An overnight fall from wealth
A cold wind descended down the mountain tops in the north and blew across their stony feet. By the time it ventured along the rocky plains to Frost City, it became a pleasant, welcome breeze. From the farmers tending their fields to the nobles relaxing in their villas outside the city, it also chased away the summer heat. In the waning light of the late evening, the cool weather thus brought contented sighs from many.
Som...
2020-04-30 02:07:27 +0000 UTC
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Washed incense stones?
Another intermittent groan interrupted the monotonous creaking of the axle as the wooden wheels tumbled over another dried rut. The dust raised from the clopping horse and rolling caravan sought to powder their sweaty skins and accumulate between their toes. The taste of clay past their tongues and itched inside their throats.
"Brother Chu, how long do we have to travel on the road? It's been nearly a month since we left the tow...
2020-04-21 05:05:49 +0000 UTC
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Travelers on the road
The night sky stretched out before them towards a horizon lost in the distance. A full moon hung overhead as it kept the company of the limitless stars. A chirp of an insect or disturbed bird drifted above the low rumble of the wooden wheels. A riderless horse tethered to the wagon followed behind while out in front, a lone rider guided them along the desolate road.
"Why did you only take three horses, Chu? We could have hitched ...
2020-04-21 04:52:33 +0000 UTC
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Preparing for a journey
Ever since Mr. Thomas converted half of the old corral into a training ground, the site had undergone a myriad of changes. A stout fence encircled the area, not for keeping prying eyes away but to prevent accidents from the practicing weapons. An unroofed house with narrow corridors and large doorways remained from the days when Doug and his party trained for skirmishes within the confines of city streets.
The open plot next to...
2020-04-21 04:47:51 +0000 UTC
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Dreaming of a weapon
Chu ran his finger across a segment of the drawing plans before tapping his chin. Old Hodge had spared no expense in sieving out large sheets of paper for exclusive use in the farm expansion. The building plans he currently browsed covered his entire desk with lines, numbers, and words which even a blind man could see.
Satisfied with the thick stone-walled, hidden basement he tasked Halter to construct with secret routes, he sighe...
2020-04-11 01:11:24 +0000 UTC
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Future plans
Mr. Thomas bent his head while walking under the low, crooked doorway. With the door creaking close, with a complaint behind him, he sighed on hearing the greeting from his wife. There she sat on the bench by the table, occupying the only pieces of furniture in the room. The unhinged wooden shutters lay beside the open window allowing a broad beam of welcome sunlight to shed light on her knitting.
Opposite her, in the small hearth, a tiny...
2020-04-09 11:30:44 +0000 UTC
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Building a reputation
Chu cast an apologetic face at Lucy while handing over a refilled waterskin. A sense of shame lingered in his mind as his eyes fell on her drenched shirt under her red leather armor. Gritting his teeth, he ignored the sweat dripping over his own eyebrows as he joined his companions.
"In times like these, I think you fooled me, Chu. Speed my foot. I should have never taken that stupid Bitzer talisman and instead waited for a demon...
2020-04-06 00:34:15 +0000 UTC
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Overcoming fears
Depending on the discerning eye, a forest can take many forms. On a relatively dry, sunny day, the shaded canopy, bubbling brooks, and natural growth created a free and unfettered landscape. Conversely, plopping rain at night, rustling leaves, and eerie calls in the darkness could melt a stout heart. In those circumstances, the once open wilderness became a stifling prison. A prison where one remained fearful of an attack from any direction...
2020-04-04 03:56:58 +0000 UTC
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Battling against an invincible foe
The death of the wolf demon lifted the terror overhanging the goblin race. Free from that calamity which prowled and depopulated entire villages, the goblins began the process of reclaiming their lost territory. Thinking about it while stepping into the small clearing, Chu realized how little he grasped of the world around him.
Back then, he had cheered Clod as the boy unleashed his vengeance against the demon beast....
2020-04-01 23:48:04 +0000 UTC
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Hey readers, I am so sorry about the recent delays. Had a little scare last week and it's still being sorted. Will have all chapters out by the end of the week. Thank you for continuing to stick with me.
I hope everyone is holding on and being extra careful throughout this trying time. Please don't forget to keep safe and rally through this.
Keep well, everyone and take care of your families!
