《A Tale of Two: ¡ǝɔuǝɔouuI : Innocence?》Chapter 6: What’s A Tournament
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Friedrick finally returned to the mansion for the day after having completed at least 8 daggers and having butchered one Rondel. After giving up on that for the day and decided to melt it down tomorrow and reattempting the creation of a Rondel. As he walked around the mansion Friedrick saw a strange look on John’s face. What is going on Friedrick thought to himself. Friedrick walked up to where John and Master were standing.Then asked the only thing he could, “Um, what is going on? I was just about to ask you, Master for assistance tomorrow with creating my first Rondel. I could not get the shaping to come out right. However, John has a weird look on his face now. So I guess I will have to ask for that afterward.” Friedrick failing to control his thoughts as per usual Friedrick never did have a brain to mouth filter so he would just usually do one-word answers or just silently physical moves.
Master could not help but laugh, “Wow, Friedrick okay well if you remember earlier I sent my friend Daniel a correspondence and just got a response a while ago. Now it is not the time for too much speaking other than to tell you both this; 1st how many daggers did you make Friedrick?”
“8,” Friedrick simply stated.
“Okay, now that means one month for daggers yes, yes. That will be perfect for in 8 months you both will have a match and then we will head to Dover. Now let’s skip afternoon training. Wait let me rephrase NO training, or practice today. NO sparing, or exchanging forms, sharing lessons, or some other name either just rest and relax okay.” Master stated. “Tomorrow Friedrick I will assist you with the Rondel on that and the other item I want you to create. Also, John gets three knives and do the morning trapping and hunt some extra game. We will be drying meats for the trip.”
The next morning Master leads Friedrick back to the smithy and began forging. John waited to leave after Friedrick and Master left. Even though he could cheat he decided not to he went ahead and began the normal collecting. However he did get all the normal amounts since he could, after all, he was 9 and 5ft tall already and 108lbs already and not a bit of it was fat in the last 4 years. He went from ripped and firm to extremely toned and stronger than ever before he could only lift two Friedricks now he could easily lift 5 Friedricks with ease. So he went ahead and did the usual stuff after all John liked routine anyways it centered himself. Which he would use to strengthen himself as he would go through all the forms that Master showed him. An hour into the trapping and hunting he had already gathered all the sticks and branches. He even already filled half the bag with vegetables and fruits, however strangely he had not seen any herbs or mushrooms.
As John got to the first trap John began to slow down drastically. As he heard the noises but did not like the sounds that were made as if it was bigger than normal. That was not a smaller hog no instead it was medium to large hog however for some reason it was not trying to break free, instead, it seemed to be busy digging at the ground. So John decided to set his bag down and began to create a tool as Master had said the only difference between a tool and a weapon was the intent.
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John kept thinking to himself, “A tournament I wonder what that was going to be like? I wonder how many people would be there?” as John kept this up he was creating a spear to deal with the hog and a sling to drag Ms. Piggy along back to the house. He kept this inner dialog going wondering what the tournament would require. “I hope I don’t have to ride a horse the poor animals barely liked him and they always brought him a smaller one that could barely hold him up since he was 4.5 ponies hated him and barely carry him after all, most 500lb ponies were only able to safely carry at most 100 lbs but those were mainly used for adult females to learn or use not needed for children. John would not want to hurt any animal just because someone else was too dumb to ask or listen.
John could not stand the fact of abuse due to negligence. Just as he finished breaking off a rock blade for his spear he sharpened the stone for a second then split the branch for his spear. Then insert the stone head after which he wrapped the branch with vines to hold the head in place. After completing the spear and getting to a point in his inner dialog and thrust the spear directly into the hog’s arteries killing the animal in one quick motion. At the same time, his inner monolog hit the point of, “No matter how many or how good they are I will show them I can and will hold my own if not exceed them.”
