Jika kau menyebut rasa sepi merupakan suatu hal yang harus kaubunuh, lalu membuangnya di riang tawa yang paling dalam, berarti itu tidaklah berarti bagiku.



Aku memeluk rasa sepi seakan rasa itu diciptakan Tuhan hanya untukku sendiri. Separuh hatiku mati oleh sunyi yang bersiul dengan irama yang lambat. 




Semuanya berubah ketika aku menemukan wanita tergila yang pernah aku temui di dalam hidup.




Wanita dengan impian gila untuk memberi makan pinguin di Antartika, melihat naga di Laut Cina Selatan, lalu mencari kodok sebesar kucing di daratan Afrika. 




Wanita yang berani menyelam di laut lepas






Wanita yang membawaku bersampan di danau, serta mengarungi lautan luas.







wanita yang berani menemuiku dengan cara memanjat gedung fakultas.












Aku tidak tahu momen gila apa lagi yang akan menyeretku. 




Tunggu saja, wahai kawanku. Kau akan melihatnya nanti.




"Hei, kau yang sedang berdiri! Sikat kapal ini, pemalas!!!" Ia berteriak memerintah padaku






Ia adalah Reira.




Oh ... bukan.





Ia adalah Captain Reira.





























"Gue mau merasakan betapa indahnya menunggu pagi dari ketinggian segitu. Di saat itu, lo bakal sadar jika dunia itu terlalu sempit jika lo hanya berjalan di satu titik. Dunia bisa lebih dari itu."

Beberapa jam sebelum bibir kami bertemu di puncak Bromo.

"Wake up!  Get ready to move back to the middle wall!"
"Gzngsnrt?" I asked.
"You heard me, get up, get moving!  We do NOT want to be trapped here without supplies!  Move, move, move!"
Ugh.  The words "trapped without supplies" circled in my brain for a bit, before linking up with meaning and definition.
"You are not Leng Li or Captain Feng." I said.  "Who are you?"
"I am the woman giving you a chance to survive!  The Dusk Gate is fallen, betrayed from within!  Already, the armies of the enemy burn and pillage!  We must get back to the middle wall before it is too late."
I took a gander out the window to the inner courtyard.  People, being people, were panicking.  Grabbing their gear, crashing carts into each other, a little bit of trampling…  You know, the usual.
"What is going on out there?" Leng Li demanded.
"Something about Dawn Gate." Kang Shi said.  Like myself, she was not a morning person.  Unlike myself, she was built like a bear, had almost no neck, and could easily pass for a man when decked out for battle.
"What news?  Away from the window, Monitor, let me past."
I did so.
"So, it's bad news then."
"When is it good news?" Kang Shi asked.  "Those fancy letters arrive…"
"The letter!" Leng Li demanded.  "Give me the formal letter, now!"
"We have none." One of the wounded said.
"Where is the messenger?"
"She appears to be gone, lieutenant." I said.
He sighed, looked at the chaos below.  "We do nothing without orders.  To abandon our post is treason."
"So, is there a gong or something we sound?" I asked.
"No, we will need to send a runner along the wall.  General Hyun will be at the main gate.  Someone will need to return with formal orders."
"Okay, where does that runner sleep?" I asked.
"What about that bed?" Leng Li asked, pointing at mine.  "You are healed enough to run, yes."
"Yes, but…"
"The only butt I desire to see at this time is yours, and it had best be receding." Captain Feng said, still strapping on his armor.  "Go, and go now, and like the wind.  And bring us those orders.  If we end up surrounded because you delayed, I'll hurl you off the battlements myself."
I didn't think he meant it, but I hurried anyway, assuring units as I passed to wait for orders.  Well, those who asked.  I didn't have time or breath to be a public announcer as well.
And I ran into a young girl running the other way.  "Are those orders for the Rice Gate?" I asked.
"Yes.  The traitorous Captain Feng, having surrendered the Rice Gate, is to be beheaded at once."
"The Rice Gate holds." I said.  "What of the Dusk Gate?"
"The Dusk Gate took heavy casualties, but it holds.  General Hyun is furious, and mustering what forces he can to retake the Rice Gate."
"Let us return to the Main Gate and.."
"I cannot delay!  Let me pass!"
"Fine, let me pass on my way to the main gate."
"I bear a formal message, I have right of way!"
So, I crushed myself up against the inner crenelations, and let her past.  We both went on our ways, both running as though lives depended on it.  Because, as it often is in times of war, lives did.
"I must… I must… General Hyun." I gasped.  It took three tries before I found a language pretentious enough to be shown to the general's presence.
"News from the Rice Gate, General Hyun!" said one of my escort.  "Shall we execute the inhuman?"
"Oh, let the poor child speak, if he can."
"The Rice Gate has received word that the Dusk Gate has fallen.  Captain Feng is unwilling to abandon his post without direct orders.  Also, as I passed a messenger bearing orders that he be beheaded, I would ask for orders that he be spared, or at least buried with dignity and honor if it is already too late."
"Ay-ya!  How much chaos these rumors are stirring up, and even I have fallen for it."
"You could not have known, sir!" one of his assistants said.
He slammed a gauntleted fist into his table.  "If I get you such orders, do you believe you can stop Captain Feng's execution?"
I was still panting and sweating.  I imagine I looked like a feral thing.  "Before I learned how to fight," I said, "I learned to run.  Pen your message swiftly, and at least let me try."
"Impudence!"  One of my guards cuffed me on the back of my head.  "You speak to a general!  Rephrase your statement!"
"We don't have time for that nonsense."  General Hyun said.  "There are many orders to be sent, with the second swiftest set of runners we have.  I trust you DID send the fastest set this morning?"
"Of course, my general!"
"Good man!  Gather the second swiftest, we have orders that need to go out this morning.  Now will just have to do."
"You two, with me.  Urgency requires I request your help." The adjutant said
"Our strength is yours, sir!"
"The general's need is our order, sir!"
General Hyun shook his head, and pulled some scrolls from his drawer.  They were tiny finger scrolls, and he checked four before finding one he liked.  He scribbled a quick five lines, rolled it up, poured wax over the outside, and crushed the thing with a thumb-stamp seal.
"There you go, now fly like the…"
I ran to the window, and jumped.  It was some distance to the wall, but we had a story up.  For a time I thought I had overshot, and would fall to my death, but merciless gravity slammed my chest against one of the outer crenalations, its lip just shy of my armpits.
[You have taken a RED critical…  an ORANGE critical for four times normal damage from a base of four Concussive damage, for a total of sixteen damage.  After armor, fifteen points have been taken.  5/80 Health remain.]
Cripes.  That would limit my fatigue meter severely.
<System.  Purchase.  Fleet of Foot.  Uses Per Day.  Three.  Fund from Streetwise.>
[You have 3/6 uses of this power remaining.]
It was something I would have hesitated to do if I needed to expend development points.  I coughed up blood, and ran like Captain Feng's life depended on it.  Even as fast as I could go, as many uses as I purchased for Fleet of Foot, I arrived after lunch.
Trust the professional runners.  Come to a stop at a position of attention, and THEN go to your knees to deliver your message.  I mean, I didn't lose any health or anything, but I'm pretty sure some of my dignity is still there atop the wall.
I coughed, gasped, and assumed a slightly more dignified position.  "I bear new orders from General Hyun for General Feng."
"General Feng?  Who is that?  Perhaps you mean CAPTAIN Feng?"
One of the soldiers looked up at the sun.  "Hah!  Told you lizards could run when they need to.  I WIN THE BET!" he raised his arms and caused such a ruckus they may have heard him in the inmate camp.
I accepted a hand up, let them guide my wobbling way down into the cool interior of the gatehouse.
"Ah." Said Captain Feng.  He was dressed in court silks, but without the fancy frilly bits.  It actually looked quite comfortable.  "Are those the words from General Hyun?"
I nodded, not trusting myself to talk.  How HAD my vocal cords healed that fast, anyway?  That was…
No.
Don't care.
I focused on getting the mostly flat piece of paper, its seal smudged from rubbing against the inside of my armor, into Captain Feng's hands.
"Huh.  Hold at all costs, no reinforcements available.  And a poem hoping I'm alive or at least died well.  Oh, Leng Li?"
"Sir?"
"You're a captain if I'm already headless when we get this."
Leng Li shrugged.  "It is an ugly head, but I think you still need it, sir."
Feng pointed at Leng Li as though to strike him down with lightning.  "I am your captain, and you will show me the proper respect when mocking my ugly head!"
"Ah-ah." Sister Yoshi said, grabbing him by the elbow.  "You are still wounded.  Back to bed for you."
"Lieutenant Feng!  The messengers!  Dispatch the messengers and the criers of news.  Tell everyone south of the middle wall that the outer wall holds strong!"
"You lot heard him.  Monitor, I'll need you to… You look like someone hit you with a battering ram."
"I still have five health left, sir." I said.
"Five?  You are MORE injured than yesterday?"
"Yes, sir." I huffed.
"Get to bed.  The only reason I don't strike you for your foolish waste of health is fear of killing you outright.  We needed your speed now."
"Oh, give the kid a break, sir." Kang Shi said.  "He can't possibly know how dull our executioner's axe has gotten."  She stroked it along a whetstone, to emphasize her point.
"It's… also very rusty." I said.
"Extremely rusty." Kang Shi agreed.  "You don't know how happy I am that I'm not killing my superior with this shameful excuse for an axe.  Tsk.  Cleaning this properly will take me ALL DAY."
"Take the time you need." Leng Li said.  "If we catch that woman who spread such lies, I want… a PROPER execution."


