《Utterly Barbaric || Harald Finehair》iv
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Night had fallen yet it felt as if all the lights in the world were focused on Kari as she walked into the camp.
She kept her eyes facing forward, but she could still feel everyone's gazes coming to fall on their small group.
They were all probably wondering why there was a thin pale girl walking with a group of rugged vikings.
Outsider.
It was as if she could feel the word echoing in everyone's minds, their lips barely forming the word.
It wouldn't take a genius to figure out that she did not belong. From the oversized wool dress to the messy unbraided hair. She was an outcast.
Even here. She always had been. Maybe things were never meant to change.
Caught up in her own thoughts and losing the rhythm of her steps, she ended up bumping into one of the others in their group.
"Sorry," Kari muttered, fearing the worst. After all, it was only Harald who bothered speaking to her at all. The others probably thought of her as the enemy.
"Don't think about it too much." The man whispered to her softly before she could quicken her pace.
This made her pause in her steps slightly before she fell into stride with the man.
"What do you mean by that?" She asked, turning to look at him.
He was the same man who had found her. The yellow-haired man with a tattoo on the side of his face.
"The staring." He replied curtly, glancing at her for a second.
"Why? Do they often stare at people as if they want to eat them?" She drawled sarcastically, coaxing a laugh from the man.
He shook his head. "They only stare because they find you interesting."
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Kari rolled her eyes. "Oh, is that so?"
"Yes, I know that is the reason for their eyes to follow me everywhere." The man answered.
Their gazes met and soft laughter emerged from the two of them.
"My name is Kari." She said after their laughs had subsided.
"I know." He grinned. "My name is Halfdan."
Kari smiled, amused. "And how have you come to be a part of King Harald's company?"
"Well, I assume I would be part of my brother's own company," Halfdan said, meeting her smile.
At that, her smile faded slowly from her face. She was talking to that man's brother.
"Brother?" She raised a brow, trying to discern an answer.
"Yes, Harald is my brother." He answered. "He is the boring brother, of course."
Kari turned her eyes to the man walking ahead of all of them, his head held up high, greeting those he would pass. "Of course he is."
"He's not as bad as he looks," Halfdan whispered in a conspiratorial way.
"Sure he isn't." She replied sarcastically, not being able to help herself.
"I admit, he looks pretty horrible but he's not as horrible as you might think he is." He said, bumping his shoulder with hers playfully.
Under her breath, Kari murmured. "Now why do I find that so hard to believe?"
"What was that?" Halfdan asked, looking over at her for a moment.
She immediately shook her head, eyes wide, almost like an animal caught in a snare. More like a woman caught insulting the man who held her fate in his hands. "Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."
"Would the both of you stop whispering like a couple of gossiping maids?" Harald snapped, stopping in his steps and turning around to face them.
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Halfdan laughed, walking towards his brother to bump shoulders with him before whistling and going on his merry way.
As for Harald, his eyes never left Kari, not for a single moment. He tilted his head, and what looked like anger lingered in his eyes.
Kari only raised a brow, not letting it on that her heart had begun to beat furiously in her chest.
She couldn't even imagine a reason for it. Perhaps she was afraid, afraid of how he looked at her with such strong emotions in his gaze.
It was as if he had a war going on inside his head, much like the confusion ravaging her mind.
She was almost fascinated by him. That was, until he stomped over towards her, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to keep moving.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kari protested, attempting to pull her arm away from him, but his grip was tight and unwavering.
Harald grunted. "You are moving too slow. You're attracting too much attention."
"Oh, I wonder why that is so. Perhaps it is because I am dressed like a Northumbrian and I do not look like a viking at all." She rolled her eyes, continuing. "Also, I do look quite famished so they are all probably wondering how they should cook me first, maybe in a stew."
He huffed frustratedly. "We will find you some clothes."
"And supper?" Kari fluttered her lashes innocently.
Harald looked at her intently, his steps slowing. "Are you doing all of this on purpose or are you truly this irritating?"
She pulled her arm from his grip. "Well, will you feed me or eat me?"
