Youre late, Prince Trajan growled in deep and gravelly tones. When Aquillius was about to try and apologize, Trajan simply scowled and waved at the chairs next to the other Legates sitting before the dais.
Understanding the gesture as the order it was, the group of diplomats took their seats, with Anna retrieving several small rolls of paper from a satchel and delivering them to the...
2019-01-18 16:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostIn the short few hours the diplomatic party was waiting for permission to walk the last quarter-mile or so to the Northern Horn, Leon practiced drawing objects into his soul realm. Unfortunately, he didnt make much progress.
The key to performing this technique was actually rather simple to understand; Leon had to project some of his magic power outside of himself and envelop an object ...
2019-01-16 16:28:10 +0000 UTC View PostFinally getting the non-aggression pact hed worked so hard for turned out to be almost frustratingly easy for Aquillius after Leon left the throne room. In fact, he and Rakos formalized the treaty in less than five minutes, leaving the diplomats to return to their guest rooms and figure out what the plan was to do next.
In the end, with the task of negotiating peace with the southern gi...
2019-01-14 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostThe first thing Aquillius did upon returning to Rakos hall was to point at a chair and say to Leon, Sit. Leon complied, with an apprehensive Anzu hiding behind his legs. Aquillius then turned around and left the guest room to meet with Rakos, with Juliana, Antonius, and half a dozen soldiers in tow.
The others gave Leon a wide berth, giving him nothing but the occasional curious or ...
2019-01-11 16:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostHeyyy, so if you didn't notice, I finally wrote and posted the BTS explaining names that I promised to several months ago. I also explained all of the noble ranks in the Bull Kingdom because it was past midnight, I was tired, and it seemed like a good idea. Check it out here! I also made all other BTS...
2019-01-09 16:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostWell, I have a bit of writers block so I decided to finally explain something I promised to several months ago. Its time to have a quick chat about names, or more specifically, the rough guideline that I use when naming my characters. Hopefully this comes out coherent and understandable. As a side note that Im writing after finishing this, I also for the fun of it threw in an explanat...
2019-01-08 06:28:27 +0000 UTC View PostI really hate to sound like a broken record, but I've fallen in Royal Road's rankings by about 20 places over the past few weeks, sooo... Don't forget to visit Royal Road and leave a rating or review!
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2019-01-07 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostThe giants gathered around the platform of basalt pillars that held up the Cradle. Rakos stood in front, with Lapis and the chiefs of the subordinate tribes right behind it. When Aquillius and the other members of the party arrived, the giants were standing stock-still and silent as they seemed to stare at the Cradle.
Golden lightning continued to strike the top of the dome at least once ...
2019-01-04 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostLeon stared at the light in the Northeastern corner of the Northern Vale hed grown up in.
What is that doing there? he muttered incredulously.
[What is it?] Xaphan asked.
[I grew up here,] Leon replied, pointing to the relatively tiny Forest of Black and White on the map.
[Oh? Then whats that light represent? It looks like the Cradle, your archives, and ...
2019-01-02 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostIt would be immensely helpful if you could visit Royal Road and leave a rating or review, if you haven't already! =D
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By the time Anzu had finished off the food Leon had laid out for him, his caution was long gone. He immediately bounded forward and rubbed up against Leons leg. Leon c...
2018-12-31 16:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostI made a slight error last chapter, which has now been fixed (thanks Vitality'sVirus for pointing it out). The tl;dr is that opening the plate by activating the runic circle broke Leon's invisibility. Other than that, nothing else is different.
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There was little for Leon to do the next day in the Crater. The other diplomats socialized as best as they could with the Giants, which ...
2018-12-28 16:01:02 +0000 UTC View PostLeon stared at the Cradle ruins, conscious of every second that passed. He had about five minutes to get into the Cradle before he decided to call his exploration off while he still had enough magic power in his blood to return to Rakos hall unseen. His eyes wandered over as much of the ruin as he could see, searching for a way to get inside.
After another minute, he decided to get clos...
2018-12-26 16:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostThe tiny white griffin had been badly hurt, as Leon could see trickles of blood staining its downy feathers and newborn fur. It was still struggling to move, but it was far too weak to do anything more than twitch. As Leon cautiously approached, he noticed that the griffin was so young that its eyes were still stuck closed.
[Youre stopping for this beast?] Xaphan asked Leon in slight co...
2018-12-24 16:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post[This place is truly awful,] Xaphan remarked.
[Too much like that prison?] Leon asked.
[Too much like that fucking prison ] Xaphan muttered.
[Well, well only be here a few days,] Leon said.
[But theres still the worst place to see before we can go,] Xaphan said bitterly, causing Leon to frown a little. [Whatever,] Xaphan continued, [dont mind me,...
2018-12-21 16:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostMuch like the Border Mountains themselves, the Stone Giants looked nothing like Leon imagined. Hed thought they would appear to be extremely similar to humans, only much taller and with an exterior similar to when an earth mage uses their magic to harden their skin into stone.
However, the six Giants that emerged from the dark crevice only resembled humans in the most general sense; the...
