Hector huffed, wiping sweat from his brow as he shimmied between two stalls, his heart hammering in his chest. Were they still chasing? They had to be. There was no way they would let them get away just like that. But they couldn’t use the alleyways like them—he’d have the same problem himself when he got older. Yet that didn’t mean they would let some children get away.
“Mirae,...
2024-12-12 13:03:43 +0000 UTC View PostRed and yellow confetti bounced off Hector’s shoulder as he stood frozen. The initiate was Gravity Forging Four. Not one. Not two. Four. How was he meant to handle that? His tongue became numb, the saliva in his mouth stale. He couldn’t fight this man—he would lose.
What kind of dumb luck do I have to have to run into you?
But he couldn’t give up. Hollow at first, a...
2024-12-10 13:00:11 +0000 UTC View PostMirae charged forward, swerving on her heels. She grunted as her back slammed into something. The force of it sent her staggering forward, hands slapping against the dirt and stone, tiny rocks sticking to her palm. “You damn brat, watch where you’re going?” a voice called, as she scrambled to her feet and sprinted off.
Later. She could deal with that later.
“Excuse me, miss...
2024-12-07 01:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThank you, bart. I appreciate the support you have given me, and I hope for your continued support in the future. My eternal appreciation and thanks.
2024-12-06 21:53:00 +0000 UTC View PostEventually, after a few moments, Lincoln slinked back out of the crowd. Hector couldn’t see his face, but his body language spoke volumes—especially when compared to earlier. There was a soft swagger to his steps, and he wasn’t looking over his shoulder. He had done it.
Hector turned and began walking away, keeping an eye out for any guards or Phoenix Company initiates. To get caugh...
2024-12-06 12:00:17 +0000 UTC View PostWhat’s up with him? I hope it’s not going to be a problem.
“Lincoln!” Hector called, waving the boy towards him. The festival had started in earnest; laughter and the smells of various foods filled the air as music bounced around. His friend spotted him and jogged over.
“Hello everyone, sorry I’m late. I got caught up with some stuff with my mom.”
Hector...
2024-12-05 12:00:16 +0000 UTC View PostHector stepped back into the cramped stall. The light from the lantern illuminated each of the three aisles, painting the room in a subtle yellow hue. In the middle aisle, Jodie stood with Mirae clinging to her arm.
What’s going on here?
“And how is your cultivation going?” Hector heard Jodie ask Mirae as he got in earshot. “I hope you’ve been keeping up with your practice...
2024-12-04 12:18:20 +0000 UTC View PostEmela’s gaze rested on Nyx, her heart swelling with pain. It was wrong. Why should Nyx have to die for her decisions? It was so... wrong. Emela looked back to the city, holding back the tears that threatened to seep out.
“It’s just an idea, anyway. It’s not like I’m planning to do anything soon,” Emela said, raising her hand and pulling at the ends of one of her ponytails that...
2024-12-03 12:00:12 +0000 UTC View PostEmela reached for the crystal door handle and pulled. The door opened, gliding smoothly past as she stepped by, tightening her towel with one hand. She stepped into her room, feeling the soft carpet embrace her feet.
By her bed, Nyx stood, leaning over as she laid out Emela’s clothes for the night. A loose white nightgown and white undergarments—the usual for this time of year. Notici...
2024-12-02 20:12:32 +0000 UTC View PostA grunt escaped the boy’s mouth as he sailed forward, slamming into the ground and rolling a few feet before coming to a stop. The chatter of the crowd paused, all falling silent as they took in what happened.
Hector watched as the boy groaned and climbed to his feet, cursing. The boy had taken the hit surprisingly well—though he was a Mana Cultivator, so that was to be expected.
<... 2024-11-29 18:02:58 +0000 UTC View PostHector frowned. It was a strange coincidence to be sure, or maybe it wasn’t, but at least they wouldn’t be far from the action when it all kicked off.
At the very least, I’ll get to see what kind of trouble my Talent can help me avoid. In a way, it’s almost like a future-telling ability. I wonder how it compares to Mirae’s [Dreams of Time] 2024-11-29 17:58:06 +0000 UTC View Post
Hector raised the Talent up, taking in its form as the white light shimmered off its surface. [Street Reader]. The Talent wasn’t good for cultivation, but it was more than useful for information gathering and setting up key points of interest. A smile came to his lips.
With this Talent, he’d have a way to ensure that he and his friends got out of this operat...
2024-11-29 17:54:33 +0000 UTC View PostShe clawed up, water passing through her fingers as she struggled through the water—it wasn’t good form, but who cared? She couldn’t stay where she was—she would drown. As she moved up, her skin seemed to vibrate.
It was as if a wall of something was moving towards her, pushing water at her. It had to be the beast.
She looked down, and there, approaching through the murky de...
2024-11-29 17:50:16 +0000 UTC View Post“I want you to keep swimming,” Emela’s mother said, leaning on the post at the front of the boardwalk. “I will not be holding too much back, so if my attack hits you, it will hurt. The goal of this punishment is to keep moving in high-stress environments using any means at your disposal.”
Noelle would know about moving in high-stress environments. Damn worm excrement. I wish...
2024-11-29 17:47:11 +0000 UTC View PostHector placed his hand over the plant pot, and the light particles again bubbled off the water’s surface. It was enchanting. Before he knew it, the condensed ball of light particles floated over the back of his hands, dripping water onto the soft soil of the plant pot—though, Talent pot would probably be a better name.
