《I Was Green》Chapter 22: That Yesterday Was Once Tomorrow…
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I woke up to a realization that I wasn’t alone in the room. Was this one of Dezire’s nightly shenanigans? I looked around the room, but there was no one as far as my eyes could tell. But somewhere deep inside rose a hunch that I shouldn’t trust my visual senses this once. A hunch, that had probably saved my life, or at least prolonged it by a fair amount.
Should I wait it out? No, that thought was rejected. Whatever I sensed, I couldn’t know its agenda. Staying idle might prove fatal. I left my room and knocked on Reina’s door, “Reina, wake up. There’s something alive in this house.”
No answer came back. I thought the doll was a heavy sleeper. That, or something happened. I opened wide the door. The room was empty. I hurriedly looked around the house, but doll Reina disappeared into thin air.
Perhaps, it was a wrong decision to stay in the house. Did I make a mistake? I left the hut and called Reina. No answer came. I looked in the house’s vicinity but there were no traces of her presence.
I caught myself thinking that I’m not all that surprised about the matter of her disappearance. Somehow, after waking up in that labyrinth all my classmates do is vanish every now and then.
Where to go? I initially thought about returning to the village, but caves were closer, so perhaps I could explore early today. No one was ever found after disappearing so I decided to report Reina’s case later when I return. It shouldn’t affect things much, or so I thought.
I only visited caves once, I knew not what was possible there, but perhaps what I would find in those caves might help Reina wherever she is now. After some time, I reached my destination. The gloomy caves were promising me new discoveries, feeling inviting so unlike their distant neighbors that instilled oppression.
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I walked inside. Once again I found myself in a room from which many a tunnel took their origin. This place seemed different compared to the last time I was here. Does it only change during the time no one is in the cave, or is it evolving even right now, with me inside?
I took a random tunnel and continued on my way, suppressing a yawn. Perhaps, coming to the settlement to have some sleep wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Could I sleep in the tunnel? Idea seemed nice, but it might be rather dangerous and after what happened with shark Jedediah I didn’t have much confidence.
Finally I reached the end of a passageway I took. It ended up in a circular cave with a counter opposite of me. Beside the counter was a door with a massive lock on it. But it was not the door that had my attention, I couldn’t take away my eyes from the person manning the counter. Witch Rita. What was she doing here? I haven’t seen her since my escape from the mosaics’ town.
I approached her slowly, ready to spring into action, if the situation requires it. She didn’t seem to mind my cautiousness, “Hello, I’m Kaili. I was allowed to provide a challenge and let you leave through that door,” she pointed at the door beside her. “I noticed a card in your pocket and thought that you might appreciate having someone familiar around, but perhaps it isn’t the case after all.”
She waited for a moment and as I wasn’t in a hurry to speak, she continued, “There’s no need to be so scared of me. I don’t bite. Usually. Just like you, I once was forced into an event that changed my life. At the very least, you have my sympathy. You look exhausted. Is it that bad out there?”
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I decided that perhaps trying to force my way out of this room wasn’t necessary. Maybe this time the situation could be solved with just a conversation.
“I awoke to something invisible prowling around, so yes this night wasn’t the best,” I answered.
Kaili scrunched her brow and stared at me in silence for a few heartbeats to pass. “You know,” she started with slight indecision, “While waiting for someone to come, I was thinking about a hard but satisfying challenge to give. But all the glory can wait until I say so. Here,” a bed appeared out of thin air next to me, “Take a nap. I’ll wait for as long as needed.”
Was it a trap?
“Is it a part of the challenge?” I said with a bit of doubt.
“Yes,” she nodded with a serious expression, “This challenge is called sleep your way to victory. No good adventure can come out of the lack of sleep. Take your time.”
Normally, I would reject her offer but the last few days took their toll on me. I flopped onto the bed. That Kaili seemed to be a good person.
