《Acacia Chronicle》Side Story: Affairs in an Early Afternoon Window, Part I
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Early afternoon in the Upper City of the Holy See of Arcadia, just after school…
Under the warm glow of the sun up high at the city square, fancy restaurants and cafés were open and ready for the lunch hour for the crowds of people, noblemen and merchants and artisans alike, all prepared and able to pay good coin for a hearty meal and a strong drink to steel themselves for the remainder of the day.
On their way there, along the suburban streets of a housing district still slightly bathed in freshly fallen morning snow, Isha Ayan walked alongside her friends from school, Ari and Ellie, quietly admiring her surroundings amidst idle conversation. Talking about school, about the other girls, and the boys. The café they were going to was newly-opened and was said to be very popular, that served some manner of fusion cuisine said to be inspired by various cultures across the Empire of Arcadia. Ari had been gushing non-stop about it ever since morning prayers, and the excitement had rubbed off on her as well.
In a way, life here was like a dream. Months had already passed like days since her coming to the Holy See to live with her godmother and aunt, the Archon known as the Eye of Elicia, as the sole survivor of the Wild Elf caravan of Clan Ayan. Life was no longer on the move on long snowy roads day by day, but classes, prayers, and more classes, and weekends with her adopted godmother and aunts. Reading and writing had once been unfamiliar, but she was slowly getting used to it. And day by day, she was also slowly growing used to the feel of her Convent School uniform, be it the blazer or tight-fitting blouse and skirt, or the thigh-high black cotton socks and brown shoes. Even the red tie on her neck now felt far less constricting, and a lot more welcome. At least, after realising the breathing room afforded to her when she had learned to tug it down and away from her neck, letting it hang slightly ajar from around her collar. Just like Ari’s.
Her mother would have disapproved, surely. It was uncouth, possibly a little un-ladylike as her godmother liked to say so very much, but nobody in Saint Lyra’s seemed to mind. Perhaps it was her godmother’s influence at work, but the devatas and her schoolmates accepted her for who she was, with open arms. Even her true form, for her friends had seen her transform before in the past, as did most of Saint Lyra’s when she had leapt out to save a schoolmate falling from a tree in the schoolyard on her first day, bearing and absorbing his pain with her true form born of holy blood. And they cherished her for it too, touting her as a living sign of Elicia’s divine favour upon the faithful.
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It felt, in some twisted way, like her old life never existed. Now, she was living that life her mother had always dreamed and mused about that lay behind the walls of Elicia’s Law, of what could be and yet would never be. The goats and caravans, and everything else that she once held dear, all like a dream from a past life. But she knew better. Mom and dad were dead. Her friends, her family, her uncles and aunts. Everyone she had ever loved. It kept her up at night when everyone else was asleep, with tears in her blue eyes.
But all that was for the night, perhaps best left alone in darkness and dreams. In the light, in the present, living every day with a smile was the only way she knew to honour the memory her parents and her Clan. It was what they wanted for her. The aberration of holy blood that was now her true form, born from the very magic brought forth by her mother and Clan’s sacrifice that had allowed the Ecclesiarch to save her life, was an undying testament to this shared desire solely for her, and her alone.
“Lana… Lana…”
Momentarily, veering away from the ongoing chatter with her friends and her thoughts, Isha shot a glance towards the side of the pavement, at an elven man with brown hair and blue eyes just like hers, dressed in silken finery worthy of a noble’s servant. Though even then, that finery appeared roughed up and torn, his bruised face faring little better. He lay huddled by the wall of a large terrace house, those blue eyes of his seemingly lost in bloody delirium, tears streaking down his already tear-stained cheeks while the three schoolgirls drew close.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Isha stopped dead in her tracks. Ari and Ellie looked on behind her, watching in horror. The servant was bleeding out, and there was no one else around to help. This part of the housing district was quiet, with most either out for work or at home and busy with their lunch. There were no devatas or Lightsworn Guard nearby. Only herself. And she knew what she had to do. Even if it hurt, if only temporarily. It was what she did best, being what she was right now. Lunch would have to wait.