Born into a world of chaos and violence, young shapeshifter Rhishisikk struggles to survive.  With the assistance of unlikely allies, he must learn to live among the most dangerous of monsters - human beings!

Deep into the Western Earth Forest.

A young man is walking back and forth, with ten soldiers standing in a line behind him.

A few minutes later, a man dressed in an army captain's uniform comes running to him. The young man looks at him, and the captain bows down.

He gestures for the captain to stand. Observing him from toe to head, while the captain looks at the ground in shame.

"Why did you come alone? What about the rest?"The young man, named Zark Quel asks the caption

"They were sacrificed, sir Quel. During the mission, we met a calamity level person and the orders were to run upon sight, if we are in enemy positions. I followed the instructions, and then commanded them to run. They tried, but some died while covering me and others died while rushing out."

"I was helpless and had to keep running to report it to you. We cannot touch Ms. Natalia anymore. We do, there's nothing but doom waiting for us. I saw him carrying her. It felt like he was showing..."

Quel gave him a look of anger, sending shivers down his spine. The captain, swallowed his saliva and continued.

"No sir, I mean he's a very dangerous man. Killing her in Universal Network, can only be done once they go to the royal capitals. Here, he is invincible."

The man clearly had too much fear for that calamity he was talking about. He had seen him, running through bullets like they were thin air. He had seen him, cutting through his men. Through the short range cameras, he had seen everything.

The young man felt, the ten men behind him tense up. 
'I can't let everyone be scared by this shit.'

"He talks too much. Finish him off."

The captain stared at him, in horror. 
"No sir, please. This is my last life. If I die…"

*Bang*

Before he could say anything, his head burst out. The guy on the farthest right, already killed him. The handgun in his hand was spitting out smoke.

"Good work Scar. But may I ask you, why did I order for him to be killed?"

"Since, it was a calamity then he couldn't escape, unless he used their lives to escape leaving his command. And if he could escape from such a person, then he wouldn't have lost two of his lives. He deserved the death."
The guy named Scar replied.

"Hmm, good. The rest, need to be trained to be faster. Scar, you're their head from now."

"My thanks, sir Quel." Scare bowed down to him.

"Now, who might be this calamity? Is it the new guy that joined? There's only one low level calamity I can think of. And they're getting together without telling me. Isn't that bad? Does she still think, her fiancee doesn't know, that she's trying to cheat?" He gave a creepy smile while looking at the captain's corpse. He bent down, and dipped his finger into the smashed skulls, with white and red mashed creamy thing. And while standing up, licked his finger.

"Got a weird, taste. Meh! He was useless even after death."

"Since, a calamity is there. We need to wait till they reach higher grounds. There we will handle them. It isn't just her, that has calamity level beings."

"Yes, sir. She would regret making you mad." Scar spoke.

"You know Scar, I am starting to like you even more. Now let's go. Let the body be, atleast he'd be a feed for monsters."

Then, walked and disappeared from view. The corpse of the captain was left in the forest for monsters. 

A few minutes after they were gone, a saber shone there cutting a block of the ground, and throwing it into air. The body of the captain was pushed into the ground with a wave, as if air was pushing it. And then, the block was put back, as if it never came out.

At some other place in the Western Earth Forest.

Titan and Natalia, were walking side by side. It's been about a few minutes and, they were about to reach the cars.

Titan had held himself by the neck with his blood, but he couldn't control anymore. They'll be out with everyone in just a minute or two.

"Mmm, Natly... I mean Natalia, about that day."

Natalia was already waiting for this, for minutes which seemed like hours, while the distance became shorter by the second. She didn't know how to describe it, she couldn't wait and felt the time was too slow. While the distance kept decreasing as if time was too fast. Now that he was saying, she decided to act ignorant for a while.

"Um, what do you mean?"

"Well, what I said the other day, you didn't say anything for it." Titan murmured lightly.

"Oh, you said something? What was it? I don't remember." Natalia spoke while holding her, as he looked too cute.

"Uh, well. It was nothing, lets go." Titan was too shy, thinking it was just him that remembered.

'Ah, at least I won't have to act like an idiot all the time.'

Before he could start walking again, he was branded on his head with her palm.

"Are you an idiot? Don't you know, girls are supposed to be ignorant and you should poke into it."

"Uh, so you remember?" He asked with a wry smile.

