotten that humans needed to consume food many times each day. As for whether it was a couple of times or a dozen times… he no longer remembered such pesky details. Xie An gave him a sheepish smile. “I haven’t gotten this week’s allowance so I couldn’t afford to. I’ll stop by the eatery near my house tonight. The auntie finds a way to save leftovers for me even when the shop is closed.” Jing You frowned. “Why not eat at your house? Can they not afford to feed you?” Grimacing, Xie An answered, “As you may have gathered, my family dislikes me. I’d rather not sit at a table with them and struggle through an entire meal while feeling unwelcome.” “I see,” Jing You murmured. “Well, what caused you to lose your allowance this time? Or do they always stiff you?” Xie An shrugged. “It’s nothing new, really. I haven’t missed even an hour of my share of work in the fields this week, so I suppose Father just forgot to give me spending money again. When Father remembers, he’ll apologize gruffly and give me all I’m due at once, so no worries.” As if to contradict his ‘no worries’, Xie An’s stomach grumbled. Xie An laughed and winked at Jing You. “See? My shy little stomach is finally saying hello to you.” Jing You chuckled. “Get up. I’ll pay, so let’s go and get you something to eat.” Xie An sat up and looked at him with shining eyes. “Can we have spicy pancakes?” Standing and lifting up the umbrella, Jing You nodded. “Yes, you can have all the spicy pancakes you want. Now come and show me where we can get them.” Cheering happily, Xie An sprang up and led Jing You towards the cozy little shop that sold the best savory pancakes he knew of. Though the shop was closed for the Ghost Festival, the aunty who owned it lived right above and was willing to make some pancakes at Xie An’s request and even packaged them for him. Xie An found another comfortable spot at the edge of the village, where small white wildflowers swayed in the breeze and there were boulders aplenty to serve as seats as long as one knew to check for snakes and millipedes in the crevices beforehand. Xie An perched on a boulder after doing a routine check and swung his legs to and fro as he unwrapped the pancakes. He had half expected Jing You to either refuse the food altogether or ask to eat somewhere alone to avoid showing his face. But to spite Xie An’s misunderstanding of his face being too ugly to be shown, Jing You deliberately pulled away the bottom half of his mask in preparation to eat. Xie An sneakily looked over and his eyes widened. His gaze was transfixed over the beautiful line of Jing You’s jaw, his sharp chin, and the finely carved pair of thin, red lips. Xie An’s enchantment was written all over his face as he gaped. Seeing it, Jing You’s lips curved into a satisfied smile as he unwrapped his own share of food and brought it to his mouth. Out of habit, Jing You kept his lips as close together as possible while he bit down. The way he ate held a slow deliberateness, as if he assigned importance to every small movement. Xie An found it strangely hypnotizing and relaxing to watch. Jing You noted amusedly, “You’ve been staring at me for a while. Is looking at me going to fill your stomach?” Xie An came out of his reverie and chomped down on his pancake with gusto. After chewing and swallowing, he replied, “As they say, watching a beauty stimulates the appetite.” Jing You instinctively hid his mouth behind a hand as he chuckled, pleased. “Why are you covering your mouth when you aren’t even chewing?” Xie An asked curiously. “Wait, could it be that…” Jing You slowly turned to him. “…your teeth are blackened and falling out?” Xie An finished. “If you grinned at those kids with such teeth, no wonder they were terrified into pissing their pants.” Jing You, “……” Unwilling to engage with this infuriating fellow, Jing You took a large, vindictive bite out of his pancake and muttered under his breath, “Damned little fool.” “Eh? What did you say? Badmouthing me again?” Xie An leaned closer and grinned. “And are you sure you should be eating something solid with your teeth like that? I can get you some filling congee to drink if you want.” Jing You planted a palm on that annoying little face to push it away and turned away with a growl. “Just shut up and eat!” Xie An chortled. It seemed his companion was a bit vain when it came to his looks. Fueled by the cheer of discovering another aspect of this man, Xie An contended himself with stuffing his belly. Time flew in this way. At the end of the day Xie An took Jing You to watch the sunset from the top of the tallest tree in the area. Orange-gold rolled down from the horizon to gild every individual leaf in sight and spill over the land below as shadows deepened. The sky was afire with reds and oranges while purplish black encroached from above, paving the way for the parade of stars to come. Sitting on a branch, Xie An asked softly, “Do you know where you’re going to stay for the night?” Perched beside him, Jing You shook his head. “I won’t be staying here too long after night falls. I have to return.” Xie An hummed in response. All this while, he had managed to go without asking Jing You about whatever it was he was hiding. Xie An was used to making light of serious situations and he had made it a habit to not get too involved with people. He knew he should continue acting dumb so that when they parted at night, it wouldn’t feel as lonely. And yet… Turning away from the sinking sun, Xie An nervously rubbed his palms on his thighs and said, “I don’t know what your circumstances are, but…if you need my help or want to tell me anything, you know you can, right?” Jing You was surprised, but remained silent. Xie An let out a laugh and shook his head. “It’s fine if you don’t want to though. Don’t worry about it.” As the sun sank, a strange quiet filled with unspoken things stretched between them. Xie An tried to lighten the mood. “Well, looks like you won’t need that umbrella for long.” Jing You looked at him for a long moment, then spoke, “Didn’t you want to know how I made it this far without an umbrella before?” Xie An turned to him, startled. Jing You leapt down and Xie An hurried to follow him by climbing down with a confused frown. Facing the young man, Jing You said, “Well, this is how.” Jing You set down the umbrella. Xie An was just about to voice his concern when his gaze stopped above Jing You’s head. Shimmery blackness unfolded above Jing You, like a blooming flower, and fell down to drape over him completely. The airy veil was like a translucent manifestation of the night sky, dark yet sparkling with tiny pinpoints of light. It shifted and flowed under an unearthly wind of its own. Xie An stared at it, shocked yet enthralled. Jing You’s voice issued from underneath, “This midnight veil keeps all sunlight away. I can make myself invisible along with it if need arises. This is how I journey by foot when the rare occasion demands it. Usually, I ride the black swans living at the Starlight Pond in my domain.” Xie An could only gape, not knowing how to react to any of this. He blurted out, “Are you a Daoist or…some other type of mystic?” Jing You took a deep breath and vanished the veil. Sundown had already passed and the soft black of night pooled around them. “Technically, I’m not human at all,” he answered. The deep echo of his voice as it passed through the mask gained a layer of eeriness in the dark. “Do you truly want to know more?” Xie An swallowed nervously and took a step back. What was even the point of knowing the deep, dark secrets of a person he’d have to part with soon anyway? And yet…this was the same Jing You who had spent the day with him, first silently, then while bickering. This was the Jing You who obediently waited in place while he went to fetch the umbrella, who scared a bunch of kids because they had been hurtling hurtful words at him, who silently listened to him as he spilled out his grievances about his family, who bought him food when he realized he was hungry… Xie An pressed his lips together and nodded decisively. “Yes, I want to know more about you.” Jing You stilled in surprise, then spoke, “Very well.” He reached up and unfastened his mask before carefully taking it off. And the spell suppressing his inhuman attributes finally came undone. Thick, reddish horns thrust out of the sides of his temples, each splitting into three at the base and spreading back and up in the shape of wings. His skin turned pale as the moon while his silky black hair floated on intangible winds. Beneath the iron mask, Jing You’s face was stunning. Thick lashes framed his eyes as they swooped upwards at the ends while dark red lined the edges of his upper eyelids. His irises were a startling silvery black sliced by thin, vertical pupils. His nose was straight and proportionate, while his lips were thin and glistened a glassy red. Jing You was hauntingly beautiful, yet it was the sort of uncanny beauty that evoked primal fear at first glance. It was as if humans had once learned to fear such unearthly beings so deeply that it was forever imprinted into their racial memory. So was it any surprise that Xie An’s first reaction was to yelp and hide behind the nearest tree? Jing You, “……” Xie An slowly poked his head from behind the trunk, only his round eyes showing. Jing You strived to stay perfectly still, wary of alarming the young man further. After Xie An had some time to familiarize himself with the concept of his foreboding masked companion turning into a freaky beauty, he gingerly stepped out from behind the tree, one foot carefully placed in front of the other. Jing You’s lips twitched. What was he, a beehive bristling with angry bees or some ferocious animal? Xie An stopped an arm’s length from Jing You and tentatively reached a hand towards his face. Unable to hold back his aggrievance, Jing You suddenly snapped his sharp teeth at the nearing hand. Startled, Xie An screeched and leapt back, almost stumbling. Jing You bent over laughing. His voice sounded even more smooth and pleasant without the mask. Xie An reddened and pointed a shaking finger at him. “Y-Y-You…bastard! Absolute mean bastard!” Jing You only laughed harder. But after this, somehow, the unfamiliarity and alienation Xie An felt with him disappeared. Still high on his embarrassed anger, Xie An marched up to Jing You and squished his cheeks. “Stop laughing, you…” Xie An blinked and squeezed his cheeks again. “Ah, it doesn’t feel like some reptile’s leathery skin at all.” Jing You bared his sharp teeth at him. “Why thank you for that generous compliment.” Xie An continued rubbing his cheeks and hummed. “Huh, it feels quite smooth and cool. When summer rolls around, hugs from you are going to be in high demand.” Finally withdrawing his hands, Xie An narrowed his eyes and declared, “I call dibs on you in advance!” Jing You chuckled while shaking his head helplessly. Oh, this lovable little fool… “So, what’s up with you?” Xie An tilted his head and inquired. “Were you born like this or were you cursed by some evil god or demonic cultivator?” Jing You rolled his eyes. “I was like this when I manifested.” Xie An blinked. “Manifested?” Folding his arms, Jing You nodded and explained, “I came to be as I am and was given a very specific purpose. As long as that purpose exists, so will I.” “And what purpose would that be? Slinking around in all-black and scaring children with your freakishly pretty face?” Xie An quipped. Jing You squinted in pleasure at his appearance being praised. With the sharp beauty of his face, it made him look particularly sinister, but Xie An thought it was cute. Jing You replied, “I’m the Gatekeeper who guards one of the gates that connect this world to the Netherworld.” Xie An opened his mouth as if to say something. “And no, I don’t mean some brothel named Netherworld. I mean the Netherworld quite literally,” Jing You snapped. Xie An closed his mouth with an innocent expression as if he hadn’t been about to comment that. Jing You continued, “I live in a domain partially entrenched in both worlds. I open the gates for the entirety of the seventh month and watch over as the dead leave to visit the living and return. The Ghost Festival in the middle of the seventh month is the only time I can venture out. The rest of the time, I keep close watch so no one crosses the gates from either side. While I am granted immense power so I can fulfill my job, it also means that I am a being who is not fully compatible with either the mortal or nether realm.” Xie An looked at him with fascination. “So that’s why you only visit us during the day of the Ghost Festival?” Jing You nodded. “Then what about the thing with not liking to be under sunlight?” Xie An prompted. “And you can’t always spend the rest of the year staring at some rusty old gates, can you? What else do you do?” Smiling, Jing You answered, “As a being between two worlds, I need yin energy as much as I need yang energy to be healthy. But sunlight tends to dissipate yin energy, causing me discomfort though it does no true damage. And since I’m bound to the gates by my very existence, I don’t have to physically watch them to monitor them. I spend most of my time alone in my domain with company from the familiars provided to me by the Ruler of the Netherworld or the rare visitors. That is why I venture out now and then during the Ghost Festival and see if I can find someone who agrees to spend the day with me, or maybe even an eternity.” Xie An was startled, but Jing You went on, “For eons, the settlements of this region have passed word of me from generation to generation. As the stories grow a bit more embellished each time, they feel both indebted and fearful towards me. After I once expressed my wish for a companion during my stay outside, they have made it a custom for whichever settlement I’d be visiting to provide one for me. Of course, I leave it up to them if they want to accompany me. “When someone agrees to accompany me, I do a face reading to determine if they would be able to withstand being next to me a whole day, since those purely of the living world can sometimes have their life energy worn away due to too much proximity to me. If their constitution isn’t that fragile, and it’s rare for someone to be that weak, I allow them to accompany me for the day. If I grow to like them by the end of the day, I give them this.” Jing You pulled off a strand of his long hair and presented it to Xie An. And rather than joking about being gifted hair, Xie An asked with wonder, “You actually like me?” Jing You smiled softly and nodded. Xie An grinned happily and shook the hair strand. “How do I use this?” Taking the strand from him, Jing You carefully wove it around Xie An’s wrist in an intricate pattern. Patting it, Jing You said, “Wear this if you would like to allow me more time with you. Of course, you can remove this whenever you want.” Xie An studied it curiously. “What does it do?” Jing You answered, “Sleeping is considered a partial death, and the dreamscape created when one sleeps is very similar to my domain that hovers between the world of the living and dead. As long as you have this on while sleeping, you’ll be permitting my domain to touch the domain of your dreams, melding them into one. After today, I find that I would like to spend more time with you and the dreams will help with that. We can get to know each other better and see if we’d like to take things further and marry.” Xie An stroked the strand wound around his wrist and prodded, “And what happens if we do?” Jing You took a moment to reply, “If we do decide to marry, I would send a wedding procession of familiars to come get you on the night of the Ghost Festival. You will be escorted to my domain, where we will be wedded. It will make you as much a part of the domain as me, which means you won’t be able to leave it except for the day of the Ghost Festival. In return, your time will stop and you will stay young and healthy, but your life will be tied to mine for eternity. “Such a promise is monumentally weighty so I understand if you never choose to. I will still cherish the time we spend together, and I will continue to accompany you in your dreams as long as you keep choosing to wear the strand.” Xie An felt a little dazed. He had never imagined that someone would extend such a proposition to a person as unwanted as him. Xie An had loved spending time with Jing You today and had begun missing him even before they parted. Yet now he learned that he could not only maintain this connection through fantastical means, Jing You was even willing to give him the chance to get closer to him and marry him! As for spending an eternity together and only being able to leave Jing You’s domain once a year, Xie An didn’t think it would be that bad as long as he didn’t have to spend all that time alone. He also didn’t have much attachment to his village or anything else this side of the Yellow Springs. And he supposed the time spent before he decided would help him determine if it was worth it. If Jing You continued to be half as nice to be with as he had been all of today, Xie An would happily jump at the chance to be tied to him for as many eternities as he could get. Trying to not get too excited, Xie An pragmatically tried to consider any major drawbacks to their possible romance. The only issue he could think of was… if they did end up in a relationship together, would he be expected to be the one at the bottom? Xie An had seldom considered such things, but when he did, he had never thought about being the one receiving his lover. However, with what he’d seen of Jing You, he did not seem to be someone who would allow himself to be pushed down either. Then again, Xie An supposed with someone as exceptional as Jing You, it was expected that some concessions would have to be made. Besides, he was getting ahead of himself. He hadn’t even voiced his acceptance yet! When Xie An looked up at Jing You, he found the other man standing still and staring at him with barely suppressed intensity. Xie An cleared his throat self-consciously. “I accept.” Jing You blinked in surprise. “You do?” Xie An looked away and nodded. “I-I like you too. Today was the most fun I had in years. If I can spend more time with you like this, and even have the chance to become your lover…” Xie An met Jing You’s gaze and expressed sincerely, “Then yes. A thousand times yes!” A beatific smile spread over Jing You’s lips. “Then I suppose we’ll be seeing each other often from now on.” “Let’s hope you don’t get fed up of me soon, then,” Xie An returned. Seeming to remember something, he asked, “Oh, by the way, do you always have your horns out?” Unprepared for the change in topic, Jing You nodded instinctively. “Yes, why?” Xie An grinned and peered up at the horns. “Because then I can constantly make jokes about you being horny.” A startled laugh burst out of Jing You. He chided almost affectionately, “You silly little idiot.” Xie An batted his eyelashes. “But you like me anyway.” Jing You chuckled. “Goodness help me, but yes.” Xie An’s mind surfaced from the memories and returned to the sedan. He smiled and stroked the strand of hair still wrapped around his wrist. The familiars making up the procession outside sang out in a timely manner: Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. As the day is lulled to sleep,And the night grows deep.The ebony strand is spun,Linking two hearts into one. Xie An let out a soundless chuckle. Indeed. Their hearts had grown close purely due to this single strand connecting them together from that day on. Still holding the flower petal smelling of spiced honey, Xie An closed his eyes in the sedan and fell back into fond memories. After he and Jing You parted on the night of the Ghost Festival a year ago, Xie An made sure to keep that strand of hair around his wrist while laying down to sleep every day. And every day, he dreamed of opening his eyes in Jing You’s unusual domain. At first, Xie An only spent hours in Jing You’s domain. But as he grew closer and closer with Jing You and eventually fell in love, his stay in the domain increased to days, then weeks, all while fitting into the duration of night to daybreak in the mortal world. According to Jing You, his subconscious wish to stay with his lover longer made time pass differently between their worlds, causing the phenomenon. Thankfully, Jing You had a good enough grasp of the time outside that they didn’t need to worry about it going out of control. But this meant that the time Xie An spent with Jing You was much more than just the duration he slept in the mortal world. And as the days passed, Xie An grew increasingly familiar and comfortable with Jing You’s domain, until the fantastical sights within didn’t seem as strange anymore. But the first time Xie An had ventured in, he had felt discomfited in this realm swathed in perpetual night. The starry sky seemed so much closer and vibrant here while the peace and calm felt a bit eerie. In the center of the domain nestled Jing You’s residence, a sprawling mansion that was vast, shadowed, and quiet. The residence’s outer rooms were appointed with minimalistic elegance while the private chambers were more plushly comfortable. Along with the yellow lanterns swaying from the eaves in an even line, the residence also received illumination from intricate designs on the ceilings woven with luminescent threads and studded with glowing gems. A plant with slender emerald stems and small lilac flowers had managed to extend its vines over almost every wall of the residence. Xie An had been shocked to learn that rather than a bothersome weed, this plant was not only sentient, but also the steward of the residence. When Xie An asked it questions, the plant would reply by tracing glowing characters onto the wall. Xie An soon discovered that the plant especially liked to be addressed by the title of Steward and showed it by shaking its vines happily and opening its flowers to full bloom, like a plant equivalent of proudly puffing one’s chest out. Speaking of the residence’s odd denizens, one type looked like small balls of black fluff that ranged from the size of a pea to that of an adult’s fist. They merrily rolled around the house, often bumping into or bouncing off things without damage. Jing You informed him that they were part of the cleaning crew and their primary food source was dust. Xie An was both fascinated and dazed by all these strange things. Looking around, he asked Jing You, “As cute as they all are, don’t you have anyone you can talk to? Maybe someone more…humanoid?” Jing You replied, “I do have humanoid familiars, but they mostly remain silent. You can recognize them by how they always wear wooden masks and paint expressions on them according to the occasion. They do love to play music and sing, but otherwise remain devoted to their duties. They are the main working force and take care of the residence so smoothly that they are seldom even visible.” Of course, this made Xie An try his best to find these mysterious masked familiars, all without success. Later, Jing You smugly told him that the familiars enjoyed playing hide-and-seek with him and asked him to continue the game. Xie An gladly accepted the challenge and set off to find them with renewed determination, though it yielded little results. All Xie An had to show for his efforts were the notes in exquisite calligraphy he often found during his searches that encouraged him to continue playing and a bellyful of treats left alongside the notes. Due to this, Xie An had soon explored most of the residence and was curious about the sights outside. And so, Jing You took him to a place he had mentioned before―the Starlight Pond. The Starlight Pond was situated behind the residence and was home to Jing You’s preferred mounts, the black swans. When Xie An first saw it, his jaw dropped open. Giant bluish-green stalks thrust out of the water, some bearing flat, round leaves the size of a room while others held huge, translucent lotuses that pulsed with a soft blue inner glow. Large swans with ruby eyes and lustrous black feathers tucked their heads under their wings and rested on the leaves. The smaller ones snuggled within the lotuses, occasionally peeking at Jing You as if to check if he was bringing any food out. The gentle waves rippling the water’s surface were edged with light. The bottom of the pond was covered in glowing crystals in pastel blue, purple, green, and white. Light gathered from these crystals in bubbles and slowly floated up. Some of it was absorbed by the lotus stalks, with streams of light visibly traveling up the stems and into the flowers or leaves to line their edges. The rest of the bubbles of light coalesced into large blobs that meandered upwards into the sky. Large clouds in black and grey swirled about energetically and absorbed these light blobs. Looking at this otherworldly sight with wonder, Xie An murmured absently, “If you said this pond is some legendary spring of immortality or something, I will completely believe it.” Jing You smiled. “Oh? And then what? Will you drink it?” Xie An peered at the water thoughtfully. “Is it poisonous?” Shrugging, Jing You replied, “Not quite. But that’s where the swans bathe and do their business.” Xie An’s marveling expression scrunched into one of disgust. He quickly stepped away from the pond’s edge. “Ew!” He wished it was the commerce kind of business since it would be pretty interesting seeing giant black swans running a shop, but he knew it was not. Jing You laughed, happy at being able to mess with this rascal. Xie An glared at him and turned to walk back to the residence with a huff. Jing You followed, still chuckling. Along the way, a ghostly yellow-green dragonfly the size of a hand fluttered towards Jing You. It clutched a message shaped like a tiny scroll with its legs. “Excuse me,” Jing You said to Xie An and received the message from the dragonfly before unrolling it. Xie An smiled. Though small acts of politeness like saying ‘excuse me’ and ‘thank you’ might feel natural to Jing You, Xie An himself had rarely ever received them from others. Jing You’s casual gestures of respect and courtesy meant more to Xie An than Jing You would ever know. After reading the message, Jing You looked at Xie An apologetically. “It seems there’s an attempt at breaching the gate being planned. I have to go and personally keep guard for a while in case anyone manages to break through, as unlikely as it may be. Can you occupy yourself for a few hours?” Xie An nodded. “I’ve been meaning to look at one of the greenhouses you pointed out the first day I came here. I’ll do that while you have fun with menacing people.” Jing You smiled. “Then I’ll leave you to it.” After he left, Xie An went to check out the greenhouse filled with what Jing You had called spiritbell flowers. They were shaped like different types of bells, from long and straight rectangular ones and the usual conical ones to round balls with intersecting slits at the bottom. When a breeze passed by, the flowers swayed and emitted delicate, echoing tinkles. When these sounds overlapped and built upon each other, they were so soothing that Xie An fell asleep within minutes of hearing their chorus. Hours later, Xie An woke up from a deep, restful, and dreamless sleep within his sleep and stretched with a yawn. He stepped out of the greenhouse in a pleasantly drowsy haze, then found to his astonishment that the roof of the greenhouse was overgrown with newly sprouted plants. These plants had thin, blade-like leaves and long, upright stems that resembled hollow glass tubes channeling sparkles. Even without a breeze, they swayed sinuously as if alive. “I see that you’ve rejuvenated the dream feeders,” Jing You noted amusedly when he arrived. “You must have been very tired to fall asleep within a dream.” “They’re called dream feeders?” Xie An asked doubtfully. Jing You nodded. “They stay dormant until they find sustenance in the form of dreams. They aren’t malicious and are good for achieving deep, healing sleep. I don’t know how they all got on the roof, but I suppose this is another one of those swans’ mischiefs.” Xie An looked at the wriggling plants with a complex expression. Just when he thought he had gotten used to all the weirdness this place could offer, new weirdness sprouted out of nowhere—literally, in this case. Though Xie An kept feeling out of his depth, it was this feeling that drove him to explore more and more of the residence. And whenever he found something he thought was particularly intriguing, he would excitedly share it with Jing You. Rather than say that he already knew everything there was to know about this place, Jing You would smile indulgently and listen with rapt interest, as if the very fact that it was Xie An who was saying it made it that much more important. The Xie An who was too used to being ignored drank up this attention and glowed with happiness. But Xie An’s study of the residence wasn’t the only thing progressing, his relationship with Jing You was, as well. Since they had started out as two strangers who grew interested in each other after spending a day together, their progress was appropriately gradual. The first time they held hands was a few weeks after Xie An started visiting. Xie An had been studying Jing You’s long and elegant fingers that, despite their delicate appearance, had just exhibited enough strength to crack a stone railing after hitting it by mistake. As Xie An examined Jing You’s hand with interest, he spotted something that looked like a feather made of smoke floating past the corner of his vision. Without thinking, Xie An happily rushed after it to see what it was, with Jing You following him. It was only several minutes into the chase that Xie An realized he was still holding Jing You’s hand and let go with a blush. But Jing You had smiled and taken his hand instead. “Well, aren’t we going to continue chasing whatever it is that you spotted?” After the startlement passed, Xie An had curled his fingers around Jing You’s and pulled him forward with a bashful smile. “Come along, then. I’ll need you to tell me what it is when we find it anyway.” The smoke-like feather ended up being part of the cleaning crew, akin to the black fluff balls that collected dust. But instead of rolling around in pursuit of dust, the feathers floated up to collect and consume cobwebs. The first time the pair hugged, it was because Xie An was upset. Visiting Jing You each night usually put Xie An in a chipper mood the rest of the day. So what if his family looked at him disdainfully or his father ignored him? He had Jing You now! As a result of his good mood, Xie An worked harder in the fields each day, and the seniors keeping watch noticed. There were some who were sympathetic towards Xie An’s difficult life and went to praise his increased dedication to his father. Oftentimes, Xie An spotted his father gazing at him from a distance with a complex expression. Xie An wanted to ridicule himself for how even this small bit of attention gave him joy, but he didn’t let it get in the way of enjoying his time with Jing You when he dreamed each night. One day, Father Xie’s younger concubine decided to take issue with Xie An for some perceived insult. She went to her husband to whine in the hopes that he would take her side against Xie An as always. And by the way Father Xie’s eyes lit up with hard anger and he began to raise his hand, even Xie An thought he’d be hit a few times before being sent to his room and having his allowance reduced, as usual. Expecting to be struck, Xie An hunched his shoulders and turned his face away instinctively. But his father abruptly stopped and lowered his hand. Letting out a heavy sigh, he instead rubbed his face with slumped shoulders. “I’m a despicable father, aren’t I?” Xie An couldn’t hide his surprise. His father let out a small, self-deprecating laugh. “I don’t want to treat my own son like this either. I don’t want to hate you. But I loved her too much, and every time I see her in you, all I can think is how you took her away from me so you can exist. I have no choice, no choice at all. I’m sorry.” He had then turned and walked away, a pouting concubine following dissatisfiedly. Xie An could have held up against another torrent of abuse, but he didn’t know what to do with this convoluted apology. When he dreamed his way into the domain later that day, Xie An tried his best to act cheerful. But his eyes were vacant and his mind kept wandering off. Jing You finally asked him, “Are you alright?” Xie An wanted to brush it away as usual and maybe crack a joke. But the kindness and concern in Jing You’s eyes were too real, and at a time like this when he thirsted for such care all too much, Xie An was particularly weak against it. Xie An thus ended up breaking down in Jing You’s arms, crying with eyes squeezed shut and teeth gritted together. “It’s not fair! It’s not my fault! What does he mean he’s sorry?! Am I supposed to just forgive him?! What am I supposed to do with his damn apology?! It’s not like I ever hated him either! What the hell does he even want from me?!” Jing You had let Xie An vent and managed to make out the situation from his disjointed ramblings. He patted the young man’s back and made soothing noises when Xie An cried like a lost baby. When the young man angrily railed against the unfairness, Jing You furiously waved his fist as well and joined him in scolding his father. Eventually, Jing You just rocked Xie An on his lap back and forth, until the young man’s heart-wrenching sobs full of repressed hurt calmed to hiccups. His agitation drained away, Xie An dozed off in his arms in the end. That was the first time Xie An realized that having Jing You by his side meant more than just companionship. It was also comfort, care, warmth, and support when he needed it, luxuries that he had never had before. Xie An realized that the space beside Jing You wasn’t just someplace he was welcome to occasionally, but a home he belonged in. And this realization caused a fundamental shift in how he saw Jing You. By the first time they shared a kiss, Xie An had already begun to feel deeply for Jing You. As Xie An spent time with Jing You, bickered and talked with him, saw his smiles and frowns, and grew increasingly enchanted by the expressive beauty of his face and the familiarity of his graceful movements, some indefinable emotion gradually began building in his chest. He was especially conscious of it when he was with Jing You. And when Xie An woke up and couldn’t see Jing You anymore, the emptiness it left behind made him feel hollow and restless. But then he’d think of Jing You restricted to his domain and how his face lit up each time Xie An talked animatedly about the interesting experiences and amusing conversations he had when he was awake. It gave Xie An the motivation to get through another day just so he would have more things to tell Jing You. Once, Xie An was sitting in a padded armchair and happily playing with yet another bizarre object this domain had to offer. This time, it was some sort of super soft magical foam that was very satisfying to squish and pull apart, since it always merged back together on its own and recovered its original shape. While Xie An was thus busily engaged, he saw hands suddenly inviting themselves to rest on the armrests as Jing You leaned over him. Xie An looked up as Jing You’s hair fell down around him. Jing You’s gaze bore into his, some intention displayed within them. His thin lips were quirked up in a small smile. In a low, husky voice, Jing You spoke, “You smile so often, Xiao-An. I always wanted to know what your smile tastes like.” And Xie An finally knew how to vent the emotions building up within him. He smiled and leaned back before crooking a finger. “Why don’t you come and find out, then?” Jing You chuckled. “Alright.” As he slowly bore down, Xie An tilted his head back and let his lashes flutter closed. Jing You’s lips pressed onto his gently as the scent of spiced honey filled his nose. Their first kiss was short and sweet and went no further. After the brief kiss, Jing You had leaned back and quickly turned around, the back of a hand pressed to his lips and his cheeks dusted a fetching pink. Xie An had taken a few moments to recover before he went back to playing with his magical foam. But he couldn’t help occasionally licking his tingling lips as if searching for a trace of spiced honey. From then on, while their interactions hadn’t changed, they seemed to have gained an additional layer of subtlety. And whenever Xie An felt something building up in his chest again, he would go and kiss Jing You if Jing You hadn’t already done so. This opened up a new level of intimacy, bringing the pair closer as they shared new experiences as a couple. Sometimes Xie An laid his head on Jing You’s lap as the older man told him stories of notable things he’d seen in his long life. Sometimes it was Jing You who pillowed his head on Xie An’s lap while Xie An combed his hair and made jokes. Sometimes Jing You made it rain in the domain just so he and Xie An could silently cuddle in a small, warm, and cozy place, with hot drinks and a plate of steaming snacks in hand. Jing You thought it quite romantic to spend time that way until Xie An pointed out, “You know, doing it in dreams where I have no bodily functions is one thing. But if we shared a blanket and wrapped it tightly around ourselves like this in real life, with the only opening for airflow being around our faces, and I end up letting out a smelly fart…” Jing You, “……” Way to ruin it! But at least he now knew what to be cautious about if they married and began living together. Sometimes the couple swam in the Starlight Pond—after Jing You cleared up the misunderstanding of the swans contaminating it—and they fed the black swans. Sometimes Jing You took Xie An flying on one of the swans and Xie An would be able to touch the strange sentient clouds floating over the residence. The clouds seemed to like getting chased and would flee expectantly each time they saw Xie An flying up on a black swan. Once, Jing You even took Xie An dancing on the rooftops while the masked familiars played some eerie music, cheery expressions painted on the masks. Predictably, Xie An ended up tripping on a loose tile and took Jing You down with him in an ungainly tangle of limbs. The ever-dependable Steward Plant whipped out its vines and coiled it into a giant basket to catch them before they could smash into the ground. Jing You had curled up in the vine-basket and laughed. “That was so silly!” Xie An smacked him on the arm for taking it lightly. “I told you it was dangerous!” Jing You caught and kissed Xie An’s hand, then said solemnly. “Forgive me, Xiao-An. I thought that being here in just spirit, with no chance of your body being damaged, would reduce your fear of falling from heights. But I should’ve guessed that survival instincts wouldn’t be that easy to overcome. Pardon me for being inconsiderate. I blame my silliness on how being with you awakens my inner child though I’ve never been one myself.” Xie An felt his annoyance drain away with each word, and as soon as Jing You finished his heartfelt apology, much smooching had ensued. Later, as Xie An and Jing You lay beside each other and lazily drifted off, Xie An softly said, “Youyou, you know that I love you, right?” Jing You had lazily lifted his eyelids and smiled. Wrapping an arm around Xie An, he snuggled into the crook of his shoulder and said, “Of course. And I love you, too, despite that childish nickname you insist on inflicting upon me.” Xie An chuckled, eyes shining with quiet joy as he let himself be lulled into dreams within a dream. In this way, Xie An and Jing You continued growing closer, both emotionally and physically. But they never quite managed to go all the way, for Jing You could always sense Xie An’s obvious discomfort at the idea. When Jing You broached the subject with concern once, Xie An awkwardly said, “I guess my inexperience is causing me to be nervous.” The helpful Jing You promptly used his powers to conjure naked human-like puppets and had them demonstrate various sexual acts in great detail to help Xie An get familiar with the thought, much to Xie An’s mortified fascination. However, Xie An’s reluctance still didn’t abate. Till now, the time they spent together in the domain added up to several years, while less than a year had passed in the mortal world. After all the time they accompanied each other, Xie An knew he deeply loved Jing You and had long decided he would like to spend eternity with him. So the best course of action would be to marry Jing You on the night of the coming Ghost Festival, when the domain’s gates would finally open for the mortal world. However, the thought of having to suppress his natural urges and lie under Jing You made Xie An endlessly anxious. No matter how much he tried to force himself to get it over with in the hopes that it wouldn’t be as discomfiting as he imagined, Xie An always ended up balking at the last moment. Jing You was always patient in the face of his indecisiveness, never pressuring him or expressing any displeasure. Yet it only made Xie An feel all the more guilty and prompted him to try it again with more determination. Yet the result was always the same, as it was this time. Xie An had made it all the way to the bed and through the process of removing their clothes before he turned pale and began shaking his head. “I can’t. I’m so sorry, but I really can’t do this. I’m so sorry…” Jing You enfolded him in his arms and patted his back. “It’s alright. There’s no hurry.” Xie An hugged him back tightly and scolded himself angrily in his mind. He trusted Jing You and he knew his lover would make sure he was comfortable and got his share of pleasure as well. So why was he still so against it? Why did it feel like such a chore? But he couldn’t change what he felt. The very thought that after they got into bed, Jing You might see how much Xie An wasn’t into what they were doing and feel disappointed made Xie An’s heart sting and his apprehension rise. He didn’t want to make his beloved sad or make him doubt that he was being found undesirable when the problem lay with Xie An being unable to warm up to the thought of being the bottom. Sensing that Xie An was only growing tenser in his embrace, Jing You sighed. Pulling back, he met Xie An’s gaze and said, “Xiao-An, you know that sex is not a prerequisite for a relationship, don’t you?” Xie An blinked at him. “What?” “I mean,” Jing You pressed on, “it’s alright if you never want to do this. I will still love you and continue doing things with you that you find comfortable. You really don’t have to keep forcing yourself.” Seeing his lover being so understanding, Xie An felt the guilt press heavier onto his heart. “That’s not it. It’s not that I don’t want to do it with you. It’s just that…” Xie An trailed away. He would rather not put Jing You in the difficult position of having to choose between sacrificing intercourse altogether and going against his nature to be the bottom. Jing You asked patiently. “What is it? If it’s stopping you from doing what you want, then I’d like to know so I can help.” Xie An swallowed and looked up through his lashes timidly. In a small voice, he asked, “Then, um, would you let me top you?” After giving him a long look, Jing You slowly raised an eyebrow and said flatly, “You want me, the guardian to one of the gates to the Netherworld, a being feared by many and respected by the Ruler of the Netherworld himself, to allow myself to be mounted?” Xie An bit his lip and looked down. Ahh, he knew he shouldn’t have asked… Look, now he’d ended up offending his lover! Jing You pulled Xie An's face back up by the chin and pronounced, “Since you are daring enough to ask me that, how about we make it a challenge?” Xie An gulped and squeaked, “A ch-challenge?” “Mn.” Eyes narrowing as a sharp smile curved his lips, Jing You explained, “On the day we met, didn’t you enjoy pushing me in an attempt to make me move? How about you try it again? If you manage to somehow push me down onto the bed, I’ll let you top me.” Xie An hesitated. He had absolutely no faith in his strength against Jing You’s. “Come on now,” Jing You goaded. “You’re giving up before you even try? Tsk, tsk.” Letting out a jittery laugh, Xie An muttered a “Why not?” and placed his palms on Jing You’s shoulders, then gave a small nudge. Jing You immediately fell backward and onto the bed. He declared solemnly, “You have successfully pushed me down and have therefore earned the right to be at the top.” Xie An froze, eyes widening. Wh-What?! Jing You dropped the act and dissolved into laughter. “I wish you could see how stupid the expression on your face looks right now. What else did you think would happen, you little idiot? When I say I love you, it’s not with the expectation that one of us will always be at the top or bottom.” Xie An blinked. “Th-Then…you…?” “Me?” Stretching out comfortably on the bed, Jing You crossed his long legs at the ankles and replied, “I’m fine with being either. I have no preference, but since you have one, I’m willing to give you what you want.” Xie An was stunned. “Then, have you ever received anyone?” He really couldn’t imagine it! Jing You shook his head. “All my previous partners expected me to top so who was I to disappoint them?” As it finally sank in that he wouldn’t have to force himself in bed, Xie An let out a small laugh in relief. Then he laughed louder in happiness, his final reservations melting away. Jing You smiled. “Are you going to stand there laughing all day, all pleased with yourself? Or are you going to come and claim your gorgeous reward before he falls asleep on this nice and comfy bed?” Xie An snapped to attention and quickly clambered onto the bed. “No, no, I’m coming!” “So soon? We haven’t even started yet,” Jing You teased with a snicker. Settling over his lover, Xie An glowered at him. “Look at you being so snarky even in bed!” Jing You grinned and pulled his head down. “Then you better shut me up with a nice, hot kiss.” Xie An happily obliged. As they kissed passionately, Jing You wrapped his legs around the young man. Xie An leaned back when he ran out of breath and groaned at the feeling of Jing You’s arousal pressing into his belly. Massaging it with a smirk, Xie An said, “If the six horns on your head are enough to make me call you horny, then does that mean that this seventh horn poking me below makes you even hornier?” Jing You laughed. “Is this lame joke my payback for being snarky earlier?” He shifted restlessly and complained, “Stop keeping me waiting and get started already!” And so, Xie An did. Xie An spent his first time in Jing You’s arms, embracing and loving the man under him with all he had. The scent of spiced honey was all around him, mixed with the musk of their coupling and turned into a heady aphrodisiac. They panted and writhed and moved together with so much passion it made his bones melt and head spin. And when they were done, Jing You laughed affectionately and said, “Your enthusiasm more than makes up for your lack of skills.” Xie An flushed, only to hear Jing You go on to offer, “How about I let you continue this experience so you can develop those skills some more?” Xie An happily agreed and dedicated the next few hours to ardent learning. By the end of the study session, Instructor Jing had to concede that Student Xie had progressed greatly. After they cleaned up, the couple settled into a tidy bed to rest. Jing You was already on the verge of slipping into sleep, but Xie An was wide awake. Now that he had resolved the only hurdle that had been blocking his way to his desired eternity, Xie An saw no reason to hesitate anymore. He turned and called softly, “Youyou.” “Mn?” came the drowsy reply. “Do you like being with me?” Xie An asked. “Mn.” “Do you love me?” he pressed. Jing You yawned and snuggled deeper into the mattress. “Of course.” “Then will you marry me?” Jing You instinctively murmured, “Mn.” Then he froze as the question sank in. His head abruptly popped up from the pillow, hair disheveled and tangled in his horns. “Wait, what did you just say?!” Xie An chuckled and reached forward to help him disentangle his hair. “I asked if you will marry me.” Jing You blinked, looking so adorably dazed that Xie An just had to lean forward and kiss the tip of his nose. Jing You took the chance to capture him in his arms and interrogated, “You want to marry me? Really? Even though you know all it’ll entail?” Xie An nodded unhesitatingly. “Yes. So what’s your answer?” Jing You grinned at him with pure joy. “To quote your own reply: Yes, a thousand times yes!” Xie An cheered and ended up receiving plenty of appreciative kisses and other services from his ecstatic lover-turned-fiancé. Of course, a few more procedures had to be observed before their betrothal could be official. On a certain evening, Xie An’s village received a group of peculiar visitors. Garbed in heavy finery and wearing masks with solemn expressions painted on, Jing You’s familiars rode into the village on horse-like mounts. The mounts were carved out of shining black wood in the likeness of horses and wore heavy iron masks of their own. Turquoise leaves fringed their hooves and turned into long fronds that ran down the back of their heads and necks. Two sharp black horns akin to tree branches jutted out of their foreheads, growing small and tender leaves. Their eyes were polished pieces of amber glowing with an inner fire, seeming to have melted straight through the iron masks to form the eyeholes. Needless to say, no one attempted to stop the familiars or their forbidding mounts as they rode in. By the time they stopped in front of the Xie household, most of the village had already formed an audience while the rest were on their way. The masked familiar in the lead alighted from his mount and unrolled a scroll. With the seriousness of an eunuch reading an imperial decree, he recited in a deep and sonorous voice: “The Gatekeeper of the West, Lord of Xijing Gate, Jing You, has found his heart touched and his soul charmed by the compassion, integrity, sincerity, and companionship of a young man of this village during his previous visit to the mortal world. Lord Jing hence wishes to convey his earnest intention to wed the eldest son of Xie Tong, Xie An, and offers nine carriages of treasures as a betrothal gift that shall be delivered on the day of the wedding. “Lord Jing swears to protect, honor, and cherish his beloved long after the night grows barren of stars, the deserts turn to oceans, and the sky itself crumbles to the ground. To wed his beloved with the splendor he deserves, Lord Jing shall send a wedding procession to collect his groom when the gates open under the full moon, on the night of the Ghost Festival three months hence. May the Xie household cherish his betrothed in his stead till then for Lord Jing’s heart aches at his own inability to do so until the day of the wedding.” Gasps of shock and mutters of speculation sounded from the crowd. The village head just about fainted upon hearing this and needed his daughter to support him back home. The villagers’ gazes on the unassuming Xie An had changed from the usual pitying or dismissive ones to that of reassessment and surprise, as if they were wondering how he’d managed to bewitch an entity like that mysterious Lord Jing to this degree. Even Xie An’s own family looked at him as if he had surpassed their non-existent expectations and flew right above their heads in status. Xie An could only smile helplessly, knowing that Jing You had made such a spectacle of this on purpose. And now, exactly a year after their meeting in the real world, Xie An was finally on his way to marry Jing You. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. The lord awaits,Behind iron gates,To behold his mate,To be joined in fate. Xie An smiled, pleased. Yes, he was going to meet his beloved soon, and they would be joined for a lifetime, however long it ends up being. It was both comforting and exciting to think about. After all, his beloved was a joy to be around, and he was always so considerate that Xie An felt the hole left by the absence of familial love all these years singlehandedly being filled by him. For example, soon after Jing You had his familiars announce their betrothal in the village, Xie An was visiting the domain through his dreams yet again when Jing You had smirked and proposed something. He asked Xie An to act like a martyr willing to let himself be a sacrifice to appease the dreaded Gatekeeper. That was why Jing You had withheld the betrothal gifts until their wedding as well. That way, it would seem as if he didn’t trust Xie An to not escape before their marriage and was thus dangling the promise of treasures in front of his family so they would keep a close eye on him. Xie An had been puzzled at first but had agreed and tried it out. To his surprise, Xie An had duly received his father’s concern, shallow though it might have been, along with the respect of the entire village. Even the village head and some of the elders came to express their gratitude. It was only then that Xie An fully understood how Jing You’s power had been a cause of uncertainty and dread for the villagers. Though Jing You was courteous and never forced the others to bend to his will, the very fact that he could if he chose to made them tread lightly around him with bowed heads and hammering hearts. Now that Xie An had agreed to be tied to Jing You for eternity, they would no longer have to fear that Jing You would venture out with the intention of seeking a companion among their children of marriageable age again. Realizing this, Xie An could only shake his head. What a bunch of worrywarts. He bet Jing You was pleased with himself for using their irrational fear to make Xie An feel beloved by his family and village for once. When the time of the wedding approached, the village was swathed in ethereal mists as strings of golden-yellow lights floated in the air, like spherical lanterns hung up in celebration. At midnight, a wedding procession formed of the masked familiars coalesced out of the mists, bearing nine carriages full of gifts for Xie An’s family. The carriages were quickly unloaded and the chests were eagerly opened. The moment Xie An glimpsed its contents, he had to struggle to not burst out laughing. That cheeky man! He sure knew how to make a statement! Piles of gold and silver ingots shone in the light of the unearthly lanterns, along with swathes of exquisite brocaded silk, expensive vases, stunning jewellery, and breathtakingly beautiful woodwork. But everything, from the ingots and the silk to the ornaments and carvings, bore Xie An’s name, either stamped onto it or tastefully inserted into the designs themselves. Knowing Jing You, it wasn’t unlikely that he had embedded the characters in with magic so it couldn’t be covered up, modified, or erased. Xie An wouldn’t put it past him to have cursed the items either. But overall, it was as if Jing You was making sure they never forgot Xie An’s name again. They would recall him each time they spent this money or used these objects, and they would never be able to avert their eyes from the debt they owed him. The Xie family’s expression as they realized it as well had truly been a sight to behold. Xie An had smiled, warmth bubbling up within him at the thought of the many ways Jing You showed his care for him. He couldn’t wait to see him again and hug him, showing his own love and care in return. And so, ignoring the villagers’ awed gazes, Xie An had stepped into the sedan, his mind filled with the thoughts of the man who would be his future. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. On this path to forever,He will be the guide.Not even death can sever,Once the red string is tied. In the sedan, Xie An played with the flower petal in his hand and pondered. It was true that he couldn’t predict eternity. But while it was possible that he or Jing You would change, he also had faith that they would change together, growing ever closer to each other. They had an eternity to explore one another, after all. And he couldn’t wait to begin. A change in the air, some subtle shift, broke Xie An out of his thoughts. The sedan was now flooded with the smell of spiced honey. Soon, a large shadow was cast upon the sedan, and Xie An’s heart beat faster as he realized. They had arrived before Jing You’s domain. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. At the Gates of Xijing,On a night dark and long.Hear the copper bells ring,Hear the wedding procession’s song. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. The procession finally stopped. The symphony of drums, flutes, and bells came to a slow halt. But the masked familiars continued to sing, their tone changing, the pitch rising. Rejoice one and all,Let not a tear fall. The lord is to be wed,His groom arrives in red. The sedan’s curtain was swept aside and one of the masked familiars extended a hand towards Xie An. Xie An accepted it and got up. Restrain your awe and delight,For the groom shall now alight. And once he meets the lord's gaze,He shall be bound for all his days. He had long been willingly bound to Jing You, Xie An thought fondly. He carefully stepped down from the sedan while holding up the hem of his robes. Bushes of red flowers filled the area outside, with a gigantic mansion looming in front of them. Imposingly tall and dark iron gates blocked most of the view of the residence, but Xie An had explored it so many times in his dreams that he could already trace its lines in his mind with familiarity. Ah, ah, ahh,Ah, ah, ahh. The gates open,Fates interwoven. The massive iron gates swung open soundlessly. Xie An smiled eagerly and turned to see Jing You standing within the open gates. Jing You extended a hand and Xie An stepped forward to take it. The bridegroom is presented,The wedding procession has ended. As the last note reverberated in the air, the familiars dissolved into mists and swirled around the couple like a silvery shroud. Bright red flowers were plucked away from their bushes by the ensuing wind and joined the mist in circling the pair. In this whirlpool of shimmering silver and brilliant red, Xie An and Jing You only had each other in their eyes. They wound their arms around one another as if handling something precious, a treasure they had only dreamed about. Jing You smiled and teased in a voice gone husky with emotion, “What have they done to you, Xiao-An? Is that makeup? You look like you greedily gobbled a barrel of berries and then rolled on a kitchen floor someone spilled flour all over. I can’t wait to slowly and thoroughly wash all that rubbish off of you.” Letting out a choked laugh, Xie An reached up to touch one of Jing You’s horns and joked in return, “I see you’re as horny as ever, Youyou. We better finish the wedding soon and get on with the wedding night for your sake.” “I’ve waited too long for this, so I’m not even going to pretend to hold my cool. Come, let’s start.” Jing You took Xie An’s face in his hands reverently and bent forward. Xie An smiled softly and tilted his head up. They kissed and it was their first time all over again. Xie An and Jing You thus stepped onto the path of building an eternity together, their beloved right by their side.   crimson_carnation Mini Theater On the next Ghost Festival, Jing You takes Xie An to the palace of the Ruler of the Netherworld. Seeing how impressed Xie An is with the magical gardens they see along the way, Jing You tells him to stay and look around a bit more while he goes to greet his friend first. In the palace’s receiving room— Ruler of the Netherworld, rubbing his chin: So, why did you choose this human out of all the others? Is he exceptionally beautiful? Jing You, shrugging: He’s the most beautiful to me. Ruler of the Netherworld, rolling his eyes: Does he have a very bright mind, then? Jing You, cheerfully: His existence shines the brightest to me. Ruler of the Netherworld, snorting: Then does he have a notable skill that has captured your attention? Can he sing? Dance? Has he mastered any instrument? Jing You, earnestly: To me, his voice is the greatest of melodies and his every move the most graceful of dances. And when we embrace each other at night, I experience the mastery his fingers and mouth hold over the instrument of my body with much pleasure. Ruler of the Netherworld, looking disgusted: Who asked that! *coughs to regain composure* So, if he’s that plain and useless, why did you choose him? As your friend, I must object! Jing You, smiling: The only thing I wanted for in a husband is for him to love me and for me to love him in return, and for him to be willing to spend the rest of his days with me. Xie An gives me all that and more. The Ruler of the Netherworld looks thoughtful. Jing You: And if that isn’t enough for you to overturn your objection, how about another reason? Ruler of the Netherworld, blinking: Ah? What other reason? Jing You, pointing behind him: My husband is currently standing at your back with a scythe and looks about ready to use it. The Ruler of the Netherworld turns slowly and sees Xie An behind his seat, silently raising the glinting scythe in his hand. Ruler of the Netherworld, leaping up and away in startlement: Ahhhhh! Jing You, amused: Do you still object? Ruler of the Netherworld, hiding behind him and quickly shaking his head: No! Jing You, looking satisfied: Good. Xie An, confused: Um… so, I was about to ask where to put this gardening scythe the palace’s gardener gave me after inviting me to help him but…is something wrong? Ruler of the Netherworld: …… Jing You snickers. Ruler of the Netherworld, straightening huffily and shaking a finger at his friend: Damn you and your trickery! You know what? A scoundrel like you doesn’t deserve some clever, talented beauty anyway! Go and keep bothering your husband with your mischief and hope he keeps putting up with you. Hmph! Jing You, grinning: Why, thank you for your blessing. Xie An: ……? He didn’t know what was going on, but he was a hundred percent certain his husband was to blame.   Hello! (○⁀ ▾ ⁀○) I hope you enjoyed Xie An and Jing You's little story~ I originally wrote it as a birthday present to someone and figured its mild spookiness would suit today~ (๑╹ω╹๑) Speaking of which, happy Halloween! (ΦwΦ)Ψ As always, you can press the little heart button at the top or bottom of the page if you liked the story and leave a rating and/or review at the story's main page~ You can find more of my stories under the Series tab here (৹´ ꒳ `৹) Any and all donations through the Ko-fi and Paypal buttons below will also be much appreciated~ Thank you for reading and I wish you all an amazing day! (*๓⁀ ▿ ⁀๓)♡

Sventlina let out a sigh, stretching her arms. It has been two months since she first met Marē, and she still couldn't believe how she became close to the odd knight. Unlike Sventlina's other friends, Marē cared not for any kind of noble standards. She only showed respect to King Aden, and not to anyone else. Not even the princes. At first, it was weird hanging out with such a carefree girl. Marē showed some respect to Sventlina, but only respect one would have towards a friend. She didn't make appointments nor ask any servants for anything. If Marē wanted to find Svenlina, she would find her. Sventlina couldn't do the same for Marē. If Marē was gone, it was impossible to find her. The two times she did manage to track the knight down she was in the most absurd of places. The first time was outside of the city gates, standing out on a large sandy hill watching the sun. Sventlina saw her from her own window. The second time she was located in the catacombs. What she was doing there wasn't clear as the moment Marē saw one of Sventlina's maids coming towards her, she locked the door behind her. Sventlina tried to look into what was behind the door but, whatever was behind there it was only for King Aden and Marē to know as she was blocked at every attempt. Today, Sventlina found Marē in the cafeteria where soldiers and the servants eat. She stood out among the people eating there with her height and black armor. Marē noticed Sventlina too and waved at her as she approached. "You hungry?" Sventlina asked, eyeing what the cafeteria was serving.  "Yep! Gettin the stake and bread," Marē answered, leaning down so Sventlina wouldn't have to strain her neck looking up at her, "What about you?" Sventlina looked at the meals and couldn't help but admit that the steak smelled tasty. Still, she wasn't here to eat. "No thank you," Sventlina politely declined, tearing her eyes away from the steak, "I'm just here looking for you." "Well, what'd ya need?" Marē asked, tilting her head.  "Nothing really. It's just that my nanny is coming over and she can be a lot to handle," Sventlina explained in a soft voice, "and I thought I should spend some time with you until she comes since, even though I still don't know how to feel about you, I can't deny that you're good company." Marē's cheeks flushed for a couple of seconds as her eyes widened in surprise. When she recovered, she did an awkward little nod that Sventlina found adorable. "O-oh. Th-thank you," Marē got out before standing up and looking away from Sventlina. The term gentle giant came into mind, as well as big old dog.  Sventlina eyed the line Marē was waiting on and let out a small frown. It was going to take a while before it was Marē's turn to get her meal. "I'll go get a table. When you're done, come find me," Sventlina told Marē, not having the patience to wait in line with her, "I'll be by the doors that lead to the hallway by the flower garden." Marē watched her go out of the corner of her eyes, her smile becoming a little wider. It felt nice to have a friend like her. Most of her friends were made through the bonds of fighting and, to put it frankly, she doesn't quite feel remotely the way she was feeling now near them, even outside of war time. Since Marē was watching Sventlina, she saw a maid walk up to her the moment she sat down. On the maid's back was a crest of a noble family Marē has not seen before, which meant none of they went into battle or took part in strategic meetings to discuss plans for war. Sventlina saw the maid and, upon realizing she was heading towards her, let out a small groan. She knew who the maid worked for. "Second Princess Sventlina Flos," The maid greeted, bowing before continuing, "Duke Trace has come to see you." "Where is she?" Sventlina asked, trying her best to mask the annoyance she felt. "She is waiting outside the cafeteria," The maid answered, pointing towards the doors Sventlina was by.  Sventlina wondered if she should tell the maid to tell her nanny to come meet her inside the cafeteria instead of getting out of her seat and going over to her but decided against it, knowing that if she did, she would never hear the end of it. "Alright, let me just-" Sventlina began, getting up from her seat, her eyes scanning the line where Marē was. Instead of seeing Marē on the line, she saw Marē standing right behind the maid without any tray with food, looking at the crest that was definitely on the back of the maid. "Oh! Why'd you get out of line?" Sventlina asked, confusing the maid. It took the maid a second to realize that Sventlina wasn't talking to her and turned around. When she did, she leaped back in fright at seeing Marē standing only a couple of inches away. "I saw the maid and figured something interesting was happening," Marē told Sventlina, ignoring the maid that she had just scared. "Well, since you're off the line, do you want to meet my nanny?" Sventlina asked stepping over to grab Marē's left hand, trying her best to ignore the metal claws on Marē's armored left hand and started walking towards the doors where her nanny was waiting behind. Marē blinked in surprise but allowed herself to be led towards the doors leading out of the cafeteria that was near them. Sventlina opened the doors, not even waiting for the maid to open it for her. The moment she peaked her head through she was attacked. Two arms wrapped around her arm and pulled her into a warm embrace.  "Ooh, hello there my little Flos!" An energetic yet old voice spoke out, hurting Sventlina's ears from how loud it was. After struggling to escape the weapons all old people with grandchildren have, Sventlina was finally released and got a good look at her nanny. Her nanny was still larger than her despite being old. She was wearing a green and yellow dress that one would wear at a dance with dark brown hair ending halfway down her back. A few strands of her hair was grey in color, showing her age. How much of her hair was grey, Sventlina doesn't know as she was positive that her nanny dyed most of them. Even old, her nanny still cared about her appearance. "Hey, Nanny T," Sventlina greeted, doing a small bow which her nanny returned. "How is my little Flos doing?" Nanny T asked, a bright warm smile on her face that somehow managed to make Sventlina fee uncomfortable. "Oh...I-it's....um," Sventlina began before stopping herself so she doesn't embarrass herself. She turned her head to look at her feet, struggling to think of an answer. Seeing this, her nanny planned to reach out and pinch her cheeks. However, before she could move her hands forward, a shadow fell over her, causing her to look up. Standing behind Sventlina was Marē. Marē's eyes met Duke Trace's and recognition flashed through their eyes. Marē has a great memory, and, even though Marē was wearing full body armor back when the two first met, Trace still recognized her as a Dark Knight. To make matters worse, she also recognized the towering height, the stainless steel hilt of her sword, the clawed gauntlet, and the tiny white flower tied into her hair.  She recognized Marē as the Commander of the Dark Knights. Marē started to raise her right hand to wave hello to the nanny when she saw the color drain from her face. Then, her hands dart towards Sventlina's hands just like years ago, intent on pulling her away. Marē's face changed within an instant. Her smile turned to an open-mouth frown and her eyes slightly narrowed, showing no emotion in them. The cold dead stare was enough to freeze Duke Trace. By the time she recovered, Sventlina had stopped staring at the ground. Seeing the looked of terror on her nanny's face, Sventlina followed her gaze upwards and looked at Marē, whose smile and bright cheery eyes returned just before Sventlina could see the expression that is normally on Marē's face before they met each other again. "Oh! Yes, I made a new friend!" Sventlina exclaimed, grabbing Marē's armored hand and pulling her forward. "Hello there, madam!" Marē greeted, ignoring the stunned expression on Duke Trace's face. Trace did not say anything for a long time, causing Sventlina to sense that something is wrong. Before she could make any kind of guess to what is wrong, Duke Trace did a bow before turning around. "Unfortunately,I have to cut our meeting short as I have somewhere to be," Duke Trace informed Sventlina, "Hopefully we'll meet later," Sventlina reached out to stop her nanny but stopped herself before she reached her. "Sure thing, Nanny," Sventlina agreed before turning around and walking away, taking Marē with her. After listening to Sventlina's footsteps for a while, Duke Trace turned around and saw that Marē had turned her head to look back too. It may have been just a trick of the light but, in the dim hallway, Marē's eye glowed in the dark. After their eyes met, Marē turned her head back around and didn't look back, walking out of sight behind a bend with Sventlina.         The Princess And The Dark Knight Part 3 - The Dark Knights         Sventlina brought Marē to her room, not sure how to feel. Something about Marē scared her nanny, and it couldn't have been her size. Marē was tall and can certainly be imposing but seems harmless overall. No. Sventlina was certain that her nanny recognized Marē. However, Nanny wouldn't say. At least, not within earshot of Marē.  Sventlina looked at Marē who, in return, gave her a beaming cheery smile. Over the past two months Marē always seems to smile when near Sventlina. Honestly, it made Sventlina a little uncomfortable. She couldn't get why Marē was smiling when around her. Sventlina felt kinda bad about it. Marē was always so kind to her yet Sventlina doesn't even know how to feel about her. Should she like the knight? Should she trust her is an even better question. But, is it fair to think that? Marē has done nothing but trust anything that Sventlina said. She doesn't even frown when Sventlina refuses to go along with her, instead just asking what she wants to do instead. Yet, the look of fear on Duke Trace's face filled her head. She had to know why. Why was her nanny so afraid of Marē?  "Hey, Marē. Do you know my Nanny?" Sventlina asked, standing in front of her bedroom doors with her back turned to Marē.  "Yep! I remember her from when she was younger. About twelve years ago to be precise," Marē responded without the tiniest hint of hesitation, her voice as cheerful as ever. Sventlina didn't need to turn around to know that Marē was giving her a cheery smile. Marē isn't afraid of Sventlina knowing who she is, is she? But, if Sventlina did learn who she was, would she be afraid of Marē? Would she, some way or another, hurt Marē if she found out?  All of these questions and doubts ran through her head until, finally, Sventlina decided she needed a distraction. "Hey, Marē. Do you know where the Dark Knights are located?" Sventlina asked, still not turning around so Marē doesn't see her worried face. "Yep!" Marē responded once again without any hesitation. "Same place as before." "Can you...take me to meet them?" Sventlina asked, suddenly remembering that supposedly the Commander of the Dark Knights had tried to kill her back when she was much younger. Still, the reason she decided to ask anyway was because of Marē. She had a feeling that Marē was quite a bit better in terms of skill than a knight was. Hopefully, she could protect her if anything happens. "Sure! When do you want to go?" Marē asked. Sventlina turned around and looked Marē over. As expected, she was still smiling, though it seems that she is standing a bit more upright, like a soldier would be.  Sventlina's eyes locked on to the white flower in Marē's hair. It looked so familiar and, after closer inspection, Sventlina was sure that the flower had light and life magic in it, the light magic to make it glow and the life magic to make sure the flower lasts for a long time. Whoever enhanced that flower must be very skilled in both arts as the dark and death magic Marē has would make any tiny flower she comes into contact with for too long wither and die.  Sventlina closed her eyes and focused on Marē and the flower she has. Using her royal magic, she used a simple spell called magic sense which allowed her to see magic. The spell worked and Sventlina saw what she expected to see. A figure of black and fleeting streaks of silver and, on the figure's head to the right there was a bright white light in the form of a blurry flower. For some strange reason, Sventlina thought it looked beautiful. It reminded her of something her mother told her. 'Even the dark needs a light,' Sventlina thought, shaking her head slightly. "Sventa, are you alright?" Marē asked, tilting her head. Sventlina quickly got out of her spell and nodded, embarrassed. To Marē, she must have saw Sventlina staring at her without saying a word. "Yeah, I am," Sventlina said quickly, hoping to get Marē's mind off what Sventlina was sure a stupid sight, "We can go now." Marē nodded once and spun around on her heels. Before she took a step forward, she looked back, making sure Sventlina was following her. Upon seeing Sventlina walking towards her, Marē let out a little hum before she started walking forward.   ........     Marē led Sventlina all the way to the catacombs, stopping in front of the door that one of Sventlina's maids found her at before and the one Sventlina failed to get any information about. At first, Sventlina was confused. She wondered if the door was some kind of secret passage that led to the barracks where the knights are located. She quickly learned that wasn't the case. Marē waved her hand in front of the door and tendrils of dark magic seeped out of her hand and into the door handle. The door handle flashed gold for a second and, after eight seconds of nothing happening, the door handle flashed black and silver. before opening. Marē  wasted no time and opened the door, gently grabbing Sventlina's hand and pulling her along into the room. "Co-" A voice started before stopping. Sventlina blinked her eyes a couple of times, trying to get adjusted to the lighting inside the room. The catacombs were dark so the sudden introduction of a light caused Sventlina to be temporarily blind. When her eyes adjusted, Sventlina looked around the room. The room was a large one with many different smaller rooms with open doorways and no doors. The stone bricks here were reinforced and darker in color unlike the ones in the catacombs. In front of Sventlina in a little rectangular dip in the floor was a large wooden table with twelve chairs. Standing around the table with a few sitting in the chairs were knights dressed in black armor with some decorated spikes. Some of them had long black swords while others had polearms such as a halberds, though Sventlina was sure they weren't halberds. The axe part was too large.  One of the knights, the one closest to Sventlina and Marē, was an oni much to Sventlina's surprise. As the silence went on, more heads popped out from the different rooms with all but the room to the left, Sventlina noted, had large wooden tables with twelve chairs. A few of the newcomers wore dark silver armor with similar weapons. It didn't take a genius to realize that these were the famed Dark Knights. Sventlina couldn't believe her eyes. The famous Dark Knights of Alsmar were located here, in the catacombs of the palace instead of in some kind of mansion or barracks. Another surprise was that none of them looked even remotely emotionless, staring at Marē and Sventlina with surprise and, surprisingly, warmth. "Here you are, Sventa!" Marē suddenly said, causing Sventlina to jolt and the sudden break in silence, "Meet the Dark Knights." Upon hearing Sventlina's name, the Dark Knights seemed to jolt a little. Then, they all got up and started gathering in front of Sventlina and Marē, though Sventlina saw four walk away into the rooms presumingly to tell the others. After all, there is supposedly around two hundred Dark Knights. The ones that gathered took a knee, their eyes at the ground except for two, both of which wore black capes. One was a male with long brown hair and the other was the oni. If Sventlina had to guess, those two were Captains.  More and more Dark Knights gathered in the room, a few with their helmets on while most did not. Like the oni and the other Dark Knight with a cape, the ones with cape looked up at Sventlina and Marē and those who did not have capes did not look up.  After studying the Dark Knights, Sventlina came to a realization and quickly looked at Marē. Marē's armor was black and extremely similar in design to the Dark Knights. Sure there are some differences like the clawed gauntlet and the fact that Marē wasn't wearing what could be called knight armor but, besides the hilt and serrated edges on the sword, Marē's sword was exactly like the sword the Dark Knights had. "Marē, are you a Dark Knight?" Sventlina whispered, standing on her toes to get closer to Marē's head. Marē met her eyes and nodded once before looking back at the Dark Knights, a flash of something in her eyes.  Seeing as Marē's attention was on the Dark Knights, Sventlina decided to focus back on them too. When she did, she noticed that there had to be more than a hundred kneeling now, taking up every empty space there was...except for one. One of them was standing in the back. The one that was standing was a woman with long black curly hair and glowing purple eyes, her pupils long and circular, like a cat's pupil. Her skin was light brown and, like Marē, her sword was serrated. Unlike the other Dark Knights, her cape had red highlights and her armor was more detailed. Hanging from her waist was her helmet, black in color with a single red streak underneath the left eye hole. Her arms were crossed and her eyes were narrowed, a slight scowl on her face. Whoever this Dark Knight was, she wasn't happy to see Sventlina. 'That must be the Commander!' Sventlina realized with a shock, reflectively taking a step back. This caused the Commander's eyes to narrow even more. 'I guess she still remembers me...and I guess the Commander is a she too.' Sventlina thought, remembering the rumor of the Commander being tall and muscular. 'Though, she isn't as tall as I thought she would be. Marē is taller.' "We greet the Second Princess, Sventlina," The Dark Knights said unanimously. Once they said that, the Commander stomped her foot. After hearing it, the Dark Knights stood up and started going back to whatever it was they were doing before. Only a few, mainly the Captains, stayed, including the oni and the Commander. The Commander walked over to the oni and whispered something in her ear. Upon hearing it, the oni nodded and walked off to the right, opening a door which Sventlina had not seen before. On the other side was an armory. If there was something else in the room Sventlina couldn't tell as the room was too dark to tell. After the oni closed the door behind her, the Commander walked up to Sventlina. Even if the Commander was smaller than Marē, she is still taller than Sventlina. That and, well, the words Ruby told her still rung in her head.  "Greetings, Marē and Sventlina," The Commander spoke, an arm against her chest in some kind of salute, "I am Rōma, but you can just call me Rome." "H-hello, Rome. Sorry if you didn't expect a sudden visit," Sventlina got out, hoping to calm the Commander down. "Oh, its not big problem," Rome said with a sigh, shaking her head slightly, "It's just that today may not have been the best time to come visit." "May I ask why?" Sventlina asked, curious yet trying not to be rude. "Well, our Commander just came back and I learned something rather disappointing," Rome admitted, her eyes glancing at Marē for a brief second. "Wait, you're not the Commander?" Sventlina yelped, doubt in her voice. Rome's eyes widened in surprise and she looked at Marē again. After staring at each other for a few seconds, Rome seemed to nod in understanding and look back at Sventlina. "I am the right-hand of the Commander, but not the actual Commander," Rome explained, turning around and walking deeper into the room. After a moment hesitation, Sventlina and Marē followed her. Rome walked through two different rooms, one of them having an open doorway to what looked like a brewery. When she finally stopped, she was at the end of the large area the Dark Knights were located. On the wall was a glass panel with a view of a small pine forest located behind the palace. To the left was a door with a dark silver name tag with the name Rōma on it. To the right was another door but, unlike the one with Rōma's name, this door seemed to have been in use, the lights on inside. Above the door was two silver silver longswords crossed over a black shield, one of the symbols of the Dark Knights. "So, is the Commander in there?" Sventlina asked after taking the two assumed offices in. Rome glanced at Marē again and nodded before turning to face Sventlina. "Why, you have already met the Commander, Sventlina," Rome told Sventlina, her arms crossed across her chest. "Huh? What do you mean-" Sventlina began before she stopped, a realization dawning on her. "The Commander of the Dark Knights, Marē Dune," Rome said, confirming what Sventlina thought, "is the Dark Knight standing right behind you." Sventlina turned around and stared at Marē, who only scratched behind her head nervously. "You can tell by the silver handle on the blade and the clawed gauntlet she is wearing." Sventlina didn't respond. Instead, she just continued staring at Marē. After a long silence, Sventlina shook her head and walked past Marē. "I...I need some time alone," Sventlina called out as she walked away. Marē's eyes flared and she reached towards her but stopped before she reached Sventlina. Marē and Rome watched Sventlina leave through the door and enter the catacombs in a hurry. When the door closed behind her, Marē's arm slumped in defeat. "I told you that she is afraid of you. Even if she knows you, it seems that fear won in the end." Marē gave a small nod but didn't turn to face Rome. After a couple of seconds of silence, Rome let out a sigh and took out a key from her pocket and opened the door to her office. Once in, she closed the door behind her, leaving Marē standing in the hallway alone.     Western42 I finally did it! Part 3 is completed. Part 4 is on the way and may very well be the last part in this short story. Give me your thoughts down below so I can see what I can do to improve the story!  

People made way, some running, others swiftly walking. Mothers and fathers grabbed their children. The militia backed up, fear on their faces. Even the nobles made way. What they were making way for was a large group of knights, some wearing black armor while others wore silver. A few even wore a mix of the two. Blood coated their armor and the air around them was thick with dread and the scent of death. In In their hands were polearms and swords. They paid the people parting for them no mind. They just marched forward.  Their destination was the Alsmar Gate, the only way out of the city and into the outside world. Once outside, they wouldn't be back for years. The war they were fighting had no signs that it was going to end anytime soon. Then again, in this world, they are always at war. Luckily, it seemed the enemy this time around had no allies that could make this mess even worse. As the vanguard of Alsmar, they were going out first. That is why they still have blood on their armor. After the army managed to fend off the attack from their enemy, these knights were instantly given their orders. No time to rest nor to to prepare themselves. But, atlas, that is just the fate of the Dark Knights of Alsmar.  They were the most elite soldiers of Alsmar. Yet, despite that, they were treated rather poorly by the people of the kingdom. They were called psychopaths and were feared by all. Because of such treatment, they grew cold to even the ones they are suppose to be protecting. They still will protect the people of Alsmar but, if one were to ask if any of them would care if the people suffered from hunger or from corrupt rulers, the answer would be no. The only thing they fight for is peace from the outside world. If the people they protect could run around, free of worry and the fear of being attacked by another Faction, then that is fine for them. It doesn't matter if they are hated as long as the people they protect are safe. Now, the same couldn't be said about the leader of the Dark Knights. The Commander, Marē. Marē doesn't stand out among the Dark Knights as they were. It helped them blend in with the rest of the Dark Knights to avoid being picked off by enemies. All that is known about Marē is that they are ruthless, cruel, a barbarian who uses all sorts of tactics to get the job done, no matter how dishonorable they are, and they are skilled in fighting despite being old. There are many rumors about the dreaded and feared Commander. One is that Marē is an Immortal. The name, Marē, has been the name of the Commander of the Dark Knights for centuries and that the Commander never changes in height or armor. Of course, despite that observation, the more believable rumor is that Marē is a title given to those who lead the Dark Knights. After all, the Immortals lack in sword skills and rely on cultivation and chi to fight properly. While the Commander has magic, they have not once been seen using chi or cultivating. They also don't fly like Immortals do.  Marē was currently in the front of their knights, covered in blood. They weren't wearing what one would expect a feared knight Commander would wear. They wore silver armor matching most of the other knights with only two differences that set them apart from the rest. Their left hand had a clawed gauntlet and their longsword was serrated on both sides near the tip with a hilt made of stainless steel, bright silver in color. During the few rare times the Dark Knights weren't off fighting, the Commander wore a black cape and a crown of black spikes on top of their helmet. The final difference would be that the red ceremonial robes that was wrapped tightly around the right side of their chest would be a bright royal red. Currently, like the other Dark Knights, the robes were a dark red. As the knights marched on, lead by the Commander, a strange thing happened. Someone stepped in front of the Commander. The other Dark Knights marched on, undisturbed, but the Commander stopped. They looked at the person who stepped in front of them, their face completely hidden by the full armor they wear. However, that didn't stop others from noticing that it seemed that the Commander was a little surprised. Of course, anyone would be surprised in this situation. The person who stepped out in front of the Commander was a little girl with light tan skin and shiny pearly blue eyes with long white hair and wore a white silk dress, though she wore no shoes despite the rich appearance she has. In her hand was a small white flower with a yellow center. The flower almost seemed to glow as the girl reached out towards Marē. Nearby, a noblewoman reached out and grabbed her right arm, panic all over her face. Just as she pulled her daughter back, Marē turned her body around, fulling facing the girl, and continued to stare at her. Because their left hand was on the hilt of their blade, the noblewoman thought the worse and got ready to push the girl away.  The air was thick with tension and everyone seemed to be silent. Even the Dark Knights have stopped marching and were watching their Commander. Marē didn't do anything for a couple of seconds, staring at the girl, before they lurched forward, causing the noblewoman to jump back in surprise, letting go of the girl's right arm. However, much to everyone's surprise, Marē took a knee in front of the little girl, holding out their left hand. The girl seemed to be surprised as well and it took a couple of seconds before she could recover. Once she did, she reached forward with both hands around the flower. Marē's clawed gauntlet, and in extension her hands, was huge, with just one of the claws being as large as one of the girl's hands. That didn't deter the girl. She carefully and skillfully wrapped the stem of the flower around the pointer finger of Marē before taking a couple of steps back, eagerly looking at Marē's helmet to see a reaction. Marē didn't do anything for a couple of seconds before, finally, they started to move. They slowly got up and patted the girl on her head with her free right hand, causing the girl to giggle.  Afterwards, Marē stood up and went right back to marching, though their left hand wasn't on the hilt anymore. The other Dark Knights began to march after their leader. They left through the large highly decorated metal gates without a single one turning to look back.  The girl watched them leave, feeling a little bit hurt that the knight she gave her flower to didn't speak at all. She reached up and rubbed her head, recalling what the knight did give her.  "Princess! Don't You Dare do that again!" The noblewoman from before yelled, grabbing the girl's right arm roughly and pulling her closer. "But why?" The girl asked, confused as to what she did wrong. To her, all she did was give a flower to someone who looked lonely and dark. She was following her mother's words. Even the dark needs a light. "Because, that thing you just gave the flower to isn't a knight. That is a monster." The girl was only partly listening to what her guardian was telling her. She was more interested in the knight. 'I wonder when I'll see her again?' The girl thought, looking at the gates where the Dark Knights left.      ........     Marē looked back and, after making sure that no one on the walls would be able to see them or their Dark Knights, stopped marching.The other Dark Knights stopped as well and started to relax. Some sat down while others talked to each other. A few of them took of their helmets. Marē did not join them in their relaxation. Instead, they walked away from their knights and went on top of a small hillock. With their back facing their knights, Marē took of their helmet and dropped it on the ground, not caring if it got dust on it.  Marē, underneath the helmet, was female. She did not look old. In fact, she looked to be young. Her hair was short and a chestnut brown color with random black streaks mixed in. Her skin was a white color, looking to be a little unhealthy, and on her left cheek was a line of stitches, the scar underneath tan in color. Her eyes were large but very different, her yellow iris were shaped like a diamond with two dark blue lines on both sides of her diamond-shaped iris.  Marē looked out at the setting sun, her expression unreadable. Outside of Alsmar, the world could only be described as a barren wasteland. The ground was made up of dark orange sand and the sky seemed to be covered by dust clouds instead of actual clouds. The temperature was pleasantly warm but the ground was cold and there was barely any breeze. This landscape went on seemingly forever, with no end in sight.  Marē watched the sun for a little longer before she looked down at the flower in her left hand. She had held it gingerly to make sure she didn't break it.  Marē brought the flower up close to her face, studying it...   ....and her dead eyes lit up and a smile grew on her face, revealing sharp teeth that would make a wolf shudder in fear.         The Princess And The Dark Knight A Tale From Nostalisk, The World Of Endless War Part 1 - Marē             Sventlina let out a sigh, regretting that she had missed the news. If she had learned sooner, she would have prepared herself. Though Sventlina does know why she didn't know. Despite being the second oldest princess of Alsmar, she did not like greeting the returning knights of Alsmar. It was her duty though, so she had done it many times. However, afterwards she started complaining about it. She still does it but now, since she got under her father's skin, she only does it every now and then.  But these knights are different! If she was going to attend any knights coming home or going out, it should be the Royal Knights and the ones that are coming home now. The Dark Knights.  From what she knows, the Dark Knights are the most feared yet skilled army in all of Alsmar and their allies. They are almost always out fighting so they return home very rarely. Sventlina has heard so many of tales and rumors of them that she honestly thought they were a local legend when she was younger.  'Twelve years of fighting out in the field. If it weren't for the rumors, I would have never believed it.' "Are you excited, bored, or depressed?" A girl laying next to Sventlina asked, an amused smile on her face.  "A mix of the first two, and all of the third option," Sventlina answered with a small smile on her face. Ruby Costella is Sventlina's long time friend. Despite being only a Count, Ruby and her family are well-respected within the palace. Unlike the few other Counts, they weren't corrupt at all and, unlike the other none-corrupted nobles, they weren't a family that is known for going out into battle. They won their respect through their actions in diplomacy and their kind behavior.  Sventlina's second oldest brother was suspicious at first of Ruby and her family. His job was to investigate nobles and, since it was primary the Counts that were corrupt within the Kingdom, he had a strong suspicions about the Costella family. That changed after he spend some time with Ruby's eldest brother, Arrin. They had a mutual understanding of one another and, as such, they quickly became close friends. At least, that is what Svetlina heard.  "Do you think they all wear black armor and use black weapons?" Ruby asked. Ruby was also someone who was easily swayed by rumors.  "Maybe. I think that my father said most of them have silver armor instead of black armor," Sventlina told her friend, remembering the few snippets of words she heard from her father which she most definitely didn't eavesdrop on. "Hey! Did you happen to hear the rumors about the leader of the Dark Knights?" Ruby asked, leaning forward. "Um, no. What about them?" Sventlina asked, grabbing a pillow from her bed and using it as a shield between her and Ruby. "Apparently, they are so cruel and emotionless that they were said to be the descendant of a Tyrant!" "I doubt that one is true," Sventlina said, raising an eyebrow, "The Tyrants were around millions of years ago. Even if they have descendants, their bloodline would be so far changed that even the old myth of 'like child like parent' wouldn't...How do I say this?" Once, years ago, there was a popular belief that if someone's parent was a terrible person then they would also become a terrible person because they share the same blood. Of course, now if someone were to judge someone going off that they would be in the wrong and looked down on but that doesn't mean everyone doesn't still go by that belief. But, even if it was true, saying that the Commander of the Dark Knights is a descendant of a Tyrant wouldn't work.  Ruby understood what her friend was saying and made a pouty face. "Sventlina, the rumor destroyer. Can't you just accept one rumor?" Ruby joked. "I will accept a rumor when you stop believing in them so easily." Ruby shook her head. "But that's why I have you," Ruby pointed out, pointing at Sventlina. "Ah, yes. Thank you very much for that," Sventlina said in a fake dry voice. "Do you think any of the knights will recognize you?" Ruby suddenly asked, causing Sventlina to pause and think about the question for a bit. She expected Ruby to tell her another rumor, not a question. "I mean, of course they'll recognize me. I'll be where the princesses stand," Sventlina responded, giving her friend a look. "No no no. I mean, yes they'll know that you're a princess but you saw them before, back when you were seven or six," Ruby explained, causing Sventlina to frown. "I did?" Sventlina asked.  "Yeah. Your eldest brother told me about it. Apparently, the Commander nearly killed you." When Sventlina heard that she felt a chill run down her spine. What if the knights do recognize her? What if the Commander recognizes her? Sventlina isn't exactly a standard princess found in the Kingdom. She has white hair and shiny light blue eyes. That isn't even mentioning the white outfits she likes to wear.  'Wait a second. I'm the princess! Even if the Commander recognizes, me they won't be able to harm me. Plus, they've been fighting out there for eleven years! What I looked like wouldn't have been on their minds.' "They won't recognize me," Sventlina said, shaking her head, "Besides, even if they do, they can't do anything to me." Ruby's eyes narrowed. "Are...are you afraid?" Ruby asked, leaning forward again. "N-No! I'm not afraid!" Sventlina denied, though she wasn't very convincing. "...Well, if you say so," Ruby said, leaning back and shrugging, though her voice had a noticeable teasing tone in it which caused Sventlina's cheeks to blush in embarrassment.  Sventlina opened her mouth to defend herself when both the girls heard someone knocking on the door. "Come in," Sventlina said rather quickly, happy to have a distraction. The two large doors that lead into Sventlina's room cracked open and a maid stepped inside. She had short yet dense brown hair that almost covered her eyes. "The King requests your presence in the throne room, Second Princess Sventlina Flos," The maid humbly told Svetlina, bowing. Sventlina looked at Ruby. Ruby winked at her, telling her to go. With a sigh, Svetlina got out of her bed and walked towards the doors. "Don't you dare hide my diary again!" Sventlina told Ruby before she left her bedroom with the maid following close behind her, leaving Ruby all alone. .... .... "...Now, where did she hide her diary this time?" Ruby asked herself, a mischievous gleam in her red eyes.     ........     Sventlina entered the throne room and was met with a strange sight. Her father, King Aden, was sitting on his throne with an amused look on his face. That was bad. King Aden was someone who was bored and, as such, would go to great lengths to find something to cure his boredom. One time he had her meet a Demon* after having been told a true story about how the demons, back when they were at war with the Kingdoms, would isolate cities and poison their food and water supplies, making the people within fight against each other before they entered the city, killing any one they saw and taking their head for trophies. The demon that Sventlina met was a soldier. Sventlina remembered when she was meeting the demon soldier, she was shivering non stop and hiding behind her brothers. The demon was very kind, though her appearance was rather frightful. Wicked sharp teeth and glowing odd-colored eyes and two short black horns sticking out of her blue and purple hair. She wore no helmet and nothing on her hands. Sventlina looked up why a year later and learned that demons have very strong hands and, as such, their bare hands are better than most armor. That and it hinders the use of their claws which the female demon did have. Big black claws. The reason why they don't wear a helmet that covers their face is because of their breath. Apparently, most demons can breath some kind of element out of their mouths like a dragon or wyvern.  The demon, despite her friendliness, took amusement in Sventlina's fear. But, other than that, the demon did no harm...well, expect for the fact that when the demon left, Sventlina kept on saying 'mate' instead of saying someone's name like the demon did for a while. It sounded fun at the time. That was mostly due to how cheerful the demon sounded. Sventlina looked around the room and saw what had to be the reason for her father's amusement. Kneeling in the center of the room was someone who looked like the demon Sventlina was recalling about. Well, their armor did but it took a moment for Svetlina to realize that this person was wearing a modified version of the knight armor this Kingdom has.  She had short light brown hair with some black streaks and her skin was white which definitely wasn't normal. Her left hand had a clawed gauntlet on and there was trace of dried blood on her armor. Sventlina studied this strange new person and noticed that she had a white flower tucked in her hair. Sventlina felt something when she saw that flower but couldn't figure out what she was feeling. Before she could study the flower more, Sventlina felt herself stiffen. She sensed a ridiculous amount of darkness and death was coming from the girl. As the Princess Of Light, a name given to her by her family because of her overabundance of light and life magic, she could sense what magic and aura others have. This is the first time she has met someone who has an overabundance of something like her. The fact that it was the polar opposite of Sventlina was even more shocking. "Ah. You arrived my wonderful daughter," King Aden greeted his daughter, a bright smile on his face. Sventlina shivered on the inside. She had a bad feeling about this. "Meet your new friend or whatever," King Aden told Sventlina, getting right to the point and pointing at the girl who was kneeling. 'I doubt she is actually someone from another Kingdom or Faction. Father wouldn't be this happy if it was.' Sventlina concluded, studying the girl. 'But then why is my father telling me to be her friend?' Sventlina walked towards the girl and stopped right in front of her. "Raise your head," Sventlina ordered. The girl stirred but didn't move. "Oh. Sorry about that," King Aden apologized to his daughter before looking at the girl. "Marē, you can stand now." '...Marē? Like a horse?' Sventlina thought. Marē stirred again and raised her head and opened her eyes. Sventlina stared at Marē's eyes. She had never seen eyes like that before. They resembled a demon but different. Marē, after a couple of moments of silence, smiled, revealing sharp teeth, and bounced up and grabbed both of Sventlina's hands with her own, surprising the princess. "Hello there! My name is Marē. It's nice to meet you again," Marē said, her voice quick and bubbly like a little kid. It took Sventlina a couple of seconds before she could say something in response. "Uh...hi. My name is Sventlina Flos. I am the second princess of the Kingdom of Alsmar," Sventlina introduced herself, feeling a little weirded out. "Hee hee. That's a nice but rather confusing name, don't ya think? I think I'm gonna call you Sventa. How does that sound?" Marē asked, standing up to her full height. "Um...sure....wow you're tall," Sventlina agreed awkwardly, looking up to meet Marē's eyes. Marē towered over her. If Sventlina had to guess, Marē must be around seven feet tall.  "Yeah, I get that a lot," Marē said, letting go of Sventlina's hands and taking a couple of steps back before leaning forward a little like she was before, making her appear not as tall as she actually was. "So, who is she?" Sventlina asked her father. Marē couldn't be a noble. If she was, then she wasn't taught any manners or how to be noble at all. "Who she is isn't important right now. All you need to know is that she is your new friend or whatever," Her father responded flippantly. Sventlina looked at Marē who was giving her an energetic and friendly look, and Sventlina could see the brown dog ears and dog tail on the girl. "Are you sure she isn't a dog?" Sventlina asked before she could stop herself. .... .... .... Her father suddenly burst out laughing. Marē didn't looked offended. In fact, she looked confused. She cocked her head but remained silent, deciding that if she were to not say anything she would get an explanation to what is so funny. "Ah! You're right in more ways then one. The sad part is that you don't even get what's so dark about what you just said," King Aden said after he calmed down enough to talk. "Now I have some business to attend to so you're free to do what you want." "Wait! When are the Dark Knights coming?" Sventlina asked her father who was getting up out of his throne. "They already arrived. They went to the palace first through a secret passage to avoid attention," King Aden explained before he left the throne room, leaving the two girls alone. "So, do you want to meet the Dark Knights?" Sventlina looked at Marē who was still leaning forward. "D-do...do you know where they are?" Sventlina asked. "Yep! I know where they are all located," Marē confirmed. Sventlina thought about it before she remembered what Ruby told her before. "On second thought, I'd rather not," Sventlina told Marē, not willing to take any chance. Marē shrugged before standing up straight. "So, what now?" Marē asked, though somehow Sventlina had a strong feeling that Marē was talking to herself. "For now just follow me," Sventlina told Marē. "Oh! Okay then!" Marē said, closing her eyes and showing Sventlina an even brighter smile, this time not showing her sharp teeth. 'How am I going to explain this one to Ruby?' Sventlina thought, looking at Marē who was now talking to herself.     Demon: A large race with many different kind of families and species. Demons are mainly known for four things. Their strength, their magic, their many mental issues, and how savage and diverse they can be. Some can be very kind while others are as cruel as can be. The demons aren't seen around much. When talking to a demon it is important, especially for the humanoid ones, that their cheerfulness doesn't mean they like you. Demons develop mental issues and, as such, are taught to always be cheerful to hide their issues. In other words, most of them always appear to be happy.   Western42 This was made to celebrate reaching 10,000 views on The Princess And Her Warmonger. This is my first attempt at making a short story/oneshot? so it may not turn out good. Fun fact, Sventlina's original name was Flos before becoming Svetlina. However, after I kept accidentally typing Sventlina instead of Svetlina, I decided to change her name to Sventlina. Also, Marē is spelled Marē but pronounced like the horse. And, yes. Demons in Nostalisk have an Australian accent. Anyway, enjoy! Part 2 and Part 3 are on the way.

