What happened when  Vanessa Winslow, the crown princess of vampire kingdom and already promised to another vampire Richard Duprès as his future wife, set her sights on a simple werewolf Eric LeLoup during the ball in her honor ? 

After secretly dating for a while now, Richard finds out about their relation and decided to use it to threaten Vanessa to reveal it to her father, King George,who is the against their relation. But a secret never stays in the dark for long, it always ends up being revealed. 

Many of their family and closest friends attempt to seprate them by pitting them against each others especially Richard's father Paul Duprès. They ended breaking up but fate is not of this opinion and added it's grain of salt so they found themselves again but not under good circumstances. They are far from suspecting that they still have to cross a lot of obstacles before they can live their love in broad daylight. 

The most biggest obstacle that they have to face is their differences. Indeed, she is immortal but Eric is not. One solution arises for them : to become human. How will they handle this new situation if to become a human needs to do some sacrifice ?

200 years ago man created the greatest AI known but this Machine eventually grew a mind of its own and evetually it's own body, it rose up with others like it against the human race this battle went on for about 20 years and nature and most resources were dieing off cause of the continuing battles but the final battle it released a large blast but is wasn't a bomb it was something else entirely, the machines had something hidden down their main base, something that wasn't human or machine something not of this earth, the blast brought back nature it changed it along with the humans and Machines closes to the blast.....both of them went a evolution of some sorts and because of this both sides where able to form a peace ending the war



Lia Giles became a border guard and mechanic for the power lines on the in between of the main city and the unearthly forests, no longer being able to stand living in the high technology world where humans are treated like second class citizens. On one of her patrols she discovers something or more like someone that no one has ever seen before.

In this world, the definition of 'normal' had changed beyond imagination. Once a 'normal' world meant a world which was free from monsters. The only ways to find these monsters was through movies or games, but then, one fateful day, the 'normal' world changed.
'Dungeons' started popping up on the surface of earth out of nowhere. Few people wanted to explore these dungeons, while the rest were xenophobic¹, they had all the right in the world to think so, not many people had the guts to step into the unknown, completely aware of the fact that they could die inside those dungeons, but for some, the thrill was too much and they couldn't resist going inside the dungeon.
Ignoring the orders and guidelines from the government, a group of soldiers who were stationed to prevent others from entering, themselves defied the rules and violated a direct command from their superiors and stepped inside the portal.
It was this foolishness that activated the countdown of the time left to clear the dungeon. A countdown that would inevitably lead to the first-ever dungeon break on Earth. Not to mention that those soldiers couldn't clear the dungeon without weapons, but they died a horrible death by the hands of the monsters inside...
Even after the incident, the was no way for the government to know about the countdown, as far as they could tell, the dungeon was still the same. Nothing had changed, at least that's what the greatest minds of Earth had concluded based on a 'rigorous' analysis of the dungeon.
The conclusion of this 'rigorous' analysis was strictly based on the outside appearance of the dungeon. The only thing the scientist could say with proof was the fact that the dungeon was surrounded by a new type of radiation or energy that no one had ever witnessed before, sadly there wasn't a way for them to measure this 'energy'. If they could, they'd have known that it was dissipating exponentially, and the moment it disappeared, the monsters it had been holding back would be released upon the unprepared world and the definition of 'normal' was changed forever.
Out of the dungeon, came low ranked monsters like goblins, but since humanity didn't know how to defeat them, it took a lot of time to do so. During this time countless humans lost their lives but everything was forgotten after the world witnessed the true horrors of the places that were called 'dungeons'.
Monsters, beasts, magic... anything and everything that could've only been found in movies, games and fictional stories, were now a part of the reality. They were real. The mysterious energy/radiation around the dungeons was given a name, Xenoic radiation. The radiation which kept the monsters trapped inside the dungeon was the same as the radiation which granted humans the superpowers to face monsters inside the dungeon. It was like the Earth was trying to find an equilibrium within the chaos. People rapidly adapted to these new changes, and soon the dungeons became a new source of business. A business with millions of dollars.
Slowly but surely, everything began to settle in, but then the world changed once again. And this time the change was neither smooth nor easy to adapt to.
Along with the change, came mutation, which was thanks to the curiosity of humans. This mutation evolved the already deadly monsters into even deadlier species. One of such monsters laid lifeless near the feet of the man who had burned him to death.
___
You've killed a cosmic being.
EXP: +10000
First rank D Cosmic being killed :
EXP: +8000
First Demon Orc killed.
EXP: +6000
<You can not level up.>
<Excess EXP will be stored for future use.>
<Current EXP: 304,596>
___
A minute ago, the cave had resonated with desperate screams of the Orc but now it was shrouded in silence, as the smell of burning flesh defiled the cave. The, once proud Demon Orc had been burnt to a crisp, his flesh on his back had melted away, only the bony spikes of the orc were left behind.
Talos silently stood behind his master, his left arm back in its place.
"So you can't revive him?" Arnold asked Talos, without turning back to face him.
"No master... unfortunately, almost half of the monster's body has been burnt away. My abilities won't be able to resurrect him." Talos informed him.
Arnold took a deep breath and in an attempt to calm himself down, 'I got carried away...'
"Alright. Then let's do the next best thing..." Arnold said and grabbed a fist full of gooey flesh of the dead orc and smeared it on Talos' chest.
Within a moment, the blood rune present in the centre of his chest started giving off a neon blue light, confirming that Arnold's plan was successful.
"Transform." Arnold mumbled.
Talos' metallic body started changing as Arnold uttered the word. His body grew bigger, a tough black skin materialised out of thin air and covered him up. Spikes popped out of his back, as time passed he started looking more and more like the Demon Orc. 
___
NAME: Talos
ROLE: Battle Automaton
FORM: Demon Orc
<1 more form(s) available. 2 form(s) can be added>
LEVEL: 92
RANK: S
FORM ROLE: Brawler/Berserker
AFFINITY/ABILITIES :
• Silent Kill (Active skill)
• Eternal Rage (Passive skill)
• Hardening (Passive skill)
• Demon's Will (Controlling skill)
<Expand to view 1 more>
HP: 12000/12000
STRENGTH (STR) : 118
DEFENSE (DEF) : 88
STAMINA (STA) : 60
INTELLIGENCE (INT) : 90
AGILITY (AGI) : 86
ACCURACY (ACC) : 58
EVADE (EVD) : 85
CHARISMA (CHA) : --
Damage Resistances: None
Condition Immunities: Exhaustion, Frightened, Frozen, Poisoned, Blunt attacks.
Weak Against: Fire-based attacks.
<Your summons cannot be upgraded to achieve a Cosmic Rank until you, yourself have ascended to a cosmic level.>
___
Arnold was pleased with the results of the transformation. He had finally obtained an S ranked summon, but more than that he was happy about the next two notifications that he received.
___
You've achieved a new title! 
Name: [Master Tamer]
<This title is achieved by successfully taming monsters of every rank in the human realm (from F to S). The monsters you tame after earning this title would be automatically adjusted to this title's effects>
Effect: Increases the effect of synchronization effects of your summons and allies by 4%
___
___
• HEADHUNTER :
[ INTRODUCTION ]: You've proven your worth to the 'Immortal One' and now your true training begins.
[ TASK ]: Hunt down 300 monsters as an offering to the Immortal one.
[ PROGRESS ] :
30/300 monsters hunted.
<Special completion reward: Exclusive title.>
___
'Looks like I was right... the Headhunter quest only counts the monsters that I slay without the help of my summons. Not only that, slaying cosmic beings seem to give more points as the counter went up by not one but ten points. At least now I know what I have to do to complete the headhunter quest, also... what's that controlling spell Talos has gained? If it is what I'm thinking, then, ho ho ho, I'm in for a treat!'
"It is an ability that will allow me to control any orc or any 'green-skinned monster²' within a range of 2 kilometres from my location." Talos answered as if he read his Master's mind.
"Talos, inform Allen about the situation and ask him to send a small force to rescue these women. After they are done, you and I are going on a hunt." Arnold said with a smile on his face. His good day had just turned into a great day!
*****
Author's note:
1. Xenophobia is the psychological term for fear of the unknown, and people who suffer from it are called xenophobic.
2. I grouped up the goblins, ogres and Orcs together and referred them as green-skinned monsters. These are the only monsters that the ability [Demon's Will] can control and not all the monsters who have green skin.


