《Re:Direction The Peak (Cultivation Tale)》CH. 328
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In the end, they could not agree on a single candidate. They decided to cut the fruit in two and each would be allowed to pick five. Ame did not bother too much and settled on taking the five who had reached the highest realms of cultivation.
As for Jin, he planned to take some more time to make a decision.
He scrapped the papers containing the information of those he deemed potential spies and left with the others after bidding Ame a good evening. He went straight to his high-end restaurant and was welcomed by the beautiful manager Xie Bi. Jin approved of the food here. That was mainly the reason why he gave this woman the role of overseer of all his restaurants.
He was led to an isolated table with stunning view of the outside.
As he watched the gigantic leaves bigger than houses fluttering above and under, he could not help but smile. This was a wonderful scenery. He might someday be so used to it that he would no longer pay attention to it but, right now, he enjoyed it.
It was peaceful.
He sighed. How wonderful would it be if it could remain peaceful like that forever? Having wealth and standing while only needing to worry about who to select to work under him... Unfortunately, he was very much aware that his life was still in the palm of death. He had to work diligently to escape it.
So, he turned his gaze back to the papers.
Only late in the night did he leave. He made up his mind and selected five people. They were not the strongest, far from it. They were not the weakest either. They were those who seemed to deserve the position instead of those who had the qualifications for it.
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An old man aged sixty-two who served as a soldier since he was seventeen.
Another of fifty-six who lost a leg and an eye and had been a soldier for thirty years and some.
A woman of forty who remained as a city guard for the past twenty years.
A young man of twenty-four who came all the way from the cold south harboring high hopes.
And finally, a woman who had a quarter of her face burnt.
Those were the five people that he deemed the worthiest of becoming royal guards for they devoted their lives and bodies to this country. As for their abilities? It did not matter. He could give them pills if he wanted to nurture them. He did not obviously. The reality was just that: he needed to select five people that would not be threats. As such, he might as well reward five people who seemed worthy of it.
Of course, he picked those five in particular for some specific reasons.
An old soldier that survived close to fifty years on the battlefield? That was someone who knew how to survive and dodge death. A man of experience who knew when to retreat and save his skin. The other man was very similar except that he seemed to be someone willing to sacrifice himself for others on top of that. Both could be used and much could be learnt from their experience. They stayed as soldiers in this very country for so many years after all.
The city guard would be useful whenever they needed something here in the capital. She probably knew about every nook and cranny around, maybe even the darker ones. Jin hoped so at least...
The young one that came from the cold south? He was someone who knew the present geography of the land on that path. It was very likely that they would be sent here and there to do their duties. Having someone with some recent knowledge of the situation would be useful. And he seemed like a diligent man when they met. That man gave him quite the impression compared to others since he was the only one wearing furs over the south soldier's outfit.
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As for the last one... It was because she directly asked for a spar when she entered the tent. Jin fought with her, both of them not using any spiritual energy and he found her abilities with the sword rather good. She seemed even slightly better than Ame. He could not help but pick her as she simply stood out from all the others. Of course, she would have her own uses as her resume was quite interesting...
All in all, things were settled.
The next morning, surprising all the candidates, Ame and Jin had the names of the candidates that they picked plastered at the front of the fair. All the candidates who planned to try their luck but waited for nothing the previous day were eager this morning. They could not help but deflate as they saw that the opportunity no longer existed.
As for the dozen that got in, they had mixed reactions.
The five selected by Ame were smiling arrogantly and with confidence.
The five selected by Jin were crying tears of joy and jumping out of excitement.
After they reported to the new building granted to the 11th Corps and servants gave them the golden battle robes of the royal guards, they met Ame and Jin again.
From there, they would have to train together for the next half a year in order to reach the standards of the newly created Corps. Under the King's orders, their first mission would only be at that time.
Ame and Jin relegated the duty of teaching the newcomers to the newcomers themselves. The five stronger ones would teach the weaker ones. They would practice on their own and in their own ways. They did not want to delay their growth for others. Especially people they would never trust or befriend in the first place.
What's more, Jin had some things to settle.
He could finally meet Sarina again now that his situation was stable enough.
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Unlucky in Love
Queensguard, avid explorer, self-proclaimed comedian and almost-genius Sir Dangou Sheen would have lived a worry-free and satisfying life, if he wasn't so unlucky in love. Being single all his life, Dangou thought it wise to confess to his beautiful-beyond-words Queen, but was left unanswered. This is his story after that "rejection", as he and his sword Osiro's journey to find a solution to his lifetime of dry spells once and for all turns into an extraodinary tale of violence, betrayal, love and misfortune.
