Novels by Ryoshi

Eliezer stood before the mirror in the cramped washroom, carefully guiding the straight blade razor across the skin of his cheek, and he watched as the bristly grey hairs of his face wafted down into the sink in front of him.

The sky had calmed, the warriors collapsed, and the guardsman that remained had ceased to fight after the sudden silence which had crossed their transmitters. Justice and Kypher had made their way up to the top of the tower where Zahaynei stood giving orders, and they threw him down. So, now there were no orders to be had and there was no more reason for them to fight.Kelvin could see on the faces of the remaining guardsmen that their will to fight had ended. The battle was lost and they knew that it was. Even so, she wondered how things had gone for the others on the inside of those castle

Benjamin entered the grand throne room with his sword in his hand as his heart beat heavily in his chest. He had run through the castle walls to the place which Adrien had described for him - a large room devoid of light and fashioned out of darkness itself.There was on the throne a man who sat on the throne in a reclined position, seeming to float in the darkness above him, and relatively unbothered by the disturbance of his guest. This man Benjamin recognized as the reclusive king whom he had seen before attending Eliezer's trial. This was Almast, the glorious king on whom the kingdo

Adrien's sword clashed against metal and he performed a sweep kick maneuver, knocking his opponent to the ground just as he had done with many men before him."Stay down and surrender your sword," he commanded, holding the pointed blade to the guardsman's chest.Adrien smiled with some faint relief as the m

The clacking of his boots echoed in the empty halls of Zephyr's fortress as he ran, sword in hand, back towards the battle.'Why?'The scene replayed in his mind, tormenting him. It was all so surreal.

There was a faint noise like footsteps coming from the hall, and Eliezer heard it, so he left her there alone with a sweet kiss of her cheek."Stay here," he requested softly with a brush of her hair and a loving squeeze of her neck. "I'll go and scout it out. I want you safe."Dorcus offered a short nod and an appreci

Lunus and Evan sat the next morning on the wooden platform of the tall gallows which the Hunters had erected speedily the night before. They had been given places of honor on the stage for their participation in the discovery of the cure and sat alongside Eccord, Howard, Arthur, and the other members of the Town Council. Before them all the town was gathered. Women held their children on their hips and men lifted their little ones high on their shoulders to see this amazing spectacle of justice. At last, the curse of Banglador would be broken and paid for! Evan tapped his fingers on his thigh with nervousness. Someone was missing, someone of note, and it had begun to bother him considerably. "Where is Ryan?" he whispered harshly towards Lunus. She shrugged. "I don't know," she answered. Arthur looked at them for a moment, overhearing, but he turned his ey

Ryan was quiet on the walk back towards the town. At the cave, he had rejoiced with Evan and Lunus as they shared what had been perhaps the happiest time of their lives. Freedom, at last they had freedom and what a release that was to each of them.There Ryan had been celebrating with them, joining in their laughter and glee, but it was different now. He wasn’t talking and his face looked a little more serious despite the fact that he was still smiling. There was a determined look on his face which glittered in his eyes like kindness, and Evan couldn’t help but watch him as they walked together through the forest now devoid of magic and mist.“Do you think we could come back, back to the town?” Lunus asked, wanting to get him talking again as much as she was genuinely curious.Ryan looked up at her. His smile broadened and his eyes lit. “Yes, of course!” he answered

"Ryan," Lunus breathed, and she looked at once with teary eyes to Evan.So, it wasn’t over.Jeremy’s body laid on the cold stone in front of him, his blood poured out upon the floor of the cave, and the red light illuminated the deathly scene as it danced within the darkness of the ground which swallowed them. The light brought with it an eerie reminder of all who had died there.There was the faint sound of drops falling from the altar, and Lunus looked up to see that some of Jeremy’s blood had splattered on the slab where Evan sat and mingled with his own. The mingled blood dripped down and fell to the ground. Then, all of the lights went out and the cave was filled at once with an almost tangible darkness.“Who goes there?” asked a voice from all around them. The tone of it was hollow and threatening.“Rya

Evan felt the pain of the bullet as it tore through his flesh. He felt the force of it shake him, and he doubled over in agony, grabbing the place of the wound, and stumbling back.He ordered Lunus to get down and pushed her back away from him, since he seemed to be the shooter's desired target. No matter what, he wouldn't let anything happen to her.He heard the gun cock. There were footsteps approaching, and he could see the vague silhouette of a man in the dim light of the red flashes. Then, there was another blast of the silver handgun, and he felt the touch of another bullet as it tore through his chest.He stumbled backwards and fell on the altar, grasping at the stones.He screamed in agony. The pain was so excruciating it was debilitating. He breathed in deeply and unevenly, each touch of air hurting.

The neighing of the horses and the cries of the Hunters were like needles in the wolves' ears as they approached, charging at them with a special gusto, probably brought on by the knowledge that this would be their final hunt."Don't think this is the end, Balthazar! I'll get you yet!" Arfak vowed as he backed away, running off into the forest and calling on his wolves to follow.Evan wasn't sure if he should be angry or relieved. Arfak and his wolves had gotten better. They were both more coordinated and more powerful. They moved as a team now, instead of a mob. Still, he thought he could haven beaten them and saved the town some trouble.They had to die. All of the spirits had to be released without a place for them to dwell. With nowhere to move to, no host to take them, no body to control, they would be forced to disperse and return to the forest... to Malkouth. He

Evan was watching the crowd from his place near the gates of the town, careful to keep himself hidden, and he knew that Lunus was doing the same. He listened to Ryan's words with a peculiar fire growing in his chest. It was the ignition of hope, causing him to want to jump up and scream for gladness, but this was not the time for such an open display of joy and exuberance. No. To the contrary, this was a time to watch the scene from the shadows in silence.Ryan had instructed them to wait. They would break the curse together over the stones where the covenant was made. That way, they would keep their cover, and after... Evan supposed that they would run away. He could not see any alternative to that, even here. They were still wanted. He had crimes he had to answer for, and so... they would have to run. It wasn't the happy ending he had wanted, or even an ideal one, but it was one which offered life to the two of them... and a l