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“Ari, Ellie… go get the guards, while I...”
“Isha…” Ari said worriedly. “You’re going to help him with your special gift, right…?”
Isha smiled at both Ari and Ellie, as one half of herself let go of her mortal façade, shifting into her true form of holy blood in the shape of one half of an elven girl, her body swirling and ebbing and flowing in shades of red like freshly-spilled blood.
“Yeah!”
Three minutes later…
The holy blood of Isha Ayan worked its magic upon the wounded servant, transfusing itself into his body to mend and renew as she took his pain unto herself, gritting her teeth as she absorbed the feeling of an endless salvo of punches and kicks from all sides, letting it melt into her and fade into nothingness. No longer did he gasp in pain at an inch of his life, his breathing relaxing itself into slow and deep breaths. His clothes were still bloody and torn, but his bleeding wounds had been sealed.
“Lana…!”
“Um…” Isha said worriedly as she regained her footing, having shifted back into her mortal façade once more. “Excuse me…”
The servant was still in what she could only assume was a state of abject terror. Moving in close, once again, she knelt and reached out towards him, shaking him gently by his shoulders until he snapped out of his trance and turned towards her, the sight of her elvish ears lulling him into a calm serenity as he looked into her eyes blue like his own.
“Wait, where am I, and who are you…?”
“My name is Isha Ayan,” Isha answered innocently. “Um… you were bleeding, so I…”
The servant looked down upon his silken tunic, only to reel in shock at the lack of pain. He placed both hands upon his chest in disbelief, only to have his surprise further affirmed by his sense of touch.
“I’m no longer…”
“Yes. You’re okay now, don’t worry. My friends are on their way with the Lightsworn Guard, and…”
“No! If I’m alright, I can’t just lie around here! Lana, she…”
The servant placed his hands upon the pavement, pushing up against it as hard as he could to force himself back up upon his feet. Immediately, a sudden jolt of pain stemming from where his wounds were, quickly grounded him back upon the pavement.
“No! Lana…”
“Um… you can’t exert yourself like that,” Isha said, with a frown. “Your wounds are healed, but you still need to rest.”
“You don’t understand!” the servant shouted, as he reached desperately for Isha’s arms. “Lana… she’s still in there, and she…”
“Um…”
“Please! I’m begging you! Look, I don’t know how you healed my wounds, but you must definitely… be some kind of miracle worker! Please, you have to go in there, and save her… from Lady Priscilla…”
Isha’s gaze followed the servant’s finger as he feverishly pointed at the terrace house that lay behind the walls that he leaned upon. It was a big house, two storeys and curtained glass windows. From those windows, clear as diamond yet appearing fragile like ice, she spotted a presence who appeared to have been watching them for quite some time, from behind those curtains drawn close to each other like a veil of secrets. Their eyes met for the briefest of moments, only for whoever that was to quickly retreat into the sanctuary of their home.
“Please, Isha…! Before it’s too late… the guards, too slow…”
“Okay,” Isha answered, with an affirmative nod. “Wait here. I’ll go look for her!”
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Ephemeral Shards
Since the beginning of time, individuals have always wondered, ‘Is there any life out there, above the stars?’ Instead, they should be thinking, ‘Is there anything down there, beneath us?’ The Drow are unruly, excessively violent and cunning race when compared to their elvish surface cousins. They are one of the reigning established races within the Underworld. Yet there is always something bigger, slumbering away, buried within deep shadows, waiting to be awakened. Synthia, a young naive Drow has it all - talent as a thief, a position within a high-class crew and the ability to act as graceful as a noble. The Drow Empire is on the verge of collapse due to internal disputes. How do you save a race when they're very foundations are built on lies and deceit? How do you trust someone when odds are, they’ll stab you in the back. How do you survive the terrifying creatures of the Underworld, when you can’t even survive the creatures that live within your own mind? Cover Art belongs to the original artist.
