《Stepping Through》We Play The Game – 21 – Maybe She Wouldn’t Get Herself Killed
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Devon did not hang around long after he’d eaten his fill, but left Tina to her own devices and a table still overladen with treats both sweet and salty and savory.
“I can’t possibly eat another thing,” she confessed to the last dining room attendant, a tallish but thin man with a prominent nose dominating his narrow face. “What happens to the food that’s left over?”
Other than the consul and a few muscular characters they’d come across most of the population of twelfth-century Constantinople, including those serving her and Devon seemed distinctly underfed.
“What is not perishable will be sold, mistress,” the man whose name was Basil of all things, told her. “The rest would be shared between the servants and the beasts of the stables.”
That made Tina feel a bit less guilty about leaving the half-loaded table. It didn’t sound like any of it would go to waste.
To work off her full to bursting belly, she wandered the halls of the quiet and seeming near-empty palace for a while, finally returning to her rooms to find her servant woman, Cassia, waiting for her on one of the divans, rising as she crossed back over the threshold into her suite.
“Do you wish another bath?” Cassia, her servant asked. “Perhaps a massage with scented oils to ease your tired muscles?”
Tired muscles? She’s barely had any exercise to warrant such a luxury.
“No, not right now,” she told the woman. “But a bath in the morning would be welcome. First light?”
The woman nodded.
“I will go and ensure it will be prepared,” the woman told her, started heading out, then looked back, as if in question.
“You can go,” Tina told her, torn between enjoying being pampered and guilt for enjoying it so much. Then she settled down on a chair on the balcony, to look out over the byzantine city at night. It was quiet, but for distant noises, barking, roosters crowing, cries, maybe a scream, she couldn’t tell, nor if it was the good kind of scream or the bad kind.
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And she thought about the day, what she’d seen, all that she’d learned from Devon. And what it might feel like standing in that arena, a mini conflagration in her hand, ready to fight, win, or get literally burned.
If she wasn’t looking over a Constantinople a thousand years before she was borne, she could have easily dismissed all that talk of her being here for a reason, chosen by a hammer, named Lola of all things, to fight for it’s... what? Where was Thor when you needed him. Well, maybe he had more important things to do. Besides, he already had a hammer, he didn’t need another one, least of all named Lola.
Tina couldn’t help giggling at that again.
But did she not want to win, even a hammer?
Did she just want to hand out in this place until she could go back to Toronto. Or did she want to do something, accomplish something amazing? Something that would, in the real world, earn her a million fans on Instagram or any other site like that, standing on a podium, holding a magic hammer high over her head.
It had been some time since she’d played a real match, or any kind of playoffs or championship game, one with serious stakes, and against a truly scary opponent who would be worth smashing in the face.
Sadly, she didn’t have her phone in this time to capture such things for posterity. Damn time travel rules!
“Now you're admitting that you’ve wanted this all along,” there little voice said.
Tina let out a sigh.
“Okay, maybe a little,” she agreed.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
Maybe she wouldn’t get herself killed or even burned. There had to be some way to protect herself in the arena. Armor? Some kind of gel-like stuntpeople used in the movies?
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She was even more motivated when she got up in the morning, having spent all night allowing herself to be convinced. Cleaned up after bath and dressed in a fresh stola, Tina sought out the dwarf.
She found him at the breakfast table another sumptuous feast made for an Emperor laid out before him.
“Are you going to eat all that?” she asked.
He looked up from the plate he was eating from.
“Something different about you this morning?” he asked.
“I had a good night’s rest,” she admitted. “And I did some thinking.”
He pushed his plate away from him.
“Really,” he said. “What about?”
“About this championship game of yours,” she told him. “We didn’t get to talk much about it yesterday. And maybe it isn’t so bad as the first impression I got.”
“Are you sure,” he offered in a suspicious tone. “You seemed rather sure of yourself last night that having a match with the lioness was the very last thing you wanted to do.”
Now with reverse psychology? Tina smirked at him.
“Are we going to the arena or do we sit here for the next week?” she asked.
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Another World’s Versatile Crafting Master
Lin Li accidentally enters another world while playing with his smurf mage account just after he maxes out all kinds of crafting skills, bringing with him various top-grade materials. Although his character is practically powerless, what he gains in return is unprecedented magical talent! Can he survive by himself after being thrown into another world?