"Ofcourse I do. What were you saying about it?"

"Umm so, what's your answer I mean, wanna date me?" He gave a peace sign, while shining his teeth from the gap between lips. While his face compelled her to laugh out to death, she stopped it and just let it stop to a giggle.

"Well, you were so romantic the other day, writing me a poem when you said that 'you love me'. Now, you're just being like this. With no poems, nothing and asking me for a date." She made a puppy face, while going to the last lines. Deprived of female contact, Titan's heart was tightened with ropes of her love.

"Oh, wait. Give me a second." He closed his eyes.

Natalia was surprised, she said that just to tease him. 
'Does he write like this?' A thought poured into her mind.

Meanwhile, Titan was trying to pray to his father in heaven or hell.
'Gimme something yo. I need ya right now.'

As if his thoughts, were under control. 
He was guided in his memories towards a time when a beautiful lady, was laying beside a handsome youngman, while he was writing on a digital board. 

"Darling, write something for me." The beautiful lady, his mother demanded. While various thoughts filled her mind.
'Everytime you write something for me, I feel enchanted. Being the 'enchantress' it should be me doing that to you. But you're making me under your control, instead you being under mine.'

"Sure sweety."The man spoke, but didn't stop writing the technical aspects about the improvement on structure of Dyson Spheres.

A few seconds later, he started.

"The wonders of life…

The shattered stars of light…

All the super novas in sight…

The greatest of the heavens might…"
 
He continued speaking, while writing.

And Titan, continued while closing his eyes, in front of Natalia.

"The love of all mankind…

And everything that's divine…

Are nothing at all in my eyes…

As I feel only for you…

Not in just this one, but all my lives…"

Natalia stood there with no expression on her face, while Titan smiled opening his eyes.

And thought to himself. 'Ah, I would have blinded myself, if these motherfucking eyes pissed one more time.'

And then he noticed her face.

Humanity has already become a galactic civilization, crossing the threshold that keeps all semi-intelligent beings at bay.
At this level, something mysterious controls the bigger authorities of the universe making it a stable place to stay for the lower beings.

A virtual world, is assigned for all of the galactic civilizations to fight and compete. It is a gaming world, where bloodshed is common and conflicts cannot be avoided. A world, which is the only way, to obtain the share of resources for the civilizations to develop further.

Will humanity rise from the bottom lines of the galactic civilizations, to achieve something even greater?
The answer seemed pretty convincing, being a ‘No’, but it had suddenly turned hazy, just due to him.

The lifelong work of a maniac scientist, a child, his child. Carrying a great secret, will he become the wings for humanity?

From the author: The novel contains gore, curses and sexual content, so readers below 16 shouldn’t read.
Previous knowledge about VRMMORPG recommended for the readers.

Please support by posting reviews and commenting.

The novel may seem a bit different from other novels, of the same genre or most genres. I have made it in a such a way, to display it in a unique way, compared to others novels.

"I wish to make the story interesting, and not just the start."

Huang Pudong is a legendary figure in F City. Du Cheng remembers that when he was in high school, the language teachers at that time had come up with the story of Huang Pudong's family, and the news in this city. Du Cheng has also seen it several times, so Du Cheng is no stranger to Huangpudong.
And a human condition in Huangpudong has left Du Cheng with a heart.
"He wants to make up for himself." Du Cheng thought of Huang Pudong's intention for the first time in his mind. If he didn't want to make a relationship, Huang Pudong would at most be thanking himself on the spot, and then how much money he gave himself, but the words of humanity. But it is not simple.
Du Cheng knows clearly that if he can understand this kind of character with Huang Pudong, he will be very helpful to his future development. This is an opportunity for himself.
However, Du Cheng did not immediately respond, but shook his head and said: "There is no need for human feelings, Huang Zong, Captain Ye, I only hope that you will not pass this time out. I am just a student at school. If I pass it out, I am afraid that the robbers and accomplices may affect my study and safety."
"Well, this is what it should be, Captain Ye, this thing will bother you. I hope that you can do a confidential job." Huang Pudong met Du Cheng, but not a little bit of pride, but was so vigilant and attentive. Even more appreciated, and quickly moved towards the captain of the leaf said.
"This is my police's job. You can rest assured that we will not pass the matter without Mr. Du's consent." Captain Ye nodded and was very sure.
"That's good."
Du Cheng nodded. He was not worried about whether the robbers had accomplices, whether they would be retaliated, but that he needed a buffering excuse. Some things would change if he had said it himself.
"Well, Captain Ye, this little brother should have nothing to do with it?" Seeing things settled, I want to know Du Cheng, the mysterious young man, Huang Pudong directly asks the team leader.
The commander of the leaf shook his head and said: "There is no problem. The transcript is done well. If there is something, I will call you."
"Yeah." Huang Pudong complied, and then turned his attention to Du Cheng, and asked: "Now that, little brother, if you don't mind, let me do the East, let me thank you."
"Sorry, Mr. Huang, I have a friend's birthday at night, I am afraid…"
Du Cheng took a look at the time. Although he wanted to make a relationship with Huang Pudong, Du Cheng was more concerned about Gu Sixin, and his gift had not yet been bought.
It's just that Du Cheng's words haven't finished yet. Huang Pudong interrupted Du Cheng's statement, but directly said with a smile: "It's okay, it's only three o'clock now, there's still some time, when I'll send it. You can do it in the past."
"That's okay." Even though Huang Pudong said this, Du Cheng knew that he would reject it if he refused, so he nodded and should bear it.
However, when Du Cheng and Huang Pudong were leaving, the manager Han, who had finished recording, suddenly moved toward Du Cheng and shouted: "Mr. Du, please wait."
"Han manager, is there anything?" Du Cheng did not understand, asked.
Manager Han extended his hand, and there was a brocade box above, and he was very grateful to say: "Mr. Du, this time, thanks to your help, the robbers can't get it. Otherwise, my poem dragon really It is a heavy loss, so please be sure to accept this thank you."
"No, if you really want to thank, you will give me a discount when I come next time." Du Cheng smiled and refused the kindness of the manager Han, who did not want to accept Du Cheng.
After that, Du Cheng no longer said anything, he turned and wanted to leave.
On the side of Huang Pudong see this scene, the heart of Du Cheng's evaluation is a higher level, Bao Shilong's jewelry are all very valuable, this time the thank you will naturally not be cheap, and see Du Cheng's It is obviously not born in a wealthy family. It is indeed a direct refusal. It does require a kind of courage.
"Mr. Du, don't you see what this is?" Han manager was anxious, and quickly opened the box in his hand, which contained the pair of daffodils.
"Daffodil!"
Du Cheng didn't think that the manager Han gave him this gift. Some incomprehensible said: "Han manager, is this the daffodil language Gu Miss is not scheduled, how can I give it to me?"
"Miss Gu has already agreed, she also let me say thank you to her on behalf of her." Manager Han quickly explained, and pointed to Gu Jiayi in the distance.
That Gu Jiayi was also looking at this side. Seeing Han manager talking about her, she quickly turned her head.
Obviously, although this iceberg beauty imagined Du Cheng apologizing, but he couldn't open his mouth and had to let Han manager replace it.
"Oh, thank you for not using it, but I will buy it for the daffodil, because I intend to use it to give my friend a birthday present, so I want to buy it with my own money." This pair of daffodils Du Cheng is very fond of it because it matches the temperament of Gu Sixin. However, Du Cheng did not accept the meaning, but took out the bank card, move towards the manager of Han and then said: "Of course, yours The price is too high, and you can give me a discount at the actual price."
"Well, that's fine, I will sell the daffodil to you at the purchase price." The manager Han obviously didn't want to accept Du Cheng's money, but Du Cheng said this, and he refused to accept it. After passing Du Cheng's bank card, he and Du Cheng went to the checkout counter.
After the card was finished, Du Cheng walked with Huang Pudong move towards.
Departing from Xinpu Department Store, Du Cheng sat in the Audi A8L luxury car in Huangpudong. Although this Audi A8 is not as luxurious as Bentley and Rolls Royce, it is like Huang Pudong and other people like Audi A8. This calm and unobtrusive gas is undoubtedly more in line with his identity.
The driver of Huangpudong is a middle-aged man who is about forty years old. His body is very strong. At first glance, he knows that he is the type of out of the ordinary. He should be a driver and a bodyguard.
After Huangpudong got on the bus, just after saying "Huangpu Club", the nearly three million RMB top Audi A8L will move towards the direction of Huangpu Club.