Do read my new novel **The Rise Of A Tribal Deadbeat**. 
It would mean a lot to me if you could read it and give your valuable review. Thanks in advance. 

****
The novel follows the story of Arnold, a porter, who accompanies warriors and superhumans inside dangerous dungeons, which are distinguished by their colours. The porters were always mistreated by the modern human civilization and even though their job was riskier than that of warriors and superhumans, their existence was never appreciated nor were they paid well.

No one knows why these dungeons started to appear all over the world. The only thing they know was the dangers that would find their way into the world if they didn't kill the monsters. But only a selected few cared about the calamity because for the rest it was all about earning money and gaining power. 

But nothing in this new world is constant and everything keeps changing, and this time the change would find its way towards an ordinary Porter.

After stealing a scroll from the dungeon, he ran off to his home. The scroll gave him powers no one could've imagined to gain. But he wasn't alone. 9 other humans had been granted similar powers... powers of the Gods! 

What would Arnold do with his newfound powers? Will he kill the other 8 Paladins and rule over the world which had oppressed him for years? Or will he rise against the Gods and make them repent for their crimes? 

Can the strength lent by the Gods be sufficient to deal with them once and for all? Would he be able to defeat his creator? Or will he join the Gods instead? 

Too many questions, too little time. The decisions he would make could be the end of humanity Or would an ordinary Porter, become he world's only hope? 

Follow me on the journey to the power of this ordinary Porter as he becomes the Savior or the Devil. 

*******************

Gold tier award-winning novel of WPC#130.

*******************

Warning:
There might be a few grammatical errors in the early chapters, so if you are a grammar nazI then please proceed with caution. 

Also, the MC isn't very bright and will do a lot of stupid things from time to time. So if you like a cool and calculating MC you won't be seeing him like that until later chapters (Chapter 100 or so). I'm telling this to y'all here so you don't start yelling at me in the comments or review. All in all, I've tried to make the MC as realistic as I could. 

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you and enjoy reading my creation!

***********************

Discord link: https://discord.gg/uQzmEr8

***********************
Cover art by unknown (If anyone knows the artist then please inform me on discord: AkshatArpit#8707) 

(if anyone has any problems with it, then please leave a review to let me know. All rights belong to the artist)

Back when Medusa was mortal, she was a beautiful woman, she might not be the fairest, but one cannot deny that she was beautiful. She entered the temple to be a priestess she believed if she served the goddess, nothing ill would befall to her. Because beauty itself is a curse. Arachne and Psyche were women who had been cursed with beauty are some examples. However, it appears that she was wrong.
 
Medusa vividly remembered that Poseidon barged into Athena's Temple and **** her in front of Athena's altar which was considered a holy sanctuary despite being the priestess in training for Athena. Being a priestess did not save her from a god's lust. The Olympian men like Zeus and Poseidon were maniacs and perverts to the extent. They will stop at nothing. If a woman rejects her, they will just up the ante and wait for the opportunity to force themselves to a woman. It was that fateful day that she was tasked to care for a new temple of Athena when men who smelled like sea water forced themselves into the temple with the pretext to offer prayers to Athena. By the time that they were at the main hall, the man who seemed to be the leader had transformed himself to Poseidon and grabbed Medusa and tried to break free. However, his grip was stronger than her and he even tore her garments in one move. How can she even defy a god? She prayed for Athena as if her life depended on it, but no one answered. By the time Poseidon was in her, the pain of being penetrated forcefully, she started to call out the other gods of Olympus. The two other goddesses, Aphrodite, and Hera did not do anything to stop their family member at all. That's when Poseidon mocked her that even if she called out anyone from Olympus, no one would hear her because she was Athena's priestess, any pleas to other gods won't simply go to them but will go to Athena first. She grew very afraid hearing this. Poseidon himself like an animal ravaging her mortal body mocking her that Athena offered her own priestess because she was jealous.
 
The worst part was a very horrifying and painful ordeal, Athena, the goddess Medusa wanted to serve in exchange for protection, banished her instead. She even cursed her along with her sisters who had done nothing wrong. With the main reason that she invited men to desecrate her so-called holy sanctuary. No one believed her when she claimed that she was raped by Poseidon. She was innocent and someone took advantage of her. Athena even asked someone to kill her after getting cursed into a monster. This is what Medusa had gone through until Hades himself revived her and her sisters. The newly opened Tartarus was able to discern the truth. However, they were also powerless to go against Athena and Poseidon. She did want revenge at that point but facing a god was something else. She was not a goddess herself at that time. If her benefactor, Hades went against his family it would be considered a rebellion which is also not a good idea. She wanted to forget her grudge by hiding to where they could not even pry. She can start a new life with her sisters with the safe haven that the underworld offered.
 
Then the decline of the Olympians happened but Tartarus moved to better pastures as it was being integrated with Cosmos at the same time. Perhaps seeing their decline was Medusa's revenge. She was there as Greece declined and Athens, the city of Athena, crumbled into decay. People started to doubt the gods. Though it was not satisfying for Medusa and her kin, knowing that only Tartarus was the one accepted by the Cosmos and got spared from the decline of the Olympus was a solace itself. But if she was given a chance, as promised by their boss, she will claim her revenge. Seeing the <Golden Apple> that one of the Olympians owned, Medusa may need to investigate how the Olympians escaped their decline. She may have lived a new life and becoming a goddess to boot, there is still a debt that needs to be repaid.
 
"I remember that since none among the gods would dare but into the scuffle between the three goddesses, they went to a mortal man to judge on who would own the <Golden apple>. I don't exactly remember what was the bribe that they offered to the mortal, but I remembered some details. that even if they were the highest goddesses at that time, they did not hesitate to strip naked in front of a complete stranger. and top that, one bribes which caused ten years of war and misery to every other mortal." Medusa tried to recall the incident. The infamous Judgement of Paris which led to the Trojan war. The poor banished prince to be a shepherd who had become the bane of his own kingdom.
 