John got Ms. Piggy out of the trap and on the sling and headed to check out what the hog was scuffing the ground. As John got closer he smelled a very earthy, wood-like the scent at the exposed root. John began pulling out the exposed root however as he got the root exposed, he then got a large musk blast in his face it was slightly garlicky with a deep musky aroma. It's very earthy, pungent and deliciously funky. John could not help but be amazed he just found 2 new or unknown herbs. He could not help but be excited to show this to the Master. John keep up his normal collections taking up all morning he collected a total of 3 hogs and 1 deer and then no fruit and 6lbs of wild vegetables 2 of the earthy wood roots and found several more plants of which he checked the roots to make sure they were the same and yes it was the same as the hog had dug up he did not find any more of the clumps of the musky, garlic stuff. Though he found a very rare flower that John’s mother loved according to his father, John not knowing the name of it he went ahead and plucked the flower a beautiful yellow ball-shaped little blossoms. He picked two of the flower stems and brought it all back to the mansion.
Ginseng, truffles, Silphium all three unknown items were identified by Master. John of course impressed with Master’s knowledge but little did John know. Master was shocked by the items John had found that morning. Though he happily took the two root items from John when he asked about the flower and was denied. He did not try to take the Silphium so he just asked John where he found them. Master headed out after talking to John and went looking for the flowers and more Ginseng if he could get enough he would be able to make his elixir. The elixir would be perfect for John too.
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MThe master goes into the woods in the direction that John had told him. Since over three years ago Master had stopped going with the boys in the mornings. To place traps so he was unaware of where either of the boys placed their traps anymore. So Master has no clue how far he had to go before he would come across anything that hinted at the traps. Master finally came across the first signs of the first trap and it was surrounded by ginseng at least 12 plants with a small one right in the middle of the trap. “Silly boy hogs don’t care too much for ginseng. However there might be truffles nearby too,” Master said to nobody. He smiled at the mass quantity of the plants then plants themselves had many little red berries, and bright green leaves in a set of 5 leaves wide and rounded. then began to look for the older one versus the quant younglings with only one stem of usually 3 leaves. So Master looked through the plants for mature plants with the said 5 leaf sets and once he did. He grabbed at the ground with both hands as he began digging at the oldest looking ginseng plants. Master kept digging until he exposed the roots once exposed he exclaimed happily; “Holy Jesus and Odin’s beard, a 100 year, a 70 year, and a 660-year-oldginseng. This alone would be enough, now with that ,I hope I can find some Ganoderma Coffee.” Master filled in the hole and began looking around for what basically were steps up the sides of trees. Not seeing any nearby so Master got up and began walking looking back and forth from tree to tree till finally thirty minutes later. Again Master exclaimed, “Odin’s Beard twenty.” Master not being greedy knocked off only the oldest (the largest) thankfully it was in the harvest time as short as it was only 30 days normally that wasn’t a problem but since he lost his blessing now he had to watch this too.
After picking all these items Master still had Silphium to get and see if he could find one more item after that as he went along though he spread the berries except two from the ginseng and spores on the mossy (north) side of trees after headed back toward where John told him he found the silphium flowers. He did find quite a few of the rare flowers after careful harvesting he then had to look for the final ingredient hops which are not very rare actually quite plentiful. As he continued looking for all the needed ingredients he would continue to spread the seed of anything he harvested or spores as he walked back toward the mansion too.
After gathering all the ingredients and getting back to the mansion, he began the drying process for all the plants that need to be dried be most ingredients required to be laid out carefully like silphium, ginseng and 8 of the Ganoderma Coffees to let them dry on the back of the large boulder. Then Master began building a wood-burning stove out of stones and clay with four openings and a large pot indentation in the middle for pot. This design was to focus most of the heat on the pot but allow cooking to go on around the pot without being out of reach of the pot at any time. Afterall a pot that’s watched never boils but a pot that is not boiling over.
After getting the stove setup Master thought to himself now I more drying room plus what other elixirs or oh well we are near that area maybe That serum is possible too. “Hmm, well let’s just go have a look.” Master smiling begins to hum himself a simple tune turns and strolling returns to the woods.
