Nestra called it in immediately. Shinoda picked up after two minutes. He sounded exhausted but determined.
“I will be there in forty minutes, Palladian-san. Do you need me to pick you up?”
“Nah, I’m on my way by car. Meet you at the parking deck.”
“Be careful. They might be watching, and if they see you alone…”
“I know. Don’t worry.”
There were only two saving graces in this absolute shitshow. One, they’d noticed now instead of showing up ...
2023-07-04 19:53:19 +0000 UTC
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“So, tell me, what you learned?” the king asked.
His spymaster picked his notes. The old fox didn’t need them as his memory was pretty much perfect, but old habits were a safe house where the mind could more easily find its focus. T
“To start with, the weak. Their cavalry consists of exiled nobles from various nations. Their sets of armor are subpar and they lack tradition, thus cohesion and meaning. As for now, we assess that they will remain a non-issue for the next two ...
2023-06-30 17:11:04 +0000 UTC
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AN: Minor retconns. After valuable feedback from readers, I’ve decided to make Nestra’s motivation more obvious in previous parts through small changes in conversations.
1 the benefactor agrees to tell her about her species after she reaches C-rank because she is more curious about her real nature and
2 Nestra makes it clear the world is fundamentally unfair and she can do little about it but she can go after the asshole(s) who turned ...
2023-06-28 15:03:24 +0000 UTC
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Viv’s enthusiasm lasted as long as it took to take a second look at Turbodzilla. The creature was really, really, really too close for comfort. It wasn’t a couple meters away but everywhere was too close when the thing was the size of a building.
“Ok, back off.”
“Not me. I am going,” Solar declared without even looking at Viv. The large man unsheathed his blade and stalked forward with sure steps. It was an enchanted, Claymore-sized piece, the kind absolutely no one sa...
2023-06-23 16:28:50 +0000 UTC
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AN: a bit raw because I'm late sorry.
Viv followed officers to an exquisitely decorated tent sitting on a hill that hadn’t been here this morning, because nothing quite said majesty like casting tactical spells to make yourself taller. For this occasion, she could only take two people with her since space was limited and she went for Sidjin and Solfis. The explanation as to why became clear as they climbed up nicely carved stairs and saw the flow of soldier...
2023-06-16 17:15:36 +0000 UTC
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For their first meeting, Shinoda picked a classical izakaya nestled between two small office buildings deeper in the city. There was no place to park around so Nestra was forced to walk quite a bit through narrow streets dominated by electric bikes and the occasional heavy delivery drone. The Japanese influence in the district bled through the old-school neon signs advertising products from the homeland. The izakaya itself welcomed her with the smell of grilled meat and warm amber colors refl...
2023-06-12 04:14:48 +0000 UTC
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There were times Jaratalassi felt like he was really making a difference. Not with his own two hands. With the results of events he’d set in motion months before. This was such a time. Now all he had to do was enjoy.
Fleeing Paramese troops had stopped at the feet of the first wall, some climbing the parapet to man it and make up for their cowardice. The rest had slowed down, as many crossing the primitive gates as were gawping at the spectacle behind them. They all knew this was a sp...
2023-06-09 16:21:40 +0000 UTC
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“Mmmflgr?”
“It’s 9AM. Why are you still sleeping?” the modified voice asked in the burner.
Nestra almost asked if it was Gorge before — miracle of miracles — her brain caught up with her mouth for once.
“I was busy. What’s up?”
“What do you mean, what’s up? You asked me to call you.”
“Ah yes. Wasn’t sure if using keywords in a text was a good idea or not.”
“Our conversations are encrypted. Only Central could decode it and t...
2023-06-07 18:30:17 +0000 UTC
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Viv rushed into the command tent, finding the leaders waiting for her. There was no denying that she was being rude even if it was only for a few minutes, and perhaps an apology was in order? The issue was, a sovereign should never apologize publicly. That was a golden rule her father had explained to her. It was either someone else’s fault, not a fault, or the end of your career. Although, those people were her allies?
Fortunately, the decision was made for her. There was a new man a...
2023-06-02 15:35:20 +0000 UTC
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“Perps turned east, seven streets down. They’re
2023-05-28 13:48:23 +0000 UTC
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Nestra walked in and breathed the sweet, nice scent of freshly baked pastry. It was warm and buttery and really, really inviting. Seth was behind the counter, tapping on a datasheet. He seemed old fashioned like that. Most coffee shops relied on drones but the man baked everything on site and he manned the counter himself. Nestra expected his unorthodox approach to spook off those who wanted to be left alone but, to her surprise, the place was packed on a weekday. Not just that. Delivery dron...
2023-05-28 13:37:07 +0000 UTC
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“Nuée.”
Viv’s spell traveled over the heavies with a loud whomp, then the thick dark ball expanded in a malicious cloud of devouring miasma. The ravenous fog traveled across the plane with a terrible hiss, leaving behind nothing but half-voided corpses. To her left, a beautiful cloud of moisture covered the allied ranks with a calming mist. A quick glance revealed where the water came from. An entire company of Neleti had been turned into so many desiccated corpses, and yet, it d...
2023-05-26 19:44:32 +0000 UTC
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“You are bringing a thousand Hallurians into our camp? Are you completely insane? This is a ploy by those treacherous savages!”
Duke Eikart was livid.
Viv sighed as she leaned back into her seat. Farren was already missed. He would have had some pointed comments that only worked from the position of moral superiority, one she didn’t have on account of her reputation. Totally undeserved, that.
“I’m sure Empress Viv has things under control?” Duke Falstag said with...