2018-12-19 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostOver the next couple of weeks, Leon and Alix were allowed to do their own thing for the most part, which mostly consisted of Leon getting the two to stay in their room and train. They were taken around to meet many of Aquillius other subordinate diplomats, but that hardly took much out of their day, so there was plenty of time to also explore the city and the citadel.
But, the relativel...
2018-12-17 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostLeon breathed deep, allowing his magic to flow unimpeded throughout his body. Hed been a fourth-tier mage now for over a month, but he still reveled in the feeling of control over the magic power he now hadhe could feel every single drop of mana within him and knew that he could manipulate it in ways that he never could have when he was only a third-tier mage.
After separating from Lu...
2018-12-14 16:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostAnna, Leon, and Alix stood before the group that Aquillius was either going to take into the Border Mountains with him or had some role in planning the diplomatic mission. They were four men and two women.
This is Dame Juliana, Anna introduced, indicating the woman who had chastised her, and Dame Eleanor, nodding respectfully to the woman who had asked for introductions. The latte...
2018-12-12 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostBonus chapter 3 of 3 ;)
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Several hours after sending Leon and Alix on their way, Aquillius put his work down and called it a day. He hadnt gotten word back from Gerold about whether the former two had been settled in or not, which brought a smile of anticipation to Aquillius face.
I wonder how that young knight dealt with Gerolds behavior No diplomat worth his...
2018-12-10 16:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostBonus Chapter 2 of 3 ;)
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Fifteen minutes after they sat down in the lounge with a couple of snacks, one of Aquillius assistants approached Leon and Alix and, after identifying them, curtly said, Follow me.
The assistant was a gruff and serious man, but neither Leon nor Alix minded. They immediately rose from their seats, grabbed their bags, and made to follow the assi...
2018-12-10 15:59:00 +0000 UTC View PostBonus chapter 1 of 3 ;)
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Leon walked into the office of Marcus Aquillius, closely followed by Alix. The first thing they saw was the back wall of the spacious office, which was entirely made of crystal-clear glass. In front of the wall was Marcus Aquillius himself, sitting with his back to the windows and leaving himself completely obscured by the relatively bright outside light....
2018-12-10 15:58:00 +0000 UTC View PostSince we reached the $2000 goal on Saturday, there will be 3 bonus chapters today!
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Two weeks after leaving the capital, the Bulls Horns appeared on the horizon. First came the city on the Gulf, then the southern Horn behind that, and then finally, when the galley was sliding into port, Leon could see the northern Horn five miles away through the haze and smoke of the hot day.<...
2018-12-10 15:57:59 +0000 UTC View PostWe made it to $2000, so that means there will be 3 bonus chapters on Monday!
2018-12-08 18:14:24 +0000 UTC View PostIt was the night before Leon and Alix were scheduled to leave the capital and continue on their journey to the Bulls Horns. They were going to take another galley south along the Naga River, switch to a ship more suited for the waters of the Gulf of Discord, and continue east until they reached the southeastern-most tip of the Bull Kingdom.
To ensure he was ready for the trip, Leon had ...
2018-12-07 16:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostAfter the short family dinner, Jordan and Emilie left to enact Elises sanctions against House Decimius, while Leon, Alix, and Elise spent the rest of the day in evening training.
Alix spent her time after the short conversation with Leon meditating, flooding her body with magic power in order to ascend to the second-tier. Judging by her aura, Leon guessed she was only two or three month...
2018-12-05 16:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostDinner that evening was a tremendously tense affair, but not for the reasons Elise envisioned. Things started off well when she, Leon, and Alix met up in her small dining room. It was a small and intimate room, one that Leon hadnt really seen before as he and Elise would typically eat in her room or in the living room.
But, small as it was, it was still as lavishly decorated as the rest...
2018-12-03 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostWhat did you find? Leon asked, looking at the message in Elises hand. She had just received a message with Heavens Eyes analysis of the invisibility enchantment on the ring he took from the assassins who came for him on the galley a month ago.
This must be something quite serious, to get her so worked up, Leon thought, as he observed Elises towering killing intent...
2018-11-30 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostRoland! Please, come on in, Prince August said with a good-natured smile when his friend arrived.
Your Highness, Roland said as he walked into the Princes office. The Prince looked even more tired than usual, with his face more pale and the bags under his eyes more pronounced, but he still moved with the same energy as he had three years ago, when he had first started more of an...
2018-11-28 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostShe turned down the invitation? Emilie asked, seeking confirmation from the servant she sent to her daughter extending an invitation for her, Leon, and Alix to join her for dinner.
Yes, my lady. Young Lady Elise was quite emphatic, in fact, the servant answered. He was standing at the door, where a light enchantment had created a black curtain-like wall that blocked all light from...
2018-11-26 16:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostWhile Leon moved into Elises room, Alix was given a guest room down the hall. She was in the same private wing of Elises estate as the other two, but she was also placed far enough away as to not be disturbed if Leon and Elise were to get too loud.
Alixs room was opulently decorated with marble tiles and statues, murals covering the walls made of colored glass tiles, and luxurious f...
2018-11-23 16:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post