《Morph》 [0.1]Zero Sometimes, quitting seems like the best option... a game you can''t win, a relation you can''t bear, a race you''ll never conquer. Even life, when it slips through your fingers. (and maybe, just maybe, writing preview introductory chapter to create more confusion?) These were the thoughts that Morph surrendered to, resulting him into giving up on his life. Turning his back on a world that had forsaken him, he took that fateful leap into the unknown. "Pathetic" You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The surroundings absorbed the words, delivered in an indifferent tone laced with disgust. Standing by the escarpment, a frail figure was outlined, peering down the unforgiving slope. ¡°At least, you had courage to die.¡± Gazing upon Morph''s frail body, which now was his own, along with the name given to it. [I''ve lost count of how many times this has happened...] Sigh... [As if I ever truly believed it was reality to begin with...] After sifting through his thoughts, he began to survey his surroundings. . . . It was a cliff at least two stories deep, a gaping maw of certain death for anyone who dared to leap. Nestled deep within the desolate mountain, it was a place of solitude, perfect for those seeking escape from the clutches of the world and their ''dear'' reality. "Morph, huh?" The new inheritor of the moniker ''Morph'' closed his eyes, delving into the memories of this very existence. [First, let''s talk boy.] [1]Breaking Morph, 12 years old, carried the burden of dullness, unattractiveness, and to top it up, a wretched personality; in essence, a loser. No friends... No visible talents, and academic performance hitting rock bottom... He felt so hopeless that even his parents began losing faith in him. With a family overshadowed by a more promising and accomplished sibling. It was a given their attention shifted away from Morph, his failures only magnified. Lacking anyone to truly care for him, Morph grew increasingly defiant. And to add to that..., Slap "Aye, Morph, get me a sandwich from that new shop!" It was a familiar gesture, seeking attention, at least for Morph it was... A sudden, undeserved, and painful slap on the back of his head. It was nothing new to Morph, for he had grown accustomed to such treatment. The Slap 2 "Hurry up, b*tch, move that a**, I''m hungry as hell!" Morph hastily got out of his bench and scurried toward the classroom''s exit. Eyes filled with disdain followed Morph as he walked into the corridor. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The sense of being looked down upon felt repulsive, even though it was a feeling he had endured thousands of times. As he walked through the hallway, just in front of his classroom, albeit faint, a sharp voice could be heard. "Gieta is using unorthodox words again." The voice exclaimed. "Oh sorry, but babe, it''s just that Chami..isn''t that okay?" "Well, true, but still, I can bear it if it''s Chami, but otherwise, please control yourself, at least around me, Pleeaassseee babe?" grabbing onto his muscular arm "Okay, okay, babe. Anything for you." The bully and the beauty, they were a famous couple throughout the school. "A strong man deserving a beauty" was how their relationship was defined, which wasn''t a problem otherwise... But it was for Morph. Why he was their entertainment. Morph walked down the moderately crowded hallway lost in his line of thoughts. [...why does it have to be that gorilla? Why did you choose him over me? What does he have that I don''t...] Despite how Morph sounded in his thoughts, he hadn''t been wronged by anyone. Much less there wasn''t any girl who truly looked at him, or even cared about him... He was just delusional. Remember the personality part, this was what it was about. Heni was certainly attention-grabbing, her pout could be deemed downright dangerous for anyone''s heart. Her hair was darker than the darkest night, cascading like a silken waterfall, framing a face with even darker eyes that had the power to drown anyone in their depth. ...at least that was how Morph thought of her. She later became one of the reasons that pushed him to take the extreme actions he did. *** As incompetent as he felt, Morph was an outcast, struggling to fit into a society fixated on success and high achievements. Events unfolded, and Morph, who was generally cowardly, gathered enough courage to stand atop a slope, contemplating suicide. If only that pitiful child had a friend to help him out of his misery, a gentle voice to speak kindness to him... [...bullshit, Morph was a loser, and ''Once a loser, always a loser''.] [Unless a miracle happened, that is... well, fortune or misfortune, boy, it did happen.] --A colorless world, inside the consciousness of Morph-- Numerous memories of Morph''s life were flashing in front of a black, shadowy figure like an aurora. . . . [Tch...] [Nothing to be expected from...] [Now, where are you hiding, boy?] The dark, shadowy figure darkened even more, as if transforming into a black hole. The space surrounding bent and started to get absorbed into the entity. The white canvas turned black, utter darkness, as if the light never existed to begin with. From the shadows emerged a figure, a frail boy likely to be of 11 or 12¡ªMorph. In that strange, dark realm, Morph''s thoughts danced in confusion, entangled in a web of fear of the unknown events unfolding. The figure before him seemed both familiar and enigmatic, like how was he even able to see him clearly despite all that darkness? and the this void like place where nothing could be seen, it was not only unfamiliar, but also unheard of... His mind struggling to comprehend what lay before him. Was this a dream, a hallucination, or something far beyond his understanding? Mustering up whatever courage he could, Morph babbled after hesitating a bit [W...Who are you?] . [Entity: Miracle.] __ End of Chapter __ [2]Whispers for choice Among the fragmented memories of my childhood, there remain vivid recollections of moments spent with my Grandpa... I recall sitting on that old teal-colored bench in the park, where sunlight lingered the longest, imbuing the warmth of the bench with enduring significance in those moments. It was the quietest corner of the park, a place that seemed to convey more meaning than a thousand words. Grandpa and I would sit there until evening, listening to the serenade of the crickets, which remains the most comforting sound even in his absence. It is... just like I''m sitting beside him in those moments, with no worries on my mind. One thing I always seem to remember when I think of him is one of those pleasant evenings when Grandpa looked at me with a warm expression and said, "Morph, there are principles to life. If you follow them, you achieve great things. Being hardworking and punctual in life is the key to success¡ªthere are no shortcuts, no miracles, just the effort one puts into one''s own life." I always wondered why Grandpa said that, sure those were wisdom-filled words, but wasted on a mere 5-year-old. Did he perhaps knew that I would remember it till this day? Was he reluctant to leave me on my own, knowing that there wasn''t much time for him to live? Or was he concerned about my future? Or was it just pity? Not that it matters anymore... Well, whatever it was, Grandpa, it seems like you were proven wrong. There wasn''t much to hard work, and there sure are miracles... [Such grand thoughts he is having about.] The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. --- As the fabric of space seemed to tear apart, a growing terror gripped Morph. The sight before him was beyond belief. He attempted to voice the obvious question, "Am I dead...." only to be struck by a sharp, searing pain in his brain that sent him into a tormenting scream, his thoughts numbing under the intense agony, erasing any notion of death. "....shut up," the mysterious figure snapped, implying annoyance. "Huh? What just happened?" Morph asked, his voice hollow, as the recent memory slipped away from his grasp. "Let me introduce myself.....you little boy can call me ''Sage'' henceforth," Sage said sternly. "Sir Sage..." "Only Sage," cutting off Morph mid-sentence. "Ahh.. okay, so Sage..." "Henceforth, you have three choices," cutting off Morph again. Giving the boy the most intense stare he had ever witnessed, Sage continued, "1. Void, 2. Devour, 3. Combine. Now, Choose." "Ahh.. what..." Morph stammered, his voice trembling. He was caught off guard, utterly bewildered by the situation he found himself in. "FASTER!" a roaring tone shook the very air. "At...leas...." mumbled Morph in fear as he began to collect his thoughts. [Is he... a god? Am I... dead? No... the choices... void... is it... space... devour? What is... not this... no... combine?] Lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, Morph was terrified, on the verge of despair. Standing before an existence too unnatural to believe in, an object of terror, he felt curiosity gnawing at him. Despite the fear that consumed him, driven by an impulse, Morph slowly raised his gaze, making eye contact with the enigmatic Sage. Caught in the gaze of the unknown, Morph''s sanity seemed to drain away as he crumpled to the ground. [No.... nooo..... NO..... what... have I done?..... right, the choice....] Terrified beyond capacity, Morph mumbled out the last thought about the choices given to him. "Com...bine...." blurting out the last thing he heard. With his entire body shaking, Morph was barely able to piece together the word. Upon Morph articulating his choice, Sage showed a slight moment of dissatisfaction, a subtle frown gracing his features. "Granted," Sage stated, and his expression quickly returned to its usual stern composure. "As of now, return," he said in a domineering tone, turning his back toward Morph. Sage''s silhouette disappeared into thin air.
Lying beneath the tree, Morph slowly opened his eyes to the brilliant afternoon sun. Even filtered through the leaves, the sunlight made it a struggle to fully open his eyes. Gradually, his vision adjusted as he slowly rose to his knees eventually standing. Just ahead lay the steep slope of the mountain, walking towards it slowly. He paused at its edge, gazing as far as possible, absorbing the intricate details of the surroundings and the depths of the mountain he had contemplated jumping into just a while ago. With a newfound determination, Morph turned back, his steps slowly moving away from an abyssal disaster, towards what seemed to be ''home''. [ ....Not today.] __ End of The Chapter __ [3]Along the way As the sun dipped below the rugged silhouette of the mountain, Morph trudged wearily along the dusty path that led him homeward. The orange hues of the setting sun bathed the landscape in a fiery glow, casting long, eerie shadows that seemed to dance. He couldn''t help but feel a connection to those shadows, their constant shift and sway as if responding to his emotions¡­ as if calling him¡­ as if wandering souls mocking him of his cowardice¡­ His steps were heavy, burdened not only by the weight of his own existence. As if this overbearing world wasn¡¯t enough¡­ To him expectations of a world that often seemed indifferent. The mountain, a steadfast sentinel in his life, held both the promise of solitude and the echo of his defeat. As he walked, he began to collect his thoughts about the events of the day, each step seemingly echoing his internal contemplation. "[...should I live on?]" "[Maybe I was overreacting. Even if life sucks... no, I''m sure it doesn''t suck that much...]" "[...there are probably, no, there are definitely worse cases than mine...]" "[Is it just about courage? Am I just being pathetic?]" Mesmerized in his thoughts, he walked beneath the last glow before nightfall. Soon, his home came into view¡ªa weathered yet comforting abode that provided a roof over his head. Not extravagant by any means, but enough to house a family of four. Approaching the entrance, Morph was greeted by a familiar figure¡ªhis younger brother Francis, holding a baseball bat. Francis was a young man full of charisma, even from afar one could tell that this guy is confident of whatever he is gonna do just from his firm strides. [If it weren¡¯t for¡­] Morph''s thoughts and words seemed to stumble over each other. "Was it a good game?" he asked with his expression showing a hint of indifference. "Yes, it sure was," Francis replied with a tired joy. "We''re home" Francis and Morph said concurrently as they both entered the house. "Welcome back, dear. Quickly wash up; it''s time for dinner." A pleasant voice greeted them into the house from back in the kitchen preparing for dinner. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "You can go first." "You sure? Well then, off I go." Like a fish gliding with the current, Francis scooted across the narrow corridor toward the bathroom. Pausing at the doorway, he glanced back and nodded to Morph, catching his attention. Without a word, he handed his bat and glove to Morph. "Help me with these," he called out. [¡­am not¡­ am not him] "Sure." with Francis already out of sight. Taking Francis''s belongings with him, Morph climbed the stairs to the second floor. He tossed the items into Francis''s room, conveniently located across from his own, before retreating to his own space. Collapsing into his study table chair, he let out a long sigh, his hands covering his eyes, elbows resting on the table. He was attempting to calm down from whatever had transpired just a few hours ago. Sitting quietly in his cluttered room, where things seemed to have lost their place, he tried solving with his jumbled thoughts. [...I could''ve been dead right now; this world is already indifferent to me.] [¡­they wouldn¡¯t have even cared that much¡­ he wouldn¡¯t let them¡­] Glancing aimlessly to the side, the corner of the room, which could no longer be called cluttered¡ªit was now more like debris. "¡­.Maybe I should read something good to calm my nerves." Morph picked up his favorite comic from the same corner¡ªa story based on an overpowered character that possessed everything one could wish for. ¡­ And as expected, it helped. [Am hungry...]
I sat at the dinner table with the meal already served, feeling grateful that I wouldn''t be bombarded with questions. It appeared that he would conveniently be the center of attention instead, as he often was. As I started eating, I caught on some of the chatter going around. They were chattering about how the match went for Francis, seemingly more focused on him than anything else. Not that I minded¡ªI started devouring everything in front of me, tuning out their conversation. Being lost in thoughts, I didn''t nitpick much about my dislikes in the food, even though the dish contained everything I usually detested, to the point I would rather starve than have them. [It''s okay... whatever is done can''t be changed... I have to concentrate on the future.] With these thoughts lingering, I cleared the table, doing the dishes, I retreated straight to my room.