"What was it?" Morticia was hooked on the story. This event might have happened a long time ago, but this was a major scandal, everyone was bound to be curious.
 
"One of them had promised to give her the fairest woman of all." Medusa answered tactfully. She glanced at Morticia who was like a puppy eager to get a treat.
 
"I don't see anything wrong with that…" Morticia seemed to be downcast with the answer. Of course, a goddess would offer something that's something a man is weak of, a beautiful woman. However, she knew men who liked men most likely would be a different story and may have turned that kind of bribe down. Like men who Mely adores so much.
 
"But what if that most beautiful woman is a married woman and a queen of a powerful nation?" Medusa gave some more juicy details of the life of ancient Greece.
 
"Oh my! Really? She did not!" Morticia was shocked in disbelief. A goddess just bribed a man using another man's partner. She felt it was wrong. Are the older gods that twisted? And come to think of it, this all stemmed for a petty title of being the fairest of them all.
 
All the snakes in Medusa's head nodded in unison. Medusa does not even have to nod hers.
 
"Did she even think what would happen? How did she become a goddess? Of course, her spouse will retaliate." Morticia was quite riled up as she had a barrage of questions to Medusa. Even if it happened before. They are gods. Based on the definition from Cosmos, they as gods have their own moral compass. Even the underworld gods like Yama, which is a good friend of her mentor, Yubis, are righteous. They will do what they believe should be right for their devotees.
 
"Exactly! That is why it brought calamity on the kingdom where the mortal was from." Medusa was very amused how this pale white goddess of death is showing much emotion right now. Even her snakes were excited. She never had seen a lot of emotions from Morticia in a short period of time. She had known the goddess of death for about a few centuries.
 
"If the mortal was a commoner, it should not eradicate the whole kingdom." Morticia started to think again. It was kind of excessive to decimate a kingdom as a retaliation for a shepherd who had kidnapped someone's wife.
 
"Except he was not a commoner. He is a banished prince of the kingdom. Banished because an oracle told his parents that he will cause the downfall of own kingdom. That fateful decision determining who will win the golden apple led to the war raged for a decade. The gods involved themselves with this affair. A lot of people died, not only mortals but even demigods died. Even if they did not lose their lives on the battlefield, they were sent into their misery that one would kill themselves." Medusa was giving a summary of what had happened during the Trojan war. A kingdom was decimated and reduced to ruin. Fall of several heroes. Tartarus was very busy because of them, there were lots of souls that even Charon, who was a ferryman at that time had to row twenty fully loaded trips in a single day because of the influx of souls going to the underworld.
 
"All because some goddess wanted to be the fairest of them all." Morticia realized the whims of gods that proved fatal to any mortal. She was sad at that time. Even if she has an aspect of death, she has to deal with the grief of the souls themselves, and this escalated on an epic scale. Wars were never a pleasant affair. A lot of innocents die, especially children who were just starting their life.
 
"Yes, it was all because of that." Medusa sighed, reminiscing on it made her realize that despite Ancient Greece being small, something like that happened on a grand scale which was very wasteful.
 
"But what happened to the apple?" Morticia got curious. The thing that caused all a calamity. She grew worried that this might happen to her own world.

Takeda Ryuji is a single 35-year-old workaholic manager of a Japanese conglomerate. Both brothers were otakus, Takehiko loved magic and elven stuff while Ryuji loved transmigration, rebirth and Isekai type of stories. Sadly, his brother passed away due to liver cancer which left Ryuji devastated. He cherished the hobby that he and his brother loved, to honor his brother's memory.

On the sixth anniversary of his brother’s death, he was called by his boss to cover for another manager to finish an important project for the companyof their office even though it was his day off. He finished his work not until late at night. Ryuji finished his day by drinking beer to drown in sorrow and grief as he remembered the day his brother died like it happened barely hours ago. However, next thing he knew waking up was finding himself in a white room with two cosplayers. 

“A scholar and a warrior out of nowhere? Am I really dead?” Ryuji knew that his world view will be shattered forever.

“Your heart went into an overdrive.” The warrior spoke in a straight face.

That was the day that Takeda Ryuji died of heart attack and woke up in the Divine Realm’s reception area.

******************************

After his rebirth as the black-haired elf of prophecy, the elf child named Takeda Takehiko was praying in front of a pair of statues.

“Mama Sefie-sama, can you bring my brother here when he dies?” The black-haired elven child looked at the Goddess of forest with twinkling eyes.

“Hubby, do what our adopted child says!!!” The woman watching from their TV, turned to his husband wearing a dashing black suit with floral necktie.

“I am on it.” Hades subtly smiled. He immediately called using his smartphone. “Yubis, send over Takeda Ryuji here.”

“What?” The jackal god asked.

“My adopted son wants to.” Hades replied

“You know we can’t do that!” The jackal god retorted

“Would you like your sis-in-law do it instead?” Hades countered

“Oh! I am on it! In fact, Bishamonten said he will arrive in five minutes! I will be busy in accepting him, tell that to sis-in-law! Bye!!” The jackal god Yubis replied with delay. He was scared witless by the angry Goddess of Harvest. 

“Wifey!!! He will be over within five minutes!” Hades smiled

“Hubby you are the best!” Sefie hugged his overbearing CEO god.

******************************

Brotherly reunion in another world, god migration, scandalous heavens, world building and a multitude of migrant souls. This is my first novel as an amateur writer. Suggestions are accepted. This was meant to be a light fantasy novel for a regular corporate worker like me.

*edited the synopsis of MC's death.

QUIRKLESS: is a term that describes someone who was born without any Quirks whatsoever.

That's the official definition, but to 4-year-old Izuku, it had a different interpretation. To him it was the word that shattered his dreams, his hope and most of all his innocence.

It was Ironic that in a world of people with powers, abilities, and random mutations, the person born completely normal would be called the freak. 80 years ago people with with natural pink hair would be exotic yet now people walk around with shark faces as if it's completely normal, Hell the police commissioner is a Dog.

Izuku Midoriya was a young and extremely innocent child, with green tinted black hair, forest green eyes and freckled complexion, basically the definition of a cinnamon bun.

He had fallen in love with All Might, and Hero's in general from the day he was old enough to understand the modern hero/villain society, vowing to one day use the Quirk he would develop to become a savior to all around him, or so that was the plan.

When his doctor had said that fateful word - Quirkless – Izuku's hopeful face shattered in his office, only breaking down that night while watching All Might's first appearance video. Tears streamed down his face while his mom cradled him in her arms, Inko Midoriya silently begging whatever gods or beings that would listen, to change this, have them discover it was a mistake, that the Doctor…. no, that everyone was wrong!

Time, it seemed, proved everyone right. Years passed, Izuku went from a young chubby cheeked 4-year-old, to a scrawny and tired 9-year-old, beaten down for something beyond his control. Oh, and how he had tried to change that, he spent day's worth of time over the years, trying to get his Quirk to show, whether that was through trying to pick up objects with his mind, or breathing fire from his mouth, Izuku practiced everything under the sun, becoming obsessed with different Quirks, all to see if he could make his appear. Notebook after notebook, filled to the brim with the Quirks of hero's, villains, and people in general, along with detailed notes worthy of a Highschool Scholar. Nothing ever changed.