-- Day 0 -- Getting kicked out of your house is uuuuuuusually supposed to be a minor inconvenience. I mean, it sucks! Absolutely it sucks! But it's also not impossible to come back from, most of the time. ...maybe some of the time. On the other hand, for me it was practically a death sentence. Robots — especially sentient robots — weren't very common! I couldn't just buy food, I needed a special place to plug into for any real energy recuperation. And I lost my plug when I got kicked out, so... fuck! No car, no public transit, basically all I had was a connection to the internet in my head and the ability to fix myself up a bit if I got knocked around. In all, a shit situation. I had basically one chance: post about it to the closed robot support group I was in. Anyone else would be untrustworthy, but the group was pretty chill (but hostile to those who seemed shitty), so I'd posted a help message to the board a few hours ago. Now, I was sipping some cheap coffee at a cafe near my old home and waiting for the one person who'd responded. There was a beep on my phone. She was outside. Gulping down the rest of my coffee — and drinking the rest of my milk, which was really the main benefit of buying coffee anyways — I grabbed the small backpack holding the few possessions I had and walked out of the cafe. She was apparently in an old car? Not an Oldie car, not a super cool one that felt nostalgic, but a beat up shitbox she'd apparently fixed and upgraded to be an electrical car... somehow. As expected, a positively-ancient car greeted me upon my exit. In aesthetic, it was probably 20 years old; in reality, most of the parts in the car were probably younger than I was. Lucia, my new roommate, was apparently a technician genius; she had enough money to comfortably take someone in to help them get started on self-sufficiency from even just her commissions, let alone her job. The window rolled itself down with the sound of clicking gears. "Toramie?" the driver asked. She looked... like you'd expect a technician to look. Cropped hair, tired eyes, and hands that had old scars and burns nearly healed over, wearing a loose-fitting hoodie and jeans. "I'm Lucia. Here to pick you up." I nodded. "That's me, ha. Thank you for coming to help on short notice, I really appreciate it." Lucia giggled. "Of course! I'm always glad to come and/or help." As I rolled my eyes, she unlocked the door and let me step in beside her. Inside, the car was pretty nice! I mean, there was air conditioning. And like. A radio. Lucia had her phone stuck in a sort of cup holder, her eyes darting to it for the way back home. She seemed to live pretty close to here, apparently in an apartment just big enough for two, and we made it there without much pomp and circumstance. Just in time, too. I was running a bit low on battery, and apparently Lucia had a plug compatible with my hardware at her apartment? I didn't really remember a ton after getting to the house. Not until the next morning, at least. -- Day 1 -- I jolted to wakefulness as soon as it hit 6:00 AM. Not great. Not ideal. I must have forgotten to stop that subroutine when I'd gotten to Lucia's apartment. Thank god I'd been reminded now, because I cleared that annoying horseshit out from my ledger as soon as I had the mental faculties to. Usually, I woke up in my room. This time I'd woken up plugged into the wall, which wasn't honestly that different. However, I'd also woken up to Lucia's face about three inches from mine. I yelped. She giggled. God. was this a mistake? After a couple moments, Lucia spoke. "Sorry! You just look really pretty when you're asleep. More importantly also I've never really seen a robot of your model before! Which means I wanted to catch you when you woke up so I could get diagnostic information and a list of parts, so that I can be the best host I can be for you. Does that work?" "Gu...h?" I blinked. Apparently there were some words there that were supposed to make sense, but a lot of it was really in one ear and out the other to my muddled mind. Lucia laughed again, then helped me to my feet and explained herself again. It seemed reasonable, so I accepted. It was pretty simple information, honestly — and I was more than able to print it all out on some paper. Not... like, I'm not a printer, I mean write. Print as in write. God, my brain was still kind of addled. Still, Lucia gave me another tour of her apartment; it wasn't small, but wasn't particularly gigantic. Two bedrooms, a kitchen connected to the living room (really just a multipurpose space — it had a small dining table and a couch), and a bathroom. There were ample amounts of plugs to set myself up with if I was feeling a bit tired, and she seemed to keep the place just tidy enough to stay safe while still having tons of knickknacks littering the cabinets and tabletops everywhere. All in all a pretty nice home, and I certainly wouldn't be hurting for a cozy area to rest and recuperate in while I tried to find a sustainable job. -- Day 7 -- The last week had been the best week of my life. Specifically, this was because nobody was being an asshole in my general direction and I had the options to actually do shit rather than stand around doing nothing for several hours a day. Also... Lucia was pretty nice. But that was no real concern to me right now. I'd been getting into drawing an okay amount recently. When you can draw in your head, it's pretty boring — on paper was different, though. It felt like creation in a real sense rather than a theoretical one. Plus, this way felt like I actually made it. When I'm just using my robot head to draw, it kind of feels too much like dumb AI. I'm really aware of how everything makes me act different, y'know? But on paper, I can't control every little factor. It's a little more natural. Or, well, something to that effect. Really it was just nice to do shit without having to model out everything or download brushes. The graphite on paper effect is really cool, but not particularly easy to replicate in digital paper without advanced models and brushes. Anyways, that was my one hobby for now. Maybe I'd get into writing later, or something similar, but for now I was mostly just going to draw when I had free time and search for jobs in any other time I had. I briefly considered doing commissions, but... I wasn't good enough for that, to be honest. Lucia was out today. She was doing some project for a big-name company, or something. I didn't really have time to ask about it before she was gone. Felt weird, y'know? In just a week I'd gotten used to her being there and wisecracking at anything I said. Maybe that was a bad thing. This was temporary, after all. I sighed, leaning back from my desk. So far, I'd been just drawing in a notebook I'd found in a donation bin. The previous owner hadn't used it at all, but they had signed their name — Valor. It'd been helping my mental state a lot, lately, so. Thanks, stranger. Ergh. No more being self-conscious on main and shit. I loosened up my hand with a good shake and got back to drawing. -- Day 12 -- It was six in the morning when I woke up, hands trembling and chest heaving. A bad dream? Something wrong with my emotional circuits? I had no clue. I didn't even remember what my dream was about — the day before, it was something to do with crabs. This night, it was gone like a raindrop falling down a car's exterior.  My hands steadied relatively quickly. I didn't even know why I was shaking, so it did kind of make sense. But a sort of hollow emptiness made itself at home inside my chest even until lunchtime, several hours after I woke. I think Lucia noticed something, but she seemed to be either too caught-up in her own shenanigans or too polite to comment. Thank god. I don't know what I would have done if someone called me out on it. Let alone Lucia — she was entirely too nice to me. Two days ago, one of my arms had a minor mechanical failure and she picked up on it immediately. I could have fixed it myself, but she insisted on helping me with practically everything, even soldering the wires that needed to be replaced when I couldn't reach. Saccharine to a fault, except for when she made my arm slap me in the face a few times. I sighed, draping myself over the couch in Lucia's apartment living room. Staring up at the ceiling and thinking really hard didn't really reveal anything relevant that'd assist me with figuring out why I felt so shit. Armchair psychology couldn't save me? By god, I was hopeless! And yet I still scoured my brain for answers. Maybe it was my hobby? Or something? I had no idea. Gah. I flipped over onto my stomach, hand on my chin. People normally said that to deal with depression sometimes you just needed to take care of yourself better. Being a robot, some things didn't apply... but it was worth a shot anyways. Maybe I could try cooking. That'd probably go okay. We had instant noodles, which weren't too difficult. Right? Cooking was weird. Is weird. I grabbed a pot, a packet of instant noodles, and some water. The water went in the pot, and then once it was starting to boil I put the instant noodles in. And the soup base. But it kind of felt... I dunno, empty? Lacking in substance? Which naturally led to me thinking about what people normally put in instant noodles. We had some eggs, so I threw them in there. Nothing else that was easy, though, so... eggs and that's it. Still, the broth turned a nice yellow color and started to boil a lot more. I imagine that was probably a good thing. After a few minutes, I took the pot off the stove and pour all the contents into a bowl. I'd overestimated how much soup there was to put in a bowl of the size I decided upon. Ramen soup spilled all over the place; the counter and the floor thankfully weren't covered in carpet or anything, but I still had to deal with cleaning up the mess. And the bowl was full enough that I couldn't reasonably move it without it spilling, so I needed to drink some of the soup or pour it out before I moved to the table. Great. The list of tasks felt insurmountable. After this, I needed to make sure no soup got in any of my non-water rated components from the splash that'd coated my front with juices, and then I'd need to go do my nighttime routines and eventually get into bed, and then... christ. I didn't want to deal with that. My feet felt all fucking soggy, too. Wearing socks was evidently a really bad idea today, for reasons I could probably have foreseen ages ago but that realistically I'd have been too stupid to directly face until after it was too late. God. I felt like death froze over, shit itself, and then got put into a dumpster in the sun. Like my life had just ended, despite this being realistically a minor setback at worst. I sat down on the opposite side of the kitchen, knees close to my chest, and felt very much like crying. No tears came.  -- Day 19 -- Nothing had changed since a week ago. Still felt empty. Still wasn't the best at cooking. I'd cleaned up and ate before Lucia had returned, but I think she noticed my acting strange. She invited me on a shopping trip right after. Which... was weird. Right? I mean, she wasn't even the kind of person to go shopping. I think. I was pretty sure she wasn't the kind of person to go shopping frequently. Plus, when we did go shopping she was weirdly... passive? Generally she was the one pushing me to go somewhere or do something — I actually started drawing because of her, which similarly hasn't been going well recently — but on the trip she basically just sat back and observed. I didn't know how to feel about that. Ah, well. We were playing boardgames tonight, which acted as a welcome reprieve from the spiralling nights that seemed commonplace now. Specifically, we were playing... some kind of weird strategy board game. Lucia moved one of her pieces a square forward. "Check." "This isn't chess." I moved one to meet hers. "Your move." When she tapped hers to mine, I reveal the piece. It's a ten, the strongest unit. My last stand. "It isn't?" With a grin on her face, Lucia revealed her piece. The ace. Only thing that can remove a 10 from the board. I groaned, as Lucia took my unit from me. Without that, I really didn't have a way of winning other than hoping all her pieces died to minefields or something. "I'm a computer. How are you even doing this?" "You don't know what you don't know!" Lucia advanced one of her other pieces. I was tempted to try and challenge it, but I'm running low on manpower. I let her advance a bit and instead push the front in another area. "Besides, I know you're not cheating. You try to be honest, I'm pretty sure." "A little," I said. So far, she'd been handily beating me at all the strategy games we'd played. I had a slight edge in games that involved some creativity, but... I'm pretty sure she memorized the winstate for Connect 4, which I think objectively said more about her than me. "What've you been up to recently, actually? I'm curious." Lucia did an adorable roll of her eyes, then took another one of my pieces. "Same old, same old. Never gets tiring, though... I guess I've been doing a bit more research on robotics, actually. It wasn't really my major, but. Figured I should, y'know?" I shrugged, using my turn to divert supplies to the front that she'd attacked. "Sure."  "What about you?" She shored up her attackers as well. "Meh... nothing, really. Thanks for the charcoals, though. Hell to get all the dust and smudges out of my joints, but they've been really fun to use." Lucia grins at that. She's really cool. I almost catch myself sighing. This is hell on earth. "That's great!" she said, while taking another front effortlessly. "I'm glad you've been having fun with them. Used to love using charcoals for designs, until I realized most people wanted actual blueprints and not just cool drawings." "Hmm, yeah... I used to try making robot designs and such, stuff to improve myself with. Never really panned out, though." "Oh? Why's that?" Lucia seemed interested. Genuinely, which threw me off a bit. She then started building up another attack on the Eastern Front, which sort of distracted me for a few seconds. I shrugged. "Never had the supplies. Or the technical expertise, honestly..." My face reddened a bit, remembering what I was talking about. "Also, a lot of it would have been really fucking weird." "Ooh! Well, I'm your girl. All three of those things I have in spades! Weirdness included!" To exhibit this, she apparently saw fit to encircle and destroy one of my battalions. Perfect. "So, spill. What'd you make?" "Ah, well..." See, this was embarrassing. What was I supposed to say? I wanted to give myself tits? Tits with fucking buttons in them? The clicky kind? I wasn't a furry artist or doctor, I was a coward! That sort of bluntness wasn't in my repertoire. "Uhh. Like. Body... stuff. Body modifications. Y'know, like tattoos and shit. Right?" Lucia raised her eyebrow, while taking one of my fleets. "I mean, fair. But you are a robot. All that stuff is removable." "Sure, sure! Still. It'd feel weird. I dunno." The whole thing had started from me experiencing a good set of buttons, really clicky ones that were small as hell and useful as electronic components too. Like, the stuff you put on breadboards. That sort of deal. And then I thought about how I wanted to look more like a girl, and... well, one thing led to another. It wasn't my fault! I didn't really have a good body. "Well." Lucia said, as she marched one of her units right up to my metaphorical and literal front door, putting me into what could be called checkmate if this was chess. Which it wasn't. "If you ever wanna go back and see if any of that was good, I won't charge you at all for it. You're a pretty cool person!" "Ha. Thanks." Flag captured. Lucia won. I really could have resigned a couple hundred turns ago... but it was fun. -- Day 27 -- This was a mistake. Two of the things I was doing were mistakes, actually. The close contact with Lucia I was alright with. But trying to make food? And then testing out some of the augments she made on me? Er, not the augments I fantasized about as a slightly-younger-robot, that is, just general augments, yet somehow that didn't really inspire much confidence in me either.  Neither of us really knew much about cooking, but Lucia had the benefit of having to cook on her own and was significantly more gifted in the eyeballing realm. Seriously, it was eerie how good she was with estimation. I could mentally calculate stuff, sure, but it took a bit of time and energy. Lucia just stuck water in the pot and shoved it on the stove — and against (admittedly relatively tame) odds she still succeeded in pouring just enough for both of us without making the same mistake I did. It kind of stung to get shown up, but. It seemed so easy for Lucia. I'd probably be just making a big deal out of nothing if I showed any hurt, right? Yeah, that made sense. The water was boiling now, and we put the noodles in. Lucia started cracking some eggs, and I started slicing some, uh... processed meat stuff — we put both in after the noodles were cooking for a bit. The smell of MSG and artificial chicken flavor started wafting into the air. It was a good smell. I was about to start an internal timer when Lucia tapped me on the shoulder. "Toramie?" For a moment, she looked almost tongue-tied. Nervous. A new emotion on her face. "So. It might not be really any of my business, but I've been noticing you've been... kind of distant, recently? And, y'know, we're... I'm pretty sure friends." She paused. "I dunno how to phrase this. Are you doing okay, I guess?" What kind of a question was that? "Yeah, of course I am. Just, y'know, adapting to a new environment and all. And I guess it's been a while since I've done any standard diagnostics, but I knew I'd be foregoing that when I got kicked out. I've probably got another few months before that's an issue." That last part was a bit of a fib. I really had more like a couple weeks. But she didn't have to know that... "That's horseshit. I'll just do your diagnostics and checkups manually." Lucia peeked at the pot and nodded a bit to herself after a little, then turned back to me; my face reddened. "If — if you're okay with that, of course. Could probably do it just after testing out my new augments. Tomorrow?"  Flustered, laid bare, I stammered out the first thing that came to mind. "Uh, yeah, of course I'm okay with it!" Okay, well, shit, that wasn't really what I wanted to say! "Tomorrow works for sure!" And that wasn't either!! I'd have to be naked at least from the top down, and maybe more! And she'd be seeing inside of my chest! That's a little intimate, I'll have you know! Seeing my apparently-eager response, and blissfully unaware of the gay mess I was making of myself internally, Lucia grinned in relief and gave me a little punch on the shoulder. "Nice! I'll mark it off on my calendar. Also, I think we're nearly done. Unless you like your noodles soft." Actually, I had no idea if I liked my noodles soft, so I turned to look at the pot. Just to check — ow, shit. A spray of water got in my eye; I yelped, jumping backwards and toppling over a countertop full of pots and pans. If I was human, I'd have broken something on the edge of the counter, but the racket caused by several pounds of metal falling directly onto me broke me in another way — the embarrassment way. Lucia hovered around me, asking me if I was okay, and I nodded her an answer. A pot fell on my head. I could hear her echoed laughter from my position under several inches of steel. As I lay under a mountain of metal and rubber, loose bolts in my chassis rattling in my skin, I groaned out an answer to her original question: "I think I like my noodles hard, thanks." trigger7ff6 god fuckign willing ill get the next/last chapter out soon. hope you all enjoy, comment review etc etc etc thanks! -trigger :]

Chapter 1 – The End of the Beginning “Come on, it wasn’t my fault— “Don’t come back here again asshole!” “Just one last chance— “Fucking cheapskate!” As Greg was politely “removed” from the corner coffee shop by the owner, he dusted off his coat and went on his way. The shop keep was dressed in white clothes and a green apron draped over the front of his body. When Greg finally left the curve, he gave him a final stare filled with resentment and closed the front door—chiming as it shut. Walking with a fast stride, Greg tsked. Just before the crosswalk, he threw a brown paper coffee cup into a nearby rubbish bin. He did up the sleeves of his brown coat as he thought to himself in self-pity, “It’s not as if I knew how much money I had left in the account. Those assholes are always taking shit out of it whenever they want. I checked it this morning and I still had some. They must’ve taken some in the time between when I left home and went to the coffee shop.” Damn loan sharks. He should’ve never given them access to it in the first place. He thought it would’ve been just one time, but they kept on taking hundreds—if not entire paydays worth of money—from his account whenever the wanted! Getting involved with the mafia was a shitty business. Snot-nosed kids always came up to him asking where the money was, as if it was a funny joke. “Son, I’m in crippling debt”, he’d always say to them. His car was in a parking complex on the opposite side of the road and to get to it, he had to walk the crossing. Simple enough, it was only a three-minute walk. To get some good coffee, it was worth the wait and the walking. It was one of the only joys left in his life and he aggressively defended this tenet of his life. He had searched all over the city and despite the recommendations his friends had given him, this had been the only place with good stuff. And now that he had blown it again—having not managed to pay them off for the fifth time in a row now—he was straight up kicked out and banned! To think of it, he was kind of an idiot for assuming that the mafia wouldn’t do it again. However, it was as he was shaking his head in annoyance and dread towards his own situation, that a blearing loud honk came to his left. He looked up at the lights and realized one thing. They were still red. He didn’t feel anything as his body was ripped underneath the vehicle that came hurtling towards him. The driver behind the wheel smashed against the brake in desperation, but it was too late. Flesh and bone were ripped apart in a shower of blood that left his tires soaked and a small river of blood seeping down into a storm drain on the side of the road. Greg was dead. His life was over. He no longer had to stress about this week’s deadline, he didn’t have to worry about getting good coffee in the morning, and he didn’t have to pay off a crippling debt that his father had left him when he got shot and was left for dead.   All at once, his pain was ended. He could finally be free. But within the dying remnants of Greg’s remaining brain cells that could still muster up any resemblance of consciousness, a blue message appeared. [You have died!] [Recalling Soul in 3…2…1…]   ***   Greg woke up in an infinite void of blackness. He didn’t have a body. He existed as a soul that encompassed the space in its entirety, feeling everything but also nothing—for there was nothing to feel. There was no sound, light, matter, or energy. Just nothing. [Welcome back Eternal!] [Calculating Life…] [Rating: F+] [Credits Earned: 57] [Stars Earned: 1] [Stars Withheld until 5th Life] Greg did not know how to respond. He would’ve been staring with his mouth wide open if he had one—but he didn’t. For some reason, any desire to reflect and mourn over his previous life was absent. He studied the messages and couldn’t help but be perplexed. ‘Was my life just a game? Just a pointless escapade from death? Why do I have a “rating” of my life. An F+ too? I must have done horrible… I mean, they aren’t wrong.’ [Domain is restricted. Would you like to spend 10 credits to open the domain?] ‘It is just like a game. It even costs credits and even everything. I think this is just like what Dennis and them other kids are always doing in the basement every other night. Playin’ Dungeons and Dragons or something. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to spend my “points” on this domain. It sounds pretty important.’ ‘Yes’, Greg thought, unable to speak. [Acknowledged] [Domain has been opened.] Suddenly, Greg appeared on the ground, and he regained sensations of his human body. He felt the cold stone ground, the blood flowing through his veins, and was now breathing air. He could see his body in the black void, despite there being no obvious source of light. And with that, the emotions of his death swamped him. He stood still for a moment before hitting the ground and gasping for air. He had just died! Shit, what the fuck was even happening! He had just gotten coffee, crossed the sidewalk to reach his car, but then he realized he had been walking on a red light. Then a truck hit him… and now he had arrived in this strange place that was calling him ‘Eternal’ and talking about his life as if it was a game. The struggles of his mundane life came back to him, and it felt like he had lost everything. “H-hey, can I go back? I don’t want to be here.” Greg’s words echoed throughout the void and a green message appeared in front of him. [No, your life has already ended in that world.] [Stating Rule 8: Eternals cannot re-reincarnate in or interact with past worlds. Any attempts to do so will result in severe punishment.] Oh, so that was it then? All of it was gone like that. He should have just looked up—dammit. He was such an idiot. If he had, he might’ve been able to save himself from his death. He didn’t remember how exactly he died, but he knew that it was some kind of truck or bus that had just ran him over. After dying, his body must have sent his guts and blood flying everywhere. He couldn’t imagine how the onlookers would’ve felt. But one thing that he felt really bad about was the guy at the coffee shop. He had cursed him out during the last conversation of his life and he would’ve definitely seen the commotion. He might not have recognized that it was his body, but if he watched the news… he would know. And his friends too. They were good buddies and drank beers every weekend. They had helped him out when he was at his lowest and were some of the only good people left alive on the planet. Remy too. That little guy wouldn’t last even a couple days with the small bowl of water he had left him. Hopefully they’d find him quickly. Greg continued into a downward spiral as he remembered his life, from the people he had left behind to the bad that he had finally been set free of. ‘At least I don’t have to worry about crippling debt. Paying off two million with just a regular 9 to 5 office job is just ridiculous. I would be lucky to pay it off by the time I’m dead. That’s the reason I wasn’t going to have kids in the first place.’ Hours passed and he finally regained his bearings. He stood back up with teary, blood-red eyes. [Reincarnate] [Shop] [Domain] [Locked options are hidden] ‘It really is some game. I don’t want to reincarnate right now so I guess I’ll check out the shop?’ [Perks] [Knowledge] [Locked options are hidden] Suddenly, Greg backstepped and asked, “What do you mean ‘reincarnate’, am I going to live again?” Another message overlayed on the other. [Eternals never die. They merely move onto another world.] [Your destiny is to be born anew amongst endless Samsara. You will come to hold profound strength and an indomitable will. Even the mightiest emperors and wisest sorcerers of the void will bend a knee to your might.] [But Eternals are outlaws. Do not attract the attention of higher powers unless you want to bring about your end. You have just been born and still require thousands of years of training to stand a chance.] [Have a steady and wise temperament. Be disciplined. Have courage and strength. Do not fear death. Be patient. Do not grow arrogant. Lead lives worth living. Fail to do any of these and you will fail miserably.] [You have been warned…] Greg stared at the screen in awe before dismissing it which he could do with just a thought. That was quite… much. But it was also exciting. Greg imagined a new life where he didn’t have to listen to others. He could just live life how he wanted to. He didn’t have to have some debt holding him down. If he had the strength that the system told him he could possess, he could do anything! He reminisced. When he was a child, he never once got to go on a vacation and was working three jobs. Even as an adult, all he did was work. Only on Sunday, for a single hour, could he have a beer with a few of his friends. And every morning before work is the only time he could get his coffee—it was the only thing that kept him sane. It was a tiring, monotonous existence that was focused on making a seven-digit number go down. It barely moved over the course of months and everyday he just wanted to give up and run away. But Greg forgot about all that. He was finally getting what this was all about. He opened up the [Perks] tab of the shop. *Perks* [Workaholic (I): Work efficiency increased by 10% - 25 Credits] [Language Learning (I): Language acquisition rate increased by 100% - 50 Credits] [Danger Sense (I): Become vaguely aware of incoming danger, traps, and killing intent – 125 Credits] There were three options before Greg and only one of them was in his price range. Greg looked at [Workaholic (I)] and sighed. “What do these perks do?” Greg reckoned that the system would answer. It did. [Perks bought from the Eternal shop make the Eternal stronger. They are permanent and cannot be sold, traded, stolen, or removed under any circumstance. They are just as Eternal as you.] Greg thought, ‘That’s neat. Maybe if I get enough perks I can stop working for good. Now that would be the life.’ *Knowledge* [Economics (Novice): Acquire a foundational understanding of economics – 50 Credits] ‘Just one? And hey, I already know economics. That’s what I had been doing 12 hours a day for the last ten years of my life. I don’t need this. Hey system, so does it just give me information I already know?’ [No. Knowledge—perks included—are generated based off of past lives and their most noteworthy aspects. Bought knowledge from the [Shop] is a superior method of knowledge acquisition and will reinforce and improve upon any base knowledge already possessed by the Eternal.] ‘So that’s why I got danger sense. And novice economics is still expensive. There is no way I am buying that.’ Greg closed the [Shop] and opened the [Domain] tab. *Domain* [14 Chest Drive, Unit 8 – 50 Credits] Greg paused, staring at the green text before his eyes. That was… his apartment. Was it saying that he could buy back his apartment and live in it? He almost jumped in joy when he realized the price. His shoulders slumped and he shook his head. ‘Even now I am a poor man. I really need to get more of these credits. Now would’ve been just the time to relax on my couch, have a cold one, and watch some TV.’ —That’s if he had a connection, he doubted he had one in this black void. He exited the entire thing and stood there thinking. What to do now? He looked around the void and did some walking, not getting anywhere in the process. The place seemed to stretch on for infinity. After twenty minutes of walking, he stopped and reopened the shop with renewed efforts. He bought the only thing he could buy: [Workaholic (I)] He had 22 credits, and nothing left to really do. For a couple more minutes, he flipped through the menu screen and stared at the [Locked options are hidden] boxes, trying to see if there was anything else to this system. But that was it. Eventually, he mustered up the courage to confront the [Reincarnate] button. “What happens when I get reincarnated?” Greg asked out loud. [You reincarnate into another world] That didn’t explain anything. Greg prodded further. “What… kind of world could I get reincarnated in?” [The possibilities are endless] [Eternal may also pay credits to reincarnate into a specific type of world or within certain restriction or circumstances. This option, however, is currently unavailable to Eternal.] “I see,” Greg nodded his head. It seemed that Greg had delayed for too long. Rightfully so, voluntarily reincarnating yourself was a scary thing to do. Cause the instant he asked to get reincarnated—boom, he would be whisked away to whatever world this system deigned. He didn’t know where or what he would even be. It didn’t specifically say human, so being a tree or cat wasn’t off limits. Greg did his best to not think of such a possibility and prayed that he wouldn’t get a bad roll of the dice. “Reincarnate me.” [Reincarnating in 3…2…1]

Director_Kun I'm not to sure how to write this one. It's been sitting in google docs for while now and I never got around to writing it until now. Don't ask why I'm starting another story. April 15th, 2175 Substrate Homeworld As I watched the Substrate Nexus get bombed, I ordered all of my armies to rush the Nexus, soon after a report came in that the Substrate Nexus was destroyed. Signaling the Victory for the PHC.    But another warning came in.    “Anomaly detected under Neophytes’ Nexus.” Reported the automated voice, then another report came in.   “Disconnection detected. Neophyte not disconnected. Contact with Earth lost, attempting reconnection.” The A.I reported.   “Connection attempt failed. Retrying.” The A.I said, during that time I decided it was wise to figure out where the hell I was. For one I luckily had detected metal which meant I could at least get the most simple of Brutes and Engineers constructed. So I did just that, according to the A.I I had just enough metal to make an Engineer and a Metal Refinery which was nearby my now replaced Nexus.   There were actually five of these deposits that could be exploited. So I did just that to exploit them. Soon after I began the construction of a factory and a Sky Factory when I had enough. Which wasn’t all that long though. A few minutes at best all I could do was blindly watch from over the sky as my tiny drone only had enough sensors and range for me to be able to see. No sensors, nothing. I only had an idea of the surrounding terrain. That was all.   Nothing fancy at all I couldn’t see much since it was all shrouded in a black mist like the fog of war. I didn’t know what was in the darkness. So as soon as I could I built a Pan. Which was done relatively fast and I sent it out in one direction in a 100 kilometer radius of my Nexus.   So it was sent off. For the first few minutes of flying all it came across was nothing more than grasslands, trees and rivers. Something she’s seen a lot on Earth. That wasn’t exactly interesting to say the least. Till a report came in.   “Civilization detected.” The A.I said. ‘Civilization?’ I thought it was rare to come across a human settlement, let alone an alien civilization. It was vague by what it meant by Civilization detected. So I panned towards the location it was seen and there it was a town made out of stone and wood.   The drone I use was in fact invisible to even the best radar and detection systems. I wasn’t too sure what I was actually used to viewing the battle from space. Nor how big the units are, but considering there's a strategic view was an indicator I wasn’t a drone but probably a satellite of sorts.   Which meant I could possibly contact Earth but considering the fact I lost contact but was still here was the strange thing. PHC tech was pretty confusing anyways. I volunteered to be a Neophyte cause well I wanted to experience something new, I was soon to become what was essentially a god at some point.   Although the town in question looked like it came out of the Medieval era. Zooming in or lowering altitude one of those two I was able to get close to the ground level and see that it was inhabited. People moved about their days, children played in the streets. Horses came by, it was a lively little town.   There was a road that went through the town, most likely leading to other towns. I wasn’t too sure since the Pan was still exploring but it was nice to know I wasn’t alone. I heard rumors that a Neophyte or a Post-Human could manifest themselves via nanites and interact with the world around them that way. But I decided against it since well I wasn’t too sure where I was but considering there were signs of civilization I got busy building some units as a precaution.   In time my Nexus would become large enough to where I expanded to the east where I found another deposit of metal and Radioactives surprisingly enough. So I got busy placing refineries there. Afterwards I built some Quantum relays to begin upgrading storage capacity so I don’t waste anything. Within a few hours I had well over 30 Quantum relays. I was producing a lot of Quanta.    I then upgraded my storage capacity of Metals and Radioactives to the point where it would take an estimated 3 days to fill it up completely at current Metal and Radioactives production.   Granted things were fine and calm. As calm as a being that can control thousands of Machines. That I didn’t notice that something was attacking my Engineer. Nor did the computer at all, that I went an entire day without realizing that my Engineer was having its paint chipped.    Night eventually came, despite the fact I was a Neophyte. I decided that sleeping through it was a good idea. My engineers were already backlogged on many things to construct so might as well sleep it through. But the question hit me. I was a sentient machine that was once a human. Do I really need sleep, but how do I get sleep?    After some thinking I decided that turning off my camera on the drone or satellite and waiting for the Sun to rise where my Nexus was located and turn on, and I did just that it worked sort of.   The next morning I woke up, the sun was rising and my second day in this world would begin. So I decided to do the unthinkable. Explore this world via a hermes, and a Nanite body.

As blood covered the bed the quickly raiding Empress looked to her husband. "Did I succeed and produce a second child my Emperor." Her eyes were already glazed over and she was clearly on the brink of death bit was focused more on producing the second heir, the handmaid quickly spike up. "Yes your highness another beautiful little boy." Relief covered the pale face and with her final breath she left with one sentence. "Then I have succeeded in my role as the Empress." And she simply died, a small boy ran into the room crying and screaming while clinging to his mother who was quickly getting cold. Everyone stood stunned the only noises was a sobbing five year old and a baby beginning to whimper. The Emperor looked on to his wife's face coldly not surprised that even in the end she was more worried about her role than anything else or anyone else.  Several years had passed since the death of the Empress and while cleaning out her personal room for a new Empress to eventually take over for the next ruler a book was found by the now 18 year old crown prince and what was written in that book caused him to fall to his knees and cry. The shocked Emperor found his son crying and picked up the book. A guide to being the perfect Empress by Constance. It all began with the death of my parents when I was 10 before then life was lovely and everyday was full of happiness. But I learnt the hard way that life isn't always pleasant and we all have roles and expectations to fulfill. My mother the Duchess Francis Trumain brought in a husband a fourth son of a poor baron. They married for love but due to both my parents kindness when they passed away they left alot of dept to be repaid and nearly bankrupt the dutchy. My aunt my father's sister arrived one day saying I had to become the empress to pay for the dept that had been accumulated from my parents. The first lesson I learnt is to always wear a corset and to walk on the front of your feet to come off as an elegant lady. My aunt put tacks in the heals of my shoes  to make sure I didn't walk on them and only on the front of my feet to look like I floated across the dance floor. My schedule from 11 to when I went to the castle at 18 was. Dress from 5am to 6am  A small breakfast from 6am to 6:15am never eat more than just enough to survive a lady must be thin and beautiful. From 6:15 to 9am was study to be a smart leader to help the Emperor. From 9am to 3pm etiquette lessons to be a proper lady a ruler will be taken to the shins or calves if any slip up is made for you can never let anyone see the brushes. From 3pm to 3:30 pm a small lunch is made of a salad and a piece of meat the size of your thumb. From 3:30 pm to 8pm were dance lessons shoes with extra taks are to be worn and older shoes are to be used as to not ruin nice shoes with the blood. After the dance lessons dinner is to be had from 8pm to 8:30 pm of a small bowl of soup and a half thumb sized piece of meat From 8:30 pm to 12am reviews of the lessons are made and if any mistakes are noticed then punishments are to be provided. After an evening beauty routine sleep is allowed from 2am to 5am and the training begins again.

(A/N: before you read know that this rewrite will be very different from the original. Also i wanted to reincarnate the mc has kars but i changed my mind )   In Death, most people wonder what's after death some say reincarnation, others say you go to heaven or hell, there are even people that think you become a part of nature after death.   What did I think about death, hmm I don't think I ever did think about what my death had in store for me. I was always focused on my goal to become perfect and when I say perfect I mean becoming the absolute undisputable ultimate life form, a being known to perfection in every sense of the word. My name’s Yami I don't really have a last name since my parents abandoned me. I was never adopted which I found strange since it's not like I was unlikable as a kid, I wasn't fat and ugly it quite the opposite actually I was cute and likable yet no one ever adopted me.   Right now I’m in my apartment, I have to go to work at 3:00 pm, and I’d be worked to the bone and by the time I get back, I'll probably be so tired that I won't even be able to make my own dinner. It's laughable isn't it, someone like me who wants to become a perfect being and yet having to submit to the flow of society. Pathetic I know, but today that was all supposed to change, it was supposed to be the day that I finally made a step towards my goal.   I let out a sigh as I look at the microwave, I reluctantly stand up to get the popcorn. I was so glued to the last episode of the first season of Jojo’s bizarre adventure. Of course, I finished the whole series but the last episode of season 1 part 2 had always been my favorite, not because I think it was the best episode of the series I'd be crazy to think that. It's because I loved the villain that was featured in that episode. Kars was by far my favorite Jojo’s character, he wasn't the strongest, but he was the smartest. Whether it was Dio, Kira, or even Diavolo. They each made a mistake that cost them their lives, Dio being the stupidest of them all.   Dio was arrogant, he underestimated Jotaro's potential, he gave Jotaro the ideal stage to evolve. First by conditioning him through many battles giving him the chance to gaining more battle experience, but let's say that, that is all because of the plot that forced every anime villain to give the protagonist the chance to evolve by sending cannon fodder that served as battle experience for to them. How do you explain Dio not killing Jotaro immediately after he discovered that he had the same power as him, the author uses the excuse that Dio didn't want to risk getting caught in an attack by Jotaro, but I think someone as smart as Dio would know that losing an arm or two or even almost dying was worth the risk if he could eliminate someone that could possibly kill him for good.   Okay, let's step away from Dio for now and look at Kira. The kid conspiring against him and eventually forcing him into a situation where he had to deactivate his ability was all because of him telling the kid all about his ability and how it works. He could have killed the Joestars and their friends by just shutting up or just giving false information to the kid to make sure the kid acted has he expected, he gave up his advantage of him being the only one to know about his ability . This came back to bite him in the butt at the most crucial moment where it came down to death or survival.   I'm not saying kars was any better than these 2, he did make lots of mistakes, but in the end, he was the one with the most common sense. In Fact, Joseph wouldn't have beaten him if he wasn't for the plot armor that made joseph be in the right place, at the right time, so he could make the right decision. Anyway, this was all besides the point. What I should be talking about was why I was watching the last episode of Jojo’s Bizzare adventures season 1 part 2 instead of getting ready for work . That's because today was the day I would rise in the ranks of society, my boss and the founder of a large company's named killswitch had just committed a crime, you see yesterday after a successful project we had a large party for every employee that participated in that project and my boss was drunk along with everyone else, but since I didn't drink any alcohol I was able to witness my boss raping a 12-year-old. I don't know how she got there, but I took the opportunity that was right in front of me some would have tried to play hero and would have stopped my boss from raping the girl, but I didn't why waste a perfectly good opportunity to rise in the ranks of society and move one more step towards my goal of perfection. I took a video of the whole event, and I was planning on using it to blackmail my boss. ( A/N: the mc isn't a saint or a simp he's a bad person by society's standards ) That's what I thought at least, who knew reality had something much more interesting in store for me as I reached towards my microwave, it exploded lighting the gas that had been releasing from my gas stove.   Yami: “Fuck!”   I curse as I woke up, but then I suddenly thought I shouldn't be alive. I look around for something that could show me my appearance, the thing I saw was a shining crystal. As I looked at it, I saw my reflection that of a handsome young man with yellow hair, red eyes, and a lean, but muscular body. I ignored that, what I was focused on right now was the wounds on my body that were healing at a quick pace. If all those anime’s I watched are correct then I should have reincarnated as a pillar man because I died while I was still watching the last episode of season one of Jojo’s bizarre adventures.   (A/N: to be continued)  

Bet you missed me anyway i'm doing a rewrite of this novel so yea the mc will now be reincarnated has kars 1 chapter each week. ( sorry i kind of got lazy so this took a while but now i'll start writing also i diced not to reincarnate the mc has kars so that the story can be more interesting  first chapters out already have fun reading hope it's not trash ) 

Chapter 3 My eyes are hurting and I purposely went to the school clinic to borrow a cold compress for my eyes. I see the nurse and tell her my needs while she's kind enough to give me a cold compress. I lie down on the bed with my eyes closed. Yumi is already in the classroom. She told me to go to the infirmary to treat my wounds. I obeyed her and got treated by the nurse. She also patched my wounds. I close my eyes and try to relax. I didn't intend to but I fell asleep after lying on the bed.  I open my eyes and it's already sunset. I skip classes. I heard the bell and I plan to go to the kindergarten Haru told me about before. It was the school where Daniel, Penelope's brother, is attending. I need to make sure that his brother will survive the accident. I hurriedly left the infirmary and went to the classroom to get my bag. I see the students preparing to go home. I saw Yumi who was taking my bag. I went to her and she smiled when she saw me.  Yumi needs to go home quickly while I need to go somewhere. I waved her goodbye at the entrance gate of our school. Many students are using cars while I forgot to call at home. Sometimes in the past, I purposely didn't call someone to fetch me because I'm always riding in Yumi's car to do my evil deeds.  I remember the kindergarten near Yumi's favorite Antique shop. I saw Penelope there in the past while fetching her younger brother. I hurriedly ran to the nearest bus station. I remember the bus number Penelope often rides in. I waited for the bus feeling nervous. This will be my first time riding a bus and I was scared but I ignored my feelings.  I waited at the bench hugging the bag in my arms. Some students from our school are also waiting, that's why my anxiety lessened. The right bus stops in front of me. I am overwhelmed by the students who quickly hop in and I realized that I was the last one in the line. I gaze at the students trying to find a clue but only see students tapping their wallets near the driver and then walking in to sit inside. I was confused and took my wallet out. I innocently tapped my wallet but it didn't make a sound as it happened to the other passengers. I tried it again but only to find an indifferent look at the driver.  "Miss?" The driver asked me after looking at me. My face is heated and I don't know what to do. It's my first time riding a bus and I don't know how they pay for the ride. I was about to go out and just took a taxi but someone in my back extended a hand and two beep sounds were heard from the machine.  "I already paid for you." He said in my back.  "You can sit now Miss." The driver told me and looked at me annoyingly. "I'm sorry," I said and bowed my head to the driver and to the person who paid for my fair. I didn't catch his face because I quickly needed to go inside to sit.  I sat in the last row near the window. I let out a sigh and thought of the antique shops later. Now that I think about it, Penelope has a part-time job near her younger brother's school. I just don't remember the right store but I plan to stop by at the antique shop to buy Yumi a gift before she goes to the US. I remember the piano music box that Yumi gifted to me in my past. She said that she likes it but she insisted on it as her gift to me. I wonder what I did to that music box? I don't remember seeing it in my room.  I'm still anxious but I remember the place correctly. I know where the bus stops. After a few moments. People are leaving the bus and I anxiously look at the window. I remembered the coffee shop then the bus stop.  As my eyes never leave the window... I saw the familiar coffee shop. I smile widely after confirming I’m in the right place. The bus stop and I thank the driver before I go out.  The orange sunset and the cold wind made me feel that I am alive again. I silently appreciate the view while I walk to my destination. I run after I see the familiar streets and see the crossroad. I bit my lip after feeling excited as I waited for the traffic light to turn red. I cross the street and run again... I halted when I saw the familiar Antique shop. My heart beats faster and slower, I resume my walk.  I open the door and the wind chime sounds ring on the door. The place is still the same, There are a lot of old things like plates, figurines, keychains hanging on the wooden board. I smile when I see the familiar music box that is designed as a small piano. I heard a wind chime sound again and a person came to the shop. I got the music box and opened it.  The nostalgic lullaby coming from the music box played at the shop. My heart hurts and I closed it because I remembered painful memories.  I also checked the other wooden shelves to see if anything was interesting to them. I saw a key chain of an angel. It was made of wood and had cute wings on both sides. I also got it and a cat keychain. Yumi likes cats so I plan to buy this for her.  When I was satisfied, I went to the cashier that is located at the left-wing of the shop. I saw two people talking and my eyes widened when I recognized them both.  Penelope is wearing our school uniform and a brown apron with the shop name engraved on it. She is happily talking to Yejun, who is a customer buying in the antique shops. I tremble after seeing them together. My fear of getting near them made me nervous. I stop walking to breathe some air. I calm down but the heat in my chest is painful.  I stop three meters away from them and silently wait for Yejun to finish his transaction. I am scared that if I go near them, the illusion of someone getting hurt because of me. I was scared but I tried my best to act okay. "Jia?" I heard my name and shifted my gaze to them. "I-I will buy..." I stop talking when I mumble words in my mind. I see both of them looking at me.  Penelope is smiling at me while Yejun is standing near the counter looking at me with his poker face. I feel the heated pain in my chest with his gaze. I shifted my eyes and waited for Penelope to give Yejun's order. I waited for him to finish.  "Jia, it's your turn," Penelope said and smiled at me.  I gave her a small smile and handled the things I wanted to buy. I feel Yejun's stare on my side. Why was he still here? I thought but got the answer after realizing his relationship with Penelope. He must be waiting for her...  "I'm sorry, but can you wrap it like a gift? I plan to give it to-" I stop talking when Penelope looks at me. I saw her face in trouble and I quickly told her that a normal paper bag will do.  "I'm sorry Jia, The gift wrapper was out of stock." Penelope apologized to me with her troubled face. I got nervous looking at her sorry face.  "It's okay. The normal paper bag will do." I managed to say and assured her.  "Thank you for purchasing," Penelope said, smiling at me. My trembling hand got a yellow bill in my wallet and put it on the counter. I saw Penelope smile and handed me the change.  I quickly get my change and just put it in my bag together with the things I buy. I bow to Jia and Yejun who are still standing beside me and hurriedly leave the shop. I run near the convenience store and sit on the ground. The heat in my chest is painful. I grabbed my chest and closed my eyes as I tried to breathe normally.  "Are you okay? Why did you run?" a voice came from my back asked me.  I saw Yejun frowning while staring at me. The heat exploded and an excruciating pain envelops around my chest. It was so painful that I almost lost my consciousness. I see Yejun panic after seeing me gasping for air while grabbing my chest. He quickly empties the paper bag with the things he buys at the antique shops and uses it as air oxygen for me. Tears run down my cheeks as I breathe for air. I remember Haru telling me that I will feel the pain after two days but why I'm feeling it now! I wanted to call him but I still can't breathe normally. It will only hurt for a minute. I need to concentrate. End of chapter 3.

Chapter 1 "Welcome, Jia." said the man wearing a black outfit facing me, crossing his arms.  "Who?" I asked. I know that I died because of an accident. I look at the white room with an attractive man. "Hmm, Let's just say I'm God." He answered me casually as if he just told me something natural. He smiles at me. "Ah, but I thought I would go straight to hell," I told him earnestly and remembered all of my sins.  "You're a special case. Well, technically, you will go to hell, but I changed my mind because you asked forgiveness, and you died pitifully." He said, then stood up, strolling into a room.  The white space room where we are staying changes to a closed office room. There are a lot of record books on the tall shelves and a wooden table. I went to a wooden chair to sit and watched the good-looking man wear his reading glasses, for effect, I think. He looks ridiculous, though. A book suddenly appeared in his hands. He opened it. "You have a nasty record, huh?." He said while moving the pages, then continued to read the blue book.  "But you regret them." He continues and gazes at me. I can't read what he's thinking. "I caused people death." I bravely admitted. Remember the stupid decisions, I made when I was alive. "You have tons of sins, but I can give you a chance…." He said in an intense tone. He closes the book and faces me.  "Eh?" I was confused.  "But your sins need 600 years of working for me before I can grant you a reincarnation." The black man said and looked at me. I stare at him with awe, not trusting his words. I was about to speak, but he beats me that stop my mind to asked further stupid questions.  "I don't want to be reincarnated. I want to go back." I said in a determined voice.  I need to correct my mistakes and make sure that their love will continue-... "You want to rewrite their fate?" The black man asked me in bewilderment. "Hmm. You are indeed special. Most people choose reincarnation, but you wanted to go back to the past." He said, grinning at me.  "I can work for you in exchange." I absentmindedly offered it to him.   "But rewriting fate is forbidden. My dear Jia." The black man looks at me sarcastically after hearing my unreasonable request, but he continues to speak. "But I like fun made by humans. I like how they tried to do their best to live by their choice. The stubbornness of humans in fighting their fate sometimes surprises me, and I had fun watching the results they are so desperate to achieve. I give them the freedom to choose, but that's their ticket to destiny. Do you think it's unfair? That God provides a destination but not a journey? Dear, Good or Evil. Humans are remarkable. I want to watch you stubbornly change fate. So, I agree." He smiled at me, and a suspicious smirk formed on his lips.  "But you won't be reincarnated anymore, and you only have 100 days to rewrite fate." He said in a serious tone. His eyes changed, and I felt the chill in his words, but I didn't back down.  "I don't have plans of going back as a human anyways. I'm tired of living, you know." I said as if I was an old person who experiences life to the fullest. "You made me sad in your words, child." He dramatically whispers and acts like he is about to cry.  I rolled my eyes at him and patiently waited for his drama to end. The black man stood up again and after walking into the office room. We teleported to the Namsan Tower, where I can see the beautiful city lights in Seoul. He then speaks. "Remember that you only have 100 days. I will give you special service since you will soon work for me." The black man said, and we teleported again to the hospital.  I was surprised that no one could see us walking in the hallway. The man stopped at the ICU door. A patient is lying on the bed. A sick child is sleeping with a tube of oxygen covering his face.  "He is Daniel. Penelope's younger brother. He needs surgery immediately, but because of your selfish wishes, he died without even having a chance to see his sister." The man said while his eyes glued to the boy.  The door opens, and the familiar figures enter the room. A beautiful girl with pale skin and delicate features sits in the chair and holds a boy's hand. Her eyes are tired, but she still smiles at the boy while telling him a story.  "Penelope Hernandez. 18, Second grade, Class A. Smart, Friendly and Soft Hearted girl. She is originally from Tennessee, South USA, but her family moved to Seoul, Korea, because of her father's business. Her mother is Korean, and her father is half American. Her younger brother had an accident that happened in kindergarten. Her father's company goes bankrupt after a bad investment. Penelope's father borrowed money from the loan shark. The dep was repeatedly harassing them, making their life more miserable. Her father committed suicide while her mother runs away, leaving her alone with her sick brother and debt. She has tons of part-time jobs, and that's how she meets you. Jia Kim, 17. Prodigy, Second grade, Class A. Spoiled brat, from a rich household and the reason for Penelope's suicide." The man in black stops talking and glances at me.  My hands were trembling as I listened to him talking. The place changed again, and we teleported to the rooftop of St. Mary's Hospital. I am about to sit on the bench with my hands still trembling, but I lost the strength of my legs, and I fell to the ground. My whole body is sore, and it's harrowing inside my chest like something is squeezing my heart. I felt suffocated, and a successive cough followed. I tried to gasp for air to lessen the soreness, but my whole body shook from pain while sweating a lot. There's a scorching heat in my heart that makes my entire body tremble. I look at the black man with tears in my eyes, begging him to save me from this hell, but all I can see are unemotional cold eyes. He towered over me and spoke in a very chilling voice. "You will feel that pain from time to time as compensation for your sins." The man in black told me, staring at me ruthlessly. He lifted his hand, and the pain in my chest vanished like magic. I stare at him indifferently. I was resentful to him for not healing me quickly and just watching me suffer. "You need to experience the pain first hand for you to get used to it. You can feel the pain every two days, and it will last for two minutes. But I'm not that heartless boss. I could lessen your pain for a minute. You have to survive the pain because that will be the reminder of your sin." The black man coldly told me and annoyingly smirked at my pitiful condition.  "Change your gear. Let's go to the next person." He clicks his fingers, and the place changes again. We're in a formal restaurant, and a family appeared in front of us. "Yejun/ David Lee. 18, Second grade, Class A. Clever, Sharp, Talented and Handsome son of a business tycoon. Your dark plan was to bankrupt Penelope's family business using Yejun's parents. To separate them, you made her father agree to a lousy investment and caused it collateral damage. You cleverly plan it so that the result was all Penelope's father's fault. Yejun and Penelope met in the US, but they lost communication when Penelope's family moved to Seoul. Yejun met you at the formal dinner and got interested in him because of your parent's enthusiasm for his talent. Yejun dislikes your arrogant attitude, and he made it clear that he hates your guts. Your pride can't accept rejection and felt humiliation. You plan revenge. Upon determining Yejun's downfall, you met Penelope. You learn his weakness and target Penelope for your wicked scheme. You successfully ruined it by spreading nasty humor that made Penelope drop out of school, and even she was already expelled, the harassment didn't stop. You made her quit her job and isolate her. Yejun is planning to help Penelope, but you made it look like it was his fault that her life got ruined. You controlled their fate and manipulated them. Penelope killed herself in front of Yejun, and that incident lost his mind. He learned that it was all your doing with the support of his family. He can't handle the truth, and he killed himself." The black man stops again from talking to check on me. He continued speaking after seeing me flustered. "Jia Kim did not love Yejun and just wanted revenge. Your evilness is giving me goosebumps, my dear Jia." He said and looked at my face. My heart skipped a beat because of the guilt I inflicted on Yejun.  The black man clicked his hand again, and our location changed. We're in the spacious living room. There's a huge chandelier at the center of the room. The man in black walks in and sits on the black sofa, and crosses his legs. I followed him and sat down voluntarily next to his side. I'm used to extravagant house structures, and this place isn't new to me anymore. I see him smirk, and a brown paper suddenly pops out in the air.  "You just need to sign a contract with me." He said and showed me an old piece of paper with bold font. I see my name engraved in the letter. "Oh, before I forget, call me Haru, not a black man. I feel the distance between us if you keep calling me that." He mumbled and winked at me.  I ignored him and quickly got the pen. I signed the contract without even reading it. His brow raised, and an amused grin showed on his face. "The contract is valid as of now. Your soul is mine, and you're going to work for me. It's a pity that you didn't even check the contract while I was expecting you to demand more, but looking at your enthusiasm in signing a contract with me makes me blush. Congratulations Jia." I facepalm when he forcefully shakes my hand. After letting go of my hand, his aura changed, and his smile vanished.  "Your 100 days will start now. If you're having a hard time, call me on this phone. I am available 24/7 but just like normal customer service. I also have breaks and can't attend to you unless it's an emergency. You have to remember that you are no longer a human. Your sickness will come every 48 hours. Now, My last gift to you as your kind employer."  A white light illuminated the whole room. I close my eyes because of the blinding light, and when I open it. I am already in the classroom. In the standard room, I bullied Penelope. The bell rings as a signal that class is about to start. I saw Penelope sitting beside me, and she's writing in her notebook. In the past, I stole her notebook and read it to the class. I humiliated her, and the bankruptcy of her family business and debts from loan sharks spread in school. I sighed and remembered the incident when Penelope's younger brother got in an accident. I need to think of something that will help her brother to survive. "Jia!" a sudden call of my name from Yumi. End of chapter 1.

A moment of silence.   Everyone stopped what they were doing, just to look over to the menacing person who stood at the cursed game 'To Sell One's Soul'.   A deep aura seemed to radiate off him. It reeked of blood and death.   Many widened their eyes in horror, and before they could do anything, a giggle occurred from the person.   "hehehehehehehehehe... even in this World, my Luck is as shitty as a Horse's ass." The person, or man, spoke calmly, which unsettled many of the customers.   Yet as the two burly men slowly walked towards the man, he suddenly stood up.   Everyone froze. A deep fear buzzed off everyone there, and then suddenly, it snapped.   Pulling a strange weapon, the Man put the weapon directly on one of the burly men's heads, and pulled his finger, creating a large explosive sound to radiate, and for the Burly Man's head to exploded. Brain matter splattered around the wall and roof, slowly slipping down onto the floor.   Silence. Pure silence. Not even a pencil could be dropped, as everyone stared wide-eyed at the scene.   "Jeez... I thought there would be more of an explosion... damn, well, anyways." Suddenly putting the weapon onto the other burly man's head, he pulled his finger again, releasing the sound once more.   This snapped every Patreon out of their daze, and they ran. Bolting to the door, many crammed the exit, as they tried to escape.   Yet... the Man just sat down again. He sat still, as he stared at the dealer of "To Sell One's Soul."   "Again, please." His voice stilled dripped with some sort of hatred and unrevealed rage.   Gulping, the Dealer shook in his chair, before he shuffled the cards once more, and dealt the cards in front.   The man stared at the cards. His masked face revealed nothing, as he seemed to stare into the abyss.   Grasping a card, the Man flipped it over, to see his fate.   'SOLD.'   Shaking again, the Aura pushed itself off again. The dealer gulped again, as he shook.   "Again, please."   Putting down the cards once more, the Man grasped a card, as he flipped it over.   'SOLD.'   "Again."   Cards set down, card flipped.   'SOLD.'   "Again."   Cards set, card flipped.   'SOLD.'   "......."   Cards set. Card flipped.   'SOLD.'   ".   .   ."   "HEHEHEHEH HAHAHAHAHAHA! HOLY FUCK YOUR LUCKS BAD!"   "This Is Quite Amusing, I Would Say."   "..............."   Cards set.   The Man shook. Something began to build up. The Dealer closed his eyes, preparing for the worst.   A deep sigh echoed from the Man. The Dealer flinched, fear gripping his heart, as he shook in his seat.   "Again."   Like the whisper of a bloodthirst Demon, the Man spoke once again. The Dealer gulped, slowly shuffling the cards once more.   Card's set.   Silence spread once more. The man.. no, Demon, stared, focused completely on the Cards.   No sound. A silence, strong than the last.   Reaching his hand, ever so slowly, the Man grasped the Card. His gloved hand pulled the card slowly, before revealing the card's sign.   'SOLD'   "Wow, Just, Wow." A voice reached the two. "You got one shitty as luck, my Friend."   A second man came, he dressed sharply, a Top-hat sitting firmly on his head, as he took a chair from the surrounding table's, and sat next to the Demon.   "Hey, could you deal for me, please?" The new person spoke, a smile plastered on his face as he looked at the Dealer.   Gulping, the Dealer looked toward's the Demon, before the Gentleman chuckled. "Do not mind him, he is simply just contemplating his existence."   "HE'S NOT WRONG, LOL."   "Never Say That Again."   "MAKE ME, BIIITTTCCCCHHHHH"   The Demon stood still, before getting up, and turning toward's the entrance.   "Is there anything to kill?" He seemed to speak to the Dealer, as he walked slowly toward's the entrance.   "There will be here soon, I believe. They won't take too kindly to having their business broken into." The Gentleman spoke, as he flipped the cards effortlessly, getting the nine needed 'Freedoms'.   A scoff aroused from the Demon, as he turned toward's the Gentleman. His eye's piercing through the Gentleman, as he contemplated something.   "Want to Join?" A question in which caught the Gentleman by surprise. Yet, seemingly having gotten his cool quickly, the Gentleman shook his head, before chuckling.   "I can't quite kill my employees, can I?"   ==================================   "DUN, DUN, DUUUUUNNNN!"   "And the Plot thickens's."   My mouth settled to a straight line. Really? What the actual fuck? I meet the guy that run's the fucking business I just trashed and he's cool with it?   "Oh, and to put name's to face's, the names Duke. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir...?"   "Hank."   "Ay, Sir Hank, then I do hope that you have fun with them. Do go a bit easy, I still need a few to use as bodyguards." His smile was a... joyous one? The hell? Also, did this guy seriously just ask me to live some alive? I guess this guy's more fucked than I thought.   Though I do realize that I have some info on him. Underworld Boss, big on gambling and illegal merchandise and other things. He runs multiply businesses and is a big boy in the Underworld.   Ok, enough of using my head. I need to release some steam.   "BLOOOOOOOOD BAAAAAAAAAAAATH!"   "Why Am I Here, Just To Suffer?"   Stepping out, I breathe in the shitty air of this shithole. The Air gives off a nice smell of rot.   I can already tell im surrounded. Eye's on me. At least twenty, maybe more.   "24 Currently, 13 More To Come. At least 37 In Total. No, 146 To Come. Seems That Some Flew Here."   "Some?"   "Dont Ask Specifics."   Checking my deagles, I wait for my punching Bags.   "I SUDDENLY REMEBERED SOMETHING."   "It's Already Strange That You Remember Something."   "SUCK A FAT ONE, ANYWAY, IF YOU BLOW THE BRAINS OF THE PUNCHING BAGS, WON'T THEY GET SCARED AND RUN AWAY? THEY ARE CRIMINALS, I HIGHLY DOUBT THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF BACKBONE."   "Hmmmmm, not sure really. If they don't, I guess we can just let them go. Or we can hunt, but that would take away the fun of punching bags."   "SO WHY DONT WE DO THIS CLASSIC HANK STYLE? NO PRE-WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT, YOU CAN ONLY GET WEAPONS FROM THE ENEMIES. JUICE IT UP A LITTLE, AND GIVE A CONFIDENCE BOOST TO THE BAGS."   "You make a fair point.... hmmmmm, honestly? Why the fuck not." I throw my Deagles into the inventory, as I stretch out a bit. I Gotta make sure I don't cramp up in the fight.   A satisfying *Pop* comes from my shoulder, as the first punching bag drops down.   "You missed with the wrong business, tin-can." Did it really call me a Tin-Can? How lame of a joke, like come on, get some originality here!    Dagger in hand, he lungs toward me, going for a swipe at my torse. Dodging to the side, I grab his wrist and proceeded to tear his handoff.   A few stunted seconds of silence later, the punching bag beings to scream in pain. I do a bit of a double-take myself, looking at the ripped-off hand in my grasp. Shit, I forgot that Hank had some form of super-strength. The man could carry whole corpses, not to mention I also have to strength of Diemos and Stanford.   Welp, can't be stunted for too long, I got others waiting. So, grabbing the dagger from the severed hand, I pull up the still screaming punching bag, and slit the throat. He slumps onto the ground, and two more punching bags drop. No talking this time, however, as they both charge at me, dagger's in hand. Though, one of them got those teenage mutant ninja turtle daggers in both hands.   Side-stepping the first sweep, I put my dagger on my fingertips, and proceeded to flick it at mister teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle, and land it straight in his left eye, basically killing him in one blow. With the first one down, I grab one of the twin sai and jam it into the spine of the punching bag I side-stepped.   Both of them fall to the ground, with only the punching bag I stabbed in the spine being still alive. I quickly grab the twin sai, and jam it into his neck, ending him.   Alright, three down, 167 left to go.   Five punching bags land, three of them charging at me, whilst two run to the sides of me. Are they trying to do a baiting plan? Lure me in, and take me out of the back? Welp, sorry guys, but I still have 167 people left to kill, so I best get you done quick.   Grabbing a twin sai and a dagger, I lung for the middle punching-bag, tackling him, and going past the other four. With the middle punching-bag down, I jam a dagger into his throat, and I launch a twin sai into the Achilles tendinitis of the closest Punching-bag. With one of the middle punching bags down, I removed the dagger from the throat, and lunge towards the un-wounded punching bag, stabbing right through his back, and punctuating his heart. Was a bit of a challenge, but I managed.   Two down, one immobilized, and two now charging for me, who are conveniently stationed right next to each other, I grab onto the body of the punching bag I just killed and threw it at the two. With the body having soared through the air and crashing into the two, I swiftly move to grab onto a dagger on the ground, as I proceed to kill the immobilized punching bag.   The two that were thrown the body at, had managed to move the body off of them and got back onto their feet, only to have their eyes pierced by two daggers I threw at them.   8 down, 162 left.   =================== "A-Are you sure it was wise to let him leave, sir?" The Dealer spoke in a hushed voice, as he stared at the door that leads outside. The Duke chuckled, as he sipped on some whisky that was generously put by the Dealer.   "It was not like we could do anything about it... quite unfortunate, really. If you could be a gentleman, could you put up a help-needed border on the Assassins Guild? We're going to need quite a few more bodyguards after this." The Duke chuckled as he stared at the cards that faced up.   "Oh, how life is oh, so, peculiar." ===================   Body's laid, blood-splattered.   A Demon stood in the middle. The Cold Night bringing large pools of mist out of his mouth.   "162, 8 left."   Its voice was deep and menacing. Its eyes looked over the battlefie- no, Bloodbath, as he finally found the last remaining.   They stood in a perfect order of eight. Their heads held high. Eyes gleaming at the Demon.   The Middle assassin opened her mouth, yet before she could even speak, her vision was flipped, her worldview, having soared up.   Eight heads landed around eight boys. Pools of blood spurting out of the headless bodys. The Demon lowered the halberd that it pulled from gods-know where, as it softly muttered from its breath.   "170, 0 left."   Slow clapping resonated out, as Duke walked towards Hank. Hank's slowly turned towards the Duke, as the man stood in front of Hank.   "What a sight to see. Truly magnificent I say! A true... what was the word... as yes, a True Blood Bath!" The Duke chuckled to himself, as he stared at the hulking form of Hank. Hand raised, the Duke smiled.   "I think we will be great friends."   Hank looked down at the hand, before raising his own, and grasping it.   "I think so too."  

Amidst a grim passage, two monsters exchanged a hefty glare. The monster on the east—A miniature white creature embodying red line marks around its body that emitted tiny sparks of fire—A triangular head among reddish-orange eyes—Tail like a salamander’s—Tiny claws similar to a reptile’s. One small wing sprouted on its back. Along with all its features, the inchoate wing gave it a look similar to a baby dragon. The monster on the west- A miniature violet creature embodying grayish scales-A triangular head among with Lavender eyes—A long, scaled tail—Tiny claws similar to a reptile’s. No wings, yet one small horn sprouted on its head. They stood on dusty soil, filled with stones and soft black dirt. In the dark passage, they exchanged fierce gaze. Both infants roared. Their rudimentary vocals let out squeaks. Further, on the west, rest a corpse—A dead eagle-like creature with four closed eyes—Blood still squinted out of its neck. A moment of silence occurred after they let out their cries. Both clenched their jaws and dashed towards each other. A Monster’s life revolved around its survival, and this—Fight for the Prey. Whoever wins gets to feast on the juicy flesh of the flying eagle-like monster. Whoever loses starves or dies depending upon the victor’s decision. Life is arduous for a Monster. But a monster fears no challenge. Their heads collided. Both exerted force on the ground and tried to push the other. The intimidating glare from the red eyes and the Lavender eyes also collided. They let out tiny roars as they pushed. The monster with the grayish scales, swung its tail—the long tail gave it more reach The reddish-white monster got hit on his temple with the clawed tail. It cried out in pain, then its claws sprung out and tried to strike the beast in front. The greyish monster’s tail hastily again struck the reddish monster. The little red monster fell on his back. The grayish monster rested its right claw on the red monster’s chest, domineering its superiority. Then it let out a squeaky roar. The red monster clutched its jaw but remained silent and just gave a fierce gaze. After giving a silent glare, the grey monster retracted its claws, turned back, and walked towards the dead eagle like a monster. The reddish-white monster regained its posture. Its eyes narrowed as it looked towards the leaving greyish monster. The grey monster sunk its teeth on the eagle’s torso and chewed the hollowed bones. The reddish-white monster’s stomach growled, witnessing the sight. Its fangs tightened on the ground. Eyes closed, it turned its head and left. The grayish monster’s gaze fell on the reddish’s monster leaving. It ignored the sight and continued feasting. The fierce eyes of the reddish-white monster still had not died down. From an egg about 50cm long—Filled with orange and red marking with a white shell, it had burgeoned out. The egg had hatched just two days ago. Step by Step, the reddish-white monster was beginning to understand—The Way Of The Monsters.   DefileAbyss The first few chapters serve as introduction chapters,so they might be very short

-----The Empire----- ___Calendar 508 AD___ Standing before his eyes is a group called the hero's party. Looking at him with eyes full of hatred and disgust, the leader of the group the Sword Hero Akagi Chiharu said. "Today marks your end of tyrant Blood Emperor." "Tsk why the fuck are you spending your time talking to him, let's just kill this trash and get this done with." The Sage Oka Teruko said eagerly. While the third member of the party Saintess Hamada Sachiko is just standing there staring at him almost as if she's looking at his soul itself. Seeing him averting his eyes from them to look at the surrounding. A ruined and deserted castle in a destroyed kingdom. He the Blood Emperor is the sole human left alive in this damn and cursed place. as seconds went by Teruko got more impatient and annoyed, she looked at the man slump to the ground with a sword through his chest, broken bones, organs, and bleeding profusely yet still miraculously alive. She chanted and fires a spell at him. "[Gravity Bullet]." Tetuko wanted to kill him right at this moment. But then Sachiko summons a barrier protecting him at the last second from the spell,  earning her looks from Chiharu while Teruko gazed at her and shouted. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOI..." "Shut up." Sachiko said with a cold voice while looking at her with eyes devoid of emotions. "Wha..." While Chiharu stood there in shock at what just happened. Teruko muttered quietly and started moving toward Chiharu while slowly getting away from Sachiko. Sachiko slowly turned toward the Blood Emperor and asked him. "Do you regret anything?" "..." "Is it all worth it?" "..." "...why do it if this is all your left with...pl-please just tell m-me...w-why?" Those eyes devoid of emotions started to show sympathy, and sadness, almost as if she was hurt. Her voice started to stutter, and tears started to fall from her eyes like a dam that has been broken. She stumbled slowly towards him. However, is stopped by Chiharu and Teruko looking at her with wide eyes, and mouths agape. That's when a voice sounded. "Regrets? I have none." A voice so deep and smooth almost like a devil's whisper and contempt yet hidden behind those words is a deep sense of loneliness that no one notice. At that moment Chiharu and Teruko looked at the man who said those words with warries while Sachiko struggle to set herself free. "Worth? If I was given a chance to live again, I would do it all again without hesitation." While the two of them are starting to prepare their attack, Sachiko shouted at the two of them yelling at them. "STOP DON'T ATTACK HIM, HE'S NOT OUR ENEMY!" But they didn't listen to her shouts and cries. Continuing to channel their mana and aura to form spells and arts. A burst of aura and mana came out from Chiharu and Teruko respectively in the form of a crescent slash and a rainbow lightning bolt. "[Aura Slash]!" "[Elemental Lightning]!" With Sachiko struggling to form a barrier and while being held back by her 2 party members. A voice slowly rang from the man. "Why?...simply because...I want to." A subtle but beautiful smile slowly appears on his face while facing spells that came to end his life. "NOOOOO!!!" Sachiko yelled while seeing his body flung back hitting a wall. As more wounds appear on his body his conscience slowly fades from this place. "YOU DAMN FUCKING STUPID BITCH WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU TRYING TO GET CLOSE TO HIM!" A loud voice sounded. It was Teruko yelling at Sachiko who is kneeling on the floor crying while muttering like a broken record. "Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry..." While Chiharu looks at him with eyes full of hostility and asked him. "What did you do to her...WHAT DID YOU DO TO SACHIKO?!" Looking at her the Sword Hero, the Future of the world, who's walking towards him, he wonders to himself. 'Was it the correct choice to do this? Did the inevitable change after everything I did? After everything, I gave up on?' Sensing that his time is running out he gave out a final chuckle.  "Ha ha..." As his strength slowly left his body, his eyes struggled to open, and his breathing got more and more shallow. He heard the voice of the Sword Hero though muffled and disconnected he understands it completely. "You___all___that___happened." With his death finally coming to him as if to free him from his life. The Blood Emperor, the ruler of blood, the tyrant of the Empire, he Daniel Moore died that day giving his life for the world and its people.  ------POV Saintess Hamada Sachiko------ "Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry..." Holding her face mumbling and whimpering while kneeling on the cold floor of the castle 'Hero's party they said, save the world they said, and yet here we are hands coated in blood. Not knowing what we have been given has been taken for granted. The person who has to shoulder everything by himself, with no one he could depend on. His story which no one knew, the truth of it all buried in lies and deception to give us, the people who killed him a life of happiness and sunlight while he who has been hurt beyond repair stays in darkness. The truth of it all. I need to tell them it, I need to tell them, I need to tell them, I need to tell them, I need to tell them, I need to tell them, I need to tell them... I nEeD tO TeLl ThEm ThE tRuTh' While Sachiko's thoughts continue to spiral out of control with no end to it. Chiharu and Teruko continue to talk about what happened to their friend not knowing the thoughts in her head are about to explode. "Hey, Sachiko you ok now?" "Just leave her alone Chiharu she'll be fine after some time." "What she just did now is both weird and shocking, you know?" "Hmmmm might be the spell [Charm]. But for even me the Sage to not sense the mana he uses,  seems like his control over mana is far better than me." "Not to mention since she's the Saintess her powers should have allowed her to be immune to all status effects, and also those eyes of hers...I'm getting shivers just thinking back. It's almost like she's a completely different person." "That's...true." "Hey..." Sachiko spoke to them in a cold and emotionless voice surprising both Chiharu and Teruko. "A-a-are you ok S-sachiko?" "Y-yeah you there S-sachiko?" The two of them spoke with an unsteady voice while channeling their mana and aura ready to subdue her if she really has been charmed. "Yeah, I'm fine...god has just sent me a new mission...a mission I have to do, to speak the truth about him..." Sachiko spoke full of determination. "A mission from god, the truth, him?" Chiharu asked while frowning hard with Teruko ready to subdue her at any moment. "Yes... Spread the truth about him and everything he did for us." After saying those words a bright light came from Sachiko with unprecedented speed shallowing Chiharu and Teruko together with the surrounding. Leaving nothing but dust behind in proximity. While an androgynous figure with a beauty that cannot be described appears at the place where Sachiko had just been. "May your past and truth be revealed. With this what I owe you should be repaid." After saying those words that individual started to disintegrate and dissipated almost as if it had ever been there. Leaving behind only the sound of the wind blowing.

-----POV The Sage Oka Teruko----- "Even though it is unbelievable. This memory we're experiencing right now can only be from that person." "But how can that be...He was certainly born in the other world. That is unquestionable." I told her what I thought was the certain truth no matter how unthinkable it was. But Chiharu seems to be denying the truth. "There's no way this is the truth." Still trying to deny it she shakes her head rapidly. "No matter how you look at it the truth is that the memory we're in right now. Undoubtedly belongs to the Blood Emperor and why the reason his memory contains memories of Japan. We can only continue forward to find out about everything."  After hearing me say that, Chiharu stopped shaking her head and looked at me. Seeing her nodded her head reluctantly with an unwilling expression, and muttered to herself something quietly. While I turned around and looked at the door in front of me. "Seems like our only choice is to go through this door. Maybe we can even find Sachiko in there." Still with my back turned away from Chiharu I told her. "So if we want to know about the so call TRUTH Sachiko said. We need to go through this door, learn everything, and walk to the end of it no matter what." 'After all that person, that figure... that's my mother. The person who is supposed to be missing when I was born, is here.' I turned around, looked deep into Chiharu's eyes, and said. While also thinking about the person I saw when I woke up here. "Haaaaa...F-fine but if I feel a-anything wrong we are running out. You hear me?" 'Seems like she's back to being herself. Not stuttering at everything she said.' 'Must be because of the guilt she felt when she causes the whole situation.' "Yes, yes I hear you." She stutters at the start then slowly stated in a commanding voice. And me knowing her personality. I could tell that the things she said is because she was worried about me. So I replied to her while smiling wryly and throwing my hands up. "Let's go, shall we?" "Hum." I asked her. Hearing she hummed an answer Both me and Chiharu walk to the door looking at each other. We nodded and reach our hands toward the door handle and slowly pushed it open. White lights seep through the opening of the door blinding us even with our enhance bodies and senses while also engulfing us in it.  "Fuck!...not...again..." Feeling the familiar sensation of our conscious blurring. I curse out loud. After I lost consciousness again. I woke up in bed. In a completely white room with the color white on everything. From furniture, clothes, the food on the table, and even the bed I'm on is white. Everything is in white. "What in the fuck..." Looking around while wondering where the hell I am. I blurted out. "Experiment NO.27 are you awake?" A voice came from outside the room. "WHO?!" Hearing a voice that doesn't resemble a guy or girl but instead, the voice resembles what you would normally hear from a robot trying to speak like humans. So I yell out while moving my head to see if there is any movement in the room I'm in. "...yes..." Hearing a small voice. I look at myself even around the room to see nothing but then when I moved out the bed. I quickly turned transparent while my body seems to be floating in the air away from the bed. "What is happening..." I asked myself. And turning my head back to bed I saw something that shake the deepest part of my soul. An individual whose limbs are chained to the bed. Looking up at the white ceiling with her dead eyes seemingly in deep thought. "Experiment NO.27 how are you feeling?" "...fine..." The robotic voice rang out again from the room asking the individual. While she muttered an answer. Meanwhile, I was floating there shocked to the core while looking at the individual I know. 'B-but how...t-t-that's not p-possible. I-it have t-to be a-a lie.' "Experiment NO.27 do you still who you are?" "..." That voice asked while the individual just stayed quiet this time. And still looking at her I faintly saw her eyes glow for a second but they quickly dim back to those dead eyes. "Experiment NO.27 do you still who you are?" The voice asked again but even though it is clearly robotic. I can tell the voice sounded much colder than before. "...Teruko...Oka Teruko...my name..." While I heard her mutter hers. No, my name slowly but surely. And that's when my jaw dropped and my eyes widen. 'That's...me...but...I don't recall ever being here?... So how...' I thought to myself while still glaring at the supposedly younger version of myself. 'Even though I don't ever remember being here or anything that is linked to this place. I can't deny that the person chained to the bed isn't me.' I looked at the person closer, staring at her body closely not wanting to miss any details even the most overlooked ones. 'Long auburn color hair that ran throughout the bed covering most of her body. But even though her hair covers most of her face I can still see her dead black eyes.' "Experiment NO.27 forget who you were. Now your name is 27, not Oka Teruko remember that." "...but that's the name mom gave me..." 'Huh? Mother name me? But didn't Sachiko, Chiharu, and me came up with our name together at the orphanage when we were young?' 'Now that I think back about it. There were indeed a few weird moments back then when the three of us decided to name ourselves in the orphanage. Like how the name just came to me, no us naturally. And when we told our name, we all just accepted it with no questions asked. It was almost as if we instinctively knew that these names belong to us.' Meanwhile, I was in deep thought about the problem with my name. The voice said in a commanding tone to my younger self. While the younger me seems to be subtly rejecting the order of the voice.  "Your name is 27. Either you comply or your test shall commence right away." While still staring at my younger self. The voice told my younger self in a commanding tone to forget who I am. 'Test?' I think to myself and decided to wait and see where this will lead to. "U-U-UNDERSTOOD! M-MY NAME I-ISN'T O-OKA TERUKO B-B-BUT 27!!!" "...Very well then experiment NO.27, your next test is 10 hours from now." "Y-YES, I W-W-WILL D-DO GOOD O-ON T-THE TEST!!!" Seeing her eyes quivering, looking around the room frantically, and her voice stuttering like crazy while also yelling out her answer. Seeing the suppose younger me who had dead eyes a few minutes ago being so afraid of the test, it took me off guard for a moment, shaking my head. I was determined to find out what happened. 'I need to dig deeper, learn more about this place. It is somehow  related to me even though this is supposed to be the memory of the Blood Emperor.' 'I also can't rule out the fact that this might not be his memory but a spell that fabricates and replace my memories about my life and possibly makes me, Chiharu, and Sachiko his loyal subordinate.' 'If that's true then he must have somehow faked his death and secretly use a spell on all three of us...' 'Even if that's so, why would he show us the fabricated memories...' 'So many questions yet no answers...' 'Well, I just have to see what awaits me at the end of all of this.'

