《Ashes of Hell》Chapter 14 - Training - part 4
Advertisement
"I'm sorry to inform you, Mr. Nestor, but your 'key' is of the lowest rank. Thus I couldn't assign you a single room like I did for your companion, Mr. Linneo.
I can tell you more this time. Your key has basically lost all its uses, as you can feel, it already cannot help you in calming your status.
Probably you didn't think about it, but as soon as you arrived here it helped you in keeping your cool after a moment of extreme shock.
After all, this is what low-graded keys do, transporting you here after death and ensuring you don't die soon after due to a panic attack."
Teresa, this time, explained thoroughly why Nestor had to share his room with someone else. She even went out of her way to add more information.
'Is she feeling guilty about last time? A sweet girl indeed, however, I have the feeling that judging people simply by appearances here, isn't very wise.
Nonetheless, I won't throw away my key just like that, it is a keepsake for me. It is both the end of my previous life and the start of my new one.
Plus it is not true that I didn't make a psychological check on myself. Every sane person would do that after experiencing death, key or not.'
After a quick shower, Nestor put back on both his trousers and jacket, which he hoped he could wash up in the following days. Maybe even buy a new set of cloth, since the temperature in Ceres was constant at all times and never went a certain limit, it being from 25 to 20 degrees Celcius.
Thus it was never truly cold, but it wasn't as hot either. Nestor had walked a lot in the past two days, thus he started to feel some sweat smell coming from his clothes.
Soon after Linneo knocked on his door, signaling that twelve hours had passed from when they went into their rooms.
'It's not surprising that I slept for so long, after all, that I went through. I really need to buy a lot of stuff for myself, earlier having some soap to use in the shower wouldn't have been that bad.
Advertisement
I also need to buy some food and water, even stockpiling some for emergencies could be a good choice.
The problem is that I don't have money, I'll ask teacher for a way to find a job as soon as we'll have our first lesson.
Right, he didn't even tell me when or how we'll get in touch, it's not like I can search for him through the entirety of the academy.
Maybe he even has an office where he studies, but the doors of the academy tend to move, they usually don't stay in the same spot for long.
Damn, so many things to do. Linneo was kind enough to keep count of how much time passed, but I won't be able to always rely on him.
I'll have to buy if not an artifact at least a few candles to be more autonomous for the next few days. I have also yet to sell the jacket, though I'd hope not to sell my trousers.'
A few ridiculous thoughts lingered on his mind, would it really hurt to experience an ounce of exhibitionism? After all, he never attempted this kind of thing his whole life, well now two lives.
Jokes aside, Nestor stretched a bit his shoulders and went straight for the academy, until reaching Teresa's reception office and asking her about his room.
Ten minutes later they were walking on the sidewalk of the perfectly straight streets of the city. Strange floral-shaped street lamps were adoring the main avenue leading to the valley of avarice.
The lamps were giving a bright green light, enhancing the natural shade of the climate in the city. Lush bushes and neatly trimmed trees were also present on the sidewalk.
Nestor could also already see an increased number of shops on both sides of the road.
Many people were also busy traveling the road. Some were running at unbelievable speeds, at least for Nestor standards, many others were traveling by carriage or some strange steed.
"Oh my! This is truly unbelievable!"
In particular, the sight of humongous reptilian beasts, reminiscing him of lizards, was absurdly shocking for Nestor. Before, during his trips between the gate, the academy, and the lodgings he had not seen them.
Advertisement
Mostly students like him, normal people, and some speedsters were bustling in the academic zone.
But now it was non-other than chaos, so many strange and unbelievable beasts that he was about to collapse. Either from fear of being stepped on and eaten, excitement from them being able to be tamed, or embarrassment from showing such vivid emotions.
Until now the duo had been talking about their past life, sharing some bits every so often.
Linneo showed great respect and admiration toward his ancestors. They had built their city, Ulhul, inside a gigantic glacier, being exceptionally sturdy it had taken them decades only to carve through the ice, even with the use of magical artifacts.