And so, this takes us to Spring of Izuku's Fifth year in school, less than a month into class, and already Bakugou was glad to have his punching bag back.

Bakugou "Kacchan" Katsuki, Izuku's first friend. The two met through their parents and spent the better part of their early days playing games, exploring creeks and forests, all while dreaming of the day their Quirks would develop. Only, Izuku's never did, while Bakugou got one of the flashiest and most powerful Quirks one could obtain: Explosions. All around him people praised him, classmates, and teachers alike. His ego grew with every word, while his fondness for Izuku decreased just as rapidly.

"I am the best, I'm going to be the best."Bakugou thought. "So, since I'm the best, that must mean that Izuku, no…. Deku, is the worst!"

Kacchan, as Deku still so hopelessly called him, spent the next few years doing everything in his power to force that belief upon his worthless classmate. Verbal abuse was just the start, regardless of whether he could use his Quirk or not, Bakugou was physically stronger than Deku ever could be. It became child's play to turn the hopeful child, with bright wonder filled eye's, into a run ragged punching bag, with eye's that looked more appropriate on a war veteran, someone who had seen one too many fights in his life.

Over the break, Mrs. Midoriya always kept Izuku busy and away from his "friends," doing her best to give him some peace before school started up again. Now that class was back in though, and Deku was once again butting his nose in where it didn't belong - standing up for kids despite having no Quirk to his name - Bakugou could vent his frustrations out once more. He couldn't use his quirk, not really, otherwise the teachers would intervene. But Bakugou grabbing Izuku by the collar, beating him black and blue, while his "crew" stood back and watched, well…. that was just "boys being boys."

This time, the group of friends were "playing" behind the jungle gym, far out of sight of anyone else.

"You just never learn do you, stupid Deku!" Bakugou spat, his right-hand crackling with barely contained explosions, while his left held Izuku by his collar.

Izuku lifted his head meekly, "Y-you were stealing Ouchi-sans l... l… Ouchi-sans lunch money, Kacchan, you can't jus-" But his words died in his throat as Bakugou delivered a punch to Deku's gut. Izuku for his part, fell out of Bakugou's grip, doubling over on the ground.

Peering down Bakugou practically growled at the Quirkless loser beneath him. "I decide what I can and can't fucking do! Besides that, fat Idiot always brings food from home, he doesn't need money for more!"

That's not your choice to make Bakugou! The tired Izuku wanted to say, but he was too busy keeping down his lunch.

Bakugou's lips pulled back into his trademark cheshire smile, "C'mon Deku, Stand up! If you're not so worthless, stand up and face me!"

Midoriya kneeled there, but not because he couldn't summon the energy to stand, but simply because he couldn't decide if it was better to just let Kacchan win. To sit there in the dirt where he belonged, a worthless waste of space; Deku, as his "best friend" had put it.

But that's not who I am…

Rising to his feat, Midoriya raised his head once again, standing on shaky legs he gripped his hands into fists, his knuckles turning white. Piercing green orbs met fiery red eye's, and Izuku stared Bakugou down with ever ounce of determination he had.

"The essence of a Hero Kacchan: is meddling when you don't need to. For as long as there are people who need my help, I will help them, even if it means standing up to you!"

The words fell from Izuku's mouth, and by the end of his statement, a watery smile had spread across his face.

Not a second later, Bakugou slugged Izuku across the jaw, causing his head to jerk back, and his body to follow as he hit the ground with a solid thud.

"WORTHLESS DEKU!" Bakugou spat, as his eye's shot down to his still clenched fist. Fresh blood poured from the top of his hand, it seemed that he had cut himself across Deku's teeth during the punch.

"Got damn Deku! I drop you like a doormat with just my fists, and you still believe you can be a hero!" Bakugou stalked over to Izuku's limp form, ignoring the red liquid dripping from his knuckles. "Nerd , you are Worthless! Weak! A COMPLETE WASTE OF SPACE!" Ever insult was punctuated by a kick to Deku's side, no doubt leaving some nice new bruises.

Bakugou had expected a response, a groan of pain, something, but Izuku just lied there, a motionless mass. Leaning down, Bakugou began shaking Izuku, trying to get him to react.

Birds chirped nearby, sounds of kids playing in the background could still be heard, and the wind rustled the leaves, but Izuku was silent and motionless.

Worry began to enter the mind of the boy with supposedly unwavering confidence, he checked Izuku over. Turning his head to face upwards, instead of to the side, he noticed the blood smeared around Izuku's mouth.

Maybe it's just my own? Bakugou thought.

Next, he took in the darkened skin, taking shape on Deku's cheeks from where his punch had connected, the bruise already starting to form. Finally, he noticed Izuku's eye's….

For their part, Bakugou's crew had stood back and let their "ring leader" do his work. Deku was his punching bag, and while they agreed he was worthless, no one got between Bakugou and his "prey." But when said boy jumped back, eye's wide, and an expression of horror on his face, they knew something was wrong.

Stepping closer, the three kids joined Bakugou in looking at Izuku's face, and it was clear what had scared him so bad.

Izuku's normally bright green orbs were grey and vacant, like a second set of foggy translucent eye lids had settled over his eye's. No movement, no recognition, just a thousand-yard stare that chilled everyone present to the bone.

At best Izuku looked like he was in a trance, at worst, he looked....

Dead.

Well Back again, with an itch inside the head. Heyyy guys, here’s another fic that randomly came in my head in the shower-

