Inside a nameless shack in the eastern part of Rhodanos, an almost eerie quiet had taken hold. Usually, this place was bustling, filled with the smell of booze, sweat and copper. After all, everyone in the area knew that this shack was owned by the Portside Gang and operated as a gambling house.
Yet tonight, none of the usual gamblers were here to throw away their hard-earned savings on d...
2023-04-08 22:35:49 +0000 UTC View PostWhat had happened? Why was this guy suddenly so nice to Inti, when he had been so mean to Brym all this time? Wasn't he a traditional medalan warrior, who all looked down on women? Or was he just horny, and that was why he went easy on her? He did have more lovers than fingers, after all, so that made sense.
"Lady Inti truly is powerful, just as the rumors had said," the lord flattered in...
2023-04-08 22:34:20 +0000 UTC View PostThis has to be the least dignified Lord I've ever met.
In Brym's opinion Lord Gratidia looked like a bum. Without any tension in his body — much unlike his vigilant appearance when he had first entered the room — the lord sat slumped in his chair and stared at Brym with murky eyes. Since he didn't have any time to get dressed, his clothes were simple, thin robes for sleeping,...
2023-04-08 22:32:17 +0000 UTC View Post"Arria."
As Lord Gratidia stroked the cold and empty spot next to his own on the bed, he remembered that this was the room of one of his lovers, a place he had used to hide away from his responsibilities.
After years of erosion, the King of the North could now exert almost as much power as House Gratidia within the city of Rhodanos. Even so, there was nothing the lord could do to st...
2023-03-28 22:45:47 +0000 UTC View PostFor a while, the desk-carrying group continued to walk in relative silence, until the young commoner stopped in front of a large, brightly lit courtyard.
Not long after, the group was inside the private residence. While the guards were setting up the new furniture based on the commoners' wishes, Inti and Brym stood aside to continue their conversation.
"They really are living simple...
2023-03-28 22:44:02 +0000 UTC View PostTraveling through Rhodanos had been an unwelcome return to normalcy for Inti. Ever since the start of her vacation, she had enjoyed long periods of relaxation, accentuated by short bouts of excitement or challenge. Yet as she walked through the half-empty streets of this city, she felt like she was back in the side-alleys of Arguna.
The roads felt dim and dangerous, as if evil minds were ...
2023-03-28 22:40:15 +0000 UTC View PostDepression, loneliness. A dying star in the night sky, surrounded by darkness. A walled desert, surrounded by fertile land. These were Brym's first thoughts after a look at his empty shop. All along the walls and atop the shelves, items worth thousands of Sila were lined up, all of them desirable to the people of the city just outside the door. Yet not one of them was here to be enticed by thes...
2023-03-28 22:39:05 +0000 UTC View PostAfter the incident in Huaylas, the relevant parties soon went their separate ways. In the end, Inti managed to convince Avitus and his wife Mellana to leave their new home, though they only agreed out of concern for their unborn child, and only after Inti had insisted that the quality of doctors in the south was higher. As Brym had suggested, they would travel south to Saniya, together with Nao...
2023-03-28 22:37:33 +0000 UTC View PostIn a formerly abandoned courtyard in Huaylas, Inti and Brym sat together for dinner, after a seemingly endless day. This wasn't her sister Mellana's yard, of course. They couldn't stay after what had happened earlier. This was a yard the finance minister had specifically requested from Lord Ichilia. He had even paid for it in full from his private property. After all, if they stayed in the Gold...
2023-03-19 01:20:38 +0000 UTC View Post"Lord Ichilia, what happened to Mellana di Pluritac?"
What happened to who? I want to know what happened more than anyone!
Loreius was stunned. So far, the talks had been going perfectly. Almost all of his predictions had been met. Although he had been a bit surprised by the bonds issue, and he hadn't managed to gain an advantage during negotiations, he was still broadly sa...
2023-03-19 01:17:14 +0000 UTC View PostNot long after Brym and Inti entered Gold Manor, two of the only overweight warriors in Medala came face-to-face with each other. However, there was none of the merriment one would expect in a meeting between two kindred souls. Instead, the giant hall was scarily empty. Unlike the opulent outside of the manor, the inside seemed almost deserted. Only a single table had been erected in the center...
2023-03-15 00:52:52 +0000 UTC View PostTwo days after the riot in front of the Moonlight Ziggurat had been suppressed, a ship carried away Brymstock Fastgrade, the man who had caused the mess. Together with him came Inti and Naoka, though both of them traveled in secret.
Unbelievably, there was no need for Brym to disguise himself as well, despite the riot he had caused. Instead, he simply hired a boat and left, with his guard...
2023-03-13 00:10:58 +0000 UTC View PostHello again.
Here we are once more with: How's it going with the book?
Well, I'm happy to announce that I actually got quite a bit done over the last two weeks. I'm mostly done with the big picture stuff. I still have a long list of details I need to fix in individual chapters, but I'll quickly get this done over the next few days.
After that, I wanted to let it sit for ...
2023-03-09 23:17:01 +0000 UTC View Post"This is your final warning! Remove your warriors from the inner city at once, or your actions will be treated as a threat to the Empire!"
The elite warrior guard of the capital belted his orders right into the 'threat's' chubby little face. He didn't even bother to draw his weapon, despite the great dangers to the empire and everything. Maybe he was relying on the dozens of armed warrior...
2023-03-09 00:21:00 +0000 UTC View PostBy the time the corridor was about to split in front of Naoka and Elder Saqartu, the head guard who opposed them had long moved behind the other guards. While the ghost warrior had been busy trying to keep the situation under control, the guard had gotten into position to do the same. Yet so far, he hadn't acted on his impulses.
While Naoka had pushed back the guards, he could already see...
