Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lieutenant Cragborn was true to his word and kept glancing back at us as we marched. I found my breathing had improved considerably with my increase in stamina. I did not tire as quickly as I had previously, and my muscles did not burn as they once had. However, the sun was particularly high, and the warmth of its rays made me sweat. The ground was growing less muddy a...
2023-05-21 19:26:32 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty-Eight
The tents were brought down, and fires were kicked out promptly. The speed at which the professional summoners worked overshadowed all of the trainees. I tugged my backpack, getting used to my shoulder again, watching in admiration. The soldiers showed their experience and were deft as the night set-up was stuffed into bags or hauled onto carts. Foot guards sharpened ...
2023-05-21 19:25:40 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty-Seven
Chaos splintered around me as I stood at the centre of our dining room. The table had been shoved from its position, its cloth strewn, and cutlery thrown on the floor. Food soaked into the polished wood dripping from the edge of the table. Angry and afraid glares stared at me from hollow husks.
My hand tightened around a shard of pottery that had on...
2023-05-21 19:24:52 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty-Six
Vishka's Guidance System
Eduard Heversham
Likeability:-14% (+3%)
Eduard's form beyond the fire was surreal. His blue high-necked cloak blended into the night, and his pale skin stood out. He lifted his arm to reach out, then halted and dropped it. His gaze made my stomach flip, and I curled my fingers into a ...
2023-05-21 19:22:07 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty-Five
The sky had darkened considerably while I was in Azriel Elkart's tent. Leaving the stuffy enclosed space was refreshing as the cold evening air tickled my skin. Nathaniel guided me through the blanket of soldiers gathering in their tents. The pain in my shoulder had begun to numb. My nerves had worsened, or I was just growing more accustomed to it.
"Just what hap...
2023-05-21 19:21:26 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty-Four
I pinched my fingers, standing before Azriel Elkart and his stern gaze. He tapped his finger on the stone desk leaning his head on his hand. The box above his head still hadn't settled on a number as it blurred consistently.
It was nerve-wracking to stand before him.
Azriel was the son of the Duke of the frozen south. I knew from my past lives that he would...
2023-05-21 19:20:42 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty-Three
The inside of the young Duke's tent was immaculate. The floor was smoothed without a bump, by earth summoners, probably. A rack of sabres was neatly placed to the left, their metal glinting under a floating Aether light hung at the centre. The light illuminated the space we could see; the back of the tent was cordoned off by a rattan divider hiding what was beyond. In...
2023-05-21 19:20:02 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty-Two
The group of summoners who stumbled upon us were savage in this landscape. They ran without strain through the rigid reeds, only stopping for Rian and I to catch up. Before we knew there was danger, they had slaughtered the rat beasts that tried to pounce on us.
I had tried to look back to see if Kuru had truly moved on with his herd, but there was no sight of the...
2023-05-21 19:19:25 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty-One
I shifted a little as the ridge of the Kreshna's back began digging into my rear. I had made the right choice in approaching the bull of the herd. I hadn't known I could tame the wild Kreshna, but my inclination had been correct. The beast-taming skill Vishka had hidden was definitely what made this possible. By taming the bull, the rest of the herd followed us. Their n...
2023-05-21 19:17:39 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty
Rian and I ran through the grass in the morning sun. The rigid green spines reached our waists as we tried to keep our balance traversing the terrain. Our path to finding the brigades trail had led us directly into an overgrown meadow. It screamed dangerous as we could not see the creatures that may lurk within. So we decided to run.
Walking would have given any beast...
2023-05-21 19:16:50 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Nineteen
"Ow", I complained as Rian tied scraps of my cloak around my shoulder and chest.
"Sorry, bandages aren't my thing" She lightened her touch, dabbing some of the blood from my arm. The blue shirt Eduard had given me was ruined. The sleeves were torn, holes dotting my chest from the craven bats. My cloak only reached my waist, the ends shredded.
Rian looked simil...
2023-05-21 19:16:04 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Eighteen
The place where Vishka's statue had once stood now had a headless figure, her hands broken. Rian and I gingerly poked our heads around the statue's body to look at the destruction her rune had caused. Somehow, the pedestal Albus' memory stone had been on was still intact. Chucks of rock scattered around it. The room that had been behind the pedestal was in pieces. Losing ...
2023-05-21 19:14:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Seventeen
Music chimed in the foyer as guests danced merrily, enjoying the evening's amusements. I sat alone on a table near the balcony, sipping my flute of champagne, glaring at Rian Thornfax.