If she didn't know better, she would think that he was actually considering both options. The nerve of this man.
Right before she could raise her hand to smack some sense and maybe some manners into him, he opened his mouth to call out to someone. "Bodil, get this woman some clothes and bring her some supper while you're at it!"
A plump woman, with a nervous expression, appeared right beside her nodding at Harald's every order. "Yes, King Harald."
Kari raised an eyebrow at that. What an arrogant man.
Harald only crossed his arms, staring at her with a challenge in his eyes. "Are you satisfied, my lady Kari? Will all that be to your liking, almighty Kari?"
She stepped closer to him, making his stance wobble for just a second. As if she knew what she was doing, she took another step, their breaths almost mingling.
Just as he was about to step away or move even closer, she did not even know, Kari's hand drifted to his braid, pulling on it really hard.
"Ow!" Harald complained, shock filling his orbs, to be followed by anger, indignation, and finally denial.
Kari only let out a laugh, following the woman called Bodil and leaving King Harald with a headache and perhaps, even something to remember her by.
However painful it might be.
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Hiraeth: Promise of the World
On a rainy night, a young woman is transported to the enchanting world of Sol'h'meyr. Thrilled to be freed from the shackles of monetary survival and societal expectations on Earth, she embraces her newfound existence and magical powers bestowed. But the rose-tinted fantasy life she always dreamed of turns out to be a stark reality that poses to kill her if she doesn't adapt and let go of her past. Essairyn battles both cripping nostalgia and imminent danger in her journey from the Spirit and Demon Forest to the human realm of As'pyze. Disillusionment leading to anger has erupted into violence across the deceptively peaceful land. New friends and allies gather by her side, but tragedy and betrayal lurk closer than she realizes. Hiraeth is the idyllic beginning tainted with dark shadows in the epic fantasy series, Singularity Cycle. [ – Now Completed with upcoming minor revisions before second book – ] + complex character relationships and growth + realistic quirky magic system + unique mythical creatures + deeply developed world lore + evocative writing style + cute sassy fox sidekick - Original Book Cover Art by Chryiss Rewritten final version of formerly named Canaan series and first book, My World to Live. After a long wait and major changes, the first book in the series is retitled Hiraeth: Promise of the World. Thank you to all readers that joined me since I began posting this story two years ago. Your support is what motivated me to never give up my dreams. [ Major Tags: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Psychological, Romance, Tragedy, Female Lead, Grimdark, High Fantasy, Magic, Mythos, Portal Fantasy, Isekai, Progression, Reincarnation, Secret Identity, Strong Lead, Epic Fantasy, Spirits, Demons, Monsters, Fairies, Dragons, Kingdom, Parallel Dimension, Mage, Knight, Royalty, Philosophy, Friendship, Slow Burn, Mythical. + Major Tags not in Book 1 but later in Series: Supernatual, Science Fiction, Ruling Class, School Life, Time Travel, War and Military, Vampires, Dimensional Travel. Minor Tags: Comedy, Horror, Artificial Intelligence, Cyberpunk, Dungeon, Dystopia, Loop, Steampunk, Virtual Reality, Villainous Lead. ] Additional Notes: The series, Singularity Cycle, is a passion project dating back to 2016. The original version of the first book was published on RR in 2019 and has since seen multiple revisions based on reader feedback with this one as the final and official fourth version before the second book. While the entire series story has undergone major changes in the last year, all books have been planned since the beginning of writing. It is also my second wish to eventually make this story into a webcomic, either by myself or with a team if possible. Thank you for taking this journey with me, and enjoy reading! ( You can alternatively read books in the series as standalone fictions, but they connect to one another though a running theme and mystery that evolves and progresses with the main character. ) Alternate Blurb for the Singularity Cycle series: Essairyn had never felt truly alive on Earth. It felt like something was missing ever since she was born, but even after nearly 20 years of mundane living, she could never pinpoint what this or the emptiness in her heart was. Suddenly, she awakens in a grandiose, primordial forest and encounters mythical creatures beyond her restless imagination in a parallel world called Sol'h'meyr. She befriends, in particular, a sassy fox-spirit named Akari who reincarnated after three millennia. Essairyn is gifted with abnormal magic, and Akari is being chased by those of her dark past. Together, they set out on an adventure in a world more dangerous than its beautiful facade could hide. Finding new friends along a path riddled with tragedy, Essairyn must learn who to trust as deceit and betrayal lie behind kindly faces. Life in this deceptively promising world slowly spirals down a path of no return. This is not a game, but cruel reality. Her simple adventure became the modest beginnings in a chain of disruptions that tore even the dimensional fabric of time and space. No one, not even Essairyn, was who she thought they were. And not even the fickle gods could change the time-worn destiny of the universes... A single promise shook eternity’s existence.
