《Worlds Apart》 1 - Closing My Eyes 1 - Closing My Eyes '''' Hey Luke, have you finished those book''s already?'''' the young librarian asks, nodding in reply, I returned the nine books on human evolution borrowed out the day before. '''' I can''t believe it, how do you read so many things and not get bored'''' she asks I closed my eyes and refused to answer as I walked past the counter and through the aisles while I passed the human biology section and into the fiction area. I sighed '''' I''m already 89, besides the only thing I''ve ever done was read books, maybe the only accomplishment worth noting''''. Life was never easy for Luke because he was an orphan since two never knowing his parents and having no relatives to call family he went from foster care to home and then home to foster care one too many times. The disappointing part was, he was always a bright child, never slouched off his chores and loved to help around with a smile plastered on his face, but unfortunately, life never went his way. His first family died in a car crash as the car hit a power line pole leading it to wrap around a tree, he survived strapped in his booster seat. He could still remember the fear on their faces and see his parents impaled by the wood, their blood dripping on him from the tip streaking down his face. That accident gave him his current scars that had always run up his upper body ever since he could remember, he was four then. The second family gave birth to a child and couldn''t afford a second, so he went back to foster care, he was seven then. The third family abused him for four years keeping him locked inside his room with darkness as his ally and books to call his friend, remembering how they used to rush into his room chaining him down, trying to break whatever they found against his bear back breaking a couple of ribs occasionally. Until the foster family was caught and arrested for child abuse including a few cases of manslaughter, he was eleven turning twelve than. The fourth family owned a multi-millionaire dollar business, unfortunately they went bankrupt two years later, imagine having everything within your grasps only having it snatched away moments later, he was fourteen then. While the fifth foster family were a caring neighbourhood couple which lived through the financial difficulties and the lovely afternoon Friday game nights until the day of his 17th birthday he got home to find out his foster mother was raped and killed. His father convicted for murdering his loving wife, remembering as he was dragged out by police, crying and screaming that he was innocent, shouting he loved his wife, telling Luke to stay strong. One month later his foster father committed suicide to release the pain that he felt leaving Luke by himself once again, he was seventeen then. Sent back to foster care he only had one and a half years to either find another foster family or wait until his 18 birthday until he had to provide for himself out in the open world. Unfortunately, who would want a 17-year-old teen? Luke''s 18th birthday was celebrated by himself with no cake nor presents or people to shout '''' Happy Birthday '''' but the rejection slips on the community foster board of the job''s that he had applied for since a year before, a bag by the front door leading him past the calendar reading 06/06/06 and into a side street with the foul smell welcoming him to his new home. He survived using the homeless food stands, provided to the community by the community always applying for whatever job that he was qualified to apply for which made his options limited. Going street to street in Washington D.C hoping for life to cut him some slack as he waits till 7.pm to hop into takeaway bins foraging for whatever food, hoping to get unopened food packages or even take away without the smelly grime, till 8.pm sharp as he had to quickly start rushing back to the homeless housing areas before 9 .pm trying to get a spot and a place to sleep, sometimes you would be able to get a mattress with sheets and maybe sometime else there would be a crazy guy spouting nonsense all night long. Even than Luke would almost never get a spot so he would find a warm place wishing to get some shut-eye, remembering some of the words he has previously read from the many books seen till now. Hoping to help him relieve the pain of the scorching cold wind that would blow towards his body, regardless of which position he changed into or how hard he would scratch his skin it always felt as if there was a blade sliding against an open wound, the sleepless nights had never been the best, this lasted until he was 21. Even though Luke was poor and homeless he was always occupying himself, Luke always read, every second of the day and every second of the night, he was either recounting the words via memory or reading in the local library that happened to be a branch of a goliath known as ''''The Library Of Congress''''. Luckily entry was always free however he was never allowed to rent books, that gave him even more of a reason to remember everything he see''s in these pages which go from English literature to university math book equations all the way down to history, this gave him an earnt gift of photographic memory.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Luke went to the library and stayed in there so much that when they hung up a job sign he was the first to apply and immediately got the job because he was so familiar with the library, he knew more about it than the actual owner and workers combined. Since they knew he lived on the street, they actually gave him an old basement outside the library, located behind the area where they used to store old cleaning equipment for a reduced payment of four dollars an hour and he was glad because he finally got a home, a job and one he couldn''t be more familiar with, he can read, he can work and earn money at the same time, this was when he was twenty-one and he thought this was a blessing. Luke cherished his new basement given to him, moving in he had work to be done. Cleaning out the cobwebs, he had a single book in his hand multitasking, arriving at work he finished his admin work flipping pages once again separating his consciousness, focusing on multiple duties at once. It became his life not because that''s what he wanted but he was so familiar with this routine that if it changed or he stopped doing this, he thought maybe it would just be harder to get through everything life throws at him if he stopped doing what he knows best, however don''t be misled; its not the books he enjoyed reading, but the knowledge he read from the books that kept him moving motivated to move forward knowing, to expand what he already knows or learnt of and keep himself challenged and distracted from the outside world and kept him in his own, to give him answers to the questions that he has been asking. He lived in a world he thought was ''''luxury'''' using the money he earns buying himself a mattress to lye on, a blanket to keep him warm and spare clothes to change out of when his other ones get dirty, dry food to eat when he was hungry and a clean room he fixed to call home, 2 years later Luke finished reading every single book in the entire library and was transferred to none other than the library of congress to work as an administrator when the job opened up so with an increased wage of $55 an hour and his own rundown apartment which he thought he could fix to look brand new he accepted the job he was offered by recommendation and lived a life of self-seclusion but on a bigger stage. By 23 he was already the most knowledgeable man alive, a scholar on his own level, and yet he kept challenging himself the best way he knew possible, to extend on what he already knows and keep reading, from all primary university subjects, everything he could land his hands on until he unbeknownst to himself became famous by the age of 45 answering theories online which would award him a fields medal''s 10 times over and noble prizes in chemistry, physics, literature and medicine causing the biggest technological boom is ever known in the 21st century and yet society has never discovered the masked genius living among them and neither has himself. The most frequented asked question in the century was ''''who is he'''' He never knew how much of an impact he had with the world around him only focusing on the world he lived in, keeping to himself he lived a repeated routine, not knowing his life could be so much better if his mind returned back to his original world and he opened his eyes, but he still kept them close till now, he is now a 68 old man. Finally taking a break he started reading about society, trying to familiarize himself into it, searching online only to see how much more he could''ve had in his life, until he stumbled upon the questions he''d answered and how much good that he''s done for everyone else using his knowledge he opened up to the world revealing himself. Only to be criticized repeatedly for trying to steal others achievements and harassed by society by becoming a joke, turns out a renowned university professor took the credit and harassed any other person claiming to say his work wasn''t ''''his'''' which gave him fame and fortune, and enough connections for Luke to lose his job and not be hired by anyone again. Lost his apartment, his belongings he was back on the street. Emotions overcame himself as he walked in the darkness, envy, depression and finally raging anger. Cursing life he shouted towards the heavens '''' why? wHY? WHY? HAVE YOU DONE THIS TO ME? YOU MADE MY LIFE A LIVING HELL! DO YOU FIND WATCHING ME STRUGGLE FUNNY? IS MY LIFE HERE FOR YOU TO TOY WITH?'''' he punched a steel beam so hard it broke his hand from his knuckles to his wrist, he cried; not because of the physical pain but the emotional pain he''s suffered, finally having a chance to let everything out as he wobbled past people and took a train back to an all to familiar place and smelt the intrusive air that assaulted his nose fully welcoming him back home, ignoring the pain coming from his hand he strode ahead looking for the only way he knew best to ignore the pain and help him. A haggard 79-year-old man walked into a street