《Memories of the Gluttonous Sage》Mini Drama: The Dean's Troubles (Day 4)
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On the wall directly across from the staircase leading to the second floor, left of the entrance when walking in, an indented bar resides. Twenty barstools lines the counter, half of them hosting customers, a disheveled man among one of those present. One of the bartenders tends to the customers, the other sits idly by, noting the stock of beer and mugs.
He observes the diners still remaining after the food fight. The bartender nods to himself, then takes out a piece of parchment from one of the many drawers on his right. After quickly writing some things down, he hollers to the other bartender.
"Yo, I'm heading out."
"You sure? We get a bonus for staying until closing."
"Yeah... My wife needs me to help with the kids at night, got to be home as soon as possible. One of them is sick."
"Oh... Good luck. Don't forget to visit one of the priests to get them checked."
The bartender packs his things, taking off his apron and hanging it. "Mmhm. We've got an appointment scheduled later this week. See ya." He exits through the back door before the other bartender could give him an answer.
The dean empties his jug, slamming the cup on the table. "Anoder..." a gruff, drunken voice travels to the remaining bartender. The bartender sighs, staring at their once glorious dean. From his scruffy, unkempt beard to the bags on his eyes, his very being lacks the authority it once had.
"Fine... This is your last one though, you're not getting another for tonight." The bartender fills his jug then attends to his other customers. The dean stares at him absentmindedly then walks off after gulping down half of it.
He stumbles past Cain's table, attracting scornful gazes. Cain performs his play, Dresil swinging about with swift movements, interrupting the dean's melancholic mood, "Sir, it appears this fell out of your pocket."
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The dean looks back to find a gold coin in Cain's hand. Astonishment flickers across his face, swiftly covered by a sly smile. "Oh, thanks young lad." After saying his part, the dean clumsily walks with haste to the receptionists desk.
"Alarick!" An enraged Maddison blocks off his path. "How many times are you going to do this!? All you've been doing is drinking and sleeping! When are you going to take responsibility for your duties as the dean?!" She continues to ramble off while the dean just zones out. 'If only you knew what I knew...' He thought to himself.
"...rick! Alarick!! ALARIIIICCKKKK!!!!!!" Maddison screams in his face, snapping him back into reality. "Were you even listening to me!?"
"Yeah, yeah... do my duties this, take responsibility that..." The dean replies waving his arms around, almost spilling his beer on the forms laid about.
"You- sigh fine.. just go back up to your cave and don't come out for the rest of the night." Pissed, Maddison storms inside the office, the dean in tow. Upon entering, he rummages around the bookshelf on the right.
His hand catches on a scaled book, triggering a mechanism that slid the bookshelf out of the way. A staircase leading to the third floor reveals itself. Alarick climbs along sluggishly, eventually reaching the top. He knocks in seven different places then pushes the center.
Glyphs lit up on the large steel door, yes, steel. They activated several different mana powered mechanisms, heaving the chunk of metal to reveal an ingress. Alarick walked slowly forward, turned around once and took a step, turned around again with another step, and finally did a 360, punching the right wall of the pathway at the end of the turn.
Several hundred magic circles revealed themselves, flickering continuously. A spatial gateway appeared where the dean's hand punched, leading to his office. I can never get truly drunk because of this damn mechanism...
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Alarick struts through the gateway, exiting in his office. He walks up to his desk and plops down on to his chair. Shoving some papers off his desk, he sets down his beer and pulls out the gold he got from Cain. Alarick twirls it between his fingers for a bit then sets it on his desk.
A hefty sigh leaves his chest as he leans back. 'Why am I even here... this place probably won't last long. Even if it does the cost will be too great. Ah, fuck it all... huh?' The coin flickers into a piece of paper then once again into a coin, yeeting the dean out of thoughts. He stares at it dubiously.
I am not crazy right? That coin just changed into--oh... Once again yeeting him out of thoughts, the coin flickered into a piece of paper. The dean slowly brings his hand to hit, then swiftly pokes it. The folded paper is moved a few centimeters then flickers open.
It read:
"I'll do one favor for you. This is repayment for letting me use your name to establish some debt"
At the end of the note was a bow and arrow, Cain's signature symbol. Next to it were numbers slowly counting down. Starting from 10, it etched closer and closer to 0. The supposed ink moved about fluidly to create the new numbers. The dean stared at it as if he was in a trance.
When the countdown hit 0, the paper burst into flames. Huh... I guess we're not doomed after all. He quickly pulls out a drawer, revealing a early 20th century telephone. Instead of a pulse dial, there was a magic circle with a needle in the center.
