《To You: After the End》


 A Beautiful Morning….Once Again

    I shot up, feeling discomfort. My chest felt unusually heavy, and I was having trouble breathing. The air seemed unnaturally thick as it entered my lungs. Then, just as abruptly, it all went away. A sweet scent filled my nostrils¡ªthe familiar smell of flowers and shampoo. Warm sunlight streamed through the window, hitting my face.


    "Leor, wake up! It''s already 7 in the morning. You''ll be late for your classes!"


    The familiar feminine voice brought me back to reality¡ªthe voice of my sister. She was tidying my wooden study table, which was cluttered with university notes and history books. I had stayed up late, studying for my exams next week.


    "Ahh, you''re finally awake. I know you like to study, but staying up late is bad for your health. You should take better care of yourself," said Clara in a motherly tone.


    I finally looked at her. She was nearly 22 but still looked like a 17 or 18-year-old girl. Her pale white face and well-proportioned figure made her look like a noble from a royal family¡ªif not for her worn-out white linen dress. Her brown hair was tied in a bun, and her face was covered in sweat, probably from cooking breakfast.


    "I know, I know. Sorry for the mess. You don''t need to worry about it¡ªI''ll clean it up after freshening up. And today, I only have one class at 11 a.m., so I''ll be fine," I said in a sleepy tone.


    She stared at me sternly with her sharp green eyes for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright, but do it quickly. Breakfast is almost ready, and I don''t want the food to get cold."


    I nodded, quickly got up, and started cleaning the mess on the table. I neatly arranged my notes and placed my human nature notes separately, as I would need them for today''s class. Satisfied with my work, I headed to the bathroom to freshen up.


    We lived in a small house, but it was still far better than the average living conditions in this area. There were three rooms, one bathroom, a small kitchen, and a living room where we dined. While it might be cramped for a large family, it was perfect for us¡ªjust me, my sister Clara, and our brother James.


    James, being the eldest, slept in the single room downstairs, while Clara and I were room neighbors upstairs. The bathroom was also upstairs, so I liked it here, though summers made it unbearably hot.


    After slipping into a white cotton shirt and black trousers, I paired them with black leather shoes I had bought after saving for months. I also picked up my silver pocket watch from the dressing table. It was an expensive, one-of-a-kind piece, made of high-quality platinum with a sturdy hunter case adorned with small green gemstones along the border. My mother had first given it to James when she passed away, but he didn''t want it and handed it down to me. She had told us it was a family heirloom passed down through generations of the Milford family and asked us to take care of it.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    I adjusted the collar of my shirt, smoothing it down as the mirror reflected my slightly muscular build. Ember-green eyes stared back at me. I ran a hand through my brownish-black hair, watching as the light caught the subtle hues, the strands falling into place with practiced ease. Despite everything, I still managed to give off a scholarly look.


    "I feel like I''ve done this before¡­ But maybe I haven''t."


    Ignoring the faint sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, I walked downstairs, catching the strong smell of coffee.


    "Finally, you''re here. Do you realize you take more time dressing up than the ladies?" James muttered, sipping his coffee without looking up from the newspaper.


    "What would you know about how long women take to dress? Have you even talked to a lady besides Clara?" I shot back, a sly smirk creeping onto my face.


    James opened his mouth to retort but quickly closed it, unable to refute. He mumbled something under his breath and refocused on the newspaper.


    "Anyway, did you read the newspaper yet?" James asked, trying to change the topic.


    "Mmh, not yet. Is something wrong?"


    "Well, yeah. Queen Victoria was assassinated by her eldest daughter," James answered in a serious tone.


    "What the hell? That''s insane! It must be chaos outside¡ªespecially now, with the Thornfield Empire already at war," Clara flawlessly chimed in.


    "Yes, you''re right. There have been riots, and talk of revolution is spreading. The royal family must be under immense pressure to appoint a new ruler and restore order. That''s why her husband will probably take the crown," James explained, taking a huge bite of bread.


    "Well, whatever. It doesn''t really matter who''s in charge¡ªit''s all the same for us," I said, breaking the flow of the conversation.


