Chapter 98
A Madman
Derrek sat in silence, his mind adrift. There were voices that he kept at bay. Words that he purposefully shut out from his mind. His heart astir, he wanted to crawl into his bed, cover himself with a tidy blanket, and forget. Forget what he had j...
2021-12-03 23:21:56 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 97
Birth of the Madness
You have died.
Save point ‘Death’ has been initialized.
Years passed on one by one, blending into a singular timeline that hardly changed. Sylas spent them in a homogeneous routine of simplicity, train...
2021-11-30 21:36:30 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 96
Struggle Begets Change
Sylas nibbled away at the piece of chicken viciously, causing Valen and Derrek to look at him oddly and even for Ryne to wonder what strange noises were. He was hungry. No, describing it as hunger was like saying that the Second Worl...
2021-11-30 00:12:40 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 95
Long Road Begins With a Breath
“That’s it,” Derrek spoke out. “Just hold it--that’s right. Good. Let go. Once again. Let it channel through you. Don’t force it. What do you see?”
"..." Sylas had his eyes closed, listening carefully to t...
2021-11-28 22:17:29 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 94
Cosmic Divinity
Weeks ticked on without much happening. At least not in Sylas’ version of life. Though the castle was still scarred and traumatized and in the initial process of recovery, as far as he was concerned, it was in a state of peace. After all,...
2021-11-27 22:08:46 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 93
The Whole World Will Know
You have died.
Save point ‘Death’ has been initialized.
“AAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!!”
Sylas had talked with Tebek, or whatever his name may have been, almost fifty times now, dying over and over a...
2021-11-27 00:10:07 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 92
The Pen is Mightier Than a Sword
“AAAAAGGHHHH!” Tebek screamed in horror and agony as a knife found its way into his gut.
Sylas twisted it abruptly, causing yet another rollout of wails and howls rooted in infernal misery. He held it tightly with...
2021-11-25 23:03:29 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 91
Twice and Thrice
It was happening again, Sylas realized. The symptoms were all the same--and, unlike the previous times, they appeared even more aggressive. The castle had only been aware of it for the last few days, yet over twenty people had alr...
2021-11-24 23:55:24 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 90
Meeting of Blades
Sylas stopped walking, leaning into the dead, winter tree, gasping for breath. Glancing back, he saw a tunnel-like trail along the mountain of snow that he’d left behind in his trek. Were he in the mood for jokes, he might have even lau...
2021-11-23 23:34:26 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 89
Standing Dreams
Sylas paused abruptly, his feet rooting to the ground. Just yesterday, the room was empty--now, however, there sat the Prince, his legs covered with a blanket, gaze focused out the window, nibbling away at some grapes. Sighing, Sylas gritte...
2021-11-22 22:58:49 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 88
Sword Meant to Cut, Heart Meant to Bleed
Sylas remained in place rather than turning around and running away. It was pointless to run, after all. He'd have to reset the loop anyhow. Besides, he was curious--curious of the kinds of the dead that lived withi...
2021-11-21 00:00:57 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 87
Their Story
The doe bent forward, looming over the corpse while the crow continued to stare at Sylas. White tendrils of light emerged from the doe’s abyss-like black eyes, brightening the entire forest and even blinding him due to the sheer intensity of ...
2021-11-19 23:35:39 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 86
Violence Is Holy
Under the crackling of the roaring campfire, Sylas bit into a piece of chicken, yanking a good chunk of it and chewing through it without savoring the taste. Right after, he helped himself to a jug of wine and continued intermittently doin...
2021-11-18 18:41:54 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 85
Ashes and Dust
Sylas stood on a terrace overlooking the castle's courtyard. It's been five days since the ruination, since the death and pain rampaged through. Hardly much has changed; there were still signs of a massive battle everywhere, from the toppled...
2021-11-18 01:45:00 +0000 UTC View PostBOOK II
A PROPHET, A CRIPPLE, AND A KING
Chapter 84
Sounds of Silence
“AAAAAGGGHHHH!!!!!” how many times has he heard that scream now? Innumerable, he was certain. And it hurt just as much as every o...