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8 265Daiyu's Ascent
The well-learned, sweet, and innocent Tang Daiyu's world crumbles around her when her family's reputation falls. Her father, a disgraced official, and her mother are both executed by Emperor Jianyuan of Chang. She is left struggling to care for her toddler brother, Baobao. Then, two eunuchs from the palace come to visit. Tang Daiyu is forced to watch as her brother is wrenched from her. She is taken to the Imperial Palace and made into a maid serving Princess Ling of Chang. Tang Daiyu works her way up the ranks, and she is noticed by Prince Han, Liu Jin. As she and Prince Han get to know each other, outside forces threaten to tear them apart. When Chang is threatened with war, Tang Daiyu volunteers for an intermarriage with the southern kingdom of Heping. Tang Daiyu's past has made her stronger than she ever thought possible. She leaves the Imperial Palace and Chang. In Heping, she marries one of the princes and later become Empress of Heping. But when pieces of the truth regarding her parents' executions leak, she realizes that no one can be trusted. Except herself... an old friend, and a few exiles. With the help of Chang exiles and a master of martial arts, Tang Daiyu begins her rise from the ashes of her past. Her plan? Soar above those who made her into a pawn and take them down, sparing no one. ***Author's Note: This is an alternate version of China replacing the Western and Eastern Jin Dynasties. The Weiyang Palace in Chang'an and the Southern and Northern palaces in Luoyang are real, and I have tried to keep the various halls and their purposes historically accurate. The Nanning Palace and Lihua Palace don't exist in real life.*** *Daiyu's Ascent is a wuxia novel.* *Is not a fanfic* © All rights reserved
8 172Eusocial
There's a reason people made the word improbable. Just because something would never happen based on common sense or reason, doesn't mean it can't happen. For example, a soul maintaining their memories through the River of the afterlife, a stream of ethereal energies that remove and store memories from the recently departed only to return when they die again. Another example, a soul by it's sheer will maintaining awareness during the process of a new body's development; nearly infintesimile chances of happening, but there is still a chance. Hi, you can call me Esseu (S U) and I managed to do both of those nearly impossible things back to back. My reward for such a feat? I was turned into a glorified bee keeper. [Updates thursday every 2 weeks] ( I do not claim ownership of the image of the Cover, it is under public domain)
8 132Ashen Skies
Father. Allfather. He who was crowned twice. It has been ages since you have ascended. Since you were crowned with godhood for a second time. Since you have left an empire for us to dwell in, to defend. I yearn for an answer; why have you forsaken us! With you gone, your people have grown weak, complacent, and proud. Proud of who they are, proud of their blood. That pride blinds their eyes and clouds their minds. They are fools, for they have forgotten the ways of the past. They have forgotten the fears of old. The one you had to bind until the end of the time. They have forgotten the dark beast with red jewels for eyes. The Wargr gnaws the walls of his cage even now as I write. Itching for the taste of blood. I ask for forgiveness, for until a while ago I too was one of them. I thought I saved your children from the foretold doom. I now realize the hordes of foes we buried were just like us. No fearsome beasts, no harbingers of doom. Mortals of different flesh, different kind. But I am awakened from that dream now. I see it. Every time I close my eyes, I see it. The cold descends as the Dark walks the land, And the crimson stars shine beneath, as the ashen storm claims the realm. I hear the beast roar as the chains of Rukh crack, Only then I know. Only then I realize. That it’s the end. Descend to earth one more time. Save the puny souls that are us. If not, if you let my dreams come true; then will all die under an ashen sky. Leol, a son of Vaella
8 118The Unexpected Sister
"What kind of mother are you? You make all your children miserable to the point of no recovery!" Klaus shouted. Esther grinned."Not all of my children." She laughed uncomfortably. All of the Mikaelson children looked at each other confused. "What do you mean not all of us?" Elijah asked. She smiled at them all. "Oh my sweet children. Did you think that you were it?"
8 86Fierrochase One Shots
Just Magnus and Alex bein cuties and sometimes being sad.Credit to @turnawaynow on instagram I love them so much
8 205