Alarick pricked his finger using the needle and pick up the phone. His blood flowed down the needle, coming into contact with the magic circle. The circle absorbed the blood and began to hum slightly.
A similar hum dragged Maddison out of her work. She opened a drawer on her desk revealing a similar telephone. She quickly picked it up and answered with great annoyance.
"Yes? Have you finally decide--"
"I'll go to Cain's duel tomorrow" Alarick quickly cut her off, speaking in a serious tone.
"You'll what...?"
"I'll go to Cain's duel tomorrow."
"You know I'm monitoring the duel right?"
"Yes, I'll just watch. We'll be having a meeting with Cain after the duel."
"Huh? ah.. ok, I guess?"
The dean hung up shortly after, leaving a befuddled Maddison staring blankly at her papers. What was that about...?
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40 Thousand Reasons
Pef Lancefire (MC) is a Rogue Trader (Ie. Privateer and Conquistador) for the Imperium of Man, living on the fringes of what is considered civilized space. The Immaterium poisons everything: the living and the machine. Also, in the dark future of 40th Millennium there is only war.
8 250The Dungeon of Miracles
A dungeon story that follows the story of an unfortunate peasant boy doing his best to survive. A combat focused and gritty story that ocassionally introduces magic. I appreciate all feedback! I usually write when I can't sleep.
8 99EX: Emblem
Since humans were first born onto this world, they have been marked with an emblem. This emblem would dedicate their fate. Those marked with the strength’s emblem would become great warriors, while those marked as the wisdom’s emblem were destined to become great mages. Whether what the emblem gives them, they would all differ in many ways; their strengths and weaknesses would differ even with the same ability. In a world where the emblem determines one's fate, Lynn, a 15-year old freshman, is one without these two. To be one out of a billion, will he be able to survive in this world? 500-2000 words per chapter. 1/2 years per update. Credits to the artist: https://thejingo1997.deviantart.com/ -Full permission to use
8 154Healing Dungeon
// DUNGEON Mechanics will start to appear around chapter 100+/Arc 3 of the story! \ Avan, a 25-year-old young man, is torn from his rather boring life. He awakens in Aorus, a world full of magic, monsters and dungeons. By a stroke of luck and an ominous skill called "Potential", he awakens a new class never seen before called Dungeonheart (Human). Dungeons, although sentient, are never sapient nor mobile. Join Avan as he pursues his passion for healing and martial arts, and building his very own dungeon at the same time. He’s the hybrid of a moving dungeon and a healer. "Healing Dungeon" will include City building, strategy, very little romance, exploration of the world of Aorus, and a touch of power levelling. (There are elements from other fantasy novels, as well as anime, games, and more). What will all be possible with a dungeon that can move, but still brings some of the familiar dungeon mechanics along for its journey? -- Please note that the beginning and thus the first chapters were really my first writing works in english, and can only be rewritten at a later time (lack of time in favor for new chapters) --(The writing style and also the story improves VERY much from the 12th chapter at the latest! Proofreading is available, but I depend on any well-intentioned advice from you guys). If you have any questions, suggestions, constructive criticism, or just because you feel like it, feel free to leave me a comment below the respective chapters!For every positive and serious review or rating, I am infinitely grateful! ;) I am a creature of few words and the beginning is therefore a little faster than I would have liked it now in retrospect. Please do not expect huge paraphrases and descriptions of the environments, but only what is really necessary to get into the scene. Cheers and hopefully see you in the comment section.
8 309{completed}While you were sleeping
Би чамайг зуу зуун ертөнц дамнан хайж, олох хүртлээ мянга мянган удаа ахин төрөх болно......Миний зөвхөн чамд зориулсан тэр ертөнцөд бид дахин учирна./жич: Анхны өгүүллэг тул алдаа дутаглал ихтэй болно. Гэсэн ч сонирхон унших гэж байгаад баярлалаа./
8 203For My Eyes ONLY
"No," I whispered in pure disbelief, "You can't be Ashton, that can't be." My voice cracked making me feel weaker in his eyes.I stared at the man in front of me, waves of shock lighting through my body. This wasn't Ashton. I always knew there were two sides to him. Everyday I watched him desperately fight to keep this side of him from taking over.Scar.The name rung over and over and over again in my head, piercing my ears, making my insides scream out."Say it!" he yelled slamming my body up against the wall behind me, my head hitting the wall more force then the rest my body, causing me to let out a pathetic cry."Please Ashton, no you can't do this I have a family-" I yelled back, a tear sliding down my cheek.He cut me off with a dark laugh, his stone cold expression glued to my frightened one."This is your family now, Moore Blood Mafia, welcome my sweet Amaretto."
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