-----POV Sword Hero Akagi Chiharu----- Walking down the white hallway. The light at the end keeps getting brighter and brighter the closer I got. Overwhelming me with a warm and calming bright light that consumes my whole body. I relaxed in the gentle and cozy light closing my eyes to embrace the warmth of it. "Sniff...m-mom..." Then as I hear a quiet sob, I frowned and gently open my eyes while walking silently in the light toward the voice without alerting the voice owner.  As the gentle light faded away I arrived at the sobbing, I saw a small humanoid figure which seems to be crouching down facing what appears to be a locked door while sobbing quietly. Getting closer to it, I took a closer look at the figure. It seems to be wearing a large black witch hat, and a black robe that covers most of its body though there are a few spots that show its fair white skin and auburn hair color. Looking at the figure, I seem to be reminded of someone I know. And finally, it hits me. "Huh!?" Letting out a gasp. The figure startled by my voice promptly turned around, looked at me for an instant, then jump up from the floor, and ran straight to me. "CHIHARU!" "HU-UGH!?" The figure which rammed straight into me knocked me down to the white floor and hugged me tightly while I was just there progressing with what just happened. 'Why is she here? Where's Sachiko? Did she come here through that place? And most importantly, why was she crying out to her mom?!' "I-is that y-you Teruko?" While surprised I asked her in a stuttered voice. To confirm that I'm not dreaming. "...yeah..." "C-can you let me go?" "...ok..." Reluctantly letting go of me from her hug, I finally got a good look at her face. Her puffy eyes from crying, with a bit of snot still in her nose causing her to sniff from time to time while her robe is wet from all the tears and snot. "Why...w-were you crying?" "...I-I think...umm, I k-k-know where we are..." Seeing her fidgeting her hands and stumbling while avoiding my look trying to change the subject.  'Maybe I'll ask her later...' "Haaa...so how did you get here, where are we, and have you seen Sachiko, why were you crying, are you ok, did something happen?" I rapidly asked her question after question hoping to find some sort of answer to all of my unanswered questions. "Wa-wa-wait t-too many q-questions c-calm down a bit Chiharu." "O-oh o-o-ok." Watching Teruko get flustered at my questions is somehow comforting. Seeing how one of my good companions is still who she gives me a small smile as the corner of my mouth rises a bit and my eyes softened while watching her flustered face slowly become normal again but her ear is still red because of all the questions. 'Seems like she's fine.' "Sooooo where are we?" I asked her while still having a little smile plastered on my face. "Cough cough." Teruko coughed to calm herself down and said. "[Soul Share]. This place is created by an ancient forbidden spell that allows the caster to experience the memories, knowledge, and experience of the target's soul, and no I haven't seen Sachiko." "Forbidden?" Hearing what she said my smile disappear changing it to a deep frown and I asked in a cold voice. "Yes forbidden. Using the spell would result in the death of the target because it assimilates the target's soul with the caster. While also being extremely dangerous for the caster because if they can't hold the information and experience of the target's soul, their soul would get corrupted and completely devoured by the other soul." Horrify by the danger the spell would cause for Sachiko. I was thunderstruck, and then I started blaming myself for causing this problem and risking my friend's life because of my actions. "Ugh...if only I killed the Blood Emperor sooner we wouldn't have gotten into this situation." "Don't blame yourself, we could have never guessed that trash to be this strong. Hell if he wanted he could have conquered the world by himself." "B-but I'm the person who hesitated if only I didn't if only the person who got charmed isn't Sachiko but me." My head lowered and I slumped to the ground. Blaming everything on myself, my eyes got teary. "Yeah, and so what? Even the demon king couldn't survive our attacks head-on for more than 30 minutes but he could. Even almost killing us a few times if not for Sachiko's healing. So stop blaming yourself, we all unanimously agree to go confront him. If anything this is OUR fault, not just you. A mistake caused because of OUR negligence and now WE have to take responsibility for it" Teruko kneeled in front of me holding my face while looking at me gently and said. "It's no use crying over spilled milk. All we can do now is either find Sachiko and knock her out to cancel the spell or find the weak point of the spell to cancel. But both options are extremely hard to do and it could cause major side effects to Sachiko." Hearing those words I cried my hands reached out to grab hers which was still holding my face. I cried my heart out and after a while, I fell asleep while still being held by Teruko. Feeling something moving through my hair I groaned. "Hum..." "Are you up?" Hearing Teruko's voice I slowly opened my eyes meeting Teruko's set of deep blue eyes while also feeling her slow caress on my head. 'A lap pillow?' "Teruko?" "Yes?" 'Why was I sleeping on your lap?' Remembering what happened, I blushed hard, moved my head sideways, and close my eyes to avoid her piercing stare. "... never mind..." "...cu...te..." "What?" My eyes shot open and I quickly move my head to look at her. "What?" She answers back while still staring at me. After a while, she laughed out loud so hard that tears came out of her eyes. "Pfft...hahaha." While I was there stupified that the prideful and arrogant Teruko laugh like that. "Ha...ha...ha..." After she was done wiping her tears. She looked at me while beginning to slowly brush my hair and said. "Let's own up to our mistakes. After all, we are still humans. Making mistakes, stumbling, and getting back up is what we are good at." Thinking about what she said, I told her while stammering. "B-but both of our c-choices are bad." "Yes." "Haaaaaaa I'm tired...all I wanted was just to go back home...sniff..." Getting a little emotional while being reminded about my home. My eyes got a little moist and my nose got a little sniffy.  "I miss it too. After all, who wouldn't." Teruko said with a sad smile. Then her face quickly turned stoic as if she have something unbelievable to tell me. "Chiharu, I said that this spell let you experience the target's soul right?" "Yeah?" "And it lets the caster also read the memories of the soul right?" "Yes?" "And this place seems to be Japan in the 90th right?" "Where are you going with this?" Teruko looked at me surprised because I still didn't get it and said. "If so whose soul are we experiencing right now." "!!!" As if fate was playing a sick joke on me the truth finally hit me. 'Teruko and Sachiko are at the same age 19 close to reaching 20 while I'm 18. However, this place seems to be in the  90th when all 3 of us aren't even born yet.' "Then whose soul are we experiencing now?" Shocked at the revelation I asked her.

-----POV Sword Hero Akagi Chiharu----- "Ugh..." I got up gradually and slowly opened my eyes to look around. Seeing a completely white room with nothing but a door. 'Where am I? What happened...?' Holding my head and sitting there for a few a second. I slowly recall what happened.  'SACHIKO!' I shot up from the floor looking around nervously and carefully. Then I looked at myself relieved that my armor and weapons are still there.  Looking around again while trying to see if I could find any indications that either Teruko or Sachiko have been here, only to be met with nothing. 'Sachiko might still be affected by a strange spell from the Blood Emperor. Meaning I have to find Teruko first to find a way to undo the spell or subdue Sachiko.' Grimacing I slowly turned my head to the door looking at it almost as if it is tempting me. I grip my sword tightly and prepare myself to attack at any given moment. Standing there in silence, after a few minutes of calming my nerves, I slowly walked toward the door. 'Wait for me Teruko, Sachiko I'll bring both of you back.' Determined to bring my friends back my eyes burned with motivation. Holding the doorknob I gradually opened it to hopefully find my friends on the other side. But when the door was fully open, shock slowly filled my mind. What I thought was a room where my friends are at. It's actually an area I'm quite familiar with. An alleyway shrouded in the darkness of the darkest night while also being surrounded and covered by the surrounding buildings with its light source being the moon. A great sense of familiarity hit me. Seeing such a view I was filled with disbelief and skepticism. "Huh?" Questions appear rapidly in my mind wondering if this place really is where I think it's. While still confused I slowly brought my hand over to the door reaching out of it to see if the view that I'm seeing is fake or not. With my hand which is now on the other side of the door. I gradually swing my hand back and forth while clenching continuously. After doing this and feeling no resistance whatsoever I slowly poke my head out of the door to look at the sky to verify if this place is home or not. "Ah..." Perking up I saw the moon I'd lived under all my life and confirmed my guess. 'But...how?' Even though it was dark with nobody around I could tell this place was home. I felt so happy to finally be back almost to the point of tearing up. But as if fate was playing a cruel trick I could tell something was slightly wrong. 'This place...japan? No, it's not. The feeling and building of this place feel slightly different. It feels old...as if it was an older version of Japan.'  Though confused my body slowly stepped out of the door to the dark alleyway with its only light coming from the moonlight above.  Letting my eyes wander around the shady alleys of Japan. It was strangely quiet and serene as if this place had been vacated for quite some time. "Creek." Hearing something behind I quickly turn around only to see the door suddenly slams shut and disappeared in front of my eyes. '...' "What should I do now?" 'For now, let's find people living here. I need to know if this place is truly earth and not somewhere else.' After making up my mind. I started wandering around trying to find a way out to the main street. "This is weird..." Eventually, walking out of the alleyway to the main road. Seeing the place completely devoid of any living beings even though there are a few places that are lit up. And after walking a good distance from the alleyway I came out. I can confirm a few things about this place. "First of all, there are no living beings here even though some of the houses are lit I can sense that there are no living beings present here. Second, the moon and clouds aren't moving at all as if time has stopped. Third, my body seems to be in an intangible form that can't affect this place. And finally, even though this place seems to be similar to Japan I could tell it is not. As I'm quite familiar with my country because of how much I travel traveled there are a few places and areas I have never been to, seen, or even heard anyone talk about it." Talking to myself about the weird situation. I fall into a state of deep thought. 'This place should be Japan but it's an undeveloped version of it...' 'And the with old styles of the building. The time zone should be around the 90th.' "HELP!" That's when a cry for help rang out near me. Taken out of my thoughts, my body quickly reacted to the yell as I hastily ran in the direction of it.  Arriving to see a group consisting of four people who are covered in black clothing. Two of them holding what seems to be an old version of the tranquilizer gun with the third one holding some kind of cuffs while the fourth one was grabbing an unconscious young woman.  "Let go of her!" I shouted at those people and immediately ran to them intending to knock them out with my fists and rescued the woman. However, my fists just seem to go straight through them with no resistance as if I was hitting air. "What?" Shocked at what just happened I stood there while they then moved with the unconscious woman ignoring me as if they can't see me. While cuffing her limbs and binding her to a stretcher that was taken out of a black van that was pulled up in front of them. They then board the van with the unconscious woman and drive away while I quickly and stealthily follow behind them. After tailing the van for quite some time they finally reached their destination and stop at a pretty normal-looking house. While I tilt my head and stared curiously at the ordinary house. 'This house looks pretty ordinary.' Wondering what could ever transpire at a place like this. Something bizarre begins to happen to the house in front of me. The house started shaking and rumblings were heard. It rose from the ground up to reveal what seemed to be a dark tunnel diving deep into the ground.  "What on earth is happening?!" Eyes wide looking at what has just occurred. The van slowly drives into the dark tunnel and disappeared into the darkness while I just stand there still in shock at what just happened. And when the house began to shake and the rumblings appear again I immediately ran into the dark tunnel. Soon afterward, the shaking and rumblings ended, with the tunnel being concealed again. The house, now back to where it was before like nothing has ever happened. "Ugh, I can't see anything." While inside the tunnel, I was shocked beyond my core. To think that I was struggling to see even with my body that should have been strengthened by the mana and training I have in the other world allowing me to do superhuman feats. "What is wrong with this place...I actually can't see anything." I should have been able to at least sense the path or see it to some extent but this place is unusually dark. It was almost as if I'm being swallowed by the darkness itself. Losing complete control of all of my senses is not something I liked to experience. 'This is the second time I've experienced losing my five senses. And since Sachiko isn't here, I can't rely on her to help me recover from them either. So my choices are to either rely on my sixth sense or to go back out and regrouped with my friends...' Deciding to move onwards I soon come to regret my decision. With nothing but my thoughts, will, and determination to keep me sane, I can only continue moving forward for what seems to have been an eternity. My mind went blank and I almost lost my mind a few times. Combine with the hallucination I had, I could feel myself slowly getting more insane. However, I continued going onward. 'How long has it been?' '...why did I come here...' '...' 'If only I'm stronger we wouldn't have gotten into this situation.' 'If only I choose to wait and regroup I wouldn't have to be here.' 'If only...' Falling deeper into denial while also gradually losing my sense of self. I started cursing and blaming everything that resulted in me being in this hell. 'If not because of slut I wouldn't have been here!!!' 'I swear to God if there even is one. I will find the person who brought this on me. I will rip you apart and give you pain worse than death.' After cursing endlessly I stopped. Then I began begging for someone to save me, a hero. '...please, I don't want to be here anymore...' '...someone please save me...' '...please...' Eventually, I gave up. Realizing that no one will come to save me and that I will be trapped here forever. Everything was quiet and calm. Endlessly drifting in this never-ending nightmare. It wasn't until when I started feeling back my senses albeit insignificant that I regained hope. As my five senses are slowly coming back to me. I felt an immense amount of relief and joy.  As I slowly opened my eyes for the first time in what seemed to be forever. My mouth widened into the biggest grin I ever had. Accepting the madness as now a part of me. I started letting out a nonstop laugh as if to show the insanity I just experienced, gone through, and survived. "HAHAHAHA...!!!" After laughing for quite some time. I collapsed on the ground. After walking up, finally relaxed and calmed down with the madness conceal away. Ultimately, taking a good look at the place I collapsed. I saw a massive hallway leading to the light while looking behind me. I saw the darkness which appears to be separated from the hallway. I slowly got back up and walked toward the end of the massive hallway glad to be out of that nightmare. Seemingly never having to endure that hell again.

When my mother disappeared, the hope of the tribe was not for her safe return. When her body was found in the woods several days later, you would think spring had finally come after a very long and harsh winter. It made me angry, watching everyone put on the appearance of mourning, while I could see beneath that lie, see how everyone walked a bit more lightly, how peace shone through their eyes even as they schooled their faces into frowns. They smiled at me, as they had never done before, and though I knew those smiles were meant to seem sympathetic I could only read them as joy at being rid of her. The women all took me in their arms, which they'd also never done. Of course that was because my mother would never allow it. Her body was not taken west to the caves where all the dead of my people were sent to rest, but to the south where she was placed in a hole in the earth and covered with stones. All the people came to our house to offer my father condolences. But I saw the lie even more profoundly in him. If he wept, it was from a greater relief than even the rest, or maybe from remembering her as she was before the first time she went into the woods. She was carrying me in her womb then, but only halfway through the pregnancy and I had yet to become too heavy for her to work. A chicken had escaped from its pen and run into the woods. It was forbidden for anyone to go into the woods alone. Even the men went in groups for the hunt and were careful to stay together no matter what. But I guess my mother thought she could catch the chicken before it led her too deeply into the trees. She was found stumbling back to the village through the gardens bleeding her life out along the way. She was torn open from her face down her neck and across her breast. There were savage wounds down her arms and back. Somehow she survived then. She was kept in the wise woman's working house where her wounds were tended and prayers chanted over her daily to Ekaralonis, the goddess of our tribe. She lay unconscious the entire time, and it was thought that I was dead within her. My father would sit at her side, stroking her hair and mourning her former beauty as her wounds healed into horrid scars. Part of her face was gone, and her arms and back would bear the marks forever. The wise woman told my father that although my mother's wounds were healing, there seemed to be a poison in her body that no medicines could counteract. She did not think my mother would recover. After some weeks my mother woke, but her eyes were empty and she didn't speak. She would never speak again. I moved in her womb, but even that brought no reaction from her. She continued in the wise woman's care, and was made to walk and lift heavy containers to restore her muscles in preparation for labor. My birth was difficult, and again it was feared that we both would die. Had our wise woman not been so skilled in her craft I surely would never have seen this world. I was named Ekara in thanks to the goddess. When I was laid in my mother's arms, she at first stared through me as if I weren't there. But then something awoke in her. She sniffed my whole body over then clutched me to her. When the wise woman tried to move me to my mother's breast, she pushed the old woman and knocked her down. When my father tried to see me, she held me tightly and screamed at him, her eyes crazed and her twisted chin dripping with saliva. It was feared that she would kill me rather than be parted from me, and so they cautiously let us be. After some days, when it was determined that the wise woman could do nothing more for us, my mother was gently led to my father's house, and she seemed content to stay there. Even as I grew, my mother would allow no one else to touch me, and would not allow me away from her ever. It seemed she always had a hand on me, holding my own, or her arm around my shoulders, keeping me close to her at all times. We lived with my father, but my mother completely ignored him, except when he brought us food. She and I slept together in a bed, and my father alone on the other side of our one-room house of grasses woven through a frame of sticks. Hoping to stimulate my mother's mind to wakefulness again, he would speak to us constantly across the small fire in the center of the house, telling stories, news from the hunts or trading and skirmishes with neighboring tribes. My mother mostly ignored this altogether, although sometimes she would grow frustrated with him and scream wildly to silence him. But I loved the sound of his voice across the room, and I learned to calm her when she had these episodes. In time the unintelligible cadence of his voice became recognizable words, and in more time I learned to mimic them. That is how I learned speech. I remember once my father had been away, and returned with a little doll for me, and wine traded from a tribe in the far south. He gave a little to my mother, and she was calm and pleasant for hours, smiling and cooing at me like other mothers did with their children, and we played with the doll. My father went to sleep happy that night, and my mother kept glancing at him as we played. Then she put the doll in my hands, and set me aside. She crawled out of our bed and across the floor to him on her hands and knees. When she reached his bed, she sat back and pushed at his shoulder. He turned over, and gave a surprised smile on seeing her. She suddenly rocked forward and kissed him, but drew away just as quickly. He stroked her ruined face, and she leaned forward to kiss him again. I heard him saying her name over and over as she pulled away his furs and climbed on top of him. His hands were in her hair as she began to kiss him all over his face and his neck, grunting and sighing, and he was still saying her name. But then he cried out in anguish, sat up and pushed her away and struck her across the face. My mother backed away on her hands and knees, and I saw blood pouring down my father's chest. She sat back on the floor with an astonished and hungry look, and wiped the blood from her chin. She looked at the blood on her fingers before sucking them clean, and licked it away from her lips. She stared at him as a wolf stares at a rabbit and he sat with a hand palm out to her, and then pointed her back to our bed. She came back to me and held me close, kissed the top of my head and I could feel the wetness of my father's blood on her mouth. She was asleep in minutes. Neither my father nor I slept that night, though, and my mother was never given wine again. When I began to walk, my mother had a more difficult time keeping me close to her. I was curious about everything, and wanted to see the world away from her, wanted to play with the other children I could only watch outside our house. She became sad then, all the time, and would weep when I would pull away from her. She would shake her head and hold me so tightly I thought she would squeeze the life out of me and I would struggle out of her grasp and she would throw herself down and wail. And then one day I realized I could run. We were in front of our house, and I saw my father approaching. I ran to him. I ran with such glee I thought my heart would burst with the excitement and sheer joy of it. When I reached him, he was laughing and he caught me up in his arms and tossed me into the air and caught me again. It was the first time I had ever embraced my father. My mother ran to us screaming wildly and pounded my father with her fists and pulled at me. But he caught her with one arm and drew her into our embrace, letting her pound at him all she wanted. I turned in his arms and said "shhh, shhh," to her. My father also said "shhh" to her, and she calmed then. I put my arms around her too, and we both held her and said "shhh" as her sobs trailed away. She looked at us fearfully, but seemed to understand that this was good. We thought things would be better then. After that my mother allowed me to play with the other children, but she would follow and watch with suspicion. The other children were frightened of her, but very accepting of me, and a whole new world opened up to me in their company. My best friend was a boy named Mudi, who said that he would marry me when we were grown. The boys and girls all played together, whether it was parenting dolls or pretending to hunt. We played a game of rolling stones on the ground with sticks and I was very good at it. But one day a girl hit the stone up into the air and it struck me, and I sat down crying at the pain of it. My mother rushed the little girl and hit her so hard that she bloodied her mouth. No one would play with me again after that, and the days of confinement to the house and my mother's side returned until my mother died. It happened when my father was away. One morning in my ninth year my mother took me out of the village and sat down with me at the edge of the woods. She held me beside her and rocked us from side to side while making low noises that sounded like she was trying to sing. The world around us was so quiet, and the motion and her humming so peaceful that I almost fell asleep leaning into her there. When she suddenly stopped and grew quiet I looked up at her and asked if she was well. She was staring into the woods, and seemed to have forgotten that I was there with her. Then without a sound to me, she rose and walked into the woods. I didn't know then that no one was supposed to go into the woods alone. I watched her go deeper into the darkness between the trees until she disappeared from sight. I thought she would return soon, but she didn't. I waited all day for her. Only when darkness was approaching and I began to be afraid that I would be lost did I go back to the village. I went to the wise woman, the only other person I really knew, and told her what had happened. I slept there with her that night, and the next morning the hunting groups went into the woods to search for my mother. It wasn't until some days later that the hunters brought what little was left of her out of the woods. Without my mother to fear, the village children befriended me again. But I was behind them all in education, and they sometimes teased me about the things I didn't know, although my closest friends were always kind to me and helped me to learn. One day, Mudi shot one of his toy arrows into the woods, and I ran to retrieve it for him. I heard him calling for me to stop, but I ran ahead of him unheeding. At the edge of the woods I did pause, remembering the last time I had seen my mother there. I was afraid of the woods, but it seemed that something within called to me. I started into the trees, but Mudi caught up to me then and pulled me back. "You must never go into the woods," he said. "There are monsters in there." "Did the monsters kill my mother?" I asked. He blushed with embarrassment as he realized that he might have said something hurtful to me. "I don't know," he answered. "Probably." I held my head up then defiantly. "Someday I will go into the woods and kill the monsters," I said. "I will practice at hunting, with your bow and your spear, and then I will kill the monsters. Then no one will be afraid of the woods anymore." "But when you are a woman, you will not have a bow or a spear," he said. "I will marry you and you will take care of our house, and our children, and tend the animals and the gardens with the women. And I'll keep you safe forever." I was shocked at this. I had become quite obsessed with Mudi's little toy weapons, and loved our games of hunting and war more than any other activity. I considered. "Maybe I can do all of that after I kill the monsters," I said. Mudi looked as if I'd hurt his feelings, and I took his hand. "Don't worry, Mudi," I said. "Then you can marry me." He kissed me then, and for the first time I felt as if I belonged in this village. In my twelfth year, things began to change rapidly. The older boys, including Mudi, were now sent with the men to learn real hunting and war. The girls my age began to menstruate, and were given the rite of womanhood. They stopped playing with us then. They were sent to the wise woman to learn secret and mysterious things, and when they were near us, they would talk in whispers, and say cryptic things and answer our questions only with laughs. None of this happened for me, though, and I continued as I was with the younger children. The older girls became haughty with me, and teased me that I had not joined them. One day I told a girl named Nila, who had once been my friend, that she thought she was better than everyone because she was so pretty, but that she was really just a cow. "Poor Ekara," she replied, looking down her nose at me. "If only your stupid mother hadn't chased that chicken into the woods, maybe you'd be normal." Even sneering, she was still pretty. I wanted to hit her, but instead I ran crying from the insult to Mudi's house. No one was there, but leaning against the wall were the real bow Mudi had been given, and real arrows with sharpened stone tips. I grabbed them up and went to the chicken pen, and I shot a chicken through its neck. It lay still, but the other chickens began to squawk loudly and flap around the pen. People came running, thinking an animal had gotten to them. A woman approached just as I pulled the bow back to shoot another arrow into the chicken, and she batted the bow downward. The arrow went through my foot, pinning me to the ground. Now many people were gathered around me, and the bow and arrows were taken from me as my father worked at breaking the arrow and lifting my foot from it. I just stared at the dying chicken, watching the blood pour from its neck and make a meandering rivulet through the dirt. I watched its eyes grow cloudy and still, and felt my vengeance satisfied. My father carried me to the wise woman's house where she cleaned my foot, rubbed salves into the wound and wrapped my foot in woven fabric. I was silent through it all. "Ekara, does this not hurt you?" she asked. I shook my head. I had no pain at all. After that I had no pain ever. When I fell during games with the children, and scraped my knees, when I fell out of a tree once, when I burned my finger in the fire, there was no pain. I hadn't lost all sensation, though. I felt these things happen, they simply were not unpleasant. In fact, my capacity for pleasure seemed heightened, my senses all sharper. Foods with even subtle flavors tasted rich to me, and rich foods overwhelming. I could smell things that others couldn't, could tell who was near me by their scent. I could taste tiny animals in water, feel them wriggling on my tongue, and I could tell from smelling water if it was safe to drink. My eyes adjusted to darkness immediately, and even with my eyes closed it seemed I could sense where objects were. The people once again regarded me with suspicion, and I withdrew from everyone, setting myself to caring for my father's house to fill my time. By my sixteenth year, I still had not joined the women. The others my age were now marrying, and one day my father quietly explained to me that I could not be a wife because I wouldn't bear any children. The tribe elder had decided that I would train with the boys at hunting, and if I proved myself competent, I would join the hunting groups and maybe go to war, and live as a man. This pleased me very much. I would have my time hunting after all, and I thought surely I would at last become a woman and then I could marry Mudi. For training I was assigned to the hunting group that he now led, and I was happy to spend so much time with him again. But Mudi looked at me as if he couldn't see me, and some weeks after my training began he was married to Nila. At their celebration, I sat in the shadows behind everyone, so that no one would see my tears. When I gained full status as a hunter, my father took a new wife and I built my own house. I was also given a woman to fill the function of a hunter's wife. Her name was Velis, and she was a few years older than me. Her husband had been killed in battle with another tribe. She had been with him for several years with no children and so was deemed as barren as I. She lived with me in my house, and for several months went about her duties quietly, rarely speaking to me at all. I could tell she was afraid of me. "Velis, you and I are both disgraced women," I finally told her. "We should be friends. You could have been given to a man who would hit you. I promise you will always be safe here." She was more comfortable in my house for awhile, until one night I had too much wine and I tried to kiss her. When she slapped my face, I remembered what had happened between my parents on that long ago night, and I was so ashamed. The next day I pretended that I couldn't remember what had happened the night before, and I abstained from wine after, so that I wouldn't try that again. We never did become friends. When the weather was good, I spent my days in the woods with my hunting group. I had been afraid to go into the woods at first, but the excitement of the hunt and the joy of our tribe when we brought home good game soon allayed any fears. Still, on every hunt I looked for the signs of monsters. Never did I see anything but animal tracks though. We were supposed to stay clear of any predators who also stalked the game animals in the woods, but I knew if I ever saw one I would kill it. On one hunt, as the group attempted to flush a rabbit, I slipped into a small ravine, fell many feet into the bottom of it and twisted my ankle when I landed. It didn't hurt, of course, but the ankle wouldn't function for climbing up again. Mudi called down to me to stay where I was while the group came around to an easier passage to bring me out. I listened as the group moved away from me to the far end of the ravine, and then I was alone there in the woods. Although the group was very far away, I could still hear them with my very sharp ears, and was comforted. Then I heard a twig snap further down inside the ravine, and thought there must be an animal. I was feeling guilt at ruining the hunt, and thought that if I could bring something home I would be redeemed. I moved slowly and quietly along the bottom of the ravine toward the sound, but heard no familiar rustling in the undergrowth. Then, seemingly from nowhere, a man was standing before me. He was not one of my tribe. I had never seen him before. His clothing was strange, and the way he wore his long hair. His skin looked as pale as ashes. "Who are you?" I asked. He only smiled as he walked right up to me. He moved very quickly, but made no sound. When he reached me, he sniffed the air between us. "What are you?" he asked. He spoke my language, but with a strange accent. His words came in a slight lisp caused by two of his teeth, which were much longer than the others, and very sharp. I was paralyzed with fear as he continued sniffing at me. "My hunting group is coming," I said, "and they will kill you if they find you here." The man smiled at this, and laughed softly. His eyes were cold, and he stared into mine without blinking. "What strange thing are you?" he said. "I am Ekara, of the people of Ekaralonis," I told him. "People? Surely you are not of these human people?" I did not understand what he meant by this. "Of course I am," I answered. I could hear the hunting group getting closer now, and hoped this man would leave if he could hear them too. But he continued his strange sniffing of me, and leaned in closer. "You are a ghoul," he said, but cocked his head quizzically. "No, no that's not it." He stared into my eyes again as if he could see into my head through them. He smelled like wet leaves decaying on the forest floor in autumn, and I found that I liked the smell. Then he leaned even closer, and very slowly he kissed my mouth. And I wanted him to, even as I knew that this was very wrong. I had long since accepted that I would never have a man, but this man... he wasn't even of my people and yet something sleeping within me had awakened, and uncoiled itself, and wanted nothing more than to touch this foreign man. "Ekara!" Mudi's voice rang out through the ravine behind me, and I whirled around, suddenly more afraid of my own hunting group than I was of the stranger. The group came crashing through the undergrowth toward me. I turned quickly, but the man was gone. I scanned the ground for his tracks, but there were none. It was as if he hadn't been there at all. I felt a hand on my arm then, and I was spun forcefully around, and Mudi slapped my face with an open hand. His face was violently angry. "I told you to stay where you were!" he shouted. "You do not go alone in the woods, ever! You do not disobey me!" Two men carried me out of the woods and back to the village, and Mudi did not speak to me again that day. Once again I was in the wise woman's house, being doctored for a hurt that did not hurt. "What is a ghoul?" I asked her, and she stopped her work and stared at me, seeming to consider something she hadn't before. "Did someone call you that?" she asked. I shook my head. "You shouldn't listen to talk of such things," the woman said. "But what is it?" "It is a person who is possessed by a devil," she answered. "Perhaps I am, then," I said. "Could I be possessed by a devil?" "Anyone can be possessed by a devil," she said. "But I think your only trouble is the tongues of spiteful people, and you should pay them no mind." The following day Mudi came to me full of remorse. "I'm sorry I hit you," he said. "It didn't hurt," I replied. "I know," he said, "which is the only reason I allowed myself. I know I can't hurt you." He raised my face to look at him, and his eyes were soft now, and there was sadness in them, but I felt cold inside. I couldn't see the little boy I had loved anywhere in him. "No," I said, "you can't hurt me anymore." The following year, a neighboring tribe pastured their animals in our gardens, and we went to war. Despite my pleading, I was not allowed to go and had to stay behind to guard the village with the men who were not fit for fighting. The war groups were gone for a week, then they returned victorious, and with prisoners in tow. There was a great celebration, and the foreign men were tied to stakes while the children danced around them and shot at them with their toy arrows. I watched all of this quietly. The sight of foreigners had brought with it the memory of the man I had met in the woods, although these men were not like him. I had begun to hate my people since that day. Their insults to me were too many now. I stared at the men, lost in these thoughts, and decided I wanted to see them up close. I was curious now about other people, and had begun to think that maybe I could find another tribe, another way of living with people who hadn't known my mother and wouldn't curse me with her memory. I stood and approached one of the bound men. I examined his clothing, the color of his hair, the shape of his bare feet, and of his eyes. The man spit on me, and something that had been held back inside of me my whole life broke open then. I grabbed the man and pulled him forward, and his wrists broke as they came out of his bonds and the stake came out of the ground. He lunged then to escape, but I clutched his hair, and threw his head down so that it broke open on the stake. Then I sunk my teeth into his throat and bit down hard, crushing his larynx between my jaws. I felt his blood spurt down my throat and over my face and my shoulders. The people had come running to stop me, and they were on me now, but I threw them all off easily, and backed away holding the man by the neck with only my teeth. The weight of him felt like it would pull my teeth out, but they held, and I dragged him away from the people. They all stood staring at me in horror, some of them trying to coax me to let the man go. With the man's neck still in my jaws, I grunted warnings to them. I had my prize, and I would kill anyone who took it from me. I crouched down to the ground with my prey and stared over him at the people. I saw my father standing nearby with Mudi. "Go to her, Mudi," my father said. "She will listen to you." Mudi approached slowly, and held a hand out to me. "Come away, Ekara," he said softly. He picked up a child's toy bow where it had been dropped and held it out to me. "Do you want this?" he asked. "Do you remember when we played with these as children? You can have this one." I dropped the man, and Mudi moved in closer, crouching with me across the body. "Good, Ekara, that's good. Come away." He reminded me of someone calling a dog off of a rabbit. I stared at him, and he was nothing to me. No, not nothing. He was the face of every wrong the tribe had ever done me. Over his shoulder, I saw Nila with Mudi's son in her arms, glaring at me with hatred. I lunged at him then, grabbed him by the hair and snapped his neck and threw my teeth into his throat. A moment later something cracked across the back of my head, and I collapsed onto Mudi's lifeless body. I was in a house, and bound tightly to a bed. I had regained my senses, and I could hear weeping outside, and the tribe elder with my father and the wise woman, speaking in whispers. "...too dangerous." "Help her...the same devil that had her mother." "It is decided." Within the hour, the house filled with people. My father kissed my head, and the wise woman said prayers over me. "Father, please..." I said, but he turned from me and sobbed into the shoulder of his wife. Two of my hunting group came to the bed with long ceremonial knives of metal, and these they plunged into my chest together, in rhythm, nine times. I felt my lungs fill with my blood, and when I coughed, the blood welled up out of my mouth and I felt its warmth spread over my throat and into my ears, and heard it drip off of the bed to the ground. The wise woman stroked my hair until the world went black. I awoke to scraping sounds somewhere above me, followed by thumping noises. A scrape, and then a thump, a scrape, and then a thump. I knew I was wrapped in the earth. My nostrils were filled with it, and when I tried to open my eyes bits of soil poured into them. I could taste strong spices on my lips. The soil around me was loose, and I could move a little, but not enough to free myself. The ground above me seemed to be getting lighter, though, and then I felt hands on me, pulling me out of the ground. I sat up and wiped the soil from my eyes, and blew it out of my nose, pinched my nose and blew through my ears. I felt my chest where I had been stabbed with the knives, and the flesh had healed, although I could feel tiny pebbles under the skin where soil had healed into the former wounds. Then I looked around me. It was night, but the full moon was rising, and although it wasn't very high yet I could see very well. There were large stones scattered on the ground to one side of me. "I'm here, Ekara," someone said behind me. And I knew the voice. It was the man I had met in the woods so long ago. He helped me up, helped me to brush all of the soil away. I was dressed in a white linen tunic, now stained all over with earth and with funeral spices which went up in a cloud as we brushed at them with our hands. The spices colored the palms of my hands red. "Am I not dead?" I asked him. He only laughed, the same laugh that had met all of my questions at our first meeting. There was another grave under a pile of stones beside mine, and he pointed to it now. There were no other graves here, and I knew that my mother was under there. "I believe those are yours," he said. When I investigated, I found my spear and my bow there, with a quiver full of arrows. "They were under the top of the rocks," he told me. So I had been given the hunter's burial, although the weapons had been placed up among the stones and out of my reach underground. "Did the people know that I might rise?" I asked. "It would appear so." I threw the weapons aside and began to remove the stones from my mother's grave. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Help me," I said. "Hurry!" We threw all of the stones off, and then I dug in the soil with my hands. It had been so long. Could it be? But any hope of finding my mother alive crumbled along with the bones I soon pulled from the ground. "I will go and kill them all," I said, but the man shook his head. "It would be best if you left that all behind you now," he said. "You were never one of them." "What am I, then? What am I that I do not die?" "I don't know," he answered. "You are a strange little creature, and I don't think there has ever been anything like you. You are partly human, true, but also partly like me." "Are you a devil?" I asked. He laughed loudly now. "Yes," he said. "Yes, I am a devil." "Do you possess people?" "I do. If I bite a human, my venom spreads through them, and they will long for me forever. If they escape me at all, that is. And if they do escape, they will return to me because they must." "Why would you bite a person?" I asked. "Because I feed on human blood." He said all of this casually, not at all worried that he might frighten me. "And do they die then?" "Yes. Would it bother you to kill people?" "Not some of them," I answered, and he laughed again. "Perhaps I could try to make you fully like me, then, if you'd like. I have lived for hundreds of years, and no one can kill me unless they put a piece of wood through my heart, or drain me of all my blood. Humans are too weak to do these things." "Could I stay with you then?" I asked. "Forever," he answered. He was moving closer to me now. He put his arms around me, and his scent pulled me in like it had that day in the woods. "I think I would like that," I said. Then he kissed me, and then we were pulling each other's clothing away, and falling to the ground between the two graves, and he began to make love to me, which I had never done before and found myself hoping it would never end. It felt like the nights of harvest in the village when the wise woman would give us the drink that allowed us to see the soul of the earth, when the drums were loud and became our heartbeats, when we danced until we all knew that we were the goddess. But he was not the goddess. He was all of the people who had ever lived before now rotting in the caves and in the earth and happy to be returning to the body of the universe. He brought my lips to his neck, and told me to bite. I did this, but it was so much different than biting the foreign prisoner, or Mudi. The blood that now flowed into my mouth seemed to carry an ancient power with it that coiled through my veins like a serpent through underground passages. I looked past him and saw the face of Ekaralonis in the stars. She looked like my mother, and she was weeping. I felt myself drawn up into the sky with her and I began to know things that the wise woman could never have dreamed. I saw places where there was no vegetation, only bare earth for miles, and yet people lived there. I saw vast expanses of water which I knew to be the ocean, although I had never seen it, and people in vessels upon it far from any land. Then I saw the earth before there were any people at all, only great beasts. I saw beasts who were just becoming men. Then I saw people forging strange things of metal which seemed to move on their own. I saw people living in great shining villages of metal. Then I saw the whole earth once again with no people on it. All the people who had ever lived were dead, and the earth slowly crumbled every trace of them to dust. All of this was in the blood I took from him, and as I drank deeply I felt two of my teeth begin to grow, pushing further into his flesh, letting more of the blood come out of him and into me. As I floated on time and power I thought again of the people of my village. What did they matter? They were of no significance to all I had just seen. The earth would not miss them. "No," a woman whispered into my ear. "It would be the death of your soul." I pulled away from his neck for a moment and turned my head, saw my mother's bones in the earth beside us, scattered among the stones. "I don't have one," I told her. "Hmm?" he murmured then, and kissed me. "I will go back," I said. "And I will kill them all. Will you help me in this?" "Maybe," he said. "In time." He smiled down at me. "I did kill a woman of your people once, if that satisfies your vengeance for now. She escaped me once, but returned many years later. She was a miserable woman, and I took away her pain. I took away her pain forever." I bit into his neck again, and he was still making love to me. As I now drank even more deeply of him, he tried to push away. "That is enough, Ekara," he said, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. It seemed that he could not pull himself away from me either. I sucked at the wound in his neck, and pushed my new teeth ever more deeply, and he cried out, whether in pain or pleasure I couldn't say. He was pushing himself harder inside me, but trying to pry his neck from my mouth. I held on tightly, though, and continued to drink from him until his movements weakened, then became feeble, and then he lay still. I pushed him off of me and stood. The moon was high now and its light bright enough that I could see him fully as he lay unconscious on the ground between my mother's grave and my own. He was more beautiful than any man of my village. For a few moments I studied the light of the moon on the contours of his muscles. Even lying still and helpless he looked powerful. I knelt beside him and stroked a lock of his long hair where it lay over his chest. Then I picked up my spear, and I drove it through him so that the wooden shaft pierced his heart and stuck him to the ground. In the moonlight, I watched as his body began to flatten, and his flesh began to peel away like ashes peel away from a burning log. Within minutes, he had disintegrated entirely, and all that was left of him was a dusty substance blowing away on the gentle breeze. My spear fell to the ground. I put back on my funeral dress and picked up my spear along with my bow and arrows, and I set out across the plains, circling wide around the village, to the woods. I moved quickly, and I did not make a sound.

  “You will live.” That’s the only thing I remember hearing. The voice of someone, feminine to be specific after which I fell asleep. Now I seem to be lying on something soft, I am using my limited motor function over my limbs to try and scout the area, which is, I am waving my limbs around to try and feel something.  Which lead to no results whatsoever. What the flying fuck is going on around me. I have no idea where I am, why I am here, or why I even heard someone telling me to live. Oh, I sensed someone coming near me. Wait what, how can I sense someone. And I sense more than one. “Seems like we are the only ones willing to take care of the baby.” “What why? Send him to the orphanage, we are not taking care of that half-blood’s child. Orphanage what are they talking about? “The child still is an Uchiha.” Uchiha—no way, no fucking way. And why am I a baby? “It is not even a half-blood like him, more like a quarter blood.” “Still an Uchiha. Tomoe.” “And that half-blood you are talking about was a great shinobi, one of our best. His child deserves to be taken care of after all he did to Konoha whether you like it or not. Ohmygodthereisnowayigotreincarnatedintothenarutoworld “Fine, do what you want.” {Tomoe} “I know it already, at least carry him to my residence.” Someone lifted me up. “Fine, think of it as the last time I’m helping this baby.” “This is how you hold a baby right.” {Tomoe} “I don’t know, just make sure to hold the baby’s head.” I felt hands under my head. “Like this.” {Tomoe} “Yeah, I think it should be fine.” I opened my eyes and tried to look but my eyes were being sensitive to light, after blinking for some time my eyes finally adjusted themselves to help me view. The first thing I saw was the face of my carrier. “What are you looking at?” {Tomoe} I have never seen someone pretty like that. She had black hair, black eyes and the standard Uchiha scowl. Need I say more. It is confirmed that this is indeed the Naruto world. I raised my hands towards her face and tried to speak. “Dah ha ha bhu.” “Oh, he’s so cute.” I looked around for the source of the voice. “Hello there, little one, I am Naori. I and Tomoe are going to take care of you from now on.” {Naori} Wow, she’s like an angel. “You know I won’t Naori” {Tomoe} “Come on don’t be like that, can’t you see how cute the baby is.” {Naori} “You can’t convince me to look after his child.” {Tomoe} Oi, what’s going on here, does that woman have some bad blood with my father. Wait My father. I am taking this reincarnation thing pretty easily. Maybe it is all a dream, yeah that makes sense. But even if it isn’t, I don’t really care either way. Maybe life here could be better than there. There is someone willing to take care of me here, that is already miles better than that life. Assuming that I have died. “The child is innocent Tomoe; this has nothing to do with him.” {Naori} Damn right it is. Hey don’t look at me like that woman. Is she going to drop me? “Stop looking at him like that Tomoe,” {Naori} “Hmm” Tomoe looked away. Naori is an angel, this Tomoe woman sure is scary Let me just close my eyes. Though it pains to not look at women as pretty as them Alright. Let me think, I have somehow ended up in the Naruto world as a new-born baby, I’m going to be taken care of by an Uchiha and my father is a half-blooded Uchiha who isn’t here, presumably dead and there is a really pretty woman who seems to hate me because of my father. I don’t know what timeline this is and I really hope this isn’t an alternate universe But Konoha exists. I don’t even what I would have done if I was in the warring states era. Kill myself. Most likely. Alright so all I need to do is to never ever think of becoming a fucking shinobi and live an uneventful life. Should be easy enough. Right. Yeah, what could go wrong. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But why do I feel myself pissing. “No, the brat is pissing.” {Tomoe} “Hahaha.” {Naori} “You. Is this why you told me to carry him?” {Tomoe} “I don’t know what you are talking about.” {Naori} Oh, I am definitely not scared. Nay, not at all.   Meanwhile. Unknown to all a masked figure with flowing hair could be seen observing the happenings. “I look forward to what you become, kin of Seiryoku.” Muttered the figure before fading out.     ThaniMaram Alright this is my first time writing a fanfic. I got inspired to pick up my pen after reading Illumination by MrProper huge fan of his work. Anyway give me your thoughts on how the chapter is.  

A mosquito was aging. Slowly dying as each tick of the clock went by, but it had one last duty before death. It flew to a the closet source of water. Which just happened to be on a balcony on the third floor of a apartment complex — with alright rent, but why would a mosquito care.   She flew past the internally rusted and improperly installed metal rails, and hovered across the platform cement. The mosquitoes found her target — a statement pool of water in a crudely made ashtray, which was a shoe filed lined within with flexseal.   The dying mosquito used all of her strength and landed on the water, laying her eggs before moments later succumbing to deaths cold grasp. Her body would become fuel for her children.  Without her small and simple mind knowing, she would soon be the cause of the downfall of her kind.   In simple words, “Don’t fuck with an America’s gun. Don’t take a British tea away. And for the love of god if you bite a man, and make him itchy after long and tiring day, you fucked up.”   The clock of time ticked, and the threads of fate & chaos giggled at the thought of the dice rolls, coin tosses, and yoga sessions? that would soon ensue. The apartment door opened, and in the background of evening sound was the sound of dice rolling and  the squeaks of hinges that need a good oiling.

February 9th, 2060 The test trial conducted with the ETA of agony has driven the people inside the facility to become either one of two things, those being very excited, or more fearful regarding the use and development of ETs.  The more hopeful group of researchers, energized by their curiosity and excitement make the majority of my colleagues, while the fearful group are small in number. Personally, I find myself more aligned with the majority of my team, but I do empathize with the people who are becoming more afraid of what ETs could do.  Seeing as the first test was with a firearm, it wasn't too good of a first impression for budding researchers in this new field.  Coincidentally, I happened to hear a recent rumor going around the facility about an upcoming experiment using a newly procured ETA from the same branch of negative emotion, or as they call it, NE. The details I heard of were vague at best,  so I still have doubts of whether or not this rumor is true.  I believe that it most likely is, as the ETA we used for the previous tests were of the NE branch as well.  The only question that remains is what exactly is the attribute we'll be experimenting with.  I could come up with enough predictions to have at least one be right, but I don't want to bother wasting my energy doing that. It is a little boring  in here though.  There is nothing else to do in this place after doing our job and fulfilling our duties.  They do have a leisure center inside the facility, but most of it is a sports center with a basketball court, a soccer field with artificial grass, and even a small pool for swimming and other water activities. Maybe I should try them out, even if it's just to relieve my boredom. February 20th, 2060 The briefing for the experiment has just been given today.  Apparently, our suppliers were able to procure an ETA of fear in the form of an antique.  They told all of us in the room that, in the event where we are assigned to experiment with it, to be careful in its handling the object as it is higher in purity than items artificially injected with ETAs. The informant's speech caused a stir in the room.  not one of panic, but of excitement and anticipation as the team assigned to it will be given the opportunity of seeing firsthand an object with a pure form of ETA, something different, something much more powerful and potent than the ones the research team have seen so far.  Undeniably, I, myself, got a bit excited to see what a higher purity ETA would look like and what it would do. To be honest, I find it a bit fitting.  Some people here look at ETAs as something dreadful, something that shouldn't be revealed to the public eye in fear of what might happen if a bad person gets their hands on this technology, and the next thing they'll be experimenting with is fear!  Now that's a trick of fate if I've ever seen one.  I do understand their concerns if someone evil uses this technology for their own benefit, but I don't get how they've completely ruled out the most likely people to use ET,  The people we're working for! We've got not control over their actions and they can get rid of us whenever they want without any consequences, so its best just to continue doing our jobs and fulfilling our duties. Still, I wonder what form this "high purity ETA object" will take?  I can guess as many times as I want, but I'll only get the answer when the time comes.  I guess I'll just wait until then. -end

January 15th,  2060 Development of ET has started its first trails since its discovery.  My colleagues debated amongst themselves whether they should really continue this field of research, as it seemed to be an unethical practice that could spell disaster.  Some agreed with this statement, some did not, as the materials that were supplied to us were, as the procurers themselves put it, "Ethically sourced from families that wished to let go, or places where remnants of tragedies remain. Though the two sides bickered on and on, even reaching the point of minor violence, I only sat and listened to the conversation.  I knew that, even though we were researchers spearheading this new field, we are not the ones in control of what we are going to do or how the technology will be used:  It will be our sponsors and funders, the government, that will use the fruit we sow, I can only hope that they will reap the benefits for peace rather than conquest and greed.  But as history continues to show me again and again, even if it is intended for peace, everything shall be used in war. January 25th, 2060 The trial we conducted was to test the ability of the agony branch of ET.  The test was meant to prove the effectiveness of objects with Agony compared to those which did not have an ETA.  For this trial, we used two sets of objects: a typical handgun and a magazine of bullets, and then the same set of items but with agony injected into them. First, we set a bullet proof vest with a sheet of bulletproof glass behind it.  The handgun with no applied ETAs didn't pierce through the vest and was stopped by its plating, as it was expected to do.  Then we fired the agony infused handgun with regular bullets and we were surprised to find that it did pierce through the frontal part of the vest, but was unable make an exit through the vest's back side.  We repeated this again, but the weapon was normal and the bullets were injected with the ETA:  this came with similar results as the ETA infused gun, though it came closer to making an exit wound through the other side What happened next shocked everyone that was present.  When we used the handgun and magazine infused with Agony, the firepower had increased significantly, so much so that the bullet pierced through both the frontal and back portion of the bullet proof vest and it created a large crack in the bulletproof glass close behind it.  For just a handgun to do this much damage just through the use of  an ETA was astounding, there is virtually no chance this discovery will be overlooked, not by the military at least. Though there were cheers and celebration from the ones who were just observing, the man who held the gun became noticeably more irritable, assuming postures and motions meant to calm oneself.  He even pointed the gun at one of my colleagues, screaming at him to shut up.  Everyone was in a silent panic, as they had just seen the power that the gunman held in his hands, a bullet from his weapon could pierce the supposedly bulletproof items, what could it do to a human?  We all thought we'd find out that moment, but then wielder of the gun showed a shocked expression on his face before he took hold of himself.  He then apologized and laid the gun back onto the table before walking out of the room. It was clear to all of us that the ETA of Agony made people in close vicinity around it more irritable and impulsive, a common characteristic in negative emotions.  We all made sure to take that into consideration when we were to conduct another test that involved this type of ETA. -End

"Ah, what an amazing way to start a Sunday morning~" Samantha purrs next to me before giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to make myself some coffee, do you want some?"   "Gladly. I'm gonna need it." I reply as I get up. "I hadn't gotten the chance to say it yet, but I really like your room."   She let out a cute giggle to hide her cheeks slightly blushing. "I'm glad you like it. I know it's far from a typical girl's room, after all. What with all the games, posters, and manga around."   "Maybe, but it suits you well, Sam." I smile at her to show her how sincere I am.   "Thanks. Now, time for some coffee." is all she says before going to the kitchen.   After dressing up, I follow her there. Samantha lives in a fairly large flat considering that she is apparently living alone. It has a large bedroom, a bathroom with a bathtub,  and a kitchen and a living room that are separate, and even a balcony. Furthermore, it is near the town center, where most flats are pretty expensive, especially for college students.   "How can you afford this place?" I ask as I observe the exterior through the window leading to a small balcony. There are a few plant pots, well-maintained, showing that she took good care of them. I can spot a few of the college buildings in the distance.   "Well, I… have my ways… And my parents are helping me." she says as she takes out two cups and turns on the coffee machine. "Do you want some milk or sugar with yours?"   "A bit of milk, thanks." Once I get my coffee, I continue. "How are your parents like?"   After a brief pause, she answers, looking away. "They're… fine, although I'm not sure they'd like the new me very much. Not that they were all that fond of the old me either."  I can notice the sadness in her tone, even if she tries to hide it behind an awkward chuckle.   "I see… I hope they'll come around eventually, and realise how amazing you are."   She blushes again, brighter than back in her room. "Oh, shush, you. I'm already in love with you, no need to flatter me more."   "As if you dislike it." I grin at her, gently caressing her hair, which only serves to make her even redder. She is acting a bit more like her old self, which I find adorable. I already loved her before, after all. She may have changed a lot on the surface, but she is still the same deep down.   She huddles herself against me, hugging me tightly. "Indeed~ You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Davey." A few minutes later, she lets go of me and leans against the kitchen counter. "Speaking of parents, how are yours? The brief exchange I had with your mom wasn't enough for me to learn what she's like."   "Oh, she's pretty chill. I don't think your look would bother her, she's fairly open-minded, and I know she had a punk phase back when she was younger."   "Really? Sounds awesome!" Her eyes are sparkling, she seems to want to meet my mother even more than before. "What about your dad?"    "My dad works a lot, so he's not often home. He's kind, but not really talkative. He's the type to rarely speak unless it's about something that interests him. But if you dare mention wrestling in his presence, be ready for hours of conversations."   She chuckles. "Noted. I'll avoid the subject, then. How far do they live from here?"   "Not too far. About two hours by train. I usually stay for a week during holidays, but I can shorten my stay if you'd prefer."   "Oh no, I'm looking forward to spending some time with my future parents in law." I blush at that, looking away, while she just lets out a cute giggle. She goes to caress my arm, smiling. "I'm sure I will love them, Davey." After a brief pause, she speaks. "Wanna stay here for today? We can order something to eat and play some games together?" Sam asks, looking at me with expectations.   I give her a light kiss and reply. "I'd love to. But no need to order. I can make us something."   "Oh, you know how to cook?"   "I'm not a chef, but I know a few things, yeah." I say.    "Hmm, maybe you'd make for a good househusband~" Sam muses, making me blush.   "H-haha, maybe…" I sheepishly reply.    After regaining my composure, we go back to her room to play some games until lunch. She is really good at fighting games, despite being more into JRPGs, but I still manage to get more wins than her overall.   When lunchtime comes, I look at what Sam has in her fridge, and decide to make some Spaghetti Carbonara. Sam stays near me, watching me with a tender smile on her face.   She grabs two plates from her cupboard and helps prepare the table. She sit and leans towards the pot, closing her eyes to enjoy the scent. "Hmm, it smells really good~"   I sit and serve her first. "I hope it'll be to your liking."   "It will." she confidently say before bringing a fork full to her mouth. "It is delicious, Davey~"   "T-thanks."   We spend lunch talking about games we played and shows we watched, and decide to watch some anime during the afternoon. Sam likes a variety of things, from standard shonens to dark seinen and fluffy shojos.   Of course, this wonderful day has to end and I part ways with her, returning back to my flat in order for me to get ready for our Monday classes.   ~~~~~   On Monday morning, I meet with Sam in front of the gates of the campus, ready to start our day together.   As soon as we take a step towards our building, I notice Sam suddenly turning her head and staring at a woman who is approaching us with a smile on her face.  She seems to be in her early thirties, her dark hair put into a bun, and she is wearing an elegant beige suit, indicating that she most likely is a professor or a secretary instead of a student. As soon as her eyes land on the woman, Sam makes a strange expression. I am at least certain it isn't joy.   "Good morning, Samantha. And you too… David, was it?" the woman say this last part while observing me from head to toe.   "G-good morning." I reply awkwardly.   "I'm Marie Durand, it's a pleasure to meet you."   Her attention then returns to Sam. "How are you, Sammy? Enjoying this life of yours so much that you forgot about me? I totally dig this new look, by the way. You make for a hell of a goth girl." For an older woman, she speaks in a very familiar manner to Sam.   Sam grits her teeth. She obviously is uncomfortable around her, but I have no idea why. "What do you want?" She asks coldly.   "Oh my, is this how you greet an old friend?" Marie chuckles. "Or am I not allowed to talk to you while you're with your… boyfriend?"   Sam walks closer, her face mere inches away from Marie's, staring right into her eyes. "I know what you're thinking, and I'm warning you. Don't you dare do anything to him."   She seems shocked for a brief instant by Sam's tone before smirking. "Do you truly love him all that much? You swing this way now?"   "Swing this way? Is Sam into women too?" Sam never mentioned anything like this before.   "And what if I do? Why would it matter to you, professor?" She emphasises this last word, for some reason.   Marie takes a step back and make a smile that clearly feels fake. "You're right, it doesn't matter to me. What students do and who they love is none of my business."   "Don't approach him, is that clear?"   "Alright, alright. I don't want you to hate me, Sammy. I'll let you have fun with your boyfriend. But if you ever want to catch up and hang out again, here's my number." She gives a visit card to Sam, with her contact infos written on it. As I first guessed, she is indeed a professor, teaching French literature here.   Sam begrudgingly takes the card and shoves it into her bag.   "Have a good day, lovebirds~" Marie waves at us and leaves.   "W-who is she?" I ask Sam. Only when I turn to face her do I notice her slightly shivering. "W-what's wrong?"   She grabs my hand and hold it tightly. "Don't come near her, David… Promise me…"   "I-I promise…" I don't understand why she makes me promise this, but her reaction indicates that it is something important.   "I will protect you…" She whispers, still glaring at Marie who is almost out of view by now.   "W-we should… go to class…"   "We should, yes." is all Sam say. She doesn't let go of my hand until we finally reach the lecture hall and sit down.   ~~~~~   After this strange meeting with Marie, the rest of the week is thankfully uneventful. Sam is still on edge, but starts to relax, slowly getting back to her usual self.   We cross paths with Marie one more time during this week, in the corridors, but except for a good morning, neither Sam nor her talk to each other.   On Friday, I go to the library with Sam to study for our upcoming exams. We sit in a quiet place, on the first floor, and spend our afternoon there. Sam was really smart, way smarter than me, and she often helps me understand some parts I have trouble with.   "One more week before I can finally meet your parents, I'm excited." She says as she stand up and stretches, the fatigue apparent on her face. "I'll go to the bathroom and grab a snack, I'll be back soon."   About a minute after Sam left, I see a familiar face walking towards me and sitting in front of me, on the chair Sam was using, a cup of coffee in her hand. She crosses her legs and smiles at me.   "What a coincidence, I didn't expect to see you here, David." Marie says, brushing her bangs away from her face. Instead of a bun, she has her hair put into a braided ponytail this time, giving her a slightly younger appearance. "Studying for the exams, I take?"   "Y-yeah… Sam and I want to make sure we get good grades…" Sam told me to avoid Marie, but I can't do much here until she comes back, so I try to be as courteous as I can.   She doesn't say anything at first, just observing me in a strange way while taking sips of her coffee. "I really don't see what she finds in you. You're fairly… bland." She flatly says.   "Huh, excuse me?"   She feigns to not notice my annoyance. She instead leans closer to me, her hazel eyes making me feel like they are inspecting my very soul. "Tell me, did you ever wonder why your Samantha suddenly changed?"   "I did, but I decided that it didn't matter. She'll tell me when she's ready, if she feels like telling me someday. All that matters is that she's the woman I love." I answer while looking her in the eyes, truthfully.   At that, she bursts out laughing, nearly spitting out her coffee, before quickly trying to calm herself down, remembering that we were in a library. "Haha, how naive of you… I wonder how you'd react if you were to learn the truth."   I tilt my head, confused. "What do you mean?"   She points her finger at me. "I mean that someone like her shouldn't be with the likes of you. I know her far better than you do, and only I can truly understand her here."    "Really? Then why can't you understand that I don't want to see you, and especially not near him?" Sam coldly states, appearing behind the corner, her arms crossed. She is glaring at Marie, visibly angry at her.   It only serves to make Marie chuckle. "Come on, relax. I already told you that I don't want you to hate me, I won't do anything to him. He's all yours." She stands up and approaches Sam, taking a more sorrowful expression. "I just miss you, you know? We used to be together all the time, but we haven't seen each other since that day."   The two of them obviously knew each other for a while, but I have no idea of what their actual relationship is.   Sam sighs. "I'm sorry about this, but I just… needed a break… from everything… Listen, I'll meet you once the exams are over and we'll have a serious talk, just the two of us. Alright?"   It seems to be what Marie wanted to hear, as she makes a bright smile and claps her hands together. "Perfect! I can't wait!"   "For now, though, can you leave us alone? We're trying to study, and a professor acting this way towards a student is bound to raise suspicions." Sam adds as she put a can of energy drink and a cereal bar on the table.   "Oh, of course. How could I forget? I'll take my leave. Good luck with your exams, you two." Marie says before leaving, still with her bright smile that, unlike during our first meeting, seems more genuine.   Sam doesn't say anything, she instead sit and grab a bite of her snack.   I wait a minute before speaking to Sam. "So… May I ask about your relationship?"   Sam just looks away. "She's someone… I've known for a long time."   "The way she acts makes me think that she loves you or something." I jokingly comments.   She finishes her snack, gritting her teeth, but doesn't reply, her silence being enough of an answer to me.   "W-wait… She does?"   She weakly nods before looking back at me, a mixture of sorrow and anxiety in her eyes and voice. "I'm sorry… but for now, I just… want to forget about my past."   I gently grabs her hand, flashing her a compassionate smile. "Okay, I won't pry more, Sam." "Sam… has a lot of secrets…"    Fortunately for us, Marie does indeed leave us alone until our exams are over. I am confident that they went well, and so is Sam, who was smirking every time she gave back her sheets to the professors.   We are chilling at the cafeteria after our last exam, planning our holidays together.   "Ah, glad to finally be over with these." Sam says, taking a sip of her coffee. "Now I can enjoy my holidays with you~"   We would take the train in two days, on Sunday morning, arriving at my hometown shortly before lunch, where my mom would meet us.   I nod and smile. "My hometown isn't all that big, but it has some nice spots to visit. There's a hill nearby with a really good view over the town, and you can even see the ocean a bit further away. We always went there during the summer with my family."   "Wonderful! We need to go to the beach! I'll bring my swimsuit." Sam exclaims, beaming with excitement. "Maybe we can even have a picnic there with your parents?"   Seeing her so excited makes me giggle. "Heh, why not, I'm sure they wouldn't mind."   Sam's phone suddenly buzzes, and, as soon as she read the name written on it, she sighs. "Of course she's already calling… Sorry, David, you'll have to spend the rest of the afternoon without me."   "I see. I hope it'll go well with Marie. If you have any problem, don't hesitate to call me."   "I appreciate the feeling, but don't worry, I can take care of myself. And besides, Marie would never cause me any harm." Sam says as she stood up, flashing me a reassuring smile.   "If you say so. Call me when you're done, alright?" I asks, a bit anxious.   "I will. See ya~" She kisses me and leaves, on her way to meet Marie.   I sit there, alone, finishing my drink, and hoping for the best.

Kisara Hi, I'm back with another story that my ADHD compelled me to write. This one shouldn't be too long, and I haven't dropped Lost Souls or my ST scenarios. I hope you'll enjoy this one ^^   There was a girl I had a crush on ever since I started college. Her name was Samantha Sullivan, and, like me, she was studying ancient mythologies and folklores. As for me, my name was David Smith. A somewhat normal guy who decided to study ancient mythologies and folklores because I always loved comics, movies, and games about them. I was living alone in the college dorms, enjoying the freedom that being far from my family would bring, and only visiting during the holidays. Not that I disliked my parents. We were pretty close, and they were the ones helping me pay for my studies.   Samantha and I met at the start of the year, as we got most of our classes together, and got paired together for a group project. At the end of the class, as I was putting my books in my bag, she approached me, fidgeting with a lock of her silky red hair. That and her name, 'Sullivan' made me believe that she had Irish ancestors, but I wouldn't bother asking her. "Hmm, David… Can I-" she started, blushing deeply. "-g-get your… number…? For… the project…"   I wasn't expecting her to ask me that, and also blushed slightly before giving it to her. I hadn't interacted with her before, but from up close, I had to admit that she was pretty cute. Despite being as tall as me, she had a hard time looking me in the eyes, instead staring at the floor most of the time. "We can… add each other on Discord for our project, maybe? It would make it easier to share files and stuff?" I said.   I opened the app and showed her my username, seeing her deep green eyes widen from behind her glasses as soon as she noticed my profile picture. "I-is that… Snow and Bigby?" she asked. I was a fan of the Fables comics, and loved those characters.   I nodded, a bit surprised. "Y-yeah. Have you read the comics?"   "I did! I love them! The drawings, the story, even the video game adaptation!" she suddenly beamed, overexcited to seemingly meet someone else who shares her love for those comics. She then calmed down and blushed, avoiding my gaze. "S-sorry… I… got a bit too excited…"   I gave her a warm smile to reassure her. "It's fine, it's nice to see you so passionate about things. I'm the same way, when you get me talking about things I like."   "T-thanks…" she replied, her shoulders being slightly less tense. "I just… never had anyone to talk to before… I'm… always embarrassed to share my hobbies with other people. A girl playing video games and reading comics is weird, after all…"   I shrugged. "We're not in the nineties anymore. There's nothing wrong with being a girl and liking games. All these streamers are proof of that. You like what you like, and as long as it doesn't harm anyone, there's nothing wrong with that." My answer made her blush even more, and she looked even cuter than usual as she fidgeted with her fingers and made a relieved smile. It was at that moment when I started having feelings for her.   After that event, we talked more. I slowly learnt more about her tastes, and was surprised to discover that she was even more into comics and games that I was. She was a fan of role-playing games, fantasy novels and movies, and a lot of different kinds of comics and manga. We would often hang out after college to go to shops and libraries, enjoying our time together as fellow nerds. Our similar tastes made it easier for us to get closer and for her to relax around me, and we quickly became close friends.   About a month after we started talking, one day after class, we went to a video game store, as Sam wanted to buy a new game. "Have you played this one?" she asked, pointing at a game case on a shelf.   I shook my head.   "It's a game about a secret society of vampires living among humans and trying to blend it. It's actually adapted from a tabletop game. This game's atmosphere is comparable to none, making it a classic even to these days." She was speaking with passion in her voice, clearly indicating that this most likely was one of her favourite games. Her shyness would often disappear when she was talking about things she was passionate about.   "Oh, sounds pretty interesting." I replied as I took the box to examine it more closely. "I really like the aesthetic." The characters on the cover, which were most likely said vampires, all had a very goth and punk-ish vibe, as the game took place in the modern days.   "T-the aesthetic is… nice, but it's… it's not really my thing…" Sam quietly spoke, glancing away.   "It's not for everyone, that's for sure." I chuckled. "If you like it so much, I guess I could give it a try. Your description of the game intrigued me."   "R-really?" she timidly asked.   "Yeah. I was thinking of buying some new games anyway, and this one is pretty cheap."   At that, I saw her eyes sparkle from behind her black glasses, overjoyed by my decision. "I... I can help you if you're ever stuck or don't understand something."   "Heh, I'll ask you if I need help, don't worry." I went to the vendor and bought the game, ready to discover it.   Sam gave me a warm smile. A smile that I found absolutely beautiful coming from her.   Hanging out at video game and comics stores became our routine for a few months. And the more I learnt about her, the more I fell in love with her.   I played the game, asking for her help a few times to make sure I wasn't missing anything, and really enjoyed it. I understood why she liked it so much. Like she said, the atmosphere truly was incredible, and the characters were fascinating. I of course told her about what I thought of the game, as soon as I finished it. "I'm glad! I love this game a lot." Sam said, relieved. "It's really inspiring, and makes me wonder if something like this can be real."   "You mean the whole 'undercover society of monsters' thing?"   She nodded. "Wouldn't it be interesting?"   I tittered. "That'd be pretty terrifying, to be honest. I wouldn't want a vampire to suck on my blood or get eaten by a werewolf."   She simply smiled. "True. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you." Sam was a truly kind and beautiful soul, but I was too cowardly to try to ask her out. I loved what we already had, and was afraid of losing it.   ~~~~~   One day, though, something happened. Samantha was absent for class, something that I found surprising considering that she would always come even if she wasn't feeling well. What turned my surprise into worry was the fact that she didn't answer her phone no matter how many times I called or texted. I spent the whole evening worrying, hoping that nothing bad happened to her.   The next day, though, she was back, but she was different. "Hi David!" she said as she walked to sit next to me in the lecture hall, a smile on her face.   I felt that something was wrong. Samantha had never been like this before. She was shy and fairly insecure, often grazing the walls to avoid other students, trying to make herself as unnoticeable as possible. But here, her walk was confident, and she didn't seem to care about the students around us. As she got closer, I also immediately noticed the piercings in her ears, as well as the absence of her trademark glasses, showing that she was wearing dark eyeshadows and eyeliners instead of her usual light makeup. She also seemed perfectly healthy, making me wonder why she was absent the day prior, and what happened for this change to occur.   "H-hi Sam." I replied, taken aback by her shift of attitude. "W-why didn't you reply yesterday? I… tried to call you a few times."   "A lot of things happened yesterday, and I needed some time to… adjust…" she said, looking away as she pronounced this last word. I wasn't sure if I imagined it or not, but I saw a brief glimpse of sadness in her eyes. She almost immediately smiled at me again, though, and took my hand in hers. "I'm sorry if I made you worry, but I'm perfectly fine. Better than ever, in fact." she added with a giggle.   "I-I see… I'm glad you're okay."   During the lecture, I couldn't help but glance at her, observing her from behind my locks of brown hair. Her nails were also painted black, and her new earrings were elegant crosses with skulls, the kind of things goths would wear. She was wearing black heeled boots, with a dark pair of jeans and a black shirt. She truly looked like a goth girl, the kind you'd see during rock and metal concerts.   "Samantha said that she wasn't into this before…" I thought as I observed her.   Her posture while sitting was different as well. She would usually lean on the table to write, focused on the lectures, but that wasn't the case this time. She was still focused, but she was leaning against the back of the chair, her legs crossed, sitting in a more relaxed manner.   She did react strangely at one point. That day's lecture was about the origins of the vampires, and the Romanian and Albanian equivalents, the Strigois.   "Ah, these bloodsuckers…" she murmured, her lips turning into a slight smile.   "What is it, Sam?" I asked.   She turned to face me, a brief expression of shock, before smiling again. "N-nothing, I was just thinking out loud about stuff related to the lecture. You know how much I love vampires." She then touched her ears and spread her fingers for me to see her nails. "By the way, I'm trying to renew myself a bit, do you like it?"   "I… think you look good." was all I could say before looking down and blushing slightly, making her chuckle.   "Thanks, David."   "What happened to her?" was the only thing on my mind for the rest of the day.   Slowly but surely, Sam adopted more and more of the goth aesthetic, becoming the opposite of the shy girl I first met three months ago, at the beginning of the year. She could easily become a cheerleader would she want to, as she was truly stunning, but, despite this brutal change in how she dressed, she still seemed mostly the same underneath, still loving games and comics, and speaking about them with the same passion she had. She was being fairly evasive as to why she decided to change, but I didn't want to pry more. This nagging feeling of wrongness faded away after some time, and my attraction for her returned, even stronger than before, thanks to her enjoying herself even more than before. Whenever we were hanging out, her smile was radiating with happiness.   ~~~~~   Now, we're a month after that event, and I finally feel courageous enough to ask her on a date. I decide to make myself more presentable, and stare in the mirror of my bathroom for a moment, brushing away some of my brown hair from my face. "Should I cut it?" I ponder as I grab a lock. It is starting to get fairly long, but I don't mind it all that much. In the end, I put my hair into a ponytail and leave, ready to finally confess my love for Sam.   Once done with our last class, we go to a café, enjoying some drinks and cakes. At this point, Sam has fully embraced the goth look, wearing platform boots with fishnet stockings, a pleated skirt, nylon gloves, and a semi opaque top. She is a goth through and through, a far cry from the modest girl from before.   "So, hmm..." I start, toying with the cake using my fork to try to reduce my nervousness. "I... wanted to ask you something..."   She leans closer and smiles. "Oh, what would you like to ask?"   I take a deep breath. "W-would... Would you like to go out with me?"   "Finally! Took you long enough!" is her answer to my confession as she let out a beautiful laugh. "I was starting to believe that you would never take the first step, Davey."   I'm stunned by her reaction. "Y-you… knew?"   She smirks and winks at me. "I'm not blind, darling, it was obvious that you were into me. You, on the other hand… How many hints did I give you these last few weeks?"   "I-I… didn't notice…"   She facepalms and sighs. "You're a man alright… Completely unable to tell when a girl is into you."   "So, hmm… Will you be my girlfriend?" I sheepishly ask.   "Of course, idiot! I've been waiting for you to ask that since forever!" she exclaims before standing up and sitting next to me, pulling me into a hug, and kissing me.   I freeze for a moment, wondering if this was a dream, before deciding that it doesn't matter and doing my best to kiss her back, awkwardly using my tongue and finding hers. "I love her…" is all I could think as I get lost in the delightful kiss.   After a few minutes, we finally break the kiss, the both of us smiling, a look of blissfulness on our faces. "That was amazing, darling~" Sam says as she licks her dark lips. "You are really good at this~"   "T-thanks… I-it was great." I shyly reply as I come back to my senses. "W-would you… like to go to the cinema? Or the arcade?"   "The arcade sounds good. Lead the way, Davey." After that, we leave the café and go to the arcade, me still on cloud nine. "I can't believe it really happened! She said yes ! And she kissed me!"   She walks next to me, hand in hand, and we often glance at each other, smiling and giggling like children. The rest of the evening goes by in a flash. We play, we party, we drink… until I black out.   ~~~~~   I regain consciousness the next day with a massive hangover. I'm confused, as I realise that I'm not in my dorm room, but then notice Samantha's boots laying in the corner, her clothes from yesterday hanging from a chair. I look around me: The room is slightly messy, with hundreds of games, books, and movies on two shelves, next to a gaming computer. The closet is open and show a lot of gothic clothes, the same ones I saw Sam wearing whenever we met each other. On the walls are posters of games and manga, some I recognise and some unknown to me. One is of the vampire game Samantha recommended to me a few months ago. "I… went to her house?" I wonder out loud, massaging my temples to try to get rid of the headache. I have a hard time remembering what happened after our stop at the bar.   "Yes, darling, and I spent a wonderful evening~" I turn my head and see her next to the door, a glass of water in her hand, beaming… and completely naked, allowing me to observe her stunning body in all its natural glory.   I stare at her, unable to say anything as I feel my cheeks burning redder than ever. "W-wow…" Memories from last night start to come back to me. Drinking with Sam, her leading me to her flat, us going to her room, and... spending some intimate time together...   My blush only grows stronger, making Sam chuckle. "Hehe, you're so cute, David~" She says as she sat next to me. "Here, for your hangover." She give me the glass and some pills, which I immediately swallow.   "T-thanks. I needed that."   "You don't know for how long I've been waiting for this moment…" She whispers, giving me a tender kiss before leaning on my shoulder and closing her eyes. "I fell for you shortly after we started talking for real. Being able to share my passions with someone outside of online forums was like a dream come true. I felt so at peace alongside you, I wanted to stay with you…"   "I… I think I also started to get a crush on you at that moment… Seeing you so passionate… I realised how cute you were…"   "So, in the end, it's all about my appearance? I knew it!" she starts, before sticking out her tongue when she sees my embarrassed face.   "I'm joking, Davey. I know I'm hot, and that it's most likely a big part of why you love me." She then looks down and murmurs, her tone more serious, and, I feel, a tad sorrowful. "The… old me didn't notice her beauty and was too shy to act on her desires. She couldn't make the first move on you, and was too afraid of wearing the clothes she wanted to wear because of how people would react… But it's stupid. We live for ourselves, not to please other people."   "What do you mean?" I ask.   "Remember that time at the shop when I talked about the vampire game? That I wasn't into the aesthetic? That was a lie. I was into that, but wasn't confident enough to wear something like this. I didn't like how I was. I wanted to stop being shy and insecure." she replies with a sigh. "The new me decided to stop giving a fuck to what other people may think. Now, the only people I care about are me and you."   "It was such a brutal change. I still wonder what happened to you." I say, gently caressing her hair.   At that, she looks away again. "Something… I can't tell anyone." As she says that last part, her arms coil around me and she moves her head to rest on my chest. "You are the only one who matters to me. Please believe me when I say that I truly love you."   "I believe you, Sam…" We lay on the bed, enjoying each other's embrace. She's warm, her presence is so comforting that I can forget about my headache.     We are interrupted shortly after by the sound of my phone ringing. I stand up and grab it, seeing that it was my mother. "Good morning, mom."   "Good morning, Davey. How are you?" she asks with her caring voice.   I quickly glance at Sam who was stretching and smiling at me. "I'm... good."   "So, she calls you Davey too, hmm?" Sam chuckles.   My mother apparently hears her, as she immediately asks: "Who's with you, honey?"   "Huh... It's... my girlfriend." I reply truthfully, blushing as I do so.   "You have a girlfriend and you never told me?" I can hear the surprise and shock in her voice. It's the first time I'm going out with someone, after all.   Sam leans closer and takes the phone from my hand. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Smith. I'm Samantha, Davey's girlfriend." she says while grinning at me.   "How has he never mentioned you before?"My mother asks. She likes to pry on my life, like most mothers.   Samantha giggles. "Probably because we started dating recently."   "In that case, would you like to come with him during the next holiday? We will gladly welcome you. We have a spare room for guests, and his father and I would love to meet you."   "Thank you, Ms. Smith! I will definitely come!" Samantha chirps, visibly really happy about the invitation. As for me, I"m a bit embarrassed, but I knew that this outcome would happen eventually. My mother always wants to know about my romantic life and my friends. She's a bit too clingy sometimes, and it's part of why I'm glad to now live by myself, even if I still love her.   "Yeah, we'll get a break in two weeks, after the exams. We'll visit then, alright, Mom?" I say after grabbing back my phone.   "Alright! I'll have to make sure that we welcome your girlfriend properly. See you!" The excitement in my mother's voice is noticeable.   "See you, Mom. Love you." On that, I hang up and looks back at Sam, who stick out her tongue at me.   "What? Did you want to keep me all to yourself~? But seriously, I can't wait to meet your mother, she seems nice."   "She is, yeah, I'm sure you'll love my parents." I reply with a smile.   "I'm sure I will..." she starts, leaning towards me. "But that's for later, for now, let's keep enjoying ourselves~" she adds, pushing me back onto the bed and kissing me.