passing by people who heard him say '''' I was nearly finished reading everything here so I might as well continue '''' who then looked at him confusedly thinking ''''what''s a homeless old man need to read books for?'''' that man at the time was Luke, he contracted a lung disease living out in the filthy street and with no money to get a lung replacement and no money to escape the streets, luke used local plants with low medicinal abilities to alleviate the pain and slow the disease; with no reason to keep on living his final wish was to pass his time in ease and hide away his thoughts as he faced the library of congress. The years passed and Luke is already 89. In the fiction area he saw many books with dragons on the front and many more with a person in the air with what look like to be flames in his hand '''' how cool would that be if my life was like that'''' thinking to himself he grabbed a few planning to immerse himself in these books and escape from reality once more, he walked back to the counter, rented out the books and went his way, as the young librarian waved at him '''' see you tomorrow and be careful out there its cold and dark so watch your step '''' smiling Luke waved thinking '''' can''t believe I''m still a virgin'''' walking through the door and onto the new pavement, he started reading '''' imagine me flying through the air, beauties waiting in bed while I massacre a kingdom to relive my rage '''' smiling I closed my eyes while an abrupt pain shot through my body and I fell dropping everything in my hands hoping that the suffering I''ve endured the past 89 years have ended. 2 - A Bright Light Lit For The Fist Time 2 - A Bright Light Lit For The First Time In the passing moment of a second felt like a year, as time gave him a punch to his gut and ten more following until the pain eased jolting him to once more force his eyes to open if not for one last time. ''''Hey, don''t push'''' ''''get out of my way'''' ''''what are these idiots doing'''' ''''let me through'''' ''''looks like another batch causing a scene huh'''' ''''the Fuck is that light'''' ''''whoa never seen one that bright before, shit my eyes'''' What seemed to be words sounded like drums banging next to my ears as I immediately flipped my eyes open, noticing the glowing lights flickering all around me as I rotated my position trying to grab hold of the images currently seen through my eyes '''' didn''t I die? '''' I once more looked ahead of me finally getting a clear picture of what seemed to be glowing humanoid figures, some white ones while others black, some show signs of glowing darker while others much brighter. A dimly lit figure says ''''what do you guy''s think he did his past life, I reckon he was one of those chosen children under the pope that served the church'''' Another darkly lit glow reply''s '''' hahaha being under one of those corrupted old bones with half their foot in the grave and give off a light 1000 times brighter than hers'''' pointing to another light that looked like a old women brighter than most, he continued '''' they are as shady as shades in the central continent, one time the church issued orders to massacre an entire generation of children with the hopes to stop the 4th demon lord from Resurrection as a cover of course, and instead for a mass sacrificial vitality-sapping spell to make sure that their other foot doesn''t end up with them dragging them into where we are now'''' he grinned, ''''hey you old hag what did you do to get that light of yours'''' The old women seemingly interested responds with a glare '''' I worked as a nun in a rural village my entire life, devoid of crimes and atrocious deeds that you''ve obviously seem to commit'''' glancing at his dark figure that gave off an eerie feeling. Shuffling could be heard as everyone in the endless plane could be seen moving away from the light giving him a 50m distance to the nearest light out shown by his radiance, complaints could be heard as they squished together in what was an already confined area. ''''stop pushing us theirs no room'''' ''''HOW DARE YOU, BY MY AUTHORITY I''D HAVE YOU BEHEADED FOR TOUCHING ME'''' ''''keep pushing else we''d all go blind'''' ''''shit hurry up and move forward he''s moving towards us'''' Scuttling could be heard as panicked voices motivated the crowd to keep moving in any direction other than his, ''''shit'''' a few people closest to the light turned to look at it, as they shouted '''' stop fucking moving towards us, argh, WHAT THE FUCK'''' screams could be heard as a few others that looked shouted '''' I''M BLIND'''', ''''HELP ME'''', ''''MY EYES'''', ''''I CANT SEE'''' as the surrounding lights wondered listening to the protest''s ''''how are they blind, we''re dead'''' as a few more thought ''''of course you can''t see if your blind, what a stupid statement'''' till the light reached their eyes and they joined the commotion. The few first blinded, trapped in their predicament as others seeing the incoming calamity charged directly towards the blinding light pushing many to the ground trampling ahead hoping to tackle him and imprison him in his position, jumped right THROUGH the light and passed Luke like an open door.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Screaming as the few who were brave enough to select themselves for the good of the many had their minds collapse while insanity pursued from not understanding why they couldn''t pin him down and shot through him; kinda felt like jumping in front of a truck to save an old lady only to find yourself in front of it as the hag waved watching as you feel the bones of your body crushing from the force of impact and the fleeting life force ensuring death.. Luke finally halting after seeing the 1st calamity known to the reincarnation plane, stopped to observe once again as his mind ran through the voices heard since opening his eyes once more in an unfamiliar area to the shouting during the period of time he used to walk a mile, coming to an understanding of the situation he was in. Blandly put he died, and he assumed he''s in the process of a reincarnation cycle, looking around once more aligning the conversations he heard to the faces who spoke the words that some seemed to be forced into the ground from the previous commotion, interestingly enough the darker you glowed the more horrendous your crimes and the brighter you shined, the more accomplished your deeds. Pretty straightforward till now it seems, yet during the calamity, it looks like everyone other than myself cannot push through others. Loud laughter could be heard as the talking went thin and the laughter grew and grew and replaced the deathly silence as more and more people turned to face him. ''''My life, the sadness, hope, oppression, wrath and anger I faced was all for a bright light and a weird ability to phase through FUCKING GHOSTS'''' murmuring was heard as the laughter continued to a screeching roar. Lost to himself, he started to walk forward grinning as he spoke ''''Do you want to play a game'''' thinking that he planned on running through the figures of light hoping to blind everyone he ran around as they panicked causing calamity number 2 in the reincarnation plane '''' I mean we are already dead so I might as well have some fun'''' not before figures dark or bright started to disappear as wisps of light shooting towards the heavens, more and more of the figures which he affirmed to be men and women of all ages, young and old continued to disappear until he looked around seeing that he was the only one left as far as the eye could see. He laughed once more till his eyes teared and his vision flashed. Suddenly appearing in front of what looked like a to be stairs he frowned, turning his vision behind him to see a long line of men and women moving backwards giving him some space afraid of being blinded like those unlucky few from before and two endless lines of guards in gilded white armor surrounded by space distortions spread 5 m aside from each other on the left and right side respectively making the black and white glow appear as an orderly fashioned line. With his attention distracted for but a moment he heard a cough in front, causing his eyes once more to be placed ahead of him onto the guard with brighter armor than the rest and distortions at least five times larger with the face of a middle-aged man, as if Luke was waiting for him to speak the guards stood to attention and all repeated. '''' You have died, we are now guiding you ahead to reincarnate. Please take a step for every person entering the Monastery individually. Patiently wait in line as you gradually approach the head guard and he has instructed you to enter. Any individuals who plan on disrupting the process will be punished '''' ''''You may head inside'''' the middle-aged man spoke as I begun to walk up the stairs, hearing a loud boom, glancing behind me seeing how everyone was one extra step forward, i shifted my eyes back to the line with a lingering gaze watching a white figure step out trying to get ahead only to be stabbed by a guard, immediately vanishing causing panic to the people closest to the incident, curiously I asked the man '''' what happened to him '''' with the reply of a shrug of his shoulders '''' sent to the back of the line '''' while pointing his sword which was attached to his waste further down the line. The end of the line being an unknown amount of distance but one could imagine, or try. Casually asking another question tugged on his mind '''' weren''t there dark figures mixed in with the white ones from before, where are they '''' keeping his sword pointed at the line he continued '''' further down the line'''' looking at the line of white lights in the distance that had no signs of dimming he shivered but only for a split second not the least surprised by the power demonstrated before him '''' I''m dead, I can blind people, pass through them and I''m going through reincarnation, cant get anymore surprised'''' before he continued up the stairs and through the massive doors. following the hallway and approaching a chair with a desk in front and a bearded old man with white hair looking at the approaching Luke with notice '''' Interesting '''' 3 - Traces of Divinity 