After about an hour looking for birch trees, Master found quite an extensive amount of the trees than began watching for white-spotted red mushrooms that are known as fly agaric. After just a couple of moments moving dead leave Master found quite a few afterall birch trees and flying agaric help each other grow. Per usual Master grabs only the older ones and spreads the spores near the birch trees collecting several. “Hmm. Boy have I gotten lucky now just the last ingredient Henbane I know this grows almost as wild as hops so it shouldn’t be too hard just need to go a bit deeper,” Master said out loud to himself.
Master then begins looking for Henbane a known poisonous plant that stinks of rotting human flesh and just the smell alone if strong enough can make a person dizzy. The pale yellow, bell-shaped flowers with purple veins are a distinct feature of this species. The plants grow to around 3ft tall it’s hairy leaves are sticky to the touch.
After a couple of months, Master had allowed everything to dry properly. Master the urge to go back into the woods and get three more sets of ingredients and let them dry too. However his ingredients required several different means for properly sun-drying Master almost lost his first set of Silphium since he did not hang it from a twine by its stem, the fly agaric actually was the weirdest wanting to be dried in a wooden box. The Henbane was fairly straight forward just wanting the same thing as the silphium but needing the oils meant flipping them to keep the oils in the flowers. The Ginseng and Ganoderma Coffees were exceptionally easy just lay them out and flip them once a week.
Master began to brew his first Elixir since he was only wanting to just extend life he just used the youngest ginseng he found between the two trips into the woods. Keeping the oldest 125year old ginseng for a tool for later. As it didn’t matter for extending life or expelling impurities the age as long as you are still with a beating heart. It would extend it by a minimum of the ginseng age. At least that’s all Master knew from what Nicolas Flamel told him before he went into hiding. Back in March 1418, Master hoped to this day that he is still fine. His friend Daniel, along with Nicolas and himself were on the front lines during “The Hundred Year War” which was unintentionally also “The Hundred-Year suppression” of werebeast due to Parasite Vampires. All three of them went from territory to territory throughout France combatting both Vampire and werebeasts. During this time Master learned about the art of Alchemy and Nicolas’s Elixir of Life.
Master begins his inserting the firewood and fills the pot till there is about 2 inches from the rim and inserts his pot which is as tall has the torso and puts it in his indentured Master then lights the fire. Master then grabs the youngest ginseng slicing it open down the major section of the roots and pulls out some of the leaves from his bag and drops both fresh leaves and the rootstocks into the pot. Giving the plant a few seconds he then pulls out a very old looking wooden ladle. This ladle was something he had made from a branch he found on his travels into the Norse peninsulas once he could meet up with his favorite crafter Regin. Of course at first, Regin wanted to kill him for the gull to ask him to make a soup spoon. Till Master told him what the wood was possibly from, then the fucker wanted to kill him for wanting to make the branch of Yggdrasil into a soup spoon. After a spell of cursing and dodging deadly blows and attempting to return such blows, Regin finally agreed to make it if Master would leave the rest of the large branch with Regin.
Master began stirring the pot with the ladle till the ginseng completely sank to the bottom then stirred it counterclockwise until the ginseng came back up about an inch from the bottom and stopped stirring. Master made sure that the ginseng did not touch the bottom and was not in the middle of the pot. Master let it go till it was a boil when the leaves began to wilt he removed the leaves. Then he added the Silphium into the pot as soon the pot began to boil Master added the soup stone he got from Nicolas. As soon as the stone touches the liquid, the level of the pot began to drop dramatically. Then Master added Ganoderma Coffee fungus, as soon as the fungi dissolved he then added the last ingredient, the hops in a cheesecloth bag and began to stir it in the bag around the pot and immediately went the opposite direction as soon as it hit the point of where the bag was inserted. At this point Master pulled the pot out of the stove he then began cooking dinner for himself and the boys if they so choose to join him.
Friedrick finally shows back up at the mansion after his fourth day out forging his tools. Friedrick was dead tired as he has been since he started this task being at the smith as soon as they opened and working till he ran out of material to make ingots then heading to the mine to get more and if there was enough time to continue he would head back to the smith and keep working till they close and head back to the mansion. Today however the smith was closing early to deal with other things so Friedrick was home before sundown. Since the smithy was closer to the docks than most places he was actually walking toward the back of the mansion directly and saw master finish cooking. “What are you doing Master? You know you don’t have to cook for yourself and what is that you built.” Friedrick asked sincerely.