The whole evening, I keep my phone near me, waiting for Sam to finally call. Anxiety is building up inside me as I can't stop thinking about how her meeting with Marie went. I know that there's no reason for me to be so anxious, but Sam did seem wary of Marie, making me a bit wary of her at the same time.   I'm eating dinner when I hear my phone ring, and immediately answer.   "I'm sorry if I made you worry, Davey, but I'm alright. Marie finally decided to give me some space, so she shouldn't bother us anymore while we're together. She still wants me to hang out with her from time to time, though, I hope you won't mind. She was a friend of mine, a while ago."  Sam speaks softly, her voice reassuring.   I breathe a sigh of relief, the anxiety inside me vanishing in an instant.  "I'm glad. Although, if she was your friend, why did you seem to dislike her?"    Sam replies, with some hesitation. "She… did something I didn't approve of… Even if it was with good intentions, I got angry at her and cut ties. Seeing her again made me remember everything as I thought I was finally moving on… But I then realised that avoiding her and blaming her would prevent me from truly being able to come to terms with what happened. That's why I forgave her."   "I see…" After a brief instant, I think of something. "Say… Maybe Marie could hang out with us sometimes? She doesn't seem all that bad, and if she's your friend, I'd like to know more about her."   Sam let out an audible gasp, before regaining her composure. "You are pretty sweet and innocent, aren't you?"   "What do you mean?" I ask, a bit confused.   She takes a deep breath. "Marie… isn't really a good person. The only reason she is being even remotely nice is because she is into me and knows I don't like how she usually is."   "Oh…"   Sam then makes a rueful chuckle. "Although, that's kinda hypocritical of me to say. I am almost as bad as her."   "What? Why do you say that? You're not bad at all, Sam!" I exclaim, not understanding what she means. "You're a wonderful and kind woman!"   "There are a lot of things that you don't know about me, David. A lot of things no one should know." Sam replies in a sad tone.   "There are things I don't know about you, that's true. But after all the time we spent together, I know that you're a good person."   Sam doesn't say anything, but I hear her sigh. After a moment, she speaks again. "Sorry, I'm just… a bit shaken up. I'll go back to my usual self for our holidays, don't worry." She then tries to sound more cheerful, but she isn't very convincing. "I'm looking forward to meeting your parents, after all!"   I decide to stop prying further, and simply reply in a reassuring tone. "We'll have a lot of fun, I promise."   Despite being on the phone, I can almost picture her making a slight smile. "Thanks. Have a good evening."   "You too. I love you, Sam."   She let out a weak giggle. "I love you too, Davey."   She hangs up, letting me wonder what she possibly could have done to consider herself bad. I lay on my couch and stare at the ceiling.   "Does it have something to do with the day she was absent? She did change a lot afterward, and Marie mentioned that they stopped hanging out after 'that day', after all…" I ponder, remembering Marie's attitude in the library. Her condescending and smug tone indicated to me that she knew things I didn't.   I always avoided prying into other people's lives, and I didn't want to do so with Sam either, especially with how happier she seemed to have been since. But, at the same time, I am getting more and more intrigued. We hung out for a few months before she changed, but she never mentioned Marie, and, even if my memory is far from flawless, I couldn't remember ever noticing her around us.   "Just who is Marie to Sam? She was acting strangely whenever we were together. And what happened that day?"   I wouldn't get any answer by being fixated on the ceiling of my living room, so I get up and go to my room.   "Should I try to ask Sam about it? Or Marie?" I know I would probably need to be insisting if Sam were to answer me, but Marie might tell me more easily. "Sam made me promise not to approach her, though…"   A moment later, as I am laying on my bed, I come to a decision. "Maybe I'll learn the truth while hanging out with Sam and Marie… I'll wait for a bit, and, if I don't learn anything, I'll try to ask them directly." On that, I close my eyes and drift to sleep shortly after.    ~~~~~~   I don't have anything planned this Saturday morning, so I sleep until almost noon, enjoying my first day of vacation in the comfort of my bed.   When I get up, I notice that I have received a text from Sam. "Sorry about yesterday, Davey, I'm feeling better now. I want to buy something for your parents before we see them tomorrow, but I don't really know what. Any suggestions?"   I smile and text back. "I was asleep, sorry for only answering now. Well, I'd say that you can't go wrong with a bottle of wine. Both of my parents do enjoy drinking some to relax."   I expect to receive her reply later, but it only takes a minute for my phone to buzz again. "No problem, thanks. See you tomorrow, darling <3"   I chuckle and get ready for my day. I also want to buy a gift for my parents, since I haven't seen them in a while. Despite it being Spring, today is a rather cold day, so I wear a black jumper I am fond of alongside a pair of cargo pants and sneakers, and go to the city center. There, I start to look at the shops, wondering what I can get for them. I walk inside a confectionery, searching for some affordable chocolates or candies. As a student without a job, I can't spend too much.   I suddenly feel a light tap on my shoulder, and turn around, surprised by who I saw. "I'm starting to believe that fate wants us to hang out more, David." Marie says with a grin. Unlike how she is at college, she is dressed more casually, wearing a leather jacket, a beige camisole, and a pair of slim jeans and flats. It makes her seem more approachable than her work outfit. She also has a big backpack, one used for traveling and hiking.   I awkwardly chuckle and reply. "Haha, it seems like it. What are you doing here?"   "I was craving some sweets and this is one of my favourite stores in town. Their chocolates are to die for." she says as she gestures around. "And you?"   "I'm just… buying something for my parents."   She smiles and walks next to me, looking at the chocolates on display. "Sam told me, you're going to spend your holidays together, hmm?"   "Yeah. It's been a while since I last saw my parents, and considering that Sam wants to buy something for them, I thought I should as well."   "Did you decide already?" she asks as she takes a closer look at a fancy-looking assortment of chocolates. "What about these ones?"   I read the price tag and gulp. "They're… a bit too expensive for me."   Marie chuckles and taps my shoulder. "You want them? It's my treat."   "H-huh? Why?" I'm confused by her offer. We barely know each other, after all.   "Sam likes you, so I don't mind giving you a hand. I'm fairly well paid as a college professor, something like this isn't much."   "T-thank you… I really appreciate it." I sheepishly reply. "Why did Sam say that Marie wasn't a good person? She seems nice, even if the first impression she gave me wasn't the best…"   "Don't sweat it. In exchange, why don't we spend the day together?" she says as she stares at me with a strange smile.   "Spend the day together?"   "I want to know more about the guy Sam is with. Is it too much to ask?"   "N-no, not at all." I answer, surprised. "I'd… also like to learn more about you."   Marie giggles. "Oh~? Be careful with what you wish for, Dave. But I'll humor you."   She buys the chocolates for me and hands them over. "Thank you again." I say, putting the box in my bag.    "Now, why don't we find a place to eat? I'm starting to get hungry." Marie announces as we leave the store.   "Anything you have in mind?"   "Where would you go with Sam?" she asks while lighting a cigarette.   I give her a puzzled look. "Why?"   "I told you, I want to know more about you. And a restaurant is always a good place for that." Despite her eyes being hidden behind a pair of sunglasses, I see her wink at me. "I won't make you pay for it, don't worry. We're not on a date."   "Heh, alright. There's a Japanese restaurant Sam and I sometimes went to for lunch, not too far from the campus. Would it be alright?"   At that, she chuckles. "Dave, I was born and raised in France. Japanese food is everywhere, there. So yeah, it is alright."   "Sorry, your accent is so light that I didn't even notice you weren't a native."   "Thank you, it took a lot of practice to lessen the strength of my accent so much. Not sure it was all that worth it, though." she shrugs while taking a puff of her cigarette.   "Why's that?" I ask, curious.   Marie ponders for a minute while we are walking. "Hmm, I'd say it makes me feel like I lost a small part of my identity just for the sake of blending in. I used to regret having tried that, as I think there's nothing wrong with having an accent, but now that I'm used to speaking with a more standard accent, it'd be difficult to reverse it."   "Oh, I see. Well, I do like the way you speak, but if you feel uncomfortable with it, maybe you should try?"   She giggles and waves it off. "Nah, it's not worth all the trouble. I don't mind how I speak nowadays. And my identity isn't something I care about all that much anymore anyway. I'm just me, and that's all there is to it."   I simply nod. "I agree. As long as you like who you are, there's no need to change anything."   Marie's face shifts into a slight smirk. "I wouldn't have said it better, Dave."   We reach the restaurant soon after and Marie leads me to a table near a window. She orders a bowl of ramen and a cup of green tea, while I opt for some sashimi and rice, not being too hungry.   "So…" Marie starts while we're waiting for our meals. "Sam told me you were into anime?"   "Yeah. Although, she's even more into them than I am." I chuckle. "Did you watch some?"   She muses as she takes a sip of her tea. "You can't possibly be born in France after the 70s and not have watched any anime, Dave. It's basically ingrained in our culture at this point. Even though I'm not really into that nowadays, I have watched some of the classics while growing up, like Sailor Moon or Saints Seiya, since they often aired on TV."   "Oh, that's nice. I barely know anything about France."   She simply smiles. "I think you and Sam would like it there."   At that moment, Marie seems fairly cute and nice, but my thoughts from earlier come back. "What are Sam and Marie hiding from me?"   It must be visible on my face, as Marie taps my hand with her finger. "What are you thinking about?"   I ponder for a few seconds, not sure if I should ask her now or wait. "I was just… wondering how the two of you met."   "Ah, that's a normal question. I can imagine how curious you must be." Marie chuckles as she finishes her tea. "Well, we've known each other for a very long time." She taps her chin with her finger. "We met because we had, let's say, similar hobbies. But she changed because of a mistake I made, and decided that we should grow apart, which I accepted at first. But it made me realize how important she was to me, and I now want to try patching things up."   I am somewhat reassured. I can feel that she really cares about Sam by the intonation of her voice and the warmth in her eyes, unless she is a really good actress. "Sam told me a similar thing last night. I asked her if you'd be interested in hanging out with us from time to time, but she didn't give me a clear answer."   Marie smiles brightly. "Hmm, I would love to, honestly. But it's probably something I'll have to talk about with her. Our relationship is still somewhat shaky."   "I see."   "But well, it'll have to wait until the break is over. I'm flying back to France this evening to see my family." Marie comments as we see the waiter bringing us our food.   We thank him and I reply. "It must be hard to live so far from your family. Mine is just two hours away, but yours is across the ocean."   "It is hard at first, but you start to get used to it after a while. And I've always liked my independence. I think you understand me on that, don't you?"   "I do, yeah. That's why I wanted to live alone, after all. I'm still glad that I can easily go visit my parents almost whenever I want, though."   After a pause, Marie speaks. "Why did you decide to study mythologies?"   "I've always liked stories involving mythical creatures: vampires, werewolves, sirens, and so on… I didn't really know what to do at college, so I thought 'why not study something I already have a passion for?'"   "Hehe, there are a lot of interesting creatures in mythologies, indeed. I also love to learn more about them. Although, do you know what you're going to do afterwards? I don't think a degree like this will help you much in finding a decent job."   "That's true. Maybe I should have thought about this more, but I'm still really glad I made that choice."   "Because you met Sam, is that right?" Marie asks. I feel that her tone is slightly more dry, even if she's trying to hide it.   "Yeah."   "Sam wouldn't have been the same had you not been there." She comments. She then forces herself to smile. "But I'm glad you were. She loves you a lot."   She isn't doing a good job at hiding her disappointment. "She really loves Sam…"   After that, we finishes lunch, doing some small talks. Marie tells me that she decided to become a French literature teacher because of her passion for novels. She prefers them over manga because it allows her to use her imagination better, as she puts it. I know that she most likely doesn't like my presence in Sam's life, but she's still trying to be cordial.   "I had a fun time, David. Thanks for accepting my request." Marie says as we walk back towards the city center. I'm walking her to the train station so she can go to the airport.   "No problem. I should thank you for buying the chocolates for me."   A dozen meters before the station, Marie suddenly stops and looks to her right, towards a street. She grimaces before tightening her grip on her bag. "I need to go, see you."   "What?" I ask, but she already sped up and walked inside the building. I glance at the street. "Sam?"   I see her walking towards me. In her hand is a shopping bag, but she looks worried. "David? Are you alright?"   "H-huh, yeah? Why wouldn't I be alright?"   "Marie was with you, wasn't she?" There's no hint of questioning in her voice. She's just stating a fact.   "She was." I admit. "I met her at a confectionery, while searching for a gift for my parents. She offered to buy an expensive set of chocolates for me in exchange for spending some time with her. She apparently wanted to learn to know me better."   Sam looks away as she seems confused. "What is she planning…" She blinks a few times before coming to a realization. "Oh, I see… She's playing the long game…"   "What do you mean?"   "She's waiting for us to… get separated." Sam replies, looking away.   "Huh… I hope it won't happen…" I awkwardly say.   Sam doesn't reply at first, she just pulls me into a hug. "No… Not until death do us part, I hope…"   The way she phrases it makes me blush. "You say that like you're proposing to me."   She lets out a playful giggle but doesn't let go of the hug. "It's a bit too early for that." Her face then takes a gentle, peaceful expression. "I never thought about wearing a wedding dress, before, but now that you mention it, I think I would love to wear one someday."   "I'm sure you'd look amazing in one. You look amazing in everything."   She hugs me more tightly. "Thanks, Davey. I'm so glad to be your girlfriend."    "And I'm glad to be your boyfriend."   She then finally takes a step back and smiles while showing me her bag. "I have my gift ready for your parents. Want to stay the night at my place so we can leave together, tomorrow?"   I happily nod. "I'd love to. Just give me a moment to get my stuff from my flat and I'll be there."   "Alright. I can bring your gift with me if you want?'   "If you don't mind, sure. Thanks." I say as I hand her the box. "I'll be there in an hour, I think."   She gives me a quick kiss. "See you soon, Davey~"   ~~~~~   We part ways and I hurry to reach my flat. I am excited to spend the evening at Sam's place. I grab my luggage and my bag and walk towards Sam's apartment.   On my way there, I decide to call my mother, to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow.   "Hey mom, how are you?"   "Hi Davey, I'm good. Just came back from the grocery store. Since your girlfriend is coming, your father and I thought of cooking something special. Don't want to leave a bad first impression, you know?" I hear her giggle. She is really enthusiastic about meeting Sam. Not that I can blame her.   "No need to overdo it, mom. She's just my girlfriend, not the president."   "Who cares about the president? She's way more important."   I let out a chuckle. "Typical of you, mom…" My mother is the kind of person who never cared for honorifics and people's statuses. No matter if someone is a rich businessman or a construction worker, she treats both the same way. Only someone's personality affects how she views them.   "Do you know what your girlfriend likes?" She adds.   "She's not really picky, but she's particularly fond of strawberry cakes." I reply, remembering that she always picked that flavor the few times we went to cafés together.   "John, move your ass and start the oven! We have a cake to make!" I hear my mother shoot at my father, making me smile. She always had a fiery personality.   "We should arrive at around eleven at the station, will you be there to pick us up?"   "Of course. Everything will be ready when you arrive." My mom confirms in a joyful tone.   "Alright, thanks."   "Tell me, how is she like? I want to know more about her." She asks.   "Well, I want to keep the surprise, but I know you'll like her."   "I see. She did leave a fairly good impression during that phone call we had last time. She seems interesting." I imagine my mom nodding. "Is she cute?"   "She's the prettiest girl on the campus." I immediately answer. I firmly believe that.   She giggles. "You really are lovestruck, hmm? I'm glad. I can hear in your voice that you're way happier now than when you were in highschool."   She is right. I've never been happier than since I met Sam. Before that, I was just living day to day, not really caring much about the future. Sure, I had a few acquaintances before moving here to study, but never had close friends. I didn't feel at ease around most people. But now, I am always looking forward to spending time with Sam.   "I do truly love her, yeah. And you'll see why tomorrow." I smile.   "I can't wait. I'll go help your dad with the preparations, see you tomorrow."   "See ya, Mom. Love you."   I hang up and reach my flat shortly after. I grab my suitcase and, after a quick shower, go towards Sam's apartment. I am really looking forward to these holidays.   The sun is starting to set when I arrive. It only takes a few seconds for the door to be opened after I knock on it, and for Sam to pull me in another hug.   "Did you miss me so much in such a short amount of time, Sam?" I tease as I reciprocate the hug.   "Of course! I'm really excited to spend the whole week with you!" she smiles happily before leading me to the living room. "I ordered some pizzas for dinner, they should arrive soon."   "Need help with anything?"   She chuckles. "To eat pizzas, you only need some plates and a cutter or knife, Davey, I can easily prepare that on my own. Just relax on the couch and I'll join you in a minute."   "Alright, thanks."   A few minutes later, she joins me on the couch and snuggles close to me. "I brought my swimsuit, I hope the sea will be warm enough for me to take a swim. It's been quite a while since I last went to the beach."   "It should be fine. It's warmer there, and, last I checked, it should be pretty sunny all week."   "That's perfect~" is all Sam says before hugging me. "Tomorrow will be such an amazing day, I'm sure of it."

Have you ever been really tired? When your thoughts start to drift around between world of dreams and reality. Your eyes hurt. You struggle to stand when your entire body wants to give up and lay down. You start to hear voices, see strange things in the corner of your eye. But you dont care cause you're so tired. Everything so floaty. Concecrate on reality. Concetration. What was I doing? Find management office of this idiotic Academy. Find my room. Get to the bed. Bed is good. Earth here is good too, but i need to get to the bed. Why though? Floor is good too? Look at the map. Its written here. Management office. Letters attack my eyes with sharp edges. I look up. A gate into the Academy complex. Management office is so far... - Hello, um, do you maybe need help? (Uknown girl) - a girl's voice. An ugly, fat, blackhaired girl with too big glasses and greesy face. She's tall too, so she's really massive. Help. Do I need? I look at her with dull eyes. Her words at last spark my last pair of synapses that weren't striking because of too long work hours. She fidgets nervously under my stare. Small. Fidgety. Dark. Selfhate. Need for appreciation. Loneliness. Fear. Hope. Weak Talent. Determination. So tired. SO BLAND. Oh, shut up. - Management office.(Me) - So, um, are you looking um, for your room? I can... um, show you the way?(Helpful girl) Selfhate. More selfhate. Nervousness. Stress. I shut down for a few seconds. Did i hear something? Shut up. I DIDNT SAY ANYTHING. YOU'RE HALLUCINATING. She wants to lead. To office. Where is bed. Ouh it hurts to think so much. - Yes.(Me) Small explosion of happiness. Ouh, my eyes. Don't think. Forward. - O Oh, s... so i'll lead the way, ok?(Helpful girl) She went throught the gate and i followed. It looks like the acadamy was a one big old looking building in the middle of a giant park. And other, smaller buildings. There were multiple trees around. Trees were happy because of warm sun. Sun is good. There are ants here, too. - S... so there a building where all p...people... - she forgot a word - Teachers live. There is a secretary too. There is.. a board. In front of it. There writes um, is written. Where your room is for now. You dont need management office.(Helpful girl) So i dont need to talk to anyone. Good. Why is it so faaaaar though. At least there is sun. - Ok.(Me) There were other students around, walking with their baggage. Looking for probably the excatly same thing as me. Sounds of people talking to each other. Seniors guiding their juniors, inviting them into clubs. - Um... you passed the Etheral Compability test?(Helpful girl) I remained silent. - Yeah, of course you did, how would you be here otherwise. I am stupid, ha ha....(Helpful sad girl) Awkwardness shines with fidgety lights. We walk forward. I am so tired. How long till we get to the board. - I am a second year. If you have any questions... Like what clubs to choose? Or about teachers... Some are really scary, ha ha...(Helpful sad girl) I repeated myself. Sour and rotten stink of self hate. I am soooo tired. Oh, pidgeons. Focused on some humans that can feed them. Fat pidgeons We walk for some time. So much green. Green weed, green trees... green hair? No matter. We walk next to some buildings. One stinks of adrenaline, of chaos. It jumps like lightning. It wants to move. Arena. A place for fights. In another place the earth is wet with grey color of struggle and tiredness. Physical training. The sweat got into the earth. Another building is scary. The smell of blood, pain, fear. But not strong. Smell of medicines. Of disinfecting. A hospital?No smell of death? An excited building. Full of screams of happiness, applause. A good building. Place of music. Echo of a thousand songs. And lastly a building of older people. A stressed and lazy building. I dont like it. Teacher building. - Uh, so, the board is there. - She pointed with her hand. - I am Evelyn... So if you ever need any help... You can ask for me? So... Goodbye.(Helpful sad girl) She made a little bow and turned away. - Angel.(Me) - What?(Evelyn surprised helpful girl) - My name. And thank you. (Me) - Huh? Ah, uh... You're welcome? (Evelyn helpful girl) I walked away from the small explosion of confusion and then happiness. On the board were nailed down several lists. A group of people was reading them and then going their way. Other first years. They were talking to each other. Getting to know their peers. Oh, what a bother. There were three teenagers next to me, talking. Brown, Blue and White. - Oh, why cant we be roommates?(White) - Its temporary anyway. After the test we will be assigned to a new room. (Brown) - Do you maybe know your Ether Alignment? If we get the same we could get into same class.(Blue) - I got Earth Ether predispositions. I will know for sure after the test, but I am quite confident. (Brown) - Wait, you guys already know your alignments? Dont you need the test for it? (White) - There are online guides on how to guess it. For the example there is difference in effect of self reinforcement based on your alignment. If you are Earth you get more mass, toughness and strength. Air makes you have less mass, greater speed and reflexes. Fire gets you strengthened overall with explosive power. Water strengthens like fire, but makes you more flexible.(Brown) - Flexible? Like you can touch your knees with head?(White) - Yea, during the reinforcment. (Brown) - I can do that even without. (Blue) - And how do you reinforce?(White) - Its like adrenaline. When you want to fight or flee your body activates it.(Brown) - I never did it. Are there other ways to guess?(White) - Character traits i guess? But its not that accurate. Earth are usually responsible, practical and hardworking.(Brown) - Oh, stop gloating. What are the others.(White) - Water are flexible, adaptive and empathetic, Fire are assertive, loud and commanding and Air are freespirited, forgetful and creative. (Brown) Brown and Blue looked at White with suspicion. - What? I am not that forgetful! Things just sometimes... dislocate themselves! - Do you remember how we looked for your bicycle for an hour and then you realized you actually didnt take bicycle with you? (Blue) - Or when you forgot your sandwich in your backpack for some weeks? And then you let me borrow it?(Brown) - And tell me how often do you get to places on time? I started telling you the time we meet an hour before it actually is so you are on time.(Blue) - Ok, ok, maybe sometimes I am a little forgetful, but... Wait, you are actually coming hour late, too? And then you guys berate me for being late?!(White) Blue put his hand on White's shoulder. - No not at all. But you really fit an Air guy.(Blue with stone face) - No! I am not an Airhead... They walked away talking. I looked at the list to find my name. STRANGE AURAS. What strange auras? ALL OF THEM. SO MANY COLORS. DIFERENT. STRANGE. SPICY. HOT. SEGREGATED. EVEN ECHOS ARE STRANGE. Awesome. They were probably this way before the End. List. My name. Angel. Angel Hope. I said they could give me any surname, but really. Its hard to read. THIS LIST DOESNT HAVE YOUR NAME. Fuck. THERE IS ONLY A SIMILAR ONE. HERE. A puff of black smoke appeared around one of the written names. Angela Hope FE136 Maybe they made a mistake. Oh my fucking god. CHECK YOUR ID. What. I got it out of my back pack. There were some papers next to it but i never bothered to check what they actually are. Something about refuge permission. Whatever. I looked at the blue piece of plastic i got a month ago through some bullshit procedure. My face stared at me from the photo. I looked like a victim of hunger from the south. Black, sunken eyes. Skin streched thightly on bones, dry lips. Dark hair in soldier style, which is like a centimeter long. I looked myself in the dark eyes. I dont like doing that. Its like they were accusing me of everything. Thats why I never checked my ID. UNHCR no.: 791-0C0916 Name: ANGELA AUBREY HOPE Country of origin: North Edrin Sex: Female Issued date: 09.07.1997 Renewal date: 09.07.2002 The card was full of QR codes and barcodes. I was too tired to curse. I just wanted to lay down and forget about everything. Mistake in ID. I walked away from the board and found a bench I could sit on. I stopped thinking for some minutes, just looking around. At the beautiful, hot sun. It was like 30 celcius, a really warm day. Other students were walking next to the bench and dragging their bags to the living quarters. I dont have to hurry anywhere. I am so tired of it all. Maybe I will just sleep here? Maybe I won't wake up? Why is everything always going wrong. Again and again and again. Mistakes. Mistakes and more mistakes. Errors. You could solve them just like that but you decided to not care. To overlook it. And here you go. No matter what you touch it always falls apart. No matter how hard you try you always lose everything. Again and again. Whats the point of it all. WAIT A MOMENT!!! NO, NO, NO. BRO, DON'T DO ME LIKE THAT. THERE IS ALWAYS... NEXT MEAL? GOOD THINGS? LIKE... SUN? YOU SAID ITS GOOD. DONT FALL APART!!! Yea, sun. Good thing. I wonder how long it will take for someone to destroy it here, too. Everything will end. There will be always someone to fuck everything up. And even if i try to stop it I will fail. So what's the point of it all. I am so tired. I need to sleep. YOU SLEPT FOR THE LAST 20 HOURS. YOU DONT NEED TO SLEEP. I just want to forget about everything. NO... NO! I AM DISSOLVING! AAAAARGH! One girl came with a bunch of big men in black suits. Bodyguards. They were sweating buckets surrounding the blond girl and listening to her complains. She was wearing a totally not accustomed to this weather long blue dress and a white hat. - What do you mean she doesnt want to move? Just make her? Give her some money. (girl with bodyguards) - We tried persuading her, my lady, but she doesnt want to change rooms. If you just wait a little we will find you another room.(Tired, sweating, annoyed, bald bodyguard) - No? I don't care! Lead me to my room and throw her out! I am Isabella Awanet and I will not stand it! What do you take me for! (Spoiled girl with bodyguards) - We are doing what we can to...(Poor, bald bodyguard/servant). - Then do what you can't do! I am not paying you for nothing! My god, why are you all so incompetent! All I am asking for is a room for myself! Is it this difficult?! Why you didnt take care of it earlier? I swear, I will talk to my father and have you all fired! Fired I say! Its boiling and I am standing here, waiting for you idiots to do something! And you do nothing. What are you paid for?! Run and bring me something cold to drink. (Angry girl with bodyguards) - Um, what excatly do you want to drink? (A really stressed bald bodyguard) - TAKE A GUESS!!!(Angry girl with bodyguards) - Yes, of course. On it.(Stressed bald bodyguard) He walked away with fast steps. - Why are you not running?!(girl with bodyguards). He started running. - Motherfucking spoiled brat.(Bald bodyguard under breath). The blond girl breathed deeply in and out and looked around, challenging with her stare anyone that would dare to look. She stared down a couple of interested in drama students. Then she looked at me. Our eyes met. I could look down. I could avoid confrontation with someone visibly angry with connections. But I am so tired. OH! OH! CHILD! CHILD! COME HERE! ATTACK HIM! WAKE HIM UP! You are so annoying. Shut up. It's not like she can hear you. Or maybe it doesnt matter. Yea, it doesnt. - What the hell are you looking at? (Annoying girl with bodyguards) Her blue eyes focused on me with anger. Challenge of authority. Daring me to say something. I looked at her. She looked at me. I am so tired.

January 20th 2060 I have just arrived inside the facility alongside my colleagues.  When I heard that we would be transferred to a secret facility, I thought of dark, dilapidated hallways of gray, with empty rooms that looked as if they were deserted: But what greeted my eyes were cleanly white hallways with doors evenly spaced from each other. clean restrooms and bathing areas, lounges for staff to relax in, a large cafeteria that served wide varieties of food, and private quarters for employees stationed here.  This place reminds me of the secret government facilities in the movies I used to watch, maybe I'll find some aliens walking around if I stay long enough. I do appreciate this grand welcome, but this level of investment they have into this research is more unsettling than anything else.  Why are they so interested in this field, and where did they get the money to build this thing, inside a mountain no less?  I was suspicious of them before, but now they've really got me thinking. Should I tell my colleagues about this?  This is something They need to know after all, but then what's the use?   They'll just continue on as usual, helping our sponsors and developing the ETS for whatever reason there is.  I'll just follow along now for now and see where this leads me.  January 30th, 2060 After the initial panic from the testing of the Agony ETA,  most of my fellow colleagues went back to normal, doing their jobs as usual.  When I finished my work for the day, I headed out to get water from the cooler in the hallway.  I walked to the nearest watercooler I knew of and stumbled upon a group chatting away with each other.  They mostly had small talk about their hobbies, their families, and whatever.  I didn't pay attention to this, as it really didn't interest me in the slightest bit. As I was about to walk to the cooler, They shifted into a topic that caught my attention.  The group of people spoke of hearing voices, whispers that they couldn't make out, coming from places that they couldn't find or see.  One said they experienced this exact thing in the bathing rooms.  While he took a shower, his face was to the wall and couldn't see behind him, and just then, he heard a small voice from his back, calling to him.  When he did look behind himself, there wasn't anyone behind him nor in the entire room. Another said this happened to herself while she was inside a meeting room editing the report for the recent experiment.  As she was about to finish writing the last few pages of her work, she heard a voice coming from the opposite side of the door.  She thought it was just someone passing by, so she ignored it, but the sound didn't stop and it seemed to be getting louder every second.  So she stood up and opened the door, yet no one was there. the third echoed what the two said.  After finishing his report for the day, he went to his private quarters, turned off his lights, and snuggled into his bed.  As he was trying to sleep, he heard a whisper coming from inside the room.  He couldn't see what was making the sound because he turned off his lights.  He was scared of the noise, but he managed to muster up his courage to turn the light on, and when he did, there was no one in  the room besides himself. Their conversation interested me so much that I wanted to ask them questions about it, but as i was about to question them, they left the water cooler and walked off to somewhere else.  It was a little disappointing for my curiosity, but there was nothing I could do about it.  I decided that I should rest for tomorrow, then I started to walk back to my room.  But as I was walking, I heard voices coming from the water cooler again.  I thought that the chatting group returned, and I hurried to ask them questions.  When I got to the water cooler, There was no one around but me. I quickly got a cup of water, drank it, and ran to my room.  As I lay in bed writing this, I hope to get it out of my mind.

For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that - All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy! This Week’s Inspiration: Beholder   ======   “What’s better, A or B? A, or B?” “I SUPPOSE-, I SUPPOSE B.” “And what about now, one or two? One, or two?” “A, I MEAN, ONE. MOST CERTAINLY ONE.” “So where are you from originally?” “WHAT?” “I asked where you were from?” The optometrist laughed lightly. “Sorry, I hope that didn’t sound rude. You’d think I know better, I’ve been asked enough times. I say that I grew up around here and people say, no, where are you really from? Sorry.” “I PERCEIVED NO INSULT IN YOUR QUERY.” The optometrist was relatively tall for a human woman, with long, dark hair and features of Chinese ancestry. To the beholder, all human beings were equally disgusting and it didn’t understand why they felt the need to separate one another into a multitude of narrow racial categories. They seemed to have many complex and delicate social mores attached to said categories as well. She had introduced herself to the beholder as Dr Tracey Cheung. “I HAIL FROM THE FAR REALM, A REGION OF SPACE BEYOND YOUR DIMENSION THAT DEFIES HUMAN COMPREHENSION. WHERE YOUR MOST SECRET TERRORS AND DARKEST DREAMS BECOME A BALEFUL REALITY.” “Uh-huh, and A or B? A, or B?” “OH, UH, I MUST SEE THOSE AGAIN TO BE CERTAIN.” “A or B? A, or B?” “A, I SUPPOSE.” The beholder hovered above the chair in Dr Cheung’s office behind a complex apparatus designed to test its eyesight. Roughly a metre across and round as a beach ball, the unearthly creature had a heft and weight to it that belied the way it defied gravity. A gaping maw filled with dagger teeth parted beneath a single eyeball the size of a grapefruit. Chitinous, green plates overlapped the beholder’s dark red flesh. Eight wormy tentacles poked through gaps in the armour with a smaller eyeball on the end of each one. Everything about the beholder looked alien. Its voice reverberated, as if echoing down a long tunnel. “Three or four?” Tracey adjusted the lenses on the phoropter in front of the beholder. “Three, or four?” “THREE OR FOUR?” “Three, or four?” “FOUR.” Phoropters, even the kind used for humans, tended to look like gargantuan steampunk goggles. Lenses and levers bristled off the heavy casing. The phoropter used by the beholder, with its singular primary eye and swarm of eyestalks, was all the more complex. It hung in front of the beholder on the end of a mechanical arm. Tracey moved and stretched to make adjustments. The rest of the office looked clean and white, sterile but soft. An eye chart was reflected by the mirror directly across the room. “Do you have any family back where you came from? Or here?” “ARE THESE QUESTIONS NECESSARY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS?” “No, just making conversation.” “I SPRANG INTO EXISTENCE PERFECTLY FORMED FROM THE MIND OF THE GREAT MOTHER. SHE CAST ME EXACTLY IN HER IMAGE FROM PURE THOUGHT.” “So you’re close to your mother then?” “WELL, UH, YES, YES, I SUPPOSE.” “Any brothers or sisters?” “ALL THE OTHERS ARE IMPERFECT COPIES! DEGRADED, INFERIOR SHADOWS OF THE GREAT MOTHER, PRETENDERS TO HER AND I’S GENETIC IMMACULATENESS!” “Ah, golden child, huh?” “WHAT?” “Sorry, sorry, I shouldn’t make assumptions! I just get that, you know? My brother and sister resent that my parents treated me like the golden child, but they didn’t get the pressure it put me under either.” “I DON’T THINK HUMAN FAMILIAL DYNAMICS ARE REALLY-,” “Sorry, totally unprofessional of me! You’re just really easy to talk to. Of the lines on the chart, can you read the bottom row?” “OF COURSE I CAN! A, FOR ANDROMEDA, Z FOR ZACHARIAH, UH, THAT’S AN O, AN-, E.” “Okay, how about the row above that?” “WELL, THAT’S A-, SEVEN?” “How about we try the third line from the bottom?” “FINE. THAT’S AN S FOR SLEEP, A P FOR PARALYSE, AN E FOR ENERVATION.” “Very good!” The optometrist made an adjustment. “And how about now? Do you think you could read the line below that now?” To get through all nine of the beholder’s eyes took a while. The optometrist, Tracey, remained upbeat throughout the entire process. Her questions, and the beholder’s difficulties with the charts, kept it slightly off-balance. Eventually, Tracey shifted the arm of the phoropter aside. “Alright then, and just a small test to see if you or any of your eyestalks are at risk of glaucoma.” Bobbing through the air, the beholder followed. Tracey tossed her hair back and toyed with it, smiling over her shoulder. She led the beholder to an adjacent room with another piece of equipment, a bloated, white cylinder with an obvious place to rest one’s head at the front. “I hadn’t even asked you what you do for a living.” “ARE YOU ASKING ME NOW?” “Yes? I mean, you don’t have to answer.” “I HAVE A LAIR. AND I STAY THERE AND I GUARD IT.” “A lair, huh?” “THAT IS CORRECT.” “Just you? Guarding your lair?” “OTHERS WOULD TRY TO STEAL THE GREAT WEALTH AND MANY POWERFUL ARTEFACTS I HAVE ACQUIRED DURING MANY MAGNIFICENT BATTLES.” “Sounds lonely.” “I AM-, WHAT? I AM NOT LONELY.” “Sorry, I just mean, by yourself all day, all alone, in your lair, it sounds lonely! I couldn’t do that, I like working with people.” “WELL, IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT ISOLATING.” “So what you need to do is rest your chin here and first put your main eye up to the opening. Um, do you have a chin?” “OH, OKAY.” The beholder sank a little lower, swivelling and staring into the barrel of the machine. “Is there, you know, a Mrs Beholder?” “WE ARE NOT DEFINED BY HUMAN GENDER CONSTRUCTS.” “Of course! I mean, who is these days? I just meant a partner, someone to share your lair with?” “THERE IS NOT. NOT FOR-, SOME TIME.” “If you could look into the machine, you should see a hot air balloon above a field of green. Do you see the balloon?” “I SEE A HUMAN HOT AIR BALLOON. A CLEARLY LUDICROUS MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.” “I want you to focus on the balloon, okay? And you’re going to feel just a little puff of air on your eye. Just a little puff, I want you to hold your-, body, as still as possible.” “UNDERSTOOD.” The beholder hovered steadily, focusing on the image of the hot air balloon. Its other eyes squirmed around its bulbous body. After a few seconds of anticipation, a gentle puff of air hit the beholder’s gaping eyeball. The beholder jerked backward, surprised and unable to stop itself. A disintegration ray exploded from its primary eye, scything through the machine. The equipment erupted into sparks, and the beam carved through the wall behind the machine as well. Tracey jumped backward, letting out a small shriek. “OH, UH, SORRY.” The beholder recovered its composure, as the machine and the craterous hole behind it wafted smoke. “That’s-, that’s okay, it catches most people by surprise.” Tracey clutched her chest, steadying her breathing. “That’s our only machine, so, you know what? It’s fine, you probably don’t have glaucoma.” The beholder followed Dr Tracey away from the ruin of the machine. Outside the office was a sales area with walls covered in racks and racks of glasses. Sales assistants and other customers bustled around. “Okay, so you’re a little nearsighted in your main eye. Your eyestalks, well, there’s a mix of either nearsighted or farsighted among them. We can fit you with glasses, or contacts? Although in your situation it might be a little difficult to keep track of which contacts go where. I don’t know if you'd be a good candidate for laser eye surgery.” “THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE! I CANNOT POSSIBLY NEED GLASSES, SUCH A THING IS PREPOSTEROUS!” “I know, feels that way sometimes, right? Getting older, ack!” “MY FORM IS PERFECT IN EVERY ASPECT! I AM THE VERY DEFINITION-,” “Personally, I think you would look really cute in some of these frames over here.” “WAIT, REALLY?” “Oh, for sure! Very debonair, suave.” The beholder considered this seriously. The human doctor, like all of her kind, was a grotesque sack of meat wrapped in greasy skin and hair. Her opinion should have meant less to the beholder than the beating of a cockroach’s wings. Yet, it found itself oddly intrigued by the assertion that glasses might not only improve its vision but its physical appearance as well. “I SUPPOSE I COULD DEIGN TO TRY SOME OF THEM ON.” Tracey helped the beholder try on various collections of frames until they settled on a style it liked. It turned left and right, admiring itself in one of the mirrors. The optometrist cooed over how they looked and the beholder felt surprised by the odd sensation of warmth her attention engendered. Shortly after, she dismissed one of the store assistants and rang the beholder up herself at the front counter. “You know, I really shouldn’t do this, but-,” Tracey bent over the counter and scrawled something on the back of a business card. “This is my personal cell number, give me a call if you ever wanted to, you know, talk?” “REGARDING ANY CONCERNS I MIGHT HAVE WITH THE PRESCRIPTION EYEWEAR?” “About anything, really! Maybe you might want to grab a coffee sometime? Or dinner? Do you eat, like, food? A date, if you ever wanted to go on a date.” Tracey held the card over the counter. Both of them hesitated as she seemed unsure of where to put it. The beholder’s eyestalks writhed around its head. “Uh, I don’t really know where to hand this?” “THAT’S OKAY. JUST LET GO OF IT AND I WILL RECEIVE IT TELEKINETICALLY.” Tracey let go and the card remained floating in mid-air. The beholder drew it closer to itself and held onto it using its telekinetic abilities. “So, maybe I’ll see you around sometime? Or not, whatever, it’s cool.” “AFFIRMATIVE, IT WILL BE ONE OF THOSE TWO OPTIONS.” The beholder left the optometrist office and drifted out onto the quiet sidewalk. Pausing for a moment, the beholder floated the business card around in front of its body. Its primary eye and most of its eyestalks studied the name and number written on the back of the card. The optometrist had nice handwriting for a human, it decided. She had been right about one thing at least, sometimes the lair did get a little lonely. It might be nice to have some company once in a while. Someone to talk to. Even if they were a vastly inferior intellect housed within a repulsive, clumsy, awkward, foul, reeking, unwell, just plain wrong body. Actually, as humans went, Dr Tracey Cheung hadn’t been so disgusting. Almost tolerable in fact. Possibly, given time, cute, like a pet. After all, beauty was in the eye of the beholder.   ======   Sean: I really like this one and am tempted to just write a bunch more monsters doing extremely ordinary things and having conversations about their lives. It reminds me a bit of my other story, Henry, with its mix of the mundane and the fantastical. Set aside some time if you want to catch next week’s story because it is an absolute chonker. Longest short story I’ve written for All There in the (Monster) Manual so far, edging up toward novella territory actually. Actually it’s another also another real ‘core’ D&D monster like the Beholder, but a very, very different story. As always, keep your eyes on the website for that one and check out what I’m putting down on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit if you’re so inclined. And thanks for reading! Next Week’s Inspiration: Mimic  

To read earlier; https://www.wattpad.com/user/Tengri03Ata --------------------------------------------------------------------------This world suffers.- Abraham King---------------------------------------------------------------------------                                            ABRAHAM Usually in rebirth fiction, the main person got off to a great start. But this... "Oh, yes! Harder! Harder!" Being the child of a 20-year-old troubled prostitute wasn't the best start to a new life. "Oh, yes! Oh yes, dirty bitc- What?! There's a baby here!" He was surprised to notice his presence, lying on a blanket in the far away. "Oh, that's - uh - it's just me - oh- my bastard. If you don't use a condom, you'll get a nine-month load and then you'll get what's done but cry and shit." 'Wow, it almost hurt,' Abraham thought. He said, "You're sick." "Pft. Are you lectaning me? If you've noticed my pussy instead of taking care of your paralyzed wife from the waist down." Then came the slaps. If the baby could make lips, he'd pull them in. When the beating was over, the angry customer put on the pants he took off. He took a wallet out of his pocket. He took some paper money and threw it in her face. "For this child. I hope he can get rid of you as soon as possible and live his life." "Oh, a conscientious cheater! TLC program will come out of this!" The door closed and a pair of angry eyes turned to the baby. "It's your fault." In fact, it was her bad life, but she couldn't hit her in the face because she was a baby. 'Disturbing.' "They said get pregnant for a while," she said as she got up and got a beer from the little table around the corner. "Customers with breast milk fetishes pay well." "I wish I could get rid of you." When you're siming beer around the corners of your mouth with your arm. "But no, the pills didn't work at all. Fuck the science." Abraham kept quiet once again, and she sewed the bottle over her head again. "But," he said, his voice was a little muffled now. "At least you're fine. You don't cry much, and even though diapers cost a small fortune, and the smell of shit, you're fine. You're a good baby. " A pair of hands grabbed the baby and raised it, and the blonde, who lifted it, looked into the beautiful woman's blue eyes. "Heh." Giggled. "You and me. It's just us. Against the world. You're always here. It's always mine." His eyes are starting to water. "Fuck everybody. Fuck everything. It's just us." She got the baby closer to her breasts. Abraham found it strange, but he knew there was no other food source. His milk tasted bitter and disgusting. All the alcohol, tobacco and drug milk he drank was officially poison. If he didn't have the superior human body, he'd be dead already. But he lived. And he was going to live on. For the Fix. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To read earlier; https://www.wattpad.com/user/Tengri03Ata

The field of grass lays in solace, emptiness filling it's sky. The sun no longer shines on it, even on the brightest of days. This field, while still visible to the eye, is dead. Dead as an insect who has just been caught by a human eye. It's monument is its own corpse of dead grass, dead animals, and dead aura. No one walks on its once living soil anymore. If someone were to step foot, they wouldn't feel anything, both physically and emotionally. Sunlight's absence clarifies its true non-existence. The field used to have life. It used to have it in a large amounts. But everyday it would lose something. Sometimes it would just be something simple like a flower or a twig on the ground. But other times it would be something like one of it's human inhabitants, the most alive activity it had. Everyday there was something lost, a slow decay if you will. Now, one thing you might be asking is: what was the last thing that disappeared? What was the only thing this field had by its last day of true life? What died not by itself, but with this plain? A flower. It was a flower.

To read earlier; https://tengriata.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------Emptiness. It's just that. It's dark, just like when you didn't touch the fâre for a while, the screen blacked out. So what the hell is going on? I'm dead? Or i'm under a duvet, and I can't help noting because I'm sleep-free. I put my hands up, but i started to get scared after a few attempts at something. Shit, are I really dead? I still had so much to do. Writing, Reading, Watching, My Goals. None of them existed. I've never felt so awful before. I'M DEAD! ***************! **************! "Is it over?" He said a voice. I shut up. I turned around. And I didn't see anything. I'm not looking there, I'm not looking here. "Now I'm hearing voices." "Let's finish this surprise part?" I jumped into the sudden sound, looked around once more and couldn't see anything again. "Don't bother." He said it again. "What the hell are you?" I said with recklessness with fear and anger. "Be nice, brat." He said the sound was a bit of fun. "What?" Said. "Okay, okay," he said, this time it was more serious. "Right now you're in emptiness." I was confused, no matter how much more confused it was going to be. "What?" "I brought you here." He said calmly. I said, "Why?" "You're dead." He simply said. I don't understand anything. Where am I? Why am I here? What's that noise? "Like I said, this is emptiness." He said it all of a sudden. "Pardon me." I said nervously. I've never been so scared before. How did I die? Why was I dead? Who the hell killed me? I heard a little giggles. "I loved you, and as much as I'd like to continue this ridiculous conversation, I need to tell you the basis of the story." He said the sound got serious towards the end. "Can you give me some time to calm down? I said right before the start. "Yes, i'm sure." He said the voice. Now... There's a VOICE. He tells me I'm dead and in a place called EMPTINESS. That aside, what was the last thing I did? As soon as I thought about it, I felt intense pain, the last time I heard such pain, when I was a kid imitating spiderman, I fell off the top of the seat and put my head on concrete. The torture continued for a while, then gradually decreased, eventually disappearing. "Don't torture yourself for nothing." He said the voice. "What?" I said with a slight pain. "I destroyed your body." He said the voice. I stopped for a moment. "Why would you do that?" "Because you don't need it anymore." Said. Now I'm really mad, really. Not knowing or understanding anything brings first surprise and then fear and anger. "Can you tell me what happened now?!" "I'm the Creator." He said the voice. "Did you have one?" I said, surprised. After all, I prefer Logic over Religion. I heard giggles. "I haven't had this much fun in a long time." After a moment, he got serious. "Look, son, I'm the Creator. Said. "But contrary to some people's claims, I have no god, no angels, no jinn. He continued. "That's what some beliefs say." I was finally able to say. "Yes, a few people were able to grasp it by thinking about it, but some of them were ridiculous." Then it looked like he was breathing. "But anyway, that's not the point, it's you." I asked, "Can you explain a little bit?" "The world you were in before was a world that had improved." He started. "But other rechargeable worlds aren't so lucky." "Other worlds?" Asked. "Anime, Mangaes, Books, Movies are many works of fiction, in reality necessary," he said. I shook my head slowly. "The creators of these so-called fictions see these worlds through dreams and blend and publish with their own interpretations and imaginations." I said, "For example?" "For example, Harry Potter, you'd be surprised how dark that world is, and then there's Naruto, and you really believe that people with powers like that are going to be so innocent." He continued. "I understand, I always thought it was too short-sighted to attract young people or themselves." Said. "Of course, there are some who are very close to the truth, for example, the Song of Ice and Fire. Then there's Tokyo Ghoul, almost one-on-one. Except for the end." He said the voice. "It's nothing more than an end to a story like that." I said uncomfortable. "The end was that the author committed suicide." Said. I said, "Really?" Although Ishida Sui never disclosed her identity. "Yes, the writer was actually quite fragile, and at the end he couldn't stand it, and he was a poor person." He said calmly. I said, "Wait a while, why are you telling me all this?" "Like I said, your world has improved, but it's not the world I just mentioned." He started. "We need someone to fix those worlds. And that's you." "Why did you choose me?" "Because you hate these optimistic worlds, and you don't just know how to be more realistic, you know how to fix them." He said the voice. "As I said, while these worlds are happy at the end, it's not anyone's dick what happened to the rest of the world, limited to just a few people." I said, "Yes." "These shitty worlds don't have a main person and thatched friends, as opposed to fiction, but countless lives and labors can't be ignored behind the meaningless friendship and love affair of these idiots." He said the voice. It said, "Thank you, thank you." So, are you going to save these worlds and living beings?" I said, "So you believe I'm going to fix them." "Yes, you have enough skills and personality." He said, "Voice." It's not going to be easy, those worlds are pretty corrupt." He said the voice. "You said you were creative, why don't you?" Asked. "Yes, I'm creative, but i don't see people as my children, as expressed in religions, but that doesn't mean I'm going to clean up their mess forever." Said. I went at him, "Why?" "If I intervene, everything will be fine, but it won't improve." He said calmly. "It's just like the lame main person in these garbage works, despite all his incompetence, so many superior beings can be overpowered by the power of friendship or a little work and do whatever he wants." He ended up with a little anger. "But you said these stories were real, not entertainment. Don't tell me you didn't do it just for fun." I said with a little hope. "No, no, no, no, no, "I'm not going to do It would be like a parent looking after a child who has come of age. I said, "What did you mean?" "Although I said the world was the earliest to rest, you still have a long way to go, but compared to other worlds, it's called heaven." and continued." That's one of the reasons why the works are so pure, you tend to be very optimistic about everything." "I'm not going to do You're also very experienced, your long history, your infinite imagination, and your very different people make you better than anyone else." he finished. My brain did what they were told, and as crazy as it seemed, I had no choice but to believe it. "So what am I supposed to do?" I asked him, though I had no choice, and I wanted to, and i could make it better, no matter how happy I was with my life. "Yes, your life will be much better." said the sound. "Oh, you could read my mind, couldn't you?" I've expressed more than just a question. "Say enough level. As satisfied as you were with your previous life, you'll do better in other worlds with your mentality and personality. He said for a long time." It's an unacceptable waste, someone like you brings a new order, it doesn't keep the old one." he finished. I shook my head slowly, and I always thought that the pages of history would look envy at those who ended the turmoil and brought order, and I could imagine myself in their place, and those like me had already done everything that was fun, in short, all the schemes, revolutions. I, on the other hand, could have accomplished a very small part of what I could do. "What you need to do," the voice began. I'm going to make you reborn in one of those needy worlds, and you're going to bring peace to that world." "I'm not going to do And I'm going to give you a system to make it easier for you." said the sound. "WHAT?!" "You didn't have to yell." "You don't really need this, but I want to help as much as I can." I said, "Can you really give me a string?" The system was one of those great things that worked so well in these player stories that it was impossible to see and not want to. "Yes, i'm going to have to He approved. "Now, if you're done with your questions, I'll send you." "I don't have any more questions." I said. "Good luck." Said. Then there was a light. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To read earlier; https://tengriata.wordpress.com/

Eva stares at herself in the mirror dark curly hair, blue eyes, dark skin “what now?” She says.  She sets off to California and finds a hotel for a few days she gets settled in and turns on the tv she sees herself on the news. She’s immediately worried and hears something she pulls the curtains and sees 4 cop cars at the bottom of the hotel she runs out the hall to the elevator hoping to get somewhere  The elevator opens with 4 cops inside she runs the opposite way and gets pulled into a hotel room by a figure that appears to be green he jumps out the window with her in his hands and starts climbing the wall to the roof “who are you?” Eva says “I’m Geko a member of the Legion of Galaxy there’s no time to explain get in” a helicopter appears almost as if it was invisible Eva gets in.  She sees 4 other people in their one “hello Eva Wolf we’d like you to join the Legion of Galaxy.” “How do you know my name?” Eva says “your all over the news right now.” “Why do you want me?” Says Eva “your incredible archery skills could be useful.” “Fine I’m in” says Eva…  To be continued… 

1999, March 17th Eva Wolf is Born. 2019, March 17th Eva Wolf Turns 19    For her birthday her father Mark Wolf One of the Best archers in the World gets home from his tournament, since it’s his daughters birthday he decided to finish her Archery Training that day. After that Mark went to pick up dinner at a fancy restaurant for Evas Birthday. Eva took her own car. On the Way their Mark is stopped by a Masked Man, He honks his horn signaling him to move, Marks notices him reaching for something, the masked man pulls out a revolver *bang, bang, bang* three shots to the chest, The masked man attempts to take his car and his money but he’s drives away. While bleeding out he’s attempting to drive safely to help but he blacks out and drives into a ditch.  Present Day. It’s been around 3 years since Mark Died. Eva has been trying since the day he died to find the killer. She gets back from training and goes to find out who murdered her father. Finally after 3 years she finds out, Sebastián Velasco He takes on the name Bandit. Eva packs a bag and leaves Everything Behind Her mother, her siblings, and her hometown.  Arizona- She Puts on a Dark Clothing with a hood and sets out she remembers to always use her Bow her father gave her she asks the town if they heard about any recent crime reports. A sheriff says someone going by the name Bandit is robbing a bunch of stores. Eva is for sure that’s him she goes around waiting in dark areas for him she sees him she’s acts normal and asks “who are you?” He says “Sebastián Velasco, Why?” She instantly sends an arrow his way he quick draws his revolver and shoots the arrow out of the air he says “shall we start over?” She uses her agility and stealth to her advantage she quickly takes cover and tries to throw Sebastián off guard. She lost sebastián and can’t find him she’s worried and is scared she sees him on a roof of a building she takes a shot and it misses bandit hits a gas tank it blows up but when she looks at sebastián he’s fled. She tries looking for him again and leaps from building to building to get to the building on fire she looks down at the fire to see if theirs anyone stuck but she gets pushed to the ground by sebastián he attempts to throw her into the fire they tumble on the ground Eva kicks him in the nose he punches her trying to escape, he sees an open shot and goes to tackle her she ducks down and sebastián trips falling over her Eva saves him holding onto him sebastián says “who are you? What do you want” Eva says “my father back” and let’s go dropping him into the fire she avenged her father and flees the scene… To be continued…

After suffering a tragic fate the whole class woke up in a room surrounded by armored men. The room is faintly lit by torches. The minimal light reveals a large intricately engraved door. The artistry is stunning. It depicts a large beast towards the top looking down on armed men who seem to be rising up. What's more stunning than the door, however is the woman in front of it. Well that's what everyone else is probably thinking. I, on the contrary remain unmoved. The princess who summoned us can only be described as a conniving bitch. "Ah! The summoning was a success! Great heroes, I beseech thee for your assistance. Our kingdom is in great peril and only you can save it!" Hmm, the guards are armed. Probably for the best to play along for now and keep my head down, although if push comes to shove I could always use that. Everyone else starts chattering like crazy. Finally after some time one of Nexu's bullies speaks up just like in the manga, "We're just normal high schoolers; how are supposed to save the world?" "I know this is hard to believe, but when you were summoned, all of you were given special powers that will help you defeat the beast that stalks our kingdom. According to the royal records you should be able to see the powers you got by saying 'status' aloud." The reveal of this information lead to a cacophony of voices all saying status. Then the chattering started up again as people shared what powers they got with their friends. I personally didn't check yet. There's no need to rush as- "If you all would follow me, we will appraise your status and give you more information about the abilities you were given." Then the princess opened the door and started moving. The bright light from the hall outside is almost blinding when conpared to the dark windowless room we were just in. Something is a bit strange though... Vijiri was supposed to interrupt there and ask about how to return home. I look over to where she should be and just see her spacing out. Even as the rest of the class moves she stands still. Nexu looks back and hesitates for a moment. It looks like he's contemplating something but eventually shakes his head and leaves Vijiri sitting there. One of her female friends finally realizes she was lagging behind and comes back for her. She finally snaps out of it after that and starts moving. We all are lead to a room with an unscrupulous orb floating in the center of it. An old wizard stands by the orb ready to read its results. "Alright heroes, please get in a line and take turns putting your hand to the orb!" The class get into a line surprisingly quickly. I figured they'd struggle over the order, but I suppose they were made this way by the author. I ended up at the back of the line, right behind Nexu. He raised an eyebrow when he initially saw me, but then quickly looked forward again. As students touched the orb, the wizard read out their job and rank, he also had a tome he would read excerpts from detailing the recorded information the kingdom collected regarding the job. Of course as the story goes on it revealed that this information can be somewhat unreliable. Nexu's main bully, Kato, is up next. He's the one who spoke up to the princess first. Just like in the manga he ends up being classified as a S rank magic swordsman with a unique skill. His lackeys all got A rank combat jobs like vanguard and sage with unique skills too. The princess's smile grows incredibly wide after hearing their jobs, ranks, and skills. More filler clasmates take their turns and get stuff like D-B rank combat jobs or support stuff like alchemists and blacksmiths. It's Vijiri's turn and just like the manga, she's a S rank saint with the unique skill benevolence which increasesthe power of her healing spells. I don't think I need to give you an explanation on why that's considered good. The princess jumped with joy upon hearing that. "Did I get something good?" "YOU DIDN'T JUST GET SOMETHING GOOD YOU GOT THE BEST!" As a reader of the story, I find that debatable. Soon enough its Nexu's turn. With anticipation he steps forward and puts his hand to the orb. The orb very dimly glows causing the old wizard to frown. "Poison user. E rank... no unique skill." "Oh how unfortunate." "It really is a shame. The weakest job and the lowest rank at the same time." Kato and his gang walk up to Nexu. "Hahaha you're useless in this world too. Really, trash like you should just take itself up." The princess ignores Kato's remark and says, "Well since that should be everyone lets-" I raise my hand "You forgot about me, ma'am!" Vijiri perks up and looks towards our direction after hearing my voice. Kato and his lackeys give me a weird look. "Was that guy in our class?" "I don't really remember his face, but he's wearing our uniform so he must be from our school at least..." "HUH? There should've only been 20 summoned heroes though... Well whatever just put your hand on the orb and get it over with." And I do so. As my fingers touch the orb, it opens up like an eye and stares into me. The old man's face scrunches up in displeasure. "N-no rank. Job foreigner. Unique skill is Apathy." "N-no rank? Whats that supposed to mean?" "T-this is unprecedented! There's no report of anything like this in the records!" The princess takes a deep breath. Their face quickly settles into a cold expression. Her eyes settle on me, sizing me up. Her eyes still on me, she commands the wizard." "Very well then, focus on what you can know. What does their unique skill do?" The eye orb narrows its gaze, reaching deeper into my soul. The wizard answers the princess's question  "It reads, 'this is not your world, so why would you want to experience its sensations?'" "Thats it? How vague." She speaks again this time directed at me, "You're quite the enigma, huh?" I give her the brightest smile I can muster, "That seems to be the case, ma'am!" "That's your highness to you." Oh, and here I thought I could avoid her ire for just a little longer. Actually no, being able to rile up the princess so easily has its advantages. Advantages that I'll be able to make use of real soon. The princess fixes her expression and addresses the entire class, "Well now that we've finished the appraisal ceremony, its about time we had you meet my father, the king! Please follow me." We approach the king's audience chamber. It appears the princess signaled something to the guards because there are a few extra on me. I wonder if I could take them at level 1? Probably not.  We arrive at the large gilded door that leads to where the king is. Magimechanical men in fancy plating stand in a silent vigil by the great entry way. Any who would dare trespass would surely meet a swift and painful death at their hands. Well anyone except for Nexu, but thats after he becomes op. For the time being we are let by without incident. It's show time. "Greetings father, the summoning was a success. As you have asked I have brought the heros to you." "Any E ranks, my daughter?" "Only one." "Then prepare the ritual to deal with them." "Understood." Nexu perks up upon being mentioned. In the manga his inner monologue had him think that perhaps it was a ritual to power him up so he could fight on par with his classmates. Obviously this is not the case. "Wait ritual? What is your highness talking about?" "Its the disposal ritual. From this point on we will be disposing of the incompetents within your group, by sending them to their deaths." Everyone but me gasps. "You're sending me to my death?! I haven't even gotten a chance-" "Silence, filth. You have no say in the matter." A white magic circle appears below Nexu's feet. Guards have already surrounded the rest of the class so they can't intervene. Kato is laughing madly and Vijiri uncontrollably shakes. I raise my hand, "Excuuuuuuseeeee me, ma'am!" The magic circle breaks as the princess has lost concentration on the spell. A vein bulges on her forehead as she turns and glares at me. The class's attention also turns to me. "What?" "I'm sorry, ma'am, but it just seemed to me that the magic circle you were making was a teleportation circle." "For the last time its 'your highness' and what does that have to do with anything." "Well ma'am, since it was a teleportation circle, I just wanted to know where it goes." The vein on her forehead grows larger. She even forgot that the heroes are supposed to be inexperienced with magic. "It goes to a high level dungeon that nobody has returned from alive, There are you ready to shut up now?" The guards are already making preemptive moves to take me out. Better make this quick. "That sounds fun, I wanna go too! Can you send me too, ma'am?" The room goes silent. I hear murmurs of 'is that guy an idiot', however the princess's is different. Her face quickly becomes a bright smile. A genuine smile that expresses the deepest emotions she carries in her dead, shriveled, black heart. I briefly look over to Kato and yep he's entranced. The princess responds, "You want to go as well? Then by all means, please feel free too! Just step right next to the E rank." I put on the stupidest smile I can and exclaim, "Wow, I can't believe I believe I get to go to a high level dungeon on my first day here!" Nexu is gawking at me as casual stroll right on next to him. The circle reappears at our feet. "Holy shit I'm actually going to die..." I put my arm his shoulder and say, "Don't worry pal, you and me are the dream team. Nothing can kill us if we put our minds to it!" "I'm doomed..." The circle is slowly rising around the two of us. I see Vijiri making a fuss trying to stop this situation. Kato is still admiring the princess while his goons try to shake him out of it. The princess is putting all her attention on the ritual with a smile on her face. I suppose I should give some kind of parting remark. "Later losers! we'll be back soon, just give it like a month or two." I look over towards Nexu and he's giving the princess and her father the middle finger. Its nice to see his anger still burning. After that the circle reaches its zenith and our vision becomes naught but white. Off we go.

Friday nights are often more enjoyable and satisfying than the weekend.            Sam rests on the couch, cross-legged and drawing on a large sketch pad.  It’s almost comically large when compared to his slight frame.  Still, he’s quite an artist for his age, and his only gift request for his tenth birthday was a fifty-dollar mechanical pencil he had been eyeing at the crafts store.            Bea emerges from her studio at Sam’s request, nearly tripping over herself as she scurried down the hall.  She looks to me when she sees him sitting quietly, her glacial eyes hardening in disappointment when she realizes it’s not an emergency.  I chuckle and switch off the stove.  The pasta smells amazing.            Pulling a head of lettuce from its bag in the fridge, I can hear my wife’s conversation with our son.            “What do you need, honey?” she asks.  He pauses and looks up at her with those mesmerizing mismatched eyes.  Then he flips his drawing over to show her.  I can’t see it from the kitchen, but I could see several light and dark streaks of graphite that sheen with the light of the lamp beside him.            “Can you show me how to draw scales?  I already got the outline.”            Bea’s first reaction is one of astonishment and pride.  She asks if she can borrow the pad for a moment to show it to me, and he nods in approval.  When she shows his work to me, my response was equal to hers.            On the page was a sophisticatedly-sketched western style dragon, clutching a shaded egg close to its body.  Its horns, long and slender, stretch beyond the page and are covered in what appears to be a liquid of some kind, presumably blood.  The dedication to minuscule detail put into his work makes my jaw drop.              “This is awesome!” I say, scanning the piece once again.  “Did you use a reference?”            “I saw a cartoon about dragons,” he says, shaking his head.  “I like this one.  He looks like a lizard.  I like lizards.”            I smile widely at his train of thought as Bea returns the sketchbook to him.  She sits beside him, assuming the same cross-legged position and borrows the pencil from his hand.  She reaches over, giving a demonstration of scales on a separate page, which Sam absorbs like a sponge.  Seeing them both like that is such a precious thing, it pains me to think of it all coming to an end.            But that’s what a tragedy is, right?  Unexpected.  Unpredictable.  Swift and sudden like an arrow in the wind.  Tonight, I, John Harvey Marris, will die.  I will be shot and dragged to an alleyway, leaving behind my wife, Beatriz, and my son, Samuel.  All to become a national statistic.  Just a cautionary number about the dangers of walking home late at night.  I don’t know it yet, but in just hours, everything will fall apart—and shatter like glass.            I finish cutting up the lettuce and use the knife to scoot it into a large salad bowl.  An amused gleam from Sam prompts me to look up at my family.  Bea hands him the pencil for him to try drawing a scale, which he urgently takes.  With one eye closed and his tongue poking slightly, his hand waves gracefully along the corner of a page.  Bea looks up at me with brightened eyes, full of pride.  Her lips are curled in a smug grin and she subtly mouths, “he gets it from me.”            I finish garnishing the salad with tomato slices, croutons, and ranch dressing and move the bowl to the dinner table.  Bea rises from the couch without Sam noticing and gathers two large plates and a single, smaller dish.            “How’d it go with Yvette?” she asks, splatting some pasta onto a plate.  She hands it to me, and I use tongs to put the boast-worthy salad onto the other half of the platter.  I do the same with Sam’s plate, which she hands me next.            “As good as it gets,” I smile.  “She’s trying to squeeze in a meeting with the publishers, but she’s swamped already.”            “I get it.  There must be a lot of rookies in the game these days.  You should give them a shot.”            I nod in agreement.  “That’s what I told her.  I’ve already accomplished more than I ever thought I could.  I say it’s time she worked with someone else a bit.”            Bea clicks her tongue.  “Nah, you’ve become too much of an asset to lose.  I mean, just look at your most recent book!  Thirty thousand copies in a week?  Who can do that but you?”            I can feel my face turn red.  She’s had a glass of wine, which means she’s overly kind.  But I’ll take a compliment from her any day.            I hesitate to say the next words.  “Clancy called today, too.  He wanted to meet me at Goldcrest to celebrate.”            “And you refused?”            I nod as I prepare the last plate.  “I’d rather spend my weekend with you two.  It’s been a rough week for all of us.”            Bea scoffed.  “True enough.  But John, you should go celebrate.  I’m sure he’d like to know you haven’t forgotten him with all the fame.”            I suddenly feel the urge to scratch the nape of my neck.  “The only reason he’s still my friend is because of you.”            She laughs and says, “Oh, come on, now.  This again?”             “It’s true.  Ever since college, he’s tried to make his move.  Then we happened… all I know is that he can’t stand me.”            Bea jokingly purrs.  “Jealousy looks good on you.  But I’m not taking no for an answer.  Why don’t you meet him after dinner?  It’s only five, after all.”            I sigh and accept the fate.  “All right, you win.”            “I always do.”            That exchange marks the end for me.  By eight o’clock tonight, I’ll be forced to my knees, begging for my life.  I’ll look at the pictures in my wallet one last time before my attacker snatches it from a panicked hand.  But his voice will be familiar.  Deep down, I will realize who has played judge, jury, and executioner.  It will be too late.            However, my death is only a means to an end.  I know there’s far more to it than a simple trigger squeeze.  Something else will happen; something I can’t fully explain.  I will not die, but I will be “shifted” somewhere.  I foreign place, alien to me.  And perhaps I will finally answer the age-old question asked by many over the years. What happens when the person you’d take a bullet for is the one pulling the trigger?              

Soteris Hello, Author here. I just wanted to sneak in once again to mention that there will be quite allot of depictions of cruelty, torture and disturbing sexual content in this series and most of it is front loaded into the beginning of the story. The MC is a truly pitiful character and I intend to hammer home that point if I so have to bring the house down around myself in the process. If you are questioning yourself or think that there are boundaries I am not willing to cross, stop reading. I might only have a limited creativity but I already feel reluctant to even write some of this. It was a shock the first time the Demon Lord attacked our continent. We had known of their existence on a number of large islands outside the continents that made up the majority of the known world. Communication had been sparse but available so knowledge of the fiends that called that wretched ashen wasteland home had been collected and written down into our libraries and history. We knew some of their society so when a new Demon Lord rose to power we did not think much of it. Then something changed. It was not immediate by any means, there were warnings that we should perhaps have heeded. Refugees fleeing the dark islands and speaking of massive armies being assembled. We had not taken it seriously, wars was hardly a new thing and the world was large enough that it supported countless kingdoms and empires already. Worst case scenario a coastal kingdom or two might fall victim to a stronger neighbor. When the army of darkness hit our shorelines it became obvious that something was different this time. Aside from the speed in which armies was crushed and strongholds overrun what was more disturbing was the stories that began to spread. At first it was the same old stories that governments always spread against their enemies during wartime, depictions of cruelty and savagery. But we simply lacked the imagination in those early days of what madness was actually being committed against our people. Soon propaganda made room for the actual stories. Mass genocide, rape and cruelty on a scale that our minds simply can not fathom. Stories of monstrous creatures pleasuring themselves using the desecrated bodies of mothers while eating their toddlers in front of their eyes before they succumb from the sadistic torture and internal wounds from the brutal rape. The atrocities was systematic with each race of monster striving to be worse than the next. There was no limit to what their cruel minds would come up with and it was clear that they ENJOYED the torment it caused us. In the face of this oncoming horror it did not take long for most of the worlds forces to create a faction in opposition. It did not help. Countless forbidden magics was cast and hidden weapons that had been considered too atrocious to ever be used. Armies of millions marched towards almost instantaneous destruction where the desecration and hunting of the survivors often slowing the armies of the Dark Lord more than the soldiers themselves ever did. Towards the end when even the skies themselves had been covered in a layer of darkness a single ray of light was left behind. The Goddess of this world had given the world a single chance to fight back and on the end of that beam of light was an ordinary elf farm boy. The hero of justice for every creature of light had been designated and heralds of every country and church was sent out to collect the hero of divine revelation, but they were too late. When they arrived at the village of the hero all they could find was the burnt and broken buildings as well as the equally broken remains of its inhabitants. The Demon Lord had found out about the hero as well and sent his fastest and most trustworthy agents to deal with the obstacle before it ever could become a problem however luckily for the heralds the hero had barely escaped the destruction of his village through the selfless sacrifice of his beloved childhood friend that he had promised to marry in the future. With justice and desire to liberate his kidnapped girlfriend the hero quickly began to fight back against the hordes of evil engulfing the land. For once a stalemate was reached in the war and for many years they fought bitterly. In the heat of battle friends were made and lost while only the strongest survived. Soon the hero was surrounded by a trustworthy group of friends who reached the pinnacle of strength in their own paths. A rouge, a sage, a savage warrior, a stoic templar and a priestess. It was the embodiment of the last hope but over the years the scars were beginning to pile up. Everyone had lost what was important to them. Family, friends, countries. The forces of darkness took vile pleasure in tormenting their enemies, making sure to not only cause as much distress as they could but also make sure that the survivors knew about it before it was their turn. For the hero it had started when one of the enemy generals had thrown a severed elven ear at him. A simple enough attack to evade but the recognition of a body part from his beloved had shaken him and allowed the bloody mess to hit him right in the face. His rage was terrible that day but the "messages" did not stop. First it was fingers and toes. Then it was arms and legs. Recognizing that the Demon Lord made sure to regenerate lost limbs after seeing a second left leg being grilled by a group of goblins in plain view of the heroes camp did little to settle his nerves. But it got worse after that. The breaking point came during a siege where a group of hulking trolls loaded up a catapult with disembodied naked breasts and proceeded to cover it in semen before firing it over the hero himself. Something broke inside him during that day and with that came something truly terrifying onto the battlefield. Maintaining the stalemate was no longer an option for the hero, he was prepared to sacrifice the world for his revenge. Knowing the fate that was waiting for them the remaining nations could do little but provide what little aid they had and thus was the party of the hero officially born. Being sent off from the capital of the last Empire by its beautiful and young empress with the best equipment and support available the party began cutting a bloody swath through the continent. No longer held back by the need to protect the hero swiftly cut down all that stood in his path using the sacred sword the empress had provided for him. For the first time the battle had turned and it was the Demon Lords army that had to scramble and set up strongholds and ambushes, none of them held. Finally reaching the coastline towards the dark continent the hero was burning with such power and cold fury that the sea itself froze solid before him as he advanced. On the shores of the dark continent the elite forces of the Demon Lord awaited the hero and for the first time in years the party began to struggle and suffer losses. Finally at the end of his journey the hero invaded the Demon Lords castle and fought through the halls until the very bedchambers themself as the sole remaining member standing only to be meet with the naked form of the Demon Lord ravaging his beloved who for her part was equally participating in the act with moans so steeped in desire that the hero could only watch on in disbelief and a dawning sense of horror. As the truth was revealed that at some point, through torture or magic his beloved had given herself over to his nemesis in both heart and soul the hero broke a second time. The release of power from the hero at that moment was so powerful that it shook the very foundations of the mighty castle but as he lunge forward to cut down the evil of this world the one thing that could stop him stepped forward and protected the Demon King with her own body in a cruel satire of the time she had done the same for him. Laughing and stepping around his defiled prize the Demon King grasped the head of the hero who was frozen in shock with his blade gently in contact against the waist of the most beautiful and haunting imagine in his life. The glaring eyes of his beloved, filled with hate for him for what he was just about to do was the last thing the hero saw before he was engulfed in blackness by the foul magic of the Demon King firmly shot straight at his head. The motionless body of the hero collapsed onto the stone floor startling the small child in the crib in the corner of the room causing the mother to run towards and start to calm the toddler. The Demon Lord having seen something in the eyes of his beloved hesitated for a moment before asking in a low and sad tone. "You still hold feelings for him don't you? I can see it in your eyes." The woman turned around with their child in her arms and wanted to deny it, to reaffirm her dedication towards him and him alone but she was interrupted. "It is alright. It appears that I can never truly extinguish his existence within you. I can not bear to let this be a wound upon your heart no matter how minor it may be so for you I shall move the heavens and the earth." The woman was speechless but could not fully comprehend his intentions as he came up to her dragging the body of the hero, now suspended in wispy purple magic. The Demon Lord tenderly kissed the woman and wiggled his finger playfully at his daughter before speaking again. "Let us have another child, let us give our beloved daughter a sibling to play with." And with those words the heroes body rapidly regressed in years until it was nothing but a glowing light that the Demon Lord carefully pushed into her stomach. Soteris Thank you for reading and I hope this initial taste was not too horrible because I am not quite done setting up the tragic backstory.

Renae_Blackbird Hello! I have no idea what I'm doing. This is my first story I've posted on this site, so please be kind to me if I screw up. I just found out about this place and I'm hoping it'll work out for me and my original fiction. If you enjoyed this, please vote in the poll at the end, because so far only my friends have seemed interested in this story. I will probably continue it anyway but it'll be much slower than if I think people are really invested.Anyway, thank you all! I hope you enjoy. Jill’s eyes locked onto Diaz’s laundromat, and her mouth went dry. She skidded her moped to a stop, jumped off it. In the clear window, the neon sign read OPEN. Like the doors next to them were, wide open, broken open. In the middle of the doorframe, the copper bells that hung overhead now lay silent on the concrete at her feet. She stepped over them into the building. Last year’s favorite guitar solo hummed through the room, over the sound of tossing clothes in a few machines. Several machines, tinted blue from the paint and neon lights on the wall, sat still, wet or dry clothes still pressed against the door.  Plants lined the windows, plastic chairs in front of them. Half empty vending machines. Chilly air, soothing on the skin out of the Florida heat, smelling like fake lemon and laundry soap. A sparking cord on the ground. Jill froze. The cord sparked and twitched with electricity, the picture of a visible trap. If she got too close, she’d be fried. On the other side of the cord, two women watched with wide, haunted eyes. A blonde Alpha, and dyed red Beta, gagged with cloth, hands bound together with zip ties. In between them, half on their laps, two children, legs tied together, clutching their parents with tears in their eyes. The smallest boy was about five. The bigger one, maybe eight.  Jill inhaled, closed her eyes. Nothing in this place was worth taking hostages. They kept $100 in cash at best. But Diaz… He knew more than he ever let on. Her stomach twisted. Opening her eyes again, she raised her hands and opened her mouth. The Beta woman shook her head. The older child pointed. Jill looked. The door behind the counter was ajar. Something red and liquid traced out from behind it. She looked back at the kid. He pulled his hand back, fear in his eyes. Jill stepped towards the counter, and looked over the edge. Diaz lay face down on the floor. In one weathered hand, he clutched the counter’s phone. Her lips went numb. The phone’s cord to the wall had been cut, like in the movies.  Through the crack in the door, now audible over the music, she heard voices. I need to leave, she thought. I need to call the police. I need to call Owen. But one of the drawers on the desk was still open. Through the crack, she saw the glint of a handgun. Moving silent but quick, Jill stepped around the desk. She hesitated over the man on the floor. Diaz had been good to her. He’d helped her and Owen in ways she couldn’t begin to explain. He couldn’t be dead. The body breathed. Jill relaxed her shoulders. I’ll make whoever fucked with you regret it, she thought. I’ll make them sorry they hurt you.  She knelt, slid the drawer open. The pistol warmed her hands with hope. She stood, exhaling hard. The door behind her opened. Jill flinched and aimed the gun into the doorway. A man stared back at her, blinking behind a gilded, jeweled mask. Jill went cold. Her arms shook. You've got to be kidding me, she thought, her fingers going white on the gun. Can’t be, can’t be, no. No no no no no. The King himself stared at her, and for a sickening moment, Jill felt in her bones he recognized her. "What are you doing here?" He said. Jill took a step back. "St-stay away!" She moved towards the hostages, the sparking of the trap, her pulse, echoing in her ears. "Don't come any closer! I'll shoot you!" He laughed, and it sounded almost sheepish as he ran a leather gloved hand through his dark hair. “Silly Omega," he said, smiling at her. "You didn’t think Diaz kept a loaded gun in his desk, did you?” Jill paled. She stepped back again, and hit the desk. Her eyes flicked towards the window. She swung her arm as hard as she could. He caught her arm just before the gun could leave her hand. Jill screamed. Cold leather covered her mouth. Pain in her fingers, the gun slipped from her hand and clashed to the floor. “Don’t kill her!” A child’s voice shouted over the music. “Don’t kill her, please don’t kill her!” A hand pressed her arm to her body with Alpha strength, pinning it to her torso. She struggled, it did no good. He pulled her into the back room. "Look sharp, gentlemen," he called. "We have a guest." Her body met the unforgiving floor, and she gasped.  “What the hell,” another familiar man’s voice said.  Jill rolled over onto her back and pushed herself up onto her arms. Her stomach dropped. Three men. Three familiar men, strangers in masks who weren't strangers at all. The Fox leaned on the back of a rolling chair, his vulpine mask reflecting none of the light from overhead. In the chair itself, the Black Dog looked up from the block-shaped computer that sat on the green desk. The air smelled like men - cigars and mint and the pheromones of two Alphas and a Beta working hard in close quarters. Jill shuddered. The door closed. The Black Dog and the Fox looked at each other. Jill scooted back away from him until her back brushed against pressed black pants. She looked up at the King, and he smiled down at her. "They really do breed you Omegas different here, don't they?" Jill whimpered. He curled his fingers around her ponytail, and she braced. "She found Diaz's pistol in his desk," he said, looking toward his workers. "I think she would've shot me, had it been loaded." The Fox shook his head. The Black Dog said nothing. He pushed the chair back, the Fox moving with him, and both stepped around the desk, moving as one towards her. She couldn't stop shivering. She wouldn't have stopped even if she could. If they thought she was weak, helpless, trapped, oblivious, she would get through this alive. "Please don't hurt me," she said. The Black Dog knelt in front of her. His gloves were black fabric, and it rubbed soft against her chin as he caught her face in one hand. Jill closed her eyes.  "A beautiful woman, even in terror," the Fox said.  "She has no idea what we'd do to Omegas like her, back home," the Black Dog said. Jill opened her eyes. He smiled at her, and she closed her eyes again. The Black Dog spoke in another language. Korean - but too quick for her to understand. Jill looked up. She'd started learning at the beginning of summer, but even after all these weeks, she still couldn't understand them.  The King shook his head, returning the comments in the same language. Back and forth, snatches of words she understood - Omega, repeated over and over - but too fast to put into context. The Fox interrupted, and the King nodded his head.  They all looked back down at Jill. She looked back, and prayed. Prayed that they didn't see through her. Prayed they didn't recognize her as the tough vigilante she had met them as before, fought against them, ruined their plans. If they knew, she was dead. The King smiled, almost kind, at her. "Come with me, girl." With a gesture of his hand, the other two returned to the desk. The King stepped forward, and yanked her hair. Jill yelped. She had to move with him to stop the pain. A short walk to their destination, but every inch forced the tears into her eyes. The King settled into Diaz's favorite recliner, the one in the far corner of the room. He looked down at her, one ankle propped on his knee, his head cradled by one hand, the other still gripping her ponytail. The hand released her, she sucked in a breath. Gloved fingers traced down the side of her face, a forefinger tracing the veins in her neck and lifting up her face. Like I'm a pet, Jill thought in revulsion. Like he owns me. "Tell me your name," he said, and it was in a voice even another Alpha would have trouble defying. "Jillian Cortez," she said. "Jill," he repeated, smiling again. "What do you do, Jill?" "I'm… I'm an intern at the University, in the-" she swallowed. "Science department." He seemed to consider her.  "That collar," he said. "Are you an activist?" She'd gotten so used to the collar, she forgot it after she put it on in the morning.  "It… was a gift," she said. "From a partner?" "Just a friend." His tongue slipped from his lips, dragged slow over them. Jill couldn't look away. "We don't use collars like that, where we're from," he said. "You gave me quite the surprise out there. An Omega with a gun - what a terrible idea." Her lips pressed together, but that was the only sign of her annoyance she would let show. Professional criminals were always old fashioned, and Seoul, from her research, was still conservative in many ways. It wasn't the first time she'd heard these things from his mouth, but it was never enjoyable. "You're a very brave girl," he said. "But very foolish, too, pointing a gun at an unknown Alpha. Did you think you were going to be a hero?" He placed his leg on the floor, leaned down towards her. His hand smoothed over her face. Jill's gut twisted. His dark eyes examined her face, and she looked away from them. "This is why Omegas like you need mates," he said. "So you don't put yourselves in danger like this." She swallowed down the words she wanted to say. He would never say these things to another Alpha. Jill looked towards the desk, and the Black Dog looked away before she could meet his gaze. He focused on the computer. The Fox sorted through the filing cabinets behind it. A gentle hand gripped her chin. "Eyes on me, little sunshine," the King said. Something in her quaked. He held her by the chin, just looking at her. His eyes focused on her lips.  Jill whimpered. The noises across the room stilled.  "I've seen enough," the Black Dog said. "I've got everything I need," the Fox said. Without a word, the King held out a free hand. Jill didn't dare look away. Something metal hit leather. He dangled it before Jill's face, his grin cruel now. Handcuffs. Jill jerked away, and she fell back. She pushed herself across the floor until her hand touched a hard black boot. Wide eyes looked up at the Fox, and the Black Dog now on her other side. "Please don't hurt me!" She cried. "Put your wrists together," the King said, standing, "and everything will be fine." Shaking, she obeyed. The metal was warm. The Black Dog's body heat cooled on her skin. Jill looked away, the click of the locking cuffs loud in her ears. The King hooked a finger around the chain, and lifted up. She squeaked, her arms moving over her head. “W-Wait - what are you-” With his free hand, the King undid the tie around his neck, and snapped it free. Smirking down at her, he ran the silky crimson fabric through his fingers. “We need to keep a foolish little thing like you out of trouble,” he said. “Who knows what terrible things will happen to you, if you’re kept off a leash?" She shouldn’t, but she glared at him, even though the fear muted the effect, and she knew it from the way the Fox snickered and mumbled something to the Black Dog. Jill leaned back away from him, but it did no good. He tied one end of the tie around the connecting chain, and wrapped the other end around a hook embedded deep in the wall. “Why are you doing this?” The King knelt in front of her. His fingers reached out. Jill trembled. The cool leather brushed against her as he ran his fingers over the defense collar. His eyes looked away from the collar, to her eyes, and down to her lips. Her eyes widened. She’d seen that look in his eyes before - but never in a state like this. “You-” she started He leaned in. The shock of his lips almost drowned out the shock of the gentleness of it. Not fierce, but a tender one, his soft lips moving against hers. Like a lover, a friend, a childhood crush all grown up. Her soft whimper brought a smile to his lips, a satisfied sound like a purr pressed against her own. The King pulled away, and Jill breathed again. He stood and stepped back. His underlings looked at him, and he looked back. He nodded. The Fox bent next to her, and caught her opposite cheek. He pressed his lips on her skin, and she squeaked. When he stood, the Black Dog knelt on her other side. He leaned in to her, and from the corner of her eye, she saw him breath in deep. And then his lips pressed against her cheek, only for a moment, before he stood up and stepped back to the King’s side. “Farewell, Jillian Cortez,” the King said, turning away. “I hope we never meet like this again.” Jill breathed quick, breathed hard. The King opened the door, and his servants followed. The door began to close. “Wait!” She called out. “You can’t leave me here like this!” Gunshot through the quiet. Glass shattered. Children screamed. An alarm screamed over their voices. Jill struggled in her restraints, but the tie and cuffs didn’t give. She was stuck like that until the police arrived to free them all. For once… the King and his men had gotten the upper hand on her. She hoped the same thing he did, that they’d never meet this way again. If she had been Jupiter… it certainly would’ve gone a lot better for her.