A ring-shaped smart bio-computer produced in 3009 AD, traversing the space and time on Du Cheng's head, a powerful intelligent program let Du Cheng touched High-tech knowledge in the next millennium. ——Commerce, industry, science and technology, Du Cheng is leading the way, developing high-tech in the future, and let Du Chengli be invincible.

The woman's skirt moved ever so slightly with the passing wind and her turn towards me. Her question left me dead in my tracks. 

"Is this something that will fulfill you?" she insisted. Her pale skin and long brown hair reflected the sun's bright light.

I got closer and cupped my hand, waiting for her to return the flyer to me. She ignored me and kept giving me a waiting look.

I bit my bottom lip in annoyance. "What do you mean?" I asked, hand in front of her. 

"You know what I mean." she said in a breathy, patient tone. The more I waited, the slower she spoke, as if to taunt me. "No one gets this kind of job because it's their passion."

She was acting odd, especially since I had never met her before. That wasn't something you'd ask someone you didn't know. "Well Lady." I said with a groan. "I am at a crossroads in my life right now. I don't know what to do with it."

I felt my point had come across well enough, needing no more explanation. After some time she handed the flyer back to me and I put it away. I hoped that was the end of it. 

"It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll." She said calmly, right before I was completely out of her sight. 

I recognized this poem, I saw it in the book I read the previous night. "I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul." I said, finishing her recital of the poem. 

She looked happy and surprised to see that I knew her quote and where it came from. "Ah, so you're familiar with 'Invictus'." I didn't know too many people who would be able to recite poems verbatim like she did.

I smiled with my pride and the hairs in my arm stood up at the fact that I felt smart. "William Henley wrote it." She grew even more impressed that I knew the poet. "Late 1800s, amputations, preserverence, et cetera, et cetera." I was just stating facts at this point.

She turned the other way, resuming her glance at the undending flowing river. "Are you the master of your own fate? Captain of your soul?" Her back being turned against me only pushed me further away, as if I wasnt worthy of even being in her presence. 

I adjusted my bangs and pushed them towards the rest of my hair. "I don't even know what that would entail. So I guess I'm not, at least not yet." 

She kneeled down and picked up a rogue rock that was on her side of the rails. She chucked it far and it plunked into the water. I couldn't see her face, but she chuckled mockingly as if she knew me better than I did myself. "Come back to me when you figure that out."

When I figure it out? Not even god knows when that would happen. I shrugged her words off and went on my way, not even saying bye to her.

With her undivided attention on the view of the bridge and not on me, I was sure I probably shouldn't take her words to heart. I rode back home and jumped into my room. 

I pulled out a record from my collection and turned my vinyl player on. I set the needle at the start of the record and listened to the crackling before the music started. 

It was classical music. The kind that I used to listen to when I studied and crammed before tests or for homework. My mother had bought me that record in hopes of inspiring me. It had the opposite effect, it deterred me from even trying to do anything music related.

No way would I ever be able to compete with those famous composers. 

Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, and Tchaikovsky. Oh god, how I loved Tchaikovsky! Swan lake and The Nutcracker and 1812 overture. Who would even bother trying with that kind of competition?

I let my mind wander to the soothe music as I closed my eyes to take a nap. Hoping that the next day would be more clear to me and my life's Canon could could syphonize in melody.

That Saturday I dressed up for my first day of real work. I could tell my mom was counting the seconds until then, like she couldn't wait for me to get out of the house.

I couldn't blame her, either. I wanted to get out too. But I had no place to turn to. With a forced smile on my face I kissed my mom in the cheek.

"See you tonight mom." I said as warmly as I could. Trying my hardest to keep up the antics.

She nodded silently as the wrinkles on her forehead squinched together.

Once I arrived to the restaurant I hung up my jacket and waited for further directions at the bar. As I stood around others at the bar, the same scruffy bartender from the other day came to me with a drink in his hand.

He passed the glass to the guy standing next to me. He was wearing almost the exact some clothes he had on the other day. All with that same utility belt around his waist. 

I wondered if he just always wore the same clothes around here. He greeted me casually.

"Welcome back! Glad to see you made it!" he said. Can't quite have money without a job. I wasn't going to flake on day one. 

I greeted him back. "Yeah, I haven't been scared away just yet." I laughed it off. He followed my laughter with his own. Unlike me, he sounded genuine.

He pointed to a blue door that was at the corner. It had a sign on it.

'Employees Only'

"Go through there and put this on." He handed me a hairnet and an apron that was in a box under the counter. "Stevie should already be there waiting for you."

I took the ppe and stepped behind the employee door. Behind the door was a sight to behold. A cluttered kitchen with dishes laying around, pots and pans on top of each other in layers. Dishes and dirty utensil filled in piles next to the commercial, multi-gallon sink. 

Looks like I had my work ahead of me. Ask and you shall recieve, they say. I looked over to the dishwashing area with all the dirty plates and saw Stevie, my new boss, putting the clean plates in bins for later use.

She was wearing an apron, stained with sauce and wine and all sorts of food. It was covering her pretty blue butterfly skirt underneath it. She caught wind of me and waved me over.

Before I reached her I slipped on the wet tile file and fell on my butt. I was unharmed, except for my ego. My face turned hot red with embarrassment. 

I couldn't hear her taunting me with the loud noise inside the dish room and kitchen, but I could tell she was having a great time seeing me fail.

"Great start for me, huh?" I said sarcastically. Seeing the fault in my not buying slip resistant shoes. 