3 - Trace''s Of Divinity Instructed to take the seat ahead of him Luke sat down as the old man introduced himself '''' hey squirt, my name is ..... oh its not like that matters to be honest, what matters is'''' reaching his hands out making a grabbing motion in the air pulling out a book, and throwing it in the space above the table as the page''s flipped themselves finally stopping as he looked at it '''' Luke woods, born blah blah blah, birth parents unknown, huh what does it say; unknown? whatever lived a life of...... '''' not bothering to speak Luke saw the old man reading the page as he saw his eyes moved line to line and he flipped the page to continue reading. finished with the page he closed the book looked him dead in the eyes '''' well now, that''s just unlucky and your last name was taken from your first foster family, well that is also unfortunate; car crash huh.. '''' about to continue Luke interjected. '''' Can we just get a move on, I don''t need a recount of a life I already know of with hysterical comments about the unfortunate events that occurred old man, I just want to be over and done with this and get a life '''' his eyes flashed with a golden radiance eager to live a full life, one he could look forward to, maybe one with just a little bit more, one he has absolute control of, before his eyes dimming down once more recalling the painful past grabbing at his heart. The old man first stunned by the flash of radiance before he growled '''' old man, who you calling an old man, you should take a look at yourself in a mirror sometime and see who looks older, and don''t judge a book by its cover. I''ve seen a sea of people who looked younger than you and still lived a life more than you''ve ever seen and they would always walk through those doors behind you '''' a powerful humph shook the walls with followed footsteps quickly after, appearing the middle-aged man standing to the side waiting for further instructions '''' Chris, get this kid out of here and take him to the pool to reincarnate so he can get on with his life '''' bowing Chris said '''' follow me'''' staring at Luke with an awkward face waved his hand teleporting him and himself before a boundless ocean. Turning his head back to face Chris he asked weirdly '''' this is a pool? '''' with a chuckle followed by a quick response '''' yes, enter the water and just keep walking, you aren''t able to swim so do not stop or turn back, just keep treading forward until well, you''ll know when it happens, good luck'''' and with a wave he left. Rubbing his forehead and facing the ''''pool'''' Luke started walking, entering the water, no path but forward left for him he left nothing but footprints with each passing step. Entering at first it felt like he was touched by water as it ran up his skin with a few slight vibrations, continuing on 10 kilometers in the water finally reaching his shoulders, oddly the angle of decline was ever so slight as such he had to gain a few kilometres before being able to reach this depth. He was always a relatively tall height reaching 6''3 by 17 and peaking at 6''5 unfortunately due to old age he shrunk a few inches leaving him to imagine his impending doom of gulping currents of water, yet when he was submerged it felt like the water was pressing against his skin without the resistance felt with swimming, so with no obstruction he continued on his path. Further he walked and more he continued as he felt a slight pressure pressed against his skin that strengthened over time as he counted the distance to keep him occupied finally reaching past 25km stumped to see a 100 degree drop down with no way but forward, it was pitch black as he himself was a torch that brightened the way, 55km slightly wobbly it started to feel like he was falling, non-stop falling yet his balanced stayed true as the pressure increased, moving forward.Stolen novel; please report. 75km a burning heat started to run through his inner organs, cycled using his nose and released out as his breath treading forth, 95km approaching 100km, his light started flickering like a candle ready to be blown out, as his strength nearly sapped with his consciousness fading closely, taking his last step he could manage he fell empty since he was both physically and mentally exhausted a hole finally opened beneath him sucking him in, completing his rebirth. Sitting on a certain chair an old man watched through distorted space as Luke was swallowed entirely, rushing to his feet knocking over the freshly made coffee, wide eyes staring in disbelief ''''it wasn''t my imagination than'''' and with a wide smile sent a voice transmission to Chris summoning him who arrived looking at the spilt coffee that made his heart jump in disbelief '''' what a waste, even if it doesn''t help you improve your cultivation level it''s still a drink which can alleviate the mind nevertheless it still costs 100,000 mana stones just for a cup'''' before sinking deeper into those thoughts a question was asked ''''do you know why his light was as bright as it was'''' with a nod Chris spoke '''' Karma, but to be able to receive such a pure light he would''a had to change hundred''s of thousand''s of lives '''' shaking his head the old man spoke '''' actually, its millions if not billions of lives using the effect of karmic rebound but that''s not the best part'''' glancing over to his disciple keeping him a state of suspense ''''if im not mistaken, he has traces of divinity'''' Looking shocked, he stared at his teacher, the old man before him, Chris''s face changing more as he showed utter disbelief raising questions ''''didn''t those four monsters die?'''' ''''How can a fragile old man, be one of those? my son at the fourth level of body refinement could surely pinch him to death'''' '''' it''s not like it matters, the chances of him successfully cultivating past each cultivation stage is how its always been with luck, unless he can retain memories after reincarnation but that''s only if the legend is true'''' listening to his disciples rushed questions he simply answered slowly ''''yes they did die, however, it''s not like they didn''t leave descendant clans branching out and I''m sure they left a way out using the reincarnation cycle allowing them to attempt once more to become the apex of power they once were. A pity they departed a couple of hundreds of billions of years ago before my time'''' sighing while thinking '''' after all they did create the four planes of power including this one, but that''s close to all the information stored on them left'''' shaking his head bitterly eyeing out his spilt cup of coffee, tasks a servant to once more bring him another cup, informing him as their last. Spinning the cup the old man had in his hand, he beckoned '''' bring the second one up '''' going through a largely different process with bob compared to Lukes interview he sent the person off focusing on the line outside his doorsteps he complained '''' this is going to be a long day'''' as if forgetting to close his long-range monitoring spell he erected to monitor Lukes progress in the lake, and if by a hunch started to watch bob descend into the water as it rose above his head, on with the walk ahead bob struggled with his balance to the 15km and continued past the 20km, 21km, 22km,23km,24km, and finally the 25km mark as he was literally crawling to a dead stop, soon after a white light enveloped bob synchronised with his light enveloping him till he disappeared deactivating his spell he urgently rushed to his disciple. Like a chicken on fire, he asked how everyone reincarnates with the reply of his disciple Chris being somewhere along the lines of '''' well they enter the water, struggle as they submerge, try there best to walk to whatever distance they can before stopping to a crawl around the 15km mark, eager to move forward trying to get a few km farther and coming to a dead stop at around the 21 - 25km in which they lose consciousness and a white light submerges them ready for a new life'''' as if overly nervous for his next answer questions '''' so its impossible walking 100km'''' Chris nodded ''''and you won''t get swallowed by the ocean floor as if it was a giant mouth'''' nodding once again hit with a realization '''' that''s right teacher, you''ve probably already forgotten such trivial things 10,000 years ago when you ascended the position of northern waypoint monastery master'''' Returning to his desk, he slowly hit his head on the desk over and over, as if to serve as a reminder of how much of an opportunity he may have missed, once more spilling his last cup of coffee he had the urge to cry. Coming to a halt he also recounted as that child with divinity just experienced rebirth and as such would go on to once more step on a race for power and cultivate, I just got to keep an eye out and ill see him once more. 4 - Sculptures Of Ice 4 - Sculptures Of Ice ''''Lyra, run'''' passing his spacial ring over, Her husband whispered, listening to the approaching footsteps hot on their tail. ''''Cut them off, don''t let them escape'''' voices in the distance were heard speeding up their initial approach. Facing the entrance to ''''Carlisle grave'''' hesitation streaked along her face as she watched her husband slowly but surely approach the incoming slaughter awaiting his arrival. Tears leaking from Lyra''s face she gripped her stomach and ran, forcing her head forward, trying to endure turning her head back only to succumb and see her husband surrounded by ten shadowy figures in darkness. .......... ''''Separate and kill the women while we handle their patriarch.'''' five shadows attempted to leave the encampment, following the order of their older-elder. The patriarch blocked their way and stood to stare resolutely as one of the surrounding people walked out of the formation as if he wanted to talk '''' what I don''t understand is, for the sake of their order. Both your purple-haired-wyvern and silver-horned dragon clans would jointly cooperate with them extinguishing mine? ANSWER ME!'''' an echo reverberated in the surroundings. Shaking his head a man with purple hair, purple eyes and a grin slowly answers ''''What else but benefits, isn''t that obvious'''' another man that has