"...If it wasn''t for my last-minute save, we would have really lost," Francis exclaimed, pride in his eyes as he concluded his daily match report. "Oh, my baby is so reliable, isn''t he?" Mother interjected with a smile on her face, the kind of smile you''d expect from a proud parent. "You make me proud, son. You know, when I was your age..." and like a classic father, he joined in, perhaps to flaunt his resemblance to his son, fully aware of the evidence of his own great deeds. "Oh dear, we''ve already heard your ¡®youthful tales¡¯, let our boy shine now, It¡¯s his time." she added, cutting off her husband. "Okay, okay. I was just saying. Anyways, I''m proud of you, son. You should learn something from your little brother¡­" Father noted, realizing that Morph had already left. "Huh, he was here just now." "Seems brother finished early," Francis suggested. "Usually, he takes quite a while," Mother pondered out loud, glancing at his part of the dining table. "Did he do the dishes too? Well, that''s good," she noted, seeing that the dishes were already washed and placed back where they were supposed to be. "That kid, at least he should have told us he was done..." "Are you being serious right now, dear?" "I mean, like a signal or something like that, you know..." "Mom, Dad, it''s a good day. Let''s not dwell on the details too much." ¡°Right, honey. Our child is growing up so fast, dear." "Haha, whose son is he?"...
Lying on my bed, I gazed outside the window. The stars, the trees¡ªthe thought of possibly losing the ability to look at the night sky made him uncomfortable. Worse was that he could still hear his family laughing among themselves¡­without a care or knowledge of what their child was going through¡­ A tear rolled down from Morph¡¯s reddish-brown eyes [¡­they don¡¯t care¡­] Morph burst into tears, the room absorbed whatever quiet whimpers Morph let out¡­ Enough to keep him wide awake for quite a long time, and so sleep came¡ªwithout any prior warning, it embraced Morph, carrying him into slumber without a care for the world. As sleep, with its tranquil embrace, banished all disturbances and thoughts, he found peace of mind at last. Surely the boy was very courageous today¡­
Yawn Stretching his arms to their limits. As he sat up to grab his glasses, just to realize that his surroundings were a little different than they should have been. For example, He couldn''t find his spectacles... and the futon felt softer? __ End of The Chapter __ [4]A Beginning The wall in front of him seemed utterly unfamiliar, and he could see his surroundings with clarity¡­ [Wait, I can see things around me clearly, without my glasses??!!] Before he could entertain the idea of ''suddenly'' acquiring his eyesight back, his eyes noticed something. "The wall?" he muttered, his voice laced with a subtle note of surprise after taking a good look at what seemed to be a ''gold-embroidered'' wall. "What the¡­whe.r..e¡­?" he struggled to speak, his words faltering as he began to notice never-seen-before details in the room. He turned his head frantically, his disbelief growing with each new sight. [the f*ck¡­] flabbergasted, his eyes feeling like they might pop out with every turn of his head. [was I on a vacation or something? Some relative''s house?] his mind raced through every possible possibility. Hastily scanning the room for his glasses out of habit, even though there might not be any practical use for them anymore..., but to his surprise, he found that he was lying on a king-sized bed, and Instead of his glasses, there was a stool. Wow Morph found himself mesmerized into those curvy legs of the stool¡­ [Now what do we have here, hello gorgeous¡­] [wait] sudden realization. [No¡­nonono it can''t be, they aren''t rich enough to have this type of woodwork on a stole much less such wall!!] a contradiction to his previous assumption made him hold his head in frustration. Thinking again, [Maybe that, yes, maybe I''m on a trip with my friends (that he doesn¡¯t really have any)¡­ or family¡­!!] [No they are hella'' cheap! As if they will, wait, then why hell am in this luxurious looking shit that hard to come by even on the television??!!] another realization. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.His thoughts turned pessimistic as nothing else made sense to him [Kidnapping??!! no, looking at the room they already rich enough, not like my parents will even be able to pay...] [Human trafficking??!! But isn¡¯t this room too fancy for that? what are they gonna traffic me to?] hugging himself as the thought went through his mind. [Ain''t way am selling, unless he not in right state of mind...] It was hard to believe that he could be this logical and realistic, many people have hard time digesting this harsh reality after all, for example Morph, well most of the time, which was not the case today. [NO, IT CAN''T BE... What''s left? Organs? NO, NO, NO! I cherish every bit of my body... NOOOOOOOOO! ] Frantically scanning his surroundings, searching for any possible hiding spot, even a rat hole, his confusion only grew deeper. After moments of panic, he found solace in the reflection of a mirror... A robust figure of standing on bed in his pajamas, with diamond print... terrible taste I would say¡­ But the appearance substituted for whatever that seemed flaw, and those muscles at the top of that... even that terrible print couldn''t hide them¡­his hands moving toward his face unknowingly¡­soft¡­smooth¡­ The Wow 2 Isekai? Suddenly, a word echoed in my mind. It was a relatively new concept in the world of comics, but given his nature, he was familiar with it... [Is it what I think it is? not a dream, right?] [ ..should I pinch? ] bringing his hand near his cheek.. he took a big chunk of that flawless skin into pinch. No pain [It''s a damn dream... What did I expect?] maybe there was something to expect after all. He chastised himself for being so easily fooled, for being... this simple minded. But this dream... it was still really very...different? It was just too real, and he was able to think straight, maybe he got a talent for hyper-realistic dreams? Normally his dreams made no sense like him turning into huge green monster or flying in the dark sky with cardboard wings, if it was not absurd enough, all this taking place when he was chasing after an girl with legit wings on her back(white)(basically an angel). After contemplation, he collected himself and sat back onto the bed. [¡­If it''s a dream can''t I do anything here?] The Inevitable had come¡­ An idea emerged from the deepest part of m,.. his brain¡­ The evilest grin emerged from this very face that could be said to be of an angel. He was thinking of same thing that every boy his age would think... [hehehehe... ] But his excitement from daydreaming was short-lived. Knock Knock "Master Laurance" a mature voice came from behind the white gold laced door "The breakfast is being served.." __ End of The Chapter __ [5]Yellow "F**k" Morph muttered, his voice barely audible even to himself. His state of mind was frenzied, and he found himself completely naked... (let''s ignore diamond-print, yellow thing) That voice... damn.(It was deepest voice he ever heard) For a moment, Morph''s mind went completely blank, until he snapped back to reality. [No, what? Am I going to die? Should I jump out of the window? But wasn''t this a dream, what if it really isn''t, it feels so real damn!] he was having second thoughts on moments notice. Examining his appearance, especially that yellow diamond print, he tried to reassure himself which was obviously ineffective. But still he was able to give himself false courage. [No, it''s just a... dream, right? A dream.] His laughter was slightly forced as he continued [What am I afraid of? It''s just a dream. Haha, hahaha... It''s a dream, just a little dream.] But as the silence settled in, he decided to face his situation, or maybe face his dream? [I should face it; what''s the worst that could happen? Not like I would die?...right?] With newfound resolve, he marched toward the door, chest puffed out (It was naturally like that). Inhaling deeply, Morph grabbed the doorknob as tightly as he could and pulled the door open rapidly. Behind the door stood an old man, appearing surprised from how suddenly the door opened. Morph studied the old man''s face, focusing on every minute detail he could perceive. He had white hair, a standard office haircut, and a Balboo-style beard, one could tell that he must been a handsome young man in his youth for his still oh-so-manly face. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The man quickly regained his composure in reaction and slightly bowed. "Master Laurance, the food is getting col..." Morph''s heart raced at the sudden pause in the man''s sentence. [Am I caught?] his face looked as if his soul will leave his body anytime. He joined his hands to the old man, ready fell on his knees and plead for his life. However, the man was not looking at Morph. He was still bowing his head towards Morph but looking elsewhere. Following the old man''s line of sight, Morph tried to find what had caught his attention. Their gazes finally met at the same point. Yellowish... diamond-print... trunks. "Huh?" "Ah," the old man regained his composure, "Yes, please be there on time, Sir Laurance. It will be a busy day, and we have an important drill today." "O... okay?" caught in confusion. "Then, I will be taking my leave, sir," giving a polite bow before turning to leave. step step step As the man walked away, Morph couldn''t discern if the pounding sound he heard was his own heart racing or if it was the footsteps of the old man. [That man... it could have been dangerous.]
[but...IT''S WAY TOO REALISTIC...] Morph pinched his arm again out of instinct. "Ouch!!" [Pain?.. it''s hurting?... It can''t be... nonono, this isn''t it... let me try again.] He pinched his arm once more. "Ouch!" [It''s...not a dream?] Frenzied, Morph looked around, desperately seeking a way out. [WhatDoIDoNow!?WhatDoIDoNow!?..] Caught in his overflowing emotions like a wild animal in a trap, he was trying to escape the baffling reality. --- [Calm..] [Calm down, Morph....] Knowing there was nothing that could be done in the given situation, Morph began to calm down, but not before half an hour passed away. [Think, Morph, think...] [What to do...] [Seek help?... Flee?...] [???] Just ending up with more confusion... [Yes, the situation...] [Keller: ''the first rule is to be aware.''] Recalling a dialogue from one of the comics he had devoured in his lifetime, Morph embarked on a keen analysis of his bewildering surroundings. [So, this is a bed...a big bed] [This... gorgeous...damn not again] [..yellow?] [....] If he can''t make any sense of his surrounding he should search the around for more information, and try finding an escape route. I seemed dangerous to him at first but, after recalling the old man has shown him, it seemed that he was his servant which might as well mean that it is safe for him to move around a bit. [But what if they find out that I''m not him?!] As Morph''s thoughts once again started spiraling into madness, his eyes landed on a wardrobe. [Gully:"I shall be him"] Yet another realization... Rushing over, he attempted to choose the most suitable attire for the occasion, something that he, no, what this person named Laurance would have worn. [What would have you done dear sir?] __ End of The Chapter __ [6]Ladies in palace The turning pages caused a delicate, crumpling sound, fingers elegantly drifting across the lines. "Interestingly enough, he is the perfect image that... a silver spoon should have..." "I agree, perhaps of the worse kind..." Cutting her off mid-sentence "That is what the rumors say..." "...yes, but there ought to be some truth if they are that widely spread..." "Emily." "My apologies, young lady." "...It''s fine, but perhaps that is something that is to be taken note of..." "Understood." "How long?" "About 30 minutes, young lady." Black eyes stared toward Emily, clearly in displeasure, taken aback, slightly bowing down as much her surrounding space allowed her; Emily quickly blurted out, "My apologies, Miss Elizabeth." Elizabeth sighed deeply at the reaction, "Never mind, I have left you with father for too long I guess...Anyways, it makes it 62 minutes in total." "Yes, Miss" "A golden gate..." A black Veritas Vitesse elegantly cruised through the golden gates, revealing a grand, immaculate white palace set in the distance. The contrast was so striking that the palace appeared almost foreign against its pristine white backdrop. "Blimey!!" Emily''s eyes sparkled as she took in the luxury of the place. "The book remains unread, Emily," her eyes looking forward held a deep meaning. Quickly regaining her composure, Emily responds, "Understood Miss Elizabeth." [What is there to be so amused about...] Aurora Palace was more than a regal estate; it stood as a symbol, heralding the dawn of a new era. Signifying the ''beginning of light'', it boldly and distinctly marked the difference in class, setting the standard for opulence and superiority for those who resided within. And this idea just didn''t sit well with her. [Extravagance...]