“Ho ho ho, do not worry your little mind about stuff that you need not worry. I just so happened on some other things that I want to cook up and figured that you and John would enjoy a meal made by hand and so went ahead and cooked something up for all three of us.” Master laughingly started with a jovial attitude.
“Once you and John have gotten a share I will begin another stinky serum that should help out at least John.” Then master handed Friedrick a bowl and spoon then pulled out his Yggdrasil ladle that he used earlier to make the life elixir. And began serving food with that ladle to Friedrick. Friedrick thanked Master for his hospitality and stated simply that he go get John. If John was not otherwise occupied. Master smiled and said, “Thank you, Friedrick, for your courtesy though it is not needed if John is not occupied I am sure he will come back here shortly, at which point he can have the leftovers that in and of itself will teach him to keep an eye out.”
At that time John walked out of the servant's entrance into the kitchen with an apple in his mouth and a sandwich in one hand. Looking like he was having a difficult choice to make on how to consume a sandwich with an apple blocking. On one hand or his mouth, in this case, the Apple on the other a piece of art that is his tasty new sandwich. Master seeing this conundrum pointed at John and said to Friedrick, “see all you have to do is mention food and John in the same sentence and poof the mini giantess appears.”
Friedrick was doing the best he could to not laugh doing this his face turned three shades redder than normal. John is still oblivious trying to figure out what he needed to do finally took the apple out of his mouth. Without any form of noble manners begins eating the apple slowly licking and nibbling at the skin until finally breaks through the skin. At which point he begins licking away at the escaping juices he keeps peeling away at the skin and licking away at the juices. He keeps holding the stem of the apple as if it was the tip. Going from the bottom up the apple licking and nibbling all the way up to the stem and somehow trims away leaving behind only the core at which point he just tosses the core and stems unceremoniously away.
Master and Friedrick seeing John just stand there in complete awe and slightly aroused at how he went about eating the apple begin adjusting themselves and coughing simultaneously. Making John finally notice that he had company. John without any shame or maybe just ignorance exclaims; “Hey Master, Friedrick, I was looking for you both. Unfortunately, I forgot what it was I was looking for you two and stopped in the kitchen for a bite to eat.” John still holding the sandwich walks up to Friedrick with a frown developing on his face, “Friedrick are you okay? your face is so red.”
Friedrick becoming slightly redder, pushes John and points toward the stove and says with his face downward in embarrassment, “M-m-m-aster, cooked for us.” If it was physically possible steam would have erupted from his ears at this point.
John finally looked over to the stove where the Master made a stew using wild vegetables and some kind of wild animal. “Oh wow, I was hungry thanks, Master.” Master as dignified as always, smiles to John and hands him a mixing bowl that had the rest of the stew that Master cooked.
Master smiled and simply asked, “What took you so long? I have had this ready for at least thirty minutes.” Master was thinking to himself about time. I can finally have them test it and bottle the rest. Master walked into the kitchen, grabbed a medium pot. He then put water into the pot and inserted the stove. Added wood into the stove then lit the fire to begin boiling the water. Master then cleans off the ladle from the stew and begins stirring the boiling water. He adds four of the Henbane plant, as he starts stirring he stirs three times clockwise then two times counterclockwise. Then back to clockwise three times, followed by two times counterclockwise. As he does these the henbane plant begins to wilt and dissolve. At which point Master begins adding eight Flying Agaric, at that point Master pulls out the ladle. Master allows the soon to be Berserker serum by letting it boil itself away. This allows the Master to then set the strength of the serum based on the weight of the person. As soon as the serum gets to the point master wants the concentrate to reach he then pulls out five small cubed shaped stones and tosses them into the pot. Instantly the pot begins to sweat and the fire below dies out.