[Status: Hero] is incompatible with [Curse: Fuck You]. Resolving… Discarding all [Hero] benefits. Retaining [Quest System]. Resetting curse counter… Issue: [Hero] requires an active class. Resolving… Requirements fulfilled: [Monster Tamer] unlocked!   I opened my eyes to see a fist headed for my face. The punch hit me square in my right eye, and I fell backwards with a yelp. “Careful man, we don’t wanna rough her up too bad.” I stared up at the two men looming over me. The one who hit me was short, scrappy, bald, and looking awfully pissed. The bearded giant of a man behind him—the one who had spoken—wore a much calmer expression, and as I watched, he placed a hand on the first man’s shoulder, gently pulling him back. Both men were wearing some sort of dark leathery padding—it looked vaguely like snakeskin. I gingerly pressed a hand to my face under my eye. It stung. “Listen here, brat,” the bald man spat, “you just tell us where that little thief is hiding, and maybe we won’t break any bones.” Thief? What the hell were they talking about? Who the hell were they? Where was I? I remained silent, and the bald man stooped forward. I instinctively scooted back… into a corner. I hadn’t paid much attention to my surroundings, but I was in some sort of filthy alleyway, with stained stone brickwork rising shakily on all sides. “Carrot and stick, man, carrot and stick,” the bearded man cautioned. The bald man crouched down in front of me. “Alright. You tell us where he went, and my partner will get you something to eat. That sound good?” Actually, it did sound good. Not only was I aching all over—my body felt oddly frail, like I felt when I was sick with a fever—but I realized I was extremely hungry. So hungry that it felt like pain. The bearded man tenderly unwrapped a small, fist sized roll of bread, and my mouth watered. Not figuratively… I could literally feel myself salivating. My heart raced. There was just a slight problem… not only had these men attacked me, I had no idea who they were, where I was, or what was going on—let alone where some thief was. This was all so surreal, yet it was far too visceral to be a dream. “I don’t know,” I replied hesitantly. My voice surprised me. It was raspy and high pitched. I didn’t sound like myself. The bald man curled his fist. “You sure?” I nodded frantically and brushed a strand of black hair out of my eyes. Wait, black? He lunged, grabbing my hand and pressing a gleaming knife against the base of my index finger. I didn’t even have time to recoil, and I dared not move now. I began to sweat. The man flashed a sickening grin. “You still sure?” Fuck. What could I do? My heart rate increased further. I swallowed dryly. “I really don’t know, I swear,” I rasped. “I don’t even know who you are or what’s going on…” The man narrowed his eyes and I saw his grip on the knife shift. “Stand down, Marty,” the bearded man ordered. “That’s enough.” The bald man—Marty, apparently, glared at me, before releasing my hand. I pulled it back to my side immediately. “Are you suggesting we just let her go?” Marty asked. The bearded giant shrugged. “Yeah.” Marty stood up and spat. The globule of mucus landed on the stained pavement with a splat. “Fuckin hell.” He turned away, and his comrade tossed the bread roll to me. I fumbled the catch, and it bounced off the ground. I grabbed it and immediately took an enormous bite. It was horribly shitty and stale, and I felt like I was in heaven. I took another bite before I had finished swallowing, barely registering the exasperated glare Marty shot in my direction. “Really? You gave it to her anyway?” The giant man shrugged again. “Eh, looked like she could use it. Spur of the moment thing I guess.” Marty muttered something about coming back under his breath, and the two men turned their backs, leaving me alone in my corner. Once they had turned the corner, I leaned back, cradling my stomach, as I had already finished the roll. I took a moment to rest before further analyzing my situation. Alright. What the fuck had just happened? I looked at my hands. They were small, slender, and filthy. The rest of my body was no better—I was barefoot, and I was appeared to be clothed in a mixture of rags. I rubbed the corner of one between my thumb and forefinger. It was rough and scratchy. Aside from the ravenous hunger, I also felt extremely frail—it was hard to pin down, but I just felt weak. And then there was my voice and my hair. I tugged by bangs forward—since when was my hair black, and since when was it chin length? Alright. I woke up in an alleyway with two men who look like fantasy cosplayers assaulting me, in a body that didn’t feel like my own. This situation was already ridiculous, so why not? Status? And there it was. It didn’t come in the form of a screen, or a voice in my head, or anything like that. No, it was just knowledge that was suddenly inserted into my mind, that I knew with perfect clarity.   Ash Human, Female, 18 years [Monster Tamer] Level 1 Status: [Hero] Curse: [Fuck You] Life: 56% Attributes: 4 power, 4 defense, 4 finesse Passives: 1 available Skills: [Create Quest], [Universal Communication]   While I had fantasized about this sort of thing on many occasions, experiencing it for real was quite… different. What the fuck was I supposed to do? How should I move forward with this? Could I just find some city guard or something and explain my situation? Or were people from other worlds persecuted here or some shit? I got anxious over making a simple phone call back on earth. How the fuck was I supposed to manage here? And what about my family? Had I simply gone missing to them? I curled my knees to my chest. I couldn’t panic. Not here, not yet. I needed information. Alright. I would start with my system. Skipping over the first two lines, I continued down the interface. I knew my name, and I didn’t want to think about the other part. Not yet at least—I had bigger things to worry about than an identity crisis. [Monster Tamer] Level 1. What is a Monster Tamer? I assumed I knew the answer, but I wanted to be sure. It would be unwise to make assumptions.   Monster Tamer Grants passives and skills related to acquiring and utilizing monster allies. Experience gained through acquiring and utilizing monster allies. Per level: +4 power, + 4 defense, +4 finesse +100% efficacy of monster taming, ally, minion, and monster related passives and skills. (+2% per level) +200% increased number of allies. (+5% per level) All experience which would be gained by allies is gained by you.   Okay, that was about what I expected. Could I change my class?   No.   Damn. What about [Hero]? If I were told I was chosen to be a hero, I would have expected a tutorial by a goddess, or at least a saintess in a royal court or holy temple, not… whatever this was.   Status: [Hero] You have been chosen to save the Empire of Vistani. In order to aid you in your mission, you have been granted significant benefits.   Okay, what are my benefits?   None.   Wow. Talk about a let down. And it looks like I was cursed as well.   Curse: [Fuck You] Fuck you.   Fuck you too. Attributes?   Attributes are used in the calculation of the effects of passives and skills. Attributes have no baseline effect.   Okay, that was a bit interesting. No baseline effect seemed unusual. So what about passives and skills?   Passives are conditions which are always in effect on the user. You will gain one passive point per level. Skills are abilities which can be actively engaged. Each skill has an associated cooldown. Some skills may have additional costs or limitations. You will gain one skill point per level.   Given that I didn’t see anything about mana or some equivalent, the bit about a cooldown made sense. So what about my two skills?   [Create Quest] Tier 1 Level 1 As a [Hero], you possess the ability to create your own quests. The system will determine the appropriate rewards. View active quests? <yes> <no>   I selected yes.   [Save the Empire of Vistani] Save the Empire of Vistani. Rewards: None. Penalty of Failure: millions of people die. Good luck.   Seriously? That’s what you give me? Maybe a little more help here? Like an analysis of the threat and maybe a cheat power or two? No response. Figures. So how do I create a quest? What other quest should I even create?   Recommended Quest: [Into the Woods] Enter the wilds outside of the city of Vistani and tame three powerful monsters. Rewards: Tame any monster, regardless of necessary requirements. Restrictions: three uses, lasts for one day. Estimated difficulty: easyERROR! [Hero] benefits have been discarded. Recalculating with failure condition as death… Probability of success has been recalculated to 0.082%.   Yeah, I think not. How about maybe not dying, please?   Quest Created: [Live For Today] Don’t Die. Rewards: randomized reward each day based on estimated current difficulty. Estimated Difficulty: High.

The bus violently shakes, waking me. Around me I see rowdy Japanese high-schoolers making noise. This doesn't make much sense though because I've already graduated from high-school many years ago. Paying a bit more attention I realize the faces around me a very familiar.  I look towards the back of the bus and my suspicions are confirmed. There a gloomy looking kid is getting picked on. His name is Nexu and he's the protagonist of a manga series I read. The manga was adapted from one of those dark fantasy iseaki light novels where the protagonist is betrayed for being weak, or whatever, and thrown into a high level dungeon to die. Of course this backfires and makes them op and they swear revenge. Some may say these kind of stories are edgy cringe, but they've always been a guilty pleasure of mine.  Man those bullies are being dicks! Not much I can do about it at the moment though. I'm all the way at the front of the bus while Nexu and the cannon fodder are in the back. It's not like I can just get up and walk back there while the bus is moving, I'd get yelled at. So while I'd like to intervene, It looks like I should do something else, like figure out why I'm here. Looking down it seems I'm wearing the school uniform like all the other kids, so did I end up possessing a classmate? I feel around in my pant pockets for anything to confirm my identity like a student ID, but they're empty. Suppose I'll just have to bite the bullet and ask someone near me some questions.  "Ahhhhhh... Uhhh... H-how?" As I turn to my seat mate I realize they've been freaking out this whole time. Oh and they're also the Nexu's childhood friend, Vijiri, what a coincidence. "I know this might be a weird question to ask, but who am I?" Vijiri happens to be looking behind us when I asked and she didn't seem to be able to hear me. "I-is nobody else seeing this shit?" "Ehem!" "Eep! T-they talked!" "Now that you're listening could you perhaps tell me who I am? "That should be my question! You just manifested out of thin air!" "Ohhhhhh, neat!" She has a very blank look on her face after hearing my responce. At least I now know I didn't unwittingly snatch someone's body. I suppose that means I can just be myself then. "The name's Brando by the way. Nice to meet you, Vijiri!" "W-what? T-then... why ask? Ugh geez I don't care anymoreeeeee!" "Oh? Is it that time already?" "I don't even want to ask..." After Vijiri responded, the bus slid off a fucking cliff and we all died.

~ Next Time ~ The sky was red like blood, enveloping the desolate wasteland that stretched out farther than the imagination could reach. A young girl sat on the edge of a cliff, kicking her legs playfully through the cold, dead air. "The underworld's really pretty today, isn't it sensei?" She called out into the void. The girl's long pink hair swung around as she turned her head to greet a towering, hooded figure that had abruptly materialized behind her. The being's entire form was obscured by the cloak it wore, and the scythe it wielded was more than twice as tall as the small girl. Her wide smile pierced the heart that her master didn't have. The robed being said nothing, instead eerily gliding to its apprentice's side and joining her on the ledge. The two sat silently, the teacher's stoic and serious vibe starkly offset by the young girl's playful nature. Suddenly, her gaze rose up to the sky. Not only did its color resemble blood, it almost seemed to have a thick and viscous quality to it, as if it were actually a dome of blood encasing the underworld. "Death-sensei, do you think we'll ever see that girl again?" The reaper's skeletal hand tightened its grip on the scythe. "You know, from your last job. That bright orange glow, those wings, like a beautiful fire…" A cold gust traveled through the cloak, bouncing around Death's hollow ribcage and escaping out the jaw of its skull. "The Phoenix is a being who does not understand mortality the way you and I do," a cold, dead voice echoed. "She will always return. She is life, and we are death, forever locked in a timeless battle." The young student took a moment to reflect on her teacher's words, before finally standing up, her eyes wide and sparkling. "Next time…" she exclaimed. "Next time, I want to fight her!" A small chuckle could be heard echoing through Death's skeleton, briefly shattering its image as a stoic deathbringer, an image that has defined its existence since the dawn of time. "If you believe yourself to be ready, then I suppose we shall see."

Desert junkyard::Outside the town of Mebius   “Wake up, Rikku! Wake up, Rikku! Wake up, Rikku!” Rikku struggled to open her eyes, which was no surprise. She often had a hard time getting up in the morning, usually because she was having a pleasant dream of some kind, but also just because she was sleeping so deeply that waking up was difficult. She ran a hand through her hair and stretched a bit, hoping that one or the other of those actions would help her get her butt out of bed, but neither one seemed to be working. Finally, she just forced herself to open her eyes, and she was greeted by the sight of MR-95j, specifically his extremely toothy grin and his piercing red eyes. His tail was wagging, which meant he was eager to get outside after being cooped up for the night. She reached out to pet him, then pulled her hand back a bit. He was colder than usual, and she wasn’t ready for it. She sometimes wondered if he felt some sort of resentment whenever that happened. She made a mental note to ask him about it later. MR barked. The sample this time was a chihuahua. It made him sound goofy, because he was anything other than a chihuahua. MR stood as tall as what was known as a wolf, and mostly resembled one. He was a mechanical being, a robot to the people of Old Earth. He was black and gray, but only because the metal pieces she and Jarrett used to make his shell came off of two separate Gears. His body was all Rikku really contributed, however. His mind was an old reformatted war droid, once programmed to coordinate functions on a Gear whenever a pilot was incapable of performing any actions. She'd found the cyber brain while scavenging parts to sell, and had originally assumed it to be the navigation system from a cargo freighter that had crashed some time ago. MR barked again, this time sampling a bulldog of some kind. A bit closer to what he looked like, but still in the wrong direction. "It is time for you to awake from your slumber," he said, his voice edging closer to a mechanical buzz than it should be. She reached out to pet him again. "I've gotta fix your voice box again." MR reached up and scratched his nose with his paw. “What sounds wrong about me?” She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Just stay still when I do it this time, okay? I don’t want to accidentally turn you into a cat like last time.” He shook his head. “Of course. That was… most unpleasant. It took me days to get all of the kitty litter out of my servos.” Rikku stood up and walked over to the window. She reached over and tapped a couple buttons on the panel beside the window and the barrier opened up, letting the sunlight in. What she saw immediately depressed her: An overcast sky and a light covering of snow all over the place, which meant it would be a pain in the ass to find anything. How was she supposed to earn a living when the weather didn't agree with anything? MR was suddenly beside her, front feet on the windowsill. He had been flopping his tongue everywhere, but his jaw closed tightly when he looked outside. He barked, but it came out in poodle. Rikku reached down and scratched behind his ear. “Yep. Gonna be one of those days, buddy.”   Research facility::Location unknown   The sergeant on duty at the facility’s rear entrance yawned for at least the thousandth time that night. Or was it morning? He honestly didn’t know. The last time he looked at a clock was when he came on duty. He often didn’t know exactly what time it was when he was at the guard station. It didn’t help that he was underground. He blew a bubble and popped it, then chewed some more. He did very little when he was on guard duty. What few visitors the facility saw simply came and went, never there for long and never really talkative. They flashed an ID, he looked at it, they went on their way. There were fewer than ten visitors every month, and in the sergeant’s four years on guard duty, fewer than twenty visitors a year. The sergeant popped another bubble. He looked down the tunnel in front of him and caught sight of a pair of headlights heading his way. It didn’t take long for a car to appear behind the lights, and then behind the car was a cargo truck that almost took the entire width of the tunnel. Must be a Gear in there, he thought. It wasn’t uncommon, though it definitely didn’t happen often. Unless absolutely necessary, there weren’t even Gears stationed at the base. He wondered if something big was happening. The car came to a stop just beside him, then the cargo truck behind them. The sergeant could see now that there were three cargo trucks, each the same size, all large enough to carry a Gear. He couldn’t see around the last one, so for all he knew, the tunnel could be completely covered in them. He was starting to feel a little disturbed at the sheer oddness of this entire situation. The back passenger window of the car rolled down, and a man with graying hair and glasses in a relatively nice business suit sat there, a pleasant look on his face, which seemed even more disturbing to the sergeant than anything else. “Good morning, sergeant,” the man said, an accent to his voice that the sergeant couldn’t place, “I suspect you’ve been on duty for a good while now, correct?” The sergeant stepped forward. “Good… morning, sir. I’m going to need to see some identification.” The sergeant honestly didn’t know how to respond to the man’s question about how long he’d been on duty. The man still seemed off-putting to him. The man smiled now. “Yes, yes, though I’m afraid you don’t truly need to see my identification.” The sergeant felt something pressed against the back of his neck. A hand clasped his shoulder, and then a spurt of blood fell all over the off-putting, pleasant man and his car. The sergeant lasted long enough to watch the man wipe his face off with a handkerchief, but then the last of his life left him.   Mebius::Town gate   The town of Mebius was, itself, covered in snow when Rikku and MR got to the gate. The gate watchman looked bored, but that was to be expected. He had likely been standing guard all night long, and his shift almost over. Rikku wouldn't want to be up there doing jack-all for hours. She flashed her travel badge at him and he just nodded her along. Much as she liked the town of Mebius, she wasn't fond of how they were to outsiders. Either some long-standing xenophobia or just plain rudeness made it a requirement that all those from anywhere neighboring Mebius needed a travel badge or work permit of some sort issued by the town Elders. Rikku was regular enough that she could get a work permit, but she didn’t really do anything she considered “work”. The town itself was pretty quiet, with most people likely sticking indoors to stay away from the weather. Rikku didn't blame them, though she knew that the snow wouldn't last. While this cold front existed for the moment, it wouldn't take long at all for the heat to return, skyrocketing what was currently below zero to a heat wave in almost seconds. There was no reason the townspeople wouldn't know this, of course. Snowfalls weren't regular, but they weren't uncommon, either. MR stopped occasionally to shake snow off. He was weather-proofed, of course, but that didn't mean some of his smaller components weren't vulnerable. He had told her before they left that the snow wouldn’t be a problem, but it was obvious that he didn’t like being out in the nasty weather anymore than she did. If they were lucky, they could get what they needed and get back home quick. What they needed was parts. Though Rikku lived in a junkyard surrounded by pieces of damaged warships, Gears and other vehicles, there were things she just couldn’t find at home. Unfortunately, that meant leaving the house to venture to Mebius and deal with one of the vendors that traveled and collected junk from other places. Mebius was full of them, people from all over who made their way to the small town for nothing other than peddling other peoples’ trash. I hope Koji is in town, she said to herself. He's usually got some decent batteries. She remembered that the last time he'd been there, he moved his shop to Broadway, which was still a good block away from where she was. She missed the days when Koji was set up just barely inside the entrance, but the town elders demanded everyone keep away the entrances during periods where phages were particularly bad. She still shuddered thinking about the one time she'd seen a phage. That one had long, sharp claws at the end of each hand, where a human would normally have fingers. It hadn't had any eyes, instead it sniffed out its prey with its large nostrils. If it weren’t for MR sneaking up on the thing, she’d have never survived that monster. Broadway was bustling with out-of-town merchants, traders, and just visitors all there to buy parts for their vehicles, or bits and pieces for their homes, or food, or whatever it is they were there for. Mebius was one of the largest trading posts in the Hazhak desert, which probably also contributed to that xenophobia she thought might be the reason for the permit system they set up. Either way, if something was worth owning, somebody was probably selling it on Broadway. Rikku and MR walked through the crowds of people, passing by sales and shakedowns all around. She still didn’t see Koji. Wherever he was, he wasn’t in his usual spot. After they moved him to Broadway, he still preferred to be close to the edge of the street, out of the way and yet still highly visible so that people could come in and shop. However, she saw no evidence of his shop in the usual location, and instead found a fruit peddler with a line longer than most others on a good day. “I do not believe Koji has set up today. He does not appear to be anywhere near.” Rikku looked down at MR, who was looking up at her. It was odd to say the look in his eyes told her he wanted to go home, but if red eyes behind a black faceplate could say anything, that was what she saw. If she had to guess, he was simply nervous about being around so many people. She wasn’t fond of the situation herself, but she needed batteries and Koji was the best person to get them from. The snow wasn’t helping matters. It wasn’t particularly cold, though there was a chill to the desert air. She found her exposed arms were maybe just a little too much, and quickly grabbed a long-sleeved shirt from a rack as she passed by. She’d consider that stealing from anyone else, but the rack she grabbed from was outside a shop that provided free clothing to any who wanted it. The only thing she would have hoped for was a cuter shirt. Another short trip through the throngs of people crowding Broadway told her that Koji just wasn’t there that day. It wasn’t common, but it had happened before. She’d need to wait before she could buy some new batteries. She only needed them for her thermal generator, after all. Not like they were a necessity or anything. There were times when she was extremely annoyed that Koji wasn’t around when she needed him. Just gotta ration the four batteries I do have. It’s not like I need to travel every single day, I can hold off on riding the bike for a couple weeks. I’ll make do until he comes back to town. She looked down to tell MR that they were about to leave, but the wolfbot was nowhere in sight. Oh, for god’s sake, where did he go? She reached into a pouch on her hip and pulled out a small tracker. If he’d found a sandrat to chase, this was gonna be a looooong day.   Research facility::Location unknown   Dr. Matthew Porro felt sweat slide from his brow to his cheek as he carefully, slowly, gently tested the properties of the metal in front of him. If his hypothesis was correct, the shard in his possession was the first breadcrumb to a centuries old mystery that most of the world had forgotten to unravel. Gear technology would change exponentially when he was finished. One of his aides handed him a datapad that he ignored. This wasn’t the time for trivial drivel, this was the time for research! He couldn’t be bothered to look at something that wasn’t important to his work. Besides, he knew what it was about, some visiting dignitary or something that he’d been briefed on months ago and hadn’t given any consideration to at the time. The metal was astounding, truly. Gears were heavy, their armor thick and that made them somewhat difficult to maneuver. Even with all the technological advances made in the past half century, the machines were still a pain to move for even skilled pilots. The only reason Gears were viable weapons were because of their capability with blending the advantages of both a tank and a foot soldier, though they still sat a bit closer to the tank side of things. But this metal he was examining would change all of that if he could make it a working solution. Gears would be lighter than jeeps, but capable of taking high impact rounds that tore through every other metal. The Republic could finally start to make some serious headway in the war, beating out the disgusting stalemate it had found itself in over the past year. There would be nothing the Federation could do defeat them. Another member of the research team walked up to Porro and started tapping him on the shoulder. It was an annoyance he didn’t need in his life, but he pushed past it and kept his eyes on the monitor that was showing him the results of the scans. He saw nothing that surprised him in the initial readout, which showed him the basic composition. Somehow, this fantastic metal was almost the exact same as titanium, but was so very much lighter that the idea the two shared so much composition was inconceivable. “Anything unusual, doctor?” a voice asked him. Porro didn’t recognize the voice, but that was no surprise. He often spoke to some new appointee to the governmental oversight board that he’d never met nor even heard of. That this imbecile felt the need to traipse around Porro’s laboratory was a mixture of both disgusting and degrading. Only those with special clearance were allowed in that room, and that was no one but his assistants. Porro turned away from the monitor to speak to the person behind the new voice and nearly went limp from the sight of seven soldiers with assault rifles all pointed at either his staff or Porro himself, with the voice having belonged to an eighth man in a sharp business suit carrying a handgun. He was then joined by yet another man, this one wearing combat gear but not the simple getup the soldiers were outfitted with. He handed the sharp man a datapad and stood at attention. “What…” was all Porro could get out of his mouth. “Shhhh, Doctor,” the man said, pressing the barrel of the handgun to his mouth as he said it. “I need to familiarize myself with your current research.” The soldier with the unique combat gear looked at some device on his wrist, then said to the sharp-dressed man, “The only part of the base we haven’t covered is the hangar bay, security is tighter and the passcodes we were provided aren’t working.” The man nodded. “I’m not surprised.” He sighed. “Well, doctor, it seems your measures to keep everyone out of your special hangar have bought you more time in this life. Perhaps if you cooperate, you’ll earn even more.” Porro felt sweat slide from his brow to his cheek and worried what was going to happen to him.   Ash Lake military base::Outside Mebius   Matt felt something hit him in the stomach, but he didn’t drag himself out of his bunk just yet. Something hit him again, and still he didn’t get up. When the something hit him a third time, he finally pulled the blanket off and grabbed Leena’s ball before it hit him a fourth time. Her smiling face was the first thing that irritated him. He didn’t say a word as he got out of bed; did his morning routine of going to the bathroom, taking a shower and brushing his teeth; got dressed and finally made his way to the mess hall. The whole time, Leena was beside him, still smiling that annoying smile. The only time she dropped it was when they were in the shower, but he only assumed that was because her gaze was focused elsewhere. Co-ed showers were a beautiful thing when someone wasn’t extremely annoyed at the cute girl he was showering with. Finally, she dropped her tray beside him and said, “Oh, just talk, you big sourpuss.” He shoveled something that was supposed to be pancakes into his mouth. “I was trying to sleep in this morning.” “This is a military base, when can we ever sleep in?” He glanced up at her. Why she was still standing, he didn’t know or care. “It’s my off day. You know that.” “So, why waste this beautiful day? We can go outside, enjoy the desert snow… maybe do something a little less regulation…” Matt glared at her. “Okay, fine, we won’t do something a little less regulation. Either way, since neither of us has anything to do today, why don’t we head outside for a change?” He shook his head. “I’m going to stick around the garage today.” She let out a groan. “Jesus, Matt, you live in the damn garage. Stop playing around in there once in awhile and maybe you’ll find somebody who shares your interests and the two of you can spend the rest of your lives in the garage.” And you probably think that’ll end up being you if we spend a day in town, don’t you? You’re nice, Leena, but we’re not good for each other. He kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to say that aloud for fear she’d get hurt. If there was one thing Matt never wanted to do, it was hurt someone he cared about. He may only think of Leena as a friend, but he still didn’t want her in pain. There was a noise from somewhere in the room. Matt looked up and saw one of the duty sergeants arguing with a corporal. He’s probably just getting pissy over his assignment. There wasn’t much to do this far into the continent, after all. The war had all but ground to a stalemate thanks to the Grand Chancellor’s machinations, and so the only units that saw fighting were the ones on the border. Most days, they just ran training programs in the simulators or a shooting range in the Gears themselves. “What are you even going to do in the garage, anyway?” Leena asked, drawing Matt’s attention back to her. He wolfed down some more food. “I have some more tune-ups for the TRL and Colonel Jackson asked me to take a look at his Striker this afternoon.” She sighed again. “You’re kidding, right? Please, for the love of god, tell me you’re kidding.” Matt shook his head. She slammed her head down on the table so hard and so loud that several others around them decided they needed to see why. Only for a second, however, as they all turned away immediately after that. “You are going to spend hours of your first off-duty day doing the same goddamn thing you do every day?!” He shrugged. “What can I say? I enjoy working on my Gear and Colonel Jackson says I’m the best mechanic on this base.” She shoved some food in her own mouth. “Best on this base doesn’t mean jack anywhere else,” she said with a full mouth. “And even if you are the best mechanic, you’re a terrible teenager. Get out and have a fun day in town for once in your miserable life.” He didn’t really know what to say to that. He wasn’t the most social person on the base, and everyone around him treated him like he was some special needs case to be avoided at all costs. They weren’t rude, not outright, but they didn’t exactly try to strike up conversation with him. He wasn’t an outcast, but he wasn’t one of them, either. Still, he didn’t think he’d call his life miserable. A little less optimistic, but not miserable. He had enough friends to satisfy his need for social interaction. Leena, Tadashi, Pitts, they were all he really needed in his life. He’d never find friends like them outside the military, and he damned sure wouldn’t meet anyone like them in Mebius. That town was full of thieves, merchants and merchant thieves. Going into town just wasn’t something he really saw as necessary. Matt stood up and picked up his tray. “If you need me, I’ll be in the garage.”   Research facility::Location unknown   Porro was dragged through the facility, past countless bodies. All of them were base personnel. Some soldiers, some researchers, some civilian workers. The researchers and civilians were executed cleanly, simple bullets to the face or the back of the head. Or, really, either direction. There were holes on both sides of their head. The soldiers were messier, indicating that at least some of them fought back. Bullets had torn their bodies to shreds and left marks on the walls everywhere. None of the bodies belonged to the invading force. The man in the business suit stepped around the bodies, around the blood pools. It was as if he didn’t want to get dirty, despite leading a military unit through a facility and slaughtering its inhabitants. If he wanted this to be clean, maybe he shouldn’t have killed everyone, Porro thought. He kept his mouth shut, however. The man might suddenly decide he didn’t need the good doctor after all if Porro decided to speak out against this little insurrection. The small group of them came to a stop just down the corridor from the hangar bay. At first, Porro didn’t understand why they had stopped so far from the entrance to the hangar, but when the commander of the insurgents grabbed him by the shoulder and pressed a handgun to his temple, he realized that he was now a hostage, leverage for a negotiation. He felt his hands trembling. He knew he was likely going to die once these people had access to the hangar. He didn’t even know what they intended to find there, as the hangar only stored Gears on special occasions. If these people wanted Gears, they should have assaulted a military base. It was obvious they had the equipment to do so. “Men, step forward,” the man in the suit shouted down the corridor. On cue, one soldier peered around a corner and trained a rifle on the suited man. “As you can see, I have Dr. Porro.” The soldier gestured to some others that Porro couldn’t see. He then stepped out from his cover and lowered his rifle. “What do you want?” “Very simply, I want in that hangar. Oh, and absolute control of this base. The Republic needs it, of course.” “This is a Republic facility,” Porro said, aware of the panic in his own voice. “What do you mean?” The man smiled, then turned to face Porro and held his gun to Porro’s forehead. Had the time come for the man to admit he’d just brought the scientist there to kill him in front of the soldiers who’d been ordered to keep him alive? This is the only thing Porro could believe was about to happen. “Your naivete is beautiful, doctor.” He thumbed the hammer on his pistol. “Relinquish control of this facility to me, or else I’ll kill the good doctor and my men will kill your men and I’ll have control of it anyway.” The soldier raised his rifle. “I can’t let you kill the doctor.” “Then do as I ask, sergeant. I’m terribly behind schedule.” “What guarantee do I have that you’ll release the doctor?” “None.” A gunshot erupted in the corridor, causing Porro to cover his ears and close his eyes. When he finally opened them again, the soldier at the end of the corridor was on the floor, blood pooled around his head. Several others were now on their knees, with the mercenary squad each holding one of them at gunpoint. The leader of the squad walked over too the door to the hangar bay. Porro was shoved over to the hangar door by the man in the suit. His gun was no longer in his hand, but Porro didn’t feel any safer. It took him a moment to realize what had happened. The mercenary leader had shot the soldier in the face while all the eyes in the corridor had been on Porro and the man in the suit. With the soldier’s death, the remaining troops all surrendered. The man in the suit had gotten his way after all. The mercenary leader examined the keypad next to the hangar door. “It’s a biometric keypad,” he said. “Codes are personalized to specific users via their DNA.” The man in the suit sighed. “You act as if I didn’t know that already, major.” He nudged Porro forward. “Alright, doctor, please do what we’ve brought you here for.” Porro refused to move. “What will you do to me afterward?” The man gave him a sideways look. “Why, doctor, you’re the key to all of this.” He grabbed Porro by the arm again and shoved him into the keypad. “Once you’ve unlocked this hangar, you can go back to your laboratory and get back to work on your wonderful new technology.” The doctor gripped the keypad tightly. “There’s nothing in here.” The major tapped his watch. “Let’s get this door open, we’re running late.” “There’s nothing in this hangar!” Porro shouted, though he heard more fright from his voice than assertion. The major pointed his handgun at Porro’s head. How often are these maniacs going to threaten me? “Do you think we’d be here if this hangar was empty? Open the goddamn door, Doc.” The man in the suit nodded. “I’d do as he says, doctor. He can be quite difficult to deal with.” Porro gulped and typed in his passcode. He had little choice, obviously. Certainly they had some other way of getting in, and his death would be nothing but a stopgap. Cooperating would allow him to continue his work, at the very least. He could finish his research on the beautiful new metal he was creating. Even if that meant working for murderers. If what the man had said about taking the facility in the name of the Republic was true, maybe he’d never truly been on the right side and now was his chance to amend that. Of course, the man could also have been lying, but there was something about the way he spoke that told Porro that those words had been far too genuine. The very idea of that was disheartening. Porro had dedicated his scientific career to the Republic, and had never felt even the slightest indication that he wasn’t truly serving them. And if he wasn’t, then who really was in command of this facility? It couldn’t be the Federation. To have a stronghold so deep in Republic territory would change the face of the war in ways unimaginable. But if it wasn’t the Republic, then who did this base belong to? You’ll find out soon, hopefully, he told himself. He finished entering his passcode and the door to the hangar bay slid open silently. One of the mercenaries was the first through the door, securing the immediate area. When he signaled that the room was clear, the man in the suit gestured for Porro to walk in first, as if to see that the hangar truly did hold something that the doctor wasn’t privy to. As much as that seemed unlikely, the man’s determination made him positive that there truly was something Porro didn’t know about in that hangar. His suspicion was proved correct as Porro entered the hangar and saw five very unique Gears all standing in docking stations. Each one was just slightly taller than a standard TRL-50. All of them were painted in special color schemes and seemed to be themed, as if to accentuate their uniqueness. The red one appeared to be a samurai. It carried two long swords on its back, and its headpiece was designed to look like the shoguns of ancient Japan. The yellow one was designed to look like a dancer, its hands shaped like fans. The green one was very clearly a military model, one could easily mistake it for any soldier in combat gear carrying a sniper rifle, though it was obviously much larger. The blue one was designed for underwater operations based on its mermaid-like appearance. Finally the black one carried a gargoyle look, complete with large black wings that were folded around it. The man in the suit walked past Porro and put his hands on a railing that the doctor hadn’t even noticed. He’d been too focused on the Gears in front of him to really even pay attention to the room they were stored in. The hangar itself was actually below the door they’d come through, and they were standing on a kind of observation deck. To the side was a ladder that take them down to the hangar floor, and across the hanger by the gargoyle-like Gear was a control room. The man in the suit smiled, a grim thing that sent a shiver down Porro’s spine. “It’s been too long, my friends.” Lights above all five of the Gears came on almost instantly, illuminating the mechs as well as the hangar itself. This was when Porro saw that there was also a sixth Gear, one completely gray in color and lacking any sort of personalized design. This one looked like a precursor to the TRL line with exactly one important distinction: a rocket tube on its back. Porro couldn’t understand any of this. He’d never before seen this hangar, though he had always known about it. Had these special Gears been down there his entire time working on the base? What was going on here? “Look upon them, doctor.” the man said, “these are how we win the war.”   Ash Lake military base::Outside Mebius   Matt was about to walk into the garage when Pitts positioned herself between him and the entrance to the garage. “Nope,” she said with a playful smile on her face. He sighed. He could easily move her. Pitts was small, no taller than five-foot-three and if she weighed a hundred pounds, that’d be a surprise. But, it was obvious that she and Leena had planned this little intervention and they were going to make damned certain he went into town for the day. But he wasn’t going to give up without a fight. “I already told Leena that Colonel Jackson asked me to take a look at his Gear.” She shook her head. “Nope.” “I’m not kidding, y’know.” “I know you’re not. But Leena spoke to Colonel Jackson and he gave you permission to have fun today, so that’s what you’re gonna do.” Matt could tell that this wasn’t going to end up with him working on the colonel’s Striker like he wanted to. He dropped his bag of tools down on the floor beside the doorway. “And what kind of fun is this supposed to be?” He folded his arms across his chest. From behind him, Leena’s voice answered, “Taking me on a shopping trip.” Matt turned around and nearly felt his jaw hit the floor. He was used to seeing Leena in standard fatigues, usually olive drab trousers and a shirt. Occasionally, she’d wear something a little more comfortable for when she was going to be outside in the heat more often, such as shorts and a tank top (the same ensemble that Pitts wore daily regardless of temperature). Only once, had he seen her in civilian clothing, even though it wasn’t something frowned upon on the base. But now she was wearing a bright yellow dress that barely came to her knees. Though sleeveless, she wore some sort of gloves that were sheer and ended just above her elbow. Her dark red hair was normally tied in a ponytail, but it now hung in loose waves that cascaded beyond her shoulders. She seemed taller than usual, but then Matt realized she was wearing high heeled sandals. She looked… the only word he could use to describe her was beautiful, but it didn’t really feel like the right word. She definitely didn’t look like the Leena he was used to seeing. She was clearly amused by all of this. She giggled, then said, “Put your eyes back in your skull, doofus, and let’s get going.” He shook his head. “You… you never dress this way.” She smacked him on the head as she walked closer to him. “Well, duh, I never get the chance.” She picked up his bag of tools and tossed it on his cot in the corner. “But today, we go on a date, so that means I dress like a girl instead of a grungy boy.” “A date?” She poked him in the chest. “Yes, a date, and you’re gonna enjoy it, you understand me?” Oh, what the hell am I getting into? Matt asked himself.   Mebius::Alleyway   MR found himself in an alley. He didn’t know which one, only that the spot he was currently standing in was surrounded on three sides by buildings and contained a trash can, a dumpster, and what looked to be an age-old television that someone had thrown away in neither the dumpster nor the garbage can. The building to his left was a restaurant. He knew that because he’d considered begging Rikku to take him there one day for food scraps. Just because he was a machine didn’t mean he didn’t like steak every once in awhile. It was her own fault for building him with something that worked like a digestive system. The sandrat he’d been chasing was somewhere around there. He’d watched it run into this alley, and his scanners caught the tracks it had left. It was close, he knew that. The scents from the restaurant were confusing his aromatic sensors, though, which meant he couldn’t smell the sandrat anymore. And there were so many recent tracks that he was almost positive there was a sandrat nest nearby, but he couldn’t tell where. The only thing he could do now would be to head back to Rikku and go home. There was a noise coming from somewhere. MR looked around, but couldn’t see anything. Then his auditory sensors indicated that the sound was coming from above, and so he looked up at the tops of the buildings around him. He could barely see around the ledges of each building, and naturally his drone camera system wasn’t working again (he really needed to pester Rikku to replace his damaged parts sometime soon), which meant he’d need to get to higher ground to see what was above him. MR jumped on top of the dumpster and then saw that he would only need to perform one more slightly longer jump in order to get onto the roof of the building. He performed said jump and came face to face with the source of the noise, and felt what he could only describe as surprise. Standing before him was an impossibility, at least as far as recorded history could claim. He hadn’t noticed the impossibility first. The first thing he noticed was that the sandrat nest he’d assumed was nearby was indeed on the roof of the restaurant. It was when he found the sandrat nest that he discovered the impossibility burying its maw into the sandrat nest and pulling out the first sandrat it could find. That it was an impossibility clearly didn’t stop it from being hungry. MR knew that his design was based on that of an Old Earth creature called a wolf. And he knew that wolves had been considered extinct since long before humanity even left Old Earth and found their new homeworld. Until then, he had never considered anything different, because he believed this knowledge to be common to all beings on the planet. Wolves no longer existed, and MR was the only remnant of them remaining. And yet here he stood, staring at a wolf. The wolf had yet to see him, so MR did a full-body scan and discovered that yes, that was a wolf just a few feet away from him. A female wolf, in fact, with glistening white fur and a scar across her left eye. The eye wasn’t unusable, however, though he saw that she closed it whenever she was eating. It took him a few seconds to realize she had a sandrat pinned down and was chewing on it. He didn’t know what to do with this discovery. The wolf was hidden from view of pretty much everyone in Mebius, including the two buildings tall enough to see this rooftop. The only two who even knew the wolf was real was MR and the now-dead sandrat that she was currently nibbling on. If MR wasn’t a machine, he’d start to doubt his sanity and think he was hallucinating. It wasn’t outright impossible. He’d sampled mushrooms before. The wolf finally looked up from her kill and saw MR standing there, awkwardly staring at her. He almost felt embarrassed. Was this what humans felt whenever the person they were staring at suddenly realized what was going on? He’d have to ask Rikku one day. The only thing he truly had to compare it to was that time she failed to convince him that she wasn’t staring at the butt of the man who came to buy some hover converters from her. “What do you want?” the wolf asked. This wasn’t a piece of information in his databanks. He poured through all the files on wolves he had access to and found nothing that suggested they were capable of human speech. And though MR could understand dogs, he knew none of them were as articulate as this wolf had already proven herself to be with nothing but that one question. “I…” He stopped before he said something stupid. He honestly didn’t know what he was going to say. The fact that this wolf could talk had stunned him, and he didn’t have the time to come up with an answer. “”You are… “A wolf,” she stated. “You’re a machine.” “What I am is not in question here. Wolves are supposed to be extinct.” The wolf walked over to him and started sniffing at his hindquarters. He knew this was… some sort of greeting that dogs did. He wasn’t aware wolves did the same thing, otherwise he would have prepared for it. Instead, he felt awkward and very disturbed. When she finally stopped circling around him and sniffing his ass, she said, “You don’t smell like a machine, though.” “I take considerable time cleaning myself before I leave my home. Regardless, how do you exist?” She laughed. “You talk like a machine. Hasn’t anyone ever told you you sound stiff?” “My vocal processors were built from the remains of a shipboard AI, though I do not know what function the AI had.” She sat down in front of him. “Fascinating. So who built you?” “Please explain yourself before you ask questions of me.” She shook her head. “Sorry, trade secret. One I would share with a fellow wolf, were he not some robot with a metal rod up his ass.” He was starting to grow impatient. “If you must know, I was built by a young woman named Rikku, to be her companion.” She nodded, as if that little bit of information was already obvious to her. “And she’s close by, I assume. No human lets their dog run free too much.” “I would appreciate it if you did not disrespect Rikku like that. She is my friend.” “You were made to be her friend. You have even less freedom than a real dog.” “That is not true. Though I was made to be Rikku’s companion, I made the choice to remain so on my own.” She walked over to the ledge overlooking the alley. “Keep telling yourself that, Fido.” She prepared herself for a jump. “See ya later, cutie.” The wolf jumped from the ledge of the restaurant, ending up a good six feet above it as she traveled in an arc toward the alley below. However, she never actually reached the alley. MR watched as she simply vanished into thin air mere feet from the pavement below. He scanned the alley using every form of imaging he had, covering the entire spectrum. The only thing he found was a dead sandrat on the ground by the dumpster he’d used to jump up onto the roof. Not even attempting to copy the wolf’s flashy exit, MR simply let himself drop from the rooftop and picked up the dead sandrat. If he were a flesh and blood creature, he assumed his stomach would be growling, because he was hungry. He knew he had to get back to Rikku before she started to worry about him. He wasn’t even sure if he should tell her what he’d seen. Would she try to find the wolf? Would she even believe him? Well, actually, yes, she would. She built him, she knew better than to doubt his visual processors or his memory banks. The only time she’d had reason not to believe him was when he’d tried those mushrooms, and he promised himself he’d never let that happen again. That was a very… unpleasant experience. As he left the dead-end portion of the alley, he turned and saw something he knew hadn’t been there when he’d arrived. Painted on the pavement in a sort of odd green color was a heart shape. It took him a second to realize he was still using his infrared imaging and shut it off. As his view of the world returned to that which a human would see, the heart disappeared. He found that odd. He switched back to infrared, and the heart was there. Back to human perception and the heart was gone. Had the wolf left that for him? She had called him a “cutie”, which felt equal parts flattering and insulting considering he looked like a robot in the shape of a dog. And she hadn’t exactly been friendly to him, despite talking to him. So if she had left it for him, was she being flattering or insulting? And why was he getting worked up over this like he was some lovesick puppy? “What the hell is wrong with me?” he asked the open air around him.   —----------------------------------------------------------------------------   Rikku found MR just as he came out of an alley with a sandrat in his mouth. Naturally, she thought, he always thinks with his stomach. There were times she cursed herself for even giving him a stomach. He was a robot, for crying out loud, why did he need to eat? But, then she remembered that she felt he needed to be as much like a real dog as possible. That was also why she added barking sounds to his vocalator. Giving him a digestive system was just one way of making him seem more like a real pet and less like something she built because she was lonely. He walked up to her and sat down, then dropped the sandrat. “I was hungry.” She chuckled. “Yeah, I got that, bud.” She knelt down and patted him on the head. His tail, which was less a tail and more a cable with a tendril appendage on the tip, whipped this way and that. “You ready to go home? I have something I wanna try with your voice box.” He tapped at his neck. “You are not going to make me sound like a cat again, I hope.” She shook her head. “No, you don’t havta worry about that.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a small silver box. She’d bought the device when she passed a tech shop on Broadway while looking for him. “A grade-S, premium quality, vocalator plug-in. It’ll help you sound more like a person.” He tilted his head. “In what way?” “It should eliminate that buzzing reverberation behind your voice, and upgrade your vocabulary options.” “I already have a full dictionary and thesaurus programmed into my memory banks.” “Yeah, but if we’re in luck, you’ll finally be able to use contractions.” “That would be helpful.” “Yep,” she said with a smile. “Let’s get going, otherwise we’ll be out after dark, and the phages will be everywhere.”   —---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matt was already dreading his situation. He’d only been to Mebius a few times in his life, and none of them had been interesting or pleasant. He was a wrench jockey for a reason, and a pilot because of his family. He didn’t particularly want to interact with people outside his area of expertise. What reason would he need to go shopping for anything other but military fatigues that were just gonna get dirty when he got into the grimy spots of a Gear? In fact, in contrast to the dress Leena was sporting, Matt was wearing his usual olive drab trousers and shirt. He didn’t look as out of place with everyone around him as she did, but he still felt out of place. There were so many milling about, it was like a sea of human faces just everywhere. How did people deal with social interaction on this level? Was there some secret he had never been made privy to? Leena made it all look easy, but he never knew how to talk to anyone that didn’t involve discussions over Gear repair. Of course, it didn’t help that there was still a light amount of snow coming down. The private at the security office back on the base had assured him that the weather was “fair”. Republic military bases had large domes over top of them to provide protection and a general atmosphere, mainly to maintain the equipment and vehicles. There was still an outdoor runway and helicopter bay that had its own hangars for storage and service, but all Gear work was done under the dome. There was usually no way of knowing what the outside looked like unless you went outside. So the snow that was gently falling and the mild chill in the air was something that Matt wasn’t exactly ready for. He wasn’t cold, really, but he was definitely regretting not grabbing his fatigue jacket on the way out of the base. How the hell Leena was perfectly fine in a thin dress without sleeves was completely beyond him. It was like just being out of the base was enough to keep her warm in all this. He couldn’t understand it, but that was the closest thing to a real idea he had about her lack of discomfort in the cold. Matt heard a commotion from somewhere nearby. He looked up from the junk he was absentmindedly playing around with and saw a group of people pointing at something. When he looked in the direction they were pointing, he saw exactly what was causing their noise, and it chilled him to the bone. He’d never actually seen one during his time in the military, but he’d seen holographics of one, and it was unmistakably a Federation warship. Federation warships, designated as Halberds, resembled the aircraft carriers of Old Earth, with a large flight deck dominating the upper part of the ship’s structure, though a portion of it was enclosed. The engine cluster on the back held five thrusters, the energy being expelled from them glowed a brilliant white. The vessels were 1000 meters long, 400 wide and 200 tall. There was space enough for 25,000, though they never actually carried that many, at least that was what was determined by the information the Republic had gathered. More space was devoted to invasion equipment -- such as aircraft, tanks and Gears -- than anything else. There were many armaments, from CIWS gatling guns to rail guns and even a forward facing ion cannon mounted to the underbelly. The bridge wasn’t visible from the ground, but on the top deck would be a tower where the bridge was located. It was the most heavily armored part of the ship, capable of surviving even when the rest of the vessel was taken down. There was but one significant difference between this Halberd and those he’d seen in the holographics. There was an emblem on the underbelly, painted on the space where the ion cannon wasn’t located, and the Federation’s emblem was a white badge underneath a pair of red eagles flying opposite one another, a symbol of the Federation’s vision of crossing boundaries like the eagles of Old Earth. The emblem on the underbelly was, instead, that of the Republic. The Republic’s emblem was an image of Old Earth during it’s Pangaea phase, one continent encompassing all others with no borders and nothing to split its people, meant to represent the Republic’s goal of unity and equality. It was a reminder of the days humanity never actually saw of Old Earth, a goal to strive toward again. Matt didn’t understand what was going on. The Federation couldn’t slap a Republic emblem on one of their ships and hope it could Trojan Horse into Republic territory for a surprise attack. And if it were the other way around, a Republic-built Halberd intended to infiltrate Federation territory, the Republic emblem would be seen almost immediately. There wasn’t anything to gain from the ship on either side of the conflict. “That’s not one of ours,” Leena said, her voice distant as if she were lost in thought. Before Matt could respond, he saw objects leave the flight deck at high velocity. He couldn’t tell yet if they were fighters, dropships or Gears, but he also didn’t want to find out. “Get back to the car,” he ordered as he grabbed her hand.   Desert junkyard::Outside Mebius   Rikku shut off the engine on her hoverbike just outside of her house. House was a generous thing to call her home. It had once been a Republic airship, presumably a carrier, used back during the early stages of the war against the Federation. She hadn’t been able to explore the entire ship yet, and the idea of all those who died on board gave her the creeps, but a home was a home. She surmised that the room she used as a bedroom had been the captain’s quarters, which had its own personal kitchenette. It was big enough to satisfy one person and one robot dog, which was all that she cared about. The snow had started to lighten up by the time she and MR got home. The air was slowly starting to warm up, as well, and the jacket that she’d taken back at Mebius was suddenly unnecessary. She left it on a peg just inside the entryway, where it promptly fell and landed on the floor. She rolled her eyes and decided to deal with it later. Across the corridor from Rikku’s bedroom was what she assumed had been a store room. Some time ago, she’d converted it into a work room. It was in that room where she’d built MR, repaired any components she sold, built new equipment out of any random junk she found outside and so forth and so on. Some of her most pleasant and most frustrating moments the last couple years had occurred in that room, and she’d never have it any other way. MR immediately went into the room and jumped up on the work table. He lied down and patiently waited for her, which Rikku thought was adorable. There were times she wondered what it would be like to have an actual dog, but she wouldn’t trade MR for anything. He was the best friend she’d ever had, and replacing him would tear her apart. She reached into her pack and pulled out the new vocalator she’d bought back in Mebius. She turned on the light over the work table and turned the component over and over in her hands, looking for the circuit connectors and the inverter wires. She took her screwdriver and opened up MR’s neckplate. Just to the side of his throat tube was his vocalator compartment. She made sure her soldering tool was close to hand as she connected MR’s wires to the circuit itself. Next, she took the soldering tool and fused the wires together, bonding the circuit. She then slid the component into place beside the other vocalators in MR’s neck and reattached the outer plate. “Okay, all done,” she said, admiring her own work a little too much. “Say something.” MR touched his mouth with his paw, then ‘blinked’. “Do I sound better?” he asked. The electronic warble and digital noise were now completely gone, giving him a much more human and natural sounding voice. Rikku smirked. “Definitely. Not nearly so robotic.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I was hoping this would turn out well.” She scratched him behind his ear. “So, let’s get out there and start looking for some cool parts to sell.” He hopped off of the work table. “I’ll go get the hauler.” Rikku followed MR outside, where he quickly hopped and jumped his way around the junk on his way to the shed they kept the anti-grav hauler behind the house. She picked her path a bit more carefully and made sure not to trip over anything. She didn’t doubt that MR could give her basic first aid, though in his excitement to get to rooting through the junk, he may not realize she was injured right away. Much as she loved that robomutt, he could be a little absentminded at times. She rounded the corner behind the house and came face to face with what looked like a humanoid service robot. She’d never seen one before, as most service robots had long since been retired. She’d read a great deal of Old Earth fiction that had been preserved over the centuries, many of them foretelling a world where machines rose up against humans and tried to destroy them. She found it almost hilarious that such a thing had never actually happened, at least in recorded history that MR could find for her. Of course, him being a robot, it was always possible that he just held off on telling her so that he could eventually kill her in another machine rebellion. Fat chance, she thought. She knew MR inside and out, knew his heart. He was kind, helpful, though sometimes a bit too curious. The dead service robot had probably just fallen off of some of the other junk after the last bit she’d pulled out. If she’d gotten a recent shipment in from the cargo trawlers, she’d probably chalk it up to them dumping it off, but she wasn’t expecting them for another couple days. She sort of wished she’d found it before. It was a rare find, and rarer still to find one at least partially intact. This one had no legs, but she could make legs for it. It would be a bit more difficult to make new legs work on an existing machine rather than just making the machine from scratch. Maybe she should gut the robot and use the internals but make a new shell… “Rikku!” MR’s voice called out to her like a megaphone. Actually, she probably had used a megaphone as part of his vocalator. Hell, she’d used everything else. “You’re gonna wanna see this!” She rolled her eyes. She pulled the robot out of the junk pile and set it against the outside wall of the house. Whatever MR had found, it was obviously something he considered big. She climbed to the top of a large mound of junk and looked out across the large field of junk that stretched out at least seven miles in every direction. She couldn’t really see where MR was, but he didn’t sound too far away. She slid down the mound on the opposite side from the one she climbed. She landed on the wing of a fighter jet that looked to be a good sixty years old at best, then dropped from the wing down onto the ground below. She passed by several more mounds, almost all of them made up of military equipment. The turret of a tank here, a Gear arm there, a helicopter cockpit wedged between pieces of airship hull. Every time a trawler dropped off more junk, it seemed like it was always military hardware. Finally, she found MR, standing atop a mound that included both an old garbage truck and an eight-wheeled vehicle of some sort. As she came closer, she saw he was pawing at something. The hauler was just a few feet away from the mound, with just a few pieces of scrap on it, nothing really worth anything just yet without refinement. She reached the bottom of the mound and realized almost immediately that she was looking at the foot of a Gear. It was rusted, the metal cracked so deeply that anything could be living inside it and at her best guess, maybe worth about a hundred credits. “C’mon!” MR exclaimed excitedly. Rikku groaned. “Fine, I’m coming. It’s not like this is the first Gear you’ve found in here, though.” “No,” he admitted, “but this one is special.” “And just how?” she asked just as she managed to make it to the top of the scrap heap. She was greeted by what he was talking about almost instantly. The top of the mound put them somewhere around the chest area, suggesting that the Gear was propped up on some of the other junk underneath it. It wasn’t anything special looking, just some sort of dark blue in color and stripped of most offensive equipment. She could tell by what little of the right shoulder she could see that there was supposed to be a cannon of some kind mounted there, just above the arm. What was special, however, was the head. Much like many different humanoid Gears, the head was meant to resemble a helmet, though this one a bit more unique than most. It had a pair of horn curving downward on the left and the right, and the visor covering the “eyes” extended outward in a sort of V-shape almost like an odd pair of sunglasses. And the “eyes” were lit. The Gear was actually powered up. “What the hell?” she breathed, almost unable to hear her own voice.   —----------------------------------------------------------------------------   Miles outside of the junkyard, a creature heard an odd noise. No, it didn’t simply hear this noise, it felt this noise. Deep within its bones, within every layer of its flesh. It had never experienced this noise before, but it knew it. Every one of its kind knew this noise intimately. It was a noise the creature had been waiting its entire life to hear, to feel. The creature seemed canine, or at least walked on all fours like a canine. It had no tail, and it hunched due to its rear legs being longer than its front legs. Its feet ended in talons made to rip anything apart. Its ribcage protruded out through its chest, making it appear as though the creature had stripes along its chest. Its mouth was filled with at least three rows, top and bottom, of sharp teeth. The most distinguishing feature was its lack of eyes. There were two slits on the front of the creature’s face, but neither appeared to be used for seeing. The phage opened its mouth and let out a roar that reverberated within its throat and back through the cave it had just come from. It waited, and then more of its kind joined it in a rallying cry to go to war once more.

There is no such thing as a rainbow. My mother would always tell me this when my grandmama would rave to me about when the world had color. When I was a kid, I believed her, but as the years passed by, I realized how unrealistic that would be. This world was far too dull for such fancy stuff, I thought. There have never been any colors except white, black, and grey, in fact, only grandmama thinks otherwise. Although, I have always wondered what it feels like to see all those colors. So, I continued to daydream as the sun's warmth brushed against my face and my body began to feel heavy.  As soon as I heard the village's horn, my eyes wided. I had only closed my eyes for a second, but it was pitch black and the sun's warmth was no longer there. I knew I shouldn't be this far out, but I'd always been a curious girl, and I couldn't stay put.  I couldn't help but worry about the black abyss that surrounded me as I made my way back through the winter night wind. My only sources of light were the moonlight and the fire that lit the village. So I had no choice but to rely on the sounds surrounding me to find my way home.  I almost made it, till I heard a faint sound, a whisper. "Eldora! Eldora!" it called. I wasn't one to be scared of what was in the dark, but the sound of the voice made my legs grow weak. I trembled in fear as I turned my head in its direction. Its call grew softer and softer as I approached.  BAM. I fell backward when I hit my nose against something hard. As I reached forward to see what it was, I felt the frame of a door. Confused, I began searching around it, trying to determine why such a thing would be in the woods all alone. After checking its surroundings, I determined it was nothing more than a simple door with nothing behind it or in front of it. After a while, I started to poke my head through the crack in the door I had created. I pushed the door open further as curiosity urged me to do so. But before I took a full step inside, something caught my eye. The moonlight had shined perfectly on it, making me able to see how bright it was, and how it wasn't the usual black, grey, and white. "It couldn't be," I replied to myself in disbelief. A winter aconite, that was a strange color to the eyes.  I was startled by the horn's blow after reaching down to examine it more closely. I desperately wanted to stay and examine both the door and the flower further, but hearing the horn made me nervous. I raced back, stuffing the flower into my pocket, and headed back toward the village.  When I eventually arrived in the village, I was struck by how quiet it was. Yes, my village was small in comparison to the other towns and cities around us, but it was far from tranquil. But it wasn't until I came over the crowd that flooded our house that I realized what this was. A black rose party. When someone dies in the village, it is customary to have a "black rose" party in which all the family members pay their final goodbyes to the one who has passed away. My brother and grandmama were both sick, so my thoughts raced as I tried to figure out what had happened. My house was crowded with people as I pushed my way through and went inside the house that was filled with friends and close relatives. A room of pitiful eyes followed me as I made my way to my grandmama's bedroom. Mothers was weeping on the ground, while fathers prayed. Grandmama was laying in bed with a cloth covering her face.  I walked up to her bedside and sniffled as I held her stone-cold hand. My body began to shake, and my eyes began to sting. She was just fine the last time I saw her, so what happened? "She took her final breath a while ago," my father said, trying to lift my mother from the floor as she sobbed uncontrollably.  "Where were you?" My father yelled. I was taken aback but still answered. "I was out in the woods," I answered. I was informed that I wasn't supposed to be there but foolishly did it anyway. He remained silent and, for a brief period, opened his mouth to speak, but quickly shut it again and took a deep sigh. "All you had to do was one job," he grumbled as he led my mother out the door.  My heart ached when I realize I hadn't given my grandmama her daily medication. She was nearing the end of her life, after fighting soul shock for the last three years of her life. so missing even one dose was lethal. As a measure, my father had warned me not to go out for too long or too far from the village. Soul shock was an illness that plagued those who lived before the world's colors vanished. The person's body would gradually stiffen over time, inflicting enormous discomfort and a horrific death that caused one to suffocate to death. Grandmama was our village's first and last elder to have it.  We held Grandmama's funeral the next day. Before putting her in a box, we put a black rose in her lips and crossed her arms. I stood there watching while the village chief burnt the box and gradually filled the hole with soil. My mother had been silent throughout the burial, my father had barely spoken, and Paco, my younger brother, was still with the doctor and had not been present for grandmama's passing.  Though Paco was only a little younger than me he was ten times more trouble prone than I was.  But now he does nothing but sleep after catching summer's eye, a disease that develops when one stares at the sun for an extended period of time, resulting in permanent blindness. During the day, both the sky and the sun are light in color, making it difficult to determine where the sun is.  She was buried by the time the sun set, and while the rest of the village went about their business, our family mourned. My face was covered with tear streaks by the time I came home, and I had a runny nose. My mother and father had both refused to speak to me after dinner, so it was somewhat quiet. Afterwards, I was sent to my room without so much as a goodnight. But I couldn't sleep, so I just stared at the stars. But as soon as my eyes began to droop, I heard shouting. I crawled out of bed and placed my head on the door to listen in. "She's nothing but a troublemaker!" screamed father, slamming the door to his room. My father was very loud when he was angry so it wasn't hard to listen in on bits of their conversation.  "But she is our daughter," mother pleaded, sobbing. The room was silent for a moment, and as my heart hammered in anticipation of his response, he said something a father should never say to his child. "Our daughter is nothing but a curse," father said once again, "you should have drowned her the instant we spotted that hideous yellow hair." Upon hearing this, I dashed over to the pail of water in the corner of my room, confused. As I glanced at the reflection, all I could see was my short, curled black hair, greyish skin, and black eyes, causing me to wonder about my father's mental state. But it wasn't until a strand of hair fell into the water that I understood what he was saying. I remembered seeing this color earlier, so I dug through all of my pockets until I found the winter aconite. My hair and the flower were both the same hue. It started to make sense why I wasn't permitted to play in the river with the other kids anymore. Based on what my father had just said, I assumed that this was yellow. However, it felt as if my heart had also stopped beating. I didn't know what to say after hearing this. My father had planned to murder me. Before I knew it, my eyes were flooded with tears, and all I could do was cry. Soon my sobbing became so loud that my mother came out of the room to console me. My father followed soon after and refused to look at me. Even while crying, I waited for him to tell me it was a joke, a sick joke, but a joke nonetheless. Instead, he simply replied, "you weren't intended to hear that,"  My mind went blank, and I felt as if my heart was going to shatter into a million pieces. I couldn't stay in this house any longer. I pulled myself up, still bewildered, and walked out the front door, having no idea where I was going. My mother tried to stop me, but I pushed her to the side, out of the way, and I began running. As my mother urged me to come back, I kept running, as my mind raced to the words of my father. I soon found myself on the same path I had taken when I came across that door and started hearing faint voices. "Eldora! Eldora!" it cried out once again. As I began searching for the door I was once again met with the moonlight that shone over the winter aconites. When I noticed the vibrant flowers, I realized the door had to be nearby and approached it with caution, pecking inside once more.  As I entered, I noticed two beams of light in front of me, surrounded by the blackness of the night sky. As I moved away from the door, it felt like I'd walked into something far bigger than I could manage, but I kept going as the door slowly closed behind me, enclosing me in darkness.

The day started with skies grey with gloomy clouds and there was weird tension in the air, however it wasn't raining yet. People were bustling out on the streets, merchants weren't that loud comparing to yesterday and more people were staying home, for some weird reason everyone felt restless, as if they were waiting for some event to play out later in the day. Wind passing through the royal city was moist and cold, seemingly whispering secrets of the future, but no living creature could understand its tounge, it only brougth even more tension. Officially the city was preparing for yearly festival, however the mood was somewhat gloomy and sleepy... Then it started with a wind that suddenly started to blow wildly, from outside of the city walls entering through the gate, in the crowd of people was hiding royal attendant, his robes were tattered and torn at the edges, purple color was so washed out that it's owner looked more like a beggar than a noble and his partially ripped bandages hanging loosely from his arm and half of his face added to that picture. He was recently disgraced and severly wounded due to accidently and partially revealing some kind of political scheme going behind the royal family... To add to his misfortune he could feel the hunting gaze of the predator on his back the entire time. He was fidgety and pale with dark bags under his eyes, paniced gaze was frantically searching the sea of people, but when he turned his head... then he saw him, a man in dark robes and wearing a mask who smirked at him showing his theeth. Royal attendant felt chill running down his back, he found him...! After a moment he started running, squeezing through the crowd, that grumbled and yelled after him as he tried to put a distance and possibly loose his hunter in the mass of random citizens. He ran as fast as wounded person could, he knew he needed to reach the castle, but he had a feeling that screaming for help would not help him, he twisted his escape route as much as he could. From time to time he looked behind his shoulder only to see that the person in dark robes was still tailing him, not fooled by his attempts to loose him... Swearing under his breath he passed through the most guarded street only to collide with a cart filled goods, despite yelling of the wronged merchant he quikly got and without a moment he resumed his running. Royal attendant made a lot commotion with his attempt to escape his hunter, he saw that the guards finally realized that something was happening and gave him some hope that he might menage to reach the castle. Now as he neared said the castle, he was wheezing, lungs burning from insufficient amount of air, legs cramping from all of that running, but just as hemenaged to pass through the less crowded area... He was almost there! Almost! He wanted to cry from the relief when he saw the main entrance to the castle! Oh heavens, give him a chance! He was so SO close! At first there was some kind of deaf sound similiar to muted glass shattering, not even second later he felt air knocked out of him as powerful wave of energy had thrown him in the air and slammed his back onto castle walls, for sure breaking some of his ribs and bones with a loud thump! Person in dark robes who was suspending the royal advisor against castle wall slowly walked out from the crowd, the individual was wearing a black mask - half man and half beast covering his eyes, altough only one eye red could be seen peeking from it's cover, his moves where elegant, almost lazy as a cat he calmly made his way to towards the royal advisor. He looked at him with some kind of disgust and regret written on his covered face. Without saying a word he thrown a spell at him and the poor beaten up man had bursted into dark purple flames, he was screaming loudly in his agony thankfully his screams died quickly, but the fire didn't stop until the only thing that was left from the existance of the noble were his smoking ashes falling onto ground, soon enough the wind had discarded them... The guards and rest of the people could only helplessy watching the whole accident, all off this just right under the royal family's nose and they could do nothing about it... After all of this chase, people could observe the stranger a little better... He was clothed as if he was some kind of royalty and he gave off also some kind of weird royal and dominant aura, besides the mask framed by long ink-black hair he was wearing some exspensive looking black feather cloak with dark feathered right wing peaking proudly from underneath it and long tunic reaching his ankles in shade of deep pruple adorned with silver magnolia pattern. He also had a sword and it seemed that he had burn scars on half of his face that was adorned with the beast half of the mask, that half for some reason completly covered his eye...Rain finally started to fall and the stranger exhaled in some weird painfull way as if he was relived of something... Turning his sight in front of him, he saw His Highness that was giving him some kind of unbeliving looks and was pointing his sword at him. Stranger had straightened his back for a second he was cougth off-guard, but menaged to school a neutral expression. Now this will be interesting... -Please, put away your sword Your Highness...- voice of the masked man was husky, as if he also had burnt throath, but strangely it was also melodic, that coiled similiar to soft, warm scarf, however the material was rough. The sound of the stranger's voice was for some weird reason familiar, but it was impossible to tell where and why it was like that.     Please don't kill me if there are any mistakes or typos, I had writersblock for a long time and only recently I was able to write something... Also I write irregulary, so bear with me! Hope you liked it!

“~ Winters, Knight,Birdseye,Vernum,Ghost commence Operation Safe Haven, an shut down the project. We have all 12 greens~”“Sir, what is the passcode”“~Turn the light rightside up, don’t let it go dark~”“Copy that General, commencing operation estimated time completion 6 hours”“~*cut off*~”“You hear that boys, Operation Safe haven is on. That means~”“BLACK SWAN BABY!!!!”“Winters may you tone it down a bit”“Sorry bird”“It’s alright Winters, lock your lead, get ready in 5”… … Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 23:24:52 Year 2112Middle of woods… an underground facility…   “Dr. Samuelle we have intruders in sector B3!! We need to get you out of here”“No! We can not let them destroy Project Octagon, My lifes work is all here.”He shouts in extreme panic, his drive to finish is “almost finished project” is defensive about his work. Samuelle has been creating this for 25 years. He wouldn’t let it all go through in vain.“Sir they are in sector B1, Once they arrive at the gates of Sector A2 we are done for sir”The commander in charge of the guards attempts to snap Samuelle out of his fantasy.“FUCK it I have an idea, give me five mintues, Predator tell your men to hold out at extreme capacity at A3.”“Yes Sir”Predator radios his men to move to A3 an setup defensive positions. While Dr. Samuelle works up a backup plan.Shit shitm, I really hope this gives me hope in seven years, “~Starting Injection in sector D5… injection completed….~”“predator , lets get out of here now!”“~All Men retreat back to Emergency Evacuation routes~”Dr.Samuelle and  predators' squad runs out through a secret passage. Leaving behind Sector A1.…   …   “Vernum open the gate, Birdseye scan the sector for any human signatures, and ghost an winter's go around Sector A and clear it up, remember our motto.”“Let the Older Perish, as the younger learn”“Roger that Cap”As the three members enter sector A1, they see a large octagon some sort of portal.“~What the hell is this?~”“I don’t know Vernum… it isn't our mission to find out. Shut this thing down, birdseye plant the explosives on each of these pillars including the portal”“Roger”“Knight, you have to check this look”Sector D5 Nursery Online pods 68 out of 72 Current offline Pods  M00609 : Dead F00700B : DisabledM00701 : Disabled M00702A :Diabled U00~~~~ : N/AU00~~~~ : N/A   “What the fuck… Vernum save all the information you can even try to get the deleted ones.”“Yes sir.”   Jesus what is project safe haven..     

"What is this smell? where am I?" . Alfred opened his eyes and saw disorderly surroundings, filled with waste things scattered everywhere and a strong odor to make him first notice it. "Why I could breathe again?" He asked himself as he still can't believe what is happening this time. 'If I remember correctly, I am already dead.' 'Why am I here…' 'This must be a sort of dream." Alfred covered his eyes using his right hand and after a second passed, he retracted and opened his two glowing eyes again. "What...?" "What is this?" "Did… I really?" He gazed at the hands in front of his eyes and soon noticed were callous and dirt stains on it swirled as if snakes or something but certainly it was filthy in the sight. "What? a soiled hands?" Alfred knew it himself that panics had a great toll on the body and he deemed it useless. "I should calm down my mind and why I am afraid if am already dead?" HOAH! Alfred when he first opened his eyes, the narrow light was the first that welcomed him and he was definite that he was in the alley.  'In an alley?' Alfred focused on the sound's of the light of the alley and soon the voices of countless were heard by him. The voices outside the alley: "Wawajuawburakabriki." "woekobrokwosomeorkoro." "Berokoenekrokroekshroks." "HurokrokwnekmroSmokriosk." Alfred's body stiffened after he heard the foreign words.  The voice was audible, His eyes dilated of surprised.  'This language is foreign to me... Is this what we called Transmigration like my classmate talking about and soul going into another world? no, let's not think about these nonsensical thoughts.' He calmed down his mind and accumulated all the memories he had on Earth from a kid to a teenager before he died.  'There's once one of my classmates said in the past that Main character in Japanese Isekai as what they called is that by blending your thoughts you can get your character icon?' 'Let's try it.' Alfred's face was no different than a stone's statue, with no subtle expression. He followed what his classmates talking about based on it. 'Accumulate your thoughts into one to get the So-called Character Icon.' He closed his eyes momentarily and after it, he opened them with a disappointment glittered. SIGHED! 'It doesn't work. No, I should try more.' He tried many times but the thing he wanted didn't occur, he could only smile. 'I tried many times and that is enough. forcing yourself to the things doesn't work is no different from a clown.'  'I've accepted my death, why I am here?' "My life had no meaning anymore to live, why I am given a chance to breathe again?" Alfred with a calm expression closed his eyes and continued to lay down. 'Let's just rest and let the world flow of what they are. I am already dead and I should accept it and this must be a sort of illusion or dream.' His eyes were closed for unknown times, suddenly fragments of memories flowed into his mind. 'What is this?' He asked himself briefly and his expression turned horror. Veins vivid on his head, eyes rolled and mouth salivating. URH! "This is so painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! panThis is so painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painfull! painful! pan." Alfred feels like thousands of needles pierced through his brain. His body was convulsing, moving uncontrollably as if possessed by a ghost soul. "I am already dead.. why need to experience this! This is so painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painfull! painful! panThis is so painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! painful! pan." Alfred's hands clutched on his head with his body moved uncontrollably as if his soul was tortured with eyes rolling and saliva flying out. His expression was not pitiful but quite eerie. Alfred lay on the ground for unknown times with messy hair and stains clothes finally opened his eyes and his mouth curved into a smile. "It was a memory of the owner of this body?" "I don't know if it's true or not, but I am quite  happy knowing some information about this world." "That process of rendering the memories is so painful. But If it is true, the pain was worth it. The memories seemed completely integrated into my mind but it was still unstable, I still can't peer at all the memories, but only a few. According to the memories, this world is named Grishia. A world where people could split the sea with its sword. A person could asunder sky with its branch A person could destroy a mountain with their fist. A World reigned by Strength and Status through energy is called Mana. The world deemed them a 'Lord' as of what they called, the unexplainable human who could break common sense if it's in my past world.  So this seems like a Fantasy world, my classmates always talking about. But why doesn't it have a character icon?  Sigh…. Presumably, I think it was more similar to Chinese that they always talk and even one of my classmates said 'You are Courting Death. ..... The hierarchy of this world had a realm and According to the former owner body Mom, the 'Lords' and 'Noble' treat humans as ants and they have greediness that ruined countless mortal lives. "No matter what world you are in, status and greed will always be there." Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Alfred was in profound thoughts, suddenly he heard sounds keep louder and louder. He washed away the thoughts that lingered in his mind and looked in front of him. He noticed five kids in 14s-15s arrived before him with ragged clothes carrying one pack of victual inside a brown wrap-paper leaking out a delicious scented smell and kneeling before him nervously. "Emperor Ballud… after laboring for many days and snatching this is what we got." "Yes.. emperor Ballud...Ballud." "Emperor Ballud forgives us. This is only we have a get, one pack of bread." "Emperor, next time.. please give us a chance.." "Emperor Ballud... Next time, we will double it." He saw the five scrawny youths nervously kneeled in front of him with eyes deliberately wanting not to meet him. 'According to former owner memories, these five kids' names were Alex, Miguel, Kheil, Rowero, Grado, and the former owner of this body was called 'Ballud Grisaia' as he named himself his surname to be the owner of this world, Grishia'.  What aspiring kid names himself like that? this body I owned features had very fat, had blonde hair and sharp teeth, and when it smiled it was creepy that there is even a scene in the memories where the carpenter beat him up to death because of creepiness when he smiled and this body had the trauma of adult that is why even though this body had a great body he couldn't used it because some uncle toon advantage of him. 'Now that this blessing presented in me. I should grasp this chance and find the truth if it was actually or not.' 'For now, to avoid some suspicion, I should follow what the former always does.' COUGHED! Alfred looked at them and he implied them through his raised left hand to hand over the food based on what the former owner always does. "I am quite hungry. Did you not understand?!" 'Acting arrogant is quite hard, but needed I had no choice.' He noticed they didn't heed as he gazed and made the kids nudge one of their friends to let him hand over the bread to him briskly. He knew the time was still a few seconds yet Alex immediately handed the victual, lest he is angered.  "Emperor Ballud.. where should I put this?" Alex said. His front sight now was Alex holding the pack of bread standing up before him with fingers showing a slight nervousness.  He looked at him, laughing inwardly.  'Hmmn. a nervous movement?  but seems suspicious. let's mull it after I fully get the memories.' Alfred's index finger pointed to the ground and Alex immediately understood the indication, but he asked: "My Emperor Ballud, are you sure?" Alex asked. His eyes right now were in Alex covered in sweats and even the four guys behind him as if they were facing historical Beast, quivered.   'The heat was immense to make them sweat.' 'The reason Alex asked was probably that the former owner's memories hate foods on ground situated and love food more when handed it as if he was the emperor. That's why even though this place is a slum, the former owner was still fat as a pig or more than that. These five kids just five days ago become his slave, as for the others, the former owner probably abandoned them.' Ballud witnessed his hilarious state presently, he didn't laugh nor showed an expectable motion like slapping, kicking, or feisty because he is no longer the former owner who lived earlier minutes ago and is blinded by his delusion to be an Emperor on this World. "Just hand it over here. You dimwits." Ballud did not know right now that Alex's face filled with surprise. The time Alex picked the pack of victualed was also the moment he prepared for his punishment. The new occurrence of Ballud made him stupified  Alex didn't think of it anymore as he said. "Thank you for forgiving me Emperor Ballud." Ballud received the victualed with his right hand and opened the inside; he saw numerous warm pieces of bread, fuming. ''Let me see if it's delicious.' Ballud retracted his right hand inside with two baby fist-sized pieces of bread in his grasp and took a bite.  'The bread had a good texture but bland taste with no sweetness on it as I felt like eating a dough. But it was better than eating wood.' 'It was bland but the former owner ate it as if there's no tomorrow. I should just take these two.' 'If I give these foods do they will show suspicion? no, they were idiots to notice it and I need them to gather more information. let's give them energy.' Alfred took a bite and while sounds out of his mouth, he threw the other pieces of bread at them. "You are all skinny. Eat it!" Ballund smiled and saw the five scrawny looking at each other in surprise. They still feared the former owner. One of them responded. "Emperor Ballud. Don't worry about us. We are healthy as ever and our belly is filled." Miguel said. Ballud eyes shone ruthlessly and glared at them.  "Ate or I beat the shit out of you?!" Ballund sure his voice was audible in the lug as the five scrawny felt chillness. They immediately picked the pieces of bread.  "Emperor Ballud, thank you for your blessings." They said in unison. Ballund didn't know that the five skinny fronts of him felt something odd about him. But now they felt it was just their imagination.   'How can a Creepy pig change into a good man?' 'You have one point for me pig for giving us bread.'  'There is no way a pig will change. A pig will always be a pig. Don't worry after Alex implements his plan. Hehe. Let's just act brother.'  Ballund continued to mull over this world's supernatural things and he didn't know that the five skinny scoffed at him inwardly. He had a vigorous and strong body that even one skinny their so-called leader had admitted defeat. He stood up and walked forward and the five skinny petrified to the spot. 'Does he is going to beat us?'. 'Damn. He must bait us to eat the bread.'. 'If this goes on I will end up dead, hahaha.'. 'The pig only knows how to eat and do physical abuse.'  'This fatty is such an abuser.'  He stopped in front of the five scrawny and didn't do anything which greatly surprised them. "Get the fuck out of my way!" He just yelled and they immediately jolted and moved from his path.  Only when he had trodden forward, did he slowly witness the tumult earlier ago. He took the last step and his silhouette emerged from inside and he began to look at every nook of the street. A radiance shone in the sky, he looked up. "What.... is this!" He looked above and saw an inconceivable phenomenon with his own two eyes. Sweat mold from his face was considerable and his knees collided on the medieval road. 'Is that a sun…..Radiance of sun as if peeking at the whole  world.' HOOAH! HOOAH! 'Even though I saw it in my former owner's memories, the ignorant emotion inside my soul, unable to defend myself but going frightened made me. Based on the radiance I could theoretically conjure that the sun is the same size as Jupiter or more. If that something cracked the sky, and completely destroyed what would happen to this world? In all my life, this is the first time I witnessed such a scene and this is the first time I showed fear. With the second sun's size as earth and the first was so astronomical, it was quite a view, two suns. As for why there are two suns, I don't know.' HOAH! He strengthened his breath and stood back, wiped the sweat with his thick arm and he smiled with delight at the beautiful scene you could only find in medieval times. 'Oh, a Carriage?' He saw numerous carriages going back and forth, a greengrocer side by side with fruits new to his mind, and people who looked like Western people but dressed more like medieval times walked with sisters, walked with friends, and walked with their family, happily. 'The people here are quite lovely but behind them was so scary.' 'Even though their smile was pleasant to the mind, behind it, the famine memories were deeply ingrained in me after the memories merged in my mind.' 'I am neither a hero nor a devil. I am just also a human who will do anything just to see a glimmer of my dream.' Pak! He was engrossed on the streets and had forgotten one of the memories from the former owner.  Suddenly a little girl tossed an egg at him with her tiny hands scaredly. "Father, father. A creepy beggar, he is going to eat me, Father." The little girl said. He jerked and saw a Middle-aged man behind the girl glaring at him and starting to walk at him. "Why this beggar here? You ugly beggar get the fuck out of this Street." The father said. He stood quietly and in front of him was the Middle-aged man jostling his two-finger with knitted eyebrows on his chest. "Why are you still won't back off?!"The Father said. "Father beat him up. The beggar is malicious, he must be a very bad guy." The little girl said.   He looked at the Middle-aged man who bent his arm and seems exerted strength. Bam! He felt fireflies fall on his chest while the Middle-aged man left to deprecate as if his fist landed on solid cotton. "You think you are formidable. Received this you fucking beggar." The father said. 'The human here is quite hot-blooded.' He was vexed by his behavior as he was just standing on the spot watching the beautiful things pass his sight. Pak! Ballund's large hand slapped the Middle-aged man who looks like her father on the face and he stumbled to the ground, perplexed.   "You beggar dared to punch?! You fucker." The father said. He noticed the Middle-aged man who received his slap indignantly rushed forward at him with bruised on the face. Pak! He slapped him again which made him fall to the ground once again.  "Come fight me if you have the guts." Ballund glared at the Middle-aged man fiercely as if could make him melt, he gulped down a few drops of saliva and left appalled. "The heat of sun amplified their pyre head ." He didn't know that the people who witnessed the scene on the side, immediately took a few distances away from him as if they were scared of something. 'Oh My God. I forgot one of the memories.' Ballund could only smile and ponder about it as he still does not have a way to get the information of the Lord. "The sun was so tantalizing and which means I could find again the vestige of my dream here? hahaha. I am so happy right now." That beggar is laughing, he must be crazy." Passerby said. (1) "Let's go now." Passerby said. (2) "Call the guards and tell them the people of the slum got here." Passerby said. (3) "Wait, I will go there." Passerby responded. (4) Ballund heard the voices and promptly went back to the alley while his head shook with aversion. 'The one color of human, even though we are the same species, they treat the slum people with great contempt as if a mortal enemy.' 'The guard must be coming right now. I should escape as soon as possible.'

