Inside the private training room, Emily and Oscar sat down to talk.
"Is everything alright except for that ear?" Emily started.
"My hearing is still working, but the sounds are slightly lower than usual. I can still hear, but if someone wants to whisper, that might be an issue." Oscar...
2022-09-27 23:00:59 +0000 UTC View PostThe morning arrived.
At the break of dawn, Oscar got up from his small bed, rubbing his eyes. He hadn't felt this relaxed in a while. It had been a wild set of events since the Grand Gathering.
After many tense nights in the tent at Hurin Plains, the nightmares of Frederick's demise, ...
2022-09-23 22:50:09 +0000 UTC View PostOscar and his father, Henry, returned after their emotional father-son moment. The day slowly darkened as the birds flew off to return to their nests.
In the small home, many food dishes lined up on the table. They were all of Oscar's favorites, like his mom's cheese soup, meat pie, and fru...
2022-09-23 00:34:38 +0000 UTC View PostSandwiched between two wide plains of golden grass was a deep blue river, flowing slow and lazy, unbothered by anything outside its borders.
Bubble
The tranquil surfaces of the waters were ruined by a burst of force that made its way out, sending chaotic ripples and waves. In the cent...
2022-09-21 23:06:31 +0000 UTC View PostThe Eggs of the Rainbow Didus. The goal of Nicholas's mission.
They were smaller than Oscar expected, only at the size of his head. But they glimmered like jewels with the many colors that adorned their surface.
If they were sold as trinkets, they would certainly be sold for a high pr...
2022-09-21 00:04:14 +0000 UTC View PostThe combination attack of Oscar and his Anima was unlike any of the attacks so far. The synchronized movement of Oscar and the Anima made it so that Oscar didn't need to try to move two things simultaneously.
It was all one motion, two beings acting as one, that allowed him to do simultaneo...
2022-09-16 23:42:02 +0000 UTC View PostHis left ear was gone. Torn off by whatever attacked Oscar.
He stumbled a little because of the loss of balance caused by missing an ear. Clinging to his Anima, Oscar soon regained his bearings and managed to get up.
"What is this?"
For some reason, everything seemed to quiet do...
2022-09-15 23:11:45 +0000 UTC View Post"A second Rainbow Didus?" Oscar exclaimed. "I read that Rainbow Diduses are solitary beasts who only come together for mating season. If you were hunting for eggs, it's past that time."
Unbelievable. Incomprehensible.
For an unknown reason, these Exalt beasts had somehow turned agains...
2022-09-14 20:12:45 +0000 UTC View PostDeeper into the Hurin Plains, the fields of golden grass were slowly fading away; instead, there were fields of brownish-red ferns that covered the landscape. Within this field of dull red was Oscar, treading carefully.
These ferns were thicker and longer than the clean golden grass. Oscar ...
2022-09-13 20:31:46 +0000 UTC View PostIn the pot held above the campfire, a stew was boiling. It was filled with vegetables and meat and had an orange color.
"Let's eat." Oscar clumsily took the pot out of the flames with his fragile fingers and pinched a spoon.
A week had passed since his battle against the Rock Ankylon;...
2022-09-09 18:18:56 +0000 UTC View PostOscar carefully wafted through the golden grass, lowering his body to blend in.
It was the break of dawn. The Exalt beasts were waking up and walking off their drowsiness. It was the best time for Oscar to find one to fight.
But it was a matter of choosing the right target.
Osca...
2022-09-09 00:08:12 +0000 UTC View PostA road of arched pillars stood along the pathway to a large building. It was a large castle of great oak wood reaching ten stories tall, giving off an ancient and imposing aura—the headquarters of the Alchemist's Guild branch in Tufall.
Two rows of guards were lined on the sides of the pa...
2022-09-07 23:35:20 +0000 UTC View PostThe tall golden grass of the Hurin Plains swayed lightly with a cool breeze. The various Exalt beasts were moving around and grazing on the fields. This would be the epitome of serenity if not for the rough sounds coming from the river.
The source of the disruptive noise was Oscar's heavy b...
2022-09-06 16:28:06 +0000 UTC View PostThe sheer vastness of the Hurin Plains amazed Oscar. He moved through the tall grass in wonder and interest. Off in the distance were many Exalt Beasts that lived on the plains and minded their own business.
Occasionally, Oscar would find a tree. It wasn't tall and thick like the usual fore...
2022-09-03 00:02:01 +0000 UTC View PostAfter getting off the airship, Oscar smoothly distanced himself from the other students. They were most likely on a mission while he was here for training. Also, being around them would make him stick out like a sore thumb.
Oscar put his backpack on top of his buckler and went on his merry ...
2022-09-01 23:47:15 +0000 UTC View PostOscar approached Isabella.