"Please this way, I will be leading you to the waiting room," the servant said, guiding the two ladies toward a luxurious chamber. "Please take a seat, what would you like have?" "No need, please notify your master of our arrival," Emily replied. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "Ah, the master is¡ª" the servant suddenly paused looking toward the door from which he just entered through with the young ladies. Just the next moment, an old man entered answering the question on his behalf "The young master is currently having breakfast. I ask for your understanding." gesturing the servant to leave. The room fell silent. Emily''s nervousness was raising by every second going by, with other two people in room having their eyes locked with each other. "It is a great honor to be in presence of Sir Dugg" exclaimed Elizabeth with a slight bow. "You are the esteemed guest of my master. Please, do not put this old man to shame." bowing back. The silence 2 [Are they doing it on purpose???!!!] as Emily''s complexion began pale. "Is..is there a way to meet Sir Laurance early, the matter at hand is urgent..." this time Emily breaking the silence. "Please be understanding¡ª" "I insist" Elizabeth stated interrupting the old Dugg. This time the silence didn''t last long. "...Please wait for a moment." old Dugg exited the chamber coming back in few moments. "Please follow me to the dining room" leading the two ladies "have you had your breakfast young ladies?" "Not yet" Elizabeth remarked. ", and for this young miss?" as Dugg turned to Emily. "ye..yes, but I can eat salad." to which Emily flushed. "huhuhu, Miss Emily does not need to be this hard on herself" "I am not..." Emily turned redder out of frustration. [Kyaa! Sir Dugg know my name!] with stars twinkling within her. Elizabeth nodded to Emily gesturing her to calm down. After a few turns they arrived at doors of the dining room. "We have arrived" exclaimed old Dugg while gesturing the doorkeeper to open the door. [It''s finally the time] Elizabeth straightened her back even more. The majestic doors, adorned with intricate gold trim, swung open, revealing a vast dining room bathed in a soft, dim light. With curtains covering every window in the room, it seemed nothing less. "Please take your seats," he gestured gracefully, prompting the servants to assist the ladies. In agreement, the ladies settled into the plush chairs at the near end of the expansive dining table. Before them, a banquet of delicacies adorned the table, each emitting its own enticing aroma. The dishes were presented on fine bone china, matching to the opulence of the palace¡ªwhite and golden, which the only color in the whole palace. [Just how much does he like this combination?] "Please feel free to ring the bell if you require anything," Dugg stated before discreetly exiting the dining room. [...Wasn''t he having breakfast?] Elizabeth surveyed the apparently vacant room. [...Wasn''t Sir''s intention to bring us here to meet Laurance?] "Umm,... Miss Elizabeth?" "Yes I know Emily..." clearly annoyed. "Should I call them back?" "No need," she replied, her eyes furrowing in thought.
[Are they?... No, there is no way... why would they?...but, what if they are indeed trying to ignore me...] "This Laurance is..." Elizabeth stopped mid-sentence, noticing a curtain fluttering in the wind. It was peculiar because the others weren''t moving, indicating that the window was open... She glanced toward Emily, her eyes narrowing as she gestured toward the same direction. There, amidst the delicate dance of the curtain, was a subtle silhouette, hinting the presence of someone else besides themselves. [I...couldn''t detect the presence...] Elizabeth was now in a trance, from likely being in a ''caught red-handed badmouthing superior'' situation. Emily, on the other hand, was sweating out of fear of the unknown entity. Somehow mustering up courage, Emily took a deep breath, uttered, "Who..whose..whose there?" __ End of The Chapter __ [7]Being Bold
In the hushed stillness of the room where Elizabeth and Emily are seated, an unknown entity is keeping tabs on them from the shadows!!! A mystery unknown lurking in the shadows left Emily trembling with fear and Elizabeth frozen!!! What choices will they make in the face of the unknown?!! How will this entity affect their destinies?!!
WILL THEY BE ABLE TO MAKE IT OU...Duh, of course they will... "Is that you, Sir Laurance?!" Elizabeth''s sudden shout made Emily jump in surprise. With a pause the shadow unveiled itself by drawing the curtain aside. [Elizabeth: Does he use light mode or what?!]
slurp slurp [Elizabeth: ...is he doing it on purpose?] Knowing her, Emily was facing terror of what was being hidden behind that straight face of hers. [Emily: If Sir Laurance notices, he might take it as...NO!! with his personality he will take it as offense!! Master will spare young lady, leaving me behind to shoulder this burden alone!! Oh God, I have to stop young lady or am good as dead!] She was not listening... "Miss" putting bit more force in her voice this time. "YES" Elizabeth irrupted. [Laurance: AM I CAUGHT? AM I CAUGHT? AM I CAUGHT? X99] clatter "Our young lady didn''t intend to..." Emily''s narration slows down to Laurance cocking his head backwards, locking eyes with her. Golden eyes met hers, sweat, crawled down. Chills down her spine. "In the presence of a dragon" ¨C that was her situation, or at least that was how it felt to her. Those eyes seemed to ignore her existence, even as they looked directly at her. "I understand" said out in a low, firm tone, yet enough to echo in the whole hall. [This... A warning...] Emily thought as she contracted every muscle in her body to calm her tremble.
[Elizabeth: He.. didn''t even bother to look my way...] Anger took over her, so much that she could erupt like a volcano any time...folding her hands into punches, this fiery young lady wanted to duke it out with this man in front. If not for Emily holding her down by her arm, it would, of course, have happened. Noticing Emily''s trembling legs, those puppy eyes and obviously that warmth that was pressed onto her arm, her heart skipped a beat, now she was finally calm for eternity. Ahem..I was rude, Sir Laurance" she stated apologetically with slight bow of head. and with a pause, it was accepted "It''s alright." Hearing the response Elizabeth turned to Emily with a nod, her face saying Everything under control. {Stress tolerance +5} This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
"As I have stated before, I have come here to discuss something very important," states Elizabeth, continuing with a pause "This job if done properly will have good impact on the economy of the country and will greatly benefit both our families. And I think that your expertise will play crucial role in the job." As this some sort of a ''presentation'' ended, the room fell silent, with every eye in the room on Laurance. [...] [Beep, What the hell do they expect me do after hearing that??!! She didn''t even tell me what the ''job'' is!!] [...] He gave up thinking. sip [I wish this tea never ends...] It was already nearing its end... "May I pour some more tea, master?" Dugg comes to aid. [Thank you old man! Thank you! I don''t know your name, but may God bless every generation of your family!!!] The two ladies were baffled at this sight, of course the matter on hand concerned their mutual benefit, but also it was something to make history. Elizabeth was first to respond, she also started drinking the honey lemon tea specially brewed for her only for Emily to follow. [Thank God now they won''t be talking for a while] Laurance relaxed a bit and finally took the cup off his thin lips for the first time after entering the meeting room, but, to his misfortune, this action was taken as inception for announcing the decision he has come to. ...And the ladies placed the teacups back on the rustic table as an expression to empathize the importance of whatever was to be said. [...f*ck are they copying me?!] Which they of course weren''t doing... [BEEP BEEP BEEP X999] Laurance took a glace at Dugg standing right beside him (with minimal movement of head), as if asking for benediction... Dugg being a gentleman of the gentlemen notices this(but interpreting as a signal), as his most reliable aide, showed the saving of no less than a miracle to Laurance... "Lady Elizabeth, what you have said is of a great importance indeed," expresses Dugg, taking all the attention directed toward Laurance, adding "thus, it is something that should be thought over properly considering all short and long term impacts. But I do assure you that, the Pradhart family will be showing full support and will also be participating in this event... After all this also concern the future of humanity." [sobs sobs Oh great savior!!!] exhales heavily Elizabeth stands up with clear disappointment on her face. "Guess there are many other things to consider on your end, which I respect, but, please be quick in the decision making, we will be taking our leave now." said Elizabeth before turning toward the door leading to corridor. "Please escort the Ladies out" Dugg gestures a servant, which the servant does. a minute passes two minutes pass three...four...five... Dugg was still standing there...beside Laurance... A thorny road ahead for sure.... __ End of The Chapter __ [8]Blur? [...] [.....] The never ending tea wish 2 Laurance''s hands begin to tremble, with the extreme pressure from Dugg, who was standing just beside him, emanating a menacing presence (in his imagination),.. Was He Caught? [Dugg: Young master seem angry...] "Would you like some wine, young master??" [....] nods [Dugg: hmm...really angry I suppose.] This situation wasn''t new to Dugg; it was something unpredictable that could happen at any time in their house. As always, Laurance was ''acting up'', or at least that''s how this wise old man usually justified these quite similar situations. [Dugg: At least it''s not another tantrum...] clearly relieved by the fact that at the very least, Laurance wasn''t punching holes through walls... clap "Please bring the wine." signaling the servants which were already on the standby. A moment later a young lady enters the room with wine in hands, a young brunette it was, formal clothing like that of an secretary which resembled that of Dugg''s, one could tell that she has something under her by the way she walked. "Shall I, young master?" she asked, slightly bowing toward Laurance with wine in hand, a gesture asking for permission to pour it into the glass. She stood there, ready for the next command. [...] "No" Laurance muttered after a few moments of what seemed to be serious contemplation. Carefully the young lady placed the bottle onto the table and backs away toward Dugg, eventually standing beside him. pss- she whispers -what is up with young master? Angry- Dugg whispers back -Ladies from Veritas family came asking for assistance. Angry?..At what? -she asked back in a whisper again. But the answer didn''t come, Dugg slightly frowned at Isabella, face saying ''How in hell would I know?''. To the fact that no one can actually predict what Laurance might do next, not even Dugg who has more or less seen him grow into a adult from a baby. [Bell: ...fair.] gulp [Bell: Not that we can read master''s mind...] gulp gulp [Bell: And she even raised her voice in the dining room...] Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. gulp gulp gulp [Bell: ...wait, what is this sound..? !!!!] The wine bottle which she put on table was now empty. [Bell: DID MASTER DRINK IT ALL??!!] Rapid whispers Master drank it all!! Dugg replied I know. Rapid inquiring Why didn''t sir stop master?? Dugg whispers back I Are you listening to yourself? Why would a servant stop master? [Bell: ...fair point] Meanwhile there was a short bickering, Laurance, or in this situation shall we say Morph? Graduated from ''teenhood'' (if there is a word like that) like a real should!! Laurance''s vision was getting blur, he was definitively in the condition called ''drunk'', which came for reason relatively faster. Anyways, let''s raise our glasses in unison and acknowledge this young man, CHEERS. (Author leaves chapter in-between and goes off to party!!)(joke!!)
[I feel hot, no, more like warm, yes warm, nice.] [what is this noise? Hmm, what are they whispering about?] [and without me?? First, they scare me, and now they talk behind my back? Meanies!] That is how this young man got drunk, don''t do this at ho-- Ahem, Laurance who was drunk got infuriated, with his newfound courage, there was barely anyone that could stop him from doing what he was going to do. "Silence!!" he shouted, starling everyone in palace, and obviously, it was a sign that something may really go wrong today. However, Dugg being reliable as ever came forward, bringing tears in the eye of every servant witnessing this act of bravery! Dugg marched forward, onto the battlefield of words, and said "Young master, may this lowly servant bring you to your room?" But,... there was no answer! They all knew what it meant, It was a war that couldn''t be won from the beginning! Another eloquent move by Dugg! "Young master--" Parried! "An absurd situation!!" the wine did wonders... [Dugg:!!!] [Bell:!!!] [Servant 1:!!!] [Servant 2:!!!] ... [Servant n:!!!] Laurance rose from his seat! Marched towards the window, and there he stood in that one legendary pose... legs shoulder wide, arms at the back, one hand locking the other! The great commando stance!! "Suffocating!" He shouts with annoyance. He raises his hand and pushes the window aside (breaking it into smithereens) and jumps out!! From the second floor??!! __ End of The Chapter __ [9]The Capturing Dugg looks back at the servants and nods his head signaling...the hun...pursuit begins! Everyone in the room vanished without a trace, leaving behind only Dugg and Isabella which stood there firm and unmoving as if this was natural to them. "Just what happened?" Bell inquired. "Seems young master let himself be intoxicated." Dugg replied calmly, with his eyes clearly distracted by broken shards of glass. "Is that possible?" she asked being clearly intrigued by the ''skill level'' of Laurance. Dugg, dumbfounded by the question, exclaimed, "Is that of any importance?" "No..." mutters as she shies away. [This child...] He thought while shaking his head in annoyance before disappearing into thin air like the others did. Bell on the other side was saddened being dejected by Dugg making the saddest face she was capable of. "With skill" the silhouette hanging on the window shouts, answering the question which was asked by the saddened young lady. And who was it? The gentleman of gentlemen, the one and only Dugg. How could he leave such cute girl behind feeling all down? "Now come, we have many things to take care of!" vanishing into thin air again. "Yes sir!!" Bell proclaims being all cheered up. Dugg is so manly indeed.