He pulled his hands back.
Crossing his arms across his chest...
2024-11-29 17:43:15 +0000 UTC View PostThe world around Hector melted away—his room becoming nothing more than paint running off a canvas. A new scene bubbled up, like boiling water in a pot, and he found himself in a void. Water was at his ankles again, shimmering as he moved his legs.
No difference so far.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something. He turned, sloshing water at his feet.
Three ...
2024-11-29 17:39:47 +0000 UTC View PostHector walked towards the girl, noting the tattoo that ran along her forearm. He recognised it. It was a Ravisher tattoo. A gang related to the Collar Gang, they would often be found carrying out grunt work for them.
As he walked closer, his heart raced. She wasn’t them—he knew that, but what was the difference when she took orders from them all the same? The crows circled overhead, t...
2024-11-29 17:36:33 +0000 UTC View PostHector strolled down the cobblestone streets, smiling to himself, as he walked towards the dump. His sister had done it—she had begun her journey as a Mana-cultivator. He was proud in many ways, but worry still lingered.
Protecting Mirae was second nature to him, but he also knew that as a mana-cultivator, she’d be able to protect herself. After all, he wouldn’t always be around. Ev...
2024-11-29 17:31:15 +0000 UTC View PostAs Mirae stood in the void, ankle-deep in comforting water, considering her next action, Instructor Kamble’s voice echoed through the space. “Alright, you should be seeing quite a few chaotic motes now. It’s time we moved on to the next step.”
Quite a few? I have two, maybe three. That can’t be what he considers quite a few.
Kamble continued, ignorant of her worri...
2024-11-29 16:44:51 +0000 UTC View PostMirae sat with her bottom firmly placed against the dusty old pillow, her back straight—Pippa to one side and Henry on the other. At the front of the room, Instructor Kamble sat, his brown robe flowing over the large well-worn pillow as he stroked his beard. Watching.
She swallowed as the dull buzzing of a fly came from the back of the room. She wanted to scratch at her ear, but Kamble...
2024-11-29 16:39:50 +0000 UTC View PostThe voice belonged to Jodie who stood by the large oak gates decorated with scrapped bronze buttons. She rested a hand on the gate and squinted to keep out the midday sun. “The lesson starts in a few minutes, and it seems your sister isn’t the only one joining us today.”
“She isn’t?” Hector asked, stepping forward and bowing to Jodie. She did the same.
As she rose, she f...
2024-11-29 16:33:59 +0000 UTC View PostHector and Adrian stood across from each other, as a strong wind blew the stink of the slums down the street. The vendor was still at the side, watching on unable to move, as the three of Adrian's grunts lay a short distance away.
"I'll give you one more chance Adrian," Hector said, as he began circling him. "Your dump guards are knocked out, you can go and collect some new ones from what...
2024-11-29 16:27:58 +0000 UTC View PostHector sighed, slumping onto his old rickety bed in a puff of dust. The food had been good, though his father hadn't taken his eyes off him the entire meal. His sister's free education as a Mana-cultivator seemed to not make him too happy. But that didn't matter.
With a grunt, Hector rolled over onto his front and gazed out the window at the dimming sky. His sister was going to be a Mana-...
2024-11-29 16:23:30 +0000 UTC View PostEmela searched around the hall, looking for what? She did not know. The only people who may have supported her could say nothing—Nyx was but a maid and her mother didn’t have much weight against these giants.
She looked to Ulrich, to the modest smile that graced his lips. It was fake. He could not hide the lust that lurked just beneath the surface, the disregard for who she was as a p...
2024-11-29 16:19:00 +0000 UTC View PostHector's meeting with the group drew to a close amidst the chattering of the market crowd. They had come up with a concrete plan for the festival. Even Lincoln had contributed in the end, choosing to take a more active role.
It had been decided that all six of them would split up into pairs and take a direction—moving around as one large group would draw too much attention. Emela and Ny...
2024-11-29 16:13:42 +0000 UTC View PostHector smiled as he walked down the street looking over his stats. Jodie and Mirae followed behind him. It was a hard fight but it had been more than worth it in the end.
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Hector Jacaranda
... 2024-11-29 16:07:28 +0000 UTC View Post“Oh, come now. Don’t you have anything better than this? I need something beautiful for the girl that I’m going to bed tonight,” the man said. Hector couldn’t see the man’s face as he stood facing his sister, but the clumped-up brown hair and dirty slacks spoke of his hygiene level. His mud-brown shirt had a few stains, no doubt from eating the garbage scum like him usually dined on...
2024-11-29 16:03:46 +0000 UTC View PostEmela flew back and slammed into the floor with a grunt as her sword clattered to the side. Standing a few feet away, Noella looked at her with a contemptuous smile. "Oh come now, dear sister. I barely even touched you."
That's what you call barely, you toad.
She pushed off the ground and staggered over to her sword, as Noella watched on. She was enjoying this, she al...
2024-11-29 15:59:43 +0000 UTC View PostEmela and Nyx moved from shadow to shadow, careful to avoid the eyes of any of the pedestrians on the street. It was late in the evening so the chances of them being spotted were low—any Mana-cultivator walking the streets at this time already had a set destination. They wouldn’t be paying too much attention.
There is nothing like a nighttime run.
Under norm...
2024-11-29 15:55:07 +0000 UTC View Post