Chapter 21 – Now I Lay Thee Down

Himoto never imagined her fragile dream would be shattered so soon. The tower she erected, the pedestal she created for herself, lay smashed before her. The result of building with glass. In mere seconds her aloof attitude, the fake confidence she showed others, was broken apart and reduced to dust.

Though the humiliation hurt her, it was a necessary lesson. She never shone the brightest. All her life she belonged in the background, while others garnered the spotlight. Yet, the slightest breeze would be enough to extinguish a flickering candle, no matter how dazzling.

She played Novus Vita with the ambition to step out of the shadows, to glow brighter than before. Instead all she became was another shooting star, consumed by its own heat.

Himoto didn’t dare to complain about her life, at least not loudly. Her parents loved her, she made a few friends who shared her hobbies and nobody harassed her. Just like that she lived her quiet little life as a quiet little girl.

So, at least once, she wanted to stand out. To not back down and to shout at those that ignored her. However, she soon realized how wrong her wish was. The attention never mattered. Instead, she yearned for the strength and courage to stand up for herself.

The crushing defeat at the hands of another player, a figure in the dark, made her realize it. He suffocated the sparks of her spirit, but allowed her to find the blazing inferno she dreamt of.

Though she carried resentment towards him, who brought her to her knees, she also admired his strength. And even if it happened in the spur of the moment, adding his name to her friend list made her happy.

During the last few days she often thought about writing him. The loss gnawed at her and she wanted a rematch, but she always shied away at the last moment. Luckily the rising tension in Roselake offered enough distraction, so she rarely thought about Hall.

Overlooking the city from a rooftop, she furrowed her brows. The claws of anxiety tightened their grip around the town and though she tried to help, nothing changed. A drop of water on a searing piece of metal. A short relief before it would reach its melting point.

Crime ran rampant, bodies piled up and the weak and unfortunate suffered most. Meanwhile, guards protected the central and upper parts of Roselake and rarely bothered with the expendable elements of the population.

Bredon became her starting kingdom because of her friends. They followed a group of students from their partner university.

Although she couldn’t really stand them, her friends idolized the two girls and swooned over the three boys, especially over the blond leader of the group.

Himoto carried no resentment towards those who surpassed her in wealth or social stature. She would rather search for faults in herself than in others. It was their attitude, their behavior, she disliked. Of course she kept quiet, but at the same time, she tried to stay away from them.

So, while her friends desperately tried to chase that particular group in levels and strength, she stayed in Roselake and played the game the way she wanted. Himoto would never admit it, but the memory of this first step towards a more courageous self still brought a smile to her face.

With time she got to know the citizens of Roselake. Simple people living in the poor parts of town, surviving with what little they had. They were NPCs, but in her eyes it didn’t matter. She cared for them all the same. She laughed with them and cried with them.

When they were threatened she intervened. When thieves and thugs tried to harm them, she prevented it with fiery wrath until she was rewarded with a hidden class. Honokai, goddess of flame and vigilance blessed her with the power to carry out her own justice. On that day Scarlet Fire was born, a name she received from those she wished to protect. A good name. A strong name.

One that she wanted to carry with pride. Even now she still strived to live up to that name. At one point she brandished it like a flag. Until she met Hall. He showed her how unfit she was to carry such a powerful title.

Now, as she stood on a rooftop, overlooking the city, she felt as powerless as she did on the day of her overwhelming defeat. Those she swore to protect, suffered before her.

People who used to smile at her whenever they could, and even when poor and hungry, they shared love and empathy. Was there nothing she could do?

The sound of a bell woke her from her thoughts and a letter appeared at the bottom left of her view.

Hall is calling you, do you want to answer?YesNo

Himoto licked her dry lips and, after a long glance over the city below, she whispered. “Yes!”

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Darkness hung over the town and heavy snowfall devoured the light of torches and magic. A white curtain in the black night prevented curious glances as three figures met behind a small chapel.

“Could you repeat that?” asked one of them. Her facial expressions changed from nervousness to surprise and to blatant disbelief when the man, clad in a dark cloak, had explained why he messaged her.

Hall only met the girl, wearing red leather, once before and while he had a good feeling about her, he couldn’t trust her just yet. Her untainted soul gave him confidence in her, but in case she acted together with others, he would disclose the bare necessities.

“I’m telling you again, I wouldn’t involve you if I didn’t think it would be the right thing to do. I’m not going to lie, it won’t be pretty and there will be death, but I firmly believe it’s for the best of the city and its people. I can’t tell you more than that, but please trust me for now.”

