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 ...
2020-04-30 02:07:27 +0000 UTC View Post
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 ...
2020-04-21 05:05:49 +0000 UTC View Post
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 follow...
2020-04-21 04:52:33 +0000 UTC View Post
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...
2020-04-21 04:47:51 +0000 UTC View Post
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 whi...
2020-04-11 01:11:24 +0000 UTC View Post
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 shutte...
2020-04-09 11:30:44 +0000 UTC View Post
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.
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...
2020-04-04 03:56:58 +0000 UTC View Post
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 re...
2020-04-01 23:48:04 +0000 UTC View PostHey 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 thi...
2020-03-31 10:47:14 +0000 UTC View Post
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 '
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 leathe...
2020-03-20 03:08:14 +0000 UTC View Post
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 surroundi...
2020-03-20 03:03:36 +0000 UTC View Post
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 t...
2020-03-20 02:57:45 +0000 UTC View Post
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 lac...
2020-03-09 23:45:40 +0000 UTC View Post
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 lit...
2020-03-07 04:08:05 +0000 UTC View Post
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.
"H...
2020-03-05 22:30:32 +0000 UTC View Post
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 ...
2020-02-29 02:24:05 +0000 UTC View Post
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...
2020-02-29 01:40:50 +0000 UTC View Post
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 ...
2020-02-21 02:18:42 +0000 UTC View Post
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...
2020-02-21 02:14:26 +0000 UTC View Post
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 househo...
2020-02-14 15:43:48 +0000 UTC View Post
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...
2020-02-11 15:16:30 +0000 UTC View Post
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, th...
2020-02-08 01:54:11 +0000 UTC View Post
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 prepar...
2020-02-04 17:08:31 +0000 UTC View Post
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 th...
2020-01-30 03:48:55 +0000 UTC View Post
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 common...
2020-01-28 12:28:07 +0000 UTC View Post
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 rig...
2020-01-24 15:12:23 +0000 UTC View Post
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 ...
2020-01-21 12:44:36 +0000 UTC View Post