2023-05-19 17:37:34 +0000 UTC
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AN: This is the last part of Changeling
2023-05-13 19:23:21 +0000 UTC
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Farren slowly made his way down the slope atop a white horse, the temple guard trailing him at a respectable distance. She couldn’t read the Hallurian leader at all. His face remained hidden behind the closed helmet while he stood like a stone statue. As for his men, the warborn followed the shape of the Voice with sullen glares. Farren certainly had an uphill battle facing him. He stopped at a respectable distance then dismounted.
His dark hair suddenly glowed with a golden radiance....
2023-05-12 18:45:38 +0000 UTC
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Nestled in a depression between two mountains, the Paramese alliance had made its camp. Viv had to admit that it didn’t look like much. There was enough space for a medium town there but the tents and sober stone blocks raised by brown mages would comfortably host twenty thousand people, no more. An army that size would be respectable for a small country but they were not that. They were the mighty alliance supposed to stop whatever roamed Halluria, defeating what had been the continent’s...
2023-05-06 17:44:27 +0000 UTC
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Viv approached the supine form of the dragoness with measured steps. By her side, the smoldering remains of a corpse still let out ribbons of smoke drifting in the cool morning air. A human corpse. He looked burnt to the nineteenth degree. Hell, Mount Vesuvius wouldn’t have done a better job.
This was a little bad.
Viv sat by Arthur’s side and watched the morning sun rise over distant woods. Active dots peppered the renewed land as they tilled the fields. From this far, the pu...
2023-05-02 14:42:27 +0000 UTC
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Hello everyone. After two years of dodging reality and my responsibilities, it finally happened. I caught the rona. Chapter will be delayed, possibly until early next week because my energy is low. I am otherwise ok. Just flu symptoms.
Sorry about that. I guess it was bound to happen sometimes.
2023-04-27 05:00:24 +0000 UTC
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“We cannot let the rule of law apply subjectively. The people must fear it, or they will stop respecting it. The more exceptions you create and the more fragile justice will become until judges believe they can get away with helping their ‘friends’. I have seen it happen.”
Lady Azar glared at Viv, testing her resolve and her values. Viv glared back.
It was a mess.
Being seen as a place of second chance meant that a lot of people came to Harrak. The problem was that t...
2023-04-21 18:16:25 +0000 UTC
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“Oh no oh no oh nonononononono this must be a dream. That’s it. I’m tripping balls.”
Nestra went over everything she’d done trying to determine if combat stims could lead to vivid hallucinations. The problem was, she would be sweaty and nauseous. Right now, she was feeling fantastic. Wide awake. Sound of mind if not of body.
“Riel dammit. Why?”
She walked over her house, touching random stuff to make sure it was still there. Displays showing family pictures. He...
2023-04-18 12:19:44 +0000 UTC
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“So, he is warning us.”
Viv stood in the council chamber of her palace with Enoria’s official letter in front of her. The room overlooked the deadlands and offered a perpetual background of roiling clouds above the distant, shambling shapes of revenants. It was not a pleasant view. She kept it that way on purpose.
People leaned over the nice parchment. It did look nice. It was polite, too.
“To Lady Viviane,
It shall be my honor to visit you in your...
2023-04-14 14:17:51 +0000 UTC
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Ban carefully unlocked the grate, then pulled it open with a grunt. It broke. The maw yawned open to reveal the darkness within.
Ok, so it went down two meters ending in a small landing but not everyone could see perfectly in the dark.
What was left of the door clanged on the ground, hinges rotten to reddish flakes. The rest was covered in a sort of white, calcified gunk. The expected fetid waft never reached Viv’s nose through the makeshift mask she insisted on wearing.
T...
2023-04-08 17:37:35 +0000 UTC
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Ok, so as you may have realized, Changeling han
2023-04-06 16:19:11 +0000 UTC
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Radiant light filtered through the dome skylight. Aides had assembled long benches for the expected spectators. Viv had been offered a chair, thought it was too small and turned part of the dais into an eldritch horror of scales, tentacles and spikes blooming from a center in which she sat.
She promptly stood up again and demanded a pillow, which was offered. Lady Azar stood by her side.
“Would you not prefer to sit?” Viv asked.
“Traditionally, an advisor stands by the...
2023-04-01 10:47:49 +0000 UTC
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The lads and I made you a smole April fool's gift. Here is the link:
Meanwhile, the sidekicks. - The Calamitous Bob | Royal Road
2023-04-01 10:34:50 +0000 UTC
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Viv’s euphoria lasted just long enough for the gun to disappear and Arthur’s recriminations to turn into a massive rant.
Wings are the pride of our kind.
“But I’m not a dragon,” Viv whispered.
Wings must be big and floaty.
Good vessel for gray mana.
“But I can’t use gray manaaaaaaa.”
Mother must grow real wings soon.
Or else we will both be shamed.
“Damn you’re really a teenager no...
2023-03-25 11:01:36 +0000 UTC
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As stated, vote on which story I should write next. The next project will not be abandoned, I will merely get to it after I finish Bob. The poll will run until April the first (no this is not a joke).
Every patron gets one vote. The story with the most votes gets picked first.
Edit: wish I could hide the result before the vote is down but... unless I'm mistaken, Patreon UI doesn't allow that.
2023-03-23 09:00:38 +0000 UTC
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A new demon was born on the plains of Sidis. It
2023-03-23 08:56:15 +0000 UTC
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Second possible story
2023-03-23 08:54:56 +0000 UTC
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“Perps turned east, seven streets down. They’re slowing down.”
“Copy,” Camus said.
Nestra had no idea how he could keep talking. All she could do was gulp cold night air and pump her tired legs on the warm asphalt. MaxSec armor had never been designed for running for Riel’s sake. Not like keeping up with users on foot was eaCamus to begin with.
“They’ve stopped near a closed gate. E6-105. Small one,” Dee said.
“Stib. Gate status,” Camus asked.
...
2023-03-23 08:53:28 +0000 UTC
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