No one would expect for a Monday to be exciting there always boring bleep! Bleep! Waking up Is always a pain ugh why can't they Have night school whoever made school be in the morning is definitively on my shit last along with Santa something about him breaking in houses and eating everyone's cookies just seems offensive I stumbled on the shower Making it blazing hot

I made out with my girlfriend Becky white tasting her cherry lip gloss on my lips sliding my hand on her butt mmhm she moaned and grinded on me we were in the stall of the girl restroom furthest to the back It was our meetup spot when we would skip a class the door bust open and as i perred through the crack of the door in walked Beckys arch nemesis Samantha Webb (also my side chick, sue me)  with waist long brunette hair blue eyes and a killer body she was definitely a stunner after we hit it off last summer vacation when Becky was on vacation we had had our fun on and off she was arguing with some girl about who was the best kisser or something stupid like that Becky slammed open the stall door  "this place stinks like garbage all of a sudden" Becky "OH they really should get that toilet fixed looks like a little shit just popped up eww" Becky pushed Samantha  and Samantha grabbed her hair trying to pull her to the floor I of course stepped in  "Ladies let's not resort to violence " "Shut up Bret" Well we'll look what we have here aren't you kids supposed to be in class  Oh no it was the dean ms.Rolston We were getting detention for sure 

"Why am I doing this?" I murmured as the truth of reality sunk into my still-stunned mind. Someone recently told me that people who are afraid of their own actions and the weight of their own consequences are compelled to use whatever means at their disposal to ensure their existence. Both their rationality and what is genuinely important to them are lost to them. Such things as common sense and moral convictions are also nonexistent. Much like a cornered prey, if I say so myself. If one were to consider it in that light, one may conclude that this marks the beginning of the manifestation of a brand-new type of evil within a person's soul. Such emotions are, in my opinion, common. I also wouldn't really have anything against someone who kills someone else to survive. I would really commend them for making the effort to accomplish it themselves just to be welcomed by the ultimately meaningless society they would live in. What if, however, they killed someone I know? Even if I might feel a tiny bit of bitterness, I would just accept it as a cruel fate. Anyway, it seemed to me that people began to lose sight of the concept of survival as they continued to abide by the society's established framework. Those who had forgotten focused on the much more prevalent issue of money. Lives had been lost for the sake of money, and all of them had always been proven to be in vain. In conclusion, anyone would engage in potentially evil behavior. Even I was considering doing so myself lately. However, there are still plenty of ethical ways to make money. Nevertheless, even though I haven't started anything yet, everything seems bleak. It's like every option I traverse would inevitably end in a dire outcome. As I was gazing at the withered leaves, I heard a chair creak near to where I thought it was close enough to my range of hearing. I forced myself to tilt my head in the direction of the sound and was met with my gaze being obstructed by something else. "Nate, I forgot to give this to you yesterday," a voice with a recognizable calm tone stated. "...Hmm?" A paper...? No, this is a job ad. It's just what I am looking for. I silently perused the data without making an attempt to ask any questions. As I finished reading the entire material, everything came into focus for me. A week ago, I had to use the most practical card I had, which was to ask a friend for assistance. I never expected anything out of Wilson, but he really tried his best to find something and got the results needed. It wasn't much for an option since part-time employment has been a rarity these past day because of the recent hiring freeze.  Then again, whether or not I am hired for the job truly depends on me, so nothing is set in stone yet. "You really outdid yourself right now... and it's also my favorite restaurant, to boot. Wilson, you're one miraculous guy." I firmly replied, and snatched the paper out of his hands. I also made a second observation. He seemed much more repulsive-looking to me than he had the day before, as though an angel had blessed his character. "I spent a lot of time looking for anything at all... I thought I wouldn't be able to get anything but I was really happy when she introduced me to this hiring ad. Seriously, thank you," he chuckled. Thank you...? Also, that was a 'she' I heard, wasn't it? “Huh?" I jerked my head, horrified at this abrupt about-face. There was unquestionably a problem that was sensed in the deepest part of my mind. My intuition was constantly making wild guesses, but I wanted to have his response to corroborate them. His smile emerged after he laughed. I had slanted my brow as far as I could, so I was being drawn in by whatever it was that made him feel so pleasant. He retrieved his phone from his pocket. When he showed it to me, his finger sweeping and swiping had stopped in an instant. I was in a real deep shock. No, it was more than that, I got the distinct impression that everything had been snatched from me. It seemed like a natural calamity had broken out, and I was the only one who was most severely affected. We had been friends since our freshman year, but who would have thought that the friend who wanted to put his studies first for his parents would now be attracted to the opposite sex? Oh my goodness, people do change with time. But that actually only makes my pain worse. I would be considerably lonely and isolated than I am right now if he finally found someone who could be with him. But even then, if I had sought for a part-time job on my own instead of Wilson, would I have been selected? Unquestionably not. I nearly screamed that should have been me but then I remembered how much inferior I was to Wilson Harrelson. I'm not going to hide from this realization any longer. I mean, he is my friend. I ought to express my highest praise for him. "Wilson, that's incredible!" I painfully said with a good enough smile. "I always thought you would find the ideal person for you." "It took you a while to speak, hehe. Indeed, Nate. This lovely and sexy lady, she is my girlfr—" I interrupted him by violently coughing like a dying person who was on the streets after the disease finally got up to me and did its final damage.  On second thinking, perhaps I'm not even qualified to stand in front of this protagonist. I feigned a smile at him before getting up from my chair and walking to the exit, saying, "Seriously, thank you, Wilson! I'll be getting ready for the work right now." I added, "Tell the teachers that I'm so unwell that I think I might pass out," and then I walked out, stooping down like an elderly man or rather like a person who lost a duel and had no more dignity to hold. Wilson is extremely fortunate. Due to his outgoing personality, he not only doesn't have to worry about money problems but also has a lot of friends. He has a good basketball game sense and is well-liked by the ladies, and a girlfriend on top of that. I truly can't believe he's there next to me. They must be right when they say that opposites attract. I think I'm left with a lot of unfortunate folks as a result. Sigh. Should I really put survival ahead of other things? Why can't I love life as much as those around me? Why did this have to happen to me? Why should I be the only one who has to bear this burden? I couldn't stop having questions in the back of my mind. I was aware of the solutions to all of them, but the immorality of my upbringing has just left me full of uncertainties and hopelessness. I still made the decision to continue living because I still have a lot of things I want to do and see. Life really is a huge hassle. I can laugh with all my might and energy at my situation, but I can't laugh when things finally start to fall apart. This is why I can keep my cool because I am still on the verge of my problem. I realized I had arrived at my destination after breaking free from my monologues. Okay, focus yourself, Nate. This is a make-or-break situation. Anything I do here must be approached with a daring spirit. If I don't do my best right now, I'll be homeless. I overwhelmingly became confident enough to overcome my anxieties before going inside a restaurant chain known for its cheap and delicious more of a meal snacks. Macdid. I once ate here and seriously had an amazing experience, so I am one of the witnesses to prove its grand holiness.  “Excuse me. I heard this place was looking for a part-timer?” I said with a smile while pointing towards the job advertisement paper as a reference. After hearing that, the staff member openly guided me towards the staff room.  I was then told to wait for the interviewer to arrive and assess my suitability for the position. Whatever the case may be, the wait is exacerbating my anxiety. It's difficult to overwhelm something I can't persuade unless I kill it with all my might. My heart began to beat faster than I had anticipated. After all, it was my first time. How I had managed to go so long without working was... well, it's a long story. I'm not sure I want to think about it. "Sorry for the delay," said by a person who appeared to be the interviewer and was dressed in the same yellowish-red uniform as the staff member on the counter.  Naturally, he displayed a polished and professional smile, just like the rest of the personnel. My eye perceived it as being quite ominous. They must grow bored of smiling all day, right? "Not at all, sir," I replied with a smile. "In fact, I should be thankful that my favorite restaurant is looking for part-time employees." Back then, I remember reading a book on how to do a successful interview. It was unlike any book I had ever read since it was so thorough, despite the fact that the outcome of the interview truly depends on whether the person conducting it is biased or abusing their position of authority. There was no need for me to thoroughly condemn or deny the book because it was obviously compiled by successful specialists who worked together to produce the book. That gave me the impression that if I continue to follow the book, I will be successful in landing this position. "I'll ask you the necessary questions right away. Is that all right with you?" he asked formally, with an appealing and professional smile, implying that refusing is not an option. "No problem, sir," I said right away. “Oh. Please forgive my forgetfulness. We should begin with an introduction. My name is Lim Marackel, and I am one of Macdid's many proud employees. I'll be your interviewer today," he said, holding out an open palm, waiting for it to meet mine. So I embraced his tender open palm with mine before introducing myself, "My name is Nate Bright. A second-year student at Marizon State University. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Even though the conversation was brief, one should not be casual with their words. Maintaining a cheerful outlook and showing tremendous respect at all times is considered a must in this situation. According to one theory, the way people introduce themselves might reveal a lot about them. It was crucial to maintain my composure since one slip-up and he'd be against my employment here. “Ahem. As you are aware, we have been preparing for a major event next week. This is why we've been looking for more employees, particularly part-time workers such as students. Without a doubt. If any of the permitted part-time workers performed exceptionally well, we would permanently hire them as part-time workers," Lim explained with gestures, swaying like a conductor in an orchestra. "Basically, sir, the part-time workers who are permitted are temporary part-time workers? " I added to express my satisfaction with his explanations thus far. "Exactly, Nate."—he said, as he snapped his thumb and middle finger to create a popping sound—"Well, I still have a lot of organization to do… and I do like your attitude, Nate. So I was thinking of wrapping this up right away with the last question." Although this pace is really unusual, I have heard of similar situations. Most interviews also depend on the interviewers' mood, and if that mood is negatively impacted by impatience or another issue, they may rush to complete the procedure. This also works if the candidates for the interview have the greatest resolution, determination, and attitude. If I recall correctly, the likelihood of success would be greatly increased as a result. Knowing the likelihood made me even more confident in my strategy for success, and I screamed in my mind that today would go down as the best day of my life as I concentrated on asking the final question to end this interview. "Why do you want to do a job like this?” Lim questioned, his arms clenched as he awaited my response. I also recall this one in the book. "I wanted to work on this sort of job, no, I've always wanted to work on this type of job because I've always wanted to help Macdid succeed more than the other restaurants. Additionally, I want to spread the same joy and delight I experienced when I was eating here with other people. I want everyone to enjoy using Macdid to the fullest! "I said, giving it everything I had. "Nate Bright, you are clearly the right candidate," Lim clapped, his mouth wide from shock, and when he was about to say something, his phone rang in his pocket and cut him off. "I'm sorry, Nate. The restaurant manager would contact me this evening, according to what I had been informed... but I did not realize it would be at this time. Would you just allow me a moment to answer this call?” He continued to smile broadly as he asked. "No problem, sir.” I uttered with careless thoughts, knowing that I had already won, "I'll wait right here." I  responded, and he stood on the corner having a hazy chat. I made the decision not to worry about the conversation. However, I somehow felt this uneasy feeling that if I don't finish this right away, things might go the other way. Seriously... I need to quit thinking too much. "But, sir!" A loud interjection from Lim was heard, but a faint one-second buzzer indicated that the conversation was over. He returned to his chair, but his face had been erased. I understood what this face looked like, but I refused to accept it. Fear had taken over my mind, and I had no choice but to inquire. "...Is there anything wrong, sir?" I inquired, feeling hopeless. "I... Nate, I'm not sure how to put it into words. Just now, the chief announced that all of the seats have been filled and that no more are required." You've got to be kidding me. Time has stopped. My mind could not find the right way to accept the harsh reality. My heartbeat intensified as if it were the only sound in the world. My forehead began to sweat gently but uncomfortably. Each and every part of my body, including my heart, head, arms, legs, hands, chest, ears, eyes, nose, fingers, palm, back, thighs, ankles, and insides. They were all wailing in misery and burning with rage at the idea of being rejected and the unfairness of the world. Even the face I am currently making is unknown to me. "It's very unfortunate. Nate, please accept my heartfelt apologies on behalf of the entire crew. I will definitely make a way for you after hearing your determination in your words. I can't let your hard work go to waste! " Lim lowered his head, attempting to calm me down on the inside. Unfortunate. Is this the accumulation of my efforts? Everyone is working hard to live comfortably and earn enough money to achieve their goals. So, how about me? Would people simply dismiss me as unfortunate and go on with their lives if I died for the benefit of those around me? Is this how people prioritize their own survival in this world? Everyone realizes that when they gain something, they are stealing it from others, but they continue to do so. It was because they needed to survive. …I just have to accept it, no matter how painful or unjust it is. This is, after all, life. Unaware that I had exited the building, I was not even interested in hearing his excuses. I couldn't even manage to think since I was so out of it. I'm done; I suppose I'll have to... let's not give up. Not until I feel like I'm going to die of starvation. Crowned with the mightiest dejection, I pulled my battered down legs inside a small, seemingly dilapidated cafe. Above, plastered on a silver plate, was the name Ataraxia. Although, quite the opposite when it came to appearance, I was curious whether the inside truly was worthy of its name. I am welcomed with tranquility when entering the building, especially in contrast to previous violent activity. Although it was calming, it was unsettling to see how little this place actually had. The majority of the furnishings must have been removed or may not have been there at all. Is this location presently operational or not? It also made me think of my apartment, which has a very simple design. But if that were the case, something must be amiss with this place. I read in a book that a cafe without anything to brag about is a revolting display of failure. Perhaps this location is also failing. Is this location also unfortunate, then? A girl dressed in a maid's uniform appeared out of nowhere and said, "Welcome...?” "Are you greeting or inquiring?" I questioned casually. "It doesn't matter. What exactly does this cafe have to offer?” "...C-Coffee, omelet, milkshake... and uh, err... Charlotte, c-could you please assist me?!" she screamed for help as she looked at a door, which had to be the kitchen door. That's cute... but, that was embarrassing even for me. “Huh? Can't you see I'm hard at work over here?"—she came out of the door, and when she saw me, she gave me a deep look—"Hmm? Sophia, is this your friend?" she narrowed the gap between us. "No way, Charlotte. That's a customer... W-We've finally got one!" Sophia said timidly, awestruck at having accomplished such a small feat. "...Wait a minute, huh?" She was perplexed. "We haven't even started yet, Sophia!" Why are you opening the cafe without my knowledge?" Stunned, she rubbed her brow with her fingers. "H-Huh?!" "My bad. I had no idea this place was still being cleaned. "I'll leave now," I said, and Charlotte grabbed my arm as I was about to leave. "How can we leave a customer with nothing? This cafe may still be new, but that doesn't mean we can't offer anything edible. For the meantime, sit down." Charlotte looked me in the eyes, determined to show me what their cafe is made of. "...Fair enough," I played along, because I had nowhere else to go anyway. I sat next to the counter and was graciously handed a free coffee and omelet for being the cafe's first customer. Since I didn't want to consider how the city had changed, I think I just assumed this place had always existed. I inquired in an effort to learn more about this site, realizing that the food would taste awful if I continued to eat it in silence, "Oh, so this property is brand-new? The restaurateur is who?" "Hmm, this is Charlotte's cafe. If you're asking about how I managed to work here, well, we were childhood friends. It was Charlotte's idea to start a cafe for some reason and I decided it would be fun to help her. Oh. And don't worry about the legality of the cafe's operating permit; Charlotte took care of that process previously... hehe, thought you might want to know." That's too much information you are giving, Sophia. "But just you two? " I said. "First and foremost, do you have enough money to run the cafe properly? Not only that, but do you believe there is any point in doing this? ” "In my opinion, you're asking too much, stranger; haven't your parents taught you to make an introduction before getting to know the person you're speaking to?" Charlotte got in the way. I'm at a loss for words in response. I mean, no one other than myself had been able to teach me how to live. "...Well, my bad," I said as I ate the omelet. My name is Nate Bright. How about you, two? ” "My name is Charlotte Faucher, and this is a childhood friend of mine—" "S-Sophia Presley! Nate, nice to meet you," Sophia introduced herself. I replied with a smudged smile, "Same here... so, can I hear your thoughts?" "It's just the two of us. I never really thought that far ahead, so I am trying to start small. Besides, I still have to prioritize my university, and money isn't an issue at all."—she sat down next to me—"I had always wanted to start my own cafe when I was a child. I am just delighted to see that I had finally acted upon my dream. Err, what was the last one again?" "Why are you pursuing this? You already have a sizable financial cushion. In addition, it is impossible for you to maintain both the cafe and your schooling. It would be counterproductive to make your consumers unhappy by reducing the timetables as a result. A seemingly insignificant query might mean a lot to someone trying to comprehend something, and like me, others may be wondering what will become of this diner. At the very least, I would have been motivated to use the shop as a means of helping the clients and obtaining employment if I had known the potential of the establishment. She took a brief moment to organize her thoughts, and said, “I don’t care about money and all that. That doesn’t mean I am rich though. Nate, have you eaten food from your parents?” "I suppose." I went along with it. "How did you find it? How did it feel to bite into their food? ” "There was some effort put into them. And, of course, the flavor that can only be felt from their food... unique. That's exactly how it felt." And, once again, spout things that not even I have managed to feel. I just wanted to conceal it. If I started being honest, the flow of this conversation would be disrupted. Also, I'm curious as to what she's attempting to accomplish. “Right?!" Charlotte erupted in a fit of elation. "My parents used to feed me various dishes and flavors, and I can tell exactly how amazing and inspiring they were. I wanted to do the same thing as my parents. With just a low price, I wanted to impart this flavor that is unmatched by anything else. A flavor that is only present here in Ataraxia. “That is a really lovely goal, Charlotte.” Sophia commended her. I smiled. “I like your spirit, Charlotte. If you ask my opinion about the future of this cafe… Well, let’s just say you’ll truly make a lot of people relish the taste of your food.” There wasn't any coffee left to savor before I realized it, but I attempted to maintain the illusion that there was. I was through. I've run out of things to say. I wanted to work here, but I soon realized it wasn't the right kind of place to work for. Charlotte treated this as a hobby, a selfless thought from her inspiration. This is her dream. I don’t intend to have anything to do with it. In contrast to her, all I care about is surviving. How shall I put it? I've spent my entire life trying to get by. I don't want to try to be with someone whose dream is to aid people who want to survive. Additionally, she already stated that she would offer the meals at a low cost, therefore, this cafe had no plans to hire any staff members in the first place. This area's space is decent. This is ideal for attending to some clients and preventing Sophia from becoming overburdened. I suppose I've settled down sufficiently to even begin thinking a lot. Who, after all, wouldn't? I received a complimentary coffee and an excellent omelet. Perhaps I'm not that unlucky after all. This reminded me that while I can, I'll discover some solutions. "I appreciate the food, Charlotte, as well as your greetings, Sophia. Now I must leave." I approached the door. "I had forgotten that I had work to do. I don't know whether we will meet again, so I'll say this once. Good luck." I said before waving my hand and moving on.  In the back of my mind, I was pleading with them to tell me to work for them while tugging on my arm, despite the fact that reality had proven to me how foolish it is to dream. As I shut the door, I was reminded of how little my life is worth. Apathetically, I gazed at the sky. The thought of failure made my body shiver, followed by the bitter scent of death. I still had a lot to do, and my mind knew it was time to take action on this issue of mine.  I walked down a trail, fighting a sad battle just to survive, and loneliness poured into me. Motsu I'll be editing this chapter shortly after following with the release of Chapter 1! In the meantime, it's time to take my granted respite :3    

This story is one chapter ahead on my Patreon! Prologue “I haven’t seen you before. You new around here?” Vandal Savage spared the bum only a quick glance. Then he turned his attention back upon the ruin that surrounded him.  Ruin. There really was no other way to describe it. Hub City was infamous for being little more than a corrupt, pathetic, shell of a city. But the outskirts? Out at the very edge of the rotting metropolis had to be the foremost example of American urban decay. And at night it looked even worse. This neighborhood was a slum. Hollow carcasses lined the cracked and patchy road, the remains of homes, stores, the things that made a community. Over there, Savage could see a small, burned-out market. And there, he could see what used to be a school. A sad waste. Savage frowned. This would be his new project. He would turn this derelict neighborhood into someplace that was worth a damn. “On the contrary, I’ve been around a very long time.” The living relic finally spoke. He turned his steely gaze onto the hobo that waddled up to greet him. A scrawny vagabond who looked like garbage and smelled worse. But even a wretch like him could be useful, Savage knew. His next words were blunt, harsh. “This town is a slum.” The hobo snorted, more incredulous than offended. “Of course it is.” The man shot back, smirking under his long, unkempt beard. “What, have you been living in a cave?” “Not recently, no.” Savage answered honestly. But the hobo only gave another snort, thinking it was a joke. Savage said nothing more, moving along the sidewalk. He took slow, measured steps, drawing his eyes along the empty, dilapidated homes. He made sure to get a good look at each one, reminding himself that each was once home to a couple or a family. But no longer. For years, they had been left to rot. The towering brute gripped the amulet in his pocket. A supposedly ancient necklace set with a glossy black stone. It had come into his possession the previous week, just a few short days ago. A gift sent from a mysterious friend, so said the letter it had come with. A prized amulet that held the power to control minds. And indeed, the amulet pulsed with primordial magic power. Savage could feel it. But other than that, he knew nothing about the damned thing. Even more curious, it came to him right on the heels of his most recent defeat at the hands of Justice League. Savage had escaped capture, but the same could not be said for his allies. And his resources, his technology, the wealth he had built up under his current alias, all of it had been confiscated. The amulet in his pocket was now Vandal Savage’s only possession - other than the clothes on his back, of course. Savage could use it for revenge - use the amulet to destroy the so-called heroes who defeated him in battle. But that was getting ahead of things. Small steps, that would be the smart choice. The disciplined choice. Vandal Savage was no simple-minded barbarian. He had spent a thousand lifetimes learning from the mistakes of mortal men.  First, he would need to test the amulet out. And his testing ground would need to be isolated - or otherwise far away from the attention of any authorities. He needed a place no one cared about - he needed people no one cared about. And that brought him here.  Hub City. The bearded hobo came shuffling up beside him, but stopped dead once Savage turned his eyes on him.  Enough nerve to get close. Just not too close… “I don’t mean to sound like some weirdo, but you’re a pretty big fellow.” The shorter  man said, his breath coming out as a faint fog. His observation was correct, if a little odd. Savage was clearly the larger of the two, standing a full head-and-a-half taller than the skinny hobo. And not even the heavy coat the immortal wore could hide away his bulk of muscle. Savage said nothing and the hobo took the silence as permission to continue. “You wouldn’t happen to know where a guy could get a bite to eat?” An annoying question. But it was one that Savage had anticipated. Even with his assets frozen and seized, he still had enough money to buy some food - he had learned long ago that it helped to keep some cash money on hand just in case things went sideways. From his other coat pocket, Savage drew out a small half-loaf of seasoned, herbed bread. The bum’s eyes lit up as Savage offered it to him. The hesitation the shorter man once possessed was gone, replaced with the excitement that came with sated hunger. He took the bread with a grateful smile, wolfing down his first bite with gusto. Vandal Savage simply watched. He had experienced the same kind of hunger before. Thousands and thousands of years ago. Back when the Earth was young, wild, and untamed. He knew better than any man living that food was never free. Savage didn’t believe in charity. The bread was an advanced payment for loyal service. And Savage was going to collect. “How many others live here?” The immortal asked. The hobo chewed his mouthful of bread, lips smacking. Savage’s face remained like stone. Finally, the bum swallowed. “What do you mean?” “Others like you. Homeless.” Savage clarified. Then he added, frowning. “Destitute. How many of you live in this slum?” Savage may not have meant it as an insult, but the shorter man took offense all the same. But not enough to try and start something with the towering, immortal caveman. Still, the faintest hint of self-respect that the hobo showed in that moment was enough to rid Savage of his reservations. Even impoverished, the other man had some pride. Savage could use that. “I can’t say, really. Quite a few, I suppose.” The hobo answered after a moment. “Then make a guess.” Savage shot back. His voice was firm, authoritative - something he perfected over the millennia. Just by using his own presence, Savage could make lesser men fall in line. Tonight was no different. “A few dozen.” The hobo gave a small shrug. “About fifty or so. I don’t know for sure.” Fifty or so. Vandal Savage could work with that. He’d laid the foundation for empires with less. Savage nodded at the other man’s answer, satisfied. “You have your own tribe of homeless.” He noted, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. Savage hadn’t meant offense, but it was taken all the same. The hobo gave a small scowl… And took another bite of the herbed loaf of bread. He spoke with his mouth full. “Hey, times are tough. Especially in Hub City. Even worse here than it is over in Bludhaven, according to the paper. Can you believe that?” Savage stared at the hobo. Then he looked over at the run-down shell of a house just behind him. “I can see it.” Savage answered bluntly. The bum snorted out an obnoxious laugh, bits of bread falling from his mouth. The immortal felt disdain churning up inside him, but kept his face like stone. “That’s the Hub City charm!” The shorter, scrawnier man guffawed. He turned and gestured towards the row of empty, ruined houses. “Where else are you going to get scenery like that?” Many places, Savage thought bitterly. Everywhere in the world you can find poverty like that. But they don’t all have someone like me. The time for chit-chat was done. Savage decided then that it was time to start building his new kingdom. But first he needed his loyal subjects. And he had just the tool for the job. “Do you have a name?” He asked the hobo. The scrawny, bearded fellow was taken aback for a moment. To Savage, the shock made sense. How many well-dressed men - men who looked like they made something of themselves - ever bothered to learn more about the man who lived among trash and refuse. The shorter man blinked, mentally shaking himself out of his stunned state. “Name’s Eddie.” He answered hesitantly, like he was giving up a part of himself. He was, Savage noted, but not in a way that he should fear. “How would you like a job, Eddie?” Savage stood tall, chin held up. He wanted to show that he was serious, that these particular words carried a particular weight. Eddie the bum stared up at the towering Vandal Savage… and laughed. “You making a joke?” Eddie gave the immortal a wide, incredulous smile. Savage could see then that the other man was missing quite a few teeth. “No.” Savage answered quickly, firmly. His voice was like steel, unyielding. His words were heavy with conviction. Enough to kill the other man’s laughter in his throat. “Work for me and you’ll never go hungry again. You have my word.” But even with the iron certainty in Savage’s voice, Eddie was hesitant. Savage could see it clear in the other man’s eyes. He was debating with himself, surely: should he trust this strange man. Were their roles reversed, Savage knew he’d feel the same way. Eddie shook his head, backing away a couple steps. “Nah. I know how this story goes. Bum gets offered a job, the next morning he wakes up in a tub full of ice and his kidney is missing.” Savage frowned. It seemed his skill in persuasion had slipped in the last century. He would need to work on that. It was most fortunate then that he had the amulet, wasn’t it? “I don’t want your organs.” Savage said flatly, advancing on the retreating bum. “Just your obedience.” Vandal Savage drew the amulet from his coat pocket, the glossy black stone glimmering against the light of the street lamp. He held it up, right in front of Eddie’s face. That was how the letter said to use it.  The letter turned out to be truthful. Instantly, Eddie the bum went still, his eyes going wide and glassy. His arms that he had held up defensively fell to his sides. The shorter man stared at the amulet as it swung back and forth under Savage’s hand. The black stone had him transfixed. Mesmerized. “What…?” Eddie murmured, unblinking, unmoving. “What is this?” “Will you serve?” The words came from Savage’s lips more like a demand than a question. The immortal watched the scrawny wretch, awaiting his answer. Savage knew what the answer would be, but he wanted to hear it. “I… I will serve.” Eddie gave a faint nod. Savage gave a small huff, the slightest bit impressed. Satisfied, he lowered his arm and clutched the black stone tight in his fist. “Good.” He said, a small but very pleased smile on his hard, severe face. “Now bring me the rest of your tribe. Tell them I offer work. Food.” Eddie blinked, wincing. He rubbed at his temple, but otherwise seemed no worse for wear. The bum narrowed his eyes at the mass of muscle before him. Savage noted some anger.  “Do you want me to tell them about… that jewelry you got?” There was a hint of distaste in the shorter man’s voice. And his tone: accusatory. Curious.  The amulet afforded the wielder control over subjects… but it didn’t suppress the subjects’ personalities or emotions. At least not entirely.  Very curious. “No. They don’t need to worry about it. Now go.” Savage commanded. Eddie’s face twisted into a sour grimace, but he gave an obedient nod all the same. “You're the boss, boss.” He said. Then he turned and left with his orders. Savage had almost forgotten the thrill that came with domination. The sense of triumph a man got when he wielded uncontested power. No, Savage thought with a grin. Not a boss. I’m going to be much more than that.

His head spun as he forced himself upward. He was laying on some kind of cold stone, as he could tell by the chill running down his skin. Judging by how much of his body was affected by the chill, he also guessed that he was nude… and yet a strange warmth filled his being. As he focused his vision he was finally able to make sense of the world around him. The stone floor was actually smooth marble, elegantly designed. There was an intricate golden symbol on the floor, one that he lay in the center of. It unnerved him, a little bit – the idea of laying naked on that symbol seemed like some kind of cult ritual, a black sacrifice, and the symbols woven into the design only reinforced that idea as much as he might try to discard it.. But the emptiness of the room was somehow even more oppressive. There were two doors that led inside, smooth wood covered with literal gold inlay, or at least that was what it appeared to be. The designs on the door were less like a symbol, though, and more like simple decoration… which was somewhat calming. The walls around him were some kind of obsidian tiling, black and so reflective that he could clearly see himself as well as he could in the floor beneath him. He realized something, then. As he struggled to figure out where he was, how he had gotten there, why he was naked… none of it was registering in his mind. He had no memories of what this place was. Or any place, for that matter. He was drawing a total blank, except, one thing… “Hadrian… my name is… Hadrian…” as he said those words out loud to comfort himself, a few other hazy facts seemed to drift by. He was… twenty. Something. Twenty-four? That sounded strangely right, but no more than any other number in that region. He could see in the polished reflection of the floor that he had black hair, and he recognized his own face in the floor, but none of this was bringing back any real memories, not anything tangible. There was a tapping sound coming from the walls. Quiet at first, but rapid enough that he couldn’t miss it. It steadily grew in intensity until, with a great creaking sound, the double doors both flew open so harshly that they slammed into the walls. The sound of wood crashing into crystalline surface echoed throughout the tiny chamber, so loud Hadrian’s ears were like to rupture had he not covered them. The person who had thrown them open shocked him far more than any level of noise, though. He didn’t recognize her, though even that would’ve been a true miracle given her appearance. It was a woman, as her body shape and facial features. She wore a red corset with a white strip at the top that seemed to be one-piece with a white skirt that flowed around her legs. Unattached, or so it seemed, were two long red sleeves that hovered around her arms as if lifted by a nonexistent breeze. Across her face was an expression that mirrored his own shock, but hers were fixed upon him, while his could scarcely stop moving, taking in her… extra features. Across the top of her head, two fox-like ears were rapidly twitching to the side, as if she could not stop them from convulsing. Behind her, six pearl-white tails of a length almost equal to her height were dropped to the floor, motionless, but when she had come in they had been spread out and rapidly flowing behind her. And above her shoulder, hovering around her body seemingly randomly, was a glowing blue ball that didn’t appear to have anything inside of it, but rather to simply be a floating ball of light. “It’s… it’s you!” she shouted, pointing almost accusingly at him. Hadrian looked around, as if he believed someone else had suddenly appeared. As he did so, he realized first that he was the only possible person, and then a moment later the exact situation that he was in. Hadrian instinctively covered himself as best as he could, both hands diving between his legs, but the woman paid no mind. She rushed over to him, going down to her knees beside him and placing her hands on his face, pulling it from side to side and examining every inch of him. “So much like the scripture, but… so different. So unique, so… real,” she said, breathing the last word. Although she was manhandling him just a little bit, she did so softly, almost tentatively. Every movement she made and even the words she spoke were handled with care, as if she thought anything could break him. The tails behind her were now flicking back and forth madly, in the same patterns over and over again, but each individual of each other. “I’m sorry… do you… know me?” He asked, uncertain of how much to reveal. As much as he wanted to ask more direct questions, this woman was acting incredibly erratically, and he wasn’t getting over her appearance any time soon. “Of course! You are the Lord, the one we’ve waited so long for! My sisters will be so incredulous… I cannot believe I was the one to bear witness to your arrival, after so many millennia upon millennia! I cannot express to you the joy this has brought me!” She clasped her arms around him, and for a moment Hadrian lost himself in that warmth. Then her tails curled around him, and though their softness was welcome, he could not rightfully embrace her without feeling a great degree of discomfort. He pushed her away gently, and looked her in the eyes with what he hoped was confusion rather than the mild tinges of fear he was starting to feel at all this. “I’m sorry, but… none of this makes sense to me. I don’t remember anything. I mean… anything. But from what I think I remember, I’ve never seen anyone like you. I mean, really, anyone with a tail, much less six of them,” Hadrian said with nervousness. He wasn’t sure what exactly he was feeling. Fear at the loss of his memories was at the forefront, but then there was some tinge of happiness and relief that the first person he’d met apparently cared for him, or at the very least was friendly. But then, her appearance, and everything she was saying just brought back that nervousness and fear. “Oh! You… you don’t know about us? Oh my, the scriptures said that you would be unlearned in our ways, but nothing about this... you truly remember nothing?” “Nothing. I… my name is Hadrian. I think I’m… twenty-four. Maybe. Other than that, total blank until I woke up here. Uh… naked.” She seemed to ignore the last part, but she did put her hands back on his face. “Hadrian… a fine name. But can you really be only twenty-four? Such a childish age for one so prophesized, but perhaps age is meaningless when one is delivered without memory.” She was lost in thought for a few moments, gazing into his eyes as if expecting to find her answers there. Then, abruptly, she stood up and gazed out toward the hallway. When she turned back she had a toothy smile, one of what appeared to be her actual fangs barely hanging out of her mouth. “Come with me. I will show you everything.” She held out her arm to Hadrian, but he couldn’t help hesitating. What if this was the wrong thing to do? That’s what his brain kept asking him. He wasn’t sure that he had any other options, though. Realistically, he was trapped in a building that he had no way to navigate, with a creature (possibly creatures) of a mystical nature. Perhaps choosing to trust in the woman who at least acted friendly wasn’t such a bad idea. Hadrian grasped her hand and pulled himself to his feet, while still covering himself with his left hand. “Could you… could we find some clothes first?” Hadrian asked, a bit embarrassed to even bring up the fact that until now she had seemingly ignored. She looked him up and down, a confused look coming across her face. “Why?” Okay. So she understood he had no clothes. Apparently she just didn’t think it was as big of a deal as he did. “I… don’t feel comfortable walking around like this.” “Why not? If it is the chill in the air concerning you, we are not going outside, do not worry yourself milord. I only wore mine because I had been cleaning the grounds, and it is so troublesome to keep myself warm in the late autumn. Perhaps you would be more comfortable if I removed them?” Hadrian couldn’t believe her casualness. Nor his luck, but given what he was in the middle of, there was no way he could even consider something like that. No, he needed focus, and to figure out where he was. “I- I just- never mind, you’re right, let’s go.” Hadrian tried to force the issue to the back of his mind. If she was so oblivious, why should he bother to point it out? He couldn’t remember much more than what clothes were… maybe they weren’t normal to worry about so much? As blurry as his memory was, that didn’t sound right. Then again, could he really trust a collection of hazy memories about societal norms? There was a living, breathing fox-girl in front of him, and his brain was telling him that the latter was a lot more unlikely than the former. The hall that they walked into was naturally lit. High windows went from the ceiling to the floor, with only grooves in the stone holding them in place. They were intricately carved, and everywhere he looked there were amazing designs. He thought about commenting on them, but decided it was better to try to keep his focus on what was happening around him. Looking out the windows he saw more stone walls, ahead and perpendicular to the hall they were in. He looked down and nearly stumbled in surprise – they were almost a dozen floors off the ground! He tried to look back, but the stone protruded too far past the windows to look at the room they’d come from. Everything he saw looked like medieval construction… but surely not twelve stories or better off the ground? There was another set of double doors; these ones were noticeably less intricate than the last pair, but they still had a damned lot of decoration on them. They made their way through them and into a hallway that opened up in three separate directions. The woman turned left and gestured around them with a sweeping motion. “This is all the Lord’s Quarters,” she said softly, but loudly enough for him to hear. “We’re going to the Living Quarters. On the other side of this, down the right hallway, are your personal quarters for study, research, and recreation. With enough facilities to accommodate any guests you invite to stay in the Living Quarters.” “How many people can stay in the Living Quarters?” Hadrian asked, suddenly curious as to how large the castle really was. “Counting your personal bed? A hundred and twenty-five,” she said as if the number were nothing. “A hundred and twenty-five?” Hadrian gasped, shocked. “Is that not enough? Oh, my, we can always have more built! The convoy of drakes that visited last week should only be a few hundred miles away by now, surely I can reach them-“ “Hey,” Hadrian said, moving forward and grabbing the wrist of the flustered fox-girl. She perked up but made no movement to stop, and she immediately ceased her rapid words. Hadrian had come to realize something by the girl’s actions – she wasn’t exactly nervous, but she was just as bewildered as he was. It was putting both of them on edge. “Calm down. I don’t need more, that many is… more than I can understand. Why does the… Lord have so many?” She looked at him in the same curious, uncertain way as she had when he’d asked about his clothes. “Why would he not? It was said the Lord would call many to live with him, for as much or as little time as he pleased, and none would deny him that, so why run the risk of running out of beds?” “I don’t remember anyone, though,” Hadrian said as she began walking again and he strode quickly to keep up. “Who would I invite to live with me?” “That’s entirely your decision…” there was a sudden shift in the tone of her voice as she continued. One of her tails swiped to the side, slowly, and grazed his cheekbone. “You are, after all, the Lord. And I said, none would deny an invitation you extended… especially a simple servant.” Hadrian tried not to notice the action, but he did. He barely responded, though – at the moment, his mind was so overwhelmed with possibilities that he couldn’t handle much more. Instead, a question came to his mind that had actually been slowly ebbing its way forward the entire time. “What’s your name?” For the first time, the fox-girl looked genuinely surprised, and – was that a blush that colored her cheeks? “The Lord honors me,” she murmured, actually turning and giving a small curtsy before she turned back and continued on. “I am but a humble servant, by the name of Eyarra. It deeply pleases me to find that the Lord is such a caring person. Perhaps if you wish, we could get to know each other better?” The tone did not escape him. He wondered what brought it out, from a woman he didn’t even know. This time rather than changing the topic he just ignored her. The hallway they were in was very long, and they had passed several doors, and even a spiraling staircase that travelled both up and down, but eventually they came to a third set of double doors – a pattern if ever there was one – with the same sort of decoration as the one that had closed off the chamber he awoke in. “This is your bedroom, Lord.” Eyarra opened the door and gave another curtsy as she gestured inside. Hadrian walked in and looked in awe at the massive, crimson room in front of him. The walls were alternating tapestries and windows across half of the room, while the other half was mostly dominated by a large, semi-circular bed. The windows were long, but unlike the hallway did not go all the way to the ceiling. Instead they started about two feet off the floor and went up about eight feet higher, tapering off for the last two feet to points. At the top of each of the four large windows was a mural that looked like it was made of stained glass, but much more detailed; rather than fragments it seemed to be one solid piece of glass where the colors simply stopped when needed. The colors were also a thousand times more detailed than you could get with even the smallest pieces of glass available. Despite the distance, he found he could quite easily see what each was depicting. From left to right each held a single figure; one was a normal-looking human, or so it appeared until one noticed the very tips of her ears were quite pointed. She was standing in a lush, green woodland. The next one over was a woman not unlike the one who’d led Hadrian here – she had long black hair, with two very visible pointed ears on top of her head, and seven black tails flowing down out of a long kimono. She was surrounded by a strange aura that covered most of the background. The third portrait had, he realized on closer inspection, one main figure – a woman with black wings unfurling from her back and a long, pointed tail, and who was wearing next to nothing – and three other figures in the background, standing behind her. One had similar wings, but reddened skin and what appeared to be scales over most of her body save her white-ish stomach. Another had the tail of a snake jutting out from under her waist. The fourth was barely visible, but appeared to have long, feathered wings, and was perched on the shoulders of the two in front of her. Hadrian gazed at each of them in wonder for a moment before turning his attention to the final portrait. The figure here was indecipherable – despite the detail in the rest of the glass, which showed a crystal-clear lake by a long meadow, the figure itself was nothing more than a human-shaped white blob. Only the definition on each of the fingers and the individual strands of white hair convinced him that it was part of the design at all, and not a worn or broken piece of it. Each of the tapestries also bore several designs, but they would’ve taken the better part of an hour to examine in full, given that each one was nearly four feet wide and the designs were surprisingly intricate. Aside from the bed, there was very little furniture; only one small wardrobe, as well as a full-length mirror a short walk from the oversized bed, directly next to one of the windows. But despite the emptiness, the majesty of the room was overwhelming. Yet somehow, he still felt at home. Though as far as he could tell he’d never been here before, something about the room was… familiar. It eased his mind and helped take some of the stress off of his shoulders. For the first time since he awoke he was letting something other than his questions take over his mind. “This is all very… extravagant. Beautiful. I can’t… why is this mine?” Hadrian was having difficulty putting this thoughts into words, but he tried as hard as he could. “I don’t even remember who I am, or anything about this place. How can so much be mine?” “Everything will be explained in time, I promise, but I don’t wish to overwhelm you. Come, let us relax ourselves a little more. You must be feeling a great deal of stress if you truly remember so little. Perhaps I can help you relieve some of it?” Hadrian was preparing to respond when something hit him in the back of the head. Something… soft. And light. At first, he assumed she’d playfully batted at him with one of her tails, something he found surprisingly funny, perhaps just because of the way picturing someone with tails was still so strange in his head. He turned to ask why she was so forward, when he realized it wasn’t her tail that had hit him. It was one of her sleeves. The dress followed shortly after, but it landed at his feet rather than on top of them. She didn’t strike a pose, didn’t have any more comments for him or even tempt him with a sensual touch as she had before. She simply smiled at him, and only for a moment, then proceeded to the bed, laying down with her legs over the edge as simply as if she were just taking a rest from standing for a few moments. Hadrian stared at her, unable now to stop his eyes from wandering. Her soft raven locks were haphazardly thrown across her shoulders, flowing down the pale, flawless skin of her chest. Her breasts weren’t large, a small B-cup at best, but they were firm and stood up even as she lay there. She glanced down and saw him staring at her, but her only response was to smile. “I’m glad to know my body pleases you, Lord…” she said with a glance downward. Hadrian hadn’t noticed until then, but he was rock hard. He might’ve been for a while. It appeared that while his mind was only just beginning to calm down, his body was more than ready to forget his troubles. Hadrian blushed and moved to cover up his erection, which surprisingly was the first thing to get a real reaction out of the woman. She pushed herself off of the bed and moved over, gently placing her hand over Hadrian’s and moving it away. “You are embarrassed. Why? Have I shamed you?” With the two of them naked, Hadrian’s reaction only strengthened as she pushed herself so close to him that her breasts rested against his chest, and he could feel the heat from her body against every part of him. She seemed almost unnaturally warm. “I’m just… not comfortable like this. We don’t even know each other.” She more gently touched his face, while wrapping around his lower half with her tails. The soft caress against his lower back was surprisingly effective at calming his tense nerves, despite the added proximity. “I know not what happened to your memories, Lord, or where you came from before you arrived here… but I know that here, in Rafflesia, we do not carry shame for our bodies, or what we do with them. We take great pride in the pleasure that our bodies can bring, and the connections it can strengthen. Do you find me attractive?” “I… I do,” Hadrian said, unable to deny that fact, especially with her in such close proximity. “And I most certainly find you desirable. So, why should we not enjoy ourselves? It’s the most natural thing in the world.” She began to pull him by the arm and with her tails, urging him toward the bed. Hadrian wanted to say no, but his instincts had taken hold of him, regardless of his situation. He stumbled along behind her all the way to the massive, semicircular bed. When they reached the edge, she pulled his hand forward and twisted him around, causing him to land on his back and sink in to the softness of the sheets. “You’re still uncomfortable…” she said softly, trailing her hands down his sides. The motion sent chills up Hadrian’s spine, especially as she got a predatory look in her eyes. “…so just sit back and let me do all the work.” She went to her knees at the edge of the bed and spread his legs. His arms were at his sides where they’d tried to catch him as he fell onto the bed, so without his legs he was left completely exposed. Eyarra pulled herself closer and slowly began pumping him, almost teasingly. The effect was immediate; Hadrian twitched on the bed and sucked in a breath, overcome by the sensation that her soft skin gave him. “Awfully sensitive, aren’t you? I don’t know where you came from, but it must have been quite a while since you had any attention. Don’t worry, you’ll never have to worry about that again, so long as you remain in Rafflesia.” She stopped talking then, and put her mouth to other uses. While her hand pumped his seven inches of shaft, her soft tongue lapped at the head. She alternated between teasing his slit and circling the head with her tongue, while Hadrian lay his head back on the bed and closed his eyes, reveling in the sensations. Precum leaked from his tip, and each twirl of her tongue whisked away the thin fluid. Saliva began to leak down Hadrian’s length as she picked up the pace, her hand sliding effortlessly up and down with the added lubrication. Eyarra moved her head forward, taking in the entire head between her soft lips and sucking hard while her tongue danced around the tip. Her free hand snaked in between her own legs and rubbed her mound, already soaked with her own lustful secretions. After a few minutes Hadrian could feel his urge to climax rising. He tried to signal her, to get her to stop, but if anything his efforts only made her more furious in her actions. Her head bobbed rapidly, and Hadrian’s mind was a blur of pleasure as her tongue traced along the underside of his shaft. “G-gonna cum, soon…” he got out as she reached a new tempo. That was all he said, though, as in the next moment Eyarra forewent the stroking entirely. She pulled her hand off and opened her mouth as wide as it could go, welcoming his member deeper inside of her lips. Eyarra swallowed his shaft unflinchingly, continuing down until her lips touched the base. Hadrian felt the pulsations of her throat around his head, while her tongue bathed his entire length. The pressure that had been building was too much for him, and he spasmed against the bed as he tried to thrust his hips even deeper into the soft cavern. Eyarra felt the twitching and throbbing in his member, welcoming the fluid that suddenly spurted into her throat. Hadrian could see her throat convulsing as she rapidly swallowed every drop directly into her throat, shoving his member as far down as possible the entire time. It felt like her esophagus was milking him, and he couldn’t stop himself from shaking from the pleasure. When his orgasm finally died down, he felt the muscles around his spine in particular as the tension left his body. But there was no time for him to rest. Before he could say anything to the fox-girl, though, he felt her shifting at his feet. She leaped up onto the bed, landing with her legs on both sides of his body, her crotch hovering only millimeters above his member, which for some reason had not subsided in the least. “Mmm, as delicious as I expected,” Eyarra said. Despite how erotic she looked, with her fingers pressed to her lips, her look was one of genuine happiness. “They said the Lord would be pleasure in all forms… I see they were not exaggerating. Now, let us experience even greater heights, together.” She dragged her body from Hadrian’s thighs all the way up to his abdomen, and then back down. Each time that her heat passed over his member he felt soft wetness caressing him, intense with readiness. He endured it as long as he could, quite sure that he shouldn’t be so sensitive so soon after already shooting a load, but entirely convinced that he had actually died and arrived in some kind of Heaven. When he felt like he could take it no more he gripped her hips firmly, holding her tightly in place over his erect rod, and began grinding upwards into her. “Ah… I thought- oh, right there – I was going to do all the work?” Eyarra asked, for the first time showing the briefest crack in her attitude as the head of Hadrian’s shaft ground against her clit. Hadrian smiled at her, managing to put his worries behind him for the moment. “And I thought I’d never be having fantastic sex with an incredibly hot fox-lady… guess we’re both being pleasantly surprised.” “Mmm, not a big fan of ‘fox-lady’… call me a Kitsune and we can get to the actual sex part,” she murmured, grinding his crotch against him even harder. For a moment he felt her entrance parting around his tip, but then she readjusted her hips and he slipped free, once again sliding along her vulva and rubbing at her sensitive bud. She let out a gasp of pleasure, but for Hadrian the lack of penetration was starting to drive him wild. Hadrian lost himself as he started to shout out what the woman wanted to hear. “Fine, you’re a sexy, beautiful, hot Kitsune, and I want to fuck you so badly right no-“ Hadrian gasped as she suddenly raised herself up and adjusted his member, the abrupt embrace of her womanhood so overpowering that he thrust upwards in reflex. Eyarra moaned, and Hadrian felt her clench so tightly it was like her entire body was shrinking. He’d wanted to start slowly, but she took the reins again, and was more than ready for him. She started bouncing rapidly, practically drooling on his chest as her mouth hung open in an expression of sheer ecstasy. “I… ah, always knew the Lord would feel good…” Eyarra said in a half-scream as she tried to maintain control of her voice. As the minutes wore on her pace never shifted, maintaining that steady and rapid motion that kept the pleasure growing for both of them. She rose and descended so fast Hadrian couldn’t feel each thrust, all he knew was that between the friction and the Kitsune’s unnatural heat it felt like his dick was starting to melt into the pressure. Despite the fact that only moments earlier he’d had what may very well have been his first orgasm, Hadrian was already experiencing a rapid climb in pleasure. Eyarra didn’t seem to be taking any kind of slow build-up with him either. Her tongue was barely staying in her mouth as she leaned forward to clasp both of his hands, thrusting them onto her firm boobs and squeezing to make sure he got the point. Hadrian surprised her by leaning forward, letting her focus on the bouncing as he took both breasts into his mouth one after the other, licking and sucking at her nipples until she screamed with joy. “I-it’s been too long, gonna cum, gonna-“ The warning meant for Hadrian was cut short as Eyarra burst into a high-pitched scream that surely carried through most if not all of the castle, no matter its size, as she clenched down on him in a rhythmic manner. Being milked in such a way, feeling almost unnatural in its euphoria, Hadrian was pushed past the edge as he jerked forward and further into Eyarra’s depths. His mouth left her compact tits as he let out a quiet moan, his hips jerking erratically as he poured every ounce of himself into her. There was a shocking amount for it being his second in less than an hour, and white cream began to slowly leak from her as his orgasm started to subside. She collapsed against him, driving them both to the bed with her breasts pressing firmly into the side of his face. They were both quite covered in sweat, not to mention the bodily fluids coating their lower halves, but despite her rapid gasps and the fact that no other part of her moved, each of Eyarra’s tails continued to caress both of their bodies in very sensual but non-erotic ways. With her on top of him it was mostly his face and legs that got the attention, but they didn’t neglect his sides either, nor any part of her back. Hadrian had expected her to rise eventually, but she seemed perfectly content to lay with him, holding him close and tight. Despite both orgasms, he had yet to subside, and his rod remained firmly embedded within the Kitsune. Judging by how she occasionally shifted slightly to move him around inside of her, she was both aware of this and completely fine with it. “That’s… a hell of a welcoming party for a man who has no idea where he’s even being welcomed to,” Hadrian joked, not sure what else to say after a sudden encounter like that. “Party? Oh, heavens, this is just how we say hello around here,” she said, with a smile that Hadrian couldn’t even begin to read as to whether she was joking or not. “The party doesn’t start until you meet the Council. Then we can have some real fun with you. Until then, let’s just enjoy the time we have together. Now, I’m feeling ready for round two, how about you?” There was a good chance things were going to get very complicated for Hadrian in the near future. Finding himself without memory, in a world he may or may not have existed in at some point in the past (and probably didn’t, considering he was apparently expected to arrive - not return - at an unspecified point) couldn’t possibly come without complications. Then again, if the rest of the people here acted even remotely like the Kitsune, he was likely to have a lot of encounters like this in the future too. Hadrian decided he was both aware of this, and completely fine with it.

"So, I suppose we should begin your intellectual lessons, yes?" "That would... probably be for the best, yes. Not that I haven't enjoyed these past few hours," Hadrian said, laughing a little bit, mostly out of awkwardness. Despite the wonderful bed, the long and fulfilling night he'd had, and the deliciousness of the meal they'd just shared, he was still not quite used to the lack of clothing. He wasn't even sure if it was that abnormal, given his lack of memories, but it certainly felt that way. If it wasn't for the table they were sitting at preventing any chance of seeing below the waist, he probably would've been blushing every time he looked Valeera in the eye. Of course, given how much of the tall elven women was still above the table, he was having a hard time keeping his eyes at head level anyway. "I assure you, the pleasure has been both of ours," Valeera said with a smirk. "But that can wait, for a time at least. Now, what exactly would you like to start with? Personal matters, like myself? Perhaps the history of the Lord and what we know about you? Other than those you'll need to pick a specific topic and start there; unlike that Kitsune, I have no interest in trying to teach you everything we've ever learned at once. It'd take far more than the month we have for one thing, and for another I'm sure you're not as interested in each topic as the next. So I'll let you pick." "I don't even know where to begin, but... tell me about yourself, would you? If we're going to be spending the next month together, I'd like to know a little bit more about you, personally, before we study the world." "Very well, I think I can manage that much," she said dryly, putting down her cup. "Eyarra, could you possibly remove this for us?" "I don't think Eyarra is-" The doors opened before Hadrian could even properly object. Eyarra strolled in with a cart, her hips swaying and a bright smile on her face. Her eyes were nearly closed, though Hadrian could see them flitting back and forth over the room with interest. "I do hope it was to satisfaction," Eyarra said with a swish of her tails. "Juuraa was injured in an experiment earlier this morning, so I assisted with the preparation of the tea." "Was she the only one in the kitchen?" Hadrian asked out of curiosity. "Oh, no, we have four others," Eyarra replied as she whisked all of the dishes and trays back onto a cart. "But with the castle servants, the Lord himself appearing, and twelve more guests, they're a bit out of practice preparing meals for this many people. I simply wished to keep things running smoothly." In moments she'd gathered everything and then vanished out the door, no doubt taking all of them toward the kitchen. Hadrian wiped at his forehead in shock. "She's very dedicated," Hadrian said toward Valeera. "Of course. She's the keeper of the Lord's castle and grounds, the head keeper at that. Eyarra takes her position and the prestige that comes with it very seriously. Even with a baker's dozen new inhabitants, I'd be amazed if we see so much as a stain anywhere within these halls for more than an instant." Hadrian shook his head and laughed. "What does she get paid in? Because it's certainly not enough." "The way she works the job? No, it's probably not." Hadrian looked out the window, staring out across the city, wondering how many people there were. "So, the Elven Ophanim? What exactly does that entail?" "A lot of boring paperwork, really," she said with a smile. “More often than not it's all about research proposals and land management. I'm the head of the Agricultural Experimentation Committee in our land - that means I need to not only approve any new experiments but determine how to best divide up our lands. Given the size of the Elven lands, it's quite a sizable task, and since we produce most of the food for the other races as well, we cannot afford to poorly balance our experiments with nature and our simple farming for more than a season before it starts to affect everyone." "I see. Well, that's impressive to say the least," Hadrian said, looking into Valeera's eyes. "But let's hear a little bit more about you. What do you do when none of that requires your attention?" She looked up toward the sky, rubbing at her chin. "Well, aside from the matters of policy, I obviously enjoy agriculture, both in and out of my professional duties. The central government doesn't meet very often, but we're still required to be able to remain in the city at will. Unlike most of the others I simply choose to reside here permanently, so... when I'm not too busy I tend to my personal garden. I'm also a fan of the theater here, but I'm afraid to say it's been quite a while since I saw a thrilling showing." "Any close friends in the city?" Hadrian asked, looking outside. "I assume all the members of the High Council must have those who look up to them, if nothing else." "Oh, most certainly. Rafflesia City is one of the most understanding places in the entire continent; the population is about 500,000, and all but a thousand or so are mixed-race couples who choose to live here. If anyone is going to overlook a status or race, it's those who reside here." Valeera took a long second to stand up and stretch before sitting back down. It gave Hadrian a moment to think about something that really should've probably bothered him a while ago. "If I'm the only male, how exactly do you all reproduce?" Hadrian asked, leaning forward and resting his head on his interlaced fingers. "As far as I'm aware, that requires a man. Or have you all been alive since this world was created? You seem to be rather immortal." Valeera laughed long and hard, a somewhat uncontrolled one compared to the others Hadrian had seen. Hadrian raised an eyebrow, but waited until she brought herself under control. "Sorry, that was uncalled for," Valeera said as she dabbed at her eyes. "I just thought of your comment earlier, about how we wouldn't think to teach someone of your age a basic fact. I only just realized how right you are. We have always been able to reproduce; as immortal as we may seem, given enough time everyone eventually passes, though you are right in that it is rarely because of natural causes. There is a special ritual we can undergo, after which the two parties enjoy themselves as they would on any other day. It's almost one hundred percent effective, and it takes only a few minutes. Did you really have nothing like this where you were from?" Hadrian shrugged. "I guess I don't remember, if we did. The only way I knew of was for a male to release inside of... wait, uh... you won't..." Valeera stared into Hadrian's eyes mischievously. It seemed like she clearly understood what he was going to ask, but refused to budge until he finished his question. He managed to finally gasp it all out in one breath rather than stumbling over himself. "...AreyouandEyarragoingtogetpregnant?" Valeera smiled a little wider, but then she looked thoughtful. Her eyes trailed all the way to the ceiling, and then back down. After that she just locked eyes with Hadrian and gave a soft shrug. "I don't know. Anything's possible, I suppose. Normally it requires a ritual for us, but the Lord is an entirely different species compared to the average citizen. It's possible." "You seem awfully unconcerned." She rested her head on her hands and looked deep into Hadrian's eyes, her smile still present but being heavily outweighed by whatever it was bubbling up in her eyes. "I wasn't planning on it, certainly... but if I'm blessed with the Lord's child I certainly won't hesitate to embrace it." Hadrian rubbed at his eyes. "I wish I could return the degree of affection which you all seem to hold for me, just because of this position. Honestly, I feel like there's so much respect for a title I had no right to inherit." "Lo, for though he shall not understand his greatness, the Lord holds within him the power of all. There exists no foe too great, no burden too heavy, no journey too long for the Lord. Support him and raise him to meet his tasks, and he shall return the favor to the entire world." "That just seems... eerie," Hadrian said, laughing a little out of sheer nervousness. "Prophecy often is; perhaps you would feel more comfortable if I put it like this: We all know what you are capable of, what your unique physiology and skills can accomplish, and we respect both the authority that has been gifted to you by right, and the power that we believe you to hold. In time, you will find yourself worthy of both of these things." "You have a great deal of faith in me. Perhaps we could discuss more about the history of the Lord?" "Perhaps. But, if it were not too much trouble, I would greatly prefer that this happen after we return from an afternoon break." "Has it-" Hadrian looked outside the windows and noticed the sun had started to crest and fall toward the horizon. Between the meal and their conversation, it seemed like the afternoon really had come. How? Valeera certainly had a way of talking slowly, but he hadn't thought himself too enraptured by it to notice time passing. Something was strange about this place. "Fret not. Time is often lost when in good company. As I said, I would appreciate a short break to recover. Last night's and this morning’s activities were some of the more vigorous I've had the pleasure of experiencing in the past few weeks, and I'm afraid they've still left me a bit exhausted. If you wouldn't mind, I would very much like to visit the Lord's Garden. "Most of the castle, save for the area that we met in and some of the entrance hallways, have been sealed since its construction, but I've had a view of it on occasion. Another lesson on my species for you... elves are a very naturalistic people. We grow a very large portion of the kingdom's food, some eighty percent. We grow up in fields of bountiful harvests, we make our homes in the trees, we nurture and cultivate them until they grow to suit us. Our magical abilities are the only real limitation, and sometimes elves master the ability of cultivation without magical influence... or at least any real explicit magical abilities. We are at peace most when we are outdoors, preferably in an area we can be at one with nature. Soaking the rays up when laying naked in the grass, feeling the flowers around me reaching in..." Valeera gave a long sigh, but for once it seemed like she was more at peace than aroused. Hadrian nodded, smiling openly at her. “You want my permission, then?” She nodded. “Your word is required for me to set foot in any room except for the most basic. Do you mind?” “No, not at all. Please, go right ahead. You’re my guest – a little rest and relaxation is the least that I can offer you.” “Mmm, thank you. Sorry for leaving like this, but I love getting to enjoy nature wherever I am, and if I stay here I’m afraid there won’t be much relaxing, no matter how tired I am.” “It’s fine, don’t worry too much,” Hadrian laughed. “Well then, I’ll be off. Do be careful, Lord, I wouldn’t want you missing me too much. I’m sure you’ll find something to occupy you until my return. If you do wander, I’ll send word when I have finished my time in the garden.” Hadrian was uncertain as to which kind of lessons she had in mind. He’d find out later, he supposed. Until then, he was just going to have to find some other means of entertainment. A part of him wanted to visit the other council members, but given that he had no personal introduction to any of them, he wasn’t sure how awkward that might be. Well, supposedly there was a lot more to this castle than just the Living Quarters. Maybe he could inspect the library, or the research facility. Hell, if the garden was nice enough to sit in for hours, perhaps he could lose himself in there for a while. Assuming Valeera didn’t require privacy for whatever it was she was doing in there. Depending on just how much space there was, he could probably almost lose himself in the caste itself. So he left the bedroom behind, donning the robe at the door. “Unusual” or not, he didn’t want to be uncomfortable while he was out exploring the castle. His castle. Whatever. The crimson carpeting under his bare feet was soft, and as he moved he almost felt like he was gliding. The halls were mostly quiet. Occasionally, he would catch a sound from a stairway or a closed door, but he never ran into one of the High Council or Eyarra’s sisters. Admittedly, he did get a strange sense that someone was following him… Eventually he came to the four-way intersection that marked the end of the Living Quarters. Hadrian slowed down a little as he continued on, looking for any indication of the library. Unfortunately, the doors he was approaching were unmarked. He was going to have to open them up, one by one. The first was a circular, empty room with a tiled floor and walls. There was a large glass window and a door that Hadrian guessed led to the next room. Rather than going inside Hadrian simply proceeded to the next set of doors. One of many sets. There were… actually there were rather a lot of them, at least two dozen and a few stairways. In the next pair he found a full chemistry set, filling an entire room with various fluids and beakers. As he ventured forward he found a room entirely filled with glowing pink lines, a room that seemed to be entirely made out of slush, including the very soft floors and every piece of furniture inside. It took Hadrian nearly six more doors and passing by one of the staircases before he came to something that really drew his attention (and, honestly, that he felt safe even touching). As he pulled open a dark mahogany door, he saw nothing but shelves. Dozens – no , hundreds of them, stretching as far as the eye could see. Literally, because there were so many that he couldn’t see to the back of the room. Somewhere in the distance he saw a few spiral staircases dotted around, far enough apart that he couldn’t explain it. The doors to the room had been no more than a dozen feet down the hall from the last, but – but this room was easily three hundred feet wide! Probably more! It took Hadrian several steps inside before he was able to successfully shut his mouth. Every shelf was labeled. Some said things like “Agriculture”, or “Flora”, “Fauna”. Others seemed to take up multiple shelves – he saw a “History, Section 6”. Given the size of each shelf, he could only imagine how detailed they must have been. Hadrian lost himself for a while, weaving in between the shelves. There was a form of organization, but it seemed somewhat loose, maybe even random. Here, they were arranged by title; there, by author. Some places seemed to only be grouped into their categories, then chaotically strewn around the shelves. Past the halfway point Hadrian had lost track of the door. Not that he minded – he could literally lose himself for hours just by looking at all the titles; if he started actually reading, he might lose himself forever amongst the pages. Hadrian pulled around a bookcase labeled “History of the Elves, part 32”, and ran headfirst into something oddly soft. “Ouch! Oh, my, I’m sorry! I didn’t hear anyone come in I- I’m sorry, I don’t recognize you, who are you?” As Hadrian steadied himself on the bookshelf, he saw a particularly cute woman pulling herself up off the floor. She had short black hair in a pixie cut, and strangely odd eyes – her pupils were white, surrounded by blue irises, and then returned to white. She was wearing a full-length gray dress that clung tightly to her lithe form. The pointed ears led Hadrian to see her as one of the elves. “Uh, I’m Hadrian. Are you…” “The librarian, yes,” she finished for him. Suddenly she seemed very interested in the details of a book on the shelf. She pulled it free and began leafing through as if it required immediate attention. “I didn’t mean to disturb your work, I was just inspecting the building, and I stumbled upon the library, so I started looking for… wh-“ Hadrian paused, seeing that she was barely reacting to his words. “I guess I’ll just keep looking. Sorry again.” “W-wait,” she called out, her voice suddenly frantic. Her arm shot out and grabbed his wrist, then immediately retracted as she started to look rather sheepish. “You’re… him, aren’t you?” She said quietly. “Probably, there’s only one ‘him’ around here, right? What is…” Hadrian trailed off as the woman held out the book she’d been examining. On one of the pages was a picture that caused his jaw to drop slightly. It was a sketching of him. A scarily accurate one – right down to the haircut he currently sported, short as it was. Meanwhile, the woman simply continued to shyly beam at him, touching her fingers together in an apparent mixture of joy and anxiety. Hadrian didn’t really know how to feel about any of this – all that he knew was that until a few moments ago he’d thought nothing could shock him. “So… this has to be real, right?” Hadrian asked, staring intently at the paper. “I doubt you did this since I got here… and-“ “There’s more… Lord…” she murmured, pointing to several of the other books. “All of these contain sketches and even a few paintings of you. One or two even contain Eylans, magical portraits… would you like to see them?” “No, that’s… that’s fine,” Hadrian said quietly. He had no desire to see them, and he was quite certain that doing so might only unnerve him even more. “I believe you.” That was… wow. The realization seemed to hit Hadrian all at once; he stumbled back a little, almost tripping over his own legs. The librarian quickly dashed forward and caught him by the arm, then blushed profusely and immediately resumed her previous position, quickly returning the book she was holding to its shelf. He’d not really lost his balance as much as his legs had simply given out from the shock. If nothing else, that had made it real what was going on… the idea that everyone but him seemed to have some kind of clue as to who and what he was… that was a lot for a man to take in. “Are you alright? Should I send for Alonna? Perhaps the castle doctor?” The librarian had gone back to looking at him without meeting his eyes as soon as she released his arm, but her voice conveyed just how worried she actually was, despite it being almost nothing. “Does the Lord require assistance?” Hadrian jumped at the voice, and as soon as he did a hand was on his shoulder to steady him. Not the librarian’s, either. Hadrian spun, moving away from the hand, and it didn’t follow. Behind him was an elven woman, who he recognized immediately – by the weapon across her back, rather than her face. “Alonna?” Hadrian questioned quickly. “What are you doing here?” “I’m sorry, was I unclear before?” She said without hesitation. “I told you I would be following you from the meeting onward, did I not?” “You… did, yes. But I didn’t see you following me, or hear you until just now.” “Apologies Lord, there was not much time given for proper explanation as we swiftly ended that meeting. As your personal guard, it is my duty to be nearby at all times while you are within the castle, and to accompany you personally while you are in the city outside. If you choose to leave the city the guard will accompany you, of course. I remain out of sight unless called, however, as to avoid disturbing you. If you would prefer, I can stay by your side even within the castle.” “No, it’s- I mean, if you- you just surprised me, that’s all,” Hadrian said, brushing himself off. “I appreciate the help, but I’m fine. Just taking all this in is all.” “Very well. I’ll be back to my post then,” Alonna said, stepping around the bookshelf. Though there was utter silence as she moved, Hadrian suspected as soon as she was out of sight she was already gone. He halfway wondered where her ‘post’ was – and how she’d gotten to his side so fast. “I’m very sorry… I didn’t mean to shock you with all this. I’d heard the Lord had come, but I was so into the book I didn’t hear you come in, and I didn’t recognize you because of how flustered I was and… oh, this is all just a dreadful first impression isn’t it?” She had gone a little pale now, and Hadrian found himself missing the colorful blush. He thought about stepping forward to comfort her, but that would’ve only increased her unease. So he raised both hands in as calming a gesture as he could make, laughing a little to break the tension. “Don’t worry, I’m pretty used to being shocked, and I’m kind of glad someone didn’t recognize me, even if it was only for a minute. Honestly, I’m… not really sure about this whole thing yet.” “Well… I’m still very sorry. I should be taking more notice of this place, but only the High Council is allowed in here besides myself, and they meet so rarely I’m not used to visitors.” “What do you do here all that time, then?” Hadrian asked, his shock evident. “Oh, I make myself useful! I swear! I just-“ “Woah, woah. Take it easy. I just wondered, since nobody ever comes here, how you keep yourself from getting bored.” The servant breathed a visible sigh of relief. “W-well, I have to dust the entire library every week, so I normally spend an hour or two a day to work on that. Then I help with any research the High Council has asked of me, and afterwards I’m usually allowed to read the books myself, as a reward for being here.” “I can see how that would occupy your time… so many topics…” Hadrian said, gazing up at the shelf. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know your name. Care to share?” “Uh, I’m Liirie,” she said bashfully. “Pretty name. Not to sound rude, but what is different about your eyes? I’ve seen many new things since I came here, but your eyes being white stands out among them.” She opened the very things Hadrian was talking about to the point that he could see every detail. “W-well, I am a morph, Lord.” That threw Hadrian back a bit, but he adjusted surprisingly well. After all, they were supposed to blend in, right? “Do all morphs have those eyes?” Hadrian stopped for a moment, then realized he hadn’t really been close enough to get a good look at the eyes of anyone. Still, the way those pupils stood out he would’ve thought he’d have noticed them. “Yes, it’s one of the only foolproof ways to tell a morph. We’re quite adaptable, as you well know.” Even as she spoke, the librarian shifted into a slightly different form. The transition took a few seconds, but only halfway through Hadrian realized that she was turning into Alonna. The white marking on her forehead, the subtle scars on her cheek, and even the very muscular physique the elf possessed were all attributes fairly unique to the elven bodyguard. But true to her words, those eyes remained the same – though the irises shifted to the very subtly different blue hues of Alonna. “Is there any… taboo to looking like someone else? Someone you know, or someone who might see you?” Hadrian asked, oddly uncomfortable with the idea of Alonna watching him speak with another Alonna. “Depends on the person. Short term most consider it nothing more than a party trick, or a conversational point as I’m using it here, and so have little issue with it.” Despite her words Liirie was already turning back to her previous form. “As for long-term, most consider it a compliment. Still, it’s always best to ask, if you plan on adapting someone’s form in front of them. Alonna has already given clearance to most of the morphs that work in the castle – though I’m uncertain of her personal feelings regarding the matter. I deeply suspect that she simply finds it strategic for there to be others who resemble her around the castle, in case someone should ever think of attacking it.” Hadrian nodded, looking around but unable to find any sign of the woman. He wondered just how seriously she took her job. “Can I ask why you chose the appearance you have now?” Hadrian voiced without thinking. “Sure! It’s from one of my favorite books!” Liirie smiled brightly, hugging herself with joy. “It’s the story of an elf who wanders from the forests seeking adventure, but discovers a roving band of the Rift Creatures who are terrorizing a town, and has to rescue them. In the process she comes across a Kitsune whose parents were captured and enslaved by the creatures, they get discovered, and have to flee the Rift creatures to warn the Royal Guard with only each other to rely on.” She seemed to have a lot more to say, but Hadrian would rather read the book than get the summary, so he nodded thankfully to end the story there. “That sounds interesting, actually… but I have something I had in mind when I came here; could you help me find the section on magic?” “Err… which one, exactly? History of magic? Kitsune’s public knowledge section? Enchantments, Alchemy, Summoning, Runemages, Sealing, Evocation, Alteration, Transmutation, Enchanted Beasts-“ “Do you have a “for beginners” section, maybe?” “Magical theory. It should be over here,” Liirie said, smiling. She appeared a bit nervous, though, as she started off into the maze of shelves. Hadrian wondered briefly if she didn’t entirely know the place herself – he hadn’t asked how long she’d worked there, he realized in hindsight. But to her credit it was only a minute or two later that he found himself staring at a row of books she’d pointed out. “There are several about the basics of magic… do you have anything more specific you were looking for?” “Maybe just something about the magic in this world, what it’s capable of, what it’s typically used for. Stuff like where it comes from, how people use it in the first place… You know, just a general overlook?” “Oh, ah- you wanted beginner beginner, this is the wrong section for that.” She moved again before Hadrian could question her, darting quickly through the shelves this time. Hadrian struggled to keep up, and was thankful the journey was only a few over this time. She reached up on the shelf and pulled free a book, quickly handing it to him. “This should do,” Liirie said with a blush on her cheeks. “Why the strange look? And why’s this in a different section,” Hadrian queried, more out of idle curiosity than anything. “Uh… ah… um… this is the- uh, children’s section for magic.” The last part came out as nothing more than a whisper as Liirie tapped her index fingers together nervously. “Oh… so that means-“ “I’m sorry Lord, it’s the only place with the information you need!” Liirie suddenly threw herself down on a knee, holding her hands up. Her hair started to pale too – was that a natural reaction? “Woah, woah! Calm down! Stand up, stand up,” Hadrian said. Despite her fear, Liirie followed his words, regaining her feet and still hiding slightly behind her arms. “All I was going to say was that this is probably the section I should get most of my information from.” “You… you aren’t mad that I insinuated you needed to read from this section?” Liirie asked quietly. “No, why would I be?” Hadrian smiled warmly at her, and saw her tension ease slightly. “I already told the Council that I wanted to start slowly, learn from the beginning. This is probably the best place for me to start.” “W-well I’m glad I didn’t offend you,” she said with a long sigh. “Will that be all Lord?” “Yes, thank you. This should keep me occupied for quite a while. Is there a reading area?” “Err…” Liirie pointed backwards into the maze of books, down one of the narrower pathways. “Directly that way. Most of the major aisles here lead either to the exit, eventually, or to one of the various reading areas. Usually both, one at each end. That one in particular leads to a more secluded area, with an open floor. Useful if you want to try anything you learn. Oh, and… clap when you sit down. You’ll see why.” “Thank you so much Liirie,” Hadrian said, giving a quick wave. With that he was off, walking briskly through the aisle and staring intently at the book’s cover. It was a simple, leather-bound tome, but within it were apparently the secrets of things I couldn’t even comprehend. Whether they would explain it well enough to change that remained to be seen. The area she’d been referring to wasn’t hard to find. There were three chairs in a wide semi-circle, with a large open space before them. Hadrian picked the one in the middle and sat down, adjusting until he was suitably comfortable. “Now what did she say about clapping?” Hadrian looked around the empty surroundings, feeling a bit self-conscious. If nothing happened, he’d be quite embarrassed – it was one thing to only suspect that he was being watched, but now he knew Alonna was close enough to keep an eye on him throughout the day. Oh, Lord. Was he being watched when he was with Valeera? Hadrian tried not to think too deeply about it and clapped his hands several times, hoping to be rewarded for his trust. To his great surprise the effect was immediate, easily visible, and incredibly simple. In the center of the open area, a massive flame sparked to life, while the light around him (he wasn’t entirely certain where it came from) dimmed away in the immediate area, creating a shadowed and moody ambience for his reading. He had to admit, it did create quite the atmosphere. The room was hardly what interested him, though. Granted, he did find himself staring at the magical fire that had no source for a time, but it only made him more eager to delve into the book itself. And so he did, with great fervor. ________________________________________ Hadrian found quickly that magic was something that captured his interest from the first few pages. Though it was supposedly written for children, which may have helped, the topic was astoundingly entertaining. The book spent a little time mentioning the basics – how magic was a user’s essence manifesting itself in a physical (or at least metaphysical) form, and how the stronger someone became and the better they were at controlling it, the greater tasks they could accomplish. Then the book – as if it needed to – tried to entice the reader with stories of great magic users from history. From what Hadrian was reading, the vast majority of them were Kitsune. One in particular caught his eye – it was Qiala. One of the three Kitsune on the High Council. According to this, almost thirty thousand years ago she had… A lot of the words stopped making sense. They were foreign, and not easily decipherable based on context. Hadrian recognized Rifts from the High Council, though he had no idea what they were. Then there were the Forsaken, the Forlorn, the Forgotten… he knew those words, but they were all capitalized oddly and out of typical context. Plus, it mentioned “Omniplexia”, “Arcanostrom”, and “Vergent Pulse”. He didn’t need to understand the words, though. There were helpful pictures below it – and they painted a story that had his eyes widening and his jaw dropping. There was a crystal-clear picture of Qiala, standing in an empty field against a shadowy army. They weren’t like any of the other races he had seen so far – perhaps they were a variant of the Ferals, but he doubted it. They were brandishing weapons, in mid-charge, and the only thing standing in their way was Qiala. A blue crystal floated above her head. She had one hand outstretched toward it, and the other toward the approaching force. The next picture was obviously some time later… or was it? There was nothing. An empty battlefield, strewn with weapons and armor, but no sign of a single living being. Qiala stood there with no enemies to be seen, and no blue crystal. She was down on one knee, though, and her tails had fallen to the ground. As best as Hadrian could tell, by the words that meant something to him, she’d defeated some kind of rising army… all with a single spell. “But magic is not without cost, as Qiala learned that day,” the text continued, “draining energy from the user equal to its measure. Attempting a spell beyond one’s capabilities can be painful, cause unintended side effects, and fail all at the same time. Attempting something too far beyond one’s own abilities can even consume their life essence in the attempt. Many famous mages who let the power they controlled seduce them into overconfidence have lost their lives as a result.” Hadrian continued reading, chills running down his spine. Was that what had happened to Qiala? He wondered if she’d known it was beyond her abilities, or if that was just how much energy it had taken. Perhaps he could ask her later; if it was in a book like this, he assumed that it was fairly public information. Hadrian finally found something relevant to him, or at least he hoped. There weren’t many others like him – the closest were the elves, but according to a quote from the text, “all known species can use magic, except for the Morphs. It is suspected that their race’s natural transformative capabilities exist through minimal magical skills imbued into their beings, or perhaps in place of it.” So… did that mean Hadrian could, too? Supposedly the Lord had some kind of amazing power – if this wasn’t it, then he was hard pressed to imagine what it was. But the book didn’t say anything about how to actually perform the basics, at least not yet, and- “U-um, excuse me Lord, but…” Hadrian sat up straight in the seat, the sudden voice scaring the hell out of him. He turned to see a similarly startled Liirie holding her hands up in defense. As he stood and turned, the fire disappeared, and the light in the area returned to normal. Her face was nervous, but there was something else there. She seemed flushed, and her skin was glistening as if she’d been sweating recently. “I-I’m sorry, I was just coming to tell you that I’m going to be leaving for the day and closing off the main doors of the library!” She shouted, seemingly forgetting she was in a library. “Oh, so I have to leave?” Hadrian said, closing the book immediately. “N-no,” she quickly added, waving her arms in distress. “you’re allowed in here any time you want; it’s your Library after all! I just lock the doors to anyone wanting to come in, and I won’t be here if you need me.” “Oh… well, if you could spare a few moments, could you help point me in the direction of a few more books like this? More geared toward learning magic than just learning about it, if you could.” “Right, what were you hoping for? Alchemy? Pyromancy? Arcanomancy? I’m not personally familiar with any of them – I, we morphs can’t do magic, because-“ “I actually just read that part,” Hadrian said quickly to avoid further repetition. “And… I guess it’s not particularly important; pick the first five on the shelf, I’ll just go down the line.” “Right. Shall I meet you at the front?” “I’ll, uh, I’ll come with you,” Hadrian said quickly, keeping close to her when she nodded and turned around. Truthfully, he wasn’t entirely certain how it was he could find his way out. Not that he wanted to admit that – probably didn’t look good for the Lord to be asking for so much assistance. “Let’s see, these are organized in an odd way… but you did say the first five,” she murmured, plucking books off the shelf. Hadrian looked at her quizzically. “Did you forget how you organized these?” Liirie sighed, pushing at one of her temples in the first sign of annoyance Hadrian had yet seen out of her. “The person who had this job before me preferred to organize them to her own tastes… judging by this, it was by personal preference rather than alphabetically, by difficulty, chronologically, or any other typical system that one would use. I replaced her a while back when it was discovered she had a tendency for such unusual methods. I’ve been straightening out her work for months, but it would seem that this was a section I overlooked. Not surprising, as it’s not a section the typical visitor is interested in, but still… I apologize. If you’d like to change your request I can find you some different tomes.” “That will be fine, what were the first five?” Hadrian asked, somewhat excited. “Arcanomancy, Biomancy, Conjuration, Enchanting, and Summoning,” Liirie said, tapping each book in turn. “Arcanomancy is an excellent selection, as it’s a… well, fundamental school. Though it’s no less powerful than any other school to a dedicated user, it teaches many basic lessons that, even if not necessary to use another school, will greatly increase one’s effectiveness. Conjuration and Summoning however are two schools which require more finesse. They’re very complex, and a misstep in those can cause a great deal of problems… the more advanced the spell, the more precision necessary.” “Well… it’s primarily a learning experience, not an experimental one. I’ll take these, and likely be back for more in a few days,” Hadrian said, nodding with a big smile. “Thank you so much for your assistance.” “You’re welcome,” Liirie said, smiling bashfully. “I promise I’ll have this section in better order for your return.” “I appreciate the work you do here,” Hadrian said, honestly. Keeping this library must have been a truly monumental task. The dusting alone could take long enough that you’d have to start over nearly the moment you finished… “That means a great deal to me. So, did you really not know this was the library?” She asked. “Yes, I’m still very new to this place. I’ve been trying to familiarize myself with the place, but it’s a truly massive task.” “Indeed. If you’d like I can show you around this wing,” Liirie said with a bright grin. “That would be great… but I don’t want to disturb your work,” Hadrian said, putting a hand to his chin. “I think I can get Alonna to do it. She seems to be following me around anyway, so it’s not like I’d be bothering her.” “I said I was closing down, remember?” She lightly touched her hand upon his arm, gliding her hand over his robe. “I’m absolutely free. And if you’ll let me, a tour is a fantastic way to pass the afternoon.” “Uh, certainly,” Hadrian said, smiling. He offered his arm and Liirie immediately took it, wrapping her own around it as she (thankfully) took the lead and pulled him toward the entrance. In only a few minutes they were there, and he happily swung the door open for her, ready to enter a hallway. Much simpler to navigate. “Just a moment,” Liirie said, reaching behind her. Hadrian’s eyebrows knitted in confusion until he realized that she was undoing her dress in the back. The sound of a zipper confirmed it, as her tight, slick dress suddenly started to grow much, much looser. It peeled away from her skin an inch at a time, until it covered almost nothing. The tops of her breasts came into view as she pulled her arms forward, not noticing his stares, or the heat he felt rising to his face. As she slipped her arms free of the sleeves, the rest fell into place. Her chest was as thin as she was, though as a morph he wasn’t sure how much weight that really carried. Her nipples too were small, pink blemishes on the smooth pale skin of her breasts. She slid the dress down until it was at her waist, at which point Hadrian finally spoke up. “Ah, excuse me, why are you- uh, why are you taking that off?” Hadrian asked. So far, everyone had gone naked the majority of the time, with only Eyarra and her wearing clothing, yet he still found it odd that she would begin stripping like that. “This? It’s just my work uniform, I wear it to prevent myself getting the books or any furniture dirty with- bodily…” Liirie paused as she was rolling it over her hips, looking up for the first time and seeing Hadrian’s face. He looked away bashfully, certain he’d been a picture of lust. He turned his eyes back toward her, though, and found Liirie similarly blushing. “L-lord, have I… have I offended you?” Despite her words, she didn’t seem to have the same nervousness or fear she’d had earlier. If anything, though, her cheeks were even more crimson than his. “N-no, it’s fine, I need to… get used to this sort of thing,” he said, turning back. She went right back to removing her clothing, and he watched as every inch of fabric was pulled downward. Between the slight protrusions of her hip bones, a short, well-trimmed pubic strip ran down to her slit, almost seeming to point the way toward the moistened mound. “Liirie, are you… are you turned on?” Hadrian asked, only somewhat hesitantly. Honestly, he was glad he wasn’t the only one – he’d started holding the robe a little bit more awkwardly to conceal his growing erection. “I… well, I typically study when I’m using my time to browse the contents of the library, but not everything here is… educational,” she said, bending over to pull the rest of her dress up. Hadrian watched her breasts sway as she lifted her knees one by one and pulled it off, and couldn’t tear his eyes away from her ass when she swayed over to a hook by the door and hung up the dress there. He swallowed nervously, but had the presence of mind to speak up when Liirie was about to lock the door. “What about Alonna,” he said, his voice coming out more hoarsely than he had anticipated. “She’s got her own ways around the castle. The kind only the Lord and his personal guard are privy to. Don’t worry about her, she’s around here somewhere,” Liirie said with a smile. “Well, perhaps I should give her a break. It must be tedious to follow me around and have nothing to do but watch out for me…” Hadrian said quietly. “Will you leave so soon? I suppose you wish to return to your quarters,” Liirie said, and Hadrian could clearly hear the very thinly veiled disappointment. “I wish to return indeed. Perhaps, instead of a tour of this wing, I could give you a tour of mine?” The boldness struck Hadrian as out of character from what little he’d known of himself in this world, but he was able to say it without pausing, at least. Truthfully, the easygoing nature of the women of this world had him at a great deal of ease, and that was slowly loosening him up toward this kind of thing. “I don’t recall there being a great deal of furniture in the Lord’s quarters,” Liirie murmured, coming closer to Hadrian. She brushed her right hand up along his shoulder, while her left snaked its way inside of the opening and wrapped around his smooth chest. “How ever will you manage to make a true tour out of it?” “I can… I can show you a great many things,” Hadrian said, his confidence faltering in the face of her sudden change in demeanor. “Well then, let’s not delay,” she said quickly, moving down the hallway ahead of him. Her hips had a certain sway to them that spoke volumes about her new confidence, and made Hadrian wonder what had caused the sudden shift. Was she… was she just pretending to be shy? Or was this kind of thing so mundane in this world that even the shyest could find confidence in it? There was a lot of time to find answers, but only a short time before Liirie would wonder why he wasn’t following. Hadrian quickly sped to catch up to her. “So, tell me Lord, what form would you prefer? I assure you, I can fulfill almost any fantasies you might have. Surely this world has given you some inspiration?” Hadrian scratched the back of his head. “Why don’t you just take on your natural form? You know, let me see the real you?” Liirie gasped and put her hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry Lord, I can’t do that. Do you know of our species?” “Not much, just that you transform. Oh, and I read in that book that your species doesn’t have magical power…” Hadrian trailed off, wondering if that was a sore subject. “That’s right! Ours is a natural talent. Personally, I like this so much more, after all…” her voice trailed off too. Liirie shook her head like she was freeing herself of a chain of thought, then smiled at him. “We don’t have natural forms. When we’re born, we’re a small, white cube, actually. We usually transform into the first thing we see.” “Oh.” Hadrian didn’t really have a reply to that, so he stared ahead for a few seconds. “Is this form your favorite?” “Well…” she thought about that for a few moments, scratching her jaw. “I suppose it is, for now. Most morphs change it up every few centuries.” “Right…” Hadrian had forgotten about the age factor; he hadn’t even asked her about hers. “I guess you can’t stick to one form forever.” “Nope, that’d get boring,” she said, giggling. They were at the double doors already. Hadrian had a moment of hesitation, wondering if Valeera had returned yet. What would she think of him bringing Liirie back? He’d find out one way or the other. Liirie didn’t seem to have the same qualms, and was standing only semi-patiently in front of the door, smiling at him and very clearly eager to go inside. “Right, after you,” Hadrian said with a nervous smile, opening the door. Liirie trotted inside, each step deliberately swaying her ass in front of him. Hadrian did his best to keep his eyes away from it and looking around the room. To a mixture of emotions, he saw Valeera sitting upon the bed, propped up against a pillow and scratching away at a notepad. “Oh, you’ve returned, Lord,” she said immediately, a pleased look crossing her face. Her eyes flickered to Liirie, and her look changed, but to one of surprised amusement rather than the envy Hadrian might’ve been expecting. “And you’ve brought our Librarian?” “Y-yes, excellent to see you as always, Lady Valeera,” Liirie said with a curt bow. Apparently, she was still as nervous as ever. Nice to see that she hadn’t totally changed. “Ah, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were back, Valeera,” Hadrian said sheepishly. “It’s quite alright, I only returned recently. I’m glad you explored. Considering you brought Liirie to your chambers, I can only assume you found a way to entertain yourself during my absence.” Despite her wording, it was clearly not a question. Liirie wrapped a hand around Hadrian’s chest, gently attempting to slide the robe off of him, but Hadrian didn’t aid her, and the process was greatly slowed. “I… well, as I said, I didn’t realize you’d be here. I didn’t intend to bother you-“ “Bother me?” Valeera chuckled. “My, why would you be bothering me? I may be exhausted, but I can’t deny that our recent trysts have been running through my mind over the past few hours. That is, of course, if you wouldn’t mind a viewer…” “Not at all,” Hadrian said, rather amazed. He’d remembered, of course, that the elven woman had a fondness for voyeurism, but it hadn’t occurred to him that she might want to indulge it. “That is, of course, if Liirie has no problems with it.” “I… to have Lady Valeera watching me?” The morph blushed, and Hadrian took that as his cue. He gave some slack to his arms, and the robe fell away into Liirie’s grasp, who hastily threw it up onto the protruding hook beside the door. “I would be honored.” “Well, there’s plenty of room,” Valeera said with a sly grin, sliding farther along the bed. Quite true, really – he could’ve brought everyone he’d met thus far into the room, and they still could’ve all fit on the massive bed at once. He didn’t have much more time to contemplate that, because in the next moment Liirie was pulling him along, nearly dragging him to the bed. Hadrian had already had that happen once, though. This time, he wanted to at least try to take initiative. He dug his left heel into the carpet and twisted, sending Liirie bouncing onto the bed. She didn’t seem to mind; as soon as she hit the sheets, the shock left her face, replaced by an enticing smile. She held her arms up high and spread open her legs. “Come on then, don’t keep her waiting,” Valeera teased. Hadrian could see that she’d already spread her own legs, and one finger slid along the quickly moistening line of her slit. Her cheeks had become rapidly flushed, and though her movements were subtle, the look of excitement on her face was anything but. “Yes, please Lord, show me what one can do with a… non-artificial tool,” Liirie said, massaging the inside of her thighs enticingly. Hadrian leaned over her, hovering just inches away from her flawless pale skin. “I’ll show you what I can do with more than just that,” Hadrian said boldly, hooking his arms underneath her thighs. Judging by the perfection of her skin, it seemed like the benefits of her morphing ability included never needing to shave. Despite the late hour, he felt not even a trace of hair along her creamy skin. “Well, I can’t wait to be thoroughly surpri-IIISED!” Her voice raised substantially as Hadrian leaned in and planted a firm kiss at the top of her slit. Though he’d hardly touched her yet, her skin was wet against his lips, and her clit was already exposed. Hadrian nuzzled in and gently lapped at her mound, being gentle enough not to give her too much stimulation at once. It didn’t seem to matter – regardless of how gently he attended to her, Liirie’s quickly accelerating breathing and constant moans were a clear sign that she was far too sensitive for any real teasing. It was like every nerve in her body was on fire. Hadrian wouldn’t have said anything even if he could; there was too much to enjoy about this. Even if Liirie’s overly sensitive pussy wasn’t giving him a rousing amount of encouragement, the idea of Valeera being right there, watching everything, made him simultaneously nervous and thrilled. He abandoned the idea of going slowly and spread Liirie’s moist lips with his tongue, diving deeper and tasting her sweet juices as he ran his tongue across her clit. Liirie opened her mouth in a silent scream, clutching the bedsheets so hard that Hadrian thought he heard them rip. He could feel her smooth walls contracting underneath him, and her hips began to thrust with abandon, grinding her pleasure nub even harder into his face. Hadrian could taste her nectar as she reached a quick but, apparently, very fulfilling release, and did his best to keep it off of the bed. Liirie panted heavily as she struggled up off of the sheets, glaring lustily into Hadrian’s eyes. “Thank you, milord… but I think there’s a way for us both to feel good, now.” Liirie lowered her arms under Hadrian’s, lifting him slowly up by the armpits. She didn’t have much strength, but Hadrian didn’t hesitate to come with her, not resisting in the slightest. He settled his arms in beside her, avoiding putting his full weight around her body, while trying to position himself for the best degree of movement. “Ah, easy… just put it in, Lord, I’ll take care of the rest,” Liirie said with a smirk, running her fingers along Hadrian’s cheek. Everywhere she touched it felt like soft feathers were brushing against his skin, sending chills and shivers across his entire body. Hadrian nodded and aligned himself at her entrance, feeling Liirie’s taut body tense with anticipation. Shivers ran down her spine as she sat still, her eyes pleading for him to make the push. Hadrian wrapped his arms around Liirie, running his hands along her silken skin, anchoring both of them to the bed, and slowly moved his hips forward. There was almost no resistance as he pushed in, feeling Liirie’s lips almost seem to stretch out around him. Her snatch welcomed him, and before long Hadrian had bottomed out, feeling her soaked body clutching feverishly around him. “And now…” she said quietly, “…allow me.” Hadrian felt Liirie’s walls begin to stroke him, but her body did not move. His eyes widened and he did his best to pull back and look down without moving out of her. Liirie’s eyes lit up as the motion continued, growing steadily stronger and more insistent, as if her pussy was actually milking his cock for semen. “I, uh… I guess you probably didn’t know this about morphs either… we can control more than just our appearances,” she said quietly. A bright rosy tint started to creep across her cheeks as she looked down, apparently focusing on her efforts. The tightness her cunt was doubled, and the speed slowly began to ramp up. Hadrian opened his mouth, but nothing besides a soft moan came out as Liirie began to exult with a litany of satisfied groans, clearly feeling just as much pleasure from the experience as he was. Seeing that, Hadrian stopped holding himself back and laid down upon Liirie, letting her adaptable pussy handle all the work while he played with her nipples, eliciting quiet squeaks from her and causing her pussy to twitch as she momentarily lost focus every time he got too aggressive. They continued on like that for quite some time, and eventually Valeera’s moans added in to the chorus. Hadrian fought to keep his weight off of her as the pleasure started to overpower his basic motor control, eventually settling for pushing Liirie up further onto the bed and fully laying himself on it as she stroked wildly, her face a mask of ecstasy as her pulses became spastic, randomly tensing and releasing Hadrian’s member in ways that had him twitching and ready to burst. “Liirie, I’m gonna cum!” “Cum on me! Come on my tits!” The bold request was unusually firm for the woman, but Hadrian didn’t concern himself with that. He gave a few final thrusts, sending them both as close to the edge as he could, before he pulled out and quickly straddled her, stroking himself rapidly while her hands went to work on her clit. Hadrian’s orgasm hit him hard, crashing over his excited mind with the full weight that such unusual stimulation could build. He came in jets, surprising even himself with the volume after Valeera’s ministrations earlier, several bursts of white covering Liirie’s tits. The moment that it hit her skin she started to moan and buck, nearly knocking Hadrian over with her uncontrollable spasms. A moment later she let out a piercing scream and her whole body locked up, leaving Hadrian to ride out his own orgasm in stillness. As soon as the last pulses of his cock died down, Hadrian fell to the side, careful to extricate his leg from Liirie’s side as he did so. Valeera must have had a fairly quiet orgasm, because even though Hadrian had heard nothing she was only idly toying with herself now, her lithe body coated in a thin layer of sweat that nearly matched her smile in terms of satisfied gleams. “Excellent work, Liirie. Have you been practicing?” “How often do you get to practice that?” Hadrian asked, laughing. “Well, as often as I have someone to practice with,” Liirie teased, her shyness still not fully present as she basked in her afterglow. “How many of your partners have a tool that can actually feel it to make it worth practicing, though?” Hadrian’s curiosity was suddenly growing. Valeera answered with a smile that simultaneously sent shivers down Hadrian’s spine and his cock. “Oh, Lord… we have so very many things to teach you."