A sigh escaped his lips and he lifted the hood that covered his face. “Not many in this city have seen my face. I hope this will serve as a sign of good faith.”

Her reaction startled him. Though she tried to conceal it, her eyes widened. She sucked air between her teeth, surprised by what she saw. His appearance shouldn’t have an effect on players, but he kept silent and with a motion of his hand signaled her to decide.

Her astonishment disappeared and she contemplated his proposal. In itself his request barely qualified as a crime, but not only would it put Himoto at risk, it opened up a lot of possibilities for further wrongdoings. However, he didn’t lie to her. He asked with sincerity and honesty. In the end she nodded, though still unsure, she decided to trust Hall.

“I will do it, but I expect you to keep your word. For the good of the people.” Her firm voice left no doubt she would hunt him down if he were to betray her faith in him. “And I want an explanation as soon as possible.”

A silent figure observed the two. Brighter than the surrounding white, she furrowed her brows at Himoto’s words.

It was Hall’s turn to nod. “Alright, we start in twenty minutes, don’t get caught. Oh, one more thing. I don’t know if you heard about it, but the king is hiring players, so it’s not only NPCs who may hunt you down.” In a swift motion he lifted the hood over his head and turned to leave. “Thank you and be careful.” The veil of falling snow swallowed his words as he stepped into the darkness. Only a crimson haired maiden remained, shaking her head, still unable to grasp what she heard and saw.

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Only minutes before the agreed upon time Hall and Lily monitored the side entrance of the wall that surrounded Roselake’s noble district. The blanket of snow silenced their steps and the darkness hid them from the guards’ sight.

Their level exceeded his by far, so a direct confrontation was out of the question. The high stone wall formed an unclimbable obstacle for him and the gates were locked tight during the night.

“Are you sure we can trust her?” Lily sounded doubtful as she mulled over Hall’s plan.

“More or less. Worst case scenario, we run.” He murmured, careful not to alarm anybody around them. They closed in on the gate, walking along the wall, until they halted a few steps away.

Hall’s skill Soul Perception only revealed the two guards before them, so he signaled Lily to take up her position.

“This is not a very elaborate plan. Shouldn’t you have thought about it a little longer?” Moira’s criticism didn’t even distract him for a second.

“Not like I had an overabundance of time and it’s not like you thought of something better right?” he hissed, his words lost in the snowfall.

“I haven’t been in this town for centuries. The layout changed considerably and I lack information, how can you expect me to work like this?” With her pride under attack, Moira lapsed back into the role of a moping child.

Ignoring her, Hall concentrated on the task at hand. The time came.

From beyond the wall, behind the heavy gate, an outcry emerged and small fists hit the door’s wood. “Help me, please, oh god, she will burn me alive.”

The pleading scream tore apart the silence of the night and startled the bored guards.

If all went well, Hall needed to compliment Lily on her acting. After she flew over the wall in her incorporeal form, she used her skill Soul Meets Body and set their plan into motion.

For years now the sentries stood before this side gate, defending the noble district from the unsavory elements among Roselake’s people. The men changed, the time changed, but the danger always came from the outside.

Hearing the desperate wail from inside the safe zone, they unlocked and opened the gate before they fully grasped what was happening.

In a praiseworthy performance Lily’s face showed fear, relief and terror as she raised her hand and pointed behind the guards.

“She jumped over the wall and is waiting for me, help me, please!” The panic in her voice and her desperate motions prompted the two guardsmen to turn.

What presented itself to them let them stagger back and shriek in terror. Half a dozen flaming spheres crashed before their feet and turned the white snow into clouds of steam.

Their surprise wore off quickly and they recognized their assailant.

“It’s Scarlet Fire, after her.” Yelled one of the guards and drew his sword. Both men ran before one of them broke off the chase. Curses and swearing left his mouth. The gates had to be secured at all times, even a moment of negligence could endanger the safety of the noble district.

Hall used that single moment. Like a shadow he slipped past the distracted guards and disappeared through the gate into the curtain of white. The falling snow hid his figure and orbs of fire melted his footprints into puddles of water.

Questions would be asked, but he bought himself the time he needed. At least he hoped so.

Behind the wall he still saw flashes of light until they faded away into the distance.