"Don't worry about it." she said encouragingly. She didn't want me to feel too bad on my first official work day. "You can use these. Trust me, you'll need it." 

I put on the slip resistant shoes covers to avoid making a fool of myself again. 

My hands clapped as I slapped them together in anticipation. "So, let's get started. How do I work this bad boy?" 

The dish room area of the kitchen was divided to three sections. The first was for the dirty dishes to soak in warm soapy water. The second area had a sprayer and scrubber to disinfect and spray the dishes clean. The third and last section was for drying and restocking the dishes.

She explained to me the few steps there were to washing dishes. It wasn't hard to do. I understood why the job posting said 'No Experience Required'. It really lived up to that requirement.

She wished me good luck. "If you need me, I'll be on the other side assisting the line cooks."

I didn't know much about her, but I started to see the kind of person she was. It was clear by her actions. "Man, you sure work hard for being a business owner. Shouldn't you be watching at the sidelines?"

It was almost like I spoke another language to her. She gave me a humorously baffled look. "This is how I am and how I've always been, I like to stay busy." She pulled down her apron to center it to her body. "One day, maybe you'll understand."

Now, left to my own devices, I began my new dish washing journey. From four p.m. to ten p.m. I relentlessly washed away at all sorts of dirty trays, dishes and cooking utensils. It wasn't glamorous work, but it was satisfying.

Little by little, the pile of work dwindled until the night was over and my job was done. For the first time in a long time I had a sense of accomplishment. It was a feeling I welcomed with open arms.

The night flew by and before I knew it, it was time for me to go home. Before I left, I could see the cooking staff in the corner of my eye. They were patting each other in the back and celebrating another successful work day. 

They had glasses of wine and cheered with a toast. That was my cue to head on out. No need to get too attached to people I had no interest in.

I punched out. 

I sat on the bench, waiting for the bus to swift me away like a magic carpet ride. The lights lit up the dark city streets. People roamed and explored the city. Chatter filled the air, a cool breeze refreshed my tired self and the moon gave me a pretty sight to give me company.

That was when the same figure I witnessed the other day came into my vision, before the moon light. The girl from the bridge was once again in front of me, blocking my view.

I didn't know who she was, her name or anything about her. Other than she was an odd character.

I swiped away at her with my fingers, signaling for her to move out of the way. 

She didn't budge. "So, do you understand now?"

I wanted her to leave, but she refused to do so. "Understand what?" I asked. "Are you asking if I've figured things out? Because I haven't. I'm no closer to being the captain of my soul than I was before. Heck, I'm not even the shipmate of my own soul, let alone captain."

The girl took a seat next to me on the bench and rested one leg on top of the other, with her left heel facing me, almost jabbing my right leg with it. "Would you say you're an island?"

"An island? As in the poem by John Donne?" I chuckled to myself. "Are you always going to talk to me in cryptic phrases and quotes from famous poems?"

She stared up at the black sky, devoid of stars due to the city lights. "Do I bother you?" 

"Yes."

"Well that was fast, you didn't even take any time to think about your response." She made a cutesy face, as if that would change my mind.

I looked down at my phone, hoping time would go by faster. Time ignored me and my plead. "I don't know what you're getting at, Lady." I said, hoping she would simply walk away.

She cleared her throat. "Nothing, it's nothing. Just trying to strike up a conversation with someone who looks like they could use one."

That was an interesting thought, a stranger trying to help another stranger. My mom couldn't help me, what made her think she was different? Not that she knew me or my situation other than what I'd told her.

I brushed off her comment. "Sometimes you can't help those not wanting helo." I tried to explain to her. "Maybe I'm not someone who can be helped."

She placed her hands together over her knee and twiddled her fingers. "Maybe so. But either way." She had a wrapped candy inside her palm that was hidden under her grip. She placed it on my lap and stood up from where she was. 

"Even the most hidden candies stay sweet." She said as she left me. In the darkness of the gaps between the street lights, she said loudly, "Remember, the bell tolls, and it tolls for thee." 

Great, more poems.

I was so glad to be home. I took a long shower to feel better. The warm water on my skin recharged me, giving me a new hope. 

I covered my ears and let the swish of the water hitting my head endulge me into a personal meditation. My thoughts focused on the girls final words.

Does the bell toll for me?










Fresh out of high school and jobless, Sander spends most of his time aimlessly wandering and playing video games. That is until one day he runs into a mysterious girl who starts to point out his flaws. Before he knows it he becomes intrigued by her, but knows nothing about her, not even her name! All this makes him wonder: What is her end goal? What's her name? What is his purpose?