    "No, no. Why do you say that? You want to join the military¡ªyou should be the most interested in this! Personally, I believe King Edward, her husband, was behind Victoria''s assassination. He''s the only one who benefits from it. There''s no way an idiot like him could become king without framing Princess Flora. Why else would a daughter kill her own mother?"


    "Here you go with the conspiracies again," I replied, annoyed by James''s constant nagging about politics.


    "And joining the military has nothing to do with that. I''m not joining to serve and die for the Empire, you know¡ªit''s just for the money. The military is the only job accessible to us that pays well."


    "Oh my God, will you two ever shut up about it? You''ll both get caught for rebellious thoughts someday and take me down with you!" Clara snapped as she sat down at the dining table, immediately silencing us.


    "Alright, alright¡­ Geez. And one more thing¡ªI have good news to share with you, Clara." James successfully piqued our interest. He swiftly pulled out a piece of paper from the pocket of his long coat and handed it over to us.


    Clara grabbed it instantly, her eyes gleaming with childlike excitement. I dragged my chair closer to her, pushing my face beside hers as we scanned the text together.

 A Look Back at the Past

    10th September, 1395


    My name is Ria Milford, I am now almost 32 years old. Time just passed way to quickly, It''s almost been three years since he died. My love, our son is going to be eight years old today¡­.He looks just like you now. Today will be my eldest son, James''s birthday. ''I need to be strong today, I am sorry, I won''t cry at the day you died, But I think you will understand, It''s his special day. It''s almost seven, he will be waking any time now.


    "It''s weird why hasn''t the Sun come out yet, guess it''s just getting colder."


    I walk back to the kitchen, and the sweet smell of cake I was baking fills my nostrils, An uncontrollable smile crept on my face. It smells delicious; he will definitely like it. Both Clara and Leor might be a bit more needy than him, Like how on Clara''s birthday she was adamant about visiting the capitol, and buying that new silk dress. In the end I was forced to use that secret emergency fund I was saving from my knitting job. Ahh but in the end, she''s just like me, I also want a new pretty dress.


    Leor on the other hand is kind of Eerie¡­.I can''t believe I am saying this about my own son. Still, he''s unusually calm for a three-year-old, and weirdly staring at the moon whenever he gets the chance to do that, Even when Clara plays pranks on him, like yesterday she was just telling him a scary story about how a blonde haired beautiful woman steals children, and lock them for eternity, he had no freaking reaction to that, He really said that I liked it, please tell me more, and in place Clara was the one who got scared trying to get Leor scared by telling him multiple horror stories I told her in past. The poor child had to sleep with me that night.


    Ah, Maybe I am just overthinking a bit, and he''s just simply special in his own way.


    Suddenly there was a loud sound of thumping footsteps, looks like they''re awake. And yes three children were running out from a single room. James has neatly combed black hair and dark eyes. His slightly feminine features give him a childlike charm, and he looks the most like me. He had a bright glow in his eyes, and his features gave him a child-like charm. On the other hand, Clara had her beautiful, flowing brownish-black hair completely messy, and disheveled, her bright green eyes scanning everything with unparalleled curiosity and enthusiasm. Behind her three-year-old Leor was standing, while balancing himself by holding his sister''s dress, he still couldn''t run properly and was probably tired after trying to keep up with them. He looked like a twin of Clara, with exactly the same brownish black hair, but his eyes, green had a dark shade, giving him amber coloured eyes, just like him. He had that eerie calm expression, while childlike curiosity in his eyes, They''re probably excited about the banquet, and that I am taking a holiday today, spending the whole day with them.


    "Happy Birthday Jamie!!" I quickly bent down to James''s height and hugged him tightly.


    "Thanks, you don''t have to celebrate it every time, I am a grown-up now." He felt a little bit shy for some reason.


    "Yes, Yes, You''re a grown-up, But it''s an excuse for me to take a break from all the work, Do you want Mommy to go to work?" I blatantly tried to guilt-trip him.


    "No, No I was just saying that you don''t have to worry yourself, I love that you''re here, Please don''t leave." said James fanitacally while blushing.