"[hehehehehe]" "[such fresh air!]" "Wow a flower! Nice!" Laurance was having a while of his lifetime... Only if he knew there were 6 pursuers on his back,...Well not like he will care, now, will he? -Target spotted, 296o north-west from the s-point. -Received! Implement protocol Boomerang. -Affirmative! Deploying code 1,2 to right 3,4 to left. At call. The group split into three parts right, center and left. -Taken, as situation. Both the sides of Palace were covered with thick forests, though both sides had high walls but there were also gates which were opened in spring. And it was currently spring, and coincidently that gate was exactly where Laurance was headed. "Wheeww" he was enjoying it. -Target at r-point joint -Proceed. rustle rustle The group hid in the bushes near the gate leading to the forest, hoping to intercept Laurance midway. "Oh! A beetle!" But to their misfortune Laurance spotted a beetle at one of the trees deep in forest thanks to his really sharp eyesight. "Am gonna catch you!" he announces, and begins to sprint toward the forest at some abnormally high speeds; those which were humanly impossible. -Target escaped! -Tail! Numerous silhouettes followed behind Laurance but were unable to catch up. "Ohh!! what big beetle!" Laurance excited without any care of location, at least 60 feet off the ground he was... Shuush!! quietly he whispers to himself positioning his hands to catch the beetle, "GOT YA!!" he shouts as he leaps towards the beetle. squash The beetle was no more... "Huh?! where''s the beetle?" The culprit asks himself to look at the bark which was strangely patched green on certain area. "Eww! My hands!" noticing his hands that were of same color now, covered in some slimy gooey stuff. Disgusting some would say, but it was a beautiful color. This situation was enough to distract his mind from his legs, which were holding onto the tree for him to hang from where he was, causing them to loosen. Thud Thud Down he falls, gliding through the air, occasionally colliding with branches on the way down. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. [wow, slow fall...] clearly overjoyed and unaffected by the branches. For others it might as well as if life flashing before their eyes, but for Laurance? He perceived this fall as something similar to finishing blow in fighting games, in slow motion. -Target descends! -Close Retreat! [Let''s Go!! Eagle drop baby!!] Laurance twisted his body into a cocoon, unfolding himself as his head points toward the ground with his leg leading the momentum. A front flip; he extends his right leg with the momentum from the flip to land delivering a drop kick to the ground. But maybe the momentum was unexpectedly more than when he practiced it at park... BOOM! Laurance''s kick tore apart the earth into a big dust cloud, and the impact sent him flying. -Team right off! -Target location -Marked! -Mend, Main initiated. -Cleared! Those in radius of dust cloud was more than just lightly injured, thus retreated. Now only Dugg and Bell were tracking Laurance. "So much! Dirt!!" Bell complains about harsh circumstances her master was making her go through, she now needs to wash her clothes again. "I will be moving ahead, follow along." Dugg commands Bell as he once again vanished. [Bell: Not like we will be able to catch up to him...Oh god! Laurance you can be such a pain!...]
An expansive office, bookshelves at all three sides of room expect the wall with door, crimson carpet covered the warm wooden floor. In the middle of it all was a polished desk with numerous documents and stationery was placed, behind it was a big leather chair on which a large figure was seated. knock knock Elizabeth opened the wooden door just enough for her head to pass through. "May we enter, father?" she asked in a firm tone. The man who was writing something paused and cocked his brow over his spectacles toward this girl at his door. Ignoring her, he continues his work. Elizabeth witnessing this entered the room without hesitation with Emily following her from behind. "Father, we came back with a positive reply." she states politely. He let out quiet "Hmm" in response. Hearing the expected "Then I will take my leave" Elizabeth left the room leaving Emily behind. Making sure Elizabeth left "Reporting, the deal wasn''t well received by ''high subject'', sir Dugg responded in subject''s place." Emily stated. "Dugg? Was it in favor?" He asked back while continuing what he was doing. "It was passive response, sir" He stopped writing listening to this response, he stared back at Emily as he took his spectacles off. "And is this what I should expect?" in a stern tone. Emily froze, "I..I apologiz-" "Not that anything can be done, now." interjecting Emily. "Sir, yes sir" She left the office after giving a salute. He leaned back on his chair lost in thoughts. [Is that how you will play it?] He bent forward and dialed a number on the telephone. ring ring ring click "We will act passive." He said and hung up right after. [You asked for it...]
On the other side of telephone was a dark room, with a lighted candle on the bedside table as the only source of light. "Heard it?" one of the men in the dark said. "He won''t move whatever move we make." another voice said. "Only if we don''t touch them in the process that is, hehe" another one quipped. "Stay put" a feminine voice interrupted all the others "Get rid of it." slash slash "Done," another one voiced his conviction. "Though, how did he know dead guy''s phone number, how did he know that we were assassinating this one tonight?" he remarked, puzzled. "I would have been God if I knew." feminine voice replied, "We better stay alert." warning her teammates. "Agreed!" all said in unison. __ End of The Chapter __ [10]Acquisitions rustle rustle The entire forest was covered with quiet movements, leaving nothing, but gale as the only proof of its occurrence. [WOW, fast!!] mused Laurance of his astonishing new speeds, he couldn''t get used to it mentally, but physically it was as if it was natural. [I''m even faster than a train!! LET''S GO FASTER!] testing his speeds with child-like curiosity. Boom!! The air seemed to bend as if it was boiling, tearing with a sonic boom. [Yeah!!] More speed meant more inertia to overcome, thus making it hard to change directions. As Laurance''s speed increased his turns became steepened curves barely brushing off trees by narrower gaps. Soon Laurance started bumping into trees, stones or whatever obstacle came his way. "Oh tree!" as he destructively went through a tree. At speed above that of sound itself is nearly impossible to control, though one could try to break with his legs, but the inertia alone could turn a flat car into a ball in moment if one tries to stop it with front wheels much less a bipedal species with legs longer than that of arms. One might think of grabbing onto a tree to reduce speed and stop, but of course, the arms would be lost, as the speed of sound is 343 meters per second. The record for the fastest skydiving is about 373.6 mph, and Laurance was going faster than that¡ªa speed at which a normal person falling to the ground would surely be in pieces. Baam! One couldn''t ascertain the extent of the destruction. The scene resembled a train crashing into the trees, tearing them apart and creating a new path in the woods. Eventually, Laurance lost his balance to a wrong step, which left him rolling on the ground for a few meters and stopping only in an unusual position, with his rear up and head planted. [shit, that.. that was...Awesome!] He felt nothing, it seemed like an adventurous dream to him. He again started running to make his amusing moment last longer, breaking down everything and anything in his path. The feeling was as if he was flying... or bulldozing at very high speed? Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.He jumped to heighten this feeling, and in response his body let him jump higher than trees. "Hey, see that?" a husky tone seeing this. "It will be easier than we thought, hehe" A boy that seemed barely 10 years old said. Looking at this whole ''show'' from afar the woman in the group addressed "Target spotted, take positions, there are few more to taken care of behind target."
[Young master just where are you?] Dugg was worried. He could have taken it as any other day of Laurance playing the wicked, but today was different, something, there was something really wrong with this situation. After all, even though Laurance was never predictable, but he was at least smart. He knew to how to own up his actions and their results. But this situation, it felt like aimless actions and that wasn''t like him at all. -Sir! -Say -We found traces... The communication protocols weren''t followed, this meant serious issue. Dugg answered back- Arriving at location.
"The trails point toward mountain range" Bell whispered. "Should we follow first?" a man in black asked. Looking at every servant nodding in agreement, Bell commanded "Follow the trails." Whoosh The entire group vanished.
Dugg rushed through the trees jumping from one tree to another as if gliding. [Just there...] Dugg was hurried as the situation seemed urgent. Dugg wanted to see Laurance as soon as possible to assure his wellbeing. Dugg jumped onto the largest tree in the vicinity and squatted onto a sturdy branch by holding his weight with one hand. Leaping into air. The location was still far away, but as he flew closer, he was able to spot that one distinct spot, which only became more visible. His eyes widened in shock as he made out the scene. Arriving at the scene, Dugg''s eyes darted around in disbelief. Dugg''s heart sank as he surveyed the scene, seeing the bodies of many of his own people, including Bell. He bit his lip so hard that it bled, trying to control the tears from streaming down his face. [This wasn''t the time to be weak] he thought as he composed himself. He couldn''t find Laurance among them. [I have to find young master] resolving himself with the last hope he had.
Morph jolted from his sleep. [...] [...Shit.] __ End of The Chapter __ [11]New thoughts It was a rare day; Morph today had woken before his alarm rang. "haa..." a silent sigh escaped out of his disorganized self still flat on his bed, [..seems missing] a feeling of longing swept through his mind. It was truly distinct thought that he would usually not entertain, rather it was the first time he had felt like this, a very unique feeling that might as well be felt for last time. The room was dark implying that it was far from daybreak, it wasn''t the time for him to wake up. With this logic, Morph turned to a side and gently closed his eyes, seeking to slip back into the realm of dreams. ... ... [..can''t] but was unable to descend into slumber. Tossing and turning in his futon, literally rolling on floor just in few moments, hoping to catch just an extra glimpse of sleep. Though his efforts were deemed futile, it was evident that there wasn''t even a bit of extra drowse left in him so much that it felt uncomfortable to sleep anymore. To his defeat, Morph slowly turned in the direction of his alarm-clock, trying to make out the time in the dark. The longer shadow pointing somewhat downwards and the smaller shadow directing toward the place where four should be positioned on the clock; thus nearly 4:30 in the morning. It was still too early to wake up. Morph, just as per his nature kept laying on his bed, with conviction of waiting it out till the first rays shone through his window. But also, as per his nature he had ailment to get bored of things easily, supposedly they were not of his absolute liking. He simply lacked the patience to wait it out till the dawn. And so, he gently pushed himself out of bed, his mind lingering on thoughts of what to do next. It was perhaps the first time he had risen so early in the morning as far back as he could recall. [maybe mom is awake?] he pondered expecting that he might as well get some breakfast sooner, as he couldn''t think of any other possible plan to go forward with.
[They''re all sleeping] he thought as he quietly closed the door to his parent''s bedroom. [well, should I wash up for now] tiptoeing back toward the bathroom upstairs as to not wake his parents up. It was also his first time to wash up before everybody else in the house which was no less than an achievement to him. A subtle smile crept across his face, clearly revealing his joy at the small victory. Morph stood in front of mirror as brushed his teeth, ideal time to think about life or admiring one''s beauty. Choosing the first, he started contemplating on his day before the night. [I shouldn''t have listened to those bastards, I should have known that they would do me no good... those snake-like bastards] clenching his teeth in anger, and soon realizing he was punishing his toothbrush for what those ''bastards'' were to be held responsible for, thus letting his poor toothbrush go. [I should.. distance myself from there group as much as possible.] If one could read Morph''s mind from birth, they would instantly recognize that, for once in his life, he was making a right and well-thought-out decision, a departure from his usual recklessness. rumble rumble his tummy called him out of hunger. [...Maybe, I should make something to eat] deciding his next priority as soon as he finished washing up. It was necessity to fill his stomach after washing up as it was part of his routine, but to his dismay, mother was asleep. And so, he had to prepare the food by himself. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. He walked toward the kitchen downstairs, contemplating what he should serve himself along the way. Daydreaming about crafting an epicurean delicacy, as he often would see on television. But soon enough he found himself lowering his culinary expectations, acknowledging his current level of culinary skills. Not knowing what to really come up with, he decided that it would be wise to make his breakfast according to contents of the refrigerator. [Bread, butter, eggs, milk...] most things in the kitchen demanded a skill level higher than his own. It was fortunate that he possessed some basic cooking knowledge, even though most of the time, he ended up messing it up ¡ª either burning the dish or birthing something entirely inedible. [well, an egg sandwich and milk I suppose...] He gathered the necessary ingredients and started cooking immediately. Soon, the sizzle of oil could be heard as Morph fried the eggs, while simultaneously heating the milk to a mild temperature on another stove. Till then at least nothing bad happened and so he prayed it would be the case in future as well. Fortunately, his prayers were answered as a serving of two fried eggs, toasted bread, and warm milk was placed on the dining table. While it may not have been perfect, at least it was edible. [...bland] Morph let out a small sigh but continued to eat the food, unwilling to bother getting up from his chair to fetch salt, especially since he wasn''t quite sure where it was. Might as well his little quest for salt could potentially become a topic among his other family members, specifically his mother as they all excel at hearing, but this would likely be the case if he made a mistake that resulted in any loud noise. Though, it could also be seen as excess effort by Morph who was inherently lazy, thus an annoying errand which he would rather avoid doing. [...better than nothing] he thought to himself, chomping down the food. [It...wasn''t that bad...] nodding to himself as he made his way toward kitchen sink, washing the utensils he used. "What now" he thought aloud. He stood there lost in his thoughts. After a while... "Should I visit there?"
