《Unstable World》With Heavy Hearts
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Garrett awoke again with an airless breath, seeing an expansive white void around him, a desk containing an entire universe on it, and Otris. Garrett's breath was shakier this time as he got his bearings again. He stared down at his hands, which were clean, but didn't feel that way. He held his face in his hands for a few moments before Otris broke the silence.
"Would you like a cup of math?" Otris gently slid a teacup filled with liquid mathematics to Garrett. He took his own sip in the silence of the void. Cautiously, after what felt like hours, Garrett picked up the cup and took a sip. It didn't do much to calm his nerves, but the taste of cosines seemed oddly soothing. "So, you died again."
"It was worse this time," Garrett said, finding the strength to speak.
"What happened this time?" Otris asked, setting down his cup and focusing his attention on Garrett.
"There was this pixie," Garrett said as he stared down at the hands that had held her lifeless body. "Her name was Iadre." He held up his hands, which were gently shaking. "We fought this large bird person creature, and..." Garrett stared at Otris with tears streaming down his face. "He killed her."
"I see," Otris said, bowing his head in respect to the dead. "I noticed that you seemed to be more distraught about this one's death compared to the deaths the first time you died. What changed?"
Garrett took another deep airless breath and a sip of math before speaking again. "I think it was three things. First, that I had spent more time bonding with her, so I was closer to her." Otris calmly nodded as he listened. Garrett mustered up his strength to keep going. "Second, was the way she died. Unlike Min-Tul, Jerten, and Cerezie the first time, who died quickly and painlessly, Iadre suffered. I could hear her cries of agony and I couldn't do anything to save her." Tears were once again forming in Garrett's eyes. "That's the third thing. I thought I was better and that I was stronger, but I'm not. I couldn't save her."
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Otris calmly got up and walked over to Garrett, placing his hands on Garrett's shoulders. "Garrett, Heroes do fail from time to time." He gently reached around and pulled out the pouch of Helioxene that Garrett had collected. "In fact, most of us Duken expect our heroes to fail many times before they start to get things right." Otris pulled out one of the orbs of Helioxene and held it up to Garrett. "This is why we make sure that Heroes gather Helioxene; so we can send them back so they can try again." He poured out all the Helioxene into his hands and absorbed them. "Asuria has not yet finalized itself in what it is and isn't completely. As you saw in your second, reincarnation shall we call it, that those who died may not remain dead the next time you reincarnate."
Garrett wiped the tears from his face, but felt Otris's last words go in one ear and out the other. Otris sighed and rested his hand on Garrett's shoulder again. "That isn't to say that what you're going through or went through doesn't matter," Otris said. "Every time you reincarnate and all the connections you begin to make influence Asuria and how it plays out. It is said that some bonds can sustain themselves throughout a mess of time and space." Otris walked back around the desk to his side and sat down. "Learn from your successes to repeat them. Learn from your failure to prevent them."
Garrett took a deep airless breath and began to find his second wind. He stood up with renewed vigor. As he reached down, he noticed that he only had his sword and shield. The axe that he had gotten was nowhere to be found.
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'...I guess that makes sense... I didn't keep what I had found last time in the timeline with Vanessa and Zerat...'
"So, with the Helioxene, what can you do for me this time?" Garrett asked.
"Well, I can give you a choice this time, actually," Otris said, waving his hand. Two boxes appeared on the desk in front of Garrett. Otris patted the box on Garrett's right. "In this box is an upgrade to your sword. I can modify it to be able to transform into a bow." Otris then turned his attention to the other box. "Inside this one is a bracelet. It will allow you to cast some minor magic. Nothing too powerful. So, what shall it be?" Garrett looked between the two boxes. "And don't worry, the option you don't pick shall still be available to you in the future, provided you bring back enough Helioxene." Garrett pondered the two options before settling on the box with the magic bracelet. "Interesting. Why this one?"
"If I lose my sword," Garrett said, putting on the bracelet, "Then I at least have another option." As he finished putting the bracelet on, he felt a soft surge of power course through his arm. "Whoa, that tingles."
"Alright, off you go. Collect more Helioxene, Garrett," Otris said, opening the portal behind Garrett. He waved his hand and a force of energy pushed Garrett into the portal.
"Wait, how do I-?" Garrett was cut off as the portal closed behind him, putting him in a world of darkness. "Crud. Okay, where's the lid?" Garrett felt around for the opening panel and shoved it open, taking in a fresh breath of the cave air. He looked down at the bracelet in wonder. How in the world was he going to use this? Zerat was the only one that seemed to use any kind of magic. What Iadre did technically wasn't magic, but some cosmic horror's energy.
