“It’s not.”
Penelope leaned into the raven’s flock. Her eyes warmed at him.
“I think your feelings are important; it’s just that...”
‘I’m upset,’ Penelope continued in her heart.
Realizing that she was never a part of his past and might never be a part of his future hurt her.
This man was an immortal Archmage.
He chose to be alone, spending his eternal life in solitude.
She should’ve at least been a good friend to him, but she failed today.
She should’ve known, looking at his betrayed eyes and exploding anger. This man, who was always gentle and pleasant, was suddenly turning into a madman.
Because, unlike being a friend to the other, she couldn’t do the same for him properly.
Penelope’s brown eyes reflected the light of the sun, and her average dirty blonde hair was casting a shadow on his face. As Heinrich peeked from the back of
KNOCK KNOCK!Arai opened her eyes when she heard a knock on the door. She immediately scanned the room and was very relieved when she saw Zaha sleeping with the twins and her on the bed.The twins were fine, and Zaha hadn’t left too.She turned to the door and opened it, finding Harriet standing there with Ezekiel.“Harriet? Your Majesty?” Arai smiled, and Harriet chuckled as she hugged her.“Sorry, Arai, I got so busy just after I came. I hadn’t had the chance to say hello to everyone,” Harriet said, releasing her hug for a bit. She looked inside the room, seeing the twins fast asleep with Zaha.She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, he used the scroll I gave him to come.”“He did,” Arai softly laughed.But then, Harriet’s gaze deepened. “Did you see Heinrich and Penny?”Arai turned back to her, face full of questions. “That! They were with the t
When Damian came to, he was in Ezekiel’s arms. He blinked his eyes, turned his face, and saw Niamh was fast asleep in their Mother’s hug.He called out to his Mother softly, “Mum, are we going home?”Harriet laughed at his question. “No. Let’s have dinner before going home.”“You’re leaving?” Ezekiel asked in a low voice. “I thought you’ll stay longer.”“Your Majesty, now that Zaha is here, my men would be back at Almandine too. I’ll need to prepare for the raid soon.”Harriet’s answer awakened Niamh too. She blinked her eyes open and raised her face. She smiled when she saw her Mother but blinked in confusion when she saw Ezekiel.“I’ll go with you then. You’re going straight to the raid after returning home, right?” Ezekiel asked.“Yes. But is that alright?” Harriet asked back.“I can
Sir Marcus was immediately shocked when he heard that the Emperor wanted to follow the Duchess back to the North that night. “But the birthday party for the late Empress...?” he asked in a low voice. “Let the party going, but I have an important business with the Duchess. So don’t come to find me.” Ezekiel wore his long black coat. His eyes were dim, but he looked better than yesterday. Marcus guessed that the Duchess’ presence was really that influential for him. “May I ask where you are going and what your plans are?” Sir Marcus asked in concern. Ezekiel always had his five days birthday party for the late Empress emptied from all schedules, but now suddenly he left? Then it could be something very urgent, right? Or... “How do I contact you if there’s something I must report, Your Majesty?” Marcus asked once again. “Don’t,” Ezekiel had finished his preparation. He told the servant who packed his things to follow him t
Yelan woke up after another fit of heat. Her body was still warm, but she decided to take a walk to clear her mind. She walked into the garden of Almandine Castle alone, and by chance, it was a rare warm summer night in the North.The garden’s air was filled with the aroma of blooming flowers, and the soft breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees. Yelan wore her shawl, draping it over her shoulders. Her face was pale and expressionless, and her long, straight black hair flowed gently.Her heart was heavy and uneasy.Now that her fits of heat were becoming more and more frequent, she wondered if that meant ‘the man’ would come to her soon. Her brother told her that he would come when she turned 20, and she had just turned 19.As she reached out to pick a rose from a nearby bush, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around to find a man she had never seen before. He stood tall with an air of confidence. He had charming golden e
A dream.A representation of human’s hidden desire.The subconscious of a human’s mental state.The wind blew through the open fields, carrying with it the sweet sound of freedom. Yelan closed her eyes, letting the feeling wash over her. It was a feeling she had not known in a long time.The freedom to choose her fate, to live without fear. She opened her eyes and looked up at the sky, where a bird soared freely, its wings spread wide. That was what freedom looked like, she thought. The ability to fly, to go where you wanted, to be who you wanted to be.As she walked, she heard the laughter of children playing, a sound that filled her heart with warmth. Freedom was the smile on a child’s face, the warm embrace of a loved one. It was the ability to speak your mind, to have a voice, to be heard. And it was the courage to be kind, to stand up for what was right.Freedom was the light in the dark, the spark that started a brand
NEIGH!The sun was sinking low in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape as the experienced and well-known Duchess Harriet Goldlane, her twin children, and their Uncle Emperor approached the grand Almandine Castle.The impressive structure loomed in the distance, its towering spires and battlements standing out against the backdrop of the fiery sky. The reign of the Notorious Duchess had brought back the glory of the Castle as the fortress of the strong.As they drew closer, the full magnitude of the Castle became apparent. The carriage rumbled through the open gates and into the courtyard, where they were greeted by a group of well-trained Lycan guards who had served under her rule. They were escorted to the main entrance, where Secretary Daniel and Sir Russel had been waiting.Upon their arrival, Sir Russel reported that all of the Lycan Army from the East had returned safely, to which Duchess Harriet gave a small nod of approval.
Platinum Duchy had grown steadily for the past five years. The fact that some of the Western Factions were already under the rule of the Grand Duke of Euclase helped. But still, for the people to accept the Lycan...The North was a different case.For generations, even from before the Empire was founded, Almandine and their Lycan Clan had been the ruler of the North. But for the other region of the Empire, it was a very different case.Even now, after more than five years of adaptation between the Lycan Army of Amaryllis and the common people, they were still afraid to approach or even speak too loudly in their presence.Still.It was better than five years ago. And five years ago was better than when they were in the West Continent.Heath led his entourage of his personal Lycan guards down the streets of West Fort city. The people of the city looked on with a mix of fear and respect, their eyes following the powerful figures of Giant Wolves
In the dream, Julian found himself in a world consumed by fire. The sky was a raging inferno, the land a scorched wasteland.He looked around in horror as buildings of hidden Lycan villages crumbled to ash. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, and the sound of crumbling buildings echoed in his ears. The screams of the dying filled his ears, and he knew that he was responsible for this devastation.As he walked through the carnage, he felt a sense of overwhelming guilt. He knew that he was the source of the destruction, the bringer of ruin. He tried to stop himself, to turn off the flames that licked at his skin, but he couldn’t.He was trapped in a cycle of destruction, unable to save the people around him, undoing everything he had done, and unable to stop the fire that burned within him.He feared himself, for he knew that he couldn’t change his true nature or the past. The world was in ashes, and the fire raged on.Julian was f