    Aww, he''s just too innocent for me to not tease. I pick up James and hug him more tightly now.


    I froze, noticing Clara and Leor staring at me with their extremely judgy eyes, as if they could see straight through my soul.


    "Clara, Why did run away from my room at like two-three in the night? I was worried for a while." We live in a small house in rural village on the outskirts of Thornfield Empire, With only two rooms, one kitchen, and one bathroom, Yesterday Clara came crying to me, scared senseless, then ran away back to James''s room in midnight. That''s Leor like behavior, roaming around at midnight, to look at stars or sky. Is he also effecting her?If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "I¡­.I don''t know, I don''t remember anything, Just that I went to sleep with you, and woke up with them." Clara looked scared, again, just like last night.


    "You were crying at the door, And I opened it for her, She was sad, So we went back to sleep." Leor said with a child-like high pitched voice with narrowed eyes, as if trying to recall the memory more clearly.


    All three of us stared at Leor with worry, trying to comprehend what he had just said.


    "Are you all right Clara, and why didn''t you woke me up Leor?" James pushed away from my hold and rushed toward Clara, frantically shaking her shoulders, and examining her to see if she''s alright.


    "Did you had a nightmare?" she seemed confuse like she didn''t remembered anything. With my question, it looked like she found an answer.


    "uhh..Yes, I saw a really beautiful woman, with blonde hair, and blue eyes, just like the story. It wasn''t really a nightmare, but she was¡­so beautiful that it was scary. I think she was talking about something, but¡­ I can''t remember."I let out a deep sigh, shoulders relaxing as relief washed over me. Just a nightmare, nothing more. Ahh, I really need to stop telling them those scary stories.


    "Don''t worry, It''s fine now, Don''t try to remember it from now on. And No more scary stories in this house anymore." I squatted down to her level and gently patted her head.


    "Alright¡­." Clara said with a downward gaze, Not making eye contact with anyone.


    "Mom, Did you also make rabbit stew?" James asked, obviously trying to change the mood.


    "How couldn''t I, I know this is your favorite. It''s getting cold, let''s go eat Now," I said, getting back up, and lifting the average-sized cake I baked while defending it away from Leor, who was sneakily trying to steal some of it.


    "How could I not? I know it''s your favorite. Come on, it''s getting cold¡ªlet''s eat before Leor steals the cake," I say, lifting the cake just in time to stop Leor from sneakily grabbing a piece.


    ~End POV~


    That evening was the last memory I had of my mother.


    After the banquet, we played ''The Landlord''s Game''¡ªJames''s favorite.We never had so much fun ever again, After her death, whenever we try to do something, It feels like we''re lacking something. James became more Introverted too, and Leor, He was already a quiet kid, but now it''s even worse and Leor¡­..started to stare at the sky more often. Leor''s state was most likely due to me, I had a breakdown that day, I stayed quite, and depressed for many days. James tried his hardest to change my mood, even suppressing his own feelings in the process. But Leor, I was really close to him, And seeing me like that, as a three year old child, He must''ve gone through a lot. He also tried to cheer me up, but he didn''t know how to do that, So he just quietly sat down beside me, Or randomly hugged me. I also had many more nightmares about that woman, So many that they didn''t scare me anymore.


    Now, I always try my best, to go back to how we used to be, happy, cheerful, and not playing pretend all the time. That''s why as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a psychiatrist, Help them however I could, And I also wanted to learn more about human nature. How could someone be so evil? How could someone kill a person, A woman, A mother, So easily? And even laugh about it.


    But after her death, It seemed impossible. James took all the responsibilities on him, Fed us daily, even if he had to starve, and Worked multiple physically demanding odd jobs to sustain our lives. As a young boy, It must''ve been really hard on him. Some neighbors took pity on us, and started hiring James more, giving him extra money, or food, even after the payment sometimes. When I grew older, I began to help in any way I could. I used the knitting skills our mother had taught me to make and sell clothes. With my help, we could finally afford to eat meat occasionally, buy new clothes, and even save a little. On special occasions, we managed to have small banquets. Most importantly, we saved enough to buy old books for Leor. He was a smart kid who loved to study, and despite our difficult situation, we didn''t want his potential to go to waste.