The combination of Lily and Himoto worked just as planned. “Thanks a lot. We are inside. I owe you and good luck with your escape.” He whispered a personal message to the girl who helped him out. Despite his limited options, he couldn’t have wished for someone better for the job. Her deeds in Roselake earned her not only a reputation, but an astronomical bounty. Hall counted on the guards to be susceptible to those factors and it paid off.

“You are right, you owe me big time for this. Tell me later what happened, I need to shake that guard off, he’s still chasing me and I think he called for reinforcements.” Her panting voice disappeared as she ended their conversation. Although a little worried, he smiled. After Himoto’s distant and wooden attitude vanished, she opened up to him and let her thoughts slip.

“Where to now?” asked Lily. Hall pointed towards one of the streets ahead. It led away from the open square that separated the wall from the first houses.

“We have to be careful. Soldiers will patrol the area, so we have to keep as quiet as possible.” Motioning her to follow, he marched toward his destination with silent steps.

His skill Soul Perception had reached a level that allowed him to sense living souls within a decent enough range. So, despite the terrible visibility, he would spot anybody long before they could see him.

Luckily the streets of the noble district seemed devoid of life. Not even patrols crossed their path. In a way Hall could sympathize with them. Cold nights, heavy equipment and freezing metal on bare skin, he shuddered at the mere memory. Days in the army could be harsh and nights even harsher.

After a few minutes they opened a rod iron gate that led to a sizeable two story building. Darkness and snow prevented a better view of the luxurious house. Its size couldn’t be compared to a country estate or a royal manor, but in the capital it signified a high rank in society.

“This isn’t one of the houses marked on the map, is it?” asked Moira in surprise.

Hall shook his head and whispered. “No, but it’s our first target, House Keslak.”

When he had met the two sons of House Keslak, they died by his hand and according to Jorn’s information,only their father remained.

“You actually managed to infiltrate the noble district, really impressive, but how do you plan to get into the buildings.” Moira’s question was justified. An entry by force would alarm the guards and his ability in picking locks equaled his skill to breath under water. But it was not the question that annoyed him.

“Could you not make it sound like I’m a dog that just learned to pee outside?” The grimoire paused for a moment. “No!”

Sighing, he grabbed a key from his inventory. Its last owner had no more use for it.

The key opened the lock and without making a sound, Hall entered the dark building. Only a flickering light in one of the rooms on the second floor disturbed the darkness.

On his way up the stairs he navigated effortlessly through the almost pitch black mansion. Even before, the night barely hindered him. Ever since they emerged from the catacombs, things changed. This time, they changed in his favor.

Thick carpet covered the floor under his steps as he entered the room where a single man sat behind a large desk.

A single candle illuminated shelves filled with books and numerous papers scattered on the table. Devoid of a personal touch, the room told the story of a life dedicated to a single purpose. Work.

Now, all the achievements, all the profit and wealth, the results of a lifetime of single minded devotion in the absence of morals, vanished in the face of death. Riches, nobility, power, nothing.

The lone man’s eyes widened at the sight of Hall, but simultaneously his tensed body seemed to relax. “I have been expecting you.” he expressed in a trembling voice before standing up. “And finally you came for me… Death.” A deep bow followed his words.

Hall raised an eyebrow. Behind him Lily confirmed his suspicion. “I don’t think he’s sane anymore.”

Agreeing, Moira spoke up. “That seems like a safe assumption. But he is flattering you, Harbinger. You should thank him.”

Instead, Hall stepped forward and asked in his deepest voice. “How come you were waiting for me?”

A giggle emerged from the old Keslak, sparks of madness glimmering in his eyes. “It was time, my time. You came for my sons, killed them. Took them first. I saw their mangled bodies. Now it’s me, my time has come.”

From one moment to the next, his laughter stopped. “What I have done... what we have done, needs punishment. Oh I lived with the darkness and passed it on to my sons. Can you believe I killed my wife, killed my mother and father? And I killed children of others, caused the death of their families. So much blood soils my hands. Can’t you see it? Claret dropping from my fingers, my clothes stained…” He continued to ramble incoherent words. Fragments of sentences formed a tale of cruelty and suffering.

Several moments passed until his gaze regained focus. His shoulders dropped and a deep sadness overwhelmed his voice. “I wish I could do it all over… start anew, without greed, without pain… do it already, please, I’m just so tired.”

Without a word, the blade of large scythe appeared in Hall’s hands. Few steps separated both of them and Hall closed the distance in a second.