2020-03-31 10:47:14 +0000 UTC
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Gathering raw materials
"Elder Brother Ming, the forest around us is secure. I'm heading out to scout ahead with Fenrir."
Dyna reported in a monotonous tone to the oldest male in the resting party. The redhead then flickered among the trees just as quickly as she appeared. No doubt, she had honed her 'blink' ability like them so as to avoid tripping on exposed roots and vines.
Ming blinked his eyes before switching an uncomfortable face...
2020-03-31 10:42:12 +0000 UTC
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Testing and Prodding
Chong passed a tired hand across his face and then forced open his bloodshot eyes. Last night, when Doug chose him to tag along to the meeting of the Bloodnight Society today, he hardly slept a wink. Rising from his bunk, he first washed with a basin of cold water before donning his leather armor. Throwing over a thin robe to hide his protective gear and easily accessible short-bladed sword, he unbolted the room and descended the creaki...
2020-03-20 03:08:14 +0000 UTC
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The swap and steal
The light from the flames of the outer fires traveled over the grassland. Rolling over a knoll, Stevven Gofart knew they would soon arrive at the Military camp. Breathing a sigh of relief, a smile broke on his stiff face. If not for the fear of demon beasts still lurking within the surrounding lands, he would have pitched camp at sunset. His Military escort, however, was adamant they risk the nightly travel to join the main camp.
Th...
2020-03-20 03:03:36 +0000 UTC
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On the road
Chu stood motionless in the ankle-deep stream. With his back bent, he scanned below the clear bubbling water to the spaces between the stones and rocks. Tensing his shoulders, his body resembled a coiled spring ready for release. After what seemed like hours, a tiny claw protruded out from one of the spaces nearby.
Inching out, the bright red crustacean nervously exited its hiding spot.
With a splash, the hand of the waiting predator...
2020-03-20 02:57:45 +0000 UTC
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Subcontracting
Merchant Quin twisted his face on seeing the bluish fruit placed on the table. Even in a darkened setting, he would recognize the useless item. Reigning in the displeasure from his voice, he raised his eyes to the brunette girl sitting behind the crowded table.
"Indigo melon. Pardon my lack of vision, but I fail to connect this useless fruit to the profitable venture you mentioned earlier about."
The girl smiled at his response as...
2020-03-09 23:45:40 +0000 UTC
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Contracting merchants
Chu sat on a weathered log under the evening sun. From his position on top of the hill, he had an open view of the grasslands. Most importantly, however, he held an unobstructed view of the road in the far distance. Tapping lazily against the tough but hollowed log, he listened to the little redhead sitting beside him.
"And so we thought why not form our fire like this. Ishara and the goblin shaman showed us the secret of casting...
2020-03-07 04:08:05 +0000 UTC
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Setting the stage
Priest Quarrie cast a pitiful face from his lying position, up at the young Healer kneeling beside him. Even from his blurred vision, the angelic features of this raven-haired beauty shone in the campfire. He forced a contorted smile in the hopes of improving his haggard disposition.
"Heaven has graced us for traveling Healers to arrive during our time of need. Please, help my fellow sister Healers first before..."
"Yes, yes, d...
2020-03-05 22:30:32 +0000 UTC
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Weapon of mass destruction
Ming continued chatting with the three scouts as if meeting up some long lost brothers. Chu, on the other hand, focused on the short priest. In the few travels he experienced on the road, he never encountered an oldish priest being part of a scouting party.
"Priest Quarrie, my brother and I have yet to earn our stiff skin from adventuring. But this is the first I have seen a priest riding with scouts."
"Little Yegg, wh...
2020-02-29 02:24:05 +0000 UTC
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Brothers on the road
An open grassland didn't always mean one could gaze around till as far as the eye could see.
Like the gentle waves of a calm sea, the rolling, low undulations blocked the traveler's view depending on their location on the road. Small knolls rose like sparse little islands topped with the occasional tree. Hedges and shrubs dotted the side of the gravelly and mostly compact dirt trail that connected the inhabitants of the Empire.
2020-02-29 01:40:50 +0000 UTC
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Adventuring on the grasslands
Deep within the grasslands during the night.
Lucy heard them before the wolves. The sun had set for only a few hours and she had drawn the first watch. Sitting with her back supported by the lone oak on the hill, the faint flapping sounded vaguely familiar. The beating came from the south and seemed to be circling to the east when it suddenly grew louder.
