《Black Cloak, White Art》The Stones of Arcory - Chapter 11 - Questions About What Is Currently Thought Of My Master’s Stones
Advertisement
“Omar, I have to tell you, this attitude towards the marches and the stones,” I told him. “It has become far too common.”
“What do you mean?” he asked as he sipped from his own crystal goblet.
“Even I am aware of the decline the number of our fellow collegiates who will assist in the delicate and demanding requirements of the lands which suffered the worst during the Riven war.” I told him. “I am beginning to think this is a sign the collegiate, not to mention Council has stepped off its intended path, at least a little. Maintaining the marches is now looked upon as a burden, a divergence of power. I believe this is a mistake. There are some obligations which should not diminish with time.”
He returned a glance of agreement.
“Perhaps. But times change, master, as do our obligations. We are far closer to the next conjunction than the last.” My complaints appeared to make him a touch uncomfortable. I chastised myself silently for the outburst. Anger would not help my cause, nor the Margravine’s.
“And what of Trona Gan Roderic?” he added. “Isn’t this her work now? Shouldn’t you have brought this up with her?”
“Trona is on a different campaign altogether,” I told him with a sigh. “The nature of which I am sworn to secrecy.”
“Ah. Well, trust me, the stones and their small blighted territories are a distraction at best. Despite how they were once entreated,” he offered. “What is of concern to me and my entowered fellows is how and why the demand for our talents redouble yearly, despite our growing numbers, and not just in the Donlands. What Council needs to understand is how much more insistent supplicants have become, and how little the Kings and their vassals have been encouraging this. In fact is, they are at the forefront. I will of course provide you my chronicle, as in it I discuss the problem at great length. It hinders our work of preparation.”
Advertisement
I nodded. He wasn’t the first to broach the argument.
“But tell me, has there been any change in within Council,” he asked. “I have heard of a loosening The Nine Tenets? And willingness to discuss closer ties between the collegiate and the aristocracy.”
I glanced again at the furnishings around us which spoke loudly of the Vaer and their ways. It was late in the day, and the light of the setting suns shifted the glow of the balcony furniture, making their intricate and luxurious design seem constructed of amber. Then I turned back to Omar.
“I cannot say,” I replied. And that was true. I could not. He wouldn’t have liked what I would have told him. “But from what I see around me, you are not looking to the west for your inspirations.”
“There is something to be said for how it is done in the south,” he replied in a low tone.
“Yes, there has always been. But I remind you, Omar, much of it is still not what you or I can publicly address or should approve of.”
Advertisement
Re:The Worst System Leveling Turned Me Into A Zombie
Before I reached Lvl. 100, they called me Death God Hei. But when I broke the limit, the System punished me. It cursed me to become this monster. I woke up as a Lvl. 0 again. Dying only brings me back to a save point now. But I don't go back until I die twice. First I suffer as a human, then I hunger as a zombie. The worst part is...I still have to watch when that thing takes over my corpse. I call it the Gray. I can't do anything even when it's hunting down those I'm trying to save. Sometimes, I wonder. When I level, I swear I can hear a voice speaking to me. This thing...can it think? It's like Re:zero crossed with SAO, Solo Leveling, and Tokyo Ghoul Re:The Worst System is a dark, 1st person timeloop story where the main character is slowly driven insane by his ability to respawn at a save point. However, each time he levels, there's a possibility that the next time he dies, the zombie inside him will become too powerful for anyone to stop. So he has to level up a harem...ahem, others, to fight for him against the System. Oftentimes, Hei will get trapped in repeating death loops which are truly terrifying. You've been warned...please don't read if you're not willing to see the darkness all the way through. The light on the other side may be a long ways away...I'll be trying to post on Thurs/Sundays, but honestly, depending on how I'm feeling, chapters could come out at some wonky times. If you want to support the story, read ahead, or bribe me to write more, I'd appreciate you checking out my Patreon, but this story will be updated frequently for free anyways. Come chat about the story with other Hunters: https://discord.gg/BUhQ23qw Cover licensed under Creative Commons 2.0 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/35083407110/in/album-72157682306838123/
8 214Superheroes in the Modern Age of Gods and Heroes
In a world born in the far future of our own world, heroes of ancient legend were more than just myth, with heroes, demigods and those mortals beloved by the gods, rising to fight evil and villainy in all its forms, throughout history and into the present. New heroes walk in a more technologically advanced world, the ancient blood of the gods still running in their veins, but a new age is about to dawn upon this world of gods and heroes. A new age of conflict and grand epic sagas, as hundreds of thousands, millions even, of new heroes and villains, the strange offspring of the gods and mortals of another world, arrive to fight for their own interests and goals. The gods, forewarned by prophecy and hinted at by the wisest and strangest of the gods, Nexus, Guardian of Space and Lord of Secrets, acted to put plans in place to ensure the continued stability of their world, even as they prepared themselves for the inevitable changes to come. However, our story starts with a young woman and how she will find her place in the coming new age of strange heroes from another world who call themselves - Superheroes. - Author's Note: The picture for the novel's cover isn't mine, I do not own it in anyway, if the artist wants me to take it down, please let me know.