Master pulls out the pot and set it next to the pot containing the Life Elixir trademarked by Flamel. And pulls out a small tea kettle and cup then puts both on the stove and takes out a mixture of jiaogulan and Camellia Assamese which he puts into a small piece of cheesecloth and ties off. Master puts some water into the small kettle and puts in the cheesecloth but before he put the lid back on he then inserts a stone that has steam coming off of it. And sets the kettle back on the stove.
Wiping off his Yggdrasil ladle“Okay boys both of you have been working on your own tools and have been working hard on your hand to hand skills. In two days' time, we will begin our trip to Dover. So, for now, I am going to share with you a gift from a colleague.” As he said this Master was filling a couple of viles. Then handed Friedrick a 1⁄3 vile and almost half full vile. “However before you drink this make sure three things since this will be your first dose; First, do not take it in the house. Second, be ready with water you will be very dehydrated. Third, Take it lying down. Now last lay down and take it now.”
Friedrick confused decided to ask, “Why did you tell us all of that if you wanted us to just take it now?”
Master smiled and simply answered, “Easy so my tea would be ready now.” As Master finished speaking his kettle began to whistle. At that moment Master lifted the top of his kettle off to let the steam. “Now don’t waste more time after all I can’t tell you how long it will take for you to wake back up.”
Friedrick tilted his head to the right slightly, being confused all of a sudden heard what sounded like a very painful yet hoarse scream. Turning to see what it was he saw John oozing black thick molasses-like substance from his ears and eyes. Stunned Friedrick took a step back, trying to understand what the heck is going on. Friedrick then notices the empty vile lying on the ground next to John. Friedrick seeing that finally begins to look at the substance in the vile. Looking at it Friedrick could not see anything through the vile it was mostly brown, very murky, but strangely there were streaks of green and black going through the liquid. Friedrick then realized that he never stirred it or shook the vile enough to cause this torrent of movement going on in the vile and as Friedrick began to look closer what looked like a lightning strike ripped through the vile causing the torrent of movement to shift. Freaking out now but afraid to drop the vile Friedrick began looking around for Master to find him rolling John over letting more of the Molasses like substance out of his mouth and nose.
“I know Friedrick what your thinking but I will tell you right now all that elixir is going to do for you boys since your so young is push out any impurities that will cramp your muscle development or cause you an early loss in energy. So don’t worry I will take care of you both and drink it after which I will be taking it too. As I must take it every hmm how long has it been 20 something years.” Master stated plainly.
Friedrick finally accepted this and pulled the stopper out and sat down on the ground near John. Letting out a breath and stopping himself from smelling it fearing the worst Friedrick downed the vile whilst doing his best not to taste it. Friedrick laid back and for some strange reason tasted sweet meade and smelled the tavern owner’s daughter after a fun roll in the hay. At that exact moment that those two thoughts finished going through his head Friedrick was out like blacked out drunk out, no dreams, no stray thoughts, nothing just done.
Master got both boys in the proper position you put a drunk in to prevent them from drowning themselves and had a servant girl come out to assist. He told her to keep an eye on the two and wipe away anything that looks like it may choke them but does not move them. After giving the young girl her orders Master drinking his tea whilst bottling up his elixir and serum than headed toward town. While walking toward town Master began physically regressing back about ten years, this was due to the effects of the tea Master drank which according to Regin’s daughters was named “Thee Immortal’s Tea” however it is not to be mistaken for Imortalitea which is a Druid’s special tea. As this Immortal’s Tea can’t keep you living forever as the other but only restores the appearance of the one who drinks it. You still will die but you can pass away looking like a baby if you so desire. However, if you take it and the Elixir of Life you can keep living on as long as you don’t choke on the impurities whilst you are expelling them from your body.
Master finally makes it to the smithy that John and Friedrick had been working at in a combined total of one year and nearly six months. Master decided to force the boys to leave when they awoke decided to see where each one was at John being complete on his task still needed to do repairs as Master and him still held practice twice daily and in the last three months John pushed Master into letting him practice with his new sword. Then there was Friedrick who got an extra hand to hand training due to his skill type did not get the forging task till John was practically done forging his new tools.