Rian stood surrounded by handsome bachelors, all eager for her attention. She bragged of her life as a summoner in training, of the adventure she had seen. They fawned o...
2023-05-21 19:13:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Sixteen
A pure black empty space that seemed to stretch for all eternity was all I saw. There was no discernable ground to which I stood, but each step created a shimmering ripple throughout the darkness.
I heard a light scratching sound somewhere in the vast emptiness, and with nowhere else to go, I headed toward it. I wasn't sure what had happened. One moment I had been in...
2023-05-21 19:12:21 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Fifteen
Something blurred my vision, I tried to wave it away, but my hand wafted straight through it.
Vishka's Guidance System
Quest Received!
Obtain the knowledge of Albus.
I blinked at the box in my face as it refused to let me sleep. Then, a groan beside me told me I wasn't alone, and that's when I remembered t...
2023-05-21 19:11:27 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Fourteen
The canvas village remained in place for the next five days. With not much else to do, Callan had me training non-stop. I had wanted to protest more than once, but I knew training was my best option for surviving the rest of the trip to Zromore, the capital. As each day passed, my ability to pinpoint the best spots to strike with my dagger improved, and my handle of the w...
2023-05-21 19:10:19 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Thirteen
My palms felt clammy under Lieutenant Cragborn's hardened gaze. His slitted red pupils sent shivers through my spine as he tapped the earthen table between us with his forefinger.
Not long after Callan had returned to his team, Teresa informed me of the latest news in the camp. It turned out she was pretty good at finding out the latest gossip. It was deduced that t...
2023-05-21 19:09:23 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twelve
The snake lunged, and we both screamed.
Teresa leapt left, narrowly avoiding it as it dived straight. The snake's tail coiled to indicate it was about to lunge again. She raised the Jian and fumbled into the first stance of Flowing Water, trying to prepare, but the snake was faster. Its blue scales stood out against the green meadow despite the mud it soared through e...
2023-05-21 18:38:30 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Eleven
Callan carved a sloppy circle into the dirt to indicate our training ground. His Jian glinted, the steel mirroring the moonlight against his black armour as he stood opposite me.
"Stay outside of the circle, Miss Garpson" Callan lazily swung his Jian in a movement I thought may have been a parry.
"Okay" Teresa sat down some distance outside the circle, the excit...
2023-05-21 18:37:45 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Ten
I grimaced at the smug smirk Garret sent me as our group followed Lieutenant Cragborn. Teresa noticed my reaction and swiftly moved us to the opposite side to avoid him. I thanked her and tried my best not to look his way again.
"Trainees", Lieutenant Cragborn's smooth voice began, "your group has been assigned to me as recruits with core potentials. During this march, I...
2023-05-21 18:37:05 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Nine
Vishka's Guidance System
Eduard Heversham
Likeability:-17% (+2%)
Vishka's Guidance System
Callan Heversham
Likeability:-21% (-1%)
As the horse-drawn carriage moved onto a rougher road, I rocked a little in my seat. Eduard and Callan sat opposi...
2023-05-21 18:36:31 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Eight
Water dripped from the ends of my soaked raven hair, darkening patches of the pale green fabric of my ballgown. I sat bedraggled, alone, and miserable in the water fountain I found myself in. Rian Thornfax had moments before pushed me over the fountain's edge before leaving me in the dark of night as she returned to the party inside.
"Get out of there", Ca...
2023-05-21 18:35:50 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Seven
The silence of Roger Heversham's office was stifling. I stood opposite his large mahogany desk, the room dimly lit with a mage light. I could have sat on one of the two blue leather chairs, but the atmosphere didn't call for comfort, so I decided to stay standing. Roger sat behind the desk, his hands folded, elbows leaning on the wood. Beside him stood Eduard, his arms folde...
2023-05-21 18:35:06 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Six
The red-cloaked man beamed happily at me, ushering me to follow him. I hurried after him, his steps longer than my own.
"Address me as General, General Saika", he announced as we walked behind the tables lined up and past the big tent where candidates had gone after passing the assessment.
"Yes, General", I nodded, picking up my cloak as it trailed the dirt. He too...
2023-05-21 18:23:52 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Five
An intense cold sensation crawled into my skin the moment I touched the globe. My fingers stiffened in place from the shock, refusing to move as I panicked and tried to pull my hand away. It wouldn't move an inch stuck in place firmly. The coldness trickled up my arm, reaching my shoulder, then travelled towards my chest and stomach. It was a sickening feeling. It felt like d...
2023-05-21 18:23:12 +0000 UTC View Post