The incomplete scythe proved difficult, even impossible, to handle. At least in battle. Now he faced an old and sick man, begging for death. A dark soul, wishing for light and Hall would grant his desire.

In a fluid motion he lifted the scythe blade and rammed it into Keslak’s chest. The dark metal penetrated the flesh without resistance and cut apart the corrupted soul it held.

Relief soon replaced the pained expression on the dying man’s face. Within a moment, the darkness of his soul vanished as the blade seemed to devour it. Now only an orb of pulsating light remained and dissipated with the life in Keslak’s eyes.

Not a trace of blood stained the black steel when Hall pulled back the scythe’s blade and returned it to his inventory.

Looking at the corpse before him, Hall felt no sense of victory, only a sad emptiness. Destroying evil, cleansing darkness, that was what he expected, even enjoyed. But this situation felt wrong. The execution of a mad men, riddled with guilt, brought him no joy. Keslak deserved it, his soul was proof of the sins he piled up in a lifetime. Yet, here and now, in this silent night, Hall shook his head.

Lily sensed his trouble and laid her hand on his shoulder in an attempt to console him. To show he stood not alone. Even Moira spoke words of comfort. “You did good Harbinger. His life contained only darkness and suffering. His soul will thank you.”

A weak smile appeared on his face. His responsibility as a Harbinger contained more than battle, more than mere mayhem. It required more than destruction. His tasks demanded for him to leave his comfort zone, face the darkness in others and maybe deal with his own.

‘This game really knows how to push my buttons.’

However Lily and Moira stood by his side and Grim watched over him. He was not alone. Hall swallowed hard and, determined, he ripped his gaze from the corpse and turned to the pages on the desk.

It took him a few minutes, but he found a handful of papers, linking the nobles and royals to the cattle hunt. Most of the other sheets contained information on trade or city affairs, nothing that concerned him.

A few reports looked interesting though. They included demonic activity around a fort up north.

The current lord holding the fortress requested resources, men and other necessities for war. But, whoever built the stronghold, constructed it in no man’s land, on the north coast between Bredon and Norland. The king, of course, denied any help. The land so close to the sea was rugged and so were the few people who made it their home. They never accepted any outside rule, so nobody would come to their rescue.

Warning bells rang in his head. Only a few hours had passed since Grim warned him about a danger closing in from the north and he stumbled upon reports of demonic presences.

‘Is it a coincidence?’

His latest confrontation with a demon, Benmal’ach, showed him his lack of strength. Right now, he might intimidate the inhabitants of this city, but against an army of demons, he didn’t stand a chance.

Hall’s gaze fell on Lily. He promised her to restore her soul and so far he failed. No, he didn’t even try. Never even once did she ask him about it and he never brought it up. It was a painful topic.

The information before him could very well be the clue he needed. The quest he received to destroy Dravan, the dark remnant of the Sorian people, the creator of the curse that bound him and Lily to the tower, spoke of an unknown darkness and an army of evil.

‘Could it really be?’

His thoughts raced. Dravan, demons in the north, Grim’s warning, for now all this had to wait. The quest granted him a time limit of one year game time, which allowed him to grow stronger. For now, he had other business to attend to.

“Let’s go, there are unfortunate souls waiting for us.” Words meant more for himself, than for his companions. He needed to focus. They crossed enemy lines and he couldn’t risk their exposure, not yet.

“What do we do with the body? The merchant said to make it public…” Lily said, hesitating.

Hall paused for a moment.

“We’ll leave him be. His servants will find him and bury him. He showed honest remorse. That should count for something.” Already moving to the door, a menacing tone sneaked into his voice. “Besides, we have other targets.”

Grabbing the candle from the desk, Hall searched the rooms of the house, but his findings disappointed him. For wealthy merchants they kept only items of little value in their homes. A few decorative pieces, some cheap jewelry, nothing extraordinary. He pocketed what he could sell and left, unseen and unheard.

The night hid them on their way to the next destination. A red circle on the map showed him the spot. According to Shep’s letter, the noble family who lived in the two story house, more luxurious and larger than the last one, consisted of three brothers in their twenties.

Hall knocked on the door and waited for someone to appear.

“Do you really think they will let you in? At least take your hood off!” hearing Moira’s voice, he could picture her frowning and chiding him. To his surprise, he already created an image of her in his head.

So he couldn’t help but chuckle at the picture of a cute girl, maybe two or three years younger than him, her index finger shoved in his face while she rebuked him.