Master asked the Smith where Friedrick had stored his equipment that he was making to see where the boy was at with his task. The smith took Master to the apprentice chest, Master opened the chest and began laying out the equipment. He had completed all of the daggers and completed the warhammers. All that was left was the Rondels and the Targe. Friedrick already had the ingots for a Rondel and one Rondel blade forged out. Just needing a handle, guard, and hilt. Master seeing this smiles, Friedrick was actually further along than he expected even though Friedrick asking assist over months ago.
Master seeing this begins forging the second Rondel. Then creating and forming the Targes for Friedrick that can hold two warhammers. Once the blade for both Rondels are ready Master than forges the guards and hilts. Once he finishes this Master asks the Smith if he had any wood for the handle. Master gets the wood and puts the Rondels together and begins wrapping the wood with Hemp. Then soaks the handles with oils until the Hemp softens for Friedrick to be ready.
Forty-Eight hours later, both boys begin waking up John wakes up two hours before Friedrick and gets to see the same thing that Friedrick got to see whilst John was out due to the effects of the Elixir. Master welcomes John with a few simple words; “Ah, John first in first out. Now before we talk too much go wash up and food is already ready.” Two hours later, Friedrick wakes up Master still sitting in the same spot and welcomes. Friedrick the same vagueness, “ Ah, Friedrick welcome back, John has already woken up. Now go wash up and leftovers are over there.”
Friedrick walks over to the washbasin. That just a few hours ago used to wash up. Friedrick looks down into the water and sees a dark-skinned version of himself. finding this dark sticky molasses in every crack and crevice after seeing his reflection realized even worse it came out of every pore. Friedrick after getting in the water turns to Master and asks the question; “How long were we out?”
Master slightly irritated by the fact of having to repeat himself. Gave in to the simple question request since it was basically his own fault for having to answer it twice anyways. “Well, I would like to tell you just wait a bit. However as John would not let it go, I will tell you it has been two days. Now, please don't do as John did and shovel down food and begin doing two days worth of exercises or workouts the elixir just gave you what is equivalent to four years worth okay.” Master sighed paused for a second and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sorry, but you know how John is when he misses training much fewer exercise sessions. Anyways after you finish eating go fetch John we will be holding the final task before we leave.”
Friedrick was surprised he did not know what to say. However, it was not a request but a statement. So Friedrick without a verbal response just nodded. Friedrick finished cleaning and stepped out he looked at the water and was shocked to find that what was once water is now a murky syrup-like substance. Friedrick could not process what he saw, giving up he turned toward the stove. Looking at the stove Friedrick found a bowl and spoon there. Master pulled out his Yggdrasil Ladle, “Clean it and return it.”
Friedrick scooped out the leftover food and cleaned the ladle. Friedrick then returned the ladle to Master. Master thanked Friedrick for the courteous gesture and received the ladle back from him. Friedrick didn't realize how hungry he was until the bowl was under his nose and smelled the food. Now realizing this fact Friedrick scarfed down the meal quickly and unceremoniously eating everything and the rest from the pot too. Friedrick probably would have licked both bowl and pot clean if it hadn’t been for Master stopping him.
The master having stopped Friedrick from committing himself to hunting dog duty. Gave him the task of fetching John, during this task, the local church bells tolled telling him it was already 8’ o clock in the morning. This meant that Friedrick was now two and a quarter worth of tasks behind now. However, thankfully he already had negotiated for coverage but not so early. He knew that Master was unsure when they would wake from the elixir but he never guesses forty-eight hours later. Now he owed his parents two extra days of whatever they want. His parents were different on things like debts. His father did not care for the debt being that his side of the family never stayed long somewhere two years at most having debt was extremely shameful. His mother, on the other hand, loved when people owed her. With her ability, she could call a debt no matter where the debtee was currently across the planet. Using the debtee’s true name and a there face pictured in her mind she could either call upon them physically or just an ability. If that is all she needs but that uses up the debt. If she doesn’t declare a task then it only lasts for fifteen minutes if a task is declared then the debt/task will be closed upon completion or death.