Genta looked forward expressionlessly. His expression was utterly cold. If he pitied Xin Yichuan, who would pity him? For him, this trip to Hua Xia Country was a huge loss.
Xin Yichuan sighed softly. He looked somewhat longingly at the sky. Then, he slowly fell backward. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. When he fell to the ground, he no longer had any aura. He had severed his own heart meridian! It was rather easy for an ancient martial art practitioner to commit suicide. Xin Yichuan had no choice. Even if he did not die now, he would not be able to escape death in the future. He would even involve his family and clan.
The Huatian Palace would eventually find their way to him when investigating Xin Wuji. When they investigated him, the Huatian Palace would also find out about Genta's clan. Only Xin Yichuan's death could cut off this line of evidence.
Genta looked at the corpse on the ground and snorted coldly. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, he left with the black-robed ancient martial art practitioner.
Very quickly, some spectators in the Divine Dragon Nest noticed that something was off with Xin Yichuan and called the Huatian Palace Executors to take his corpse away.
Back in the challenge ring, many people had yet to recover from what they had just witnessed. They knew that Xin Wuji was dead and had died in the challenge ring. Whether he had died at the hands of Gu Jingman or whether he had died at the hands of the mysterious white hand image that had suddenly appeared, they did not know.
Without Xin Wuji, the Heaven List Tournament continued without being affected. For some participants, Xin Wuji's death was undoubtedly a good thing. At least they had one less competitor.
Mo Wen was secure in first place. No one dared to contend with him. After all, the ability that he had previously displayed made people understand that they were no match for this youth.
In the second challenge ring, Gu Jingman hugged her elbows lazily. Still, no one came to challenge her. The participants were even more afraid of Gu Jingman than they were of Mo Wen. She had been able to cripple Xin Wuji in one blow. Her ability was utterly terrifying.
The challenge ring battles continued. Soon, the final ranking was decided, and the dust began to settle.
Mo Wen was first. Gu Jingman was second.
Wine and Meat Monk placed third, Water Deity ranked fourth, and Dark Hand was fifth. In reality, the ability of these three was equal, but Dark Hand was more proficient in assassination and not challenge ring battles. Hence, his ranking was behind the other two. As for Water Deity, she had expended a large portion of her own Inner Qi in order to drain Xin Wuji's. In the end, she lost to Wine and Meat Monk and his rich and deep Inner Qi.
Sword Addict White Dust placed sixth, and Guo Mengqiao ranked seventh.
Lord Merciless was the worst off. Ninth place! If Xin Wuji had not perished in battle, he most likely would only have managed tenth place.
...
"Let's go. That fellow actually placed first. That's somewhat interesting."
Yao Yu turned and left. The corners of her mouth were curled into a playful smile. After the Heaven List Tournament, her ten-day promise with Mo Wen would also be approaching. Initially, she was not concerned about it, but right now, she was looking forward to it slightly. If, as the person who was first on the Heaven List, Mo Wen lost pathetically at her hands, then what expression would those Hua Xia Country youth geniuses have? Just thinking about it made her very interested.
"Wow, Big Brother Mo came in first. He is so mighty!"
Su Wan'er jumped up excitedly. She might not understand what the realms above the Embryonic Breathing Realm were like. She also did not understand exactly how powerful the people in the challenge ring were. But she knew that the honor of being placed first meant that all the youth geniuses of the world were no match for Big Brother Mo. It was such a great honor!
Wang Qian also clenched her fists. She was exceptionally excited. Her dream was to become a chivalrous heroine and be able to make a huge name for herself in the martial arts circle. The Martial Arts Circle Convention was the grandest stage for the ancient martial art practitioners of the world. If she could one day stand in this challenge ring...
Yun Pengqing and Wang He looked at each other and saw a special look in each other's eyes. The silent youth that had been following Su Wan'er previously was actually such an absolute figure! Who would have thought that they would have such an encounter in their lives?
It could be said that they and Mo Wen were people from two different worlds. The martial arts circle did not only comprise of their main space sects. The larger martial arts circle consisted of the Inner worlds and even the legendary hidden martial arts strain that lived under different rules. This type of strong practitioner was very rarely active in the main space martial arts circle. In their entire lives, they might not necessarily have the chance to meet one.
The Heaven List Tournament ended, and the spectators in the Divine Dragon Nest also gradually dispersed, the Heaven List Tournament participants among them. Some of the higher-ranking ones would head to the Huatian Palace Reward Palace Hall to receive the rewards given by the Huatian Palace. Only the top ten participants were enveloped by a beam of white light that descended from the heavens. The next moment, they had already quietly disappeared from the Divine Dragon Nest.
When Mo Wen once again opened his eyes and looked at the scenery around him, he discovered that he was standing under a galaxy. It seemed as though the galaxy was just a few feet from his head and that he could touch the numerous stars just by extending his hand. What surprised Mo Wen was that the stars were not simply scattered about. If one observed the galaxy as a whole, all the stars gathered together to form a statue of a goddess. She wielded a scepter and appeared distant and vast. It made Mo Wen subconsciously think of the goddess statue holding up the sky that he had seen in the sky mirror.
"Where are we?"
Beside him, a bizarre sound could be heard. This was definitely no ordinary place. Right now, they seemed to be standing on top of a mountain peak, but they did not know how big the mountain was. At first glance, it didn't seem big. However, the more one looked at it, the bigger it seemed. It stretched endlessly, as though it was extending to the ends of the universe.
The sensation was peculiar. If one were to describe it, they would say that the space was neither big nor small. It seemed to have transcended the definition of space and time. Other than the mountain beneath their feet, the surrounding space was completely void of anything, stretching endlessly.
"Welcome to the Goddess's World."
An ethereal voice sounded. The next moment, a figure dressed in white appeared in the starry night. She was sacred and ethereal like a goddess. She seemed to be far away yet close by at the same time. No one could see her face clearly, yet everyone could sense her astonishing beauty.
Mo Qingge! Mo Wen's eyelids twitched. The others didn't recognize her, yet he sensed a familiar aura. It was Mo Qingge's aura.
"The Goddess's World!"
All hidden martial arts strain participants wore surprised looks. They were rather excited, and their eyes glowed fervently.
A glint of puzzlement flashed past Mo Wen's eyes. He knew that one of the rewards of being ranked in the top ten of the Heaven List Tournament was to be able to enter the Goddess's World once. However, he had no idea what kind of place the Goddess's World was and what was so special about it.
He glanced around and noticed that apart from him and Gu Jingman, everyone else was excited beyond words. Even Guo Mengqiao, a member of the Martial Arts Grandmaster Palace Hall, was thrilled.
Water Deity seemed to notice Mo Wen's confusion. She slowly walked up to Mo Wen and softly said, "The Goddess's World is a mysterious world that has existed since the Immemorial Age. There are endless mysteries and fateful encounters within it. Do you know about the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate and transcending into a dragon? This Goddess's World can be said to be a Dragon Gate. Once one enters the Goddess's World, they will have an opportunity to transcend."
"So, you must seize this opportunity. It will definitely be tied to your future achievements."
"Transcend. By entering the Goddess's World, can one improve greatly?" Mo Wen asked curiously.
A mysterious world that had existed since the Immemorial Age! Mo Wen was somewhat astonished. After his conversation with Mo Qingge, he already knew some of the history of this world: the legendary Immemorial Age, Primeval Age, Ancient Age, and Middle Age.
The terrifying God of the Underworld was just a person during the Ancient Age. The Immemorial Age! How long ago was that? That age most likely did not even have any humans. When were the first humans born? Most likely, no one knew right now. However, it was definitely not five or ten thousand years ago. That was just the history of ordinary humans. It was rumored that humans had existed during the Primeval Age. As for whether they existed during the Immemorial Age, no one knew.
"Of course not. The Goddess's World is but an opportunity. Whether or not you can transcend will depend on your abilities. But, no matter how we put it, one will certainly obtain rewards upon entering the Goddess's World. Different people have different fateful encounters, and thus, their rewards will also be different."
Water Deity shook her head. Some seniors of the hidden martial arts strain had also entered the Goddess's World. Some of them had great fateful encounters. They improved greatly and broke through their shackles, reaching the Realm of Emptiness and skyrocketing to the legendary Spirit Realm. There were also some who had normal encounters and did not have much luck. In the end, they did not even break through to become immortal. This kind of occurrence was very common.
Working things out, among the hidden martial arts strain, ninety percent of the ancient martial art practitioners who could break through to the Realm of Emptiness and finally transcend had previously entered the Goddess's World. From this, saying that the Goddess's World was the ultimate opportunity was no exaggeration.
"Some among you might still be very confused and might not be familiar with the Goddess's World. Then, let me explain. During the Immemorial Age, there was a kind, most venerable mighty figure called the Sacred Heart Lady. She was one of the Primogenitors of the Immemorial Demon Clan. This Goddess's World is a space that she created. The Goddess's World is divided into nine layers."
As Mo Qingge explained, everyone obtained a deeper understanding of the Goddess's World.
"This is a Nine Layer World where each layer is different. The higher the layer, the more mysterious and bizarre it is. However, which layer you may enter depends on your fate. That's enough talking. The Sacred Heart Lady will decide which layer you will enter."
Mo Qingge had just finished speaking when nine beams of starlight descended from the sky above. They enveloped each one of them separately.
Mo Wen felt an imposing pressure descend from the sky. Even his soul trembled, and he did not dare to move at all.
After Mo Qingge's explanation, he knew that this was the Goddess's World testing his potential. The higher his potential, the higher the layer of the Goddess's World that he could enter. Rumor had it that survival during the Immemorial Age was brutal. All living beings slaughtered each other endlessly. They ate raw meat and drank blood. Wars could happen at any moment. The Sacred Heart Lady was kind and divine. She had a merciful heart and did not like killing. However, being born in the Immemorial Age, she could not stay out of these affairs. Hence, she created the Goddess's World's Nine Layer Space. This Nine Layer Space was a Nine Layer Prison used by the Sacred Heart Lady to seal away archaic creatures.
If the person was not extremely evil, the Sacred Heart Lady would not kill them. Instead, she would seal them away in the Goddess' World.
During the Immemorial Age, the Sacred Heart Lady's Nine Layer Space was a land of despair that archaic creatures were extremely terrified of. But, in the present day, it had become a holy land for ancient martial art practitioners. Due to the merciful heart of the Sacred Heart Lady, aside from the criminals that were imprisoned in it, anyone who entered the Goddess's World would not face any mortal peril. Instead, they could learn many new things in the Goddess's World.