A man stood in a white void, his eyes reflecting different colors even in the achromatic room. "So, you did it?" A voice resonated through the entire dimension, but one couldn''t possibly tell where it was coming form. The standing man remained silent, showing no expression on his face, as if in a state of absolute concentration. The voice continued "So, what will the ''key'' do now? You won''t be there. Not that it was a valid ''key'', not that I will intervene...oh Sage" ending with a teasing tone. The man in the middle finally reacted, "No." "...are you saying that it does not concern you or are telling me to stop calling it invalid?" A little sigh could have escaped the mouth of the sage as he replied to this very annoyingly talkative guest of his "Both." "Hmm... you care for it don''t you?" the voice tried to tease the man again, but this time the response didn''t come back. After an indefinite amount of time the voice let out a heavy sigh "No fun..." after a long pause it continued "you know that I''m here to escort you, right?" Again, the sage ignored the voice. "...you should bid your farewell now, don''t you think?" the voice commented. "..." "I hope you can be happy..."The sage disappeared immediately after finishing his sentence. "Damn" the voice jolted "that is the longest sentence I have heard him say." "Wait, he left me behind..." __ End of The Chapter __ [12.1]Prevalence Bodies covered the expanse as far as one''s eyes could see. swoosh The air whistled through the canopy. A group chased a lone individual who was running at astonishing speeds, gradually catching up with each breath. "Fuck!! why are you chasing me?!" the man being chased shouted. "Just because. Duh..." soon, numerous bushes began to rustle from various directions, appearing to outpace the man. "You sure it''s the right guy?" the child in the group asked. "It''s her credulity" one of the men from the group responded with a chuckle. "Stay focused, it can be a trap" the lady who seemed to be the one leading the group said in a stern tone. "I don''t understand why is considered a threat when he is this... weak?" the child shook his head in distrust. "Because he is a Pradhart." the lady replied almost instantly. "Hmph, so what?" this time the man said in annoyance. "..." "..." "I apologize, sister," he said as he gulped down the ensuing silence between them. "it''s alright, you just aren''t able to observe properly." she pointed out. The man they pursued was in a grave state, with numerous tears in his clothing and skin, so severe that one could glimpse inside and see his heart pulsating.. Even with the man''s intestines visible, which could be said to be waiting to fall out any moment now, he didn''t show a hint of pain on his face. Just a face filled with absolute confusion, other things? He seemed to pay it no lesser mind. "Yeah... I see it now," the child ventured, seemingly understanding as he looked at the highly shredded (in every meaning) back of the man. But that was not really all going for the man being chased. In less than half a day, the man found himself in an oddly regal setting. And in such a brief span he was forced into yellow diamond-print pajamas, felt attracted to table(?), felt uniquely offended, had his inaugural drink, and now, to top it off, as if all that weren''t enough, he was being chased by what seemed to be some sort of extra goth fancy ninjas. "Right, left, move" the lady whispered as she blurred out of vision. The two individuals spat in the directed paths, with weapons appearing in their hands out of nowhere. "Time to dissect the frog!" the child chuckled. The lady ninja appeared in front of the man with a sword in her hands, causing the man to halt his steps abruptly. "Please cooperate, Master Laurance," the lady said. "Cooperate with what?! My death?!" Laurance exclaimed, his face clearly showing terror. "Nothing you can do now, shiny!" the ninja man shouted, seemingly catching up and making a triangle with the group, with Laurance trapped inside. The lady glanced at the two others as if conveying some sort of signal to them, to which the others responded with nods. The group started circling around Laurance, with each passing second accelerating their pace until one could barely catch up to them with the naked eye. Swoosh!!! Laurance felt pain for the second time since his arrival in this strange dream world, the sensation which seemed to be rooted from his heart. Looking down, he saw three spears embedded into his body, If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Arrgh!!" and what followed were wails. Tears started dripping down his face as his legs gave out, emotions in frenzy indistinguishable from one another, each cry louder than the previous. "That''s it?" the child scoffed, looking down on the man kneeling and flailing, as if giving his all just to breathe. "And I heard they never cry... seems like they do," the man said with clear surprise in his eyes. "This mission might be unsuccessful," the lady said while glancing toward Laurance to check if he could hold up, and continuing, "cut his legs and feed him a bandage serum, we have to retreat." "Shhh! what a waste, I will follow." the child jeered as he took out a bottle from his pocket. The lady disappeared as soon as she heard the comment leaving behind man and child, from which man also disappeared soon after stealing a glance of Laurance. "Well, well, the adults have left you and me behind. What to do, they are so unreliable...now...chug it down..." forcing the bottle into Laurance''s mouth, who seemed to have fainted while sitting. "Oh! someone''s coming, so it''s a farewell!" the child said as he removed the bottle from Laurance''s mouth. Slap! Slapping him on the face as he disappeared with glee on his face. "MASTER LAURANCE!!" the man rushed toward Laurance, embracing his body within his arms. The man stood up, carrying Laurance as gently as possible, quickly inspecting his surroundings for any enemy in presence. "I was too late..." as he disappeared into thin air too.
Morph stretched out his neck, looking right and then left, being wary of any other presence on the road. He was standing at the main entrance of his house, just one step away from being considered outside. [...Will it be safe heading outside at this time?] he wondered. Just a few minutes back, he was contemplating what to do on this unique day. He was already the early bird to get the worm, but now what? What were these birds supposed to do next, go back to sleep? Well, that wasn''t an option; he was now too wide awake to descend back into sleep and not that he didn''t already try it. After some brainstorming, his light bulb of inspiration finally lit up. A little adventure when the world is still in bed sounded rather pleasing¡ªa new experience, perhaps a secret that no one else would know had even taken place. And now he was standing at the starting point of his adventure, yet not taking a step forward. His excitement had brought him this far, and his timidity was leading him to hesitate. What if a stranger suddenly started following him? What if his parents woke up and found him gone? What if he came across a criminal? Far-fetched ideas were revolving around his head, which clearly had no justification. "Whatever, I will face it!" he resolved, posing a very impractical fighting stance that one would only see in mangas... Abruptly straightening up into a proper human as soon as he realized what he was doing. "...Ahem!" faking clearing his throat, intending to tell anyone who might have noticed him that he was sane, but there wasn''t anybody there, thus embarrassing himself further. "Whatever," Morph muttered, starting to walk and looking around at every intersection he came across, stealing glances behind him occasionally. Dawn was just around the corner; the day was starting as the darkness of night seemed to dissipate. Soon, birds could be heard chirping as everything under the horizon slowly began to be basked in light. It also had a calming effect on Morph''s nerves, finally letting him forget his very-unlikely-to-happen fantasies and thus finally live in the moment. ¡ªTo be Continued¡ª [12.2]Prevalence The sun was nowhere to be seen, but still, one could tell that they were closer to dawn by looking at the dampening night. The air was fresh and cold; the tinge at the tip of the nose gave that away. Each breath marked its way with fog; steps were rather free to make their own trails, being restrained by nothing. Ring! Ring! Down the road, a bicycle announced its presence with the cheerful jingle of its bell. Eyes instinctively followed the distant sound, initially aimless. A young boy rode atop it, skillfully throwing newspapers into the houses. Our eyes met as he passed by, but only for a moment. [So, people are awake at this time of day too... what an idiotic thought, that''s a given,] he sighed, his gaze still following the boy on the bicycle, not openly as it might look rude, just stealing glances. Looking back at the sky, [anyways, it''s a beautiful morning,...yeah, it is] The steps continued, each revealing a distinct scenery. Over the bridge with glistening water running beneath it, past the empty plot with its own little forest within it, through the playground that seemed never empty but was now deserted, and even the houses with dogs were silent. Morph was observing the surroundings like never before, taking in every detail with heightened awareness as if a child who is curious about everything. These strides seemed perpetual, maintaining their speed even while walking up the road to the mountain. And, perhaps like every other journey, these steps also came to a halt, stopping at what seemed to be the destination of Morph''s voyage. "Hmm... it indeed was a fine choice, the view is just so good," Morph chuckled lightly, as he again measured the horizon, knowing that what his eyes could show him wasn''t even a grain of sand in the desert. He closed his eyes, which were moist, and soon tears began to trickle down his cheeks. His entire life seemed to come to him in that moment¡ªmoments of every color, happy ones, troublesome ones, funny ones, embarrassing ones, sadder ones, and many more. [And it was a fine choice to not give up on it...] And that was the moment that Morph had smiled most honestly in his life. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. [If sun rose right now it would be quite cinematic...lol] being caught in his own embarrassing line of thought [what a cringe...ha] A faint yet deep smile.