silver features approaches and questions ''''Lucian, why don''t you give in? we will make it quick for you and Lyra if you stop struggling.'''' Syncrally, all surrounding elders from both clans dashed towards Lucian as if rehearsed, trying to initiate a quick execution. ''''hump, with just you lot. You all overestimate yourselves'''' exploding with power Lucian stepped backcrossing double the distance of their approach almost instantaneously. Manipulating his mana he whispers, ''''Hails descent''''. The temperature immediately started to drop, while rain fell from the sky as he was engaged in close quarter combat; it wasn''t that he couldn''t kill them, he kept getting blocked by the older-elders situated in the group stopping his slaughter. Even then, that still didn''t block him from heavily injuring a few of them. Besides, the most important job for him at the moment was to buy time for his wife and unborn child as well as the spell cast minutes before. Soon after thick shards of ice started to transmute from the rain, quickly controlling his power to limit the area of effect, focusing on the area around him. .......... The attack on their clan happened too quickly as they were slowly overwhelmed from beginning to end, the building burnt like paper against the assault of spells trapping family members inside, burning them alive. She could remember the screams that woke her up. Checking her window fighting could be seen, from her position she almost thought it was sunrise as she overlooked the entire area. Gathered by the patriarch, the remaining family members both young and old made their escape with a few elites and elders guiding the way, trying to preserve their lives. There were 60 of them when they first fled, slowly that number whittled down. With enemies pursuing them, more and more needed to make a stand, hopefully allowing others to make it out of the genocide alive. Still, not all of them were warlocks, since a majority of the force were either wiped out or caught in the confusion, few remained. They ran until there were but the young and old left who had either yet to awaken their bloodline or had been unable to. one by one they started to fall behind, leaving a trail for the enemy clans to track lasting till it was just her and her husband.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Heading into ''''Carlisle''s grave'''' Lyra, never stopped running when water started to hit her face. Alerting her of the battle her husband faces in an attempt to buy time. Minutes past as her ears twitched to the sounds coming from ahead and to her sides, both roars and low growls. She couldn''t stop, so with no path left for her to take she kept moving. Deeper she went as collisions sounded from behind, some small others were big, motivating her to ignore the pain coming from her limbs as she had run 4 hours without stopping to get to this point. Stopped with no path left, she ran through the scrubs. Trying to navigate a path leading her deeper into the grove she tripped. Falling forward, she braced her stomach rotating her body to land on her back. Struggling to stand back up, she started to limp. Lyra wasn''t a warlock, married into the family for political relations between his and her clan since she had never awoken her bloodline. Nevertheless, she quickly fell in love regardless. She could see the horizon looking back and a cliff ahead, limping for an unknown amount of time she arrived at the boundary of ''''Carlisle''s grave'''' a cliff which touched the heavens and was as wide as the eye can see. ''''No man''s land'''' the name of the area shot through her mind as she immediately became wary. ''''No man''s land'''' Was given that name because you would never find another person, why? beast''s standing near the pinnacle of cultivation fills the 500 million kilometre radius connecting the four plane''s of power to one another and the cliff as its border. Elder Gods don''t dare to step foot in this land, let alone mortals such as herself. Touching the cliff, following it along arriving at a large opening, with light shining through the entrance, she struggled forward looking ahead, seeing nothing but darkness she followed along. Once more before clutching her stomach in pain kneeling on the ground from a premature rupture. Knowing her water has broken while stuck between life and death, she carries forth through the darkness. Still walking in the absence of light, pain from contractions slowed her down, she had to grip her stomach as she walked in agony time after time nearly being swallowed by despair more than once. Spotting a light in the distance, she started to run from her previous slow limp seeing hope arrive in front of her. The contractions sped up with every step taken, ''''one step more, one step more'''' she kept telling herself as she had no remaining strength to keep her eyes open. Closing her eyes once more, seeing darkness, she kept repeating to herself in a low murmur ''''one step more, one step more'''' astute at keeping her eyes closed. Nearly reaching her limit, she stepped once more as her body fell forward once more before turning to her back. Unable to get up with near no response from her body, her eyes gently fluttered. Knowing she''s unable to continue on attempts to give birth in silence, unable to scream from the pain killing her slowly. .......... The temperature still dropping after Lucian once more cast '''' Sub-Zero'''' with his remaining hand, frozen blood stuck to his skin as if it was glue, being the target of so many spells he was slowly criplled. The ground already froze, the trees in shards, the moisture in the air became visible as if they were flakes frozen in time. Lucian came to a standstill facing both familiar to unfamiliar faces wanting to take his life. Surrounded already by the three clans elites, elders and patriarchs he knew he was about to die. In fact, he had already accepted his fate when he had seen his home burn, but as a patriarch, he has to ensure their bloodline''s survival and as a father his child. A few hours during the prolonged fight, more and more family member''s of the three clans arrived joining the already hard fight numbering him 1 to 100. He has already been unable to block the few attempting to hunt his wife and child, stuck with a single goal and a beautiful view of the distant horizon he says before his final spell ''''it''s a good day to die''''. Forbidden Spell ''''sculptures of ice'''' he murmured, the cold instantly intensified dropping in seconds, as if time started to slow, he could feel himself freeze. First from his toes, flowing up to his leg approaching his stomach, continuing up against his chest past his throat till the brain, staring at the charging enemies he smiles before death. The patriarch of the silver-horn dragon clan immediately yells, '''' shit, RETREAT, RETREAT'''' bastard, he''s going to take out 90% of their forces with this spell. Quickly seeing his retreating clansmen start to slow by the second, his pulse quickens, watching figures turn to ice, he quickly turns to flee with all his might. out of range of the spell with a select few others quick enough to escape he spots the few remaining elites, and elders numbering less than ten, knowing their foundation has been heavily damaged he grunts. Looking over towards the other two patriarch''s he could spot, that their numbers remaining were close enough not to be worried about an attack from one of them. Asking a figure that appears behind him, ''''have you finished your task'''' shaking his head the figure answers '''' we tracked her to the cliffs''''. Continuing the man says '''' she entered no man''s land, so she''s as good as dead''''. Nodding the patriarch stares at the frozen fantasy before him, as if that area was it''s own world, ordering them to return. .......... 5 - Opening My Once Tired Eyes 5 - Opening My Once Tired Eyes Darkness flooded my mind as I was too weak to force my eyes open. However I felt an unfamiliar warmth, never have I had this feeling, I felt like all my past trouble were gone as I continued to sit in what I think is a curl. Nothing mattered, have you ever felt like nothing was there keeping you from moving, allowing you to enjoy the moments fleeting by ever so quickly; almost like waking up to a school day, knowing you have shit to do but too comfortable to move. So you continue to lye in bed ravelling in the comfort of blanket wishing to get back to sleep. There was also two rhythmic beating pumping in harmony almost like a slow drum preparing for a soothing song. I just wished to stay in this position for all eternity, refusing to budge as my consciousness once again drifts back to sleep. I kept repeating this cycle for god knows how long, It was near impossible to keep track of time before I once again drifted off to sleep in a heavy slumber. Oddly enough, I was slowly gaining strength. Moving my tired arms, attempting to stretch my limbs that I could hardly feel as if they weren''t even there from the beginning. Once again I woke up listening to the strange beat vibrating my body ever so softly. Some of the other strange sounds I heard after a while slowly gained my attention, sounded like words but that''s a kind way of mentioning the mumbling I heard. What a stupid noise, only if it would shut up, slightly pissed off I would always kick my limbs in different directions to shut it off, that usually works shutting that nonsense off. However this time it was fucking different, at first I thought all the noise would slowly die out like every other time, but fuck was I wrong. But no, that shit just kept on increasing and sometime later out of nowhere it started to feel as if I was jumping. I almost thought someone was going to run a fucking marathon. Like bruv, gimme a break, try drifting off to sleep as you are consistently getting heaved up and down like a joey in the pouch of a kangaroo. IT''S IMPOSSIBLE. Let me tell you this is starting to feel as if it''s going to last forever and I''m getting sick of this. Feeling slightly energetic, I felt as if it''s about time to get moving. Unable to open my eyes I ran into my first hurdle, where am I going to go? I mean try looking for a door in a room without a door, not trying to sound like an idiot or anything but finding that particular door is proving itself impossible right now and since there''s no door letting me out of wherever I am, I guess I have to make one. My second hurdle hit me right away, how in the world am I going to find the energy allowing me to kick this door down, just thinking about it has already started to tucker me out leaving me exhausted. Fuck, I better get started all this hopping is giving me a migraine. Wrangling what I thought were imaginary limbs side to side, I attempted my escape feeling like some prisoner in a dark cell. Time slowly passed as I started to struggle back and forth, it was also tiring, so I decided to take Knapp''s in between sessions of what I thought were childish outbursts. Waking up in what I felt was the last time in this place, I rejoiced in my mind, yay, slowly feeling pressure against my feet and pushed as hard as I possibly could. Feeling what almost felt like a breeze hitting my head, nearly out I chuckled to myself thinking that my efforts weren''t futile and without reward. Without a sound, I left that dark but comfy abyss. Unfortunately, all the moving drained all the energy I had within me leaving me both mentally and physically exhausted, at least I was out.