The lake of White Forest screamed by the cries of the corrupted beasts, burning in golden flames. Luna kept her arrows running, shooting every beast that would get close to the group.“How long is this going to take?” Kael shouted as he blocked a bear’s claw with his sword, then he spun his body, aiming his blade higher that slashed the beast’s neck. “We’re running out of time.” As he glanced back, Magus Jade was still speaking incantations with his eyes and his chest glowing in red light, standing in a magic circle.“It’s almost done,” Gared replied.Kael looked around and found the red petals multiplying while flying in a large circle. “Stay close,” Magus Jade suddenly spoke. “They can’t harm us now.”Kael reeled back as he watched the beasts trying to pass through the circle, only to get slashed by the countless petals. Looking up, the petals rose into the skies, still circling the group along with the strong wind. A tornado had been summoned.“Terra … Foramen …” Magus Jade cast, as
Dust itched and dried Arth’s throat as he coughed it out of his mouth. As the blurry sight of the dark smoke rising towards the skies grew clearer, he lifted himself from the ground. The intense heat of the enormous flames ahead caused burning pain in his skin, making him wince. Ruby … where is she? Arth looked around where light dust surrounded him. A faint figure of the woman caught his eyes. As Arth approached, he glimpsed Ruby on her knees, her eyes wide and red, staring at flames. Arth followed her gaze and there laid a torched dragon like a black mountain, covered in hellfire. He clenched his fists. The pain he felt was the same thing he had when he witnessed the death of those men back in the cave, far worse than the burning heat on his skin. Naomi had meant the world to Ruby. This made Arth recall Alice, seeing how the long spear pierced through her heart, right in front of his eyes. It was the worst feeling that destroyed him and his world. Ruby punched the ground, crying, s
They go to their hideout far from the demon city of Daeva. The goal of the Snowsong Alliance is to find the only antidote for demon-turned humans, as they would be the biggest threats in the upcoming war, and as much as possible, prevent the demons from turning more humans into their kin. Their missions continue in luring the flying castle in Daeva, as they cannot cross the river. They had their chance of getting out during the invasion last year, but they chose to stay, as they still had a mission to do, ordered by their king. To kill him. Letholdus Aragon ruled the flying city, along with the demon-turned elite warriors. Arth and the Snowsong Alliance have known about the arrival of the flying city in Daeva. So their mission has started. They would go first and infiltrate Orcus City. There, they must go and obtain the Tears of Zer’elas, the legendary king of corruption. His tears can corrupt and destroy anything it touched when exposed to air. Their mission was to get the tears and
Kael Denvorn found springtime as the season of hard work, the most difficult time among all seasons to be exact—and to be more specific; assisting all plants to bloom flowers. Right now, he was slow and careful in trimming the spikes of the Blush Orchids, as it would encourage the plants to rebloom in future months. It was a stressful task. But trimming the orchids would give them the best chance for regrowth.Kael took the trimming scissor that had been dipped in the sterilized solution, and then examined the next set of orchids for him to groom. For healthy green spikes, he would find a node under the lowest flower bloom and trim one inch above that node. For unhealthy brown spikes, he would cut all the way back to the base of the plant. For double-spike orchids, he would cut—“Oh my Lord!”Kael lifted his head, hearing his dear mother’s overly-dramatic-and-surprised voice from a distance. She stood before the opened doors of the castle, her eyes wide, reading a gold-painted scroll
The elevator trembled and chains rattled. Arth descended, rock walls sliding up in all sides. It was still a long way down, so he had the time to lean back on the wooden elevator and closed his eyes. Arth was tired. But it was very normal in every afternoon of his work.One thing that pissed Arth was his aching shoulders and back spine. And he had to endure it every day. But it would all be worth it when he’d go home to their mansion.The elevator finally settled on the ground, letting Arth open the door and walk to the large tunnel. Two columns of wooden pillars supported the rocky ceiling of the passageway. The air had gotten thicker. Wheelbarrows, crates, and buckets containing ores rested on both sides of the tunnel.Arth headed forward, passing by torchlights that illuminated the dark path. He could hear the echoing, clanging sound of hammers against chisel and shattering rocks. But then a faint presence crept behind him. He turned his head around, but saw nothing, no one behind
“Fire me with Aglaean Wine,” Tristan said, sliding a copper piece on the counter towards the alehouse owner. A sweet, spicy drink would do before he would proceed on his goal. But one thing bothered him. He couldn’t sense the Guardian in this loud, awful place at all. “Where are you …” he whispered in a monotone. Another woman stopped next to him and smiled, eyeing Tristan from head falling down to his lower, her fingers gently tapping on the table. “How can I serve a handsome young sir?” Tristan closed his eyes. “The fact that you’re brushing your side against mine makes me want to cut you into pieces and put you in a filthy sack before throwing it to whoever shit who raised you.” Tristan thought the woman was gone, until he felt her hand topping his on the counter. “My, my … how much bolder can you be? If you say so, then cut me into pieces, young sir.” Tristan opened his eyes and shifted his dead glance at the woman. “Find
The Blossomland had been his go-to-cure for a bad day. The wide terrains and hills and plains filled with vibrant colors of flowers, dancing along with the strong breeze—the serene sound of petals and leaves rustling—the smell of the aromatic azalea and windrose flowers—the warm kiss of mid-morning sunlight—they all had used to help Kael calm his thoughts down. But this time was different. The worst thing he could’ve had imagined was happening now.“He’s a complete arsehole,” Kael said as he cut the stem of another azalea flower. “He’d been cruel enough to banish me from his kingdom like an exile … and now he’s inviting me to go back?” He gripped the stem, almost forgetting to be gentle in putting the flower on his woven-basket backpack.“For heaven’s sake, Kael,” Gabriella shook her head, harvesting more azaleas, “It’s been over like what? Eight years? Perhaps the prince has finally changed his mind.”“Or,” Peter cut in, “That big-head-brat has finally come to realize banishing Kael
Run.“Excuse me,” Arth hasted along the main street of Casterfall City after realizing how late he was. Crowds of people who came to watch the competition today had been blocking his path ever since he arrived in the city.“Damn it,” whispered Arth, hoping the registration had yet to close. He plunged through countless groups of citizens, hands clasped together in front of him to make way for himself.“Hey kid, watch it.” “Who was that?”The man shrugged. “Another country boy, perhaps.”Arth never gave a single care to anyone around other than registering himself to the competition, which he could have done a lot sooner if it was not for that long, pointless conversation with Robert earlier. His chest pounded fast, nervous of not making it, for it was the only reason he got into this vast city.“There it is,” Arth finally glimpsed the tall, white-painted building ahead, popularly known as the Standard Knight Academy; a three story building that