《A Tour of the World Between Worlds》19 – A Different World
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This world was most certainly not the one that I came from. Though my memories of the place were limited to only what I saw in dreams, I could feel within me that that was the case. How could I even explain it? The air felt uncomfortable like I was a stranger, and it was giving me odd looks. I shook the feeling away and turned to view the city.
I had gotten accustomed to what so-called “modern cities” were like based on the conversations with the others, but I was woefully unprepared to see one in person. The lights and sounds, the metals and plastics, everything was overwhelming. So many people moved around, and vehicles ran up and down the streets like horses racing one another. It took a lot just to keep myself together.
Orrin had warned when we met that I should not simply jump into any bizarre world. I think I was beginning to understand what he meant. Had I found myself alone and stranded in a place like this, I would have been treated like I was mad, and I would have lost what little sanity remained not too long after. I shuddered at the thought. What might I have done if things were different?
“What are you doing, Kiko?” Orrin asked me. I hadn’t realized it, but I stopped walking while I was lost in thought.
“We need to hurry!” Pythagoras shouted from underneath his cloak. I could hardly tell he was a goblin with his getup, though perhaps that was the point. I saw only humans walking around the streets. No short creatures like Pythagoras, tall ones like Casey, or anything else out of the ordinary made up the population of this city. Whether the world lacked them or they lived somewhere else within it, I did not know.
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I nodded to show I heard and started to walk along with the other two.
The streets were neatly laid out, and the stomping from the giant machine finally quieted as it got further and further away from us. Though, its head remained visible above the buildings, which were all shorter than the giant.
It was clear that Pythagoras wanted to follow the giant. I suspect he wanted to get close to take notes as I spotted a book and writing utensils for a brief moment.
Orrin, however, was focused on the task at hand. He led the way through the city, and we followed as well as we could.
We continued down the street and found our way to an odd building on the corner. A chime went off as doors slid open on their own.
“Welcome!” someone behind a counter said. Though they invited us in, I felt the person was not too excited to see us. Many questions echoed in my mind, but I didn’t have time to ask anything as Orrin made a wave to show we should charge in. Nevertheless, we did not break into a sprint.
The building was bright and filled with rows and rows of what I think was food wrapped in various plastics and papers. I eyed the many options, but our green leader seemed to have something else in mind.
Several cups were set out in the back of the store. It looked like their tops were sealed shut, and the whole thing was wrapped in clear plastic.
“Grab all you can!” Orrin said as he began to fill his arms with the cups. I picked one up and inspected the outside. Noodles were pictured on the front, but other than that, I was not sure what we were looking at or why the green-clad man thought it was worth coming to this world for. We followed Orrin's wish, and soon, the three of us carried all the cups we could to the counter.
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The person sighed and began to use an oddly shaped tool with a light on each cup. There was a beep at every instance, and a screen number changed. When they were done, Orrin slapped something that I figured was cash on the counter, and we departed with bags of our cups.
“This is the best cup ramen in any world! You’ll love it!” the green man explained to me once we got out of earshot from the building’s occupants.
“Uh-huh” was all I could reply with. Orrin seemed to think I had an idea of what was going on, but that could not be further from the truth.
“Are we going back already?” Pythagoras grumbled. I think he wanted to get more out of our shopping trip.
“Yes!” Orrin replied in a chipper voice.
Before another word could be said, bells began to ring across the town. Some other people on the streets suddenly dropped everything and ran into the nearest building. This couldn’t be good.