In his past lifetime, he was an exceptional prodigy who practiced both medicine and martial arts. In this lifetime, on earth, he used his superb medical expertise and extreme martial arts achievements from his past lifetime to excel in the medical field and the ancient martial arts world. He moved his way towards the pinnacle!

A fine youngster, who had been frequently looked down upon due to his poverty, had gone through the cold and warmth of this world to lament laughingly that life was merely so. However, he accidentally awakened the memory of his past lifetime. Since then, for three incarnations, he enjoyed prosperity.

The weariness in her face was apparent. The tables had turned, Angel thought. It wasn't her first time either – the hurt has been a familiar feeling. But, it was the most agonizing she had in her lifetime. The fact that she caused her own demise was even more painful. Her helplessness was burning for her family to endure – but they cannot do anything because whatever happened was completely out of their hands. 

With regards to her condition, she maintained proper medication – which led to her eventual betterment. However, Lupus didn't have a cure. So, it was best for her to avoid any kind of stress. 

Yet, Angel still yearned for me to come back…

…even if it already was too late for me to do so.

--------------------

I eked out a sugary smile after I finally had success taking a decent shot of the building. It wasn't just an ordinary shot – the rays of the sun streaked on it plus the diagonal angular view made it an acceptable shot – at least for me. 

"This is a wonderful shot! I think, I now know what your last event will be," Ma'am Merl grinned.

"Yes, I know," I replied. "It took me some time, but I am definitely decided now."

"W-what happened? All this time I was under the impression that you feel uneasy taking on Photojournalism."

"You see, earlier I really had a hard time finding a perfect angle of the building. Also, frustration caught me of guard after I saw the older photos saved in the camera. They looked pretty good, at least better than the shots I took prior."

"Don't be too hard on yourself," she reminded.

"Well, I was. Anyway, as soon as my infuriation got the best of me, I decided to smoke outside. I saw the store lady smiling at me."

"You bastard. Not the store lady!"

"Of course not! Let me finish."

"HA-HA-HA-! Alright," she made face.

"I saw the store lady smiling at me. But, it wasn't really her smile which took my attention – I realized that the store stuff were all around her. When I aimed the camera towards her, it was perfect. The snapshot told a ton of story."

"Hmm. That's a good observation."

"Afterwards, I looked back at the stored photos. Finally, I found out what was really missing. Their shots were taken from a good angle, the lighting was awesome too. Yet, they lacked a story – their subjects were the perfect ones for the shot, but they failed to impart what kind of story the photograph had. It looked like a random shot. No offense meant for them though."

"It was never a mistake when I chose to welcome you here, Pat."

"It's my pleasure, Ma'am. Remember when you helped me five years ago? It's my turn now."

She may not remembered at first, but she really did. I was during my third year in college when we crossed paths – she was with her granddaughter and I was alone in front of the mall a few meters away from our school. It was already eight thirty in the evening and all the public utility vehicles were gone. Since my last subject that day ended around eight, and the transport terminal closed by seven thirty, I had no choice but to wait for a miracle.

Ma'am Merl was my miracle because I never believed in coincidences. When she saw me, I was really helpless because it was already dark. She approached me, I didn't even notice at first that it was her. As soon as I realized that she was walking towards me, I felt relieved – but I did not expect anything from her. 

When she learned that I failed to catch up with the last shuttle, without any hesitation she gave me two hundred pesos so I could rent a motorcycle to get me home. Fortunately, I arrived safely. It was a story of her kind-heartedness. 

After she reminisced that fateful night, a tear fell from her left eye.

"I didn't realize that you are a great actress, huh?" I jokingly said.

"You bastard!" she squealed while wiping it. "I just didn't expect you to still remember that moment."

"How can I ever forget? It means a lot to me."

"Enough with the drama! Print that photo right away. The Admin Office needs that."

As I printed the photograph, she glanced at me and smiled.

-------------------

"Who shot this?"

Ma'am Merl felt that the school president liked it. "Patrick Prado took that photo."

"A Prado? Is he—"

"Yes, Mrs. Prado's son."

"Damn, he's good at it. This is, by far, the best picture I have seen from your students. And to think that this is just a mere building even made it more compelling."

"Actually, that's one of the reasons why I personally came here to talk to you. I would like to include him as a participant in the upcoming Tertiary Press Conference on February."

"Is that a request?"

"Yes, it is."

"You're Emerlina Arnante. You do not need my permission. HA-HA-HA!"

"I do not want to bypass your authority though," she leered. 

"Make him compete for our school. He sure looks like a winner to me, knowing that he's Mrs. Prado's son."

"Uh, I don't think he will like that."

"Huh? Why?"

"Pat wants to establish a name for himself, and he already did. The course that he is taking here, Bachelor in Education with an English major is his second course already. He's a renowned personality in our province after he carried USANT's name multiple times in different contests. He even qualified for the Top Outstanding Maritime Students of the region in 2015."

"That's one hell of a resume, I must say."

--------------------

As soon as I came home, I sat on the couch, placed my feet on top of the table and slowly closed my eyes. It was a tiring day, to say the least. A mixture of different kinds of emotions which eventually led to a desirable ending – the best definition of it. 

Furthermore, one thing was made clearer – my shutter touch gradually resurfaced.

We take photographs as Return Tickets to moments otherwise gone. As Pat regains his shutter touch, Jane arrives in his borderline-okay life, which will make unimaginable differences.

