Hector shook his head. He grabbed Marcus’ outstretched hand and gave it a firm shake. It was unfortunate that his friend couldn’t come with them, but it was to be expected—he wasn’t a fighter.
“Keep those coins safe, alright,” Hector said, releasing Marcus’ hand. He then patted Delworth on the shoulder, pulling his lips into a tight smile. “And you get home safe; I...
2025-02-08 13:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostHammond raised a hand, blocking the rays of the afternoon sun. He let out a sigh as he shielded his eyes and glanced around at the inhabitants of the Papyrus Quater. In a word, they were disgusting, little more than sad animals going about their pathetic lives.
They paled in comparison to someone as chosen as him, someone as favoured as him. He glanced back at Marlon—a lucky one, ...
2025-02-06 13:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostHector turned his head to Lincoln and raised an eyebrow. What were they supposed to do here? If things had gone as planned, this guy would have spilt all the information he had rather than sitting here sobbing. Lincoln shook his head.
Marcus stepped forward and bent down, raising a hand to comfort the Farmhand. Hector reached out to stop him but decided against it. With everyone present, ...
2025-02-04 13:00:10 +0000 UTC View PostHector’s eyes went wide as the tower leaned to the side. One of the wooden legs holding the tower up popped, sending wood spitting across the dirt before it split clean in half. The tankard groaned as it pitched forward.
A rush of wind accompanied its fall as Hector’s hair whipped around him; the tankard slammed into the floor, exploding into a shower of debris and large spli...
2025-02-01 13:00:14 +0000 UTC View PostHector stood across from the man, studying his features. The reddened eyes—borderline bleeding if they any got worse, and the man’s blackened veins that trailed up his neck like vines. They pulsated underneath his skin like a colony of worms digging through his flesh.
A bird called overhead, its cry shrill and grating. Hector's eyes flickered to the knife in the man’s grip. Th...
2025-01-30 13:00:14 +0000 UTC View PostA cool wind subtly blew by Hector’s neck, ruffling his white hair. He bounced the Farmhand on his shoulder. Eyes scanning the area.
How had the man got here before them? Did they somehow work out which direction they were going in and plan ahead? That was a lot of foresight, and from their short meeting, Hector assumed that it wasn’t something the bearded man could do.
... 2025-01-28 13:00:11 +0000 UTC View Post————————————————
///: “No Talent has been found on any of the targets”
————————————————
Hector sighed, stepping next to Lincoln and scratching his cheek. The group of men gathered in front of them forming a circle, with the bearded man at the front. Flapping g...
2025-01-25 13:00:10 +0000 UTC View PostEyes shooting to Lincoln, Hector clenched his fist and tensed. How would they play this? They didn’t exactly have a good reason to be standing here just a few paces from a barn, watching. Hector glanced back to the Farmhand, analysing him.
————————————————
///: Acquiring target stats…
———...
2025-01-23 13:28:30 +0000 UTC View PostHector stopped. What did he mean by that? If Lincoln was going to use this as a reason to attack the farm, that wasn’t going to work. Hector crossed his arms and squinted. “What are you planning?”
Lincoln raised his hands in defence. “Trust me. You started making it up to me the moment you decided you’d follow me.”
Hector glanced around, adjusting his sandals...
2025-01-21 13:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post“What’s up?” Hector asked, crossing his arms. “Though I will say. I’ve been meaning to talk to you as well.” Hector took a step back. A loose piece of cobblestone crumbled under his sandals as he shifted his weight.
Lincoln squinted and lowered his head. Was he confused why he’d asked? Hector shook his head. The boy hadn’t exactly had the best poker face in the past few da...
2025-01-18 13:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostHector grit his teeth as the void continued to shake, churring up small waves that rocked him. What was going on? He glanced to the sky of his soulscape. Was the absorption phase even working?
No chaotic mana motes could be seen, but that wasn’t unusual—with him not exactly being the most competent cultivator. It made sense. A loud crack came from the distance, and a sharp pain ...
2025-01-16 13:00:16 +0000 UTC View PostIn the end Hector didn’t mange to dive straight into Cultivating like he wanted to. He had to join, rather reluctantly, his family as they entertained their guest, Margaret. The old lady, as usual, was a treat to be around and gave them some much needed normalcy. It had been too tense over the past few days.
A bonus to her visit was that their father didn’t drink. Perhaps he wan...
2025-01-13 21:05:44 +0000 UTC View PostThanks for your patience. This chapter, as a treat, is a little longer.
2025-01-11 20:32:34 +0000 UTC View PostWho could that be at this time of the day?
The old creaky room door slide close as Mirae left the room. Hector made his way over to the window and peeked through the shutters. The streets were now mostly empty. A few of the homeless—a group who somehow suffered more than the average slum dweller—mild about. Perhaps they were looking for somewhere to sleep.
D...
2025-01-11 20:29:21 +0000 UTC View PostTomorrow's chapter will be coming out a lot later. Somethings come up at work and I have to go in early, so I won't be able to post at my usual time. So expect the chapter to be out by 7pm GMT. Again, my deepest apologies; see you tomorrow.
