After the battle, everything settled down.
Mr. Bones’ body was repaired. Veylar’s connection to Enya weakened, and both he and Beatrice returned to the underworld. Pell, meanwhile, dragged Asvizer’s and Amberdean’s bodies toward the center of the ruined courtyard. He pocketed any artifacts they had and shoved them into his inventor...
2026-01-08 23:07:57 +0000 UTC View PostFinn hadn’t been paying attention to the time, but by the point he was binding the Viscount’s wounds, Veronica had already been fighting for nearly ten minutes. He’d barely spent any time with the steward before turning around and heading back into the forest.
Taking every shortcut he kn...
2026-01-08 22:37:38 +0000 UTC View Post“Place your hand here,” Elise ordered, voice choppy.
Finn obeyed instantly. He pressed both palms down on the folded cloth she shoved at him, holding it against the viscount’s stomach. Heat and wetness seeped through the fabric almost at once. Blood. Way too much of it. His own heartbeat thundered in his ears, but he held fast, just ...
2026-01-07 22:26:42 +0000 UTC View Post“That power…” Asvizer murmured. “You—you’re using a God’s power.”
He stood still, several dozen meters away, clutching his bleeding arm where it had just been severed. Godly power or not—he wasn’t immortal. He only borrowed a God’s power as a member of the Godsworn.
The girl in front of him, however, was entirel...
2026-01-06 23:31:50 +0000 UTC View PostMartial warriors did not wield mana like mages.
They relied instead on life energy—the vital force threading through muscle and bone, carried with every heartbeat. Through discipline and will, they could circulate it to harden flesh to iron, sharpen reflexes to lightning, and draw forth strength that bordered on the supernatural.
B...
2026-01-06 22:21:27 +0000 UTC View PostFinn tore through the underbrush, lungs burning. The forest canopy above no longer glowed orange, the last rays of daylight slipping away as shadows stretched long across the dirt path. He knew every bend, every dip in the roots, every shortcut through the brambles. Just five minutes at full sprint and he’d be back. Speed and stealth were both...
2026-01-05 22:20:56 +0000 UTC View PostFinn cursed under his breath as the arrow veered wide. He had waited until they were close—close enough to see all of them clearly. He focused in on one man's mask, and aimed for his head as steadily as he could manage. It still only grazed his arm.
The man’s furious shout rang out behind him.
Finn didn’t wait—he turned and b...
2026-01-02 22:18:46 +0000 UTC View PostAcross the layers, a resounding wave made its way through each city, plain, fortress, and every hidden corner of the world.
4th Layer - Harken City - Plaza of Harmony
It was late afternoon. The plaza was alive in the way cities always were after lunch.
Stone tiles radiated warmth from the sun. Merchant...
2026-01-01 22:24:31 +0000 UTC View PostVeronica sprinted alone into the forest. She had made sure no one was following her.
She was heading in the direction of the ruins. Was Finn going back just to check up on the ruins and wait? Or did something happen to alert him? Regardless, she had to get him out of there. A young child shouldn’t have to fight these kinds of battles. 2026-01-01 22:22:48 +0000 UTC View Post
The townsfolk had all gathered around the square now, the long banquet table filled with roasted meats glistening in their juices; platters of vegetables steamed and were served on side dishes, while baskets of freshly baked bread stood piled high. Citrus slices, honey-glazed mapleroots, and even some fish sliced into delicate pieces were all pr...
2025-12-31 22:12:29 +0000 UTC View PostPell was blasted away, bones rattling, skull shaking as he flipped through the air. He landed several meters away on his feet, soul-flames flaring as he prepared another strike.
Mr. Bones charged ahead first, slashing with his greatsword. The guard parried, but the force sent him skidding back a few inches. He shifted his weight, dragging ...
2025-12-30 23:16:47 +0000 UTC View PostThe viscount offered a mild bow of the head. “A pleasure. I’ve heard good things.”
She returned it with appropriate grace. “Likewise, Viscount.”
Beside him, a girl, both small and soft-featured, peeked from behind her father’s coat. Wide eyed; she was full of caution and curiosity. Veronica met her gaze, offered a faint s...
2025-12-30 22:15:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe day of the festival.
It had crept up quietly. The last two days had been slow but steady; subtle movements that let Veronica blend in just enough not to rouse suspicion.
She had returned to the ruins with Finn at her side two days ago, the boy too stubborn or too curious to stay behind. The cultists were long gone, of course. Not...
2025-12-29 23:56:08 +0000 UTC View PostThe bodies were still warm when she finished dragging the last one beneath the trees.
Four corpses now rested in a haphazard pile, limbs splayed and twisted among fallen leaves. Blood had soaked into the roots and moss, black beneath the light of the night. Veronica stood above them, watching in silence. Her breath was steady, and her expr...
2025-12-29 23:55:39 +0000 UTC View PostThe leftmost figure rushed at her, but Veronica was already prepared to intercept. A single mage wing appeared behind her hand.
Just as the would-be assassin reached halfway, their dagger drawn and ready, Veronica cast her spell.
Perfect, with swift execution, Veronica held her hand out, palm sideways. A sudden flick—Veronica snapp...