2021-11-16 19:17:27 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 83
Death
Sylas sat on the edge of a wall, his gaze vacant, sight hazy and blurred. He’d lean forth and back often like a drunk—largely because he was one, at the moment. A jug of wine hung in his hand, swaying alongside his body. He stared emptily at the ...
2021-11-16 00:05:19 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 82
Hellscape
Sylas groaned audibly as his eyes began to flicker. The pain quickly assailed his head in addition to the burning of his throat. Even still, opening his eyes completely was difficult—a gargantuan task for how groggy he was—not to mention that...
2021-11-14 22:27:21 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 81
Tears of a God
Snow kissed the gentle dirt repeatedly, snowflakes pooling into hills and mountains, and melting under the pressure of rotted feet and boots on the other end, forming rivers and ponds and streams. Wall stood like a barrier between two antith...
2021-11-14 00:11:31 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 80
Winds Sing the Tales Long Forgotten
"I can't see!" Ryne exclaimed. "Get out of the way!" her tiny hand pressed against Sylas' side and tried to push him, but failed. The latter glanced down at her and smirked before stepping to the side, letting her come u...
2021-11-13 19:40:20 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 79
No Surprises
Valen paced back and forth, appearing angry, bitter, infuriated even. There was no rhythm of calm and collected man he appeared to be most of the time—his footsteps were frantic and quick and misaligned, and his eyebrows danced like worms, w...
2021-11-12 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 78
Kindled Dreams
Snow had been falling relentlessly for two months now. Staring out, Sylas couldn't help but be awed—he saw a legitimate, ten-foot-tall wall of snow stretching out around the castle. Save for the immediate courtyard that was shoveled thrice...
2021-11-11 22:36:50 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 77
Mirrors
There was only darkness-- not even the moon could be seen alighting the sky, clad instead beneath the layers of dark and gloomy clouds. Sheyra clutched the silken weave tightly abreast, her full, blood-red lips trembling, eyes of sapphire-blue blin...
2021-11-11 00:01:07 +0000 UTC View Post
another quick sketch vaguely depicting one of the earlier moments in the story
hope you guys enjoyed today's chapter :)
2021-11-09 21:56:48 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 76
Cradle of the Makers
Sylas sat in the quiet room, his head perched over a thick tome alight by the nearby candlelight. Ever since returning to the castle and, once more, ensuring that the Prince was the man of the hour, he had busied himself with reading. ...
2021-11-09 21:54:48 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 75
The Children
Sylas sighed, staring emptily into the darkness. Another thing—another thing was added to the ever-growing list of things that caused his head to hurt. And, like most things that made it onto that list, it wasn't the sort of thing that he co...
2021-11-09 00:37:50 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 74
When the Shadows Dance, Auburn Falls
A slew of emotions, fear chiefly among them, danced like framed silhouettes in Sylas’ eyes as he raced down the cold, dark corridors of the castle. The sound of his hurried footsteps and the flapping of the loose clot...
2021-11-07 19:26:24 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 73
Peace and Quie--
Walls decked out in precious decorations stretched out in a sharp curve, forming a winding, slightly upslope corridor illuminated by the embedded gems in the wall. Colors beyond count melded together in the canvas of unparalleled beauty, a...
2021-11-06 23:14:25 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 72
Parentage
One of Sylas' major headaches was resolved—he knew how to stop the invasion and save the castle. But with the disappearance of one, another came strolling right in—the boy. He never left Sylas' side, and the kid's gaze followed his back coldl...
2021-11-06 01:02:52 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 71
Cold Tears
He felt terror. As though the cold, emotionless claws of death itself were hanging above him, reaching out. As though the death’s maw was agape, ready to devour him. All around, he saw death, he saw terror, he saw cold. Invisible arms, hundred...
2021-11-04 20:22:50 +0000 UTC View Post