Slam…
Bang…
Knock…
Oh no…
After a series of intense noises and screaming, the carpark quickly quieted down again. Looking at the four men dressed in black, one had his head on the car bumper and was unconscious, another had a dislocated arm and disfigured face, while the other was sprawled on top of the car, leaving the last one lying sideways on the Ferrari's seat, also unconscious...
"Wow, oh my God!" A lady with green lipstick got out of the car, her eyes looking straight ahead. After observing that the four men dressed in black were knocked out, she hurried over to Zhao Yu and looked up at him with adoration, saying, "Hello police officer, you are awesome!"
"Go… Go… I did not hit them for your sake. Move along…" After that, Zhao Yu turned and left.
Unexpectedly, the young lady not only chased after Zhao Yu and held on to him, but also put her car keys in his hands.
"What do you want? I hit women too... Hmm..." Zhao Yu noticed a Ferrari logo engraved on the lady's car keys.
The young lady held on to Zhao Yu's arm shyly and said, "Officer, here, take this broken car!"
"Ah? What?"
Hearing this, Zhao Yu was confused. Looking at the car keys in his hand, he thought to himself, "This… Is this not a Ferrari? This is... Called a broken car?"
"Well..." The lady with green lipstick took Zhao Yu's hand and said, "The car is for you, but... You have to be my… Boyfriend!"
She, not waiting for Zhao Yu to respond, tiptoed and kissed Zhao Yu on his face.
"Gosh!"
Zhao Yu hurriedly pushed her away, wiping his face with his hand. Her breath, reeking of alcohol, and her stench of strong perfume made Zhao Yu feel excited.
"You... Do you have a problem?"
"He he he..." The lady was drunk and said in a slurred speech, "Do you have any medicine?"
After that, she stuck extremely close to Zhao Yu, just like a plaster.
This made Zhao Yu very mad. He retaliated by pulling her arms behind her back.
"Ouch... You are hurting me..."
The lady's gentle voice made Zhao Yu shiver, giving him goosebumps all over. He did not dare say anything more, as he put the lady in the boot of a black car.
At the same time, Zhao Yu threw the Ferrari key in, closing the car boot.
Bang bang bang…
The lady struggled hard in the car boot. Zhao Yu had no choice but to rush over angrily to one of the men dressed in black, who was still conscious.
The man, thinking that Zhao Yu had come back to hit him again, waved his hands and asked for mercy. Zhao Yu grabbed his collar and brought him over to the car boot. He shouted, "Hurry, hold this down! Don't let her run out to harm anyone again! Come on, please!"
With that, Zhao Yu fist-bumped the man and returned to his car. He drove off and left the carpark.
Oh!
Holy sh*t!
On his way back, Zhao Yu kept hitting the steering wheel and thought to himself, "What was that all about? Why did I meet such a lady, without any reason?"
Is the lady's temper a little surreal? Or is she truly psychotic?
No way!
Does someone psychotic drive a Ferrari?
Well!
Zhao Yu thought to himself, "The lady was fortunate to meet my current self. Hmm… If she had met my old self, she would have lost both the Ferrari and herself to me. And I would have taught such an ignorant lady a good lesson…"
Suddenly, as Zhao Yu was pondering this, the miracle system in his brain spoke, "This adventure has been completed, your score is 5 points."
"What?" Zhao Yu hastened to step on the brakes to the stop the car. But after the car stopped, there was no further update from the brain.
Zhao Yu quickly opened the interface of the props in his brain. He saw the number "5" on the upper right-hand corner of the device bar.
Why?
Zhao Yu was confused, not understanding what this "5" meant. The miracle system said that it was an adventure score, but what was the score about? And what was the use of it?
Boss, please, explain clearer?
Why did another adventure surface, right after my adventure for today ended?
Why?
After calming down, Zhao Yu suddenly thought of a possibility. Could it be... Meeting the lady with green lipstick was also an adventure?
From this perspective, what he deduced from the Ghost Eight Diagrams was correct. Does this mean that he was now able to pinpoint the locations where the adventures would take place?
Moreover, this new adventure and the adventure of "Dui Zhen" hexagram were two different things. There was no conflict between these two adventures.
That is to say, the hexagram poem was divided into two parts. The first part of the "Dui Zhen" hexagram represented the fortune and fate of today's adventure. The second part represented a small scale adventure.
This felt like playing a game. On top of having main upgrades, one could also make a duplicate!
Gosh…
Zhao Yu could not help but wonder, "Can... Can there be duplicates in a miracle system?"
The last two set of numbers that corresponded to the hexagram poem, could they be representing the time, place, and height of the adventure? And would accomplishing these additional adventures be awarded points?
But... What could the points be used to do?
Hmm…
Zhao Yu gave it some serious thought. He felt that, no matter what these points could be used to do, they would do him no harm. Thus, he decided that, whenever he was free in the future, he would open some duplicated adventures, just for fun. After all, there might even be some unexpected gains, besides the addition of points.
Wow…
With this in mind, Zhao Yu restarted the car and headed for Shun Feng street. His mood was lifted and he felt good. Although he had missed out on a Ferrari today, there may be more wonderful things waiting for him tomorrow.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yu whistled on his way back to Shun Feng street. However, after opening the door to his house, he stopped whistling. He saw that the lamp in the room was lit up, and Miao Ying, dressed in silk pajamas, was sitting on the sofa.
"Oh, you scared me!" Zhao Yu rubbed his forehead, speckled with a cold sweat, and asked, "Did you not visit the beauty parlor today? You also said that you would return to your own home after that."
"Cough!" Miao Ying sighed, "Their equipment is out of order, what a waste!"
"Oh..." At this time, Zhao Yu noticed that, in the hand of Miao Ying, she was holding the yellow leather notebook given to him by Captain Jin.
Zhao Yu had nothing to hide in this book, as he had already told Miao Ying what Captain Jin had entrusted to him. Miao Ying is a detective fan. When she saw that the notebook contained records of unsolved cases in the country, she was naturally very interested.
Therefore, whenever she had free time, she would look through the notebook carefully. She also told Zhao Yu that, if he had a chance to investigate any of these unsolved cases in the future, he must bring her along.
"What... Are you still thinking about the case?" Zhao Yu took off his coat and walked over to Miao Ying. Seeing Miao Ying's attractive figure underneath her transparent silk pajamas made Zhao Yu feel very tempted.
"Hey?" Suddenly, Miao Ying pointed to Zhao Yu's cheek and said, "Zhao Yu, what is this on your face? What is that green colored stuff?"


A little ruffian who fought recklessly without any morals and bottomline accidentally time-traveled to parallel space and became a Key Case Investigation Team agent. The huge change in identity had him creating chaos in the police station. However, a strange miracle system helped him repeatedly solve mysterious cases, turning him into an impudent ruffian detective!