Nestor on the other hand had spoken of the marvels left behind by the roman empire. During his past life, he had visited Rome quite a few times, as it was the beating heart of the religion he professed. He described the magnificent buildings that almost rivaled that of the chained city. Even if here, they were abnormally bigger, some were very similar.
"Nestor, I understand your surprise, however, you need to make your skin thick in front of such occasions. Back In my homeworld, remaining shocked before an unknown fiend would spell death.
I am sure it must be the same here, if not much worse. Keep your composure at all times, that is my motto."
A smile appeared on his face, as Linneo observed Nestor's expression of disbelief slowly changing back to normal.
" Thank you for reminding me. I'm all good now, let's go."
Soon enough, Nestor's straight expression was put to test, perhaps a little too soon for his own taste.
The duo arrived at the far end of the avenue, from where they could see a wide plaza, kilometers wide. Many other streets converged here, channeling a seemingly endless stream of all kinds of humans and sentient creatures alike.
The plaza was packed with stands and merchants willing to sell their goods. The crowded appearance of the place remembered Nestor of the great open-air market back in Florence.
Yet his jaw almost dropped to the floor once he saw what stood in the middle of the plaza.
Sitting on a greyish stone throne, was a giant humanoid figure. The duo was currently facing the back of the sitting figure. However once on his legs, the individual could reach almost thirty meters height.
Nestor couldn't distinguish their features very well from the distance, however, he could tell that the figure was wearing a white hooded robe adorned with golden embellishments.
His left arm was resting on the stony armrest of the throne, while the right one was pointing at the sky.
'That's not exactly what he's doing, He's pointing straight to the sun!'
Even if he noticed as much, Nestor couldn't have been possibly the only one to do so. Many others must have had the same sensation, yet like him, they couldn't know the meaning of the gesture.
"This is a sight to behold, truly. Maybe while we make our way to the giant, we could also check on a few shops to complete our errands."
Apparently, Linneo had already been tasked by his teacher to buy for him a few ingredients here in the valley. While Nestor had already shared his intent to purchase a time-related artifact.
Linneo pointed out that this was the right decision since normal tools wouldn't work properly in the city. The reason being, that here was easy for newcomers to remain scammed out of their few belongings.
Finally, he confidentially praised the generosity of his teacher, as he had gifted him such an artifact, which he used to keep track of time.
'I thought it might have been related to one of his personal skills, yet he has been cheating all the time hah!'
The duo made their way toward the center of the plaza while checking on a stand every so often.
At a certain point, a particular tent caught Nestor's attention. A wooden sign directly announced the owner of the shop and said:
"Levante's exquisite emporium".
Advertisement
- In Serial119 Chapters
The Fate of a villain (But not really)
But to be honest, he doesn't really want to be one. Assigned that role by a bored god looking for entertainment, he struggles with the past. Seriously, how much of an asshole could a dead man have been? As an imposter, the new soul possessing the body of a certain Francis Rayleigh, he tries his best to change that past image of his. Its not all simple though. Just because of his pretty face, it doesn't mean that life bows down to him. And to top it all off, a god, no matter how bored they were, is still by most definitions a god. Ultimately, on the grand stage of the world, will the fate forced upon him prevail? Without burning any villages, and trying to be as peaceful as possible, he hopes to avoid those hands of fate. No evil empires dancing on his palm, no conspiracy to rid the world of intelligent life. Not even a superweapon to turn the world's lives into his slaves. Just a man, found on the weaker side of life, trying to live. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NOTE: CONTAINS CROSSDRESSING, LGBT ELEMENTS It starts off really slowly, so take your time. Mostly just fluff, with plot sprinkled in. The action picks up in chapters 20+! Its somewhat episodic, but also a serial, if that makes sense. Word counts per chapter from 2000 - 3000 Photo by Dorothe form PxHere Releases weekly(?)