Narrowing her eyes, she cast aside her waterproof sleeping ba...
2020-02-21 02:18:42 +0000 UTC
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A steady fire
Two days later, Chu walked past the east gate of the farm while tightening the leather straps of his left gauntlet. Lowering his neck, he cast aside all politeness as he tugged with his teeth. The ponytailed older brunette and beak-nosed elder accompanying him, however, never voiced any objection. Such actions by those donning armor had since long been accepted as the norm.
"Halter, let Jill organize a protection team if you decide to ve...
2020-02-21 02:14:26 +0000 UTC
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An opportunity
Patriarch Gofart heaved a long sigh and then relaxed by slumping his flabby, old figure on the oversized chair. A few steps below, the Elders and decision-makers slowly trickled out of the large hall. The heavy doors closed so as to signal the end of another daily meeting of the merchant household. The clacking footfalls on the paved stones indicated the return of the only other occupant.
"Father, I have received important news! It seem...
2020-02-14 15:43:48 +0000 UTC
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Thoughtful Training
Lucy slipped on her boots and then pulled and tied the leather straps tight. Rising from the wooden stool, she fixed the buckles on her leather belt. Attached to it, hung her small first aid pouch at the back, while a pair of dagger sheaths occupied both sides. Satisfied with her armor, she fixed her black cloak and then tossed her straight blonde hair behind.
"Are you heading out this morning to relieve Toll at the camp?"
Sh...
2020-02-11 15:16:30 +0000 UTC
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2020-02-08 02:03:44 +0000 UTC
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Double Turning
Ursus made his way across the slum lanes to the south gate. His companion this time was a wiry young man who had visited with the Boss. Similar to his relation to Little Tuck, in the beginning, this man proved a poor conversationalist. Threading past some unsavory looking characters, however, this individual radiated a firm aura. Ursus felt a sense of protectiveness while walking with this person. They finally stopped at the junction to a nar...
2020-02-08 01:54:11 +0000 UTC
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A helping hand
The weary door from the silent hall creaked open to the concoction room. The scent of medicinal herbs, potions, and lingering smoke greeted the fifteen-year-old boy as his eyes blinked naturally to regain focus. Worn tables and the familiar apparatuses saturated from the ages of countless preparations came into view. On a low stool next to a candlelit table sat the sole occupant who previously instructed him to enter.
Her brownish hair ...
2020-02-04 17:08:31 +0000 UTC
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No shortcuts
Ishara shook her head again in the negative on seeing what the human scribbled on the paper. She had no idea why the boy kept pushing this belief about magic. Twisting her lip at the crude circle drawn and dissected into quadrants, she pointed at the words fire, water, earth, air written inside them. Pointing to the crackling fire in the fireplace, she walked over to the open window and shifted her finger towards the chopping sounds in the fore...
2020-01-30 03:48:55 +0000 UTC
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The Alchemist Guild of Frost City
The Alchemist Guild occupied a relatively large portion of land adjacent to the Military headquarters. Situated in the northwestern quadrant of the city, it served as a major distribution node. Potions, antidotes, salves, and ointments used by soldiers, adventurers, and commoners walked across the large doors daily.
The Guild Hall and warehouses occupied the perimeter while internal lanes and alleys connected concocti...
2020-01-28 12:28:07 +0000 UTC
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Hair color
Ming stood by the stable fence while watching the actions of the old man. As if accustomed to a familiar routine, the balding man approached and petted the horse from the side. Coaxing the large animal, he ran his rough hands across the mane and then down a front shoulder. In no time at all, the right hoof of the horse ended up lodged between his thighs. Raising his head, his whitening eyebrows scrunched while turning to his helper.
"Little...
2020-01-24 15:12:23 +0000 UTC
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Finding new guards
Chu twisted slightly on the saddle to ease the pressure on his rump. The three-hour ride this morning across the grasslands reminded him of his status as an amateur rider. The slow clops while the horse picked a path across a stony spring brook and the bumpy gallop along the hills generated some soreness. Tonight would be a long sleepless night indeed.
"That rock outcropping opposite the treeline of the forest is my marker. The ruin...
2020-01-21 12:44:36 +0000 UTC
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