2023-02-22 22:04:15 +0000 UTC View PostTwo solitary pairs of footsteps echoed through the dark hallways deep within the Moonlight Ziggurat. No other sound could be heard. In the empty corridor, an elder and a prisoner, men of opposite status, were carefully walking atop the wet bricks.
"Not to be too forward, but won't Elder get in trouble for helping with the escape? Wouldn't it have been better to take care of those guards p...
2023-02-19 23:07:31 +0000 UTC View PostWithin his generation, Naoka was one of House Pluritac's most accomplished ghost warriors. Though he was still young, he had already survived through many great tribulations. Not least had been their most dangerous days, when the entire imperial court had been controlled by 'Empress Mother' Spuria, and Prince Pachacutec had been all but confirmed as the next emperor. However, even back then, he...
2023-02-19 23:05:06 +0000 UTC View PostAfter tea and some refreshments, Brym had recovered from his long journey to Medala's capital. However, he didn't get much time to rest. Before he could even stretch his legs, he was brought on a tour of the city by Lady Inti.
This time, rather than walking around incognito like he had done before, they traveled in a far more decadent manner. The two took seat in a single, large palanquin...
2023-02-17 22:00:52 +0000 UTC View PostWhen Brym had first come to the capital of Medala all those years ago, the city had seemed like a daunting colossus. Ancient and imposing it had stood there, larger in size than any arcavian city, even the vibrant Whiteport or Valerna, the ancient center of the continent.
Just the walls of Arguna were massive beyond scope, as if they had been built to hold back giants, not humans. All yea...
2023-02-16 21:56:01 +0000 UTC View Post"Alright, that's enough of that." Corco clapped loudly to drive away the sullen mood in the room. "Was there anything else left to report?"
Although the king was eager to get work done, Fadelio's head was still down. However, when he heard about the report, he gripped his notes tighter, and began to read. For once, Corco didn't interrupt him and waited until his friend had composed himsel...
2023-02-12 21:02:33 +0000 UTC View PostOnce Corco's explanation of his new law was over, Sumaci jumped in immediately, to appreciate her teacher's brilliance.
"And since we allow private arms companies, we also don't stifle innovation, and we can allow more private businesses to thrive, which will increase tax revenue. How clever!" his clever wife finished Corco's thought.
"Right? And I only thought of it just now as wel...
2023-02-12 21:01:31 +0000 UTC View PostHey, Hermit here.
Due to various reasons (mostly time-related), I failed to unlock and post chapters on time yesterday. I made up for it today, and will unlock/ post more tomorrow.
Cheers, S.H.
2023-02-11 23:41:09 +0000 UTC View Post"Urgh, I am so done with this shit."
In a childish gesture of defiance, King Corcopaca Titu Pluritac threw off his long cloak as soon as he entered his private quarters, before he proceeded to throw himself face-first onto the first couch he could find.
"For today we are, yes," Fadelio said, as always behind him, like a malicious spirit of work and decorum haunting every waking hour...
2023-02-11 23:38:52 +0000 UTC View PostWhile Alcer watched Sawo and Rimaq trot away in defeat, Kyunya stepped up next to him.
"Good. That's what they deserve," he said, still in a huff. Yet when Alcer turned to look at him, he finally saw a relieved smile on the young craftsman's face. Even his stubble had been shaved off for today's occasion. For the first time since Alcer had met him, Kyunya looked happy. Though before he co...
2023-02-09 00:19:33 +0000 UTC View PostAfter Killari had detained Sawo and Rimaq, Alcer's plan was finally complete. Though he had succeeded, he didn't derive any joy from their misery. When he had imagined this scene, he had thought that he would be happy to see these villains brought to justice. Now however, as he watched the powerful warrior stand there helplessly, with the old craftsman right behind him, his clothes dirty and cr...
2023-02-05 02:13:58 +0000 UTC View PostThe same evening, inside the 'Gilded Pheasant'
"In that case, let's order something. I'm starving," Killari said, and buried his face the menu again. However, while the topic of Kyunya's character had been solved for Killari, Alcer wasn't done yet. After all, he still had an ace up his sleeve.
"Wait, what if I had some proof for Kyunya's claims. Would that chan...
2023-02-05 02:11:18 +0000 UTC View Post"Going Thrice! Sold!" The moment Hieronymus banged the gavel onto the table, a warm feeling spread all over Alcer's body. Finally, after days of walking on a razor's edge, he had landed back on solid ground. After he had bought the manufactory, there would be nothing left to threaten his plan.
For most attendees in the theater hall other than Alcer, the sale of yet another property didn't...
2023-02-04 00:45:39 +0000 UTC View PostFive days after his agreement with Alcer, Sawo stood in front of Saniya's Royal Theater, the location of the government's manufactory auction. Today would be the day all of his work until now would come to fruition. With the purchase of two manufactories by his customers, the first step in his plans would be completed. Of course, first he had to somehow keep those troublesome customers of his i...
2023-01-30 23:22:09 +0000 UTC View PostYes, certainly an army man. That means he'll probably stick with the truth, and is probably easy to fool.
Every time he met a prospective customer for the Tasa Bank's loan business, Sawo would first observe them to understand them before they ever opened their mouths. Thus, he carefully watched the young man with the sharp face and stiff posture who sat in front of him, across fr...
2023-01-27 22:38:56 +0000 UTC View PostHe hasn't shown up for months, and now he won't leave me alone.
Only a day after Killari had taken time out of his busy day to get his hapless old friend Alcer acquainted with an unreliable blacksmith, they were already meeting up again. Of course, the former ensign was the one paying, which was the only reason Killari was here in the first place. Or rather, he still wouldn't hav...
2023-01-27 22:38:01 +0000 UTC View Post