The kitchen was quiet today. Susan moved from the stove to the dining table, serving hot food on one plate, then back to the stove to make another serving. She repeated this back-and-forth motion until all four plates were filled, along with her own share. Meanwhile, Philip sat quietly on the side, reading the newspaper with one hand while holding a toast in the other, taking a bite of it once in a while. "You woke up early today... No, you woke up on time all by yourself," Susan said with a warm smile as she made herself comfortable in her seat. After chewing onto the food in his mouth replied, "Guess I did." Susan let out a quiet hum as if contemplating something. "Is it because your summer vacations are starting from tomorrow onwards? How delightful it would be if you could retain that habit, but alas..." She sighed softly, her face showing an expression of concern and doubt. She also took her toast and started eating it. "I''ve finished mine..." he said, picking up his empty plate and glass, and putting them into the kitchen sink before leaving the room altogether. "First time bro has left the kitchen before me, keep it up bro!" Morph heard Francis call out to him with a cheery smile on his face, giving him a double thumbs up as he glanced back over his shoulder. Nodding slightly, he left the kitchen. Looking at Morph''s back as he left his line of sight, Francis leaned his head slightly as if thinking. Noticing this, Susan pondered aloud, "What''s my little prince thinking so hard about?" snickering a bit. "Mom! Please, don''t call me that. I''m not a kid anymore," Francis replied almost instantly, his face showing a mixture of embarrassment and shyness. "Hehe, anyways sweetie, what were you thinking about?" Susan asked. "Just... I was thinking that brother looks way quieter than his usual self. I was wondering if he was alright," Francis said in a concerned tone. "Aww, my sweetie, always caring about others. Don''t worry about your brother. I''m sure it''s nothing," Susan reassured him. "Okay, Mom. I should finish my breakfast too and get ready for school," Francis remarked, continuing with his breakfast. __ End of The Chapter __ [13]Introspection [I just have to endure it for today,] Morph thought to himself, visibly sweating as he made his way to his classroom. His irregular strides gave away how unstable his mind was¡ªquickening, halting, and resuming in a haphazard sequence. What caused Morph to worry was that the same ''incident'' had led to his suicidal tendencies. [I will just hide inside my room for the whole summer vacation!] A very unrealistic plan, and at that, after going through every possible solution and outcome that his brain allowed him with accord to its capability. But still, it was not the most concerning thing to consider, [Should I just bunk school?] he thought, standing right in front of his classroom... He simply couldn''t do it anymore; perhaps it would have been better if he had never approached school at all from the beginning. shivers down the spine "Well, well, look who''s here; you''re so dead," this was what the dark eyes glaring at him seemed to say. They belonged to a young girl who sat with three other girls at the front desks on the other side of the classroom from where he entered. It was a short yet enjoyable journey, may God bless your soul, Morph, as what seemed to be in his way was obviously a queen bee. --End of the story-- Just kidding. Morph averted his eyes, trying to ignore the existence of his absolute doom(?) Women, are truly dangerous species already, but a Queen Bee? Now that''s a whole different dimension of difficulty. Morph chose a path to his seat that kept him as far away as possible from the bee workers and their queen. A wise move; he remains vigilant for any danger behind him, trying as much as possible to avoid alerting the predators that the prey is aware of its presence. But he didn''t know that the predators were as alert as the prey was, taking note of each of its steps. "There goes Henni''s lover boy, hehe, lol."" chuckled one of the girls. No response, sometimes silence can be way scarier than reaction, and this was exact moment in the girl''s life to revise just that. The silence continued, and fortunately, the queen bee appeared undisturbed by her words, perhaps too engrossed elsewhere, as evidenced by her gaze fixed intently on Morph''s every move. "I will deal with you... later" A hushed voice rang through all other girls. These words should not be taken lightly; the girls could feel murderous vibes from her words, with them going pale from the manner it was said; only one thing came to their minds: [IS SHE GOING TO MURDER HIM??!!] they shouted within with literal terror plastered over their faces. An overreaction of course, as The Queen Bee, Heni, just turned around to look out of window knowing it was time for class. Soon enough, crowds of students started entering the class, moving to their seats consecutively. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
"Phew," Morph exhaled a sigh of relief. [Safe for now, I guess...] he mused, surveying the room where everyone was seated. The classroom door swung open, and a middle-aged man entered, carrying a book under one arm and a handbag in the other. "Attention," a student announced, standing up, prompting the others to rise. "Good morning, teacher," they greeted in chorus. "Yes, good morning. Take your seats," the teacher replied, and with that, all the students settled back into their seats. Satoshi, a middle-aged man who became a schoolteacher because he thought that Bitcoin was a bad idea. He wasn''t very good at teaching either, but he sure had passion. So, he tried his best. Well, not like handshaking each and every student in different style which dubbed to literally asking for attention; but actually trying to be there when a student needed him (and that and only that is cool). As he stood behind his desk unloading everything onto his desk, being done he glances over his students. He announced "Students, as you all already know from tomorrow your summer breaks are going to start," stopping for a moment to observing the reaction of his students, who were obviously overjoyed, he continued "So, I would like to say few things regarding how to effectively utilize your time during summer break." The faces of the students lost color, knowing that what was coming for them was at least an hour of lecture. "So, first of, summer vacation was invented in late nineteenth century..." and thus begun the broadcast of unidirectional delivering of what-teacher-thought-was-important knowledge. Listening to it, Morph felt so sleepy that he almost banged his onto his desk 5 times in a freefall, barely being able to stay awake. "...At last, I would like to say, enjoy your vacations but remember to keep polishing your academics. Also, after class visit me in teacher''s room to collect your summer vacation'' s homework in orderly fashion. class dismissed." Satoshi started to pick up his things, as he moved toward the class''s exit, reinvigorating students with each step. Leaving students with purest smile over their faces as he went out of sight. Only to return next moment... ROUND TWO Or no, Satoshi leaned inside the door slightly, "Heni, I want you to report to office early to collect your brother''s and Geita''s homework as they are not coming to school today, and Morph you too, report to me after break, we will be having a little counselling regarding your plans this vacation." as Satoshi said his piece, and left the class for good, Morph was the only one feeling happy for a reason other than vacations. So much so, that the word ''happy'' doesn''t feel appropriate explain his feelings, literal butterflies in his stomach. WHY? No worries cool dude here to explain: What Sir Satoshi said had two main points that were awfully beneficial for Morph, FIRST >>> Yes, you guessed it, Geita was not coming to school! SECOND >>> And yes you guessed it again smart folks, his survival chances have reached record high thanks to the little counselling offered by his teacher. [YES!!] his hands making random gesture under the table from excitement. There''s a saying that warns against becoming overly elated with one''s good fortune, as it may blind one to impending misfortune. Similarly, as Morph reveled in his stroke of luck with a broad smile, danger was stealthily drawing nearer. "You seem happy" [!!!!] "There''s still time left until the break is over, isn''t there?" As Heni drew near, Morph''s heartbeat quickened. [Please don''t hurt me!] Morph screamed inwardly, and seemed to shrink outwardly, pressing back against the wall he knew was there. Heni came right in front of his desk, looking down on him from above as if a beast looking down on its prey."Follow me," she said, turning to lead the way. The other girls glanced between Morph and her, then followed in her steps as though it was the most natural thing to do. Morph despite being scared mustered up strength to stand up and follow Heni to God-knows-where location along with them. "You''re so dead today Morph-y" one of girls smirked back at him, for him to only lower his head to not meet the gaze with her. [Am so fucked...] __ End of The Chapter __ [14]A kind of pain Thu...Thum...Thump! "Now, now, back off, girls." Henni commanded her ''girls'' to finally stop beating the shit out of him. [I should have clung to their legs or something; it might have hurt less....] [Fucking.., those bitches belong to kitchen...] BAM! A kick struck his side, making him choke on his own breath. "It''s written on your face." She leaned forward, gazing intently into his eyes as he coughed and fought for breath. "...argh" gasping, he returned her gaze. "How''s that? hmm?" Henni squatted down on one leg, hunching over to take a nice look at her victim. "..." his eyes were on the brink of leaking, but he still didn''t flinch. "No?" Henni stood back up, with arms folded, awaiting an answer. But all she received was his gaze fixed on her, a sly smile spread across her face. "Looks like you have grown some balls, huh?" she leaned her head to a side, which meant that she was getting pissed, she turned back towards the other girls "Did you all hit his head or what? lol." the girls chuckled back to her awkwardly. She looked at Morph "You are very funny today." slowing placing hands on his cheeks, "Right? clench it." Knee to straight to his face. Morph collapsed onto his back, teetering on the edge of consciousness, struggling to keep his eyes open. "Now, now, don''t descend to your world of sleep while I''m here, Morphy. We haven''t even started yet." she grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked it hard, forcing him to sit up with a sharp tug. Her grip was rough, leaving him no choice but to comply. "Upsy-daisy!" the pain of his hair being pulled knocked some conscience back into him as he growled. Slap "Awake yet?" She gazed at him, anticipating a reaction, scrutinizing his face for the slightest shift in expression. His face was bruised, and his nose bled. Morph simply sat there, looking down, he was exhausted and even more hopeless. She signed. "Very hard to crack, aren''t cha?" she looked at him for a moment "Well, now you know it, pull one of those shenanigans again, and you know what is coming for you," she paused to take a final look at him ""A very quiet motherf**ker today, aren''t you?" she screwed a punch to his solar plexus. "fuck.." Morph hushed out, doubling over he gasped for air. Henni didn''t spare a second glance, "mind your manners, fucker. Go chase someone that is in your league." she turned back and strolled toward exit as if nothing happened leaving Morph behind flail in pain. [It hurts!] [why?!] [I wasn''t even me to begin with, so why me?!] tears jerked out of his eyes. [Fuck that bitch, fuck her fucking boyfriend, it fucking wasn''t me!] Morph was very angry, why does it have to be him? why does it has to be him taking a one-sided beating when it wasn''t even his fault? He could have revolted, but he knew they were not going believe him without any proof, worse they would have beaten him more. But he wasn''t his fault! He was angry, angry at himself, for being weak, for not being able to take stand for himself, for being stupid enough to believe that thing will change for better if just sits and takes it all, for not being able to change, for suffering this hell without any justification, for not only being unable to be with the girl that he had crush on since childhood even getting the shit beat out of by the same girl. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Anger, sadness and all those mess of emotions swirled inside of Morph, finally bursting out. "It wasn''t me! I didn''t do it!" Morph shouted. Stopping midway to the door, Henni paused at her spot for a second. Turning back slowly with a surprised face "Oh, and I thought you have become mute for good. But what was that? come again," she scoffed. "...you heard me" he responded looking dead into her eyes. Henni stood there, motionless; someone would have said that time stopped if not for her eyes blinking. She was surprised how someone as coward as Morph could shout at her or speak for himself. She was absolutely going through with this, somewhat curious just where Morph was taking this. "Why?" she finally said "Why should I believe you?" "..." "Why should I believe you?!" Heeni shouted. "Because I didn''t!" He shouted back, continuing with a pause, reverting to his normal volume but hastened pace "Because I''m not that stupid, because I''m a coward, because I''m afraid of you, because I''m afraid of your boyfriend, because I''m afraid of your brother, and hell, you know it too how much I''m afraid of your grandfather!" Henni almost flinched "So, you weren''t the one posted it on bulletin board?" she asked rather calmly. "I didn''t, I didn''t even write it." Morph paused "Henni, you live one house apart from me, we have played together when we were kids, you remember how many fucking times I''ve proposed to you only to get shit beaten out of me by you. If you can''t, I will tell you that with this many beatings even a woodpecker will learn not to peck the wrong tree. If I did it then, I could do it directly again, of course expecting a beating, not some lame love letter with those perverted writings and poetry knowing that how the fuck that is going to turn back on me. And you also know how much I dislike literature; you already know I could barely remember that damn ladybug poem thanks to you back then, how do you expect that same kid to write poem for you, and fuck that wasn''t even my handwriting, I remember how teacher Henni twisted my ears so hard for that. Henni, I don''t have to be a hidden idiot to like you, because I''m already a direct idiot." Morph paused, [The fuck did I just say?] but there was no turning back now. This has to be one of most awkward memory for Morph for years to come, that was for sure, add to that the silence was elongating that period. "Okay." Henni turned back, exited out of the room just like that, the girls took a moment, but they followed along. {Morph learns a new skill "Escape With Cringe".}
I dragged myself through the corridor after a brief encounter with Henni and friends, moving in a manner that resembled crawling, albeit on two feet, barely standing. But the thing that was just magical was that one just couldn''t tell it from my exterior that I was beaten the shit out, of course expect my nose in which I had my handkerchief tucked in. The clothes were neatly in place, free of any dust (or blood), there wasn''t even extra wrinkle, a proof of their professionalism. Not a complain though, it was one thing less for me to worry about, no one expect my classmates will even stumble upon possibility of what happened to me. Fun fact: they already didn''t care what happens to me, simply put it didn''t even have enough face value for karens having small talk, not that their small conversation ever had value, they just are hard on themselves, taking all that bullshit from the world just returning it back to them. [I wanna go home] I cried within, but I just couldn''t act on my thoughts, not just yet, there was little counseling to happen after all, couldn''t give that old-handle a chance to call home just when the vacations were just around the corner, hell, just tomorrow. Good thing, that''s the final boss for today. So, even if painfully, I made my way toward teacher''s office.
Morph somehow or somewhat walked toward his teacher''s office, slowly but unsteadily, they always don''t go together people. He opened the door to his final hurdle of the day, behind which was a man sitting on his work desk looking out of the window, taking in all the greens he could with his two eyes, grass, trees, stuff. "Please have a seat, Morph." the man said without even looking back as if he had eyes at the back two. "We have a lot to talk about, don''t we?" He finally turned around. [Here goes nothing] Morph thought, "Yes, sir." __ End of The Chapter __ [15]The next chapter [Phew,] a word that had become nearly constant in Morph''s thoughts. He glanced at the setting sun from time to time, not for its beauty, but because it was the most striking sight on his journey home. [An independent assignment, huh?] Morph got off lightly with his final obstacle, great luck. Perhaps for once, some deity of fortune smiled upon his atheist ass. The conundrum he faced now was his homework, which required him to journal his vacation activities. Like, why? Indeed, it was one of those tropes where he would learn moral lessons while reflecting on his life through his very own writings. He pondered how that would ever this "May as well as change your life" would happen as his teacher had suggested. Satoshi was a commendable teacher; but also tried to maintain professional boundaries, perhaps because he found it exhausting or for other reasons. Consequently, he tended to overlook the personal issues of his students to a certain extent. Just as he overlooked Morph''s bleeding nose without asking any questions, perhaps he understood to some extent who was responsible for it. However, he wasn''t indifferent in every instance; he was most dependable in times of escalated or urgent situations, especially related to his class or students. His authority in his domain was unparalleled, deterring anyone sane from challenging him. Even Morph thought of this as a very cool aspect in him other than his usual aloofness. But this shouldn''t be the only thing on his mind, now, should it? He''s quite lucky today, after all it¡¯s better to get the crap beaten out of him by Henni than be tortured by her gorilla of a boyfriend. Geita''s absence today was also partly due to Satoshi, Geita and Satoshi simply don''t sit well together. For various reasons, Geita always tries to remain cautious around Satoshi. A blessing in disguise indeed. [I should leave this town...] Morph contemplated, feeling as though he had committed a serious crime. He was, of course, overreacting, yet he was as cautious as one could be. If Geita were to somehow learn of what had transpired within two days he was absent from Henni... No, Henni wouldn''t tell that he knew, but the other girls? They would certainly snitch to Geita for sure. And once he finds out... only God knows what would happen. Good thing he wasn''t going to stay back home for these vacations. Thankfully.