He sensed three beings inside the house and he didn’t plan to leave any alive, so he followed Moira’s advice and lifted his hood.

Finally, somebody opened a little window in the wooden door. “Who in the hell knocks so late. I swear, if it isn’t important…”

The man swallowed his next words and paled at the sight of Hall. Though obviously intimidated, the short, bald man’s gaze lingered on the badge in Hall’s hand. The badge of a Royal Guard.

“How can I help you at this hour?” The man’s attitude changed and his polite words showed the respect the nobles carried towards the ranks of the Royal Guard.

“I need to speak to the members of the Somero household, by the orders of the king.” Hall’s firm voice left no doubt in his words and as soon as he lifted a random paper with the words ‘Cattle Hunt’ in them, the door swung open.

When he entered the extravagant building, he heard feet scurry as the man, who let him in, called for his brothers. Their tanned skin indicated their foreign descent. According to Hall’s information, their father sent them as ambassadors, in name only though. Even back in their home country they caused mayhem. Bredon’s king though accommodated them in exchange for gracious gifts from their family.

When the three men finally assembled, they panted in anticipation of news concerning the Cattle Hunt. The tall one drooled as he tried to glance at the papers Hall still carried.

Hall wrinkled his nose in disgust at the three men’s euphoria when he offered them to slaughter innocents. Their eyes carried the darkness he felt in their souls. Greed, desperation, an overwhelming longing for blood and death.

“I’m glad you are making this easy for me.” Confusion turned to fear as Hall infused his chains with his soul energy. In the blink of an eye he incapacitated two of the men and rammed his scythe blade into the third.

Only strong in name, their levels and power couldn’t compare to somebody with actual battle prowess. Against Hall, their strength was insignificant.

The night swallowed their screams and pleas for mercy. Within seconds he tore the darkness from their souls and watched their life fade away. It was a slaughter, an execution.

Their broken bodies lay before him. He picked them up, one by one, and placed them besides the entrance door.

Hoping for a better result than in the Keslak’s home, Hall began to look for treasure. Tonight he killed the targets others gave him and then looted their homes. Though his victims deserved that and more, it troubled him. It became more and more difficult to think of Novus Vita only as a game. At the same time there was method to his madness. His tasks were difficult, he needed allies and funds, and he never claimed to be a saint.

Steeling his resolve, he rummaged through the rooms in the large mansion. He found more halfway decent items, decorative jewelry, a few books he might sell, only few things of real value. At least he discovered some weapons. The sword he picked up resembled a mix of epee and longsword.

“Identify!”

Basic Toledo Cavalry SwordDamage:35-55Durability:45 / 45Quality:MagicA good sword made by a fine blacksmith. Perfect for fighting on a mount.

The long and slim blade grants the wielder superior speed, but at the cost of reduced impact.

Effects:

+20 Agility

+10 Charisma when mounted

+10 Strength when mounted

Requirements:

Level 55

Strength: 80

Agility: 130

There were three of them, probably sent by the men’s father. Hall was not surprised to see dust covering the blades, not after he saw the Somero brothers.

What caught his eye was the large crossbow sitting on a table in one of the hallways.

Heavy Ice ArbalestDamage:100-135Durability:100 / 100Quality:RareA heavy, modern crossbow. Enchanted with ice magic, its bow made of steel. A terrifying weapon with enough power to penetrate thick armor.

Due to its size and weight it shines in defensive battles.

Effects:

+15 Ice damage

Ignores 50% of the enemies armor

50% chance of freezing the target, reducing its speed by 30% for 5 seconds

-50% movement speed when equipped

Requirements:

Level 75

Strength: 200

‘I really don’t want to be on the receiving end of that thing.’

The crude design hid immense power, one he intended to transform into cash, along with the swords.

By now he sensed three more souls in the backyard of the house, simple, free of ill intent.

Running past expensive art and heavy furniture, he left through the backdoor and found three horses. The regal, black animals seemed fit to serve as parade horses, but trembled in the cold of the night.

Lily didn’t even wait for his permission and activated her skill Body Meets Soul. Two minutes later she had covered the horses in blankets to keep the worst cold away. Stroking their shiny fur, Lily threw a reproachful look at him.

Sounding unsure, Moira guessed. “I think she wants you to do something for those horses.”

Hall could only shake his head. “And what am I supposed to do with them?”

But the girl, still petting the large animals, only sharpened her glare.