Friedrick shuttered at this thought owing his mother for three debts. She was dastardly when cashing in a debt. Even Friedrick’s father rarely traded for other people's debts without something that he knew in advance she would accept. Finally, Friedrick found where John was, John was currently doing morning martial forms in an open field just outside of The Snow property. This is usually where John and Friedrick would play when other children from the town wanted to play. Since Friedrick’s parents would constantly be hovering over everyone making sure nothing was misused or broken. So John and Friedrick decided while back it was more fun to play outside no matter what the weather outside. Now here was John playing Naval trainee in the same place.
Friedrick seeing this smiled mischievously. Friedrick begins his prowl for an opening as soon as he sees one then pounces. Soon enough John fails to properly execute the Thia Chi Martial forms 20 to 21 which is simply flashing his arms, followed by a block, parry, counter. At that exact moment, Friedrick pounced as planned. Which caught John off guard and let Friedrick sweep John’s feet out from under him and strike John squarely in the chest. As soon as Friedrick landed the strike John had his breath knocked out of him. Then again as soon as he hit the ground.
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John had just finished eating and Friedrick was still out on the ground beside the log That John had chosen to use after Master handed him that vile and said it would improve them. Without any questions, John downed the liquid and found it strangely familiar. It reminded him of his favorite meal venison and potatoes. As soon as that thought came into his mind he saw black stuff start to push its way out through his fingernails and was out.
John bugged Master for almost forty-five minutes till Master finally stated it had been more than forty-eight hours. Freaking out John stormed off to make up for the missed session John knew how important muscle memory was and feared that he would be sluggish if not already in the mid-stages of atrophy. Without pauses or breaks, John began sword and Targe forms, followed by Muay Thai, then Thai Chi, and began again. John repeated these three over and over till he slipped up and almost executed form fifteen left heel kick. After doing form twenty flashing hands, as he hesitated for a second or two John realized his feet were no longer touch earth and he was facing the sky as soon as he noticed this he lost his breath. Thinking to “himself was an excellent execution,” as he was sent up into the air and back down. John then hit the ground and again had the wind knocked out of him.
The air finally rushed back in, bringing with it cohesion to John’s thought process. “What just happened,” John asked himself. John began looking around and saw a person running away towards the snow mansion. The person was about 8 or 9 years old, the kid was almost 5 foot tall if just below he was wearing an undyed worn tunic with patches of leather in key places forearms, elbows, knees, shins. “Who is this kid,” John thought he tried to speak but found his throat was raw from the lack of water. John hadn’t been keeping track of the time he knew only that he started before sun up and that was it. So John jumped to his feet and began giving chase however every time John thought he was closing the kid would pull ahead drastically. Like he would get about three arm lengths away, then the next thing he knew he was 25 yards away and in this instant, he was turning around a corner. John was not paying too much attention to where he was, or going. So he was extremely surprised when he came barreling out from behind a tree and collided into a large boulder. If that wasn’t surprising enough it was the boulder that Friedrick’s father somehow got into the Snow’s backyard for the chef and began making 4 levels of flat spots, all of which were large enough for a rack of pork ribs and a rack of beef ribs. Except one level was large enough for an average adult male to sit in a cross-legged position.
John realizes very quickly where he was the training grounds of House Snow. John halted quickly then looks around not seeing the kid but seeing Master. John asks; “Master have you seen a kid he was wearing a tunic with leather patches and about five foot tall?”
Master turns toward John raises an eyebrow; “Huh, of course, I have seen one it is over there.” points toward Friedrick laying on the ground in the same place he was earlier. Wearing the same clothes that John described.
John seeing Friedrick still laying there frowned. “Master how much longer will it take for Friedrick to… well, you know.”
Master smiled mischievously; “I do not know how long it will take each person’s first dose depends on their own body.”
John walked over to Friedrick as he reached down to check his breathing John noticed that Friedrick was clean not covered in the molasses-like substance. Without a hiccup, John reached back to his waistband and grabbed a dagger from there and brought down over Frierick’s throat saying; “What I don’t need from my little manservant is failure to improve.” Then began brought it up to Friedrick’s left and ran it across Friedrick’s throat to Friedrick’s Right ear.