Daisy was reading the poem very attentively but suddenly a knock on the door, followed by a croaked familiar voice interrupted her reading. Daisy looked at the door and found a tall muscular boy, standing there. She instantly recognized the boy in front of her. His black silky hair, purple eyes, sharp jaw line and thin lips were exactly similiar to Nicolas' display picture of gaming profile. But he was looking extremely handsome in his broad shoulder, relatively narrow waist, V-shaped torso and chiseled muscular body. He was looking like a Greek-God. Daisy imagined him as a handsome boy but he was far more handsome than her imagination. Instinctively, her lips curled up in a small smile. She could realise that both of them were staring at each other but she came back to reality when Nicolas cleared his throat and looking away from her, started his announcement.
When Nicolas left the classroom with his teammates, Daisy was still dizzy. It was like a dream for her and she immediately wanted to tell her squad ( Kratos- Nicolas, Aquaman-Jason and Assaisiner -Alex.)  that she was Minerva but she couldn't as she was in the middle of the class. Mrs. Smith ordered, " Daisy Miller, Start your reading please." Daisy started the poem again, pushing all her excitement away. Daisy was reading the poem melodically. When she was reading the second last line, she was interrupted again by another knock in the door. Daisy looked up and saw another group of boys, standing outside their class. They also asked Mrs. Smith's permission for coming inside but that time Mrs. Smith replied them, "Wait outside. Let her finish the poem first." Daisy finished her reading within few minutes and sat down. Then only Mrs. Smith signed the group of the boys to come inside . Daisy saw a tall boy (though he was not as tall as Nicolas) entered with his group and he was also extremely handsome and had a strong physique. His blonde hair and sky blue eyes were perfect combination together. His handsome face had an icy cold expression and devilish smile where Nicolas had a charming smile and pure innocent look. They were both opposite to each other but were extremely handsome in their own way. 
The boy came forward and announced the same thing like Nicolas but only exceptional was that he was the leader of White house. Daisy noticed that the sky blue eyes of that boy paused on her quite longer as if he was scanning her and trying to read her mind then the group left. Daisy whispered near Helen's ear, "Who is the leader of the White House?"  Helen replied in a low voice, "This is Lucas Parker, captain of White House and Vice-Captain of  college's football team." Daisy whispered again, " Then who is the Captain?" Helen with a shy smile, replied, "Nicolas Walker. Haven't you seen the leader of Blue house? Isn't he hot??" Daisy replied instantly with a smirk, "Umm hmm. Very hot." Both of them giggled out like children. After class, Helen accompanied Daisy to college canteen. Helen was babbling about many interesting things of college. But most of the time she was busy in praising about her two crushes- Nicolas and Lucas. Helen exclaimed, "I wish I can date of one of them. Have you noticed their biceps?? And those abs when they put off their shirts! Every girl cannot help themselves but drooling over them." Daisy was not interested on Lucas that much but she was enjoying the gossips about Nicolas. She asked Helen curiously, "Is Nicolas single?"   Helen chuckled loudly and replied, "You are really silly, Daisy. How a boy like Nicolas can be single? He has numerous girlfriends and affairs, but Ruth is his childhood sweetheart. They are together from kindergarten. But Lucas is opposite of him. He always seems very cold towards girls." Helen continued her babbling but her words about Nicolas hit Daisy's heart directly. Daisy knew that Nicolas was just a friend, nothing more than that but she never imagined those simple words about Nicolas would affect her like that and would ignite a fire of jealousy inside her. She decided to meet Nicolas after class in auditorium but after hearing those words, she silently sat with Helen in canteen, leaving the thought of meeting Nicolas behind. She thought that revealing her true identity was totally useless at that moment and an unknown disappointment engulfed her heart. Helen introduced with some of her friends. "This is Joey,"  Helen introduced, indicating a tan girl with her beautiful phoenix eyes. "And I am Blake," interrupted, a boy with grey eyes and sat next to me, without asking anything. Blake continued while running his fingers through his dirty blonde hair, "You are the new girl of Medical department. Right?" "Yes, I am Daisy Miller," Daisy replied with a small smile in my lips. They chatted for few more minutes then they headed to the next class. It was their biology class. After class Daisy and Helen were talking casually, standing in the corridor. That corridor was the common path of auditorium also.
Suddenly Daisy realized that a pair of bright sparkling eyes were following her every move. She turned around and saw that Lucas was standing nearby staring at her. His eyes were ablaze and more scorching like the sun that Daisy felt little uncomfortable. Lucas was surrounded by a group of boys. They were all chatting happily, but he was silently noticing Daisy. He held a cigarette in his hand, from which he took a long and deep puff. With a devilish smirk on his lips, he started walking towards Daisy, taking small steps. Daisy was aware of his dominating presence but she ignored his presence and without sparing a single glance, she continued her conversation with Helen.
"Hi, I am Lucas Parker. Aren't you the girl who was reading the poem?" asked Lucas in a croaked husky voice. Lucas was scanning every little detail of Daisy's face, very curiously. According to him, Daisy's beauty was rare and pure. The moment he had seen Daisy, he couldn't able to forget her beautiful face. Daisy replied shyly, looking at him, "Yes. I am Daisy Miller." "Daisy," murmured Lucas in a low voice. After taking a long puff from his cigarette, he replied, "Daisy, you have a very sweet voice." Then, after a little pause, he spoke again with hesitation, "I mean, you were reading the poem beautifully. Good. I am your senior so never hesitate to contact me, if you need anything. I will-" Before he could finish a boy called out, "Lucas, come fast. Coach is calling you." Lucas nodded his head in his direction. Then looking  at Daisy, he replied with a shy smile, "Hope to see you again," Daisy replied in short, "Sure." Then he started walking towards the direction of that boy. It was the first time Lucas felt shy while talking with a girl. His heart was pounding wildly. Lucas himself couldn't understand why he was reacting like that in front of Daisy.
   Daisy stood there, dumbfounded.

A story of reunion where three people meet again after seven years of that mishap, that ruined their lives and changed their fates. What will happen when they will face each other? Can Daisy able to forget that stormy night that changed her life or she will reject her love again? 
A story of three teenagers who became the prey of their fate will meet again as they are fated to be together.