“Alright, alright, I’ll think of something, satisfied?” Monsters and demons may fall before Hall, but Lily achieved an easy win. The backyard that housed the horses led to a smaller, wooden building. When Hall opened the large gates, he saw a carriage.

‘Guess it was more important to them to protect this thing from the cold, than the horses. Oh well, karma…’

He pulled the heavy carriage out and panting, he turned around and gestured Lily to bring the horses. “We’ll come back for them soon, until then, the shed should offer some shelter.”

A satisfied Lily smiled and nodded before she followed Hall. There was one target left.

Again they didn’t run into anybody on their way to one of the largest mansions in the district. Family Gorti, only a woman, far past her prime, and her grandson in his thirties, belonged to a group of ancient nobles. For generations they pulled strings in the shadows and aside from the king, not many held more influence.

Now they approached the brink of extinction. They retreated to their home and rarely showed themselves in public. Even the guards were cast out of the house. Time and misfortune reduced the once blessed family to an old hag and a grown man who still soiled his pants.

Hall felt at least four people inside the mansion, which was too large for his skill to cover. Not all carried sin, so he left his hood in place and knocked.

A young woman opened and her pale skin lost all color when she saw Hall. Her maid outfit identified her as a servant, but the clothes lacked the length to hide several bruises.

Hall grinded his teeth and raised the badge of the Royal Guard that got him into the Somero’s house. Entering the three story mansion, he met another servant, a young man. Fresh and older wounds covered his face and he limped while he approached the girl.

‘Guess I’m the karma police today.’ The state of the servants sparked Hall’s anger. So far his heart wasn’t completely into the quest, but the display of cruelty fueled his desire for retribution.

“Leave now and don’t turn back.” They looked at each other, trembling at Hall’s words, and tears formed in the girl’s eyes.

“We can’t, we are bound to the mistress’ life…” she pointed at a steel ring around their ankles. It emitted a faint, violet light and a humming tone. “Please don’t kill us.”

They embraced each other, expecting Hall to slaughter them on the spot.

“Then leave as soon as the magic dies. Take this and flee, far away from this nightmare.”

He placed a handful of coins on the table beside the entrance, enough to survive a few weeks. The amount of gold was nothing to Hall and it gave him some peace of mind, a good deal.

An Act of random Kindness

Good deeds don’t go unnoticed

‘That’s rather vague, but considering my luck, I’m in for a nasty surprise’

The two stood stock-still, frozen in shock. Not only would they live on, the devil offered them a future, something they stopped dreaming about. Hall didn’t blame them for being skeptical or afraid, but neither did he stay to explain.

They would be gone once he returned, free from more torture and that was good enough for him.

His Soul Perception only picked up two more beings, his targets. Even from afar he felt their darkness, their corruption. When he approached them, the impression only increased. Yet, compared to Benmal’ach, the fallen angel, they evoked no fear, only anger and the wish to end their existence.

An appalling stench filled his nose when he advanced through the main hallway. He ignored the stairs, as well as the doors to his left and right. The short corridor ended in two massive, wooden doors. The snow on his boots melted and merged with red and brown stains that covered the marble floor.

Hall pushed open the large doors and stepped into the huge room. A wave of foul odor swept over him. Blood, rotting flesh and human waste, mindless death. The impressions of a human made hell assaulted his senses.

Lily shrieked in horror and even Moira gasped at the image before them. “Are they even human?”

The dim, red light in the shadows beneath his hood turned into an infernal flame. Clenching his fist, he stepped forward, crushing bones beneath his feet. “Humans, demons, monsters, it doesn’t matter, I’ll slaughter them all the same.”

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Author’s Note:

Alright, Chapter 21 is done, hope you enjoyed it :grin:

Few things I want to mention, first of all I want to thank Kana for creating the cover I’m currently using, I really like it and I hope you all do too.

Of course I’m grateful to everyone who made the effort to create a cover and sent it to me, if you don’t mind, I might use it as fan art/in chapters at some point (if you want to keep it secret, please write a PM)

Next is a point concerning all of RoyalRoadL. I’m sure a lot of you have already read it, but it would be a great help for the website if you’d deactivate your AdBlock while surfing here. With the growing site, the maintenance becomes more costly (money and time), and it would help the admins greatly.

Also, thank you for the comments, suggestions and for pointing out mistakes,

keep it coming ;)

Alright, as always, please rate, follow and favor, it means a lot

Oh and I’ll post an answer in this thread once I’m two or three days away from the next release, think that’s something that I will do generally from now on.

:bye:

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