Friedrick gasped and reached up to his throat to see John leaning over him going; “Blah, blah, blah” and motioning his hand from his own throat out as if shooting blood. Then mellow dramatically. Fainting from blood loss. Feeling no cuts or blood on his throat Friedrick leapt over the log and kicked at John as hard as he could.
Master saw the whole interaction John had his blade flipped and was holding it loose with little pressure against Friedrick. Master chose to let this play out and see what Friedrick would do. Master knew full well what both were capable of and knew full well their love for one another was too great for anything ill to come of it. “Okay, boys into the ring we have three hours till we get going.” Master was not speaking a whole truth as soon as one fell. They were leaving Master having already had their bags packed when he gave them the elixir. “Now let’s begin.. fight.”
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Breached Earth (Human Core)
A dungeon core, accidentally transported from its world and stranded on Earth. Dean, a young Australian man who stumbles across it and has his life changed forever. With the core now residing inside him, Dean marvels at the amazing abilities he has gained. He doesn’t have long to adjust to his new circumstances, however. For the core’s arrival on Earth has set in motion events that threaten the lives of every living thing. And, with even the planet itself at risk, he has been called on to act. This is a PRE-apocalypse progression fantasy story set in the real world. Contains elements of litRPG. Constructive criticism, suggestions, and ideas are all welcome! :) [The dungeon elements are minimal, so if that is your main attraction, maybe give this story a miss :) ]
8 223Back to Day One (On Hiatus)
Jaime Barrett is the last human on Earth, at least the only sane one. After launching a suicide attack on an army of zombies, he finds himself back in school, the day the virus first came in contact with humanity. He now has his former weak body and only the knowledge of his future to survive the apocalypse (which he survived once without anyways) without losing anyone important to himself.
8 81The Alien's Retaliation
The novel takes place in an alternate universe that is brimming with life. There are a lot of planets were life has greatly developed, as many civilizations were born. Fearsome aliens and strange creatures inhabit the space, and at the same time wars and conflicts are not such a rare sight. On a remote planet, ignorant of everything, Xeno is living a hard and monotonous life, waiting for time to make its course. However once again the mysteries of the universe will present before his eyes, changing his life completely. Follow Xeno on a long journey through the vast space, as he will seek the strength and knowledge necessary to uncover the secrets of his new gained origins. The narration has been changed to third person from chapter 24. However there will still be POV changes every so often. This is an original work and at the same time my first novel, as such constructive criticism is welcomed. English is not my first language too, feel free to point out any mistakes you may find. WARNING: The novel will have elements of gore, violence and some pretty strong scenes. I have posted this novel on WebNovel too. There I have put a brief comment about what to expect from the novel in more detail, if you are still uncertain, you might want to check it out. (https://www.webnovel.com/book/the-alien's-retaliation_18948068206835105) Average words per chapter --> 1400 Chapter release (?). I don't own the cover of the novel, if the author wants me to change it he just needs to tell me to.
8 97Warrior's Heart
Highest Ranks: #1 in Badassgirl #1 in Warrior #1 in Powers #1 Strongfemalelead Leyla is a Warrior. Strong. Fast. Unwavering. Yet she looks nothing like a Warrior. Dark haired and green eyed, she stands out in a Kingdom full blonde-haired blue-eyed citizens who all tower over her. Despite their differences, her rank as an officer in the Warrior Army makes her untouchable to most. But things start getting complicated when Leyla attracts the attention of the idol of all, the shoe-in for the next Warrior King: Colonel Alec of the House of Steel. Jealous princesses and angry superiors are not the only problems on the horizon when a messenger appears from the powerful Land of Light with an offer for the Warrior King that will change Leyla's life...(This is Book 1 in the Crossing Novels)
8 158Building An Army In Another World With My Smartphone
I woke up in a strange new place and learnt that I had sacrificed my memories for a powerful gift during my transmigration to another world. I guess all I can do is to build up my army...using my smartphone.
8 445Protected // solby
Colby goes exploring with his roommate when he comes across this hybrid cat. also known as sam. the minute colby finds him they connect. what happens when colby starts falling in love with this hybrid even though its against the law to.
8 103