She was turning her head and stopped.
The two former friends locked eyes. Oscar's eyes were conflicted, while Isabella's were detached and indifferent.
"Have you seen Gilbert?" The amber-haired idol asked.
Oscar did not reply immediately but felt...
2022-08-31 22:38:20 +0000 UTC View PostGilbert Lockwood.
Oscar could not help himself from staring at the Grade Nine prodigy. The source of Frederick's tragic past and current state was right before him. If not for Gilbert, none of it would have happened.
Despite the handsome appearance and charismatic presence that drew o...
2022-08-30 23:42:11 +0000 UTC View Post"Goodbye."
Frederick got up from his bed and made his way toward the entrance under the stunned eyes of Emily and Oscar.
"What is this? Where do you think you're going?" Emily grasped Frederick's arm and asked, lacking the usual powerful tone in her words.
"Thank you, Emily. Eve...
2022-08-26 23:00:46 +0000 UTC View PostEvery so often, a hunting event is held for the nobles. The adults go off to hunt Exalt beasts while the children try to hunt normal animals.
The lockdown and his family's attitude toward him made Frederick rebellious. Instead of the clean look he always had, he purposely dressed messily an...
2022-08-26 00:59:36 +0000 UTC View PostYears passed by.
Frederick was now fourteen years old.
His green hair had grown to his shoulders and his face matured handsomely into his adolescence. The subsequent years of training had forged a small, confident bearing and presence.
"Frederick, what do you think is going on? ...
2022-08-24 23:03:26 +0000 UTC View Post"Frederick, I'm here!" A pleasant, cute voice called out to Frederick.
A young boy with soft cheeks, a mess of green hair, and sparkling yellow eyes was running through a garden. It was Frederick in his younger years when he was ten years old.
"Teresa?! Where are you?"
Frederick...
2022-08-24 01:57:15 +0000 UTC View PostThe Grand Gathering started in the morning, and now it was well past the afternoon. There were the sounds of cheers and battle as the competition was still underway.
Oscar was still in the healing station on the bed, completely immobile except for his arms. The rest of his body was still de...
2022-08-20 17:16:33 +0000 UTC View Post'Third Step'
Phillip's final move was his most powerful, the 'Third Step' of the Raeven Sword Techniques, the highest possible step in the Apprentice Exalt realm. The crackling Ein on the tip of his sword was loud and drew the air around it like a hurricane. It wasn't transforming and manip...
2022-08-19 22:49:02 +0000 UTC View Post'Second Step!'
Phillip released the 'Second Step' of the Raeven Sword Techniques. The Ein surged and enveloped the prismatic sword. The blade gave off an oppressive pressure that bore down on Oscar like a waterfall.
Oscar smelled the stench of death closing in as the sword swung in fr...
2022-08-17 22:00:20 +0000 UTC View PostThe air was stifling as Oscar sweat from his brow despite not having started the fight. Heck, he was not on the stage yet. It felt like dropping into the opening of a volcano.
'Shape up! Don't falter!' His feet regained their bearing and steadily stepped forward. Oscar preemptively...
2022-08-16 04:14:09 +0000 UTC View Post'Teresa.'
Frederick remembered the girl he loved. His eyes were empty like an endless black hole, tearing anything before it apart.
Rachel felt immense pressure, not from Ein but from Frederick's malice. Unknowingly, she took a step back.
"Frederick?" Emily stared blank...
2022-08-16 03:46:18 +0000 UTC View Post"What did you do?" Austin asked Emily.
"?" Emily did not know what Austin was asking.
"That last moment against Samuel. Your staff obliterated his fangs and tiger. There's no way you only did that with simple Ein." Austin looked curiously at Emily. The tiger and Samuel's spell should ...
2022-08-16 02:31:05 +0000 UTC View PostThe sands of the hourglass finished flowing to the bottom. A large bell on top rang, reverberating through the stadium, into all students, pounding their hearts.
"THE BREAK IS NOW OVER. THE NEXT ROUNDS SHALL BEGIN!"
The announcement ended, and the remaining contestants noticed their t...
2022-08-10 22:42:10 +0000 UTC View PostAustin stared at Oscar and Frederick curiously. Frederick's demeanor and presence were the opposite of what he showed in their battle. It was after he asked Frederick who he wanted revenge on.
Back then, Frederick's entire being had changed. His eyes became deathly hostile like a madman. It...
2022-08-08 21:36:17 +0000 UTC View PostArrows and quills bombarded Oscar from the front and back from George and his Sapphire Hedgehog's unrelenting assault. Oscar desperately tried to block the incoming projectiles with a swipe of his buckler.
"Shit." Oscar wasted more stamina and Ein blocking and dodging without gaining a sing...
2022-08-06 22:39:23 +0000 UTC View Post