8 142The Necromancer's Notebook
Typist's Note History of File #004789301: -Original stored in filing cabinet of one Detective Greary of Arkham police department until death in 1913 from heart attack, then moved to “Cold Case” cabinet in main office. - Originals relabeled “Case File #0003876: Evidence: Open” and moved to APD sub basement one, cabinet 08. July 8th 1925. - Box labeled “Case File#0003876: Evidence: Open” moved as part of district consolidation to Boston Police Headquarters Retention Room 10, row 9, shelf 5. April 30th 1975 - Contents of Box labeled “Case File#0003876: Evidence: Open”, reviewed by Retention Clerk Casey Damaset #11238 and labeled for removal. Contents of original documents typed by #11238 and refiled as document #004789301 in Final Retention cabinet January 2nd 1993 before originals were destroyed. Originals comprised mostly of handwritten notes stored loose leaf in a box with no discernible organization or order. For the most part seem to have been pulled from the same notebook approximately two inches by four in dimensions, bound along the spine like an old pocket book. No indication was made anywhere of the manner in which these documents came into the original officer’s possession. They have been recorded in the order in which they were found, with appropriate notes included to indicate where materials have deviated from the norm. Priority for retention: Low. Labeled for destruction at Final Retention Cycle end 2010. To read in full: Click here. Or start the first chapter.
8 151Land of Blood: Returning of Origins
In the thousand years after the "First Invasion", the Great Continent of Zebois has always been experiencing an everlasting change. The land which was originnally filled with wars and disputes between the four races, had been changed into a war between the four races alliance against the invader, the "Dregoreth" race. Follow Evric's adventure in the Land of Blood to obtain the Absolute Power of Origin and stand against the arrogance of the world.
8 137YOLO?
Do you really only live once? Inspired by Re:Monster(P.S. English is not my first language, don't hate. Also this is my first fanfic.)
8 93Fishbowl
[NOTE: I'm in the process of getting this story fully updated on RR, but since I'm about two years behind, it may take a while. If you would like to read the up-to-date story, you can do so here.] Internet friends Naomi, Chelsea, Angelina, and Lachlan would do almost anything for their favorite band The Goldfish Technique, but they get more than they bargained for when the band’s bassist Dominic sends his strange friend Falcon to Naomi’s door. The four friends must work to solve the mystery behind Falcon and uncover something much greater in the process.
8 637The Mortal Seven Sins
In the early days of earth, a time long past, humanity faced a terrible calamity that brought it crumbling to its knees. From the ashes of humanity, the supernatural took its place on the throne as kings of the jungle, leaving humanity to whittle away underneath. With humanity so lost in time, what would it be like to be a human in such a trying time?Here enters the tale of Alexander P. Rosemary, a young man at the ripe age of twenty three. A rare genetic mutation changed his DNA into that of a human amongst the Rosemary lineage, the strongest vampire clan in the world. He went to school like any other, and passed his days the way he thought normal; that is, until his humanity was revealed. At the age of ten, he was sent off to his aunt's in the countryside, and returned to his hometown after graduating college. Now working for the Bureau of Racial Equality through happenstance, Alex is tested day in and day out on what humanity truly means.Watch his story unfold in a city where the dead rule, angels are ill-omens, and where his humanity is truly tested; In this eternal city called Ageless.
8 156