8 455The Anime Trope System : Stone vs. the Viper, a LitRPG. [WEB NOVEL SUSPENDED.]
By the will of unknown deities, Clyde is swiped from Earth and tossed into an anime world. He’s the declared the Stone aka main character. One day, he must kill the Viper, the antagonist. Too bad things aren’t exactly as black and white as that. The Stone is something much more… This world and its inhabitants are real. It’s another dimension with a lot to explore. This is the story of a young man’s evolution from college boy of Earth to godhood and beyond. The challenges stand ahead of him: demons, monster girls, crazy yanderes, even a girl with maxed charisma. He never thought he’d ever see a magical girl… A story of comedy, action, and going from weak to completely unstoppable. He is the system disruptor… In a world where tropes are present, anime girls falling in love so easily, and city-wide issues intertwining with the main mission, Clyde must level up power and his mentality, RPG-style. He can no longer be that earthling. He will learn… whether he likes it or not. Someone who breaks systems…Feared by the gods… ~A lover of character development... -----WARNING: Episode 7 and beyond will intensify in sexual content, sexual humor, sexual/sex scenes, + references may ramp up a lot. You have been warned. (This is humor and mature content. FICTION. Anything that an adventurer-type do is risky. This is not for the faintest of hearts.) (There are also Monster Girl Quest/Encyclopedia references and sex scenes in here. Once again, fair warning.) Additional tags: [ Satire, Adult, Mature audiences only, Monster girls from the monster girl encyclopedia enemy types mostly in volume 1.] NOTICE AS OF FEB 2019: Web novel hiatus indefinitely due to Amazon policy, people translating my shit and charging money for it, posting this on other sites without my permission. Please join discord and/or Facebook page for updates. Patreon will continue to get chapters as normal. Thank you truly for understanding! This is my livelihood and I don't want to lose it. ----- This series will cotninue on--a fun tribute to anime of all forms and satire--so much fun to write. Feel free to let it be that safety net in your library. Author note: get in now before you're left behind. I'm planning to be around for years xD. [See Amazon for edited versions + further continuations. See Facebook page or patreon for updates. And welcome to Team Stone.] Inspiration: PERSONA. Mob Psycho 100., Dragon Ball Z, Anime in general, anime waifus, anime waifu monster girls and MGE, The Land LitRPG audiobook. ---------- Advanced chapters and special bonuses now on: Patreon.com/syr456 Discord channel: https://discord.gg/t2qVaAR or cQMPSJG ^if you have any questions, concerns or vents, this would be the best place to reach me. Or if you're bored, want to increase the numbers, etc xD. MANGA can be found here: (https://Animetropesystem.net) Anime 3-minute OP and series are still TBA. There is a studio that will be contacted. Artwork can be found on Discord: Official Artwork channel. Facebook page: Syr456. Patreon. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Series timeline: -Professionally edited version of the works can be found on Amazon. Audiobooks can be found on Audible, released as the narrator in line with the narrator's schedule and Audible's.Reborn editions = old versions edited by the editor and converted to the new format. Volumes 12 and beyond began in the new format. It's a free update if you already own it. Volume 1-20 = season 1 on amazon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bonus: Volume 2's description: The story continues, following the events of its predecessor. In the anime world, Satovia, Clyde still battles the anime tropes, but no longer dances at the fingertips of the watchers. However, his friends have real issues, problems that intertwine with his own mission. Casting away selfishness, he finds himself awakening his real power. The Anime Trope System volume 2 brings with it, humor, anime tropes and… yanderes, references, perverseness, and a lot of character development. So, let’s level up and accidentally capture the hearts of anime girls while at it… ----------- Volume 3's description. The Anime Trope System is back in a 3rd action-packed, humor-packed, adventure in Satovia. Clyde’s next threat comes in the form of a classmate. While her descent occurs, the young man must deal with hornets (the monster girl kind), prepare to meet up with vampires, and even depose Alice’s father, the demon lord, once and for all.December’s volume will make you wish to be a part of Clyde’s party. His evolution from college boy to leader still has a way to go. But…how long will the gods stand by while a new rival rapidly grows.?----------- Volume 4's description. It's festival time! All would be perfect, fun, competitive. Well, try telling the vampires not to crash the damn party.January's volume arrives, a fourth book containing Clyde and his amazing party, humor and ass-kicking, happy and sad moments.While Clyde continues to strengthen himself so that he wouldn't die to the Viper, figures and organizations begin to move in the background. Join again to accidentally capture more anime girl hearts and combat those tropes... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 5's description: Ah, peace! Exams, a tiny break from the fighting, relaxation. Yeah, right. First of all, who left a certain potion in the fridge! Second, what will it take to get some common sense into the team ninja’s head. Clyde would like to know. Third, it is time to face a threat that has lurked in the city since volume 1…Clyde and his party is back in February’s issue, ready to dish out some fun in Satovia. Welcome to the fifth volume—and more anime shenanigans… --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 6: A questline mentioned in the very early volumes has finally pulled Clyde's interest. Niyoto. However, it isn't some side quest or filler. In this city, things will get very interesting. From being introduced to a quite frightening faction that claim to fight for the good of humanity, crazy cultists, a demon lord with a rather...different personality, the sixth volume comes in strong.Clyde and his party is back in March's issue to take a step toward the ultimate goal of being strong enough to defeat the Viper.And the anime tropes continue to show themselves. Do you believe in the heart of the cards? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 9: stakes incredibly high, very intense! A dark volume. Can the team bounce through this?
8 300Agents of Stigma
The primordial system spreading over universes like mold, devouring worlds. The walls of reality getting thinner. More and more monsters are lurking in the dark corners. Demons who have returned from the other side thirst for blood. Only sleeper agents stand between unsuspecting mortals and creatures from the Cradle of the Undying. They are outcasts, madmen, rebels - chosen by the Stigma clan assembly. Kim has awakened. The voice in his head promises power, but what will it ask in return? *** English is my second language, sorry in advance. This is a bit slow, character-driven story. Basically, urban fantasy kitchen sink with RealRPG elements and Persona-ish social links system. Book One: Digital Complex (ongoing translation); Book Two: Desperate Measures (completed, waiting for translation); Book Three: Dawn is Your Enemy (completed, waiting for translation); Book Four: Dangerous Jobs (in progress).
8 79Dhanurana
Out of an unnaturally quiet night, a bedraggled woman in noble finery requests access to the southern capital. Who she is has been lost to time for most, but her continued existence will throw everything further out of balance. Janurana had barely survived her royal house's destruction at the hands of foreign invaders, surviving day by day in the scattered pocket forests and arid shrub lands, constantly escaping the ghosts of her past. The south has barely survived their recent Pyrrhic victory against the north immediately followed by a coup. The north is bloodied but unbowed, on the brink of civil war, but still ready to take up arms against the southern invaders. The leaders of the south cannot afford another obstacle. And Janurana is just that. Yet her chance meeting with a woman expelled from the warrior class named Dhanur gives them both a chance to avenge the ones they loved, finish what they failed to do, and return to a normal life. *** Set in a fantasized bronze age India featuring LGBT female leads. Told in an omniscient pov with glances into multiple characters. This is my first book even if I've been working on it for a while but I hope you can all still find some enjoyment and take a break from everything happening in the world. Remember to work on your dreams. :)
8 168Origin of the Best Void Magician
There were five students walking on the way to their own homes. Yet while walking they were flashed with blinding light and a magic cirlces surrounds them, lead them to another world. Is this the what so called Isekai? Being summoned as hero, all five of them first to check their [Skill], ablessing from the goddess. And one of them, Kagerou Ibuki was granted [Void Magic]. But whats this? They gave him a scorned expressions towards him. What? [Void Magic] is useless? Due to that, he was kicked out of the castle. How he will survive with the so called useless [Skill]?
8 170STPS
(Cover art does not belong to me.)The eldest brother disappeared for six years, and returned home with chuunibyou disease.The second brother claims that he regressed from the future.The youngest brother, who has been out of service- it causes a headache just thinking about it, so let's move on.As they each claim, they are returnees and regressors. It is a remarkable story that is not lacking even if you are active as the main character in any novel right now.In response, Lee Bobae roared as a younger sister and the head of the household."You good-for-nothing mealworms! Go out and work right now!"The girl leader holds the back of her neck again today.Note: Please do not repost anywhere.
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