In an average convenience store, there stood a young man of the age of 18, processing the customer's items for purchase. His name is Daniel Bell and currently, he worked as a part-time cashier while studying for his college. Being born and raised by a single mother with pair of sister and a little sister, Daniel life's is filled with happiness and there isn't a day without any sort of problems.    Although his family financial situation is below average, it doesn't hold them back from becoming a happy family. And it's all that he could ask for and never did he show an ounce of a complaint.   "Ah! Thank you for your purchase and have a nice day, ma'am!" Daniel bowed politely with a smile to his customer while wearing the store's custom shirt made for every employee to wear.    "Oh my, thank you for that wish and may you too have a good day" The woman who seems to be in her mid-forties replied courteously. As she left the entrance, a sound of a bell could be heard indicating the sign of customers entering and exiting.    While Daniel waited for more of the customer's arrival, he took out his phone from his pocket and pressed on to the notification message sent by his mother. Seconds later, a soft-hearted smile appeared on his expression and nothing beats him more than a mother messaging him.    'I'm craving for some little chickens my dear, could you buy some later on after your shift ends?' His mother sent him a message with some cheeky and heart shapes emojis which he replied with a 'Yes, I'll buy it later mom and also for Big Sis Celia and Jessica'. He knew chicken is all his mum, elder sister and little sister favourite food and it'll wrong him if he bought just for his mother.      Just when he wishes to relax and enjoy the cold air conditioner of the store, a sudden massive of chaos and confusion resounded outside. Curiosity washed over him, and he walked outside of the store only to be dumbfounded by the situation. The whole neighbourhood had people stood paralyzed with their eyes wide open.    Just like them, Daniel froze in fear, not knowing what to do because the scene that's happening right in front of him is utterly unreal. Fictions that was depicted in movies and stories were just a form of fantasies and imaginations, however, never would one in a million chance would Earth met the crisis of abnormal monsters.     The Sun has been coloured with crimson, illuminating the world with lights of blood. Without knowing why or how, the atmosphere in the air began cracking like how mirrors would crack, and unbelievably, creatures of unknown crawled out.    Screams of terrors reverbed through the whole earth, the resident's lives in the neighbourhood were chased by these very creatures that were the epitome of hell.   Their bodies seem to be a hybrid of mythological creatures and demonic characteristic or worse, some of the creatures were just disgusting and disturbing to look at. Nonetheless, there's no doubt that these creatures are powerful beings who wields weird and supernatural powers.    By the time Daniel noticed and realized the situation has gotten worse, his legs trembled with his mouth gagged. He's witnessing the destruction of the cities and the massacre of humans who are being killed or eaten alive. Never would he imagined that this kind of situation would happen, and now, he doesn't have a single clue except to run for his life.    Succumbing to his fear, Daniel began running opposite the direction of the incoming monsters and it's the most fastest moments where he would run quickly. Despite the fear and terror on his expression, there's only thought about his family in his mind. Thus, he made a run for it towards where his family resides.     However, before he could even reach a certain distance away from the horde of monsters, his left leg has been stabbed by a tentacle with a sharp claw-like knife at the edge of it. Blood spilt out from his thigh and due to the sudden pain and attack, he loses his momentum and fell to the ground while growling in pain.    'This hurts like hell...what the hell in the world is going on!? Are these monsters!? How could they appear from those weird portal cracks!?'    The injury hurt more painful than he believed and as he looked back behind him, a hint of surrendering to death passed through his mind since there were more than dozens of titanic monsters heading towards his way. He didn't know how to react and there were so many emotions where he'd laugh right now.    Out of the blue, a sound of ringing could be heard three steps away from him. Turning his head over to the sound of the ringing, he noticed it was his phone being called by his mother. That sight broke away his depressive thoughts and he crawled towards his phone where it dropped from his pocket earlier on. As much as he would like to deny it, it doesn't take an idiot to understand that in the next moment, Daniel would be dead.   Although it's saddening there's nothing else Daniel could except to say his last 'I love you' moments to his mother and at least, he could die without any regrets. But, before he reaches out for it, a prompt of the message appeared in his eyesight and without a warning, his body teleported into an unknown space.    *Congratulation, you are one of the billions chosen ones to be awakened with a skill, hence, your existence will be brought to the training are to awaken your abilities*    "Huh?"    Confusion struck him as he couldn't fathom how he suddenly appeared in a place where there's nothing but codes of numbers all around him. At this point in time, his emotions began to calm themselves, but the anger still remained.   The sight of humans being eaten alive almost puked him out and the scenery of children, pregnant women and the elderlies being stomped, mutilated, torn apart while being alive almost drove him insane. It wouldn't be wrong to say Daniel might have trauma.    Due to those sights, his hands were shaking and his body vibrated uncontrollably.    'Calm yourself, Daniel, breathe in and out and try to understand the situation' He gazed and observed the weird coding room around, at the same time, he comprehended the meaning underlaid within the message.   The result of reading dozens of novels has given him some ideas about what's going and to simplify it all, he would conclude that Earth will no longer be the same and the rise of monsters will continue unless one will find the way to solve it.    But before anyone could have the idea of it, the concept of supernatural powers and abilities is also something that should be included for humanities survival. Hence, Daniel believed if he could awaken at least a reliable ability, he would no doubt have any difficulties.    *You have been teleported to the Awakening Room. Your injuries have all been healed, being the awakening process?*   It's too much for Daniel to take in, first, there were monsters and now these, even his deep injury were healed without leaving any trace.    Needless to say, Daniel answered with a yes.   Though he seems to be confident, his heart is pulsating quickly due to the fear of the unknown and the concerns for his mother and sisters. Not far away from him, a replication of an unknown monster is being formed by a gathering of codes, and the aftermath of the result is a huge monster with violet robust scales.   It had a scary disfigured face with pair of arms and legs that has long claws like nails.   Frightened by the emergence of the monster, he took a step back behind and sweats begin appearing all over his body.    *The Awakening Process has begun. Please give a punch to the monster to unlock your supernatural powers*   He clenched his fist and greeted his teeth. Without needing to know, Daniel could feel the aura of the monster which mean he has no chance at all even if he tried thousands of times. Nevertheless, he comprehended the purpose which is not to find fault with the monster.   Pushing his body and courage, he dashes to the monster and gave all of his might to land a punch effortlessly which worked without suffering any hardships.    'So it's just some kind of illusion? If not, then why would it just stand still and observe?'    *Congratulations, you have completed the process and your supernatural skill has been unlocked. Due to the influence of Mana, your stat status has been unlocked. Once again, you have become a player*   Sudden energy surged through around his body and it felt pleasant to the core. Eventually, a wave of aura exploded and travelled around the room, proving that Daniel has awakened his skill and has become a player.        Name: Daniel Bell  Age: 18 Gender: Male  Race: Human Level: 1   Hp: 100/100 Mp: 60/60   Str: 10 Def: 10 Int: 10 Cri: 10 Luck: 10     SP: 0   Skill: Heal(B)       He felt completely better than before and he's like an entirely different person. Gazing at his skill, Daniel nodded with satisfaction since at least with a heal, he can become a supporter and not a burden. Judging from the letter B, he believed it's a quite impressive ability and the only thing left now is to leave from this cursed room.    *You have completed the process, would you like to leave the room and return to the normal room?*    Speaking of the devil, just when he was about to ponder on finding the solution, the system has popped up and without further ado, he undoubtedly would choose 'Yes'. But to his disappointment, it doesn't act like how he had expected it to be.    *Error! Co-&@#?! S1ysTMe Ma14u+tioni^! E=Ror1! R-PoTi@# T-0 5he G0D$!!! Re1200T1NG SYS7E€! Pro:Cessing 1N -p 1%-20%-50%-100%*   *Complete*   *Reboot has been successful*   The room began to distort with all sorts of error messages appearing all over the room. Bizzare by the situation, a bad omen begin to rise from his heart, and out of the blue, he was struck with a mild headache before recovering back naturally. Once he regained back his balance, he became shocked.    Previously, after landing a punch on that monster, it dissipated into numbers of code, however, there's a monster right in front of him. A monster that's much more sinister and murderous which scared the hell out of him. Panicked overwhelmed his entire existence, and what scares him the most is how he could see the eagerness of wanting to tear him apart on its eyes.   *Due to the malfunctioning of too many connections and platforms, the system has separated itself and became a dependent platform. System rules and boundaries have been overwritten by backups. To prevent other 'Gods' from finding the system breaching limitation and rules, the system has hidden every traces of potential leaks. To create further measures, the time flow will reset to the ratio of 1:10*   *In order to solve the system mistake of endangering the human, Daniel Bell, the system will initiate a training program as compensation*   *Processing every records and history of powerful creatures is completed. Injecting mana codes to create a real-life scenario for every creature has been completed. Accessing and adjusting to the human level is completed. Recording every power levels has been completed. Gathering Mana from the 'void' to create rewards for the human as compensation has been completed*   *Note: There's no death in this room for the human to suffer, thus, there's no need to worry about the fear of death. However, injuries, hunger, pain can still be felt*    *Beginning Training*    Reading the system messages, there's only a word to define his feelings which is 'Why?'   He stood there depressingly by the situation and in the blink of an eye, his body separates in half. Blood dyed the ground and the last thing he remembered was the room ceiling of codes. But the next second left him in bizarre. Unknowingly, he's standing on the ground yet again and as he turned his head on his left, he saw his lifeless corpse which made him puked.    "What's going on!? What's happening to me!? Why is this happening!?" He cried out with tears strolling down his face. But the system didn't answer his cry, and it felt like the previous screen would be its last conversation with him.    Knowing that it's pointless to do nothing at all, Daniel regained back his sanity and this time, his eyes were burning with determination. He has nothing to fear and the thought of returning to him is what encourages him to move forward despite the fear in his heart.    "I've gotta do this or else, I can't leave this place and yeah...that's right...I need to buy chickens for all of them"    Once he got ready and prepared, he finally decided to face the monster. Both of them were at the opposite side, checking and gazing at each other eyes. While Daniel is overwhelmed by the monster intensive gaze, he didn't allow it to bring him down. Instead, he returned a gaze filled with determination. Like a pair of rival waiting for the signal of the match, they both begin their battles.    Daniel has no experience in fighting or whatever martial arts, in fact, there's not really much fighting except a one-sided beating. Hence, he has no choice but to fight in a barbaric manner. However, he has no idea whether he has the guts or courage to do. But fortunately, the size of the monster is the same as Daniel which might mean he still has a small chance of killing it.    Facing the monster head-on and, the monster mouth opened widely to devour Daniel, but he avoided it as he has expected it to happen. Though its speed is fast, it's a feat where Daniel could keep up with and the reason why he lost earlier on is just due to shock.   In truth, there's a secret that he has yet to know which is about how powerful the monster is when Daniel faced them.    According to the system logic, the monster strength will grow as Daniel grow which means, for each time a monster appeared, their prowess will be within Daniel limits. Thus, it wouldn't be too easy. but not too hard for Daniel to overcome.    Avoiding the monster mouth, he landed a blow on one of its eyes which in return, the monster growled. Above the monster's head, there's a screen similar to Daniel's status which showed the monster hp decreased by 5%. Making use of the advantage from the impact of the punch, Daniel gave another two punches on its eye, and he didn't hesitate to use as much force as he can. With that, the monster lost 10% of its Hp.    Knowing he needed more than just a punch as it'd take a long time to kill the monster, he decided to be brutal and vicious to deal with the monster.   Confidence and morale boosted his decision to fight and unlike what he had thought, the monster is not scary at all due to being cornered. It's something that Daniel could handle with his limitations as long as he watched for the incoming attacks.    Without giving the monster a chance to recover, he closed the distance between them and savage overtook him as soon as he begins to attack the monster. Clueless from where he got the determination, he gouged apart the monster eyes without any mercy with just his bare hands. Blood spurt out and the monster cried in pain.    Although his face and job clothes were dyed with blood, it didn't stop him from being brutal. Once it ended, the body of the monster drops to the floor without any resistance. His breath became ragged, shocked and horrified by his actions. Never would he imagined that he'd do something abnormal, perhaps by now, his mind has been filled with partial insanity.    *Congratulation, you have killed Gratata and has obtained 10 Levels, if you wish to see your stats, just say status*   *Congratulation, you have obtained a skill rune, Crimson Claw(C), and it has been automatically absorbed*   Suddenly, all of his exhaustion has been recovered and it doesn't take that much for him to realize where did the phenomenon come from. From his conclusion, he believes it's due to the Level Up effects. To check his stats, he followed the system guidance.    *For every level, you'll receive 5 stats point and for every 10 levels, you'll receive an additional of 10 stats points*     Name: Daniel Bell  Age: 18 Gender: Male  Race: Human Level: 11   Hp: 100/100 Mp: 60/60   Str: 10 Def: 10 Int: 10 Cri: 10 Luck: 10     SP: 55   Skill: Heal(B), Crimson Claw(C)        With the experience, he had from playing games on consoles, he's aware of the use of stats points and considering about the placements of his stats points, he believes strength is his top priority. It's either strength or defence, and Int is also an important component if he wishes to increase the capacity of his Mp and Magical Damage. However, for now, it'll be beneficial if he places a majority of his points on either Str or Def.     Hence, he placed accordingly to the ratio of 2:1.    *Begin the next training program?*   He replied and again, the same scene happened again except this time, it's a different monster. A monster that goes by the name of Goblin King. Its body is similar to the size of sumo, with red tattoos all over its green skin body as it holds a cub made from wood. Unlike before, his fear has decreased by a large margin and it might be due to his perception of his stats increment.    Nevertheless, Daniel is the first one to move, wishing to take advantage and close their distance as sooner as he can. But the moment he almost entered the Goblin King surroundings, the monster smashed the ground where he supposedly should appear.    *Boom*    The ground of codes showed cracks and messages of errors. To the monster surprise, Daniel never stopped advancing after dodging the attack of his cub because there's nothing for him to fear. However, he wouldn't allow the fact that his death would revive over his head. Still, he had confidence that he could win no matter what happens.    Sneakily going over to the Goblin's back, he placed his palms over its back and activated his skill.    "Crimson Claw" Relying on his instincts, he believed that's how the skill works and just like what he thought, a crimson claw formed around his hand and it thrust forward and pierced through the goblin body. It created a small hole that has torn apart its organ and ribcage, and its Hp began dropping without any signs of stopping. Eventually, it died and dispersed into codes of numbers.    *Congratulation, you have killed Goblin King and has obtained 10 Levels*   *Congratulation, you have obtained a skill rune, Green Skin(C), and it has been automatically absorbed*   Just like that, 10 days passed by like a snap of a finger and all Daniel did was killing monsters maniacally without knowing why or how and slowly as times passes by, he lost his own sense of time and purpose. As days became months and months became years, his personality slowly falls apart. No one could blame him for being broken and every day, he would ask a question with a 'Why'?    He cursed everything for being stuck in this forsaken room where there's nothing but killing and dying which worsen the state of his mind, and in the end, he questioned himself.    Why was must it happen to him out of all people? Why did he have to suffer unknowingly? The only way he could release his anger, frustration and broken mind was towards the monsters. At first, the one thing that kept him moving forward is to return back home and reunite with his family. However, after decades of waiting and killing, his memories began to fade away and eventually, he has forgotten his own name.    Although 50 years have passed since that day, Daniel still remained young and his clothes were all tattered apart. However, there's the only insanity on his face while killing the monster with joy. 20 years ago, to keep his mind and memories intact, he tried to keep them memorable by writing his mother and sisters name on the ground. But even that practice fades away as time passes by and 50 years passed by once again.    At this point in time, Daniel could no longer remember who he was or why is here, and the only sole purpose he had is to kill monsters and become as strong as he can. After a solid of 100 years passed by, the amount of strength he possesses is beyond what human could possibly hold, and after killing the monster he's fighting with, the system made an announcement.    *Congratulation, you have killed King of Demon Kings, Demelza*   *Congratulation, you have obtained a skill rune, Demonic Form(SSS)*   *Congratulation, you have reached the max level of 999, and you have broken through the human limits and has achieved the rank of Transcendent Being. Due to the Transcendent achievement, your level has broken through to T1L1*    *All of your stats has multiplied by 5 times. Due to the breakthrough, your Heal(B) has evolved to Immortality Heal(SSS). The system has detected that there are currently 36,000 skills that can be fused together to form stronger and better skills*   *Initiating process in 3,2,1 Begin*   *Fusing process has been completed. All 36,000 skills have been fused and compressed to 13 skills*       Name: Daniel Bell  Age: 18 Gender: Male  Race: Transcendent Human Level: T1L1   Hp: 50,000 Mp: 50,000     Str: 10k×5 Def: 10k×5 Int:   10k×5 Cri:   10k×5 Luck: 10k×5     SP: 0     Skill: Immortality Heal(SSS), Monarch Desire(L), World Elemental Resistance(L), Myriad Poison Resistance(L), Limit Breaker(L), Heavenly Mana Recovery(L), Heavenly Hp Recovery(L), Six Holy Circles(L), Six Circles of Chaos(L), Elemental Magic Manipulation(L), Supreme Telekinesis(L), Perfect Clone(L), Conqueror Aura(L), Unbreakable Shield(L)   *All of the monster's power will now be increased to the Level of Transcendent Being. Due to the Host incapable of thinking, the system from now on will be the one to make the decision. Hence, begin training program*    Just like what the system said, Daniel is no longer incapable of making his decision since he is broken beyond repair. Inside his heart and mind, there's only the constant thought of killing monsters for joy and nothing more than that.   Even right now, he's just standing by idly waiting for the arrival of the monster and as soon as a monster appeared, he quickly disappeared from the spot he stood to land a good punch on the monster thick scales.     However, out of all times, this is the first time he experienced thick hard scales where his punch couldn't penetrate through. As such, there's a smile plastered on his face. Relying on his instincts, he dodges the monster incoming 10 pair of arms. None of those pair of arms manages to stab him and eventually, he spins his body to increase the impact where he had land a kick above the monster head.    Immediately, the monster head drops heavily onto the ground with muscles of the brain being exposed. Satisfied by the result, Daniel mashed up the monster's body before the system message arrived. Once again, the same habit happened every day, but, it took Daniel a longer time to reach the limits of his levels since a transcendent rank requires an enormous amount of Exp.    Usually, it's rare for a human to reach the transcendent being as it requires a tremendous amount of time. Despite saying that, the chances of attaining the transcendent rank is not impossible. As long one has the power to survive, he or she could achieve that in under 500 years. Due to the system uniqueness, Daniel's ability to reach it in 100 years.    A transcendent rank is a term to define a human or any mortals beings that have attained a body that's above mortal. The benefits of a transcendent rank are increased of powers, lifespans and aura. Normally, the number of lifespans gained will be around 1000 years and those who are special will add another 500 years to it.   And a total of 1,000 years passed by without the emotionless Daniel realizing it. The more he killed the monsters, the more bored he became to the point, he killed monsters during his sleep or created clones for them to handle.   Now, the rank and levels of transcendent it's a bit special. When it comes to transcendence, there are differences between all of the transcendent beings in terms of powers. Thus, the transcendent has 10 stages where each stage represents a hundred level. Hence why the system depicted his level as T1L1 and at the end of his 1,100 years in the room, he has reached the maximum level.    *Congratulation, you have killed a Transcendent Being, Lakasa*   *Congratulation, you have obtained a skill Rune, Tentacles of Destruction(L)*   *Congratulation, you have reached the max level of T10L100, and you have broken through the  Transcendent Rank and has achieved and obtained the rank of Deity. Due to the new rank, your level has progressed further to D1L1*   *All of your stats has been multiplied by 10 times and your immortality Heal has evolved to Regression of Heal(L). Since you have fulfilled the rank of deity, you have been given the right of being granted a new skill which is Spiritual Cloak(Myth). Due to the overwhelming number of skills, the system will auto fusion all of them. Process completed, all skills have been fully compressed*       Name: Daniel Bell  Age: 18 Gender: Male  Race: Deity Level: D1L1   Hp: 15 Million Mp: 15 Million      Str: 1M×5 Def: 1M×5 Int:   1M×5 Cri:   1M×5 Luck: 1M×5     SP: 0     Skill: Immortality Heal(L), Spiritual Cloak(Myth), Monarch Ambition(M), Universal Elemental Resistance(M), Limitless Poison Resistance(M), Limit Breaker(L), Infinite Mana Recovery(M), Undying Hp Recovery(M), 10 Virtues of Holiness(M), 10 Sins of Chaos(M), Cosmic Magic Manipulation(M),Supreme Telekinesis(L), Perfect Clone(L), Divine Aura(M), Trinity of Shield(M), Elemental Manipulation(M), Universal Senses(M), Pure Revive(M), Shadow Summoner(M), Prodigy of Martial Arts(M), Weapon Chemistry(M), Master of All(M)       There's a way and hierarchy to classify how powerful and effective a skill will be.   From the weakest to the strongest, we have the Rank of E, D, C, B, A, S. Generally, this rank is considered the limits were humans or mortals could gain or born with it, and to get a higher rank, they must be lucky enough to be blessed with luck or else, no one would obtain them. And yet, Daniel has more than dozens, plus, most of them are either at the Legendary or Myth Rank.    Above the S Rank is either SS or SSS Rank, and higher than that is impossible for ordinary humans to obtain unless they have achieved the transcendent rank to fight against monsters that drop skill runes.   However, not all monster will have a 100% chance of dropping, due to the system manipulation, Daniel can obtain every skill rune from every monster he killed.   To describe how powerful Legendary and Myth ranks by using size, then, compare to SSS and Legendary rank, SSS is like a human while Legendary is like a ferocious lion. Comparing Legendary to myth, then, Myth would be a monster that devours the lion up.     Without further ado, another strong and abnormal appeared that emitted out a strange aura yet suppressing aura, and it's the first time Daniel felt danger.   The monster had six pairs of wings with the body like an angel yet the appearance of a monster. Its size is quite huge similar to the size of those titans he faced before that as tall as 5 stories. But again, he couldn't be stopped just because he felt danger, thus, gathering all of the power he had to his arm, he sent out a wave of blow that travelled to the monster and immediately killed it out from existence.   The impact of the punch causes the body of the monster to disappear, leaving only behind a bloody trail of its size at the ground.    *Congratulation, you have killed a Deity Being of Seraphim*   *Congratulation, you have obtained a skill rune, Angel Smite(Myth)*   With a new set of goal and the mindset of killing all monsters out of boredom or just a meaningless act of wasting time away, a whole 1,900 years has gone by since he had broken through the Deity Realm.   Unexpectedly, as each year passed by like a stream of a river, the thought of killing a monster seems to die out deliberately. Perhaps, even with his instincts, it has become tiresome and exhaustedly to just slaughter monsters who he no longer finds the joy to do so. Hence, for once, he began experimenting with using his powers.    Although he has lost most of his form of communication and has become emotionless, at least he could form a simple thought of curiosity and independent thoughts which he could rely on instincts that have been engraved deep inside his mind for hundreds of years.   No matter how broken he has become, he never forgets these three important things, Status, Skills and Monsters. That's all he could remember and ever since that year, he has attempted on being versatile and experimenting on the use of his skill.    Surprisingly, all these years, he never felt the need to eat. Before reaching the transcendent rank, he would always die out to hunger and the only time he felt fulled was either through being revived or levelling up. However, after becoming transcendent and deity, there's no need to eat or feel the need to as he has become far beyond than a mortal.    With a total of 3,000 years, Daniel has unknowingly reached the maximum level of a deity and has achieved a whole new concept of rank that exists only for those who are above of all where it's unlikely for any mortal to achieve.    *Congratulation, you have reached the max level of D10L100, and you have broken through the  Deity Rank and has achieved and obtained the rank of Divine. Due to the new rank, your level has progressed further to Divine Rank 1*   *All of your stats has been multiplied by 20 times and your  Regression of Heal(L) has evolved to Reverse Fate(Myth). Since you have fulfilled the rank of Divine, you have been given the right to bless any mortals with a blessing, Blesser(God) and you have been given with a skill specially crafted by your existence itself, Weaver of Reality(God). Due to the overwhelming number of skills, the system will auto fusion all of them. Process completed, all skills have been fully compressed*         Name: Daniel Bell  Age: 18 Gender: Male  Race: Divine  Level: Divine Rank 1   Hp: 300 Million  Mp: 300 Million     Str: 20 Million×5 Def: 20 Million×5 Int:   20 Million×5 Cri:   20 Million×5 Luck: 20 Million×5     SP: 0     Skill: Perfect Clone(L), , Telekinesis(L), Levitation(L), Teleportation(L),  Reverse Fate(M), Spiritual Cloak(M),  10 Virtues of Holiness(M), 10 Sins of Chaos(M), Cosmic Magic Manipulation(M), Trinity of Shield(M), Elemental Manipulation(M),  Pure Revive(M), Shadow Summoner(M), Prodigy of Martial Arts(M), Weapon Chemistry(M), Master of All(M), Mana Manipulation(M), Creation of Weapons and Armour(M), Rune Inscription(M), Talisman Creation(M), Alchemy Creation(M), Trickery of Poisons(M), The Charmer(M), Blesser(God), Weaver of Reality(God), , Superior Breaker(God), Manipulative Shapeshifter(God)   Passive Skill: Superior Body(L), Infinite Stamina(M),  Monarch Ambition(M), Infinite Mana Recovery(M), Undying Hp Recovery(M), Universal Senses(M), Infinite Resistance(God), Asura Aura(God)     *System has reached the max capacity of sustaining the training room program and could no longer create any coded lifeforms by using energy from the void. It's impossible to create divine beings from energy itself, thus, the system has fulfilled its compensation and before the system will commence the shutting down, the system will give one last gift before forcibly pushing you out from this room*    *Rebuilding the divine being, Daniel, mentality and emotions to normal will be in 3,2,1....execution failed. The system has detected an enormous amount of burden and sufferings deep inside your brain. Thus, the system will need to find another way, hence, will remove every unnecessary memory that will hurt you. Suggestions of implementing false memories and deleting real memories will initiate in 3,2,1*   *Deleting every memory of families and 'childhood love' has been completed. Removing every desperate, sufferings, insanity and broken moments has been completed. However, all moments of experience, the act of cruelty, merciless and the kill for living will remain as it's beneficial for you. Replacing all deleted memories with safer and false memories to reduce the burden has been completed*   *Process has been completed, removing Daniel from this room has been completed. Initiating the destruction of the system will begin in 3,2,1*   When the system fixed Daniel mental problem by removing his memories and being replaced with false ones, he had been forcibly pushed out from the room where a cracked dimension appeared right beside him and sucked him away, leaving the room and the system to explode within the next seconds. 

My mother, She is the sweetest little lady you will ever meet. She is a very strong and indipendent woman who loves her family very much. She loves being a housewife and taking care of us and despite me being a boy, my mum taught me all I know about housework and cooking. She gave the warmest hugs. My father, a total opposite of my mothe. If she is the warm breeze, he's a cold Blizzard. He is a hard worker. He loves my mom to death and have a hard time showing his emotions. I am very sad to say this but we have a terrible relationship. We always argue for the stupidest reasons. My younger sister, the weirdest and annoying person I know. Despite being my twin she's nothing like me. She is a straight A student and unlike me she enjoys the university she's attending. Her interests include playing Pino, Partying, going out with friends, studying and for fun, dancing. She's a little short gremlin, but I still love her. She's a chatterbox who never shuts up. My best friend, Dumbass Basterd, the person who I know ever since kindergarten, the person who I got in countless troubles with, the person who pulled me out of my darkest of times, My buddy, My crush, someone who will always have my back, My second family. This bitch is someone very close to me. We are almost inseparable. We promised that we will be best men at eachother's weddings, we also joked that if we stayed single till our 40's we'd marry eachother. Fucking Basterd. I wouldn't get to experience any of that Mom's hugs. Dad's arguing. The Monkey's Sister's unstoppable talking. My best friend's wedding. .........I will not experience any of that,............ atleast not anymore. I am having something similar to 'life flashing before one's eyes' expect it isn't the memories of my childhood to adulthood, it's just........ regret. Regret I couldn't spend much time with my family, Regret that I was such a horrible brother and son, Regret that I didn't tell my best friend how I truly felt. Regret I couldn't do more, Regret that I wasn't more........... I was supposed to be laying on the ground covered in red. The people around me should've been screaming for an ambulance. I couldn't have survived, the truck was, afterall, inches away from hitting me.  I couldn't hear anything, have I gone deaf? That would explain the silance around me. But I couldn't even feel anything, I didn't feel the truck hitting me, heck! I couldn't even feel myself hitting the road. Me being deaf would answer my question but me not feeling anything would arise even more questions! Everything seemed to have stopped the honking of the uncontrollable truck, the bustling of the market around me, the two people arguing two shops down. Even the earlier crying of the young boy had stopped. Speaking of the boy........ I am pretty sure I shoved the little boy towards the safe side of the road. Was he okay? Was he injured? WHAT THE FUCK WAS HAPPENING!?!?!? I slowly opened my eyes to inspect, and what I saw made me widen my eyes in shock. Everything and everyone stood still. The truck was still few inches away from me. The boy I pushed, was still flying in the air. I mentally let out a relieved a breath when I realised that the boy was now out of the truck's way. I couldn't move any part of my body expect my neck. My limbs were like led and no matter how much I tried I couldn't move. I looked around, the people who had realised what was about to happen looked horrified, the people who weren't paying much attention looked as if they were going on about their day. I looked at my side, towards a clock shop and saw that the clock's had stopped moving. It all looked as if- "Time has stopped moving?" I quickly snapped my head towards the voice who had finished my words for me. Infront of me stood- no, flying mid-air, was a green cat with blue dear like antennas. I couldn't speak, but from what this thing had just uttered I think that- "Ofcourse I can read minds! And for your information kind sir, I am not a thing, I am the manager of the TWS branch of the AL Bureau and The name I have chosen to go by is Roro" Roro finished speaking, his green cat ears moving with every word, followed by his bright golden eyes. I was still thinking that I must have been high, that would be the only explaination for his bizzare circumstances. Is all of this even real? "Good sir, you are not on any kind of substance and yes, it is all very much real." The time Roro was beginning to look a tad bit annoyed. I decided to just talk with him thru my mind.  'Tell me why is all of this happening? Wasn't I supposed to be dead right now?'  "Indeed, You are supposed to be dead right now sir, but you see I have stopped the flow of time for now, because I am in a bind sir." Roro was hovering infront of my face his, eyes, holding a unexplained charm to it. 'how is you being in a bind related to you stoping time moments before my death? Will you please hurry up and explain my circumstances!!' "You see good sir, I am part of the AL bureau which stands for After life bureau, which decides a person's fate after his or her death. Under the afterlife bureau comes many branches of the Afterlife as you can see in this list" he said taking out a long list out of thin air. Instead of seeing the standard hell or heaven I saw some bizzare things. RWM- Reincarnation with memories RNM- Reincarnation with no memories RWS- Reincarnation with a system RIN  - Reincarnation in a Novel RIF  - Reincarnation In a fantasy world RIA  - Reincarnation in Anime RAC- Reincarnation as a creature TWM- Transmission with memories. TNM- Transmission with no memories TWS-  Transmission with a system TWG- Transmission with a guide Before I could read more the list disappeared from  his hands. I was kinda glad because the list was so long, it would've taken hours to read it completely "After a person dies, if it's karma points are in negetive's he goes to hell no questions asked. If it's karma points are between 20-50 he goes to heaven But, if it's karma points are below 20 or above 50 it gets sent to the AL beru where they decide which branch will deal with it later."  'hun, it's more uniformed then I thought. But wait, if what your saying is true I am supposed to meet you after I'am dead but if you stopped time and I'm not dead yet why am I meeting you now?!?' "It's because of your fate changing action sir!" Roro's voice held some frustration and by his answer it seemed that the I wasn't supposed to save the kid. "If the little boy had died, in a few years time, his parents would've went to a vacation to forget about their grief, if he had lived his parents would've went to the vacation anyway at the same time if he had died. It's because you risked your life to save him that he got traumatized because of your death that he hated traveling so the family didn't go anywhere for vacation and that caused a major butterfly effect that caused the distruction of this world 100 years from now" all I could do was say sorry "But that's why I'm here, to prevent you from saving the child and making sure you die on your right time" He said, his eyes glowing on the mention of 'death'.  'so are you gonna rewind time to correct this 'mistake'?'  "Oh no, I can only stop the time not rewind it, rewinding time will cause me a lot of my power, to the point where I could even parrish........But if you become our 'client' I won't be taking that much dammage." 'Rewinding time? That means spending more with my family!' the hope was enough to convince me but I still wanted to listen to what Roro was saying next. "To become our client you have to go to one of our special worlds and complete tasks given by us, when you will be done with all of the tasks you will get a reward called 'last golden wish award', from which you can go back to, approximately 24 hours before your death, please your single sign can save this planet" he pulled his best puppy-no-kitty eyes.  'well, what's the catch? the offer seems too good to be true.' "The catch is..........if you somehow die in that world you will loose your chance to reincarnate, ever again" Roro's eyes were serious and so was his tone. I closed my eyes to think seriously, will the risk be worth it? Will I have a descent life in the other world? What will happen to my family while I'am in that world? What kind of world will that even be? After plundering over several questions I finally opened my brown eyes to look at Roro's Aquamarine one's. 'I have some questions and I want to add some conditions'  "Ask away! But for the conditions.......I will see what I can do!" he started flying around me in happiness and his cat tail swinging left to right. 'What will happen to my family? What kind of world I would be sent to? What kind of   'system' will I get? What kind of tasks will be given? What will be my penalties if I fail?' "For your first question I can only let your death happen for now, so if you're asking about the fate's of your family then, they will do just fine. For your second and third question You will get a good world and system.  For your fourth question You will be given tasks which will be physically posible for you and your body For your fifth question Your penalties will be be decided on the difficulty of the task. If these are all the questions you wanted to ask, let's talk about the conditions now." 'My first condition, Nobody will mourn my death for long, My second condition, After my death, my parents will be given a lot of money, My third condition, I want to speak to my family and my best friend one last time and my final condition? All of my search and watch history will be deleted.'  "For your first condition, The maximum I can do is three years, for your second and final condition, I will arrange something, but for your third condition......it will not be possible for now but worry not good sir! Because I am the great Roro! And I shall make the impossible, possible" He had a glint of pride in his eyes and his voice was full of confidence. It all sounded trobelsome as hell! But what choice did I have? Sensing what my reply will be Roro brought out a long scroll which red- I, ___________ is willing to sign a contract with The AL(After life) bureau's 10th branch's manager, Roro. By this contract, I am to go into a world and complete the given tasks in return, for time before my death. The manager personally, will be responsible for my health and guidance in that world and I am required to reseve a system to give me tasks and penalties- I couldn't read much before it seemed like my surroundings started glitching. I heard Roro curse under his breath and anger flashing in his eyes. "......Those idiots..." His paw was tightening on the scroll and his frown deepened. I questioned what was happening and with a guilty look on his face he turned towards me. "I am deeply sorry sir, it seems that my underlings have been messing around and caused the time to now continue freely, but due to my presence the time is glitching..... I calculated, we have a minute at most until the time continues......... You just have to think of your signature to sign the contract....... I apologise sir but you have to make your decision now!"  I didn't, I couldn't think of anything else but my signature, Roro congratulations and his disappearance were the last thing I heard and saw before the truck finally collided with my body and I presumably, now, died. I don't know if I truly died or not but after the pain calmed down, only a robotic voice remained in my head which was counting numbers as if loding something. 10% 50% 100%  DEATH CONFIRMED 15% 40%  75% 100%  TRANSFER OF WORLDS COMPLETE 1% 34% 52% 100% TRANSFER OF BODIES COMPLETE 12% 43% 79% 80% 90% 100% TRANSFER OF MEMORIES COMPLETE 4% 52% 54% 64% 73% 81% 86% 90% 95% 99% ERROR! ERROR! ERROR! at those last words of the robotic voice all I wanted to do was show the green basterd my middle finger!

Somewhere in the universe was a very high-tech room filled with mechanical items. All around it were various sizes of computers, all showing different kinds of data and working on their own. The biggest computer in the room, was however, turned off. On the side of the computer, cowering in fear were three little kittens. They were shaking like a leaf in storm and their eyes were glistening with tears. "T-Teacher, W-What should we do now?" A little coffee coloured kitten with Orange eyes asked, Shivering and crying at the same time. "A-Are we going to be s-sent away?" This time a tri coloured kitten with a heart shaped on it's head and black eyes questioned with equal terror in his voice. "..........." The kitten In the middle, was not really a kitten. It was a 500 year old Adult cat who got so scared that, white cat crouched down to the level of those kittens. Truthfully it wasn't the cat's fault, this morning he had been taking his kindergarten class to their field trip to the building of the TWS branch. It was all going all right until two of the students, (who were very famous troublemakers in class) were found missing! The who building was surched, but the kittens were nowhere to be seen. He then also got lost and ended up in this room, where he found the troublemaker kitties jumping on furniture and the computers. In the battle to control the kittens, he accidentally spilled some juice (which shouldn't even be there in the first place) on the computer, shutting it off. The shutting off sound it made, finally brought us all back to our sences and frightened all of us, ending up in this position. They all got the idea that they F****d up. The manager of this specific branch was known as the"Devil with a businessman smile" and was someone who you shouldn't mess with. He was someone that could turn someone into a iceberg with his stare alone, they wished that anyone but the manager comes and lectures them, but, alas, luck was not on their side. As if on cue, through the big door in room flung open and in walked a Scary man with several cats with fear in their eyes, in tow. The kittens were bawling at this point and hiding behind the white cat for some protection. The raging eyes of the man landed on the white cat and glared at his tag. 'Guide 6969, Teacher from kindergarten no.13' the white cat named 6969 was terrified because of the actions of the two kittens. The coffee coloured kitten named 3739 and the tri coloured kitten named 3794 were responsible for all of this but nobody could punish them, after all they were only kittens under the 100 year mark not even in their teens yet, so in a situation like this the Adult found with them will get punished aka 6969. The green haired man picked up the white cat by the collor and looked at him with eyes that screamed 'Explain, or you'll be cat barbeque by tomorrow' the cat gulped fearfully and couldn't utter a single word. The man took a deep breath and finally spoke after coming in the room. "Hello there, You must be one of the kindergarten teachers who were supposed to come today with the cubs on a field trip to our humble branch. But you see, your students here have caused a slight..... issue" even tho his eyes were calm his tone was definitely threatening, the most frightening thing he was smiling, in the back, one of kitten had definately made a mess. The cat didn't dare speak. "....The Machine your students broke was responsible for portals and time. What do you have to say for yourself?" Those words made 6969 widen his eyes. It was said that the Machine responsible for portals and time was the most precious and important machine because without it, any branch will go bankrupt! It was because of this machine that the dealers were able to go to human world and stop time while they made deals with the contractors. Again, from this machine they would come back, open the portal and send a system of guide to the contractors mind. From this machine they would also cut the part of the deal making from the contractors memory and also erase the parts of the memory that make the contractors feelings to go back to the human world 'too much'.  If what the manager said is true, then Guide 6969 was respectfully and truly fu*ked.  He was still thinking about how to get out of this situation, he may get fired from his job and his dream to have an actual name someday would never be true now. "System 8592, check for the damages" this time his smile finally dropped and some of the vains in his forehead became noticable. One of the cat's that came in with the man steped forward and examined the computer for how much dammage had been done. The cat turned on the computer and typed some numbers and buttons to check. "I-It seems that the dammage to the Time part was temporary but it caused a different timeline to form, in which everyone lived in harmony till the end." 6969 smiled, after all a earth like this can be very beautiful but everyone else frowned. "T-Then there is the other part, if anyone goes out to make deal right now they will look like the thing the soon-to-die held dearly. It's also temporary" 6969 again smiled, making deals can be easier now. But the frowns on the faces of those other cats and managers face deepened. "O-Oh! And due to the juice getting right on the portal control the portal will appear randomly anywhere in this room" he finished and the faces of people in the room settled a little. Manager Roro was furious, but he knew better to lash out in front of a bunch of kittens. From his face you couldn't even guess he had mild anger issues. He looked towards 6969 and displayed his signature smile. The people who didn't knew him would've fallen for his charms but the people who knew him were sure they will have to attend the funeral of this white cat. The cat in question, has eased his features a little bit looking at the green haired man's face he thought that he they might get away with light punishment, after all it all happened because of a misplaced juice! thinking that he made the biggest mistake of his 500 year old life, he gave a smile of his own to the manager. Looking at the smile which looked as if the cat was mocking him the manager, Roro got so angry that he picked him up by the scruff of his neck and threw him towards a couch, not noticing a Galaxy coloured portel open up right infront of the couch. The people were looking at the scene with wide eyes, at this moment manager Roro remembered how his therapist told him to control his anger issues. He remembered how he scoffed at his therapist, Oh! How he wishes he had listened to the therapist. The scene looked as if it happened in slow motion and three more times to emphasize the point that they had caused a mistake. The portal immediately closed after engulfing guide 6969 and a erie silence fell, which was eventually broken up by the wails of two kittens. Coffee kitten- "Waaaaa the weird looking person fed teacher to a monster!"  Tri coloured kitten- "Waaaaa I don't wanna die!"  The wails of the kittens added salt to the situation for some reason. The panicking of many cats around him not noticing him and running towards the computers, some of which were trying to calm the kittens. The alarms someone triggered. His cellphone buzzing from calls from God knows who, were driving him crazy! In the end a single tear fell from his eyes while he questioned his existence for the first time. Also silently cursing himself for not finishing his leftover juice. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~✺✺✺✺✺~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6969 had lived a normal life, until he got assigned his role. Having a guide as a role is basically having no role because guides are needed very less and most people prefer systems.  He had almost no chances of ever going down or getting a name and he was satisfied with that. He never minded that he couldn't work in any of those big branches.  After finishing his school for guides, where he hardly made any friends he started working in a small kindergarten, Where he had worked for almost 50 years now, even tho he was still a newbie, he was treated kindly there. he had begun liking his job, even the troublemaker kids. He was feeling right now something he wasn't supposed to feel. The felling of going through a portal. He felt his body go into somebody else's memories. He had red multiple times about this in his textbooks but he never expected to Ever experience this himself. He was feeling confused, giddy and nervous. According to the textbooks he would go through 3 procedures before meeting his host. First he would enquire the memories of his host's past and current body. Then he would enquire all the knowledge important to this world, which will help his host get accustomed to the new world and it's cultures. and then finally few body controls that a guide is allowed to have. Only after all that will he meet his host for the first time. He still couldn't believe it, he was finally getting a host! His own host, somebody he would be with until his dying days. He had all kinds of emotions inside him but he didn't care now he just wanted to help his host in his vacation world!

As the clock struck nine, five girls were sitting around a circular table hurrying to complete their projects before the school started tomorrow. The girls had requested their friendly librarian to let them do their research after the library closed. The librarian had a soft spot for anyone on the hunt for knowledge and so had allowed them access to the closed building. She had made them promise to close the library doors before they left and to leave the keys with the guard. Two of the girls, who were fed up of doing the school work, stood up and went to the washroom. One of the girls, who was reading the book "Scariest Urban Legends", stood up and went to the remaining girls and showed them a legend that had piqued her interest. She read to them, " Once upon a time a woman was killed by her husband, who had married her for her money. He threw her dead body in a hole but before he covered it up, he took out her eyes as a token of reminder. The same night the woman dug out of her grave and killed her husband but she could not find her lost eyes anywhere. It is said that the ghost of the woman still stalks young people and if one of them was unfortunate enough to look into the voids that used to hold her eyes, then the woman would snatch out their eyes and see if they will fit her." "That is one gross story!", one of the girls exclaimed. All of them agreed with her. Suddenly one of them looked around and said to the other girls, with fear in her voice, "Hey, where are the others?".  "They're still not back?", the other said, alarmed, looking around.  "Let's go and find them!", the third one said.   The girls went to the washroom. The door was closed. Behind the door a dripping sound was being heard.  The girl who had brought the book turned to the other girls and requested them," l want you both to close your eyes when we enter the washroom." The girls were scared after hearing the story and so followed the order without question. When they opened the door, they went in relying on their instincts. One girls peeked through her eyes and saw the bodies of her friends hanging from the ceiling, blood dripping from their feet on the ground forming a large red puddle. She was barely able to stifle a scream when suddenly she heard a sharp sound from behind her. She quickly closed her eyes. She heard someone moving nearer to them. All the three girls became as stiff as statues, tightly closing their eyes. The person came in front of one of the girls. "Open your eyes, dear!!", a woman said in a mesmerizing voice. The voice felt like an angel's. "What a beautiful voice", they thought. "We should follow it." They slowly opened their eyes and saw a woman. They slowly raised their heads to her face. Her face looked quite pretty. But when they raised their heads to her eyes, the beautiful portrait was suddenly destroyed. Her eye sockets were as black as the night sky. The next day, when the guard came to the library, he found the door still open. He went into the library to see what had happened. He explored the reading area and found books still lying on the table. He explored more and went to the washroom. When he opened the door, he couldn't believe his eyes. The bodies of the five girls were lying on the floor in a pool of dried blood. Behind them four pairs of eyes were nailed on the wall.

The thirteen-year old Leon opened his eyes in the kitchen. All the lights in the house were turned off, leaving only the moonlight for illumination. The silver rays poured in through the open window, casting eerie shadows in the kitchen. Leon, could swear he saw a pair of black hands, moving towards him among those stagnant pools of darkness. He scrambled backwards in fright, pushing over the vegetable stand.   Clatter. Thunk ! Thunk!   The potatoes at the top, rolled on the floor. A few moments later, his mom rushed out of her room.   She bent down, stroking her son’s cheek softly, “Did you sleepwalk again, Leon?”   Leon slightly nodded, his mind still focused on the shadows in the kitchen. Those hands were nowhere to be found now.    It must have all been in his head!, he thought   He stood up on his feet and his mom walked him to his room.   “I will take you to the doctor again tomorrow.”, his mom promised, as she tucked him into bed.    After a mild goodnight kiss, she left the room. Leon slowly counted sheep, as his doctor had advised him, and drifted to sleep.   The next day, the school bus dropped Leon at his school.   “Wow, you look miserable.”, pointed Klein, Leon’s classmate and best friend. “Did you get enough sleep yesterday.”   Though Klein didn’t really need Leon to reply for him to get answers. The dark circles under his eyes were all the hints he needed.   “Well forget about your sleeping problems and listen to me. Did you hear about that house near our school?.”, Klein informed him.   Leon, too tired to speak anything, just shook his head, as Klein told him a story about how some people heard loud screams coming from the house at night, but when the police asked about it, the owner said nothing was wrong.   Before Klein could continue, the bell rang, indicating the start of the class.   The school continued normally, but all Leon could think about was last night. Ever since he was toddler, Leon had a bad habit of sleepwalking. He remembered that once, he had even unlocked the door and gone out to the streets. Thankfully a passing jogger had shoken him awoke and guided him back to his house, before something serious happened.   Nowadays his sleepwalking was getting worse and worse. And his sleeping problems were affecting his mental health.    During lunch break, he slumped on his desk, hoping for a quick nap.   In his dreams, he could see a pool of water in the middle of darkness. He walked towards it to look at his reflection. But strangely, there was nothing there.The water surface rippled, despite the lack of breeze, and he heard a voice. Wake up!!   Leon woke up to find his teacher looking at him. His stout teacher had a nasty frown on her face. She pointed her chin towards the door.   This woman needed her beauty sleep more than him!, thought Leon as he walked out of the classroom.   After school, his mom came to pick him up. The doctor, he was visiting was a very nice woman, named Ms. Muzan. Her gentle face and rosy cheeks could easily banish away all the thoughts of gloominess one usually felt from a doctor’s office.    “I am prescribing you a new medicine that just came into the market. I promise you that after tonight, you and your parents will never need to worry about your sleeping problems again.”, Ms. Muzan smiled, as she handed him the envelope of tablets. It had a pearlish pink colour, promising the person health and fortune.   That night, before going to bed, Leon took the medicine. It had a sweet but bitter taste like dark chocolate.   Leon opened his eyes in the same dark place he had toured this afternoon. The same pool, which reflected no light, was slightly rippling before him. But weirdly enough, this time he wasn’t alone. There was a tall figure behind him. A pink gown hugged her slender figure. The colour seemed foreign in the dark place.   The figure walked towards him and placed a hand on him. She indicated him towards the pool. Weirdly enough, this time he could make out something. It was a pair of legs, moving slowly, as a drunkard would. Suddenly, the pool glowed and the image became clearer.   The person to whom those legs belonged, was none other than him. Leon could make out his kitchen window behind him, pouring in silvery moonlight. But strangely enough, in the pool, his eyes were open and a small smile on his lips. The smiling boy waved at Leon, through the pool, as if waving a goodbye.   Leon quickly realized what was happening and grabbed at the water, trying to catch the strange person operating his body. But the dark pool stuck to Leon, pulling him down. Leon yelled and screamed, begging the woman in pink but she just stood watch. From her back, countless black hands blossomed, dousing the dress in black. They slithered out of the dress, and swam into the pool, pulling Leon down. The screams echoing through the darkness silenced.   Leon’s mom woke up in her bed, sensing something wrong. She rushed out of her to find her boy standing in the kitchen. The silver light from behind stretched out a long shadow below.   “Having trouble sleeping, Leon?”, she asked her poor boy.   “No, mom. Everything’s fine.”, her boy replied, smiling down on his shadow.

unEdited The prophet of islam mohammad died in at the end of his life and went to meet the one he waited for the most he waited his entire life to meet this person despire having wives, children, slaves, kingdom and even his friends who are willing to die for him mohammad left them with his most beloved , the one that favored him over all other , the divine being his creator and the creator of the world Allah and so after his death his last maybe not exactly last , but the last one in his mortal life was fulfilled he know can look at his creator god , as the most faithfull one , the greatest believer and the last prophet that was sent to convert humans from the darkness and the abyss of disbelief that was weaven by the devil to lights of faith belief and the love god . Despite getting poisoned by the Evil jews mohammad’s soul was clean Since he is the one who believes in allah the most his soul slipped put of his body like the slipping of water as it fall from the leafs of trees driven by the cool brease of at a summer morning . As the one that suffered the most for this religion , his divine self decided to grace him and show himself before himself before him , and grant him one single wish , besides allah have already granted him the highest level in heaven where there are things far byoned human imagination and so a divine being matterialsied before him with all his majesty and greatness different from anyother that majesty and greatness was unlike that of any king or lord for wards themselves are incapaple of discribing the one true god and the creator of the univerese , only one word could discribe him divine as he slowly opened his eyes before his prophet ,his prophet would have died from witnessing the greatness of the divine one and the heaven would have been destroyed but he with all his majesty spoke and said that they shall bear and bear his greatness they shall the vessel he materialised could bearly have part of his majesty and greatness something less than 10% but even with this much it was still too much for all the beings and the creations around him and so he opened his mouth and spoke “oh mohammad you have served thy greatness well, and so thy greatness shall grant thee one thing that thee wish for the most, fear not for our word is the truth and thy have created everything so granting you a wish is nothing to thy, our treasery is never empty and our power is the that of creation” hearing the voice of his creator mohammad was mesmerised and wished he could hear that voice for eternity for he couldn’t bear for that voice to stop and couldn’t stop his eyes from looking at the body of materialised by his creator mohammad thought if this is just a materialised vessel then what would happen if he saw the true body of his creator, his mind was blown and he could bearly think of how he actually looks , it was far byoned anything he could think about . And so mohammad opened his mouth and asked “oh allah the divine one , the greatest I want you but not a vessel but the real you “ mohammad smiled happly after saying that , now that he mentioned his wish which he kept deeply within himself , he have waited for so long , he beared a lot of suffering , even his wives he took them just because allah wanted him to teach muslims about which women are they allowed to marry under the orders of allah , if allah didn’t forbid him from marrying since that would cause the believers to follow his example and not marry and die single he wouldn’t have even married or touched those filthy women for when they are placed next to allah the divine being , the creater and the maker of everything , they are but mere dirt . Allah spoke divinely “oh mohammad thy have heard your plea , and your plea shall be granted” and right after the divine one spoke those word mohammad found himself souronded by light from everyside and he was completely naked he could feel the light which filled with divity fill his body and it’s suroundings , before he heared a voice that is far more divine than anything else a voice that can take your soul yet it was very manly one could get lost in that voice for thousands if not billions of years “thy shall enter you now “ and so a part of the light turned into a donger but it was a divine one made of light it was also bigger than that of a donkey and it started moving towards mohammad’s mouth unlike before he didn’t feel repulsed by the divine donger like he felt towards the people around him and even his own women maybe , but comparing the creation to the creator is not exactly fair , since the creator trumps his creation in eveerything and so mohammad while smiling happily opened his mouth welcoming the divine donger . The divine donger moved slowly towards mohammad’s face even it’s tip was big enough to fill his entire mouth it moved slowly filling mohammad’s mouth and even blocking him from breathing mohammad nearly suficated but he heared the divine being talking which made him forget about breathing completely if it wasn’t a divine word “thy shall remind you to breath through your nose”. mohammad was lost in the voice of the divine that if it wasn’t the word of the divine he wouldn’t have breathed Mohammad could see the light moving towards his face before retreting time after another after a very long time that to mohammad felt like a single moment but in reality billions of years have passed the divine donger began twitching and mohammad heard the divine voice telling him “thy is about to cum” it’s well known that in heaven jannah people need no sustinence like food , drink or going to bath and people wouldn’t age , die or suffer mohammad prepared himself and yet the shear amount that came from the divine donger filled his stomach until it bulged the cum was very thick and divine it came out from his mouth and his nose mohammad looked like a pergnant woman with his stomach bulging , and yet he was extremely happy since he could feel himself connected to allah despite cumming the divine donger remained standing strong soon he could feel a divine force bending his back moving with it he could feel another divine donger began pressing against his backhole , this divine donger was indeed the same one in his mouth so mohammad spoke “oh divine one , the greatest and the creator of the world how can you be in two places” and so the divine one replied “oh mohammad fear not for thy is everywhere and in everything , and worry not for thy for thy shall sutasfy you well” mohammad felling the divine donger penterating his ass slowly couldn’t help but moan from pleasure , he couldn’t be happier since now his connection with his maker is getting stronger mohammad’s dick would stand with pleasure each time the divine donger would enter his backhole before it would move downas the donger get’s out heaving mohamad’s insides hollow and pulsing with pleasue, suddenly a divine hand of light came from the light amd moved toward’s mohammad’s dick . The divine hand would move in rithm along with the divine donger sending waves upon waves of pleasure filling the body of mohammad , as for mohammad his body is just floating limb in the air from the shear amoun of divine pleasure while his multiple holes are being filled with the divine allah’s cum soon instead of one in the back and one in the front they became two in the back and two in the front and then 3 and 4 ............................... by the time it ended mohammad had been filled with divine cum that’s enough to fill the universe and yet mohammad with a meloncolic voice said “it already finished ?” as if he’s unaware that 10 times the time of our universe from it’s start to it’s end have already passed while he enjoyed connecting with the all knowing all seeing supreme being and creator of the universe . Mohammad wished he would be connected with his divine being for eternity so that he would enjoy the love the end

Calm was the morning noon. Calm was the sky above a mirage of clouds, as they drifted past the naked eye at a pace one could count. Calm was the quiet trees and snow, where the only sounds alive were the ruffling of leaves, no birds, just leaves. Calm was the sleeping denizens of the world, where each mammal rested eternally. For many who were once those denizens. They now rested in serenity. *SHOCKWAVE But calm was not the cities. Not the spires of glass and steel which crumbled, shattered or bruised those within. Not as screams so quiet that you'd believe it was a mis-reading, covered the plain of asphalt, not as bodies fell from the ones that remained standing for the moment. *BEAM Calm was not the warheads. Which flew thousands of miles to deliver death to all those who remain. To deliver the hatred of men who sat in their broken offices and decretive governments, all of which would soon fall too. The pain was for all to witness, as radiation and biological weapons filled the atmosphere. "FIRE THE FLARES" Calm was not the remaining soldiers. Each of which were at the brink of collapse, mentally disfigured by the previous 48 hours. They fought against the barrage of missiles while simultaneously sending their own, but fortunately, they wouldn't need to wait for peace any longer. Soon they would meet the main attraction of the hundreds of weapons fired at their nation. *WHOOOSH Calm was not the children, who stared at the sky in both awe and shock, as their families cried and teared. Holding their children close to their chest, a single child was clueless to all the encompassed the moment. He stared at the fireworks like he did every New Year, he was mesmerized. looking upon the skies, parents shook, grandparents wept, the rest committed suicide to die with some resemblance of choice. Yet like many, no one would survive what happened next. Out of all the pretty fireworks that covered the sky, as single one far away into the stratosphere gleamed red. It caught the boy's attention as he pushed from his mother ribs in joy. *Flare "MOMMY! Look! A second Sun-" A child spoke before both he and his mother turned to black char. Calm was the ashes that were left afterwards, as families were obliterated. Calm was the silent terrors in their minds. They had finally found peace. Their hands no longer carried the burden of life. They lived. They died. It was more than those who survived had, more than what was yet to arrive at their doors. *BOOOM ... (Minnesota - A junkyard Laboratory - Alex Whineswen) *boom The TV cowled as the remaining channels broadcasted the destruction of San Fran Sisco. A miniature nuclear warhead sent by what remained of the Communist federations had finally reached it's target after over 70 years of a Cold war. It sailed the sky as the rest of the world fell in shambles from their own actions, the detonation exasperated the already lethal climate. Perhaps the stress was simply too much for those few who fell into panic as their crops, cattle and food supplies dwindled. Perhaps, it was the pettiness of the European powers who intentionally interrupted the plans of the Russians and Chinese to build underground bunkers, said to qualify as giving up on the world. Either way, it would not be long before China fell from their infighting, not that Europe could fall any further after this. They too had a revolt, which was met with pure violent disregard. It was only after a massacre that somehow, the Union collapsed. "Damn it." A man whispered as he stared at the retro TV, one of the only few that actually flinched from static as radio waves far away interfered with the remaining signal. The US was falling. Sooner or later, it would be one of many in the world. Not because of the warheads. No. That was the last problem to deal with. Atmospheric temperature fluxed as in increased by over 40 Celsius in some parts of the world, and Under 60 in the rest. It was a red winter in Russia, which froze over almost every public building, it was boiling in the US, which killed all possible forms of life, except for the genetically modified ones. Like the trees, which somehow managed to survive. "-I really need to get this done. Soon enough, we'll be able to breathe once again. Soon." He spoke as he moved towards the centerpiece, passing by a photo of his family. Where he would have stopped o see his lovely wife and daughter, now, now he had to finish this. He had lost so much, his life, family, job, arm, so so much. Yet he kept going, persisting against whichever afterlife that called his name every single night. Why? Why would someone who lost everything keep treading through what many screamed out as hell? "Soon. We must make haste, so you'll have to pick everything else up. I know it isn't the best birthday gift from a  father, but please, live." He spoke as he touched a glowing red medical tube. Large enough to fit a full grown adult within, it pulse crimson, the very color of blood as audible movement within was heard. It drifted side to side as several equipment monitored it's 'Brainwaves', displaying them on screen. "The E.M.P Protection won't last." He speaks as the machines flicker for a moment, "Even the lead casings on this place won't be able to stop a closer attack. The birth is nigh." He speaks, taking his palm of the glass casing, which caused movement readings to drop by a significant level. The ground shook briefly, machines flickered, but somehow, they held their ground. He marched, like a war was brewing. Grabbing the remaining papers on his desk. He could never let anyone, ANYONE, see what he'd done to achieve his specimen. The several trails of research, no, the revolutionary equipment he'd produce. He wouldn't allow them to take it from him again. He stacked them into a file and organized them into a duffle case, where he'd drag the four kilos worth of notes and designs to the machine. Dropping the bag haphazardly, he moved along to the computer, where he'd feed it's neural networks the last piece it needed to be truly alive. Desire. Greed. Aspiration. Rejection. But never, ever any contradictions. He couldn't allow something so insignificant to ruin his work; He wouldn't birth any failure from it. The final piece he picked from his pocket was a vial. A single red blood vial, filled with the genes of whom he cared the greatest. He placed the vial in, to which like the hundreds upon hundred of DNA samples he'd collected, it analyzed it within mere minutes. "Goodbye my daughter. Be born." He muttered, grabbing his Smith&Wesson Revolver from the drawer, he pressed the button to release what he'd has made. A few mad chuckles escaped his lips as he pondered how far he's truly lost it. If this worked, would it be any better than what was happening now. Doubts covered his mind, but the single thought of his daughter's face only strengthened his resolve. His world was soon to be destroyed by those politicians who took EVERYTHING from him. HIS RESEARCH. HIS FAMILY. They would know damnation. On biblical proportions. The machine computed the last percentages of his daughters genome. It fizzed as a computerized voice asked his his last question. "Detecting release module. Do you authorize the release of Specimen 'Zero-Ex-Three'?" "Authorize." He spoke loudly, with not a single sliver of his anticipation showing. Perhaps he couldn't care what happened now, he just wanted to see this end. The machine took a few seconds to react as it digested his voice, but the glass soon drained as the casing opened with a puff of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. There stood a child. One with no bodily features such as fingerprints, creases in the skin or other unnecessary designs it deemed irrelevant. It's flesh was more like silicone as all impurities had been stripped from its genes. It stood with a blank expression, breathing it's first breathe of real air. Breathing the impurities, it's body shifted to account for the radiation, it's ribs, skin, and flesh momentarily deformed into a crimson mass, but soon reorganized itself. "My daughter." He spoke with glee, proudness as he faced his daughter. He would give no tears, not on her birthday. He smiled at his beautiful creation. He smiled at his daughter. For she was truly amazing. She looked at him, her eyes mechanically facing his, her neck twisted upwards like it was the first time she had ever moved, her 'muscles' still adjusting. Though it was simply an illusion, she looked surreal. "I have not much to give you, dear. I have anticipated this meeting for so long, yet I can't seem to find the words." he chuckled, clicking his Smith&Wesson, to which she gave only the slightest glances. "I want you to know that you mean so much, so much to me. I cannot give you much besides my love and these old notes, I- I did prepare something for you, my child. Be happy." His hand widened like a circus showman presenting to a crowd, his grin was immaculate, like he was presenting a great present. His left arm dangled as its blacker, charred skin yet raised, ignoring any vestige of pain left from it. His glasses shone brightly, his eyes, filled with remorse, regret, for once gleamed in pride. As the images of his real daughter appeared in his mind. Her smile on the swings she loved with all her hearts. Her eyes when she called out her father. He could only do one more thing. 'Daddy!' He could practically hear her. Her sweet innocent smile. It brought a deranged grin to his face. "Olivia. My daughter, I give you the world." He spoke, pulling the gun to his temple, and pulling the trigger.  Perhaps it was the large ceiling lights, perhaps it was the maddening air and moisture, but a small glint appeared under his eyes as he spoke his heart. The words he never got to offer his first child. *BANG Yet, he chose to die with a smile. Perhaps he met his own peace then. Perhaps he met little salvation. The splattering of his internals covered the wall as slowly, his body shook. Unable to keep himself standing, he fell backwards, staining the tiled floor. ... *Thud His body hit the floor as the gun rolled out of his finger tips, his body would soon go cold, and for several minutes, Olivia would only gaze at the corpse without a single expression on her 'cheeks'. Her 'lips' were still as she savoured the sight. Her 'eyes' only dialated to see the sight, as no remains of emotion had revealed. How the brain matter skidding down the floor, the spinal fluid pouring with plasma and blood from his cracked skull, staining his perfectly white lab coat with the color of his insides. She would simulated how the liquid would droop, if only to match the assumed viscosity. She would use it as a learning experience perhaps. It brought some sensation exterior to physical boundaries for her. Yet she couldn't tell what sensation that was. She had no comparison to the feeling. So she ignored it entirely. Gazing around, now that the only person she was designated to respond for had died, sha had to assume her intended objective. She was curious.. No it was... Interest, and confusion. She could only ponder on what he meant with his words, comparing it to the thousands of files and records in her mind downloaded from what was left of the internet, where the words 'I'll give you the world.' Repeated through book after book, essay after essay. She found no match considering the context it was given, a dead man lay a few meters from her feet, only few records matched the scenario, yet each had an innately incorrect comparison with her current scenario. As she gazed her pupils to the paint recoloured from a metallic grey to pink and red, she stared blankly before asking the question. "Why was I born?" She spoke, as she looked over the words of her father. Soon, her eyes grazed the dufflebag of files that sided to his charred left arm. It was filled to the brim with notes and designs, she received conformation from her internal systems that they pertained some importance. His words, 'besides my love and these old notes.' She reassessed his words and moved shakily. Controlling a body was more difficult at first, but like her many other simulations, would be easier within an hour's training.  

(14 minutes before the Nuclear explosion.) "MOVE IT!" The sergeant screamed, making many of the long line of people run even faster. "MOVE MOVE!" The facility in Nevada was the only refuge these sinners had now. The children cried as they were separated form their fathers, mothers and families for the priority list. The mothers were prioritized before the fathers, elderly last. Over four thousand individuals organized themselves under military command, the facility could only fit around five thousand, and thus children and priority targets were taken in first. Doctors. Military Personal, ex or otherwise. Celebrities. Anyone who could be relevant when the time came. It was enviable for many, and many rioted. Their panicked screams were ones of hundreds as many tried to force their way through the obviously aggravated military personnel. Their training was the only thing allowing them to keep their composure, yet strays who'd had enough stress often berated and pushed the crowd back. One stick at a time. "Agh!" A Vietnamese girl within the crowd was one of these victims. No older than 13, her face had a large blow right above her eye, leading to the blood pouring out of her skin at an extreme speed. Not that anyone here could care. They all had far too much to give up for a measly child. Not even their own. So she laid on the floor, her hands and arms almost trampled by the several adults above her, who only gave her glances and half-attempts to help her. Rach after reach, hand after hand, foot after foot. She was covered in bruise after bruise, and would barely breath after a foot to her diaphragm. Her spastic, almost pitiable state caught the attention of a senior behind the lines of dressed military soldiers. Only by a glance, the marble among bones decided to act first. "Stop!" A lieutenant pushed his way through the crowd. Jumping from the backs of the soldiers, he dived downwards to a crawl through the masses as he pulled her hand. Her gaze was wobbly, swooning her body as she tried to walk, she only momentarily saw the blurry face of her savior before falling into a faint. Slowly, she was picked by his arms as some sensible few of the crowd calmed down and made way for him. Cutting the people behind them at the sight of the injured girl. "Stop it!" He shouted again as his men made way for him, where he rushed to the medical facilities within the building. Not that any civilian was allowed to enter at the moment, but he could do with reprimand than regret. He'd get a punishment from his superiors over allowing a child of all people to die. The crowd nearest to them, a small portion to the literal thousands of panicked faces, had the decency to relax themselves, even for a moment. Not that the Savagery wouldn't return sooner or later. It was their nature. Wasn't it. ... (6 Minutes  before - Upper outlook office. General Wain) In the luxurious office of the appointed, rather, elected general, General Wain sat uncomfortably in his seat, facing the byproduct of governmental disfunction. His hair, though already white, seemed to be getting whiter as every second passed. And his skin, though fairly pale, seemed paler at the moment. The stress was not something he should be dealing with at the ripe old age of 56, but he made due with the short handed staff and late schedules his supervisors applied. 'Animals' he thought as the crowd ate at each other for a chance to love. many cried, laughed out of dread, or even gave up. Many conflicted faces turned a portrait of agony into a landscape of individuals, turning this entire view into a surreal 'Where's Waldo' image. Akin to the Christian paintings of the ends of time, except they've already reached hell. Most would die today.  "~Evacuation of California has, for the most part, failed." The Onsight general spoke, it had been a few hours since his arrival, yet everything has already gone to shit. "As of presidential decree, I officially authorize Operation P.I.X.I.E. We shall move into action effective immediately." He spoke, filling another scotch before taking it down in a single swoop. This reminded him of the crowds in Afghanistan. Though his tour there was a fairly short one, in comparison to his tour in Iraq, he remembered the crowds of people begging at the US convos for food, medical help or any otherwise sacred utility. At least they had the decency to keep their composure as they begged, the civilians here were far to egoistic.  The other person in the room stood at attention behind him, as the former was too busy peering at the jungle of soon-to-become martyrs. Formally dressed in a military outfit, he stood with his hands, white gloved hands, clenched.  ... He knew exactly what he had to do. It was no easy decision on his plate. With a pained heart, he added another sentence, their sentence. "Close the gates." He spoke pained, the Major General Obliged. Major General Breggs, a far younger man than Wain, could only give his own nod, as he followed the General's order without complaint. This was a necessary evil in their eyes, less they opt for the collective death of all Seven thousand within and exterior to the bunker. With footsteps being the only noise left in the room, Breggs left, leaving the General with too many thoughts on hand. Turning one more time to his reinforced window, he couldn't help but reveal an odd expression of disappointment. Loathing. Guilt. 'Where the hell did everything go wrong? No, it was all going wrong beneath our noses, one slip and the world is falling apart. Let's guess STRATCOM's budget has been funneling somewhere for them to be this damn slow.'  One more smell of his glass, his white stach grazing the edge of the cup as he did all he could to relax his shaking hand. 'I'm too fucking old for this.' He reminisced one more time, reminded of his daughter and grandson, both safe in the confines of DC. They would be the ones to get out of this at least. The ones to thrive after, that was what kept him going; He would do anything to see them once more. Turning around, he lays his glass on his dark wooden desk, the velvet colors of the room where something to memorize, as he wasn't sure if he'll ever get to see it again. Walking through the emergency elevator shaft on the side, he methodically swiped his access card, handprints and retinal scan for the biometrics, before he descended to the bottom floor of the facility. Right near their nuclear reactor and the boiler room of hell. 'Eddy. Louis. I won't be joining you two any time soon.' He thought as his gaze fiercened.  With that... ... The room was empty. ... Desolation. (One minute to hell. The city.) The city, for a single, minute second, was silent. No screams. No tears. Just silence. A silent terror, a quiet inevitability and a single whisper without a voice. A whistle was all they heard. Falling from so far away that you'd believe one had to be more than simply human to hear it, but the countless, countless children, woman, men, everyone heard the whistling warhead. It stopped approximately 6000 meters in the air. Maybe even higher, where it, akin to gods wrath, left no chance for interruption. No opportunity for a last second error. *BOOOOOOOM Unlike god. Man offered no salvation either, only death in it's wake. First the air vibrated with the ferocity of a billion suns. Then the clouds evaporated. The heavens died as all that was left was hellfire. Fission. Then the buildings evaporated, not simply melting, but turning into proxy glass as they first broke apart by the sheer wind pressure, then melted into the air along with the hundreds of trees, cars, traffic lights, clothing stores, malls, courthouses, police stations, churches, schools, orphanages. People. All mixing into the kettle of primordial juice, who instead of birthing, eradicated. The innocent and guilty alike where sentenced equal in the eyes of this weapon, and like its brutality, gave no delay nor sense of comfort as it euthanized the populace. Terror was never felt. Only anticipation for something already occurring. The infants were perhaps the worst of the victims, as unlike the children, parents and people of California, they did not anticipate of any form of emotion. They smiled with glee, some cried instinctually, but none had the chance to ever become as cruel as the rest of the world. They lacked suspense, and died without knowing why. One could tell how dreadful the situation is by looking 80 kilometers away, within the Nevada bunker, as those left behind were meticulously grilled into black, nerves first, bones last. The titanium dam melted away. Only holding the megatons of radiation for a moment, before the remaining lead and titanium breaches, floors worth of them, could sustain the rest of the radiation; Without the underground water deposits and filtration systems prepared beforehand, the few who descended to a greater level of hell would not be deemed cockroaches in their effort to survive. For the few that lived, the very few out of the millions who died, they would be awarded a crueler fate. The mercy of a slow and calm death would never set them at peace as what was left to be told in the catacombs of steel and metal would only gaze upon their bloodied futures with shame. Their tombs were already set, and they would die within this organized facility.  

“Oh! Why, if it isn't master Kevin? I was just at your door a few moments ago. Fearing not to disturb your sleep I decided to let you rest. I do hope it wasn't my knocking that startled you awake,” A blonde green eyed lady remarked as Kevin descend down the stairs.   “No, I do not think so. And you must be..?” Kevin quipped noticing he had yet to be acquainted with the lady before him. “Oops sorry. I'm Vanessa your step mom,” Vanessa declared. “Ah, sorry. of course you are. I'm truly sorry for my father’s health, you must have felt really lonely and I thank you for all you have done for him.” Kevin remarked felling despondent by the whole ordeals. “Ah, no, I was just fulfilling my duties as a wife that's all,” Vanessa asserted with a huge grin plastered on her face. “Still your help has been greatly appreciated,” Kevin replied before being stunned by an unknown individual appearing from the kitchen. “Oh!, So this is the young master? Hi, I'm Drake, nice to meet you,” The sinewy built man declared upon witnessing Kevin. “Oh please, call me Kevin,”  “Okay then, so how was school? I do hope there wasn't a lot of stress coming from Emerald City all the way here,” Drake asked as he made an handshake with Kevin  “Nope not really. It was quite entertaining actually,” Kevin replied with a grin. “If you would excuse me, dinner will be served in the next ten minutes,” The maid Dahlia proclaimed as she stepped into the living room. “Oh perfect, thank you Dahlia. Now come on boys, I believe none of you would enjoy chatting on an empty stomach,” Vanessa said as she gestured towards the dining room indicating they move there to eat. “So you are her brother, am I right?” Kevin asked as he was about to take a seat in the dining room. “Why yes, actually I came here to meet a friend but upon informing my sister of my intentions she asked I come stay here before business is done that is,”  “Wow!!, Okay and what would your business be if I may ask?” Kevin inquired as he was seemingly intrigued by the other party’s occupation. “Pfft pfft”  Drake spat the water he was drinking upon suddenly hearing Kevin's question, which surprised Kevin by the way. “Oh, I'm sorry. Are you okay??” “...Yeah I'm fine thank you. Actually I work in a company,” Drake resumed after a brief pause. “Oh? What kind if I may ask?” Kevin inquired deeper while feeling skeptical. “Construction company,” Drake replied with beads of sweat evident on his forehead. “Wow and what ......”  “Great, the food is here, let’s all sit back and enjoy the food please,” (Vanessa) Vanessa said as she sensed the atmosphere was beginning to become fierce, Kevin had no choice but to give her credit for her womanly intuition. While eating, Drake asked Kevin a question to the bewilderment of everyone “So Kevin, how many girlfriends do you have?” “Drake?! I'm sorry Kevin. Please do not pay heed to.. “ Vanessa tried to relay some few words to Kevin before Drake abruptly chimed in. “What is it sister? Am I not right to ask him. He is a good looking young man so I'm pretty sure he’s got a couple of fishes swimming in his pond right? *Wink* *wink*” “Well I'm sorry to disappoint you Mister Drake but I'm single right now,” Kevin declared as he took a few gulps of orange juice. “So you weren't single before now right?” Drake jested. “Actually I was but I do not deny the fact that I do have some preferences I would like to spend my life with,” Kevin brazenly declared to Drake's inquiry. “Well, if you see someone you like and you Know you are ready to spend more time with her, do not hesitate to make your feelings known to the other party before a third party snatches her away from you,” Vanessa said as she takes a glass of juice and drinks it. Seeing her now, she does look really beautiful with her blonde hair and her beautiful green eyes, her eye glasses makes her look even more dashing. I can see why my dad fell in love with her.  Mom always said he was a sucker for Blondes back when they were in the university. But still, she looks so young to be called his wife. I wouldn't be surprised if she was mistaken as his daughter.  Yeah that's right, that's just how young she looks with those huge marshmallows resting on the table. Damn I want to grab those tits. What am I saying? Shut up. She’s my step mom.  But still I never expect I would chat with her so easily, is it because she reminds me of my late mom in a way or is it that I just miss her so much that seeing a woman in my front trying her best to be a mom to me makes me feel relaxed. Although ever since my late mom’s burial, I haven't set foot in Ruby city ever since. Is it just me or has Drake been staring at her melons ever since we were eating. Nah, I doubt that. Yep, i was right, he just stylishly glanced at it one more time. I'm sitting directly facing Mister Drake, while Vanessa is beside him. Sis-con? Maybe. I'd better watch out for him. Nah I doubt that, he is too cool to do such thing. By cool I mean he is hulky in appearance with a light brown tanned skin and blonde hair, most likely he dyed it. Oh well, who cares I like it. I'm sure the ladies love it. If I were a babe I'd definitely want to be grabbed by those huge muscles. Maybe I'll dye my hair too someday. I'm sure Ola and Abel would laugh till their lungs come out(literally). Those guys don't hold back when it comes to stuffs like that. “Thank you for the meal.” I said as I stood up intending to take my plates. “Oh don't worry, the maid will see to it.” Drake declared while urging Kevin not to bother himself. “Okay thanks. Good night then.” Kevin replied as he headed upstairs. “Good night,” Both replied as they noticed him head upstairs. “Hmm”. The muffled moans of a woman was faintly heard, much to surprise of Kevin. 

