Start Novel Novels & Stories

I murmured as silently as possible. Salvatore continues to count, the playful tone in his voice making it clear that this is more than just a simple game. "...........Eight, nine, ten!" he announces with a chuckle, deliberately drawing out the moment. The mansion seems to hold its breath in anticipation. The game officially begins, and Salvatore, pretending to be clueless, searches in the wrong places intentionally.

When Blake was in middle school, Liam's novel, At the Horizon's End, had been all the rage. Information about him was scarce, mostly a few interviews on his website. It had been his debut sensation. The book had exploded in popularity, amassing over a million subscribers in weekly magazines when it reached a hundred thousand words, soon followed by a comic adaptation. Liam's novel had been a part of Blake's adolescence, a phenomenon that swept her school. Now, sitting across from her was the author she had idolized as a teenager, and he was her blind date!

War started now. ***

But for now, we would need to go to Italy, after that abominable being. I returned home with the logs I had selected. Bending down, I arranged them in piles in the fireplace, and using a scout technique, I lit it, stepping back a few paces from the fire that was starting to crackle intensely. The room warmed in seconds, and I crouched there, poking the flames, to give my companion some comfort before our departure. "Lucien… why…" she murmured as she dreamed. "I also wonder the 'why,' Luna of my wolf."

If you didn’t manifest now, you never would. “Okay,” I whispered to the void, my voice tight. “Okay. Fine. New player pack, then.” Every rookie got a starter pack. A random Artifact, some points, a fighting chance. I mentally commanded my inventory to open. Empty. A vast, gray nothingness stared back at me. No Ability. No pack. No points. Level zero. Thrown into an A-Class Instance called ‘Apocalypse Academy.’ The Game wasn’t just rigged. It was personally pissed at me.

Waiting for the work to finish. Ready for the life to start.

Opened the notebook. Kept going.

Maybe he had never been treated like that before, but slowly, the calls stopped. The messages also went silent. At last, I could start adjusting to a new life. At first, it felt strange being in an unfamiliar place and a brand-new job all by myself. However, little by little, I realized I could actually find joy in it. Life began to feel meaningful and purposeful again. The part of me that had been suppressed for years was finally breaking free. Sometimes, though, my thoughts would drift back to the past, to those unforgettable moments that had carved themselves into my heart.

A massive fortress was taking shape. Michael appearing at my side. “Bringing a piece of home, home?” Smiling, “yes. I’m a little homesick.” “What of security?” “I already thought of that. I made it so that our essence is built into our new home.” “So how will your new guardians gain access?” “Very easily I’ll add them as they come.” I smiled and leaned my head against his arm. Always perfectly content with Micheal. My calm and peace.