He sighed and headed towards the exit of the room. This time, the hallway split left and right. After gently carving one side of a rock, Garrett flicked it into the air. It clattered softly onto the ground. "Alright, I'm going left," Garrett said as he picked up the rock and headed down the left hallway.
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The Way of Wrought Earth, or: My Tale of Rebirth as a Mostly Inanimate Rock
Mirage Winter. Second Clause, current act. A Relic Hunter's life is harsh — and often short — in the shattered lands of the Frontier. But when Whitelight reemerges, a legendary blade capable of separating anything the user wills it to cut, a newly formed unit organized of Hunter’s both young and old (and sediment based, in a particular case) vow to stop it from falling into cruel hands. Standing against them is the Frontier itself: the unbridled wrath of global federations, fellow Hunters, and those who lurk in the shadows of giants. As the world races to unravel a history desperately concealed, a semi-sapient rock soon realizes that some things are better off dead and buried — especially when those secrets carry an insidious corruption with no cure. Iteration: Mirror-glass Stars in Iron Oceans. First Clause. A soul wakes up as a rock, clinging to fragmented memories and knowledge of another era. What fate awaits such a creature? No, this isn't satire. Yes, I am dumb enough to try to take this seriously. Updates Wednesday, Friday with a variable amount of chapters. This story is not recommended for the easily disturbed. This is your only warning.
8 105I'm In Charge of SCP
Object Class: Keter Description: SCP-X is a humanoid that calls himself as "Zhang Jue" and came from a parallel universe with traits that are unaffected by most SCP anomalous objects. Long-term observational studies reveal that he has a mildly antisocial personality and loves to trash-talk. SCP-X can obtain the ability of a particular SCP anomalous object through physical contact, and the ability obtained will be adjusted accordingly to his condition. Special Containment Procedures: Special attention needs to be paid to the containment of SCP-X. (Special precautions towards themself) SCP-X should be contained in a single villa designed by a French designer, not less than 50 x 50 x 20 meters, with a garden on the top floor and a swimming pool with no less than 200 square meters in the courtyard. The Foundation shall assign a male staff member over 50 years of age, trained in British royal etiquette, who shall wear a wig 24 hours a day to assist in the management of the villa. The staff monitoring the SCP-X behavior must undergo a monthly psychological evaluation. There have been cases where staff had quit the Foundation because they could not stand the trash talk. Updates 1 chapter daily!Read up to 40 chapters on my Patreon (patreon.com/nahyesq)Full credit goes to "Walnut again"
8 238The Skeleton Warrior & The Young Priestess
Miria is a young priestess in her school to become a adventurer. She gets a Skeleton familiar and has to over come this and many other obstacles on her journey. Real world style with game like elements.(The cover is like that because I couldn't find anyone good at drawing skeletons. So I mad it myself.)
8 165Arthur...but the draft
Read "Arthur" Instead, this was just a trial run of writing a story, think of it as an alternate timeline if you will, since it still readable
8 198A loose thread
The goddess picked him up. He tried to struggle free, but her grip only tightened. Eventually her thumb caught his head, pulling it backwards. He stared helplessly as she brought her free hand closer, revealing a small vial in her massive hand. She pressed it to his lips, and he felt the contents flow into him. He tried not to drink it, but his body would not listen. Despite his revulsion, his body ignored him by drinking deeply. "Drink and forget. I will give you everything you ever wanted. A loving family. A comfortable home. And then, " Her grip tightened, and forcing the air out his lungs. He coughed up the strange liquid and caused more to spill. “And then, you will pay for your defiance. On your twentieth birthday you will remember.” She pulled the vial away and turned him to look at her. “You will remember, just as everything you love is taken from you, right before your eyes…” Her voice trailed off and his world went dark. .... The above leads right into the story. The first chapter is a bit rough as the MC (a child at the time), hurts himself rather badly. I will try to include similar warnings on chapters as the story goes on, but I want to be up front that I may miss or forget things. Many of the tags are included so I can have flexibility writing the story. I am posting this largely to hold myself accountable to keep writing. Chapters will be short, but I am planning to post weekly. This is the first thing I have written (you've been warned). I am enjoying the story and I hope you will too. Please feel free to let me know what you think of the story as it progresses.
8 191Help me please...
Mm yes cross over "Hey Tommy?""Isn't that, that dream guy you told us about?"
8 184