8 119 - In Serial27 Chapters
A Nerd's Wet Dream Come True (Tossing an OC into Marvel) V2.
Andrew William. A perfectly average boring name for a perfectly average and boring boy. He wasn't particularly smart nor gifted. Not in academics nor in sports. He wasn't even as good as the other losers and "nerds" in his school. He could not remember the expansive lore of Star Wars, he could not recite the dialogue of Startek nor pull off any cool one-liners and quotes, and he couldn't beat the final level in most games without resorting to cheating or mods. All he had was half-assed knowledge of pop culture and comics, but the one thing he was good at, his one and only pride and calling in life? Making Youtube videos. No, it wasn't sad! He was actually quite popular, honest! He made videos of adventure and nature, although it was mostly of the creepy variety. Abandoned hospitals, old mines, long tunnels, and undiscovered caverns. And as ironic as it was predictable, it would, of course, turn out to be the reason that he died. Well, at least he could take comfort in dying doing what he loved, not many people these days could say the same, you know? The concept comforted him at least, but it turns out death is not always as permanent as people liked to think, because Andrew somehow found himself in New York City of all places after falling to his certain death in the Devil's hole, Death Valley Nevada., only thing was it certainly wasn't the New York that he knew of. The Fantastic Four? Stark Industry? Captain America's biography? Oh boy, and did he mention he's no longer human? His Asian friends had introduced him to the wonders of Isekai novels and mangas, but isn't the order a little messed up? Where's his meeting with the sexy and nice Goddess? Where was his intro or tutorial?? Explanation plz I'm a noob at cross-dimensional travel! Help? Setting? Menu? Status? May I please get to pick my own cheat power? No? I'm stuck as a virus? Well, At least the Prototype Virus was pretty darn cool and OP. Just not as op as being able to casually break the sound barrier in my sneakers or bench pressing the earth, but I'll just have to make do. Please don't be some fucked up Marvel continuity where Nazis and Hydra won or some shit. Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore
8 335 - In Serial45 Chapters
The Portable Dungeon
Drake, a game developer, after finally finishing creating his new game called "Dungeons and Mayhem", gets sucked into a parallel world where swords and magic rule the continent, as well as where various monsters and dangerous creatures roam about. The only forgiving thing is that he was transported with a benefit where he doesn't know left to right, and that is the power to view and manipulate the status! Of a dungeon of course.
8 195 - In Serial37 Chapters
Fortuna Sands
Fortuna Sands is a popular Virtual Reality Game where everything is determined by a turn of deck of cards called the Deck of Fate. Cee is new player in FS learning the system allows the most fantastic of outcomes simply by drawing the right hand again the Luck of the Draw. With real world money on the line, and a clue that leads her to her mysterious family inheritance hidden in this VR world, she meets new characters both friendly and shady, she navigates this world to find the most unexpected of outcomes. As the stakes get higher and higher, the secrets of this world go deeper, and she may discover that her own fate is tangled in this world more than she can possibly imagine. Includes: Virtual Reality, Gambling, and Gaming System elements. Updates once every Friday. Now updating thrice every Friday (that's three chapters a day on Friday, starting (Jun 10.)
8 193 - In Serial17 Chapters
Hubrism's Writer Room
Want to see more behind the scenes content about my stories? Need Wattys tips? Looking for hot, piping tea about how to be successful on Wattpad?Then you're in the right place ;)Cover illustration by @weirdoplaces
8 104 - In Serial11 Chapters
TBATE | Lingering Flames
Living day by day, reduced to a weapon, a weapon no longer needed in a world without war. Arthur Leywin, the boy wonder, lives his days alone and searching for purpose. Time rewind fanfic of TBATE years after the events of the story, you've read one, you know what it is, just hope I can provide some quality for my first work.TurleMe owns the characters and setting, I'm simply twisting it for my amusement.That cover isn't mine either if you couldn't tell.
8 183