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That Boy Hare [On Hiatus]
Somewhere in the Falcon Plains, a hare is born. He opens his little eyes for the first time, eager to see the world. But to his surprise, he’s not with his brothers and sisters in a litter. No, he’s flying! Flying! Imagine the wonder of that little hare; his first moments were spent in the air! The wind rushing through his fur, lesser birds beneath his paws. It was...magical! Then he looks up and sees the sky. The sky! What a mystical thing! And then he sees the monstrous brute that’s carrying him and similar things drawing closer. “Yo! That boy hare lookin’ real fine!” “Hey, you, Brutus! Don’t ya wanna share?” Thus begins the story of a very special hare. { Credit for Cover Art goes to Daicelf, on Deviant Art}
8 142NOVA INTERIT.US
It's 2063, and the town along with much of the nation are in disarray. The decay started years before the Great Event. Our town still had hope thanks to the five families, who'd created a blockchain based water distribution system for the locals, a valuable secret hidden from the Global Water Commission and their network of mercenaries. Earlier in the mid-2040's, right after the state secessions of Idaho, Montana, and Texas, the Global Council of Water Commissioners made their deals and moved into towns throughout the country. They called it "the integration." The Commission and their contractors integrated with municipal water departments, using their organized network to invade like parasites on local services. It all coincided with the 29th Amendment to the United States Constitution, later referred to as the Regional Trident Plan. Nova is a story about survival, power structures, the turning of relationships, and the networking between people and the systems to which they belong. It’s about A.I. blockchain possibility, and its potential for human betterment versus our detriment. It’s about the question of whether or not we need to be saved from ourselves, and by who or what? The Great Event at the end of the first chapter might just be what actually saves us. The epilogue will take place in 2517. This scene is fully sketched and the full arc of the novel is set. I expect to finish Nova Interitus by summer of 2023. This is realist hard-sci-fi dystopian fiction. I hope you find Nova to be a challenging and consuming story. This is not something I planned to write. It all came to me in a dream and I haven't been able to stop writing it. This Royal Road posting is basically a beta test with chapters and drafts to get some feedback and see if there's any readership for this narrative. For the full experience read Nova on Substack. I will be narrating a podcast version later this year there. https://novainteritus.substack.com/
8 143Children of the Sands
Raised by a religious order to be a protector of her people, an orphan must prepare for her baptism. Next year, she faces her goddess and will be judged worthy—or drown. **** Orphaned from birth, taken on as a ward of the sands, Teldris has only one path laid out before her—to become a warden of the Order of Malhayar and serve her people and her goddess. But her adopted family has come to mean everything, and she quickly learns that the world will test her loyalties. After a hellish attack that upends the foundations of her temple, she must choose between her family and her faith. Born with an unnatural curse, Leith dele Monroe will do anything to protect those he loves—but his family is fractured. Leith finds himself in a foreign land, ready to do whatever it takes to restore his family and cover up his sister’s sins. And with the bloodlust in his veins, nothing can stop him from getting what he wants. Twisted up in the affairs of the Order, Teldris and Leith are drawn to each other, their fates woven in a tapestry that only the bloodiest dagger will rend.
8 160Rise of the Protector
As dimensions clash, various powers start leaking into the world. Beasts of unknown powers and people with strange abilities all suddenly start making their appearance. Can the protagonist come to terms with the constant threat that he and his family, friends and new found allies will be under. Can he learn to control the powers that he gained through a meeting of three. Ravok, Red and Blue all have to come to terms with living together and having their powers bound to each other for the rest of their journey, will they be able to stand against the new threats and work together to save both their own lives and those of each other or will they crumble under the weight of their new life. Updates every Tuesday and Saturday
8 129Expensive Mistakes
(Based off the webcomic Ghost Eyes by Mr. Circus Papa) "Will you be staying at the church for Christmas?""I promised I would return for holidays, so yes.""Great! See you then!" Tobias Schneien moved out of the church as soon as he turned eighteen. He hated even thinking about the place he grew up in. Nevertheless, he promised he'd return on holidays.Emilio Murkmere began working as a nurse at the hospital a year and a half ago. Things had been pretty uneventful. Until one Christmas. An AU based off of writing prompts my friend and I found on Pinterest.(Cover art by IzzoSStv on Devianart. https://www.deviantart.com/izzosstv/art/Tobias-x-Emilio-806882628)
8 211Tidel Wave Nico Di Angelo x Reader
Completed (: Warning: this is my first work! To me, it's kinda cringe but I need to edit it. (: kinda cliche I guess.You are 15 years old and the only half-blood that Nico Di Angelo can stand. Little do they know that they have crushes on each other. This is after the second titan war and war with Gaea. This will have quest, drama, almost dying and more.I DONT OWN THESE CHARACTERS: ALL RIGHTS TO RICK RIODAN!!!!
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