    Then one day, everything changed. Thornfield Imperial Academy, the most prestigious institution in the Empire, announced a new merit-based program. It had always been exclusive to nobles but after numerous protests by commoners, Queen Victoria herself initiated this program, allowing anyone¡ªeven poor commoners¡ªto apply. The catch? The entrance exam was notoriously difficult, and competition was fierce.


    Leor was seventeen when he decided to take the exam. He was competing not just against students who had received proper education but also against royals who had been rigorously tutored from birth. Unlike them, Leor had only self-studied while working odd jobs with James to support us. Despite the odds, he somehow managed to qualify.


    It was a miracle for a commoner to get to study there. For graduates, it''s guaranteed to get most jobs Like in Civil services, or in the Military.


    13th September, 1410, Present Day


    "Clara! Sign it already, Did you also start daydreaming like your brother?" asked James playfully, interrupting my thoughts. I look back at the paper in my hand, and tears unnaturally flow out of my eyes. It was an admission letter, for Thornfield Imperial Academy, In ''Human Nature and Psychology''. I don''t have to work my whole life, I can also do what I love?


    I signed it. Looked at it again, and lunged toward James, making him fall from the chair he was sitting in. AHHHH, Leor Help! I hear James scream, and I finally say, What I wanted to say to him so many times "Thank you."


    ¨CTO BE CONTINUED-

 End is inevitable

    "But, How did you even afford the tuition, I don''t have any kind of scholarship like Leor" Clara asked, getting up from James.


    This was a good question. After seeing the potential of commoners, Thornfield Imperial Academy has opened its admission to everyone. But, they will need to pay fees, like any other student, pass the admission test, etc. Fees in total for courses like psychology are almost 15,000 gold pounds. In the old house, we could literally live our whole life, in luxury, without ever working, with this amount of money. Another thing is that she didn''t have to give any entrance tests. It''s suspicious that middle-class class families go into a lifetime of debt, to fund studies of their children, and they''re usually in the ''well off'' category.


    "James, James, look at me, Did you do something illegal to get the money, No¡­No, my brother is a criminal." shouted Clara with teary eyes in a dramatic way, probably just teasing him.


    "Now Now, calm down for a second, This is a program started by our company. I was the employee of the year and won this opportunity, I don''t really need to study now, So¡­It was your dream and all, It would be more useful for you." said James holding Clara''s shoulder, trying to calm her down still grinning like a weirdo.


    "Anyways, It doesn''t matter how he got it, He must''ve worked hard for it, Have some faith in him, even though he doesn''t look that trustworthy." I chimed in, successfully saving the day.


    "What do you mean I don''t look trustworthy?" James asked grumpily, standing up from the ground.


    "Let''s have a Banquet tonight, to celebrate Clara''s admission!! We hadn''t had one for so long" I declared.


    "Yes, you''re right. I also got a huge bonus from the company, So we can even afford to eat out tonight."


    "I''d love that, Thank you¡­Both of you" Clara agreed, pursing her lips, and giving hesitant nods.


    Glancing at the clock, It was already Eight in the morning "Oh, we should really leave for work now. Leor, your class is later so you can relax for a while." Clara hurriedly added.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Yes, You should really get going, And don''t worry Clara I will clean the dishes, buy Mutton and rabbit meat, and some wine for the banquet." I said with a sigh.


    "Don''t, you don''t how to bargain, not even a little bit. I will buy the meat on my way back from the tailor shop, and James will get the wine. Just properly clean the dishes. Yesterday there were some stains left on the glass I picked up, It was so gross, Don''t always be so lazy." Clara replied smirking, her tone sharp enough to cut through my soul.


    I froze in place, my head slowly lowering until my chin touched my chest. My shoulder trembled slightly, emitting a low, pitiful sound¡ªhalf a sob, half a whimper. I clutched my chest as if she''d shot me. "It hurts, Clara¡­.can''t you be nice for once?" I muttered, my voice trembling, sniffing audibly.