Author's Note: Several months ago, I ran a little contest, and the winners are featured in this chapter. They gave me permission to use their contest submissions in this story. The pieces included are "KALI : THE DESTROYER OF EVIL" by Tanya Bose from writing.com and "Magic and Madness" by _Fallxn_ from Wattpad.
Chapter 73: Impromptu Competition Waiting Room
Having thoroughly studied the map in her volunteer packet the night before, Tamara knew exactly where they needed to be and how to get there. She led Joan down wide red brick paths, past pristine lawns with perfectly manicured trees and majestic stone dormitories.
A team of teenagers wearing floppy chicken hats skipped past them. One noticed Joan and stopped, but another teammate grabbed his hand, and they got back to skipping. Apparently they had to get somewhere on time. Joan realized that any delays might cause her to be late as well and picked up her walking pace, smiling to herself and avoiding eye contact with strangers as she and Tamara hurried to a three-story brick building containing a lecture hall and numerous small classrooms.
Joan checked in with the Impromptu Competition captain's assistant and sat next to Tamara. Once everyone had arrived, the captain herself gave everyone a pep talk and a few reminders. Joan had heard most of it before, but this year, a new rule had popped up overnight. "And if anybody mentions the W-word, including team coaches and parents, you tell them to say companion instead. If they persist in using it, assess a one-point unsportsmanlike conduct penalty."
Joan itched to raise her hand and explain that she actually liked the W-word but decided not to push her luck. After all, teams never received a warning before being penalized for an F-bomb or even a minor profanity. Walt himself had probably issued this directive after thorough consideration. Besides, the organization had to maintain certain standards in order to appease sensitive groups of people. While Joan didn't like pandering to certain sensitivities, she knew the organization would do the most good by catering to the broadest audience possible. Besides, her own mother wouldn't have let her compete in Imagination of the Mind if it had a reputation for strong language.
The day started easily enough. The enormous lecture hall served as the waiting room for the Impromptu Competition, and a judge would appear in the doorway every other minute to summon a team. Meanwhile, the Impromptu Competition captain watched the room like a hawk, trading out with her assistant whenever she had to be somewhere else. Tamara busted out her bumblebee song again, and many teams came down to the podium to present their own silly songs, make armpit farts, or burp the alphabet.
One kid stared hard at Joan's nametag before yelling, "I know you! You're Kaiba's whore!"
The entire room went dead silent before Joan replied, "I'm sorry, we don't use that word here. I am Kaiba's companion. Please use companion instead of that word."
"But Kaiba likes that word," the kid said.
"What Kaiba likes doesn't matter here. I want to hear a song or a poem that you like."
"OK!" The kid leapt up and dashed to the podium. "My grandma taught me this one.
"Oh, far across the winds and the distance,
Her voice flows, so persistence,
That it reminds the new of the old,
Of the buried terror that sleeps so bold,
And as the fire flickers with red and green,
Goddess Kali lights up the power e'en.
"But if you feel the aching rush roaring down your veins,
If the world opens its heart to you anew;
Why, then let's rejoice in your pain,
And hear those ancient tales of forgotten blue.
"The story dates back to a hundred thousand years back,
When the lives used to sizzle down the rack.
A place where the serenity overflows the charisma of Mother Earth,
Where the motions of time and love gave a new birth,
The Daughter to Himalaya,
The Daughter to Mahalaya.
"But on the planes beneath;
Where the dark waters guzzled down their throats,
Where the lands were overcast with dirt and heath,
Lived the songs of evil hauling like a coat (Asuras!).
"As Devi Mahatma speaks - like the petals of uncolored dew,
From the forehead of Goddess Durga, as with the frosts that ever flew,
With the anger and vex that heats,
Hidden among the Heaven's beats.
But little did the leaves knew,
What brew in the minds of Evil, dancing with the clue.
"And so the time came,
When the Evil Gods picked up their frozen swords,
With unbeaten hearts that pledge another aim,
And their battle cry of sorrow and destruction filled their cords.
"All the Gods everywhere approached Mother Durga with distress,
I feel like it was only yesterday that they turned up hopeless
And prayed to her in solemn minds with love,
That from her forehead she drew out the beauty of dove,
Scattering them along with the strength of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva,
And so was Goddess Kali born, Anah!
"A skin as raw as it is black,
Yelling over her naked body of fire,
So cold and hungry her stare that; there's nothing it could lack,
Named her Ambika, the mother of ire.
"And with raged feet, she danced up to the battlefield,
Her burning locks down her temples like fire wields,
And slowly she crept into the darkness her foes had welcomed,
And she just danced and danced;
Till the petals of fire flew around from the scimitar she unbolted
From her bosom to the bosom of the loathed.
"The sharp cut of the weapon invited fear and blood,
As the blood-thirsty Asuras leaped onto her,
But nobody could bear her wrath of flood,
Every time she cried 'Cur'!
"Her fingers soaked in blood and unveiled hatred,
Tongue lolling as she made another attempt so sacred,
And with the sword stung deep into her villain's heart,
She drank blood so contended from her cart,
And raised her vision towards the others,
Who were running after one and the another.
"She and drank and fought,
Dancing and Dancing,
That nothing could have bought,
Her spirits to a calming.
"To stop her overwhelming anger, it called Munda and Chanda's presence,
Soon they returned with a body so bloodless and lifeless,
That the most Brave should behold his courage,
That to this day it scares to encourage,
Earned her the name of Chamunda, dark as ink,
To command the powers within a wink.
"And so her dark body flew along the battlefield,
Crushing everything to pieces,
And while the Gods up at the Heaven healed,
As their anxiety ceases.
"And to this very day, the terror sleeps,
Of the most dangerous war that still weeps,
And let us take vows on her brave name,
The will to battle a billion of a simple dame,
To restore the Heaven's Kingdom back to the Gods,
And so Goddess Kali's name remains engraved in the odds.
"Jai Maa Kali!"
Joan picked her jaw up from the floor. "Now that was amazing. High Five!"
The kid slapped her outstretched palm just as a judge called for their team. They scurried out the door with their teammates. "Bye, whore!" they called over their shoulder.
Joan bit her lip and locked eyes with the Impromptu Competition captain. The captain nodded briefly and left the room to record the W-word penalty on the team's scoresheet.
"As a reminder, please be mindful of your language while you are here. Certain words make some people uncomfortable, and we need everyone to feel safe so you all can do Imagination of the Mind next year," Joan announced. "Now, does anyone have another story or poem about mythology?"
When nobody volunteered to take the podium, Joan busted out "This Land is Your Land" and got most of the kids singing along. The Impromptu Competition captain came back into the room, nodded with approval, and left once again. Relieved that she had earned the captain's trust, Joan continued performing her duties, asking for folklore and legends whenever possible.
Joan heard many thrilling tales of heroes and fables with talking animals. Even though she really wanted more clues on how she could defeat Hera's curse, she thanked every kid who stepped forward to share and told them they did an amazing job.
At last, another kid rewarded Joan's patience with another story of goddesses:
"We hear of winners of battles,
And little of the defeated.
Yet the greatest betrayal in
Millennia is different.
"I was told by my mother,
Who was told by her own
And many before that,
That thousands of years ago
There was an inseparable due.
The Greek Goddess Hecate is the
Victim of this tale, although her
Powers are known through the land.
Lyssa, the Goddess of Rage and Fury
Is the victor in this battle, but
Remains almost unknown.
"The two were close as can be,
And Lyssa could not be more supportive
Of her lover, when she earned
The title, Goddess of Magic.
The unpredictable Lyssa was
Vengeful and ruthless,
And was thought to become the
Goddess of Passion.
She was a powerful entity,
Although untrusted by the almighty.
Could she control
Her anger?
So the almighty waited, hoping
She would prove them wrong.
"However, in many cases,
A true evil occurs.
Some find pleasure in testing
Those with power hidden within.
Those like Lyssa, with
Heightened emotions and
Unexplored power.
Those manipulated by beings
who enjoy chaos and betrayal.
"One such being took Lyssa aside,
Feeding her lies of the one
She truly cared for.
He used that rage burning inside
Her for his own evil.
'It's for her own good.' He would
Whisper, convincing Lyssa
Her lover had turned evil.
"One dreadful day, the battle occurred.
The day Lyssa confronted her lover,
Screaming at her to speak the truth.
But Hecate's truth came too late.
Lyssa was too full of fury.
Full of fear and betrayal.
The pair fought, and as all battles
Throughout history have shown,
There could only be
One winner.
"As the final blow had been struck,
Lyssa looked into the eyes of her
Beloved.
As Hecate's eyes fluttered shut,
Lyssa realised the truth.
Her passion was used against her
And the one who mattered most to her.
As Hecate's last breath escaped her,
An almighty scream
Ripped through the skies.
"It was then that Lyssa won her battle.
A battle fought due to lies and deceit,
A battle which shouldn't have occurred.
A battle which lost her her
Closest companion,
But won her her status,
As those who defeat a Goddess,
Earn the power of those before them.
"Hecate is the one known by all,
But Lyssa is known to those as a
Goddess you must never cross.
The Goddess of Rage,
Frenzy and Rabies.
What the world mistakes for evil,
Few know the truth.
Her anger and power,
Once used against her,
Is now used to punish the bad.
To prove that she is
Not to be messed with.
To seek vengeance
For the one
She was forced to kill."
Joan wished she could stop and think more about what the story meant for her predicament, but she had to keep smiling, to keep welcoming new kids to the podium. After all, this tournament was about them, not her.

When CEO Seto Kaiba propositions Joan, she expects a one-night stand, but he and his brother keep coming back for more. Now the Kaiba brothers want an heir from her and will pay any price to get it. How do Joan’s husband and boyfriend feel about her new profession? More importantly, how do they handle public scrutiny?

The award stickers on this cover are from Wattpad contests. If you would like to see the illustrations for this story, you can find them on the Wattpad version!

oh captain my captain poem novel

My coach, my captain

Captain of my heart

Captain Reira

Born a Monster

Universal Skynet: Rise of the Legendary Human

Ultimate Intelligence

As nameless as me

Crazy Detective

After Storm

Kaiba's Prostitute

People search oh captain my captain poem also like: