《Requiem of the Sea》The Escape
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Blinding white light filled the cave. The Essence within the locket thrummed with power that was just waiting for Maya to take. She gave it one final longing stare. Then she thrust it into Cyll’s chest. Cyll cried out as the energy flooded into him.
“There isn’t enough! You’re just wasting it!” Cyll yelled.
“It’s my goddamn energy. I’ll use it how I please!” Maya said. “You taught me how to fight. It’s my turn to help. Now shut up.”
Cyll bucked and thrashed on the floor. White lightning crackled out of the gaping hole in his chest. Maya bit her lower lip and narrowed her eyes in concentration. Slowly, millimeter by millimeter, the wound started to close.
At the same time, the energy in the locket was depleting fast. The race was on. The wound drew itself together, muscle and tissue reaching out as if they knew their original form. Then the locket sputtered.
It was out of energy. The wound was still about as big as her fist, and Maya could tell Cyll’s heart was still missing. The wounded man smiled up at her from the floor.
“Thank you, Maya. Your kindness is not forgotten, no matter how wasteful it was.”
“I told you to shut up,” Maya hissed. She strained, clenching her hands around the locket as she desperately searched it for more Essence.
She mentally reached out, digging through the metal like a starving dog. Emptiness greeted her. Maya gritted her teeth. Her eyes narrowed as she forced her mind deeper into the locket.
There was nothing. And then, there was. A tiny blip, far in the depths. Unlike the other glowing white energy, this one was black. A savage grin crossed her face as a delicate spark of dark energy formed in her hand.
Cyll’s eyes snapped wide open.
“Stop! You can’t-”
Maya plunged the energy into his chest. With a lurch, Cyll’s wound hissed shut in an instant. He lurched upright, nearly throwing Maya across the room in his haste.
“What have you done?” Cyll whispered in a mixture of shock, horror, and awe.
“Saved your life,” Maya exclaimed. “And you said there wouldn’t be enough energy!”
“At the cost of yours! That was your Life-spark! You can’t absorb essence without it. How are you going to awaken your powers? Besides, I didn’t even know you could give it away without dying,” Cyll said, his words trembling.
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“My what?” Maya asked.
Cyll’s eyes widened.
“You don’t even know?” He whispered. “That dark spark of energy – it wasn’t from the locket. It was from you. I’ve never seen one in person, but I’ve heard of them. Everyone has one, and it’s the kindling that allows you to awaken your ability. Without it…nothing. You’ll never have an ability.”
Maya’s world froze. Her ears rung so loud that Cyll’s words vanished in a sea of white noise. Her fingernails dug into her pants strong enough to tear the material. The young woman’s heart thrashed and slammed against her ribcage.
“I’ll never have an ability?” Maya murmured, her eyes glassy.
Cyll’s rough hand clapped down on her shoulder. Maya’s mind snapped back to the present. He was standing in front of her, his deep eyes staring straight into her soul. He’d clearly been saying something, but his words had gone past Maya’s ears.
“You’ve given me a great gift,” Cyll said, almost reverently. “One that I doubt has ever been given in the history of this world. I didn’t even know it could be given. But that doesn’t mean it’s all over. The world is huge, and there may be some form of replacement for your Life-spark.”
“You mean I can get my ability back?” Maya asked, blinking away tears as she clung to the thread of hope that Cyll offered her.
“I can’t promise anything, but it’s very possible,” Cyll said.
He walked to the pile of gold and started digging through it. A few moments later, he returned with two prizes. The first was a sickle and chain, which he laid before Maya. The second was a triangular captain’s hat, which he held before himself.
“And, if you’re going to look for something of that value, you’re going to need some help. You said you wanted to be a pirate captain,” Cyll said. “I’d be honored to be your first crewmate.”
Maya picked the sickle and chain off the ground. Unlike the first time she’d picked a weapon up, this one felt comfortable, as if it were meant to be in her hands.
“I don’t even have a ship yet,” Maya said, her voice still shaky. However, a thin line of steel had reinforced her tone.
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Cyll knelt on the ground in front of her, raising the pirate hat above his head.
“We can find one.”
“We can find one, Captain,” Maya corrected with a weak grin, taking the hat from Cyll’s hands, and placing it upon her head. It fit perfectly.
A wide grin split Cyll’s face and he rose back to his feet.
“Now that you healed me, I can get us out of here whenever you want. I’ve got a little trump card I haven’t been able to use due to my injuries. But, before that, can you tell me a little about the surface? It’s been a long time since I’ve been up there,” Cyll said.
“Can’t say much, I haven’t been far from Ashwind in…a while. Recently, the farthest I went was to a dungeon, and you can see how that turned out for me,” Maya said with a small laugh.
“How big is Ashwind? There was no town near the dungeon when I was last here,” Cyll said.
“It’s a normal city-state. It’s got fortified walls and a big dock. It’s no capitol or anything, but it’s strong enough to warrant respect,” Maya said after thinking for a few moments.
“So…stealing a boat from them isn’t reasonable?”
“Are you kidding? Their boats are huge. If we had ten men it would still be difficult to control one,” Maya protested. “We need to get supplies from Ashwind and then travel along the coast until we reach a smaller port where we can get our hands on something more manageable.”
“Works for me, Captain,” Cyll said with a careless shrug. “Just let me know when you’re ready to get out of here.”
Maya nodded. She made her way to the pile of riches and began shoving it into her pockets. She raised an eyebrow in Cyll’s direction.
“Get over here and help me. I don’t know how long you’ve been down here, but money makes everything run now, and we aren’t going to get anywhere without it.”
“So, how long were we actually in that mind training thing?” Maya asked as they worked.
“Less than a second passed in the real world. But, as far as your mind is concerned, you spent ten years learning how to fight.”
“That’s…amazing. How is that possible?” Maya asked. Some of her previous energy had started to return to her voice as a plan began laying itself out in her mind.
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Cyll laughed. “You might be my Captain, but some things are earned. We’ve all got our secrets. Suffice to say I have some small control over the flow of time.”
They finished collecting as much gold as they could carry and stood up together. There was a brief moment of silence.
“So? How do we get out of here?” Maya asked.
“We walk,” Cyll said with a cocky grin.
He slung Maya over his shoulder before she could protest and leapt straight into the air. His feet landed on the side of the deep shaft Maya had fallen down earlier that day. Green energy sparked beneath Cyll and he launched himself upwards. Each step he took emitted a thunderous blast that shook the walls around them.
As Cyll picked up speed, a thin blue net started to form in front of them. Maya squinted at the shining energy as they grew closer to it.
“What’s that? The seal holding you in?” She asked.
“The seal that used to hold me in,” Cyll replied, baring his teeth.
They crashed against the net and Cyll let out a roar. Green energy flared and sparked against the blue lines. Then, with a tearing sound magnified by a thousand, the net ripped apart. They burst through the darkness and launched into the rubble ridden room where Maya had killed the snake only a short time ago.
Cyll landed on the ground with a victorious cry. He put Maya down beside him and ran his hands through the rubble surrounding them, a huge grin spreading across his face.
“It’s done. I – no, we – have escaped!” His cry turned into a cackle as tears of joy streamed down his face.
A very far way from Ashwind, in entirely different places of the world, three warlords felt a chill run down their spine.
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Melody of Mana
Reborn into another world as Alana, the former resident of Earth must now try to make her way. While heroes fight great monsters and kings war the peasants suffer and die, unable to save themselves. What is a girl born into a poor family to do except learn and work as hard as she can to just make it through; and that's what she will do. Strive, strive all she can against an unfair and uncaring world of dark lords, dungeons, uncaring nobles, heroes, and magic. Come along as she uses magic and wit in a bid to survive. Updates on Tues. and Fri.
8 847Collection of Short Stories?
I lied it's even less than a short story more like a collection of disparate situations. Also you can read this completely out of order. There is no connection between the chapters. Read any that interest you.
8 184Anarcho: A Cyberpunk Fantasy
Below you can find blurbs for each arc in Anaracho. Fracture Rating (Anarcho, #1) Theeeey’ve done it again! Max and Staxx have just hit the Tower Plaaaza just minutes ago, breaking CEO Tanaka Koji’s safe and baling with what’s estimated to be at least two point three biiiiillion in cash—not to mention the prrrriceless personal relics worth at least a second veritable fortune on the blaaack maarkeeet! Hooowwww do we know it was theeem? They left us clues! “Take it to the max” and “Staxx of cash” left behind, written atop a priceless Remvira painting in lipstiiiick from Koji’s bathroooom no doubt! “I don’t know…” Tanaka says as he scratches his head in evident disbelief while he nurses a broken lip. “One moment I was looking over the quarterly reports and then next thing I know I’m—I’m face down—eating tile and forced by two men at knife and gunpoint to open my safe!” It’s quiiiite a shocker for us over here, too! In case you don’t know, Tanaka Koji is the billionair heir and infamous playboy of the Tanaka Dynastyyy. They say his family’s worth at least four-hundred biiiillioooon and theyyy donnn’t skimp on SEEEECUUURITYYY! Soooo….. what does daad think about allll this? “I want them stopped!” Tanaka senior comments as he shakes a fist. “I am putting up a five-hundred million dollar reward for anyone who supplies information leading to the capture or death of those two thugs!” Weeell, there you have it, folks! Straight from the uuunicorn’s mouth! Again! that’s a whopping