8 94Mark of the Mountain [formally : the masked queen (drottingr)]
Lyssia - the masked Drottine of Ilvana - has to discover the strength of her own voice and uncover the dark secrets that threaten to undermine the safety of her people while maintaining her own secret, a struggle that may force her to choose between her kingdom and her life. * * * * * * * * * * Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge! * * * * * * * * * * Armed with an uncontrollable talent for premonition and a dangerous secret that could cost her her life, Lyssia - the masked Drottine of Ilvana - has to learn to survive in a land designed to weed out the weak. Lyssia always thought her survival at court depended upon her identity as the greatest pretender of all. But when Magnor - the newly crowned King of Dunival - arrives unannounced and threatens the tenuous peace between their two kingdoms, Lyssia soon realizes that he carries secrets even more dangerous than her own. As Lyssia struggles to discover the true intentions behind Magnor's visit, she is faced with an impossible choice: Sacrifice her secret - her freedom - her life to save a dying land... or allow Ilvana to be overcome by what lies hidden in the shadows. Can Lyssia find the strength to stand and fight for her people, or will the lies she has hidden behind her entire life prove too strong to be overcome? * * * * * * * * * * A kongdomr of warriors, though rusted their swords A kongdomr of voices, raised in hopeful song A kongdomr of drakuns, forsaken, forgotten A kongdomr of masks, neither young nor old A kongdomr of faces, expectantly raised To this new chance, a new age A new Drottingr Ilvana of legend Rise, Warriors, Rise * * * * * * * * * * CAST, DEFENITIONS, PLAYLIST CAST Ilvanian (the three-pointed mountain) Lyssia (Lys) - Drottine of Ilvana, heir, present day 22YO Dizean - Kongr of Ilvana, Lyssia's father Azerian (Az) - Lyssia's maternal cousin, present day 22YO Carryn - Lyssia maternal aunt, Azerian's mother Roakev (Ro) - Lyssia's paternal cousin, present day 24YO Eindre - Lyssia's paternal uncle, Roakev's father and Drengr Nimeah - Eindre's wife, Roakev's mother Seaka - old Lach and Lyssia's former caretaker Bjarke - Master Skald, employed the Kongr of Ilvana Aturnel (the guardian) - highest mountain point on Ilvania-Listoria border Thivness (the wildness) – dangerous, impassable cliff between eastern forest and sea Vatn – Lesser mountain named after the lake found at its feet Arvid – Lyssia’s Dubkir horse, named after her great grandfather Sikurd – Roakev’s Dubkir horse, named after an old hero from a Lay Isi - girl Lyssia meets on road to Steiner Mart Diyana - Lyssia's songbird, also Rilken's wife Ofrid - Lyssia's maternal cousin, close to Roakev's age Reeza - Lyssia's older maternal cousin, has a oat named OdilHoney - good natured mare rode by Lyssia Hanne – village representative’s niece celebrating her wedding Ardbon - Karl involved in Steiner Mart fight Liefer - Karl involved in Steiner Mart fight, his son’s name is Nurik Rilken - the last Drakun Kongr of Ilvana Steiner Mart - Eda-Yute Mart held every year in Steiner Field, also called the crossroads Gavin Brinson – young western Jarl, not allied with Halvor, his family crest is a raven Sidne – Gavin’s wife, very pregnant and very helpful Halvor - outspoken jarl from western stead Sorev – Halvor’s son, family crest is a bear in mid-maul, one of eight Jarlsons present, but the only one hailing from the west Fulrik – sonless western Jarl allied with Halvor Calvin – one of the Jarlsons atttending the peacemeet, the oldest and tallest of the lot Angar – eastern Jarl in possession of the Dubkir herd, family crest is a shield painted with bright green and yellow stripes Dubkir heir – Angar’s son…when will Lyssia learn his name? Ingar – former Kongr of Ilvana and Lyssia’s grandfather Scyftan River – the unofficial divide between eastern and western Ilvana Listorian (the five-pointed flower) Andev - Kongr of Listoria Igone (of the green thumb) - Andev's wife, Drottingr of Listoria Thisska - Listorian Drakun, bonded to Igone Linea - Drottine of Listoria, Murel's twin, heir, present day 20YO Murel - Drottine of Listoria, Linea's twin, heir, present day 20YO Ansev - Kongre of Listoria, twin's younger brother Sundric - Kongre of Listoria, twin's younger brother Giall - Jarl that travels to Ilvana with royal party Dunival (the spinning dustdevil) Magnor - recently crowned Kongr of Dunival, present day 25YO Tirne - Kongre-Slad of Dunival, younger son of Rijek, present day 22YO V???? - Magnor’s self-proclaimed “second”…another name Lyssia can’t seem to learn! Deceased Erina - Lyssia's mother, deceased Rijek – former Kongr of Dunival, deceased