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Shivering I felt a hard surface with a thick substance touching the skin on my back and as I prepared to open my eyes to take a closer look. I felt a pair of arms as they found their way wrapping around my tiny body. Slightly surprised by the hands the size of my face touching me, I carefully opened my eyes wishing to take a closer look at what was attempting to bind me. What I saw left me stunned, it was a gaze of a beautiful woman with blue hair that reflected the slight rays of light touching it and her dark blue eyes left me gasping for air thinking I was about to drown, her face slender and her eyebrows sharp like pages from a book. She just looked at me with a smile and exhausted gaze suggesting there was nothing left but me in her small world before placing a necklace around my neck with a ring attached. I think her gaze looked motherly. At first, I just observed my surrounding, walls of chiselled stone to both my left and right wide enough to fit a football field in with one direction leading into the unknown since there was nothing but darkness and the other way was a large opening reaching at least 100m in height with a blinding light piercing towards my eyes. I found it hard staring past the light and beyond the opening, my eyes felt unadjusted. Overall my entire body felt funny, weak, slow, lanky, unresponsive and exhausted, hell I''m even unable to bend my arms. Finally taking a look at my little limbs I froze, I''m a baby. Slowly remembering how I died, that reincarnation place and that funny ''''pool'''' I pieced my situation together and sighed. ''''Argile, your name is Argile'''' turning my head to face the pretty lady who I think was my mother as I did the equations in my head, her calm eyes just looked at me, she never looked away as I felt her once beating chest steadily slow coming to a halt. I felt tears rush out of my eyes as I stared in complete silence, questioning why I''m crying I started to bawl my lungs out screaming in pain when I felt her heartbeat come to a halt it felt like a spear stabbed through my heart causing it to ache and my lips to tremble. I never knew her, but I felt as if a large part of my life just disappeared before me. Unable to move my body, frustration overcame me as I Cried my self to sleep unable to stop myself from tightening my grip around her. However before I shut my eyes in slumber, I swear I saw a Large eye staring at me in the light outside the cave, blah, must be my imagination. Awakening from my long slumber, images of my mother immediately flooded my memories causing tears to blind my sight, but I never started crying, I honestly thought there was no point and last time was just emotional instability. Watching my mother die before me, made me remember that I''m once again by myself, an orphan without family once again. Through time the tears began to dry as I could barely dry my face with my tiny little hands when a heavy breeze nearly pushed me over ''''how could a breeze be heavy enough to push me?'''' turning I saw the reason before I quickly froze from fear looking at the large nostrils breathing in front of my face. ''''What the fuck is that''''. Staring at the large scaley blue head in front of me, I quickly rubbed my eyes thinking it was my imagination, nope it wasn''t. Noticing it was asleep, I made quick observations of the thing, but I couldn''t see past its head. Taking a look around him seeing before a loud rumble from his stomach echoed around the cave waking the monster up. The monster sent him a fierce gaze as he replied with a blushed face, what could he do, he was extremely hungry and needs food like asap. The thing stuck out its tongue looking as if it was going to put him in its mouth as he started to wriggle refusing to go down without a fight, realistically though he didn''t put up anything worthy of being named a fight. Being placed on its tongue, it slithered deeper into its large cave coming before a puddle in the ground as a white substance dropped from above filling it. Eyeing the what looks to be an overgrown snake suspiciously before it dozed off he flipped his body onto his stomach drinking the contents of the puddle. Unable to produce a proper sentence he tried mumbling ''''FUCK THATS GOOD''''. Leaning into the puddle closer, he fell in thinking he was about to start drowning, but it was what it looks like, a puddle. Looking at the monster who opened its eyes, he thought he saw a grin coming from its mouth. Finishing up his food, yawing he looked at the monster wondering what the fuck''s going on before closing his eyes with his last thought ''''if it wanted to eat me I would already be in its stomach''''. Not worrying about it any longer he drifts off to sleep. 6 - Feigning Ignorance 6 - Feigning Ignorance Waking up before the monster, I set my thoughts free allowing them to run wild while having a childish smirk stuck on my innocent face. Not long before I awoke, Bluey, the overgrown snake, challenged me to a one on one staring contest, so I thought anyway. To be honest, I was confident in my chances of winning that stare off, but it cheated by blowing snot from its nose all over me leaving me drenched in it. Look at me, a naked child covered in yellow goop, I held my stomach hoping I wouldn''t gag before I got close enough to give it a taste of my own medicine. A good serving of last nights breakfast, puked in its nostril before Bluey sent it back out covering me with another sneeze. Keeping my mouth closed trying not to get any of that shit in my mouth, my stomach turned to attempt to launch the rest of whatever food I had left in me, back out. The scenery around me was pretty fucking gross. Cold and covered in a snot/spew mix gave me a different type of experience I''d prefer not feel again, ever. I could see Bluey didn''t enjoy the feeling either as it gagged its head back in forth like a jackhammer, swaying its head from side to side giving me a chunky shower. Barfing, my internal organs felt like they were thrown out causing a hungry baby to give out a tumbling rumble originating from its stomach. Bluey stared at me giving a good look. How the hell would I know the facial changes of an overgrown snake, is there a difference? Refusing to pick me up using its tongue again, it turned to make its way towards the entrance of the cave. Sitting there shivering from the disgusting substances stuck to my body I took a look at what I think maybe my future home. Gazing at my surroundings, to see I had to rely on a dimly lit light reflecting off the jagged walls that seemed to be the only light source in sight originating from the entrance of the cave, the wall appeared to be a darker material that was smooth in places and rough in others. At my bottom, I felt a flat surface with visual lines that suggest Bluey has lived here for a long time slithering along. The size of the cave was large. Big enough to fit Bluey and five more of him. When I took a closer look at Bluey before he left the cave, he was roughly 100m in length and about 40m wide as an estimate, scales as smooth as a pancake with a mouth designed to swallow food whole, brightly lit yellow eyes and a verticle slit as pupils. The biggest an scariest thing I''ve ever seen in my two lives. Speaking of lives, how do I remember my last one, not that I''m complaining, but it strikes me as an odd phenomenon, many questions left with no answers. Interrupting my train of thought, Bluey returns with a giant leaf. ''''%#^@*@(#^'''' Surprised by the movement of its giant mouth, also the gibberish followed with it I was caught off guard. Bluey can talk, to be honest, my mind was blown. Staring at me intently, followed by the leaf, maybe it wants me to get on it. Snickering in my head, I feign ignorance, what did it expect from a child born a day ago, for it to magically understand what it''s trying to communicate. Giving bluey an innocent smile mixed in with a childish laugh, I fell landing on my back with an awkward roll, taking comfort from its abrupt misery, thinking it was a good idea to start increasing the volume of my laughter as the sound echoed in the cavern, I gave him a good stare towards his left eye provoking it.