Several weeks later and there had not been any sighting of my sacred unicorn, i had tried my best to keep on the lookout for her but to no avail, it was like she had disappeared back to where she came from. 
On some rainy evenings I could find myself beginning to question my sanity, maybe it had all been a day dream. 

In my pursuit to find my mystery girl I had convinced myself that under no circumstance would I involve the group of hooligans i called my friends, their involvement in my love life seemed to always attract some kind of repercussions on my end and this time around I wanted to set my own precedence. 

If I had involved them, I am very sure we would have been able to trace her in no time but I was not at all confident that my story would have unraveled itself the way it eventually did. 

Mr Bamusi was the one innocent party I knew had come into close contact with her but I couldn't get myself solicit such personal information from him. In my experience, i had learnt a hard lesson that some matters were best left locked up in my mind. Not everything is to be subject to public knowledge, it complicates matters that need not to be.

I found myself fantasizing about bumping into her in the library catching each other's hands while we tried to reach for the same book or maybe running into each other while walking down the corridor, just like our first encounter. I had to leave my search in the mostly incapable hands of coincidence and chance which was then proving futile. 

Time went by with my silent search for mystery girl turning out unfruitful at every attempt, a hard prospect begun to dawn on me. It was a reoccurring thought that questioned my lucidity once more, I thought that maybe she might had just been a figment of my most lively imagination, just like my numerous quests for romance. 

However, something about this encounter felt different, starting from that first time had laid eyes on her that fateful morning, the butterflies in my stomach were undeniably real.
 
The more days went by the more I became convinced of the hopelessness in my quest of unmasking the identity of my mystery girl but little did I know that fate had a surprise for me. 

One Saturday afternoon in the following weeks I spent it visiting Mr Bamusi and his wife who lived just outside the campus. His wife was a close friend of my aunt and over the years I had grown close to their small family. They had just had their first child a beautiful little girl who they named Angelina.

I got back to school that evening at around seven to find the whole gang already in my room.

"Hey!" They all screamed 

They caught me off guard as I was not expecting anyone to be there that night. I had forgotten that we already had that prior engagement. 

"Hey" said Lily as she got up for a hug.

"How long have you guys been here?" 

"Just a couple of minutes" Replied Bourne.
 
All signs however indicated that they had been there for a while but it was no harm since we always did things like that with my roommate practically being out all the time.
 
I found the guys glued to the screen playing Call of Duty so, i decided not to disturb.

"Hey Bee how is it hanging?" I found her giggling at her phone as usual.

"It's all good, how is everything with you?" She paused her texting. 

"You know, same old same old, anything new around?" i asked and she instantly lit up, being that it was one of her most favored questions. 

Lily looked at me and by that look i could hear her in her inner voice saying; Did you really had to ask her that?
It's too late then as the she had already buzzed off sharing the latest social developments on campus from new couples to the latest breakups and all cheating rumours.

In the middle of her monologue i found myself wanting to cut in and ask if she knew anything about my mystery girl but the will to keep it all a secret was stronger and it pulled me away from giving into that strong urge. I had made a vow to myself not to involve any of my friends into this part of my life this was my secret to keep.  

Food, games and laughter, this was our definition of a good time and how we always unwounded our night as a group doing our best to keep the fun going all through the night. The night was young and open to more festivities in room 014, we got tired of playing games we turned to movies and the movie for this auspicious occasion was Everything Everything.

This was a 2018 teenage romance about an eighteen-year-old girl who had spent all of her life locked up in her house because she had a health condition that had left her it an underdeveloped immune system. 

The movie went on until she became acquainted with a boy her age who moved in next door to her and for convenience sake their rooms were opposite to each other. The major lesson that I picked from the movie was how the two found love even ins such a hopeless situation.

Somehow i found some sort of consolidation from their modern love story but i was not sure how I found myself resonating to their story, Watching the movie gave me new hope to the whole outlook of my hopeless situation.

It was sometime after midnight by the time the movie came to an end, by this time, we were all running on fumes and one by one they all have in to the allure of the night and retreated to their rooms.

Eventually, I was by myself  alone with my thoughts and couldn't help myself but reflect on my state of affairs as I soundly fell asleep.

In the quest to find Love Tejan has to make a choice between the two girls that he has falling in love with.

His indecisiveness gets the better of him.

So, he must make a choice or lose the both and end up alone.

      I hate that he's seen me like this, hate that I'm so weak when all he knows are strong women. I hadn't been asleep as long as he thought, I'd just been lying there enjoying for the first time the feel of his arms around me, that strong body making me feel safe and warm.

      I'd heard part of what the others were saying when they were here before, heard Ty warn them that the guy was his. I didn't want that, didn't want him or any of them getting into trouble because of me.

      "Here open." I opened my mouth as best I could because I knew he wouldn't stop. I've been studying him for the past few months, ever since that night when I saw him for the first time, and I knew he was as stubborn as they come. I should know; I have the bruised pride and broken heart to prove it.

      I'll never forget the way he made me feel that first time with just one look, and not just any look, it's what I call the Tyler special. That's where he lowers his lashes and gazes into you with the heat of his blue eyes. Eyes that match the hot Georgia summer sky.

      I'm not ashamed to admit I had a very strong reaction to him. My virgin body had shown a slight interest in the opposite sex before, but that night I felt like an inferno went off inside me.

      I was out of my depth, not knowing what to do. But then Dani had said I should go for it but maybe be sneaky about it, because of all the brothers she thought he might be the hardest to crack.

      Figures, I've never done anything the easy way. I'd run away from home when my mom thought it was a good idea at sixteen for me to share her husband's bed so he wouldn't leave her.

      Ever since then I've been scrambling to keep my head above water, to not become what she'd obviously thought of me. I mean why else would she have asked me such a thing, if she didn't think less of me.

      I'd known for some time before that fateful day that he'd had his eye on me. There's only so many times you can accidentally walk into an occupied bathroom, especially when the door had been locked from the inside.

      When I caught him staring at my tits when I was fifteen I knew it was time to go. But go where? I had no place to go. Mom came from a broken home, I had no idea who my father was, had never met the man before, and there were no close relatives to help out.

      It all started to go down hill when I hit puberty; things really took a turn for the worse when at sixteen my body blossomed. I could've done without it, though it seemed to make the boys at school mad with lust.

      Then my stepdad upped his game so to speak. I remember that night laying in bed listening to them. It was always rather disturbing listening to them having sex, but the walls were so thin there was no escaping the sounds.

      It was no different to any other night, her screaming 'yes-yes-yes' him calling her 'bitch, slut, cunt, and on and on it went. What was different this night though was the mention of my name in the middle of all the festivities.

      "You gonna let me have Vicki huh? You promised I could remember." Say what? I remember my heart beating out of my chest with fright and the fear paralyzing me in the bed as I heard my own mother promise to give me to the greasy slime ball she'd been married to for six years.

      I put my hands over my ears when the ruckus started up even worse next-door as I realized they were both getting off on their little pillow talk. 

      My mind had started racing as I thought of a way out. What if they come after me tonight? I'd never been so scared in my life as I was that night laying there waiting for the door handle to turn.