five-hundred million dollar reward for any tips that lead to the capture or death of those pesky thieves, Maaax and Staaaaxx! Any tips of information can be sent via public or in-home holo net devices by going to the page displayed—and don’t forget to— Staxx shut off the holo screen. “May called. She wants us to do another job. Tonight.” “You know we can’t. We got another one of our high and mighty overlords to visit at his luxury penthouse.” “That’s what I told her, too.” “Then stop yapping and let’s kick some ass!” “You know, Max, for such a small guy, you’re really intense. Don’t you wanna have some fun?” “Oh… we’re gonna have some fun, Staxx. We’re gonna have some fun...” * * * Hussy (Anarcho, #2) Max and Staxx board the ultrafine space cruiser Chylaxium in an effort to kidnap Kelly Hess, the daughter of the rich—but not a douche—Hess, who wants his daughter returned to him after she ran off with Laiwyn Scorr, a known smuggler and murderer whose evidently using her for her magical abilities to get to her father. Unfortunately it remains to be seen whether the little hussy will come easily. “Max, are you sure about this one?” “You know it’s a favor to May, after what she had to pull to get us outta that Yates thing.” “I know, but… just because you like her doesn’t mean we have to say ‘yes.’” “Come on, Staxx, it’ll be fun.” “Do we get to shoot stuff?” “Definitely!” “What happened to us robbing banks on the six o’clock news?” “Don’t worry—we’ll get to that after we do this thing real quick.” “All right, I’m down.” “Sweet.” * The Landfill Lich (Anarcho, #3) With independent, though highly discredited, news sources siting a dangerous creature killing people on the edges of Life City, Max and Staxx—in their boredom, decide to take up the investigation. They quickly discover that they may be in way over their heads, and that the source of this “terrible monster” or whatever, is in fact due to the carelessness of a mega corp—of course—and headed by—you guessed it—the mages. “Man, I’m so bored! Sure this thing’s even real?” “The bodies are real.” “If the overlords are responsible for whatever’s goin’ on, then somebody’s getting tossed out another window.” “That’s what you always say.” “’Cause it’s the truth, Staxx” “Well let’s check it out and see what we find.” “Takin’ guns.” “Hells yes, Max.” * Rescue Operation (Anarcho, #4) After taking out a Strogaus science mage and the monster he had created, Max and Staxx attempt to contact May—their ally and handler. But for the first time ever, a different person answers their call, indicating an irregularity that bodes ill for not only May, but for them all. “Damn! I wanted to meet May, but…” “Not like this?” “Do you think she’s still alive?” “One way to find out, Max.” “Listen, if this has something to do with Strogaus and that science mage we fed to his own monster, we’re puttin’ these guys in the ground, Staxx.” “Then let’s lock and load.” * Dreams of Forever (Anarcho #5) Max, Staxx and May—three Anarchos—set out to find Lexa a body so that she too can fully become part of the team. But what begins as an innocent shopping trip, soon turns into a storm of bullets after the team realizes what Invera-Tech is really up to. “No way can we let this stand, guys.” “Not like we can’t end the overlord’s dreams of forever with a few bullets.” “Then let’s drop some hot lead on these wannabe gods.” “Hells yes!” “But what about my body?” “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that, Lexa.” “Oh—okay!” “Now let’s tear shit up!”
8 217Enter Darkness
"Here in the mountain we train those who will one day take our places. We do the jobs others find impossible. Our clients are ever different. We never turn down a job, and we never fail. I hope you take my words to heart. I would hate to kill you myself one day. Now listen carefully." As Master Thrass spoke I listened. He told me that the process was fairly simple but very dangerous as well. This is after all Black Hive Mountain. Home of the greatest Assassins in the world.
8 92Jokes On You
ON INDEFINITE HIATUS-> It's DEAD, Jim. Dropped. Not trying this anymore. Sorry. Our story revolves around a man stuck perpetually in black and blue humor. He also gets his ass kicked around until he's black and blue. However, he must deal with his earthly and unearthly problems in the same way. He must survive. Even if he's a shell of his former self. This storyline originates in Tekton history and builds around the Main Character, who narrates. He is reluctant with the standards of the Otherworldly as his situation can be humorous at the expense of our Narrator. Do not expect to be pleased, but somewhat entertained. *Profanity Warning* Cover is not made by me nor mine.
8 222Enlightenment
All know and honor the Sidhe. The power and skill of these ephemeral beings is only equalled by their mercurial ways. Most call themselves lucky to have even the smallest boon granted by these immortial beings. But to some the Sidhe come more easily. And to a very few might be given the ability to see beyond the Sidhe and grasp their power themselves. Raised on stories of his long dead parents, and the potent magic that was theirs, Li dreams of life outside the confines of his small village. Of a life far from the stifling realities of his daily grind. But will he come to regret those dreams?
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