Anitra – former Drottingr of Dunival, Magnor and Tirne’s mother, deceased The Five Kongdomren - Ilvana, Dunival, Listoria, Sinnet, Nukrevn Aonta...Definition and Cast to be discovered DEFINITIONS Kongr/Kongre - King/Prince Drottingr/Drottine - Queen/Princess Kongdomr (Kongdomren) - Kingdom (Kingdoms) Jarl/Karl - landowner/non-landowner, may be beholden one particular Jarl Lach – healer Fyr/Slad - heir/none Middig/Dreg - master/apprentice Skald - historian and musician Drengr – champion Drakuns - Dragons, the Ancient Ones Bjurn – bear Elke(Elken) – gigantic, majestic elk, native to Ilvana Ban-maudr – “executioner thorns”, found in the eastern forest, very painful and hard to remove Yute - Thanks yearly celebration between cold and growing seasons Urd/Eda/Aon(-Yute) - past/present/future, two weeks each Lay - Ilvanian historical songs Laikari - Listorian historical plays Ridineig - fast-paced dancing tune Drigneig – type of song, a dirge, “opposite” of ridineig Lur - long trumpet like instrument Bowed lyra – larger version of hand lyra, played with a bowed stick Jorki – similar to a pan flute, jokingly called “child’s flute” Drakuns - Dragons, the Ancient Ones Diyana - songbird Wulv – wolf, native to Dunival Wulvken – umm…we’re still not sure Volvstot/wulvstot – “witchbrew/wolfbrew”, dark beer that Magnor brings from Dunival Fovk - fox Vas Morginnen - Good Morning Vas Heill - Good Health Vas Daginnen – Good Day Adhuil - prosperous, prosperity Ami - genderless term of endearment Dunga - insulting way of saying someone is stupid Saedas - sweetness, another way of saying happinessSaedhirte- sweetheart Hviss - an (improper) oath Slegrl – sly Standa – stop An-rivic – be still! Brudpar – “bridal pair”, bride and groom Dubkir – famous Ilvanian horses, half-wild and bred for the hunt * * * * * * * * * * Playlists: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcaiTcdQkK6nXrjYq29srJ7GMsebdd-Sp https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcaiTcdQkK6msFQiYhbaYhZ0VqFJ0mROi Lyssia character portrait by @soretoothproductions!
8 355Author's Rant
Just a disclaimer, this is not and never will be a story. I just, noticed I have a bad habit of wanting to rant in my author's notes, and have decided that, instead of accidentally doubling the length of each chapter with the author's note alone, I will shove those long-ass rants here. It might contain spoilers for my stories, as I usually wind up ranting about different parts I'm writing. So, if you actually enjoy my rants...well, firstly, what is wrong with you? Secondly, welcome! Time to figure out what tags to stick on this. Also, as of the second chapter, I have decided to shove some of my story ideas here. So if you enjoy half-baked, unfinished stories, then I got those too. I think that adds that short story tag?
8 132Planet B-17: The Beginnings
A fantasy space opera in multidimensional reality.Highest rankings so far: #7 in sci-fi#6 in fantasy
8 202The Nocturne Society
For the first time on Royal Road The Nocturne Society is a series of urban horror stories centered around the remains of a dissolved secret society called … you guessed it … The Nocturne Society. Thirty years ago all monsters vanished and nobody knows why. The secret society dedicated to research and containment of these supernatural threats slowly fell apart and the dark age where dangerous things unknown to men slowly became legend. Finally nobody believed in the existence of such otherworldly threats anymore. But when thirty years later a young woman is killed in Hamburg and a tentacled monster seems to be the prime suspect an aging operative is forced out of retirement and together with the tech-savvy boyfriend of the victim he must return to the shadows to hunt the monster the world does no longer believe in. The Nocturne Society contains six novels available on Amazon, with another one in pre-sale. The Nocturne Society Series There are No Monsters Wormking Leviathan Let them burn Worst Case Scenarios The Secret Friend Mother (pre-sale)
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A sudden change on Alexa's destiny made her life feels like a roller-coaster. In just a blink of an eye, her destiny has changed drastically and didn't went according to her plans. She began questioning herself and her existence. What am I even doing?" Her fate was to die and to be transported inside the anime called 'Naruto'. Will she let herself to be called 'Destiny Girl'? Or she'll alter the plot and save the Shinobi world together with the main characters?[A/N: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO! CREDITS TO THE RIGHTFUL AUTHOR/CREATOR!! BANZAI!]
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