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Quickly becoming annoyed by my laughter, it mumbled a few other words I still could not understand as it wrapped the giant leaf around my body dragging me out of my new home. Arriving a few hundred metres away from the cave, Bluey threw me in water. Crystal clear water, kind of like looking through a glass with a calm wind creating ripples on the surface. Submerged within the water as my head breached the surface I could see Bluey swimming off towards the distant collisions assaulting my eardrums from across the lake as it gave me a look of ''''stay here''''. Turning I could spot that we were on a secluded island separating us from the nearby land with a single mountain surrounded by lush trees, all shapes and sizes with different coloured leaves hanging off the branches giving off the majestic appearance of a tropical paradise Washing off all that shit on me I felt a bit odd, the weird experience I had in the pool located where I went after I died seemed to follow me here. Almost as if it that feeling fused with my very body. Imagine living in water your entire life without ever knowing how it felt living on land, such as how you feel when you are dry. This feeling was highly similar, had I never known what it felt to live in my previous world, I wouldn''t have noticed the peculiarity currently bothering me. Is it a bad or good feeling I''m not too sure. Seeing that I looked clean, as the goop floated in the water before disintegrating into pieces. I hurriedly crawled my way out afraid of disappearing into nothingness like all that snot a second ago. Rays of sunlight danced along my naked body as I lay flat on the ground waiting for time to pass. Stomach grumbling I was reminded of how hungry I am, watching Bluey approach swimming towards me, newly made scratches damaged his body as blood flowed out upon reaching shore. Reaching the cave, Bluey threw me off his tongue into the milky puddle that was full once again, watching Bluey curl himself ahead of me, snoring sounds were heard signifying he fell asleep, probably tired from the awesome fight I didn''t get to watch. Bored from an exhausting day, I just sat there in lonely silence. Clutching my necklace, I wondered why I''m alone, why was mother exhausted towards the point of death in a dark tunnel? Where was my father? Is there anyone else besides myself? Why am I with Bluey in a cave and not a home?. My thoughts kept leading to more questions I had no way of answering. Knowledge will come in time, to answer the questions I have asked today. Not willing to dwindle on the depressing subject any longer, Argile braces himself looking forward to his imminent future as there is no path for him besides the one in front. Cuddling up to Bluey as a child would, he gently closes his eyes falling fast asleep as he was waiting for a new dawn that was tomorrow. .......... Blueys eyes opened immediately, staring at the child attached to him. Carefully observing the menacing child that dares to provoke him, a child so fragile, he could kill with a mere thought and pinch of his imaginary fingers attached to his imaginary hands. The days were like any other when he heard a desperate plea for help in the form of a scream that was this child. When he first approached the women and child, he became instantly attracted towards her smile as he hid behind the blinding light covering him from sight. A vague sense of familiarity arose within him as he stared at her, one that boils within his blood. An unawakened warlock he thought as he sensed her struggle, he imagined a glance coming from the women if not for only a second only. Only to sense her heart not beating and her body stiffen, he could''ve sworn he saw her gaze hit him, it was something that made his scales stand. Staring at the child attached to the women holding on for dear life, he turned away attempting to head back home, to mind his own damn business because that child was not his problem. Only to find him stuck in position as if his body refused to move without the child. Stuck in a dilemma, he watched the child cry himself to sleep as he came to a decision that would change his future, wrapping the women and child in his tongue, he could taste the blood covering the family as it flowed down his throat. Resisting the urge to swallow both women and child, he finds an isolated area surrounded by beautiful flowers, ranging in different colours as they moved from left to right like a dance. Stabbing his tail into the ground digging a small grave in the centre of the area, he lays the women within wishing her peace, after covering her up he continues to make headway back to his home. Where both him and the child currently rest. 7 - A Small Step Forward 7 - A Small Step Forward Wrapping his tiny hands around the women grasping onto his little body for dear life tears started to blur his vision, unable to speak, they sat like this for what felt like forever to him. Her heart beat in rhythm with his own as she stared right into his eyes, she hesitated to speak almost afraid to tell the child, the cold hard truth. Even though the tears blocked his vision, he refused to cry. He wanted the tears to stop flowing, but he couldn''t stop the flood, it was one of those times you can''t help yourself as you weren''t able to stop that specific action. Waking up, Argile had just come to an understanding. It was a dream; was it a happy dream or a sad dream, he was unsure. What was happiness to him, what was sadness, what was meaningful, what changed? That memory left an impact scarring him as he pondered as he awoke, was it what he thought or a revelation from his sub-consciousness. But it all came down to what he wanted, what does he want now, a new book with a blank page sitting right in front of him with a man sitting behind it, pen in hand not knowing how to start his first letter. Looking ahead in the darkness of the cave, he could see the light which was both his entrance and exit because everything has both a beginning and ending. Embracing his new beginning, he starts walking forward Days began to pass as he watched the sun rise in the east and set in the west, he watched scars both appear and disappear as bluey both went and came, he saw the leaves grow and wilt during the passing seasons, he listened to Bluey as it spoke to him or rather itself. Sometimes, he watched the moon brighten up the darkened sky, and another appear following it closely. Already knowing he was not on earth already, it came to a surprise when he noticed, constellations not known to him sparkle in space. He now knew just how far a distance he is from that place as he was unable to call it home. Slowly gathering knowledge at eye value, he had a speck of understanding of what was his surroundings as he felt the months turn to years. .......... Pressing his arms towards the ground to help him stand, he pushed his arms, propelling himself forwards as he now stood on his feet as he once again watched Bluey leave the cave. Following him outside, the morning horizon, slipped into his vision as he stopped to admire the beautiful scenery. Too bad that''s all it was, just the scenery, void from any sound, there was never any birds chirping in harmony or waves crashing against any reef, only deathly silence. At first, he enjoyed it, but as time went on, he discovered this island was devoid of any life besides the shifting leaves of the trees that sit silently in their position. Alone with Bluey on an island by themselves, he sat for five years. Watching as Bluey swam through the water, he turned walking into a flat area he cleared earlier, towards a crudely built spit-roasting station set up next to a warm fire. Taking a look at his recent handiwork that also included three smokehouses he used to preserve meat, placing his hand in the first smokehouse that had the appearance of a wooden shelter, he pulled out a long strip of meat reaching the length of 60cm, nearly less than half his body height as he pierced a long wooden skewer in it. Watching his food for today roast, he made his way towards the Rak''shar remains that he butchered yesterday with his trusty knife, plucked out from the body of a foe Bluey had killed a few years ago. The fang was excessively sharp as he could even use it to carve past the cave walls, he had times he used it as a pickaxe. A Rak''shar was a beast similar to a giant lion. Yellow fur that shined in the sunlight becoming a beacon, with threads of red patterned from its head to tail, a vicious stare that would kill the weak with a look, but now he looked at its remains everytime he was hungry.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Placing its hide cut into five pieces he started to unhair, degrease and desalted it before putting it in water to soak for today before tanning it tomorrow. Excited at how he could finally start tanning the leather in preparation for either blankets or clothes because he was still walking around practically naked to this day, only having a fibre strap covering his long-john was extremely uncomfortable. He could still remember how he suffered his first few weeks as a baby, without any clothes he was always shivering, curling himself into a ball hoping to preserve his remaining body heat. Drinking that milky substance that he had during his first few years had in one way or another help reduce his struggling, whenever it flowed through his body, he felt it warm up, as the heat travelled through his bloodstream and the strange sensation he has in which he slowly got used too. It also excitingly caused his body to become physically stronger, he was stronger than your average grown man. Unfortunately, he felt its effects weaken over time until he no longer improved which left him slightly disappointed when he found out. It took him a few hours preparing the hide as he begun to eat, his lunch as the sun burned bright in the sky as it usually always did. Enough food for it to be plenty but was actually only a bit compared to his meals size. Feeling he now had to take a shit, his face revealed a downcast expression. This place had NO FUCKING TOILET AND NO FUCKING TOILET PAPER. He could live with all this other primitive shit but the no toilet part hit him on the head rather hard. Pacing off into the area he preferred to call the ''''designated shitting area'''' he walked nearly butt naked, even going to the lengths of placing a sign warning people who happened to read English, a language he was not even sure present on this planet reading ''''beware of landmines''''. Cautious he had to strut through on the lookout for signs of poop burials, remaining hopeful he didn''t once again step in one like last time and the time before. Have you ever stepped into a dug in pile of shit in bare feet, it literally feels like shit This reason played a massive part in placing those signs as a reminder. Writing the sign''s text in the local language would have been preferred for a few stragglers who might, but