8 209Transcontinental
Cover Illustrated by Jacob Laurens (his twitter is @jake_laurens, give him a follow) “To the world, we are brave. To our loved ones, we are fools. But what are we to ourselves?” These are the parting words of famed adventurer Schnell Douglas, a hero and an idol in the eyes of our young protagonist, Lune Grimheart. Choosing to give up his safe and peaceful lifestyle for the sake of exploring the world, he leaves with his long time childhood friend to see what it has to offer. What awaits our heroes as they begin a journey spanning a lifetime?
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Orennox is a wizard who has been around since the world was made. As technology progresses, magic tends to wane and Orennox adapts to the trends. Now called Oren Knox, he is mostly known as a gunfighter, a notoriously cheap gunfighter who will use magic to make one bullet do the work of many so he doesn't have to keep buying ammunition. His quest is to locate the last Earth Nodes, the last strongholds of magic, and harness their power with the goal of bringing back his trapped wife. In order to find these Earth Nodes, he must use the services of the female Diabolists (night witches) who can sense the magic from long distances. Only, Diabolists are extremely rare and there is a psychopathic killer out there who wants them all dead. After losing one Diabolist to fate, Oren must protect his new asset from those who would hunt her down and kill her so he can find enough magic to complete his quest. However, he is not the only wizard left looking for Diabolists, Diabolists have minds of their own, and, according to him, everyone Oren comes in contact with is a sidewinding, low down, scoundrel. No, I have not abandoned this story! I was hit hard by the economic downturn and high gas prices. I had to change careers and I am Just now starting to write again. Chapters coming.
8 135In your hands (vkook)
داستان ما دربارهی جئون جانگکوک پسری پاک و مظلوم و کیم تهیونگ رییس بزرگترین باند مافیای سئول که از قضا عاشق و دلباخته ی جئون جانگکوک داستان ماست. تهیونگ بعد از اعتراف به جانگکوک به عنوان دوست پسر رسمیش شناخته میشه ولی.........چی میشه اگه جانگکوک شغل واقعیه تهیونگ رو بفهمه و همه چی از هم بپاشه و جانگکوک دیگه تهیونگ رو نخواد؟؟؟؟؟؟؟ به نظرتون تهیونگ دست برمیداره؟؟؟معلومه که نه......کیم تهیونگ هیچوقت چیزی که ماله خودشه رو از دست نمیده.جانگکوک سعی میکنه خودش رو نجات بده ولی اگه فقط خودش بود این قضیه امکان داشت.ولی الان که پای یه بچه وسطه چی؟؟؟؟؟؟درسته ....... بچه ی تهیونگ و جانگکوک • نام فیک : in your hands • ژانر : امپرگ ، مافیایی ، انگست ، اسمات • نویسنده : melina• روز های اپ : یکشنبه ها / چهارشنبه ها•کاپل : دوورژن kookv و vkook
8 91Winter Fire [ Book 1 ] ✔
On the second jump, Claire's bad leg gave way and she felt herself tumbling forward. A cry of surprise escaped her and Claire was certain she was about to topple off the side of the train. Alek, however, moved quickly, catching her mid-fall and keeping her upright, and alive. Claire lifted her eyes to meet his which were wide with alarm. The expression was fleeting, lasting for only a moment before it was replaced by a frown. "You could have fallen," he said pointedly."I know," Claire breathed, finding her thoughts drifting to the strong arm wrapped around her waist. A flush rose to her cheeks and she was grateful for the biting wind that masked her reaction. "Thank you.""You need to be more careful," he continued, his eyes locked on hers, bright and haunting in the silver glow of the moon overhead."I will," Claire assured him, her heart skipping in her chest. "I promise."------1st Place in the Chaos Awards2nd Place in the Mystic Awards2nd Place in the Stella Luna Awards2nd Place in the Talent Awards 2018Highest Ranking #1 In SteampunkFound on the official Wattpad Fantasy account featured reading list "Wintery Worlds"
8 163Yungi Oneshots
mainly Yungi centric oneshots. angsty, fluffy, smutty 😏😏 enjoy. if anyone doesn't like the way I write too bad. You can request stuff and I'll try to do it.
8 195