2025-01-11 00:51:08 +0000 UTC View PostHector sat back on the bed, bracing himself on his knees. “A Talent is something a lot of people have. Well, not a lot. Actually, they seem pretty rare,” Hector said, frowning. He drew a circle on the ground with the toe of his sandals as he took a moment. “They are things that make people special.”
“Special? How do they make people special?” Mirae said, widening he...
2025-01-09 13:00:11 +0000 UTC View PostThe glossy blue sword gripped between Noella’s greasy ugly fingers glowed with an iridescent light, as the idiot supplied mana to it. A Mana Armamanet—weapons or armour made by Curlian smiths, that had no doubt cost the family a good chunk. What did she do to deserver such a weapon?
Emela’s frown deepened as she took a step forwarded and narrowed her eyes at her younger half s...
2025-01-07 13:01:34 +0000 UTC View PostAcalla turned away, hoping to find something to get her out of this situation. A few Initiates walked around, pulling corpses from smashed stalls. Some bodies were so mangled they were more impressions of a person than the real thing. Did the Initiates perhaps need some guidance? An inspiring speech or two might not go a miss—not like she had one in the quiver. But improvising was a skill.&nb...
2025-01-04 13:18:57 +0000 UTC View PostOh crap.
Hector’s hand moved by itself, chucking the coin pouch over the workbench and thudding it into the back wall. There was a dull thump as Hector reached up and grabbed a hammer off the top shelf. The door creaked open further, as his dad stepped in and Hector brought the hammer down onto the wood.
“Sorry to barge in on you. I felt we need to have a talk abo...
2025-01-02 13:51:14 +0000 UTC View PostHector walked home in silence. Lincoln had followed him and Mirae for a while, but eventually he broke off, heading to his house, leaving Hector and Mirae to walk alone. Hector spoke very few words to Mirae as they trudged the familiar streets of the Sirius quarter home. A lot of people were out today—many probably came from the festival.
He paid them no mind. His thoughts were a ...
2024-12-31 13:00:13 +0000 UTC View Post“So Mr. Pennybrook is still there,” Jodie said, taking a bite out of the candy apple. Hector cringed as her teeth cracked into its surface—she’d found it on the floor and just started chewing. Not sanitary. “We have to go back and get him, then.”
“Why?” Lincoln asked, looking off to the side. He shook his head and turned to her. “The old man gave us the talismans s...
2024-12-28 13:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post“What’s your name, girl?” Wymon asked. The young woman, with her back facing him, rested one hand on her hip as she stared at the beast. It lay slumped on the cobblestone with various knife wounds, dry and cracked, running along its body. It wasn’t the cleanest job. But Wymon had done his best. “So,” he asked, sheathing the knifes into their scabbards on either side of his waist.&nb...
2024-12-26 13:00:09 +0000 UTC View PostThe woman chuckled, seemingly finding her reaction funny, as she pulled a scroll from her robe. “Relax little one, you may think me a Glademoore, but I left my family long ago. So, in a way, I can understand your situation.”
Sure you do.
Emela shuffled further away from Nyx, making sure there was a good distance between them. If this woman attacked—and the...
2024-12-24 14:43:48 +0000 UTC View PostHey guys. I'm sorry for the chapter delay. I've just moved and it's kinda hectic. It shall be up shortly.
2024-12-24 13:17:13 +0000 UTC View PostHector’s gaze drifted to where the blur had come from, and he paused as the man hopped from one broken stall to the next, each leap carrying him a great distance. He was dressed in dark red robes that fluttered as he moved. In his hand was a javelin with flames licking across its surface, and on his back were several more. The most eye-catching thing about him was his red hair—not like Jodi...
2024-12-21 13:14:14 +0000 UTC View PostI've had to adjust the currency as I live in the UK, and it was set to the US one. Those already subscribed will not be affected, so don't worry. Your support will continue at its current rate unless you leave. Thanks again for the support, and I'm sorry about the change; this will not happen in the future.
2024-12-19 13:20:17 +0000 UTC View Post“Lincoln, activate the talisman!” Hector yelled, reaching a hand into his pocket, grabbing his own and willing it to activate. A balloon of energy formed from it, exploding into a thick membrane that coated his entire body. It wobbled before settling across his body.
“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Lincoln said, activating his own. Hector handed another talisman of the three ...
2024-12-19 13:00:12 +0000 UTC View PostMr. Penneybrook—holding another unfamiliar talisman—sighed as he looked past Hector, gazing at the stall behind him. The screams and wails outside, dulled by the sound-damping talismans, carried through the stall’s fabric. The man shook his head. “I need to stay and protect them,” he said, eyes hardening, as he glanced back at the chest where he kept the talismans. “It’s al...
2024-12-17 13:00:12 +0000 UTC View PostFestival-goers stopped and watched, taking in the sight. Many of them were too drunk to know what was going on. But entertainment was entertainment, so they wouldn’t care—It was just some more slum rats fighting.
“So, are we splitting them?” Lincoln said, grunting. He looked from each boy to the next, sizing them up. “I could take the blond, and shorter one. While you get the bi...
2024-12-14 13:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post