unlikely, pass through, but he could only casually speak Syner, which was the local language of the natives, he has yet learned to write it mostly because Bluey doesn''t know either. Digging out a new whole with his hands, he squatted over it as he did his business. Finishing up, he travelled towards the lake where he found his metre deep hole, squared, filled in with water, made when he could physically walk. Jumping in the water, he rubbed his ass as the remaining crap from his crack dissolved in the water. It felt like many tiny Garra rufa where eating at his toes as the water cleansed his body. He filled his dirt-tub with water coming from the lake, yes, the water was fucking weird, he learned any bacteria coming from an external source would dissipate at rapid speeds when placed to soak in it, so he built his personal bathtub to clean his ass and take a daily bath. He felt relieved, shuddering at how he had to use leaves and anything he could use to wipe his ass. Even though he knew external substance evaporated at contact, he still wouldn''t want to drink water he used to clean his ass, so with that thought came his dirt-tub. Laying in the water, he watched as Blueys returned with scars, some deep others not. Watching them heal at visible rates he always wondered if it was normal. Turning Bluey spoke to him '''' I have something important to talk with you about'''' slithering along, I watched him move as I followed after him into the cave. Sitting down on my makeshift seat, also known as a wooden log that used to be a sturdy tree outside we faced each other before Bluey spoke again in a seriously deep tone, ''''I''m sure you already figured out we are from a different species, you are a human, a human warlock.'''' pausing as Bluey watched my facial expression. ''''I''m not too sure of the specifics about anything from your species since the only interaction I''ve had is with you. I do know a few things passed around here and there, you or more specifically a warlock has saint, deity or god beast ancestry''''. ''''Few have stronger bloodlines than others, originating from beasts that are naturally able to mature at a certain cultivation level; Ranging to Saints, Deity, God, Elder God, High God, there''s more to it, but nothing I''d really understand so, at dawn I''m sending you out back the way I found you and into human civilization.'''' Listening to his words my left eyebrow shot up '''' Are you coming''''. My voice with slight hope asks ''''No'''' he responds as I ask another question ''''Can''t you transform into a human and follow, I''ve seen you adjust your size a few times so it wouldn''t be hard for you to come''''. Looking at me like I was an idiot Bluey said ''''If I told you to transform into a Ralit, to interact and learn how it survives would you?''''. Shaking my head bitterly, he just compared the human species to a rat. Easily killed, really ugly and pitifully weak as a whole, practically a lesser species, murmuring I spoke ''''Lucky I''m a warlock than''''. Bluey nodded his head since he didn''t catch my sarcasm as he heard my murmur saying ''''besides, this place is about to experience a huge change and its where I need to be, besides your too weak to stay for now and it would put both me and yourself in harms way so it''s for the best''''. 8 - Hitting The Road 8 - Hitting The Road The silence was what pursued after Bluey dropped that bombshell, looking at me as if I had any questions to ask him. He was quite the awkward fellow, sometimes all he would ever do was stare at me like a paedophile at a kids school and then acts like there''s nothing wrong with what he''s doing. Looking at his monstrous face that I''ve grown used to, I couldn''t help thinking of the fact that he''s sending me away like some giveaway gift or more like throwing me away, but as weird as the fellow is, he is family. I''ve always known that he kept everything that poses a threat to me, well away from the Island. Probably the reason there was no one besides the two of us on it, half the dead things Bluey had brung back from his ''''excursions'''' had teeth as sharp as razors. '''' You''re sending me out there by myself'''' It was an important question I had to ask. ''''Yes'''' a one-word response as I expected. ''''Fine, I''ll start packing my things ready for first light'''' Turning around, I had to prepare, It wasn''t all that hard either. Placing my ''''knife'''' between my skin and the ''''clothing'''' I had on, I finished packing. Feeling as if my last night here was about to be a long one, I tried not to think about it. What was the human civilisation going to look like, Is their schools, Whats different besides the giant monsters creeping about and what the fuck is a warlock. Shit, these were the type of questions I wished to avoid, knowing I just pumped myself up I naturally had to cool off. Stepping outside the cave, I sat to watch the stars. On earth, you could never see past the pollution, and if you did, then you only saw the sky. Light pollution was like a prepared joke you could see every time you went to look up. It was beautiful here, the stars shaped up to have an appearance of a crashing wave, you could almost always see the movement. Bluey slithered outside and positioned himself to the side of himself also taking the opportunity to gaze onto the wonders of the universe. ''''Can you see that bright moon high above us'''' he saw me nodding, ''''Now can you see the smaller one just peeking to the right of us almost out of sight''''. Once again I nodded waiting for him to continue, ''''The Moon above us, her name is Myria, she had a husband and son. Her husband carried the weight of the world on his shoulders as he lifted up those around him, giving those people something reliable to stand on, a selfless man who is always shackled. Tied down into a place she is still attempting to reach, almost always at arm''s length. Unable to break free, he is bound and its where he would stay for the rest of eternity. Her son, Stripped from her weak arms at birth as she lay weak and dying, he grew up out of sight, without love, comfort, happiness. A bright child, just like his mother, even without all everyone could ever hope for, he prevailed. Until his eyes were forced open and he watched people take advantage of his father''s kindness, stepping on his body using it as a stool instead of a support, digging into him as he watched it all. He never really understood at the beginning why they did those things, knowing that his father is going to be the one facing the consequence. They returned kindness with evil. From then he just watched on as his light grew dimmer and dimmer until he became what he is now, nearly out of sight, watching with cold eyes. At times his light would go dark without a reflection, but he is always there, in hiding, observing, following his mother''s footsteps slowly as he watched her look for him.''''If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ''''Well that''s a depressing story'''' saying to Bluey after he finished speaking Bluey spoke ''''Argile it''s not a story''''. ''''We watch as the moon''s both come at night and leave in the morning, we watch as her child follows behind her looking at his mother shining her radiance onto his father''s body reaching out to him'''' seeing Argile no longer paying attention he sighs. ''''Ahhhh your still just a kid so you won''t understand, whatever just take my words as an analogy''''. Bluey was still sitting or standing, again is there a fucking difference between his stances, as I lay my head against his scales looking at the smaller moon in the distance. Thinking ''''looks like we have a few things in common'''' before closing my eyes to sleep. Feeling an itch on my crotch, I scratched it waking me up, Fuck its big. I had a wet dream with that young librarian my past life I met for a good five seconds, she was a wild one, the way she scratched my back, licked my knob, and bent herself over asking for more left me roaring. Like all dreams though, they come to an end. Getting up I knew it was about time we started to leave, remembering how I planned on making clothing with that leather left me slightly unsatisfied as soon I saw it, I''d probably get some clothes somehow from somewhere there, no point in making them now, packing the wet leather into a bundle I carried it towards Bluey as he approached, holding it up, he grabbed me placing me on his head. Maybe I could use the leather as a bag or wrap it around my body until I find something more suitable. Clutching my necklace I saw the Island I spent my days drift into the distance as we headed further away from it, into lands I''ve never seen, jumping on a ride also known as an adventure. The view up here was great, I could see as far as the eye could see, we reached the shore on the other side of the lake before we kept on moving. From the island, these trees didn''t look as large as they were when I spotted them in the distance, viewing it up close made them look like behemoths, a few even reaching the height of Bluey as we passed them like a racecar. Along the way, I picked all sorts of fruit looking things in my makeshift bag as we passed all sorts of biomes, desert, jungle, forest and even snow. This caused me to be stumped, I had no idea how this was possible, have you ever seen a snowy desert, the desert biome located right next to the snow gives me the craziest illusion. Besides that, how is it even possible, the desert was hot, and the snow was cold. Deserts are hot primarily because of a lack of water. When the sun shines on the ground, all of the absorbed sunlight goes into raising the ground''s temperature, yet there is snow. Even then I understood there was always a chance for there to be snow in winter caused by an irregular storm, however, it wasn''t wintering and there is a visual sight of the boundary between the two, that looks like a straight line of gold and white. Moving along I couldn''t hold my curiosity as I lay on Blueys head, ''''why is there both snow and desert'''' I asked. I usually picked up things rather quickly so I could imagine the look on Blueys face once more indicating that I was an idiot, ''''Mana, the mana fluctuations of something living there or a