"《I always had this feeling in my life...The boredom…everything goes according to my predictions...Always》" That was her last ThoughtTo be specificThe Last Thought of Junko EnoshimaThe True one ----------------- Makoto Naegi defeated Junko and ended Despair. He Saved Class 78 from Despair and Spread Hope to the world, Hope won the war and the despair began to die Slowly  But some crazy people wanted to watch another killing game between Ultimates. however they cannot harm any human being and that’s the beginning of An organization called “Danganronpa”. The plan was to use the NEO World program instead of making human beings kill each otherThe NEO World program would make A.Is but needed actual people to base their personalities on.for them to make an A.I that matches Human beings in talents wasn’t impossible at allThey must take or steal the machine and begin a showThe show called DanganronpaFirst, they would tell the world it's a series and make the world love itThis show is The ultimate show.The people loved Monokuma, He was the Icon of the killing game, So the Mastermind of the killing game will be Monokuma. and Luckily Enough they have data on his personality. However he will not be the only Mastermind, They needed someone with him.  That was Tsumugi Shirogane -------------- In a dark place, that was like void.there was a girl with long blue hair.she said with a happy and crazy expression "《Ahhhhhhhh I don't believe our show will begin!Oh my god!I didn't think we finally got the NEO world and there are 15 high schooler volunteers! HahahahahahI'm soooooo happyI should stop talking to myself now, I need to start the killing gameThe first season!And of course, there is no killing game without OUR MONOKUMAAfter all, you are The Icon of this killing game!》" A bear appeared in front of herIt was MonokumaMonokuma with a surprised face, his thought 'Didn't I die?I see, she mentioned killing games And me being a robot. Which gives one conclusionI'm in Neo world Program and I'm an AIanything can happen here after all' The girl with a happy yet surprised face "《You won't ask me why or how you are here or what I want from you?》" Monokuma didn't bother to reply SorryJunko didn'tAfter all, she is the ultimate analyst The girl said with a happy face and tone "《I'm Tsumugi Shirogane,I revived you to begin another killing game.A game filled with hope and despair. And you will be the mastermind of it》" And that is how everything Started, The Show called Danganronpa And the boring Killing game for Junko Next chapter Ch 0.1 The killing game

On a cold night, in a semi-detached house, three people can be found in the living room, a young middle aged man sleeping on a sofa, a young middle aged woman who is actually naked and a naked big bellied old man The woman stands behind the sofa with her hands rested directly on top of the sofa and old man behind her as well “Ah...ha..ha...please slow down, we are directly in front .....of...himmmm,” “You say that but  yet you are making puddles on the rug. You are feeling it aren't you?” “.....” “Admit it you like my cock, don't you?,” The man talks as he rams his cock vigorously with repeated force. They repeated the violent extraction with sounds of flesh hitting flesh as their hips slam into each other. “Ah.....ha ..ha....please have mercy," The woman said as her breast bounces up and down in synchronization with the old man’s thrust. “Ohh, my son is such a lucky man to have such a beautiful woman like yourself with such an amazing pussy,” “Hmm, mm....mm..please don't say that now," Even though  the woman begs  her father-in-law not to speak of her husband, the amount of love juice overflowing from her cunt seems to mean something else. “Admit it you love my cock,” “Hmm.... Ah...ah...eh?....what?," The woman who had no idea she had been shaking her hips aggressively on her own suddenly felt the old man’s raging  cock slowly removed from her pussy. “Well?,” “.........eh?......ah!” The old man suddenly carried her up as he lifted her two legs allowing her to rest on his belly as he exposes her vagina to her sleeping husband. He stands directly facing the sleeping husband.  “If you say stop, I'll put you down right now and promise never to fuck you again. What do you think,” The man said as he teases her pussy with his cock rubbing her clitoris. “This is your only chance right now,” He said as he continues to tease her drenched cunt. “.....stop," “Hmm, what did you say,” “Please! I beg of you, don't stop," “Well said, now let's introduce ourselves to your husband,” The tone of the woman voice changed to a high pitched scream as he thrust his meat rod directly into her pussy. He swings his hips in a steady rhythm as she climax upon his sudden movement “Honey, I'm sorry but I can't live without your father's cock anymore.  I am now his exclusive cum dumpster after been ravished day and night without mercy. I still love you but I need his cock mooooore,” The wife said as the man continues his unending thrust filling her up to the brim. “That's good, don't worry you can still be with him, after all you are a housewife, during daytime you are mine while at night you are his perfect wife but during times like this when he gets drunk, I am going to fuck the hell out of you," Upon hearing those words her vagina walls tighten as he places her down allowing her to rest her hands on the table with her hips raised high as he swings his hips. Her voice began to mechanically match her bouncing body as she is delighted to be at his mercy. She has completely been corrupted by his raging cock. She wrinkled her brow and arch her back as she fell into a state of complete ecstasy, then little by little the top of her tongue began to poke out of her mouth. Her body shook as she reaches her climax “Your cock....ha....ha..my throbbing cunt is getting stirred by it....I'm.....going.......I'm..... I'm.....c.....” *Turned off* The TV was suddenly turned off “Huh? What the?....” (Ola) “Idiot, i had to turn off the TV, do you know how long we've been knocking, it was Kevin who noticed the door wasn’t actually locked in the first place," (Abel) “Duh I knew you guys were coming today that's why I left it opened.  Aww man, I was just getting to the good part," (Ola) A young man masturbating as he stands with his lower part completely naked felt annoyed as he couldn't climax at the critical point in time seeing that the TV was turned off. “Yeah yeah just get yourself cleaned up. I can't believe you would be doing this on a Sunday morning,” (Kevin) “Judge me not brother, I'm just a teen that follows his gut,” (Ola) “Don't you mean libido,” (Abel) Inside a room in a boy's quarters, three University boys are talking about the departure of a boy among them. “Yo, Kevin. Are you really leaving? I know it's been three years since you last visited your old man but still I thought you were joking just like you always do,” (Ola) “Hey, let him go, even you miss your mom’s breast milk everyday, isn't that why you go home every weekend? “ (Abel) “At least my place isn’t far from school that's why I go home when I have the chance,” (Ola) “So you admit to missing your mom’s milk then,” (Kevin) “Ah no it's ...” (Ola) “Phhf.. hahaha” (all three boys) “Thanks guys. I'm really going to miss you both,” (Kevin) “Hey Abel, u brought the stuff right?, I really think you should give it to him before he leaves,” (Ola) “Give me what?” (Kevin) “It's something Ola bought two months ago from his favorite porn store,” ( Abel) “ Hey, it's not a porn store, granted I agree its a store  but it's a high quality store that's sells high quality videos,” (ola) “You guys really need to lay low on the porn you Know,” (Kevin) “You do know that Kevin isn't a mom-con like you and more over why do you get to fap with it for over a month while I get to use it for just a few weeks. That's totally unfair you know.” (Abel) “When will you guys ever get over your love for milfs. Still I appreciate the offer guys but I'm better off going back home without having anything that will put me in a situation where I'll be called a perv in front of everyone back home,” (Kevin) “See?? He doesn't want it, so I'm better off keeping it.” (Abel) “Idiot, didn't I introduce some high class porn manga to you. Trust me, he needs this after everything that happened with him at home. Who knows he may begin to see his new mom in a new light. Fufufu.” (Ola) Kevin is on the verge of returning home. He came to say goodbye to his close friends. He hasn't been home since his mother died and his father remarried. His father who is in a coma is currently in a vegetative state due to traumatic brain injuries. “You fool, then I'm definitely not collecting it then. I’ll be going soon, can I use the toilet? Won't want to be holding it in while boarding the bus you Know”.  (Kevin) “Yeah no prob. You will see the usual, you re free to use whichever magazines you want *blink blink*” (Ola) “There's no end to your jokes. Is there?” (Kevin) A few minutes later “You took the drugs we're working on with you?” (Abel) “Yeah, but there are mainly what I've been working on for a while now.” (Kevin) “Yep, he's definitely the greatest pervert among us all.”(Ola) “Whatever, bye guys,” (Kevin) “Bye” “Yeah, give me a call when you get home,” *Since when did he become my dad?* And so Kevin left his friend's house who he had visited before leaving for his home town. He then boarded a bus straight back to the place he hadn't visited for three years. Upon reaching home, he knocked before been greeted by a maid when entering. “Be right there..., oh it's you, good day Master Kevin, hope your travel wasn't too stressful,” (Maid) “Maid?, You must be new here? Where's  Mary?” “Yes sir, Mary has been relieved off her duties for quite sometime now, if you would please allow me to carry your bags,” (Maid) “Oh no need thank you. And you are,"  “Oh, do forgive me, I'm Dahlia and I'm the one currently looking  after the house in place of Miss Mary,” (Dahlia) “Oh okay, so how is he(father) doing?” “He has been responding to the brain scans and series of blood test being done to him.The doctor says it shouldn't be long before he wakes up,” I asked cause it's been ages since I last visited, I heard he was in coma, but still I decided to stay in school ever since, it's not like we had a disagreement or something,  I was just not ready to see me that's all, honest. “Oh okay, I'll be going to my room now, is anyone else inside?” “Yes I think the lady should be sleeping in her chambers now while Mister Drake should be out by now. If you'd like, I would inform her of your arrival when she wakes,” “oh yes, please do. Mister Drake?” “Ah yes, He's the lady younger brother who recently moved here,” “Oh I see. I will visit my father after resting a bit. Thank you,” “ Okay sir, please if you need anything, do not hesitate to call,” She bows as she said so “Ah yes no prob," Kevin then climbed the stairs to reach his room and then drops his bag and lie on the bed with his face directly on the bed. “Why would dad bring in a maid, so young like that and allow her to walk freely with those short maid uniform and her huge knockers just begging to be groped. Oh well, the house looks exactly the same way I left it.”

'This is absolutely boring.....Ahhh Tsumugi is writing the stories of the killing games and She isn’t that good. I became a part of making the stories and Characters, but Man I feel bored It's more boring here than in my lifetime I already know what she will do next, nothing is new at all*sigh*52 boring killing gameIn the first place, I wanted to change the outside world with this showMake them want the despairing killing game more and more until they’re obsessed with it!So I helped That girl in the scenario she writes.But I can't go outside after the despair and make another tragedy.I'm already deadI can't take any of participants bodies*Sigh*After some killing gamesI........I want to end this Boredomtruly, that’s what I want…..........................................................AAAAAAAAA!Why didn't I think about this before!No that's a lie…I thought about thisTo make one of the participants a leaderA leader is someone who will lead others and take care of them.....Someone to give them hope and end the killing gameThat's the lame thingI made A Leader before but He couldn’t do anything Against the truth about him and the NEO-World Program and Tried to do a Perfect Murder case But failed because of luck or something else Ahaaa boredomSo How?How can I end this Boredom?!!!!!!What if I give him something that will make him uniqueMake him more skilled in his talent than Izuru himself!I will give him the supreme title!With this maybe I will end my fucking boredomMaybe he will break my predictions!That's it I will manipulate that girl to create him first and hack one of the monocubs and break all the 5 monocubsAfter all, it's not fair with 6 masterminds excluding me. well 5 of them are more like protocolsBut still not fair!One mastermind is enough and that will be me! Monokuma! Upupupupupupupupup '   Junko began her plan, That Plan may succeed in another Timeline But This story is different In a classroomMonokuma said with a Malicious and evil voice "《Upupupupupupu hello little supreme.I'm Monokuma the god of this world》" There was aboyThe boy had blackish-purple hair, He said with a worried yet surprised voiceHe was kinda afraid to speak... "《Where am I?What is this place?I don't rem...no I feel like I don't know anything about meThe god u say...?If you are a god, prove it to me 》" Monokuma's voice became more and more Malicious and evil "《Upupupup I love how quickly u organized yourselfthat's what I'd expect from the Ultimate supreme leader!Sure enough, I will prove it for u 》" The hand of this boy was cutImmediately  He felt the pain in his armHis hand was cut, but how? Knife?Wire?He talked fast yet with a calm voice "《What do you want?How can you .....》" His hand returned…Like nothingMonokuma said with a confused tone "《Oh my. no screams at all? You tried to know what is happening and You also tried to make a plan for this situation?Is the cause the supreme title?Oh my that's kind of interestingLet me surprise you!》" He listens to what he was telling him very carefully and prepared his mindMonokuma said with a crazy happy face "《You are a fictional character! 》" Someone who calls himself a god appeared in front of him and started doing unnatural things ,and How calm he reacted with what is happening to him ,all of that isn't normal.He said with an emotionless Expression "《More like I'm an AI right?》" Monokuma was surprised by how quickly he thought and analyzed everything "《Why that thought?》" 'I can guess some answers alreadyBut the interesting thing that only some answers, not all'"《If I'm a fictional character you will not have to try to understand my characterHow can the author not know his own character?You seem happy when you say the "supreme" thing.You are probably the AI that controls this world or helps to control itI will know which one the more we talk》" Monokuma felt a little bit more interested in him 'It was the best answerAnd an answer only the Ultimate analyzer could give I thinkTo think the supreme gave him a second talent or gave him intelligence that is close to the Ultimate analyst I hope it's the former not the laterWell the answer is kind of wrong so the later' Monokuma said with a calm voice and a happy face "《Ohhh thanksI guess if I told you directly you will understand everything, that will save time.What I want from you is simply one thing. End this killing game.Of course, I will help to make the game fair》" The boy 'Help to make the game fair, not to help me, huh but I...How ironic. I feel tired alreadyI need to act like I'm perfectly fine and I will succeed'"《I will destroy the five mastermindsAnd reveal the identity of one!》" He interrupted Monokuma and asked in a calm voice "《What's my name?》" He appeared to be surprised "《Ehhh when I am just about to reveal the sixth mastermind you ask your name?How disappointingOh wellYour name is Kokichi Ouma the Ultimate supreme leader》"'I don't want to ask this question but to truly accept this situation I need to ask' Ouma said "《I'm not a human being?》""《Yes and no》" Ouma was surprised but didn't want to appear he was. 'I have many answers to what it said but I don't know which answer is rightS...'"《Your bodyIt belongs to a human being. if you win the killing game, by then You are supposed to know the whole truth about you being just an A.I Like the previous winner Rantar... Oh I’m not supposed to say his name the answer is No and Yes 》" 'The no because my body belongs to someone real but yes because my personality, and my talent, I’m An A.I…..I'm an AI who took over the true Ouma KokichiI feel pain in my heartI'm fake' Ouma said "《Is this My first Killing game?》" "《does that matter?Anyway,The sixth mastermind is Tsumugi ShiroganeI will give you a fake memory . now wait for a second I will bring one of your classmates so you would have a companion and begin to wake everyone upWait for me》"'I want to cry.....but I can't even if I need to cryI'm fake' And the story will beginOuma Kokich will meet two new people along with classmates Led Appy, The ultimate Leader And AstraThe truths and lies game will begin

What happens when an anomaly is born? The system gives it 2 chances, either change or die. For many years I tried to live like a normal human being, but I knew that I was not normal at all. Except if you think that being practically immortal and something akin to almost a god is normal. I tried not to show my other side to anyone but lately, things were getting complicated. Aliens, something that I thought to be a myth were coming to eradicate our race. How do I know that? Well, that is because I have some special friends, martial artists, and one of them is apparently an alien himself. His name is Son Goku or Goku to make it easier. Goku died fighting his brother Raditz who also told him that two more aliens are on their way to Earth. This leaves us with 1 year to prepare ourselves for the invasion. Not like I need any preparation. If I wanted so I could blow this planet and still be alive, but I until now I did not want to show others how abnormal I am. Maybe it is time to show my true face, let everybody know you do not mess with the home of an abnormal. This 1 year was boring like all years before it, I still cannot understand what's so special about life that makes people crazy about it. Even if I died today I would feel nothing, at least I think so, not like I have met anyone that can kill me. With these thoughts, I am flying to my destination, a wasteland where the z fighters, as I like to call them, told me the fight is about to take place. Arriving there I saw the z fighters gathered and opposite of them there the two aliens, I think they are called Saiyans, a race similar to humans in features except for the fact that they have an ape's tail, that apparently lets them transform into a huge ape. My first thought of them was that they seemed weak, and when I say weak I do not mean like an ant but more like a grain of rice, I am afraid that I could kill them just by looking at them, they are so weak. Vegeta had a hectic day, not only he has an idiot as a subordinate, but he also has to come to such a lowly place in order to fix the mess Raditz, that useless idiot, made. The only good thing was the dragon balls that are supposedly able to grant him immortality, a means that would greatly aid him in defeating the bastard that goes by the name Frieza. Suddenly he saw another human approaching, but something was not right, all other humans looked at them with fear and hate, but he looked at them with indifference and some pity, was that PITY. Vegeta was angry, how dare this human feel pity for the most badass prince in the universe. He also seemed weak, weaker than even that pretty boy with long hair and an orange outfit. ''Nappa throw the saibamen seeds, let's have some fun with these worms.'' ''Ok prince Vegeta.'' With this, the saibamen were out and they started fighting with the z fighters. Yamcha quickly died but Drake did not interfere, because it is Yamcha he has to die at least a day to be normal. The other saibamen were disposed of and that left Nappa to fight the remaining z fighters, or not because Drake thought it's about time he showed those weaklings his power. ''Ok, ok slow down you little musclehead, I will fight you'' Drake said surprising everyone since they all thought he was weak, weaker than Yamcha, and he died by the saibamen, so fighting Nappa was like committing suicide. ''OH, the weak human wants to fight me? Ok, worm let's see how long you last.'' those were the last words Nappa said since Drake blew some air in his face, and Nappa blew up like a balloon. ''....'' Wtf, was all the bystanders could think of, how the hell did Nappa die from a simple blow of air. Is some kind of god playing tricks with their minds, if so that was a masterpiece, but it seems that ain't the case, it seems Drake is not really a human after all. He is a DEMON. Vegeta was flabbergasted, while he thought Nappa was weak, the human was by far weaker, his scouter told him so. He had a -1 power level, he was weaker than a worm. Still, Nappa died and the human leisurely walks towards him with his hands in his pockets like he just takes a stroll in the park. 'He humiliates me, he enrages me, more than even Frieza could. I want him dead, I guess it is time I kill him myself then.' ''Ok worm let me fight you then.'' With that said, Vegeta gathered ki in his hands and fired a Galick Gun at Drake, who simply stood there, looking at the beam coming his way, smiling. He enjoyed that, finally, he found something he enjoys, and that is killing. He gladly accepted the Galick Gun coming at his face, but it did not even scratch him let alone kill him. Overlord Hope you enjoy my fanfic, it is nothing serious but if you would like to support me consider donating on Paypal or ko-fi. Thank you.

Huh. Neat. I had legs attached to my torso again. Had to die in the process and wait in line, but details. Another detail was the bulge on my... not-groin, thank you very much! I wasn't some sicko who got turned on by my own death. Another another detail was also that, if you know what I mean. The two, oh-so-insignificant details were a pair, if you bothered to stop laughing (or crying) long enough to shuffle the cards. A two of a kind flop. Not that I had a little guy down there that could flop anymore. . . I sighed. My chest jumped with the exhale. "Well, something still flops, I guess." Numb, I took in my surroundings: a puffy cloud that glowed this nice homey yellow. If I had to guess, the cloud was filled with sugar, spice, and everything nice. Nah, more than puffy, wasn't the cloud fat? A cute, fat little cloud. Yeah, that was an acceptable description: wildly bloated was in on the cumulus fashion scene. Little Samantha had pulled it off well. Her friend over there—I named her Hailey—was less so, with a saggy tummy and stretched moisture lines. ...Yeah, I had been here for a while, stuck on little Samantha with wings that wouldn't work. Oh, right, I also had a nifty pair of wings now. That didn't work. Details, details. How trite. How indispensable. I bet mother would have tsked, dead or not. My now platinum-blonde-treading-on-gold hair brushed off my shoulder as I reached back, fingering the black-feathered things as they twitched. It was an odd sensation, touching my 'wings'. Sharp yet muted, deep but nothing more than a rock thrown into a pond. There were ripples, but not much else, if you caught my drift. Very odd. They were also shaped suspiciously like that tattoo I had gotten the day after my eighteenth. It was a dozy and a half to convince mother, barely slipping past on the birthday present excuse. Technically, I was of age at the time and my mother didn't have any veto power over my decisions. Technically. Now I was dead, with girl parts instead of guy parts, but with a pair of rad wings. Things could be worse. They could also be better, I decided after trying to push off and fly from godforsaken little Samantha for the umpteenth time. I had wings, true, but a baby bird couldn't fly on day one. These babies needed muscle to function and I was a near-comatose patient that needed physical therapy in comparison to what was needed. In other words, I needed to exercise. What a foul word. Flying, no matter how short, was pretty awesome though, so I endured. It helped that I had enough leg now to actually get some air time. Ah, there's another one, a detail that escaped me momentarily. Memory was slippery when you were dead. So was train of thought, but you could corral it in, for the most part. Not in this part, mind you, but I was getting there. Theeere we go. We're here. I died because of an earthquake. I died due to rubble pinning me down, an avalanche in application. Specifically, they were pinching my legs, sheering into them with hundreds of tonnes of force. ...Have you ever heard of an animal clawing its leg off to escape from a bear trap? I'm sure you have. I, the animal; rubble, the trap. A simple equation, a hard answer. I died from blood loss, I think. The end was hazy in the moment, painful to a dizzying numbness, and incredibly fragmented now. Distant, too, so while my mother was my mother and my father was the deadbeat man that ran out when I was four to get milk, returning occasionally only to be chased out by gran-gran with a slipper, I didn't care about it. Memories were memories but they were not mine. Not anymore. A part of me knew I should be upset at this, that there was something missing— However, that part was shriveling and soon to be as dead as I was, I knew. Oh, so, my legs weren't fully formed when I first came down to Samantha, so I was kinda stuck in place. I vaguely recall trying to do some dumb things, when I first touched down. Hysteria, dysphoria, even a bit of trying to bite my tongue off and flinching away from it at the last second. Imagine the hilarity of trying to off yourself when you're already dead. Not that I knew at the time, but details, details, details. I'm fine though now, of course. Everything around death blurs, one line fading into another until it's only one. I was in the process of fading, becoming something whole again, something new, so things were out of wack. Memory mainly, but I was sure my personality was 'effed up too. Twisted. Twisted and weaved and sashayed into a beautiful tapestry I found hard to believe as myself. Like being high all the time, without the lingering regret for your actions simmering a little below the surface, but you hurt so much more underneath it all—//the heart a hollow, hollow thing, with beats of dried sugarplum//—so you downed one more. You just wanted to be happy. That was all. //crash now, sing to ecstasy as hollow hearts turn whole// //come midnight, the sky turns to night and cinderella's pumpkin flies away// //crash down, my friend, it's all just a game// //restart, try again// I was happy now and there were no strings attached. It was nice, admittedly. I found myself growing more comfortable with myself, my circumstances, the 'body' I now inhabited. . . Shedding off old skin of parasitic bacteria and bone, the cage-like spiral of the mind, and becoming something decidedly different was all I ever wanted.  I had it now. I could never have had it before. I was raised well, as much as I could be by my mother, but I had my problems, both outside and inside. My mind wasn't something I could control, define. Intrusive thoughts swarmed at any one moment, locusts really, and they kept at it until nothing was left. I had some funneling OCD built off of the locust swarm's back too, stringing me along to whims of fantasy and paranoia, a senseless compulsion that was really a demand. I was weird. The kids noticed this and they didn't like it. Replace what I had with any out-of-the-norm anything and you'd get the same result: kids didn't like things that were different. I had always been bullied in school, varying in intensity but always consistent in frequency. Some problem with a quirk of mine, some affront with the quiet kid whose thoughts were too loud. I was weird, I had problems, and now, I had anxiety. From there, it spiraled, ever downward all the way up until my death. After death, though? You already know the answer to that, yeah? I jumped to infinity and beyond, to the words of my hero, before falling from both infinity and beyond back onto Little Samantha. Little bits of her bounced up around my belly flop as I laughed, a curious sensation of wet but not wet. It was frustrating, sure, but no one I previously knew could say they had belly-flopped into a cloud. Especially not a cloud as cute as Samantha. Had I already said she was in on the cumulus fashion scene? I had? Well, let me say now that she was not just in. She was the Kardashian of the Clouds! ...Aaand that was probably enough of that joke for now. "No offense, Samantha, still love ya," I gently soothed the cloud. If I were crazy, I'd imagine her huffing at a distance before preening at the back rub a moment later, but unfortunately, I wasn't. Doubly unfortunately, Samantha wasn't a cat. Most unfortunately, I was getting bored again. What was an angel man, er, a woman to do, stuck up on a cloud? While Samantha was awesome, I kinda wanted to fly a little. It seemed awesome and I'd be fulfilling the childhood collective dream of flight without assistance that all children and I dreamed of. "...Why the hell are you talking to a cloud..?" I slowly turned my head to a beautiful figure in the clouds, short hair a light baby blue that blended with the sky and wings to match. Wings! That worked! I think some part of me wanted to drool, but I suppressed it and smiled instead. "Why, you ask? For she is a most excellent cloud, and I'm afraid she might kill the death out of me if I have an affair with another!" The beautiful baby blue stared at me and I repressed the urge to giggle. Maybe I really was insane at this point, but that was half the fun, wasn't it? "Also, I'm kinda stuck here and my wings aren't working."   -.___________________~xXx~_ It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

A bitter life. That was all that could be said about it. About this life I lived.   …   I walked along the sidewalk, head downcast, heading for school.   I turn the corner around the school gate. I bump into someone, and fall backwards onto the sidewalk.   「Sorry…」   An ingrained reaction. A repeated response.   I slowly pull myself together. I hadn’t fallen that badly, so it didn’t hurt that much. A hand reached out to me, the person I bumped into had turned around, and offered a helping hand. I took the hand, and was helped up.    We then walk into the school, as if the previous incident had never happened at all.   * * * * * *   We had the same class, the girl and I. I was at my seat, and the girl was talking to her friends. As the school bell rang, the girl then came over to my seat and gave out her hand.   「Save it for me.」   In her hand was a pack of homemade cigarettes. How had she even gotten tobacco?   「…Why?」   The girl tilted her head, then gave out an answer as if it was obvious.   「Because we are friends.」   Friends…   「…Sure」   I reply. Not caring about the consequences if I was caught with the pack. I took the pack from her hand, and placed it in my bag.   She then left without another word and headed to her own seat.   * * * * * *   It is currently break time. I had bought a sandwich from the Subway near my place yesterday, and was now having that as my food.   I saw the girl talking with her group of friends. Then I remembered that she had entrusted me with the pack of cigarettes. I took the pack out, and carefully placed it into y pockets. I then walked to the girl.   As I got closer to the girl, I caught some of the group’s conversations.   「Hey, do any of you want to go to Korea?」   「Hmm, not really.」   「Yeah. I want to. Maybe, someday.」   「I’ve already been to Korea.」   「What, you have?」   「That’s cool, man.」   「Unfair.」   「…I’ve also been there.」   I half-said, half murmured. I’ve been to Korea. I did really like to travel.   I still do like to travel.   《Confirmed. Acquiring unique skill【Traveler】. Success》   The entire group turned to face the newcomer. Silently they stared at me.   「…Who’s this?」   「…Hey Hazime, isn’t this your friend? I saw you two talking earlier today.」   Hazime, the girl who had asked me to keep the cigarettes safe.   Hazime stared at me.   「…I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never met her.」   …what?   * * * * * *   The soccer ball was dribbled up, the opposing team came fast. The person with the ball passed it to one of her teammates. She then kicked the ball at the net. The ball came at me, directly, as if I wasn’t there.   I was pissed. Today was a bad day.   The ball flew over, and hit the ground, right in front of me.   I kicked at the ball with all my might. Using all of the muscles in my leg.   …the ball just sailed right past me.   It then continued to fly, pass the goalkeeper, and straight into the net, unhindered.   The game was over.   The person from before started to walk towards me, looking at me. She marched over, I tensed. Was I going to be insulted for being useless? I wish I had properly marked the ball.   《Confirmed. Acquiring 【Mark】 extra skill. Success》   「Hey, how couldn’t you’ve blocked that?」   She walked right pass me, calling to the goalkeeper behind me.   「I will do better next time.」   …   * * * * * *   It was the end of the day, I stood in front of the toilet, the soggy pack of cigarettes just wouldn’t go completely. I flushed it again, the last remains of it went down.   I then lower the toilet lid, then turn to open the cubicle door. Suddenly, the door to the toilet was opened. People walked in. My hands stopped on the cubicle lock.   「Did you see that girl? She kicked at the ball when it was in front of her and completely missed. How’s that possible?」   「I know right? She was terrible.」   「Yeah, she’s so bad.」   「Hey Hazime, I saw you hang out with her today. Are you two friends?」   「No. I don’t know her.」   I stood silently in the cubicle, my hands shaking.   The two girls quickly washed their hands, and left the girls toilets. Their footsteps grew far, until they were inaudible.   I waited, nobody seemed to be outside. Suddenly, a soft voice comes from just outside the cubicle door.    「…Pathetic…」   …   …   Hazime’s footsteps grew farther, and farther, until they too, couldn’t be heard anymore.   …   I hate stories where the main character loses.   I hate them a lot.   I hate them with all my heart.   Only because…   …we already lose enough in reality.   …   I wanted to be special. I wanted to be talented, to be chosen.   《Confirmed. Acquiring unique skill【Chosen One】. Success》   I wanted to be the main character, the protagonist, the hero of the story. I wanted what they had.   《Confirmed. Acquiring unique skill【Overhaul】. Success》   I want to be a winner. Just once. I wanted to be recognized. To be popular.   《Confirmed. Acquiring unique skill【Bewilder】. Success》   …   …   I slowly, bit by bit, felt my vision darken.   My consciousness slowly slipped, from the tiredness and weariness, escaping from the reality and truth of it all.   Then, the world went dark.   《Confirmed. Acquiring unique skill【Charity】. Success》   《Confirmed. Acquiring unique skill【Envy】. Success》   《Confirmed. Acquiring unique skill【Sloth】. Success》   A strange circle with glowing outlines and mysterious inscriptions appeared beneath Tame.   A white flash disappeared as quickly as it appeared.   Tame was gone, as if she never existed.

(The Hunter)"you can't run forever, Milo will find you" a man says in a dilapidated, abandoned, Ghost Town in the middle of what looks to be a desert The sun is shining down. holding a gun in his right hand, his shoulder length greasy hair blows with the Wind. He wearing a worn out leather coat and Faded blue jeans there's a sniper rifle on his back. his white shirt stained with blood and who knows what else. (The Hunter) "come out come out wherever you are" his eyes scanned the buildings for any movement walking down the middle of a broken Street 'Click' (the Hunter) turns to see a man in a building pointing a revolver at him (The Hunter) "you know bullets need to be kept in good condition. No one's been making them in the last 34 years" (the Hunter) Smiles at the man, pointing his gun at him while slowly walking towards him (The Hunter) "Oh you only had one bullet and it was dud how unfortunate for you. But I'll let you live if you tell me where the girl. is if you don't I'll just shoot you in the leg and leave you here with no food water or medical supplies" (Bodyguard) "you won't get a word out of me" a man with tan skin and short hair with a faded button up shirt and khakis (The Hunter) "dumbass I know she's here and when I find her I'll bring her to Milo and I know when that happens she's going to be a dead little b****" the hunter proceeds to shoot The (Bodyguard) three times in the leg (Bodyguard) cries out in pain (the Hunter) "do you think she'll come for you when you cry out in pain. You probably told her to stay hidden but the thing about kids is that they'll never listen" (the hunter) proceeds to Stomp on the (bodyguard) wounded leg (The hunter) grabs the (bodyguards) leg and it starts to pull them into the middle of the broken Street The (Bodyguard) grits his teeth in pain (The Hunter) "little girl your daddy's about to get executed in the middle of the street you better come out now and save him"  (the hunter) starts scratching his head "what's her name again is Sally no it's Sarah SARAH! Last chance to save your dad"  (the hunter) kicks The (Bodyguard) in the crotch (The Hunter) "oops my leg slipped happens from time to time hahaha" (the hunter) looks around trying to spot the girl (Sarah) "LEAVE MY DAD ALONE!" a girl no older than nine yells she has tan skin and is wearing faded blue shorts and a in a baggie pink faded t-shirt she has shoulder length hair (Author's note: descriptions will be more detailed depending on how important it is this includes characters, places or objects :end of author's note) (Sarah) "what did you do to my dad" (Sarah) runs to the side of The (Bodyguard) before she can reach The (Bodyguard) (the Hunter) grab her by the throat and slams her to the ground (the Hunter) "little b**** Milo just wants to play with a little kitten like you until you die and you dare Runaway" The (Bodyguard) becomes enraged (Bodyguard) "you bastard c*** f***** when I get my hands you're going to be BEGGING FOR MERCY!!!" (The Hunter) reaches into his jacket and grabs a bundle of metal wires and uses it to restrain (Sarah's) hands Off to the side only 5 ft away from (Sarah) (the Hunter) and (bodyguard) sat a man. with red sunglasses sitting in what can only be described as a motorized gaming chair. with light brown almost blonde hair wearing a black suit with tiny moving golden symbols all over it ("Incoming call") (Blood) "answer" the man responded to the disembodied voice (Xx69potato69xX) "dude out of all the names you could have chosen. you choose blood to be your username" a screen of light appears with a picture of a potato wearing lingerie (Blood) "Look Who's Talking about name choices potato" (Author's note: Xx69potato69xX will be now just referred to as potato :end of author's note) (Potato) "dude at least my name is not doesn't sound like a suicidal teen. Anyways I found a person you might be interested in" (Blood) "Really", a smile creeps onto his face. "What did the other gods give as a nickname to that person" (Potato) "Magnum he's about to kill somebody right now" smile emoji, eyes emoji, shocked gasp emoji, naughty eyebrows emoji, speak no evil monkey emoji. (Blood) "are you going to send me an invite to join you or what" On the ground in a pool of blood lies (bodyguard) completely still no longer breathing his dried tears cover his face his eyes are still open ("Confirming death......... death is confirmed the holder of the nickname (bodyguard) removing nickname....... nickname removed may you rest in peace Carter") (Blood) "how long have you had this program. it took you 2 minutes for you to invite me. And you say I'm bad at technology" (Potato) "dude shut up and look down he's in the basement of this giant industrial complex" (Blood) and (Potato) are above a giant industrial plant this place probably made cars before it went all downhill (blood) "why are we up here when we can be inside the building" (Potato) "you know we're not invisible, just relying on their ignorance. Magnum, the person of interest can actually see, us unlike the masses" Inside a dry, dark, makeshift prison cell sits a man.   Under one dim fluorescent light,  his hair is dirty and matted. wearing an old hoodie that's purposely ripped in the front He has on Old leather steel toed boots his blue jeans are faded stained with sand and dirt a backpack on his back and a duffel bag to his side. (Magnum) "f*** you Milo" he picks up the water canteen from his belt and takes a swig (Dipshit) "the more insults you throw at our Mighty Lord of this land the more you will suffer his Wrath" says the loan guard. (Magnum) -I guess I'll just sing then- "dancing by myself again. never knowing why. sitting by my lonesome. always wondering why. dancing by myself again. always asking why. drinking to myself again. Why even try. I'm dancing by my lonesome. and I don't even know why" magnums beautiful singing. could be heard throughout the makeshift dungeon (Poorfellow) "you're really good at singing, that song is by the cardiacs too bad the lead singer died from heart problems" (Annoyingdick) "oh, we're singing okay here I go AAAAAAHHHH AH AH AAAAAAAAHHHHH AH I know this much is true AAAAAAAAHHHHHH AH AH AAAAAAAAAHHHHH AH I know this much is true" (Dipshit) "last time I checked karaoke night is on Wednesdays, and this is a Monday so shut UP!" (Magnum) -I hate Mondays- has his hand over his mouth and look like he's deep in thought (Magnum) pulls out a knife from his hoodie and points it at the guard "question are you the only person, down here guarding these 16 prison cells" (Dipshit) with his back against the bars of Magnums makeshift prison cell answers (Dipshit) "what kind of question is that, of course I'm the only one down here If You Escape you will face the wrath of Milo, if you stay put you only experience hell on Earth only idiots would Escape" (Magnum) who's already behind (Dipshit) covers his mouth and stabs him in the throat five times (Magnum) "someone help a man's been stabbed, someone please help him, anyone" with his knife still in (Dipshit) throat (Magnum) calls for help (Magnum) "so you are alone down here dude I thought you were stupid but not this stupid" (Magnum) puts down his backpack and pulls out two metal tools What's keeping a makeshift prison doors locked is a simple padlock that you could buy from anywhere well not anymore In about 5 Seconds of (Magnum) messing with this pitiful excuse of a padlock it gets opened (Magnum) "What a pal, holding my knife for me well you shouldn't have, I appreciate it though" (Magnum) rips the knife out of (Dipshit) throat (Magnum) organizes his things and walks out of the prison and he makes his way to Milo's throne room As he moves through the decaying complex the smell of rotting iron and plastic fills the air. Rays of sunlight filters through the broken roof, robotic arms and unbuilt cars rusting away (Magnum) takes 3 minutes to walk to Milo's throne room only passing by five people along the way (Magnum) -their eyes are glazed their bodies move janky almost forced as long as I show no fear I should get out of this alive- (Magnums) eyes are wary and are filled with uncertainty and anxiety and deep within fear Standing in front of the doors to Milo's throne room stands two silent guards their eyes milky white their mouths wide open drooling and the sounds of shallow breathing come from both of them (Magnum) "I've come to see Milo" Magnum readies his knife watching the two guards for any movement Both the guards stand still but. movement stirs from behind a pure black clawed hand grabs the shoulder of one of the guards A black foggish substance comes off the creature as it slowly reveals itself an egg-shaped head, no eyes, no ears and no legs, it's Pitch Black. If a person had to describe this creature, it has two arms, humanoid and it has black smoke like substance coming off of it :Authority: HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSRRRRRRRRRRR!!! It opens its mouth 2 ft wide and makes a loud noise that sounds like a pig squealing and a cat hissing mixed together Regards start shuffling out of of the door slowly dragging their feet (Magnum) "thanks guys appreciate it" (Magnum) tries not to look at the creature as it slowly crawls back into the Shadows As Magnum walks into Milo's throne room the stench of rot and gasoline fills the air women and children's dead bodies hangs on Hooks and chains gasoline tanks surround the walls of the room (Fatass) "who are you" a man who looks to be 968 lb sitting on a throne he had eight double chins no shirt and no pants his eye color is undiscernible from the milky white Haze covering them (Magnum) "Milo it's great that we get to meet" in person within Magnum eyes shows confidence but deeper in his eyes is sheer dread Inside the room moving all over the place Are Pitch Black creatures there must be over 5,041 of them in here. There's a bigger one on top of Milo it's spine like tail wrapped around Milo's neck unlike the others the blacks smoke like fog it produces can't cover its body entirely It has sharp black teeth jetting out of its mouth. it's two hands has sharp jagged claws they have to be a foot in length at least. (Magnum) "I've come with a gift" (Magnum) sets down the duffle bag unzip it and pulls out RPG ammo and takes the safety cap off :Authority:HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the creatures are making enough noise to Wake the Dead but weirdly no one else in the room seems to hear or see them (Magnum) "if I slam on its head it will explode, and there's about four more in that duffel bag" (Potato) "he's perfect material don't you agree, don't go saying I'm not your friend, I had to call dibs on him" (Blood) "I know that, but why are you using a wooden puppet to talk to me instead of being here yourself" as (blood) stairs at the human shaped wooden puppet As (blood) and (potato) talk the situation down below isn't getting any better :Authority: hates being threatened or being challenged.                    you know what there's actually a lot of ways to piss off :Authority: Hey you remember (Sarah) and that Hunter dude, well you'll never guess but they just arrived in Milo's throne room. You can also refer to Milo's as (fatass), the nickname of the Gods...... *Snickers* (Fatass) "oh you're back, you brought me the kitten very nice, if I was still a Reddit mod I would give you a gold"      (fatass) looks at the bound and gagged (Sarah) with lustful eyes (The Hunter) "who are you and what are you doing here"        (the hunter) looks at (Magnum) (Magnum) "I'm threatening Milo with RPG ammo" (Magnum) points to the duffel bag and the RPG ammo in hand (The Hunter) "Without an RPG how you going to kill Milo with it"     (the hunter) has an extreme amount of confidence while saying this (Magnum) points to all of the giant containers containing gasoline, petrol, oil, diesel, ah let's see, pure oxygen tanks other various flammable chemicals.    if someone lights a match in here they would be vaporized. (The Hunter) "if an RPG hit a gas container in here I doubt it would explode, and plus they're fake watch" (the Hunter) grabs one of the RPGs out of the duffle bag takes the safety cap off, and slams it into the ground (Author's note: RPG stands for rocket propelled grenade and it does not refer to the thing you launch it out of, the reason why I put ammo in front of it is to clear up the fact that he does not have the launcher for it :end of author's note) *Boom* You know all of this could have been avoided if Milo actually searches his prisoners I know you're wondering why (Magnum) would have RPGs on him a knife and so much more He was never searched, pat down, nothing, is this how it felt before 9/11, damn that's crazy (Author's note: how's it going, if you're wondering about the grammatical errors I'll fix it later or have someone help me fix it later By the way the story is a beta test my writing ideas, you know all these ideas are completely baked and are not Half Baked, but I still need someone to try the cake thankfully.                      I have you                                    :end of author's note)

"So I started another challenge run on the weekend, though it's only a challenge cause the devs are sexist with tank class options: all-female characters run." "That's pretty gay." Riley turned away from Zach towards the back of the lecture hall, glaring up at his perpetual tormentor. "Come on, seriously?" The blonde smirked at him over the top of her skate shoes, which she had perched nonchalantly on the back of the seats in front of her. "You heard me." "Even you can't seriously believe that playing female characters is somehow inherently homosexual." "Of course not," she scoffed, twisting and untwisting one of her hoodie's drawstrings around her finger. "But it is when you do it." Somehow, she managed to make every single one of her movements effortlessly patronizing.  Riley was fully aware of the fact that she was just trying to bait him into yet another argument with nonsense. However, as he wasn't a coward and had no intention of having her bigotry go unchallenged, he let debate mode rise up inside him and take over. "There's nothing wrong with me playing female characters. It's a game. People can play whatever characters they want and it doesn't mean anything about them." "Uh-huh." Her right eyebrow twitched insolently, flaunting its amethyst stud piercing. "The very intention of most games is explicitly to have people take on roles which don't match their selves or day to day experiences in the context of fantasy. And just like watching a movie or reading a book, playing games a certain way doesn't mean anything about the media consumer. It's just like the whole violence in video games causes violence argument, which has been totally debunked." "Of course," she agreed with a nod. As usual, her golden eyes glowed subtly in the fluorescent light, giving her the unsettling impression of looking right through him as she continued smiling obnoxiously. "Therefore, it's not reasonable to assume that the characters I play have anything do with my sexuality." "Hmm..." She made a show of pondering it, tapping a short sparkling fingernail theatrically against her chin as though deep in thought. "Nah, it's still gay."  A harpy with bright parrot plumage sitting across the aisle covered her mouth with a wing in a vain attempt to stifle her giggles. After more than two years of their banter, Riley and his nemesis had unintentionally become the regularly scheduled entertainment for their classmates. Well, it was unintentional on Riley's part at least. She, on the other hand, seemed to revel in the attention like a plant in the sun. Riley was about to challenge her academic rigour when Zach poked his side gently with one of his foreclaws. Turning around, he spotted the recently arrived professor, halfway through hooking the overhead projector into one of the outbound data ports on their neck. As soon as the connection was made, the professor's subroutines took control, rendering a somewhat frightening looking electromagnetic field simulation. Time for class. Settling back down into his seat properly, Riley pulled up the lecture notes on his laptop. "So when are you going to ask her out already?" Zach quietly asked as the lights dimmed, waggling his furry eyebrows suggestively. Riley could tell by his obnoxious grin that, if he weren't sitting down, his tail would probably have been wagging as well. "What, her? Ugh, never," Riley adamantly denied, resisting the urge to steal another glance at his archenemy. "You think I have a death wish? Even if she didn't harass me all the time, you saw what happened to the rugby guy." The rest of class was thankfully uneventful, with the exception of the parting shot she took at him as he climbed the stairs out of the class past her seat. The girl had seemed distracted putting her notebook away in her bag, which was unrepentently adorned with what Riley assumed was every lesbian pride pin in the universe. He had just enough time to hope he might slip past her unscathed before she looked up, catching his eye with a wink.  "Hey Riley, don't forget the queer club is always open for new members." "How many times do I have to tell you that I only like girls!" Riley hissed back. The blonde just laughed at him in response. Riley, face hot with embarrassment, continued up the stairs and out of the class.     Unfortunately, Mondays were lab days, stretching from 9:30 in the morning all the way through to 9:30 at night with only an hour break between classes to eat lunch. In theory, if a lab group finished gathering their data early in the block they could leave and finish the analysis at home. In practice, the lab instructions were so poorly formatted and the equipment so finicky that it was virtually unheard of to leave before 9:00.  Today, Riley's group were the particularly unlucky ones, having had to spend most of the block identifying which one of the myriad cables was faulty. Since it was his computer hooked up to the instruments for data collection, and thus his job to finish putting the last few pieces away, only he and the TA were left in the lab room by the time he was done. With a quiet apology to the mothfolk woman for keeping her so long, he darted out of the classroom.  The narrow hall windows were spattered with raindrops which glittered in the light of the streetlamps below, forming ersatz constellations which promised a miserable walk home. "At least it's too warm for an ice storm," Riley commented to himself, tracing his fingertips along the gaps between the bricks on the external wall as he walked.  As though to spite his optimism, a furious wind gust chose that moment to strike, whipping the branches of the birch trees outside into the windows with an arrhythmic clatter. He held back the urge to deliver a follow up comment on it being too cold for lightning, on the off chance some mischievous storm spirit had actually heard him the first time. The university's construction had been rather confusing when he first arrived. Thankfully, Riley never had much trouble with directions. He'd spent the last few years constructing a fairly thorough mental map of the campus. As such, it took little work to determine the optimal path from his current location to the edge of campus to minimize the time he'd have to spend out in the rain. On the third floor of this building, on which he conveniently already found himself, there was a walkway which connected to the architecture department building next door. The architecture building connected to an underground car park, one which ran underneath the sports field and over to the geology department. A short outside dash from the back door of the geology building, across the quad and around the thaumaturgy department would lead to the biochemistry building, where he could grab a hot chocolate before the final jog home. No, he mentally corrected himself, the café was closed already. Time was not on his side today. Lamenting the loss of a post-lab treat and trying to remember if there was any milk left for tea at home, he paid little attention to where he was going as he pushed open the door to the walkway. As a consequence, he was totally unprepared to be abruptly pushed aside and pressed into the wall of the corridor. Looking upwards, startled and ready to apologize to whomever he bumped into, he found himself staring directly into a pair of unfortunately familiar striking golden eyes. "About time you finished up. I've been waiting for half an hour. What took you so long?" It's a common misconception that adrenaline reactions are limited to 'fight' or 'flight'. In this instance, Riley's body seemed to settle on another common alternative instead: freeze. He found himself fixed in place by her eyes, barely able to blink, heart pounding in his ears. Why was she so close to him? Shouldn't she find him intolerable up close? "I know you can be a bit scatterbrained, but it's almost 10 o'clock. You're lucky I'm patient." Her lipstick was a gorgeous purple, he noted. The shade perfectly matched her eyebrow stud, as well as the row of similar piercings in her left ear. He could see the colours moving as she spoke, shifting enticingly at the edge of his vision, but he couldn't look any closer. He couldn't look away from those eyes. "W-what..." His voice wouldn't cooperate right, wouldn't come out at an audible volume without croaking horribly. He tried again, dropping to a whisper. "What do you want?" "You, of course," she replied, and Riley momentarily forgot to breathe. She flashed him a wide, predatory smile. He knew, despite being unable to look, that sinister smile would be showcasing her unnervingly sharp teeth, yet another trait of her fae heritage. "As fun as it has been watching you tie yourself into ridiculous mental knots to try and explain away your sexuality despite your repeated admissions, you're clearly too hopeless to accept it on your own. And, well, I'm all out of patience." "I'm really not gay..." Riley insisted. "I'm only interested in girls..." She rolled her eyes in exasperation, breaking eye contact for long enough for Riley to tear his gaze away and stare down determinedly at the floor. "See, there you go again," she sighed. "I thought you were just being bratty at first, but you honestly believe it, don't you? You poor thing. That must be some kind of cognitive dissonance. You're all human, right? Did your parents tell you that you had to be straight or something?" "No! Of course not!" he denied, finding his voice at last in defense of his family. He was well aware of the unfortunate stereotypes about humans, and had admittedly been unfortunate enough to meet a few bigots who truly exemplified them. Regardless, it still didn't give her the right to make such judgmental assumptions. "My brother is gay, actually, and they're totally supportive! I went to his wedding last summer!"  "I'm glad to hear it. Maybe it's some internalized homophobia then..." "What? I'm not homophobic! There's nothing wrong with being gay! Or bi, or whatever! My best friend Zach is ace, and I totally support him." "I know he's ace. That cinnamon bun puppy is the secretary of the queer club, which you'd know if you accepted any of my invitations to join us." Riley did a mental double take. "He is? Wait, the queer club is real? I thought you were just making fun of me." "No? What?" Now it seemed it was her turn to be confused, instead of Riley hoarding it all. "Of course it's real. It's not exactly in my nature to lie." Oh, right. Fae. "I just figured a supportive environment might help you accept yourself and work through things." "Oh..." Riley replied, back at a whisper. Had she actually been genuine this whole time? His anxious mind eagerly envisioned a guilt-inducing image: the blonde girl, sitting in the club room week after week, watching the door in the hope he might show up. Maybe he had been judging her a bit too harshly. The two stood there for a moment in awkward silence. Riley had no idea what to say. She was the one to make the first move, naturally, bringing up her hand and resting it ever so gently on his cheek. The gesture was so tender that, despite the surprise, he found himself unable to pull away. "It'll be okay, alright? I'm here to help. We're going to get to the bottom of this." Her indignation and teasing were gone, leaving behind what he could only interpret as genuine concern and sympathy. Breathless and unable to reply in words, he nodded. "You like girls, right?" Riley nodded. "What about... girls like me?"  He hesitated, not wanting to be a creep and make her uncomfortable. She'd made it more than obvious that she wasn't interested in men in the past, most infamously when the men's rugby team captain made a pass at her. Once she understood that he was an oblivious himbo and not intentionally hitting on the butchest lesbian on campus, she had let the poor minotaur down gently from the top of the observatory. She lightly stroked his cheek with her index finger, snapping him out of his thoughts. "It's okay if the answer is no. You don't have to be attracted to me. I won't be upset. But..." She paused for effect. "It's okay if the answer is yes too. I mean, it's not like I haven't seen you staring." He visibly tensed, trying to mentally deny her words and failing miserably as she continued. "It's flattering, really. Your emotions are fairly muted for a human, but it's hard not to notice such incredibly vibrant longing."  Shutting his eyes tight as the blood rushed to his face with shame, he nodded again, attempting to cobble together an adequate apology. "Shh... it's okay... there's nothing wrong with that," she reassured him, continuing to gently caress his face. "Nothing wrong with liking a pretty girl who thinks you're cute too." His brows furrowed in complete bafflement. Him, being cute? Impossible. "I... but..." The fae girl shifted her thumb off of his cheek and onto his lips, stifling his protests. "No buts. You've done nothing wrong. Okay?" She paused for a moment, before repeating her question. "Okay?" It seemed she didn't find silence an adequate response. Riley nodded, slowly, focusing on the irregular beat of the rain pounding against the window panes to distract himself from his impending death by embarrassment. If he was lucky, maybe that storm spirit might smite him and put him out of his misery. "So if you're willing to admit that you like girls, and particularly other girls who like girls who like you, I'm pretty sure that makes you gay by definition. Girls who like girls are gay. Homosexual. Lesbian. Queer. Whatever term you're most comfortable with." "But I'm not a girl..." Riley replied, unsure of why a statement of obvious fact suddenly hurt so much to say. "Of course y- Wait. You're human. Oh. Oh goddesses." Riley heard the familiar resounding slap of palm against forehead as the girl abruptly pulled away. "Give me your student card," she ordered.  It didn't even occur to Riley to not comply. He fumbled hastily in his computer bag to find and pull out his wallet before handing it over, keeping his head down all the while. She snatched it from his hand, popping open the clasp to rummage through the cards.  He knew she must have found what she was looking for when she burst into cackling laughter, the manic glee in her voice making his chest tighten in an unfamiliar but not unpleasant way. "Oh goddesses, that's what the problem was all this time?! Seriously? And you... you thought... oh this is too good. No wonder you're so confused. I can work with this." "I don't understand what's happening!" Riley admitted, desperately clutching the hem of his shirt to keep his hands busy. "What's so funny?" All of a sudden, he found himself pinned back to the wall. Her fingers slipped beneath his chin, gently but forcefully forcing his head upwards until his eyes locked with hers again. The rest of the world disappeared, swallowed by the warm glow. "Did you know," she asked rhetorically, "that many fae possess what's known as truesight?" He shook his head ever so slightly, unable and unwilling to look away. "I can see through lies and deceit, Riley. Even if the person doesn't even know they're lying. All this time, I've been trying to get you to accept a proof when you don't even know the fundamental premises. It's no wonder you came to the conclusion you did." "I... what?" "Come now, Riley, I know you're nice and smart underneath that ditziness. I know you can do it. I'll make it nice and simple for you. I'm not interested in boys. I am interested in you. If you accept these as true, then by basic logic, you are..." Riley's emotional mind was thoroughly out of order, shooting baffled sparks, but the logic module was still sufficiently functional to solve a basic boolean algebra problem. "Not a boy?" Riley replied tentatively, giving the only logically valid answer.  "That's right," the fae replied, bringing her hand up from Riley's chin to run through the confused student's hair. "That's a good girl." "Wha. I. But. I. Nn..." Riley's stammered incoherent replies melted into a dazed hum as the petting fingers coaxed and teased away any dissenting thoughts. "And when a good girl like you is interested in other girls, that makes her gay." "Mmm..." Riley moaned affirmatively, unable to hold it in with the girl's mesmerizing gaze stripping any inhibitions away. It was just too overwhelming to resist. "Now, since I'm always right, and I've been telling you that you're gay from the start... What fact about you would make everything make sense?" Logical brain took over once again beneath the blissful haze. "If I were a girl..." she replied, the facts slotting neatly into place and wrapping her identity up in a pretty golden bow. It simply made too much sense. Riley liked girls, Riley was gay, so Riley must be a girl. A perfectly elegant solution. "And such a smart girl too." The golden light disappeared for a brief moment as the fae leaned in, softly pressing her lips against Riley's forehead. Riley gasped and her knees almost buckled, but the confident girl had anticipated that eventuality and slipped her other arm around the small of Riley's back, holding her up. The first kiss was followed up by a second, a third, and more, each kiss becoming firmer and more passionate as they progressed down the side of her face, down her cheek, her jaw, her neck. Riley moaned helplessly, wrapping her arms around the other girl beneath her leather jacket and clinging to her like a life preserver, the unexpectedly feminine sound of her voice barely audible over the roar of the storm outside.  "So sensitive, so touch-starved, you poor thing," she murmured into Riley's ear. "So needy..." Sharp teeth nipped gently at Riley's earlobe, drawing out another gasp. "And so blind to your own truth that you didn't have any idea how lost you were. But it's alright. I've found you, and I won't let you lie to yourself anymore." "I'm... I'm sorry..." Riley apologized compulsively, tears streaming from her eyes as she pressed desperately into the fae girl's body for warmth and comfort and sensation. "I... I thought you were...  just... being mean. I didn't... I didn't understand... I didn't mean to lie! I promise!" "Shhh..." Any further apologies were swallowed by the press of violet lips against her own. Riley closed her eyes and abandoned herself to the experience, eagerly reciprocating the kiss. It became rather hard to keep track of anything after that.     Some amount of time later, as the storm finally tapered off into a gentle shower, the two girls caught their breaths sitting against the corridor wall, hands intertwined. "So," the fae girl broke the silence first, "are you willing to concede your position?" "After further consideration," Riley replied, smiling gently, "I am beginning to suspect... I might be at least a little gay." "You are a pretty little gay, aren't you," she taunted in reply, earning a gentle bat on the shoulder from Riley. "Am I wrong?" "No, you're not." the human girl conceded. She certainly wasn't wrong. She had made sure of it, having used her magic both to soften her features and steal several dozen centimeters of Riley's height to emphasize the power differential between them. Riley loved that change. She loved all the changes.  She was a girl. A diminutive, pretty, and overwhelmingly gay girl. It was so blindingly obvious she couldn't fathom how she had missed it all this time.  "Of course not. I'm always right. Remember that, dear." "I will!" Riley replied hastily, perhaps a bit over-eager. Then, after a moment, Riley spoke up again, more hesitantly. "Um... I... have a bit of an... embarrassing request..." "Really? Embarrassing? After I just unraveled you body and soul in a public hallway?" "Y-yeah. Um. You see. Well." She swallowed her pride. "I'm... really bad with names..." she trailed off, hoping not to have to elaborate explicitly. It was this that finally broke the fae girl's composure, leaving her literally snorting with laughter.  "It's not that funny!" Riley objected, indignant and blushing bright red. She hadn't been able to blush quite so easily before, not with her old body, but the fae girl's magic had proved remarkably adept at drawing out and manifesting the truth of her words. "It really is," she said, catching her breath. "You're quite bold, asking for a fae's name like that, and before the first date. At least take me to dinner first." Her tone was so exaggeratedly scandalized that even Riley could tell it was a joke, though she still felt a brief twinge of anxiety at the possibility she might have seriously offended her new girlfriend already. "What?! No! I mean! Ahhh!" Riley covered her face with her hands, rapidly coming to the realization that, each time she thought she couldn't be more embarrassed, she was consistently being proven wrong.  "Don't worry, little human," she purred condescendingly, patting her on the head. "If you really want to know, I'm certain we could come to an... agreement. You would make a lovely thrall." The noise Riley made in response was a reasonable verbal approximation of a bowl of alphabet soup. She was doomed, she could already tell, and was loving every second of it. The fae smiled, very pleased with herself, as she surreptitiously took a picture of the newly transformed human girl with her phone. It came out quite nicely, though the mundane technology was unable to capture the faint glimmer of gold now present in her lover's eye. She figured Riley would want a memento of the occasion, as did she. Riley would be coming to her house that night, she had decided. The poor oblivious girl had years of missed sleepovers and makeovers to make up for, not to mention outfits to try. It was plain to her sight that Riley was as femme as they came, and needed twirling skirts and lacy camisoles in her life as soon as inhumanly possible. Not something she normally kept around, of course, but something she would be delighted to provide with a pinch of conjuration. Chances were slim that Riley would recall the consequences of accepting gifts from a fae, and vanishingly so that she would care even if she had. She was such a good girl: happy, and sweet, and guileless, and oh so eager to please. Well worth the years of waiting for her to finally reciprocate her affections. She smiled an overly sharp smile in anticipation of her girl's inevitably adorable reaction when she finally noticed the hundreds of purple lipstick stains in the mirror.

"Damn, it's getting hot out here. Where the heck is she?" Asked Anton who was waiting under sweltering heat with the scorching sun over his head. After 30 minutes sitting on the park bench, he started to get tired of looking at people passing by and having fun without him. "Boo." Someone whispered in his ear. Anton was surprised by a girl very dear to him. Her name is Rachel, someone who he has known for the longest time. Tonight, she’ll be moving out of this town. On a promise that they had made prior, she asked Anton to accompany her last day here. "Did you wait long?" She gleefully asked. "What do you think?" Anton joked curtly. "Yeah, my bad. Want me to get some water for you?" "Nah, I’m good." Anton answered while fanning himself with a large leaf. "Hmmm, if you say so. Anyways, where are we going after this?” "Well you're the one who invited me." "Then how about the mall? We haven't been there in ages." "Ain’t that a bit too… boring?" Anton thought. "Eh, beats drying myself like jerky out here." "Roger that, let's get moving." Anton ended while getting up from the bench. The mall they were going to was not too far from the park, so Anton chose for them to walk there. Besides that, Anton wanted to enjoy the best view of the town that they could, as another fun sight for them to remember. During the stroll, Anton remembered the memories that they shared here. They’ve known each other for forever now and have probably explored every nook and cranny of this dainty town, but it never occurred to him that Rachel would even leave this town. Remembering that, he got all bummed out. Arriving at the nearest mall, they wandered into various shops and facilities. Trying on clothes and makeup at boutiques, looking at collectibles at the toy stores, challenging themselves to VR games, they did all sorts of things. Suddenly, a novelty store at the end of a deserted alley caught Rachel’s attention. It seemed that the other shops were closed there that day, leaving only the flickering lights of the novelty store. Impulsively, she rushed straight to the shop, leaving Anton confused for a brief moment. The store’s lineup was varied and eclectic. It had things ranging from tacky home décor to useless knick-knacks, you name it. However, her eyes were immediately glued to a picture frame, the kind you’d display on a desk. Behind its edges tangled in vines and the carvings on each of its ends, there was an eye-catching simplicity to it. She took it from the shelf, and went to the cashier to go pay for it. Satisfied, Rachel stored the newspaper-wrapped frame into her tote bag. After that, Rachel dragged Anton to the arcade. It has also been quite a while since they visited one, so they chose to waste their money on every game and machine that the establishment had to offer. Everything from racing games, DDR, air hockey, to zombie shooters, they tried it all. One highlight in their arcade escapade was the bowling machine, where Anton scored 3 strikes in a row, blowing Rachel out of the water. While playing, Anton stole a glance at Rachel's bubbly face, comparing it to himself who was all gloomy ever since they met at the park earlier. Even so, he still tried his best to savour this joyous moment, because he knew it might as well be his last moments with her. While looking around for more games that they haven't played with, Anton saw Rachel fixing her attention to a cat plushy sitting adorably in the claw machine. Seeing her wanting it so badly, Anton volunteered. He thought it might be good idea as a parting souvenir for her. He gave it his all, using all kinds of techniques and moves. But in the end, due to his fruitless efforts, he finally gave up. Even so, Rachel appreciated his efforts and was still smiling from ear-to-ear. "It's getting late, let's go back to the park." "Great idea, I'm getting worn out just standing here." Anton answered, annoyed. "Haha. Are you still hung up on that? Maybe the kitty didn’t wanna leave.” Rachel said while patting his back. Flustered for no reason, Anton looked away without a reply. “Y’know, how about we go to a photo booth first? We've never had our picture taken there before." Rachel asked. Anton sighed as he ruffled her hair with a smirk. "Alrighty then, just this once. Show me the way." -o0o- They arrived back at the park at 7:00 pm, while Rachel's plane was due to depart at 9.30. She then decided to order an Ub*r, avoiding the long waits of public transports. While waiting to be picked up, the two of them relaxed for a while. Sitting themselves on the bench where they met earlier. "Today was pretty fun don’t you think?" Rachel said while looking at Anton. Not knowing what to say, Anton only nodded. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot...” Rachel took out the gift along with the photo from her bag, and handed it to Anton. Without a word, he accepted the gift. "Be careful with that, you know those are quite pricey." "It’ll be fine, it's safe with me." Said Anton while staring at gift wrapping. "Promise?" He replied with a nod. Rachel's phone rang, indicating that the driver’s nearby. "Hey, look at me." Their eyes finally met, Anton was tearing up. "Don't be sad. When I get there, I'll definitely let you know. Just wait for my call." Anton became silent as Rachel wiped his tears and gave him a hug. "Thanks a bunch for today. I want you to take good care of yourself alright. Say hi to your family for me." Anton nodded as he tightly returned her hug. "Wherever and whenever we are, we’ll see each other again somehow." "..." "I guess I’ll be going now." Rachel let go of her hug, then walked herself back while waving her hand. "Buhbyeee! Don't cry, you'll miss me even more if you do!" Not wanting to part ways, Anton reached his hands towards her. "Rach’, I-" His words were cut short. Anton's vision started to blur. All of a sudden, it turned pitch black. An error screen appeared in front of him, there was a glitch with the application he was using. Anton took off his VR headset and then placed it next to the picture frame on his desk. Wiping his eyes, he turned off the computer that was still on. Without fail, he would always shed tears every time he returned to the past. Even though he himself understood that it was all just a simulation. Anton's phone lit up, showing a pop-up that said "Rachel's Birthday". He quietly sat there, glancing at the reminder. Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the silence. "Hey, hurry it up will ya. They’re about to leave." Said a girl behind the door. "Yeah, hold up. I'm still getting changed." Anton replied. Anton got up and hurriedly took off his scruffy tee, replacing it with a black button-down shirt that was hanging behind the door.   Not long after takeoff, the plane Rachel was in crashed. At that time, Anton knew nothing about it. He just went about his day as usual, all while waiting for Rachel to call him. The word he finally did get was not through her cheerful voice, but through news coverage of a commercial airline’s crash. 7 days later, coinciding with Rachel's birthday, the wreckage of the plane and the bodies of its passengers were found at the foot of a mountain. Among the bodies, Rachel and her family were identified. The news hit Anton hard. He ended up locking himself in his room for weeks. Eventually, when he finally gathered the guts to come out, he was still drowning in his sorrow. The spark of joy and zest within him already faded, as if his world crashed along with that airplane. A dreadful year passed by like it was nothing for Anton. One day, while he was dragging his feet across the room, he accidentally dropped the picture frame given to him by Rachel. It resulted in a large crack in the middle of the photo. Seeing the consequences of his carelessness, Anton broke down. What's left of her was blemished. He ran straight to his room, and curled himself up in bed. He then put on his earphones and proceeded to put on his favourite playlist. While tuning himself out from the world, he remembered the times he shared with Rachel. Since he was little, he would always try his best to get back on his feet every time something bad happened to him, at least in front of Rachel. But without her around, he lost the will to do just that. But it was during this moment of escape that he realized something, seeing him like this is something she probably wouldn’t want. She hated it when Anton became all mopey, and always tried her best to cheer her up, even if she herself was having a hard time as well. Anton felt pathetic, he had always known that grief would someday drag him down one way or another. Realizing that drowning himself in sorrow will get him nowhere, he worked hard in letting go of the tragic past that kept latching onto him. Keeping only the fragments of happiness that they shared together. Step by step, he slowly rebuilds his normal life that he had before. He returned to his classes. To his parent’s joy, he also finally started talking to new people. The more people came into his life, the more support that came with it as well. With that support, was the zest that he lost. It was this new enthusiasm within him that inspired Anton to create. He wanted to channel his distressing past into something entertaining. He wanted people to have fun. But at the same time, he wanted to help those who were mourning and struggling with grief. He didn’t want people to end up closing themselves off from society like he did. Anton, who already had a background in game development, was inspired by one of his colleagues to create a virtual reality game. He thought maybe, by sharing his stories to the world, other people could feel the pieces of happiness he once felt. The same ones that Rachel gave to him. Though from time to time, he might remember the sad days he had with her and the tragic fate that came along with it. But in the end, he finally found his own way to transform his grief into something worthwhile. Believing that Rachel might be up there, smiling at this little game dedicated to her.     After sowing some flower petals, Anton inserts a copy of the photo they took that day into a small frame and places it on the grave. "Wait for me alright, we'll see each other again someday."     Dartholomew Hello there dear readers. THANK YOU for reading another one of my short stories! This story was written way back in high school. Originally made for a short film's screenplay, it is actually one of my earliest proper short story that I wrote. This might not be the first of its kind, but I guess it is still a special story to me. As usual I cobbled up the cover and the little illustration at the end myself, while the character illustration on the cover itself was made with https://picrew.me/image_maker/1244131, so credits to them obviously. To be honest I could really do better at these illustrations, so maybe I'll update them in the future along with my other stuff. Also don't forget to read my previous short story, The Guy Who Slept Through Time., for another quick fun reading! I hope you all enjoyed it. As always, be sure to checkmark the story, like it, follow me, and share it if you want more! And of course I accept any form of feedbacks, so don't forget to comment and review as well. I have big things planned for y'all! So stay tuned!!!

“Jack, come down and get some pizza before it gets cold.” I heard my mother calling from downstairs.       I slowly stepped out of my room and crept past my sister’s room. Making sure not to be too loud.        She was having a sleepover tonight and if I bugged her I knew she would get mad and make fun of me. “Don’t bring any of your gross boy smell around my friends tonight, got it?” She had said.       I had just nodded and slunk back to my room. I didn’t know why what she said hurt me as much as it did. I mean she was right. I wasn't a cute girl like her and her friends. I was just a gross boy, and gross boys aren’t allowed at sleepovers.        Besides it was her birthday and if I embarrassed her on her birthday she would be mad at me for a month.        “Hey, kiddo get some pizza, there's a few slices of sausage left. I know it's your favorite so I made sure the girls didn’t eat them all,” Mom said from her chair in the living area.       I mumbled something that probably was a “Thank you” and grabbed a paper plate and put a slice on it. Then I went to pour a drink for myself, there wasn’t much left but I managed to get myself enough cherry coke to fill a glass. As soon as I had my food I went to make my way upstairs.   “Why don’t you come sit with me hon,” Mom said peeking over her book.    Sighing I turned around and plunked myself on the couch, taking a small bite of pizza. Mom closed her book and set it down on the end table next to her and picked up her glass of wine. The book had a strange cover, I couldn’t read the title but it had pink, blue and white stripes on it.   “What's up, kiddo? Feeling left out?” She smiled, her horn rimmed glasses glinting with the light from her lamp.   I shrugged. “I dunno, I guess. I just don’t like that I'm being excluded because I'm a boy, that's all.” I took another bite of pizza and set the plate down on the seat next to me.    “Is it because you're a boy? Or is it because you aren’t a girl?” She said, looking at me intensely.   “Isn’t that the same thing?” I asked, wondering what she was getting at.       “Well, it's a girls sleepover so wouldn’t that mean boys aren’t allowed just from the name?”        “I guess but if i was a girl I wouldn’t want gross boys around either.”        “Gross? I don’t think you’re gross. I may have to fight to get you to take a shower every once in a while but that hardly makes you gross.”        “But Jasmine said she didn’t want any gross, smelly boys interrupting her party. Besides she’s right, who would want to be a boy.” I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged my legs.       She cocked her eyebrow at that. “You don't want to be a boy?”        “Of course not, I'm weird and lanky and boxy, don’t even get me started on that….. Wouldn’t every boy be happier as a girl?” I said back, confused.       "In my experience, kiddo, no, boys don't usually want to be girls."       “Of course they do, but they can't because that's not how the world works. I was born in this awful body and I'm stuck with it.”     “Oh, that's not true, Hon. Do you want to be a girl?” She asked with the warmest smile on her face, and kindness in her eyes.       I nodded, unable to speak. I DID want to be a girl. I didn’t even notice I was crying until the couch moved and my mom had me wrapped up in her arms.       “Shhh, honey it's okay. I will help you. How about we go clothes shopping the day after tomorrow? Your sister probably wants to spend her birthday money anyways. We can make it a girls day out. Would you like that?”       I nodded into her chest as she rubbed my back.       After a few minutes I heard thumping on the stairs. “Hey mom, the girls wanna watch a movie, can I borrow your laptop?” My sister called with a slap of her feet on the hardwood at the bottom. As she passed me she noticed my puffy eyes and scoffed. “What are you crying for?”       Mom pulled away from the hug. “Can I tell her?” She asked softly.       I nodded and sniffed.       “Well your sister was feeling left out, so we had a little chat, and it got emotional,” she said, rubbing my shoulder. “She wants to join you and your friends but doesn't feel welcome.”       “What are you talking about?” She turns to me again. “Jack, what is she talking about?”       “I…. umm… I’m a girl.”       “What? No you’re not. You are a boy, that's disgusting, you can't be a girl.”       “She can be a girl if she says she is, Jasmine,” Mom snapped back. “She’s just figuring herself out and needs to process all this.”       My eyes started watering again, Jasmine thought I was just as gross as ever.    “He’s just pretending so he can spy on my friends. It’s gross and perverted.”       “I knew it, she thinks I’m weird and is gonna hate me forever,” I said shakily and ran up the stairs. I slammed my bedroom door, not caring that we had guests over, and fell on my bed. I cried into my pillow for what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few minutes.       My door clicked open and I heard my mother’s muffled voice say something. I couldn’t make it out and lifted my head.       “Jasmine has something she wants to say to you.” She motioned for her to enter the room and backed away, closing the door behind her.     Jasmine sat on the edge of my bed and looked at me sullenly. “Hey, I didn’t know that this was actually that serious for you. I’m really sorry, Mom talked to me and explained the whole trans thing. I just want you to know that,” She paused and took a breath. “You can be my sister, if you say you’re a girl then you are. I want to make this up to you Ja.. Um, what name do you want me to use?”       I sat up and sniffed. “I don’t know, I haven’t really had the chance to think about it.” I shrugged.       “Well then let's find one for you then,” she said, pulling up a name generator website on her phone.       “What about your friends?”        She turned and gave me a big hug. “Right now, finding a name for my sister is more important.” She let go and started scrolling through names.       I layed back down and sighed. Maybe this would change things between us, only time would tell.   RebelRose Hey all, just a small little story. Big thanks to Mackenzie for helping me proof this and cheering me on to keep writing. you can find her amazing works here https://www.scribblehub.com/profile/33588/mackenzie/ Give her a follow and show her all the love and support in the world.

inside a lab in Leora Nations Territory... up of one of the mountains near the Capital City of Leora. we see our child protagonist waking up from all the noise that was coming outside, he got up from his bed and went to the control panel, he turned on the screen and saw multiple screens popping out one by one, on one screen he saw hundreds of zombies trying to destroy his soldiers inside their glass containers. Noel hmm, seems like I woke up just to find this mess. pushing a random button, the soldiers started to wake up one by one, the zombies felt fear, not that fear, instinct like fear, the moment one of the soldiers noticed the zombies they all broke out of their stasis containers and shredded every single zombie there was, Noel satisfied by this outcome decided to give them an objective he pressed the voice button and started his briefing. Noel find every zombie in this lab, and bring me any survivors that you find. hearing their master's command, they went outside the room and started clearing the lab, Noel realizing that he was shorter than normal, much shorter, decided to take a look in the mirror. Noel hmm, it seems that I turned into a child, a pity. hearing the noise outside the door he decided to open it, but was greeted by a slash to both his eyes and a bite to the neck, realizing it was a zombie, he instantly took out a 9 millimeter magnum from his pocket and shot the zombie in the head, hearing another noise he shot in the direction where the noise was coming from, and blew off the head of another zombie, he immediately called all his troops to his position. upon hearing their master's call, they went to his location at inhuman speeds shredding every zombie along the way, once they arrived they immediately checked every corner of the room and pummeled the already dead zombies, to a puddle of blood, since Noel is immune to all forms of viruses and diseases, he did not get infected, but that does not mean he can heal his bite mark and his eyes almost instantly, however the eyes are permanent, it cannot be healed. Noel told his soldiers to carry him to an automatic wheel chair, specifically made for an injured person, it comes with a solar powered Butler Robot with mounted guns inside its arms, jetpack and missile launchers behind its back, and as well as a grenade launcher and solar powered drone, the chair comes with its own A.I. and is also equipped with a mini-gun, jet pack, and missile launchers, and as well a GPS, gas mask, and can also cover it's passenger with 1 Inch thick of Titanium, and as well as an health support system, mobile drone also powered by solar. Noel was literally untouchable, even if 1 Million zombies attacked him, his robot butler can just punch them to death with ease at inhuman speeds. with this in mind and an army behind his back he is ready to explore this, new Apocalyptic World, as he left the lab he sees before him a wasteland, a land full of wondering zombies, the second he left the lab, about 200,241 zombies went to their direction, but was annihilated by the 2,000 superior soldiers under Noel's command. some time later..., the capital city of Leora, we see two survivors were running for their lives from 2,000 zombies, two male, one older looking man that looks like a soldier and another, a younger teenager that looks like a student, Noel hearing the footsteps decided to tell his soldiers to clear the entire city of bandits and zombies, leaving him and his Robot Butler alone. the two survivors, surprised by the sudden massacre of the zombies turned around to where they came from, only to see a blind child wearing a blind fold sitting on a wheel chair and an odd looking butler. while approaching the child the two survivors noticed that the soldiers from before returned, both of them looked at each other and then continued to approach the child, the older looking man asked him, ??? what brings you here kid?, it seems you brought a lot of friends with you. Noel are you a survivor?. ??? ah yes, yes I am. Noel what is your name?. Jacob my name is Jacob, Jacob Reeves, just call me Jacob, and to my left is my brother, Leo Reeves, call him Leo..., and... I'm sorry about your eyes. Noel don't be..., I would like you to tell me what happened this past few years, I have not known yet about the current situation of the world. Jacob alright I'll tell you... wait!, before that, could you tell me your name?. Noel just call me Supreme Leader. Jacob ???.          

July 10, 1357. Higher dimension Covenants. Another boring day.  - Hey, it's that orphan guy. - Haha, how insignificant he is, it's disgusting to look at him. The whole school hates me. Ehh funny. I am so insignificant that even I myself am disgusted and worried about my weakness. I am always bullied, called names and given a pseudonym as "the weakest". Yes, it's not even a pseudonym, they just want to humiliate me. Haha, how cool. But that doesn't suit me. So far, I'm weak. But I believe, I believe that I can also become the strongest. When I'm the strongest, I'll kick your ass, you stupid bastards! My name is Karen Tatsuki. I am the weakest person in the entire higher dimension. Yes, yes, all the inhabitants who live in this world at least have super-dimensionality or high-dimensionality. But I'm still a nonentity 10-D being. I belong to a higher dimension. The highest dimension is an infinite number of metaverses. In this we differ from the rest, the omniverse is an infinite number of multiverse. And the metaverse is qualitatively superior to the multiverse. As a result, the higher dimension is qualitatively superior to the omniverse. I am weak in the higher dimension, but my strength is enough to destroy the metaverse. I have the ability to create a concept and transcendence to the characteristics of the opponent. Sometimes I can manipulate supertime. And even if the space of time and the universe collapse, I will be able to live on. But even if I try to hit supersized people, the mass and density of my blow will be equal to zero. And they will always look at me as a fiction. I can't be killed. Because I'm not dead, and I'm not alive. And today I have to meet my friend Tajimuri. This is exactly the person with whom I can have a good time, a person who does not condemn me for strength.  - Hey Karen, hi! - Oh hi Tajimuri! How are you? - Great, but how are you? - Well, more or less stable. - Karen doesn't look good. Is something wrong with you? Or did those bastards mock you again? - I think you already know my answer. I'm already used to it. - Ehh Karen, I told you, never forget, you are definitely the chosen one!Only a creature above 8-D can withstand the pressure of the higher dimension. If you can withstand the higher dimension, it means that you are the "chosen one". Never dare to lose heart. - Thank you for worrying about me, Tajimuri! - And by the way, Tajimuri, I wanted to ask. Where are we going? - We're going to Heikuro Academy. It is the largest academy on the continent, named after the great God of the Covenant.  - Do you think that I can get into this largest academy?  - Yes, exactly. Although you are weak, but you have a huge potential. I believe in you, you're my friend. - Thank you Tajimuri! (After some time)                                                                   Academy of God Covenants - OK Tajimuri, can we go now? - Yes, Karen, you can go. Go to your house and get some rest. - See you tomorrow. - See you tomorrow. (Karen accidentally touched some girl) - Excuse me, are you in pain? - But no, don't be afraid. And this guy, why was his punch so weak? But that's not the point, the mark of his blow was dark and terrifying. Is he really weak? Or strong? - Hey guy, what's your name? - My name is Karen. What's your name? - You can call me Hikinaro. - Have a nice acquaintance. Ah, how beautiful she is, I was lucky that I was able to get to know her. - Karen, I wanted to ask. What type of element is in your magic?  "That's what you're talking about. Then I don't have it, I'm a 10-D creature at all. Whoo, 10-D. Is this some kind of joke? It can't be, then why is there a terrifying aura emanating from him? Okay, I'll check it with dimension activation. Really? Is he really a 10-D? He's the weakest I've ever seen. It's not going to happen, there's definitely something wrong. - Karen, you have the minimum chance to get into this academy. But I'll help you get in. - How? - My father is a very influential person. I'll do everything I can. You try to get there too. - OK thanks! Yeah, well. Does she want me to get into this academy? Is this reality or a dream? - Karen, I'll see you tomorrow. I've got some things to do. - See you tomorrow Hikinaro!                                                                                         Karen's House Today was very good. I met a very beautiful girl and the chance to enter the largest academy on the continent has increased. I think it's time for me to go to bed.