8 173Captain Stellon
A pilot in the Interplanetary Era, it was never Captain Stellon's intention to get caught up in the big questions of his time. But artificial systems and human agents have a worrying habit of finding him useful in their efforts to shape events. Kaitar, for example, an astrobiologist fixated on a return to Earth, would never have been chosen for him by a dating algorithm. They're just galaxies apart in everything they say and do. Yet their destinies get strangely entangled. And if that weren't enough, A.S. itself decides our young, hapless hero is just the person it needs for a spot of undercover work...
8 72Your Happy Place
Life keeps moving on... no matter what happens; thus, the people playing their parts must endure any role they are given because, like they say, the show must go on. This is the definition of living. For Nira, her part is of an insignificant and lonely soul that is trapped as a servant in the clutches of a cunning king, doing whatever heinous tasks he wishes. But this is not the part she was born with. It is the one she was forced into. There was a place she could call home before she was captured. A place where she had family and friends. A place she wants a piece of back. That’s all she has ever wanted after being taken. Despite all the cruel cards that have been dealt to her, opportunity has finally arrived to get that piece of home; all she needs is a little coin. However, there is a time limit. If she is unable to get the money she needs in two days, there may never be a second chance, and life will keep moving on. In the midst of the big tales and legends shifting the tides of this world, Nira finds herself seeking to keep a little bit of her happy place. (There are 19 Chapters + 1 Epilouge. If chapter has 1000 words, I will upload day after. Enjoy and please leave a constructive review so I can improve!)
8 189Solo Player Rebirth! [A LitRPG Fantasy series]
A LitRPG Fantasy story focusing on the male-lead progression through a game-like world for a second time. He doesn't stop for any threats, big or small. Looking the strong beasts in the eyes, he knows exactly what it takes to be on top of the world. Follow Sung-Jin through successes and predicaments in his journey to beat a game-like world. Including: Levels, skills, classes and their paths, and much more. ㅤ What does [updated] beside the chapter numbers mean? It's just a way for me to show that it's the final version of that particular chapter. I didn't change enough to grant its own standalone release. But enough to make it a different reading experience. I will concentrate on releasing chapters before going back to edit. I will only update the chapters after I have more content so the story wont be paused. This is the second draft of this story so its not near perfect by any means. But I hope you enjoy it regardless. ㅤ Synopsis: Every year thousands of people get teleported into a game-like world where they have to fight for their lives. No one has ever completed the game, and the nine pillars, which are the strongest players, are not even close. But the hope of completing the game still persists in most people. But will anybody ever beat it? Sung-Jin is the best player that no one knows of. A solo player thought to be dead years ago; will he be strong enough to beat this game?
8 83I'm Sure It'll be Fine! ...right?
We live to die, and die to live again. This Cycle continues, neither to Begin nor End. Ever Beginning, never to End, we come to the story of our Unusual Friend. The Gods are as varied and unique as the mortals that worship them. Some are kind, others are fluffy, and (given the nature of the multiverse) a few are Eldrich Abominations of Unspeakable Horror. But that's fine, those few tend to mind their own business... At least until an Eldrich Abomination (an interdimensional cosmic slime-mold specifically) gets itself devoured by a Lich during a ritual to obtain Godhood... Especially because anyone, even a Lich, who's willing to eat an ENTIRE COSMIC SLIME-MOLD for any reason, even godhood, is undoubtedly a madman...who's now set his unsightly gaze upon replacing (likely by devouring) the Godess of Magic herself! She could probably use some help...if only to avoid touching the slimy Lichgod directly. Also, the Eldrich Gods are protesting these events in their usual manner...by trying to destroy all of Creation.
8 182