certain treasure, buried in our surroundings is affecting the environment''''. ''''Mana?'''' I whispered under my breath. ''''You could feel it all around us, in the air, water, earth, even in everyone. It''s a mysterious energy'''' Bluey says I responded with ''''Am I able to use that mana?'''' ''''Some people can, some can''t, it''s just like that, but first, you have to learn how to interact with the elements using that thread of energy....'''' Before he had a chance to continue, an earthquake heavily shook the ground as Bluey immediately picked up speed, I had to hold onto the gaps between his scales, binding myself to him. The surrounding sounds just went quiet as I held on for dear life, you could barely see the ground shake at the corner of my eye as I felt the blood between my fingers holding onto scales rush along my arms towards my face. I know we reached Mach something as Bluey fled without stopping, my arms felt like jello by the time we stopped. Right outside a sea of flowers that lay within an untouched field, I felt the hesitation from Blueys body before we continued on, making our way towards a large wall erected in the distance. I don''t know what Bluey ran from, but it was nothing good, he probably even ran because I was holding him back. Slowing down we came to a halt at the cave I think I was born in before Bluey spoke, ''''Quickly leave, don''t turn back and under no circumstances come back until your strong enough to go unhindered throughout that land'''' Reaching the ground, I don''t know what I was supposed to feel regarding our farewell so I gave a wide smile and a funny wave before saying aloud ''''goodbye'''' before turning on my way. I knew this might be our final goodbye. 9 - A Person 9 - A Person ''''Ouch''''. Steeping on a sharp stone as I walked through the dark passageway, pitch black. I could see no light from either direction as I followed one foot after another when I first started walking I had to run my left hand along the chiselled stone guiding my way forwards. Why? because during my first attempt at walking through the darkness, I accidentally turned around at some point leading me back to the beginning, I felt like an idiot when I first noticed. Pacing my steps evenly as I led myself forward I couldn''t wait to get out of this tunnel, my legs hurt, my feet ache and worst of all I''m starting to feel hungry. I could even go for one of those mouldy sandwiches picked out of the fourth street dumpsters. ''''gurl'''' My stomach voiced out its opinion as the sound echoed all around me, listening to myself as I breathed in and out, I tried to imagine all of the yummy food I plan on eating once I get out of this shithole. Slapping my head, I remembered the sack in my right hand full of fruit. Picking out the first victim about to enter my lips, I viewed the silver looking apple subtly before quickly taking a bite out of it to sate my hunger. Sweet juices exploded from within my mouth as a soft and pulpy texture raged a war on my tongue, trying to savour the flavour I had already forgotten I had more. Finishing off eating the silver apple looking fruit I felt a warm rush of energy flow into my bloodstream pumping me full of motivation. I didn''t want to walk any longer as I promptly picked up my pace. My original walk turned into a dashing sprint a few seconds later as I felt my muscles tear and mend repeatedly, I honestly couldn''t describe the pain as ecstasy flooded my mind, the natural source of the commotion is the fruit Naturally, I noticed the source almost immediately after the symptoms occurred. Seeing the light not too far in the distance, I knew the exit was right ahead of me. Charging ahead as the smell of fresh air was carried towards me by the hollow breeze, nearly there, yes I''m out. Even though I''m out doesn''t necessarily mean I was going to stop running, because I didn''t. Running by a few of the trees as branches hit my face one after another I finally began to slow down, where the hell am I, looking back at the familiar heavenly wall but on the opposite perspective side of where I''ve seen it last, I turn my head forward into the jungle type area ahead of me. I could follow the walls or keep walking from my position in a direct line forward until I hopefully come across a path of some kind. Following the latter decision, I continued forward. .......... ''''Noooooo'''' she screamed as she watched her only uncle ripped to shreds, her only support strong enough to give her freedom from in her clan. Tears filled her eyes as she crawled screaming maniacally on the ground, using her left leg to help her propel herself forward as she couldn''t put any weight on her other leg, hoping she would have a faster escape. Fortunately, the beast was to busy playing with the body''s remains, giving her the time she needed. Today was not supposed to be like this as her uncle was strong, enough to safely navigate the area and come out alive if he was careful, and they were careful. However, that thing came out of nowhere getting the jump on her uncle, immediately using the opportunity of crippling his movement.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. The instant she got hit and sent flying separating them, gave her a blurry view of a claw slashing the man''s waist ripping him open. She forgets that she is in a dangerous place for someone like herself, mentally shocked by her uncle''s death she never forgot to stop screaming before being knocked the fuck out. .......... Looking at the mess in front of him, a chubby-faced petite teen girl, brown coloured features and annoying scream before surveying his surroundings for anything that may have tracked down the source of the noise reverberating in the area seconds ago since he put her to sleep. He was just casually strolling through a dangerous jungle he was unaware of, hearing a loud scream not too far ahead he followed the sound. Not before accidentally tripping into an opening in the earth leading to a sizeable space that may have been a giant rabbits nest. Regardless of how he found it, he ended up dragging her sorry ass into his rabbit hole discovered recently. Hearing rustling nearby he holds his breath, placing his sack of food on the ground as he creeps up to the opening in the hole, keen to take a look at whatever is outside he takes a peek at the sleek body surveying the area, appearing to be searching for something or someone as it travels closer to our position. The beast has a similar appearance to a jaguar but looks bigger and Bader, ducking my head, I inch closer to the girl placing my hand over her mouth stopping her ragged breathing. Time went by slowly as I waited for that beast to move on. Seconds turned into minutes as it then turned to hours, even though it left I was still on guard against anything else that may appear, you could never be too careful. Seeing the girl wake up, she touched herself all over checking if she was still alive before turning to me with fear on her face saying ''''@&!^@$%#($*&''''. ''''Shit'''' this is going to be a massive problem, I thought to myself as she looked at me expecting an answer. I grew up learning the language Bluey spoke to me with causing this predicament. The Island I grew up on only had the two of us, me and Bluey, Bluey never brought anyone around and enjoyed living on his own, he didn''t know how to write and probably killed 90% of the things unlucky enough to appear in front of him. Assuming I could piece my thoughts together, including what Bluey had previously spoken being. ''''I''m not too sure of the specifics about anything from your species since the only interaction I''ve had is with you... '''', this must have meant he has not only never interacted with a human but also includes never speaking to one, that leaves me wondering what language he taught me. ''''hello'''' I gave her an all friendly greeting with a wave, she immediately once again started screaming annoyingly, the noise increased as I hurriedly stuck a hand over her mouth attempting to shut her up. She bit down on my hand as pain flooded my senses causing me to scream with her, I quickly kicked her damaged leg that appears to be broken successfully pulling her off my hand as she grabbed her leg screaming in pain. Not wanting to deal with this I knocked her at the back of her head hitting her unconscious. She woke up later screaming as I repeated a process I found enjoyable and hilarious, was she stupid or did she enjoy getting knocked out, maybe she has one of those weird fetishes. During the time she was out cold I realigned her bones with a firm kick, then I attended to her bleeding, by cutting a piece of her clothing that looked clean, applying pressure on her leg relieving the stress as her unconscious face immediately relaxed. Finally, she awoke without the need to be put back to sleep again. I even saw a bump located at the back of her head caused by the sleep-inducing therapy method I had created especially for her. She promptly saw her treated leg as she looked ahead of her, facing me I didn''t know what to do so I waved again stupidly. ''''@$#^*!^#%^&$*(#'''' I had no idea what that was supposed to mean, seeing her point at her treated leg I caught on and just nodded claiming the credit. Staring at each other in awkward silence as each of us took a closer look at their new acquaintance, she was decent looking I must say, above average, maybe a seven out of a total of ten, eight if you''re pushing it, appears to be fifteen maybe sixteen by the standards of my past life. ''''Aailce'''' she pointed to herself, I just stared at her again before she placed a hand on herself and said the word again ''''Aailce''''. ooh her name is Aailce, pointing at myself I pause, saying Luke. Why did I say, Luke? I lived an entire lifetime using the name, introducing myself to new people, writing it down, it had accompanied me for eighty-nine years, maybe I feel attached, maybe its who I am. I built my character, using the name Luke, every decision I had ever made was by Luke, Argile was a name given to me by the mother that died in front of me, I don''t know what she wants, how am I supposed to be as Argile, he''s like a different person to the one I know, maybe it''ll be easier as Luke.