"I''m home," Morph announced as he entered, taking off his shoes. The day''s events had left him exhausted, and somewhat thirsty. [Let''s grab something to drink first...] he thought, heading towards the kitchen. Along the way, he could hear his mom''s voice on the phone, growing clearer as he approached. "I see," Susan said into the phone, wedged between her shoulder and ear as she peeled vegetables. Noticing Morph, she glanced over and offered a small smile before refocusing on her call and the task at hand. Unperturbed, Morph headed straight for the refrigerator, searching for something fancy to drink. Finding nothing, he settled for water. "Not really, we didn''t really have much of a plan to begin with." she said, continuing after a pause "Of course Mom, we can. It''s going to be vacations soon for the kids, so I quite like that suggestion." Morph listened to her conversation as he made his way through the water bottle. She was likely discussing vacation plans, which was as well as Morph''s master plan to escape the town, so he couldn''t resist chiming in on their conversation subconsciously. "umhm, okay." [Half in one breath¡ªnice,] he looked at the bottle with quite the satisfaction, putting it away into the refrigerator. "Morph, you should fill it before putting it back, and how many times must I tell you not to drink directly from the bottle? Glasses are there for a reason," she said, making him flinch. Morph turned slowly to see Susan glaring at him with that one annoyed look. She gestured towards the tap with the knife in her hand, looking very threatening so he lightly nodded. Susan''s gaze followed him until he reached the tap, at which point she sighed and continued her phone call. "Huh? No, just Morph. Yeah," she said. "Kids these days are all about shortcuts, especially ours truly," she chuckled. [...] Like any other child, Morph felt awkward in this situation; being talked about in his presence made his legs tense up. He Wished to escape this embarrassment, but the sluggishly flowing water was not helping the situation at all, forcing him to stay longer. "Okay then, see you then," she said as the conversation neared its end. "Won''t forget, bye," she sighed shortly after hanging up. Meanwhile, Morph completed refilling the bottle and made his way back to the refrigerator to put it where it belonged. "It looks like these vacations will be delayed a bit," she murmured. "Why?!" exclaimed Morph upon hearing the startling news making Susan flinch. "Wow, that was quite the excitement," she said, regaining her composure. "But what got you so worked up, hun? That was like the least expected reaction coming from you, haven''t you always disliked visiting grandpa''s?" she inquired hinting curiosity. "Oh, it''s nothing..." Morph adjusted his tone, "just..." He took a long pause. Susan looked at his face, giving a slight nod as the pause extended, signaling him to continue talking, to which he could only return a hum for another while. "...Home," he mumbled, quickly formulating an idea. "It''s about homework¡ªyeah, the homework. It''s really challenging and requires collecting a lot of data, which should be collected while travelling to many destinations," he explained his concept hastily. "Oh," Susan exclaimed, a hint of surprise in her voice as if she had heard something unexpected, "Trying to finish homework early? Are we being an early bird this time?" She chuckled. "Perhaps I should thank Mr. Satoshi for that," she mused, glancing at his face for a reaction. Hearing this, Morph only grew more awkward, offering an awkward smile as he his hand together behind his back as if to affirm her statement. "Homework that requires a lot of traveling sounds quite adventurous," she mused. Interrupting her thoughts, Morph chimed in again, "Mom, Grandpa''s," nudging her to steer the conversation back to the original topic they were discussing. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. "Ah, my apologies, darling. I got a little sidetracked there. At my age, it''s common to be swept up in nostalgia, especially when watching one''s children grow," she said with a gentle smile. "And about visiting your grandparents, I''m sorry to disappoint you, but we won''t be able to, at least not until the mid-break. It seems your grandparents have made other plans this time; they''re heading off on a little vacation of their own down south," she explained. [Fuck, I knew things were going too well] Morph''s thoughts grew more perplexing as time passed, gradually aligning with the confusion evident in his facial expressions. "Seems like you''re really disappointed; that homework must be very important to you," Susan said as she noted Morph''s expressions. "Don''t worry too much, sweetheart. I''m sure you''ll do just fine, am sure there are bound to be some other way to go about your homework, you''ll figure something out," she tried to reassure him, which of course did not help. [I''ve to find another way!] He was well aware that he had to do something, even to the point of begging if it meant escaping this forsaken town. "Can we go somewhere else then? Like the beach or mountains or trekking or anything, something far away from this town? Please Mom, I need it." Morph mumbled quickly, his voice tense as if he were pleading. Susan remained silent, her gaze locked on Morph, her expression unreadable, betraying no emotion. It seemed she was lost in thought, mulling over Morph''s words. After a while, she broke the silence with a long sigh. "Morph, dear, I understand the importance you place on your homework... considering your last vacations, and the many before," she nodded, her tone laced with sarcasm, "But as you well know, we''re not eager to go anywhere but your grandpa''s this vacation, as we all agreed. So no, we''re not going to the beach, trekking, or the mountains. I hope that''s clear," she stated. Morph lingered in his gaze as she met it squarely. Her expression conveyed a clear message; it was the end of hope, a silent declaration that there would be no more debates on the subject. Without wasting another moment, he turned and left for his room, his expression etched with irritation and disbelief. [What does she know...] To Morph, Susan''s words were sharp and to the point. However, what she didn''t grasp or completely misunderstood was the why behind it all. And of course, Morph couldn''t clarify that for her because he knew she couldn''t care less. Even if he did, the consequences that would follow were not to be taken lightly and of course he knew that as well. But what If he told her about his situation? what would she do? No, what could she possibly do, what had she ever done? Even if he shared the burden that he had been carrying silently all these years, the pain he endured in solitude, the tears he stifled with a pillow for fear of being overheard. Sympathy. Morph despised it. It came as no surprise to him that he found himself on that cliff that day; upon reflection, it wasn''t an impulsive act, but rather the culmination of suppressed feelings. He was utterly overwhelmed by everything without anybody to rely on... He simply couldn''t bear any more of this world, not alone.
On the verge of tears, my mind unstable, I knew how to hold them back¡ªa skill I had mastered, though not one I took pride in. It proved useful, as not a single tear fell for a long time after I returned to my room. [I need to calm down,] a voice whispered from the depths of my mind. A smile unexpectedly graced my face as I entertained the thought that I was finally becoming crazy enough to be talking to myself, which, oddly enough, soothed me more than anticipated. I breathed, long, deep. Leaning back against the wall, I felt much better, solace, the room was as quiet as it could be, and God I liked the way it was, I cherished it. Maybe the only thing in this house could comfort me. giggle It seemed absurd that the only thing in the house I was fond of was an inanimate object, or rather, an entire room. But it wasn''t merely a room; it was a vessel for memories¡ªjoyful, sorrowful, unforgettable, and those so treasured that I yearn for them to recur, perhaps to bring some color back into my monochrome life. Perhaps it was because I''ve been on an emotional rollercoaster these past few days, and this was the only moment that allowed me a breath of relief, but it wasn''t long before a wave of nostalgia hit me. My mind wandered through the memories I had created in this room: idly gazing at the ceiling just when the sun was at its most ideal shade of yellow, reading comics and pretending to be its protagonist and villains, all those silly things that still made me cringe and there was Grandpa who always made me laugh with his silly jokes and gestures. In recent days, I''ve felt his absence more profoundly than ever before. It''s odd that he''s the first one I fault for all the misfortunes in my life, simply because he left me alone in this harsh world, surrounded by this two-faced family. His absence is all the more felt, making me long for himself when I need someone to rely on. I remember him as an incredibly kind yet amusingly quirky person, someone I could depend on in the worst situations¡ªnot that they seemed so dire back then, since I was just a kid. But I knew he would be there when I needed him most, dependable as ever, a real family. He was the best grandpa; no, "He was, is, and will forever be the greatest grandpa from the dawn of time, eternally holding the title throughout its existence," was one of his favorite lines, repeated so often that it is now etched into my memory, yet it always managed to bring a smile to my face. Back then, my room served as a study. I vividly recall how he would sit in the same spot as me, engrossed in his work, while I would tiptoe into the room, attempting to startle him from behind and sillily enough, he would always play along. Despite being almost perpetually occupied, even in retirement, he invariably made time to play with me. He was the person I treasured the most, the one with whom I created the best memories. Closing my eyes, I still remembered him vividly till this day, even after 6 years after he left for somewhere far, far way, I still see him standing in front of me with his signature smile. So many memories. If I had to pick, it was the one memory that stood out distinctly, a simple yet impactful memory: On a typical day, while Grandpa was busy working, I entered his room, as was my habit, pleading for him to play with me. "Sonny, just give me a teeny tiny minute to put these in their place. Can''t let the wind carry them too far away. These old bones aren''t strong enough to chase after them now," as he always said. "Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa! I¡¯ll catch them for you¡ªI¡¯m super-fast! Like swoosh!" Funnily enough, I would make car-driving gestures even though I said I''d run. "Hehe, I''m aware of how fast our Morphy is; after all, Morphy skipped his lazy papa and took directly after his strong grandfather," he would say as his chest almost doubled in size, striking a bodybuilder pose. "Yeah!" With that, I would dash towards him and wrap him in a tight hug, which he would reciprocate with the warmest and gentlest of embraces. "But Grandpa, I have a question," I said, looking up at him, only to be greeted by his beaming smile. "Ask away, champ, what question does our little Morphy have? Grandpa can answer anything!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Grandpa, why do you always keep the window open even though, the air makes the paper fly far away?" I asked innocently. Taken aback by the unexpected question, Grandpa simply looked at me, dumbfounded. He gazed out the window, lost in thought. He leaned back in his chair as he took off his spectacles, setting them aside. Finally saying, "Little Morph, this window is not just a window, you know." "Not a window? Then what is it, grandpa?" I asked almost instantly. "A connection. It''s a connection to everything that is out there from an ant to a whale, a connection with every tree, a connection with every grain of soil out there. And the reason I don''t close it is just that, I don''t want to sever that connection. I fear isolating this world, little Morph," he said. "Connection? What is that, Grandpa?" I asked, puzzled. "Haha, little Morph, a connection is..." We talked on and on, with him satisfying my every curiosity, and I completely forgot about playing that day. [Just where did he find all those cheesy yet perfect-for-plot lines.] I giggled by myself. Now, looking back after my grandpa has passed away, I realize that window hasn''t been opened as much as it used to be. The connection that my grandpa once explained to me, it seems I haven¡¯t maintained it as well as he did. __ End of The Chapter __ [16.5] Solace The darkness lingered before dawn. The air, crisp and cool, carried the faint scent of moist earth, a remnant of the night''s dew. Slender streams of mist draped over the fields, merging with the dark sky, still untouched by the morning light. The silhouettes of distant hills were just discernible, blurred by the fog. A rooster''s crow shattered the silence, and in the distance, cows shuffled in their enclosures. The thatched roofs of the cottages were sodden, weighed down with the night''s dampness, while slender plumes of smoke began to curl up from chimneys, heralding the day''s first fires. The villagers stirred, not yet fully awake, with the faint sounds of life emerging¡ªlights flickering on, a wooden door groaning open, the gentle tread of feet on the cool earthen paths. One house stood out as if it had woken before the rooster''s call. It was a moderately-sized house with a well-kept garden, yet its charm was undeniable. A small pond, where koi glided gracefully, was surrounded by bonsai trees, black pines, and bamboo, adding elegance to the garden. It was a sanctuary created to escape the hustle and bustle of city life¡ªa haven designed for seclusion from the world. Sliding the door open, a figure emerged, seamlessly blending into the harmony of nature and humanity, as if it had always belonged there. The elderly woman stepped out of the house and onto the stone path in the garden, making her way to the small pond. She retrieved a bag of koi feed and began scattering it over the water, her hand moving gracefully above the pond to distribute the feed uniformly. She took a slow, careful look around, taking in the details of the garden, her eyes scanning for anything amiss. Noticing that everything was just as it should be, a subtle smile emerged on her face. She returned to the house, bringing out a kettle with an earthen cup, and slowly brewed herself some tea as she settled on the wooden platform attached to the house. Sipping the tea and taking in the breathtaking view of the garden were luxuries that came rarely. The flavor of the leaves, with a tinge of ginger at the tip of her tongue and a touch of honey''s sweetness, complemented the scene perfectly, especially at this hour, just before dawn. It was a moment that felt precious¡ªreserved for those who could rise when most were still asleep. The tea lasted a good while, as the lady knew how to savor it, yet not long enough to outlast the dawn. With the first rays of sunlight, she made her way back inside, heading to the kitchen as it was now time for breakfast. Her hands moved gracefully among the ingredients, like a fish gliding through water, reflecting her familiarity with the place. Curry, rice, and a grilled fish were prepared swiftly and plated with practiced ease. Placing each dish on the table, she slowly took her seat and began to pray. Soon after, she started eating, taking small bites of the rice. The taste was the same as always¡ªmildly salty, nutty, with a hint of blandness, yet perfectly textured. Each grain stood out on her tongue, an unmistakable sign of rice cooked in an iron pot. The curry complemented the rice, balanced just right¡ªsavory enough to give flavor to the rice but never overpowering it. Lastly, the grilled fish delivered its umami flavor, the perfect side dish to round out the meal. It was a simple yet flavorful breakfast, but something always seemed missing from the dining table, something the lady couldn''t quite pinpoint¡ªor perhaps she knew all along but had chosen to ignore it for a long time. Quietly, she made her way to the sink, washing the dishes from breakfast. With that, her morning duties were done, and the sun was now fully up. It was time for her walk, as always. She left the house, strolling through the village, taking familiar turns and exchanging greetings with familiar faces. "Good morning, Mrs. R¨ºveur," a young man with a pile of branches on one shoulder greeted her as he walked by. She nodded in return, a subtle smile on her face. As she continued along the path, she came across others, exchanging greetings in the same gentle manner. With the older villagers, the mature ones, the teens, and the children, her interactions held a special kindness, reserved especially for the young ones. "Granny! Where are you going?" "Granny, are you on a walk?" "Granny, can we come, too?" "Granny, let''s go to the park!" the children spoke all at once. The lady only smiled warmly, calming them with a soft voice, "Now, dear ones, I''ll tell you where I''m going if you first tell me where you''re headed." Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. A small girl piped up quickly, eager to answer before anyone else, "I know! I know, we''re going to the park!" "Ah, enjoying your vacation, are you?" the lady teased lightly. The children responded with bright, innocent smiles, a kind that most people lose as they grow older. Seeing their joy, the lady''s own smile deepened, warmed by the simple pleasure of their company. "Good kids," she said. "Just remember to do your homework on time. If you do that, Granny will treat you to something delicious." A sweet bribe for their efforts, one that predictably had the children buzzing with excitement. "Delicious? What is it?" "Is it sweet?" "Candy? No, chocolate! A big chocolate!" the kids clamored, their guesses overlapping. "It''s a surprise, of course," she said, her eyes twinkling. "But I''m open to suggestions." Triggered by her words, the children began shouting out names of their favorite treats. She chuckled softly at their enthusiasm. "Alright, alright, I heard all of you," she said, pausing as her eyes landed on one child who hadn¡¯t spoken up, his excitement just as bright but his voice silent out of politeness. "Kotaro, what do you think? What would be good?" she asked, directing her question to the quiet boy at the back. "Ice cream?" Kotaro answered after a moment of thought. His suggestion was met with eager nods from the other children, who agreed that ice cream was indeed a delicious option. "Then ice cream it is," she said, her tone musing. "Do you all agree?" The chorus of agreement was loud and unanimous. "Now, that''s a promise," she said, checking the time on the nearby clock. Noticing the hour, she added, "Oh my, it''s getting late. Granny has somewhere to be. You all play nicely but remember to head home before evening." As she walked away, the children waved and giggled, sending their goodbyes. She walked on, a soft smile playing on her lips, her thoughts drifting to a quiet question. [Was it true?] she mused.