2025-12-29 23:54:24 +0000 UTC View PostHer body was covered in sweat. She sat upright, sitting on top of crossed legs. Her chest was warm, accumulating a slowly building, burning pressure.
Several hours had passed. It was almost midnight now. She’d taken the opportunity to try advancing once more.
The air ...
2025-12-29 23:53:57 +0000 UTC View PostJust one man. He was single-handedly making things worse for everyone involved.
Jorren advanced, limping but determined, and the rest of his group followed, reluctant, but moving with him all the same.
“Halt!” one guard barked.
“All of you—stand down!” shouted another.
More voices joined the chorus as guards con...
2025-12-29 23:53:26 +0000 UTC View PostAfter a long journey back through the manor, venturing down the excessive steps and long hallways, Veronica finally reached the main entrance of the manor. Elise, who was guiding the way, stepped forward and gently opened the door. She gestured for Veronica to exit first.
Veronica walked through the doorway, rolling her shoulders slightly....
2025-12-29 23:52:22 +0000 UTC View PostLong minutes passed before the door finally opened again.
The maid stepped inside, carrying a polished silver tray with a delicate porcelain teacup resting atop it. Without a word of apology for the wait, she moved gracefully to the table and set it down in front of Veronica.
“Your chamomile tea,” she said smoothly.
Veronic...
2025-12-29 23:51:55 +0000 UTC View PostVeronica stood in the courtyard where the cloaked figures had gathered moments ago. She made sure to wait a few minutes before stepping out to the center of the ruins.
She crouched down, running her fingers along one of the stone slabs. A fine, silvery dust clung to its surface, barely visible against the aged rock. She rubbed a bit betwee...
2025-12-29 23:51:16 +0000 UTC View PostVeronica’s pulse pounded in her ears, her instincts screaming at her to react. In that split second, she had already begun drawing mana. She was ready to unleash a spell to obliterate the person who had snuck up on her—only for her brain to finally catch up with her body.
The person in front of her wasn’t some cultist, assassin, or e...
2025-12-29 23:50:29 +0000 UTC View PostAfter getting Captain Luthen’s signature, Veronica returned to Steward Hadrian. He reviewed the document with a quick scan, stamped it, and counted out her payment: 500 vix.
Veronica accepted the pouch with both hands.
It was the first time in a while she had ever been personally entrusted with money.
Viya had always...
2025-12-28 21:47:33 +0000 UTC View PostVeronica made her way north, following the dirt path that wound past the town square. Before long, she arrived at the barracks.
She had expected something larger—a stone fortress or at least a sizable garrison—but what she found was a relatively small, sturdy building, more akin to a warehouse than a proper military base. Wooden beams ...
2025-12-28 21:45:10 +0000 UTC View PostIt was late morning when Veronica left the pub, retracing her steps toward the Herald’s Hall.
The building looked quiet from the outside, almost abandoned. Even so, she tried the door.
It swung open without resistance, the soft creak of its hinges breaking the silence inside. The hall was a simple structure, its wide, open space fe...
2025-12-28 02:11:51 +0000 UTC View PostThe bartender poured a mild ale into a wooden mug and slid it toward her. “New in town?”
“You could say that,” Veronica replied, taking a slow sip. The drink was bitter—more than she remembered. As she set the mug down, realization dawned on her; this body of hers wasn’t used to drinking quite yet. She’d have to retrain her t...
2025-12-28 02:04:12 +0000 UTC View Post*Rearranged an earlier Typo. Veronica is originally 34 years old. The war with demons having started when she was 31.
Veronica awoke with a start, her body stiff and aching. The room was dim, with the faint light of midday filtering through the blinds of the window. For a moment, she just laid there, relaxing and fo...
2025-12-28 01:45:17 +0000 UTC View PostVeronica didn’t waste a second. She bolted into the woods, weaving between the trees. Behind her, the camp erupted into chaos.
“She’s running!” one of the mercenaries shouted.
“Get her!” Jorren bellowed, clutching his mangled arm.
Veronica didn’t look back. She continued to run, already aware of the general direct...
2025-12-28 01:25:08 +0000 UTC View PostThe stocky man’s eyes narrowed. “Passing through, huh? Don’t see many people wandering these parts alone. You lost, girl?”
Another mercenary snickered. He was a wiry man with a crooked grin and a scar running down his cheek. “Or running from something. Either way, doesn’t look like she’s carrying much. No weapons, no pack. St...
2025-12-28 01:06:17 +0000 UTC View Post“Shit.”
Veronica pressed her back against the tree’s rough bark, chest rising and falling as she had run here. She peered around its edge. Sage’s voice still echoed faintly in her head—a warning—but the sight before her told her she was already too late.
The wagon lay on its side, split wood and shattered wheels scattered...
2025-12-28 00:59:13 +0000 UTC View PostVeronica groaned, shooing away some woodland critter that was playing near her face.
A sharp gasp tore from her lips as her eyes flew open a moment later; her chest heaved as if she had just resurfaced from a long, deep swim.
Conscious again, she was greeted by a dense canopy of green; the sunlight peeked through in fractured beams t...
2025-12-28 00:58:19 +0000 UTC View Post