      I was tempted to get up and move my dresser in front of the door, but I was too scared to move lest they hear me. Besides I was frozen in place.

      Luckily they didn't come in and by morning I was beginning to think it was all a misunderstanding that maybe I'd heard wrong. Even though his leer at the breakfast table was filthier than usual.

      As soon as he left for work she'd started in. "You're a big girl now, you're gonna have to start doing your part around here." I got that sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach and my mouth ran dry.

      "What do you mean?" As if I didn't know, but I needed to hear her say it so there was no mistake. "Well, Ben's the only one working around here since I got laid off and things are tight. If you wanna keep this nice roof over your head there're some things you're gonna have to start doing."

      I felt the bottom drop out. Granted there was never any love lost between us, she'd never been anyone's definition of a mother, but I thought she at least had some feelings for me seeing as how she birthed me.

      She soon disannulled me of that notion when she laid it all out for me. How I was to make myself ready that evening. She had it all planned out, I was going to come straight home from school, take a nice bath and wear the sexy lingerie she'd have picked out for me.

      I think I died a little that day sitting at that kitchen table as I watched my childhood end. I played along I had no choice. I didn't know what she would do if I showed my true feelings.

      I went back to my room and instead of the books I needed for that day stuffed what little I could in my backpack. There was five dollars in coins in my piggybank, which I emptied into my bag and left.

      That was the last time I saw her. I'd walked to the edge of town and hitched a ride the rest of the way until I had two towns between us. 







After being separated for almost two years, Zak finally has his girl back and this time this ex SEAL has no intentions of letting her go again. She'd ran scared because she couldn't handle his over possessiveness and the way she thought he wanted to rule her life, but two years apart had shown her that she couldn't live without him. There was just one thing, a secret that could tear them apart for good. 
SEAL Team Zak and Tyler is created by Jordan Silver, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. 

A woman was being dragged towards a pulpit in a marble platform. The deacons were preparing for the 'Purification Ceremony' as the holy knights tied her up. Wooden logs were placed on makeshift furnace around a thick wooden pole; The execution of the rumored 'Witch of the Yerstien' began. 

Surrounding the woman were people carrying pitchforks and lighted torch, it was the very definition of persecuting someone within the town. Mockery and travesty could be seen in these people's eyes as they act disgusted towards the woman. The light from the torch illuminated the woman's face as her bright image was revealed.

Her appearance was the total opposite of what the word 'witch' resounded within the imagination of these people. Her jade-like beauty would leave any man in awe and admiration, yet the invisibly painted label of her being a 'witch' and the enemy of the Church had made these people seemingly become ravage towards her.

For her, this was all too familiar… all the noise, all this false accusation… All this is just bringing up troublesome memories. Her looks were full of coldness, yet dismay and pity could be seen in her eyes… It seems that most people are just too… naive.

=====

14 years ago…

Loud ranting could be heard inside a room. Lashing of whips followed by echoing slaps resounded within this wooden house in the town of Yerstien. Crying loudly was the girl who was crouching in pain from all of the abuse she was suffering from her stepfather.

Her intoxicated father was on with his daily routine of him asking "where the money was" although it was obviously spent on liquor. It was a torturous cycle for this poor little girl as her mother would just be passively letting all this to happen. She could not bear to do anything as this man would threaten to leave her if she would go against anything that he was doing.

This was definitely not the environment any child should grow up with. It was horrendous, yet it seems that Ryia was stronger inside as she did not let all this faze her kind heart.

Although they were poor, Ryia would always spare a part of her food to the children on the alleyway beside their house. She was helpful towards others and is made her someone beloved by the neighbors and other people alike; 

They have shown more concern against all the abuses the little girl was suffering more that her mother ever will.

=====
.
.
.
Ryia grew to be the strong woman she always was. Although she was suffering at a young age, the heavens had seemingly smiled upon her ever since that one fateful day; A tragic occurrence happened back when their town was plagued with an unknown disease, hundreds of the townspeople suffered before the epidemic was taken care of. 

Among the casualties of the plague, both Ryia's parents were included.
It may have seemed to be another bad and tragic fate that befell upon Ryia, but it seemed that it was something that was disguised as a blessing. 

The town's growth recovered as the presence of the Holy Church arrived, it was the reason why the plague was stopped back then and a church was then established near the village.

Ryia, at the young age of 11, had been adopted by the old neighbors that she had back then that survived the plague. With her being dedicated and hardworking, the business that the old couple handled grew and expanded. Education at these times were crude and fallible, things such as proper learning did not exist and as such, one would be left with their own devices in learning new things. Ryia had learned the ways of being able to survive within this patriarchal ages.
.
.
.
Now at the age of 25, a fully grown woman, Ryia have progressed a lot in terms of her being able to handle things within the food business that she single-handedly managed, at these olden times, it was indeed something incredible to have a woman run something without it hiccupping at any given moment. 

This patriarchal mindset was of course set by the existence of the Holy Church.

"It seems like witches really do exist huh?" A man within the pub that Ryia owns questioned a fellow drunkard who was enjoying a drink with him.

"Witches? Those beings that the Holy Church were spreading rumors about" the other man replied.

"Oi, it seems that it is not a rumor anymore! It's actually real! One of my comrades saw someone that was executed in a nearby kingdom due to her being a witch!"

"Eh? Her? A woman you say?" the man exclaimed at the term "her". It seems that it had caught his attention as all these shenanigans about "witches" would seemingly not affect them in any way.

"It seems that these witches are exclusively women according to the Holy Church."

'Hmmm… It makes sense eh?" The other man nodded in agreement to the statement that only "women" were being persecuted with the reason of them being witches, which would be highly convenient for these drunkard men that obviously does not want to cross the line of sight of the Holy Church.

=====

Her success would have obviously attracted many adversaries, and as such, competitors within this times of scarcity would easily arise, and one false rumors and vaguely made plots could change it all…

Pinning down the blame of the plague that happened a decade ago, as something that she had plotted to murder her parents, Ryia was then blamed by all the tragedy that has happened, including the death of her foster parents as "to acquire all the businesses" that the old couples owned.

Everything was crude within this world... a simple rumor, some crude "evidence"... and one could be blamed for about... almost anything. And the ruling of Holy Church made it even worse, any blackmail pinned to a person, especially to a woman, would then be manufactured as the truth...

=====

It does not seem that reasoning at this point would be any useful...

Her eyes stayed calm and collective as the fires slowly burned her... From the feet to the entirety of her body. The seething pain was nothing as she closed her eyes, smiling gently towards everyone that was chanting for her execution. Although some might have been against this, evident to those that mourned during the persecution, the Holy Church was too domineering to stand against.

The searing heat burned the entirety of her body as her entire corpse stayed intact, charcoaled.

"It seems that it would be true that she is a witch, if the records were correct, then she should have turned into ashes if she was a normal person." A deacon interjected as he inserted "facts" that were made up by the higher order. The boorish nature of the people within these times could be easily manipulated and played to the desires of those that have power and recognition...
.
.
.
The body of the woman was thrown into an open pit behind the Church...

Through the kind donations... the Holy Church could easily turn a blind eye into another one that was falsely accused...

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