In the distance, the train appeared, a small dot gradually getting closer. An old lady sat quietly on a bench by the platform, her gaze steady on the approaching train. She wore a simple coat, her hands resting in her lap, showing no sign of hurry or impatience. The station was quiet, with only the faint hum of the train growing louder as it made its way toward her. She remained still, simply waiting. The train came to a slow halt, the hiss of its brakes filling the air. As the doors opened, a figure emerged from the far end of the platform, his eyes scanning the area as if searching for a familiar face. When his gaze finally landed on the old lady, he paused for a moment, a hint of recognition crossing his face. Without hesitation, he started walking toward her, his stride steady and purposeful. The old lady remained seated, her eyes now meeting his, calm and expectant. As the young man approached, his steps slowed, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. The old lady looked up at him, her expression a mix of warmth and something unreadable, as though she couldn''t decide whether to smile or remain distant. "Grandma," he greeted, giving a slight nod, his voice respectful but holding a touch of awkwardness. "You made it," she replied, her tone calm yet lacking the enthusiasm one might expect. She adjusted her glasses, giving him a once-over. "You look taller than last time." "Yeah, well, it''s been a while," he said, shuffling his feet slightly, not quite meeting her gaze. "How have you been?" "I¡¯m managing," she replied with a faint smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. "And you? Still refuse to stay far from home?" He forced a small smile, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice. "Well, not everyone stays in the same place forever, Grandma." There was a pause, not uncomfortable, just filled with things left unsaid. She nodded slowly, as if acknowledging more than his words. "I suppose not," she murmured. "Life moves in different directions for everyone." "Yeah," he said, softer this time, the bravado fading a little. "Guess that''s true." For a moment, the noise of the train seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the two of them standing there¡ªconnected by blood, yet feeling like strangers in a crowded station. "Shall we?" The old lady gave a small, almost imperceptible gesture with her hand, a subtle tilt of her head towards the path leading away from the station. Her eyes meeting his briefly, asking if they should make their way back now. He caught the gesture, pausing for just a heartbeat before giving a slow, steady nod. No words were exchanged, but the message was clear. Without much fanfare, they both turned, falling into step side by side, walking away from the station, their pace matching in an unspoken understanding. As they walked in silence, the old lady turned to him, her voice soft but deliberate. "Morpheus," she said, the name carrying a mix of familiarity and distance. "What would to like for dinner?" The boy paused, a hint of surprise in his eyes before he gave a small nod. "Anything is fine," he replied. She nodded back, a quiet acknowledgment passing between them, and they continued on, the evening light casting long shadows on the road ahead. __ End of The Chapter __ [17]Again clack clack In a dimly lit room, the sound of dishes being stacked filled the air. Two pairs of hands, old and young, both calm and careful, picking up the plates and bowls in which they had eaten their meals. "Here, let me wash them," the lady extended her hand toward the boy. "Let me help" he suggested. "Come along then," the old lady took the lead toward the kitchen, the boy quietly followed. "You can dry them" she instructed. She scrubbed the dishes handing them over to the boy who in turn ran them through water, washing off the soap and gently placed them in the drying stand. The scene was silent, neither of them taking any initiative to break it. As if the two were from different worlds even though standing right next to each other. It wasn''t awkward, no, more like something that was normal between the two. [...] Morph''s thoughts were jumbled as he re-visited through everything that had happened today. When he was rejected by his mother, it was as if there was nothing more he could do moving forward to improve his situation. Extent. The real question was: to what extent would it affect him? The thing was he could tell whatever the consequences, they were going to make his already terrible life harsher. He knew what was Geita was like, there was no way he would let this whole situation go. Morph sighed, subconsciously trying to go unnoticed by the other person in the room. [I don''t want to think about it anymore.] Last night, when Morph was thinking of all the other things to calm himself down an idea flashed in his mind. Morph remembered that they were going to visit their maternal grandparents for vacation which was supposedly cancelled due to them having changed plans. It was clear there wasn¡¯t much hope on the rest of his maternal side either, for many reasons. But on paternal side, there was enough hope. There was also the thing that his family rarely visited his paternal side of relatives, mostly because there were only three places to visit, one of which was impossible as they were just so far away, an entire ocean apart, and the other two lived so close that they lived in the same village, so could be visited in a single trip. There was also the thing where family not really liked visiting the paternal side of relatives, as father didn''t like them much for various reasons. Though, there was not really any friction from the two relative''s side, if possible, father''s elder brother visited whenever he was passing through their city, staying for a very short time of course, he was a busy man. And then there was grandma, she liked where she was, she lived alone in house meant for than one, she lived alone even though her son, father''s elder brother lived in the same village as her, a reason? Just because she liked quiet. It had been over a year since Morph and his family last visited her. At the time, he had thought of it as a good excuse. And honestly, it really was. A place far away from the city, away on a mountain, not only for reasons like the ones Morph specifically had, but it was also an ultimate spiritual retreat for any man fed up with the hustle and bustle of the city. Compared to city, which was like a maiden who breaks heart, this village was like a warmth which wants to give you peace. "We are done here." pulling Morph back to reality, the lady commented noticing her Grandchild in daze. Morph fumbled a bit, trying hard to collect himself as fast as he could, realizing his subconscious grip on the plate was so firm that, despite his trembling, it wouldn¡¯t fall¡ªa sensation that left a lingering, uneasy tingle in his hand. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "y..yes" he stuttered. Helle had noticed his peculiar state of mind as he dried the dishes, his face betraying the weight of his thoughts. She did not disturb him till she had finished her share of work, only breaking his rail of thoughts when there was something she had say. "It''s time to sleep, so can you help me with bedding after you are done with that plate?" she asked. "Yes, yes of course." he stuttered again. "I will go ahead first then." she said, her voice carrying a sigh. Morph said as he saw her leaving, hastily drying the plate before following after her.
Moments later, Morph finally arrived where he was going to sleep for the night, with his grandmother already arranging his necessities, a very familiar place. Books shelved, desk by window, a futon on tatami mats, everything resembled his room, only the sense of elegance differed. The books were older, vintage, covers made of what seemed to be leather, from the titles it seemed as if ancient knowledge was encased within the yellow pages. The furniture had a weary look, giving away its age, but also hinting at how reliable it had been for years. "I have kept your luggage over onto the middle shelf" she pointed out as Morph entered the room. "Ah, yes thank you" he replied still glancing around. "Are you going to take a bath before bed? A good dip is always a good option after long journey." she pointed out still with her back to him, seemingly arranging things on the desk. "That''s true, I should." he contemplated again. "You can go ahead then, don''t let the water lose it''s warmth any further." "I will, thank you." he exited with his pajamas in hand. Downstairs, he was greeted by a big bath tub made of timber. Pleased, he got out of his clothes. Clumsily washing himself for a quick dip. Carefully he steps inside with one foot following after other, soon a pleasant sensation of warmth surrounded him as he lowered himself into the water. With only his head out of water, he slowly leaned back into one corner. [F**k, now that did it!] the warmth filled him with ecstasy, as if pumping new life into his body. Every inch of him submerged under water felt more relaxed as the time went by. The steam coming out hazed his vision, the faint smell of timber. All these elements enhanced the experience even more. [I fell kind of bitter,] he reminisced about everything that had brought him to this warm-heaven of tub for long time. Results were undeniably what he needed. [I feel like a coward, a pussy running tucking away his tail.] he frowned at the thought. step step He heard a pair of steps closing in, suddenly bursting his bubble of thought, snapping him back to reality. Just as he was going to react with anything, the door to bath slid open. "Morpheus, are you alright?" the old lady frowned a bit as she glanced at his shocked expression. A hint of worry in her tone. "I, I , I am?" Morph really stuttered hard on this one. His expression showing just how blank minded he was in the situation. "Are you going stay in longer?" she asked. "Yes?" He answered with whatever came to mind. "Are you sure? You might overheat staying in that long, I know you are young, but still." She said worryingly with an assertive tone. "Oh, umm, I should get out of here then, haha" he felt embarrassed extremely at that, but wasn''t yet conscious of it. He stood up as is, and started moving toward the exit. Totally forgetting that at his age, teens get ashamed of appearing naked in front of other adults¡ªespecially women. But there he was going out of bathroom, without a hint off shame. Well, grandma didn''t mind, she didn''t care less. reminding him instead as he went out, "Dry your hair with the towel outside, and go to bed early." "Yes!" he responded, already being outside the bathroom. Following her instructions, drying up, putting on pajamas in hurry, going straight to bed without missing a beat. Laying down on his futon, ready to resume his line off thought from where he left off. [Such a coward...] Then suddenly, it hit him¡ª remembering his casual show of manliness. [The f**k!!...why did I..? No, it''s her fault...! You ignorant fool...! I''m her grandson but still...!] It was going to be a long night of embarrassment, self-shame, and self reflection. __ End of The Chapter __