    Clara glanced at me, unimpressed, then sighed as she crossed her arms. "Don''t worry, you''ll live," she said, shaking her head with a faint smile.


    I ignored it and kept sniffling audibly, while James was staring through my skull with a look of worry. Now I feel bad, does he really think I am crying? Oh, you poor innocent soul.


    James finally spoke up, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Alright, let''s go, Clara. We''ll miss Smith''s carriage otherwise" still giving me worried looks.


    Mr Smith was around Twenty years old, who had become good friends with James. since they used his carriage daily, he gave them a lower rate, a deal they didn''t like to miss.


    Clara gave me one last look, half-warning, half-amused. "I am sorry my dear brother, And remember, clean properly this time, okay? I''m serious."


    "Yeah, yeah," I said, waving her off dramatically, still keeping up my exaggerated sulk.


    James nudged Clara toward the door, and as they stepped out, he added, "Leor, don''t forget to lock the door after we leave and before you leave, and leave on time to not miss your class."


    "Got it! You don''t have to say it every time" I called after them, finally dropping the act as the door clicked shut behind them.


    Haa, finally some quiet, I still feel hungover for some reason, Like the world is moving a hundred times faster, It feels like it had happened before, many times before. The thought sent a brief chill down my spine, but I shook it off. No point in dwelling on weird feelings right now.


    "Anyway, Let''s wash some dishes, Oh wait, I wanna read that novel while working. Clara was really exaggerating things, I can perfectly do two things in sync."


    I quickly went upstairs to grab the novel I was reading last night, I don''t know why I love these sad depressing love stories. For some reason, I like to daydream about being the protagonist in them and reverting the situation. And giving those characters a happy ending.


    As I opened the door to my room, a strong, almost choking smell hit me. Gas! My pupils dilated instantly, brows furrowing in alarm. My breath quickened, each inhale feeling more suffocating than the last. Did I forget to turn off the gas lamp?


    Panic set in, but I forced myself to act. I blew out all the candles in the hallway first. I took a deep breath and rushed in, holding it tightly to open all the windows in my room, to let the gas out. Once the windows were open and fresh air began to flow, I finally took a breath again, but it still tasted metallic and strange. I found the valve on the unlit gas lamp and twisted it shut with a trembling hand, a heavy sigh of relief escaping as the tension eased from my chest.


    "Huh, what''s that?" I muttered, my eyes narrowing. On the wall, something was scribbled in crimson ink¡ªor was it blood?


    To be continued....

 End is Inevitable 2

    "End is Inevitable, especially for those who see it coming" The words scribbled there in crimson sent a shiver down my spine, What the hell, what does this mean? A threat of some sort? It can''t be a prank, Even James wouldn''t do something so creepy.


    Is it a stalker, Is someone stalking Clara, I heard stories about how slave traders target beautiful women, and sell them to wealthy men or Nobles. My mind began to panic. It''s obviously illegal for a long time, but Vane told me no one has the guts to target powerful nobles in the business, and it''s still normal to have them as "maids" beyond the walls inside Imperial Gardens. Or is it some psychological tactic used by some robber, to make us panic and act irrationally, But why would anyone target us? It doesn''t make sense.


    "Wait a second¡­.Did I even leave the gas lamp on? My legs felt weak almost paralyzed. My breathing became shallower. My mouth is getting drier by the second. Was someone trying to kill us? Burn us alive? If I hadn''t come up to get my book, I might have left without ever noticing. Then, when we get back in together, It would''ve spread everywhere in the house, and...¡­"


    First things first, I should investigate if anyone had broken into the room. I glanced at my study table, It was an old wooden, with a plain texture, and a cloth covering it to protect it from dust. The small gas lamp placed at the edge of it, which almost killed us today, and the book I was reading at the center of it all titled "The less I know the better", Huh? Where is it? I bent down to check under the table, then crawled on the cold wooden floor nearby, hoping it had somehow been misplaced by me or Clara. It was nowhere to be found. Did someone really break in... for a novel? It makes no sense. I quickly checked all of my room, every corner, every drawer, even Under the bed. No, Nothing else was stolen, Even this ring. I looked at the bright golden ring in my hand, It had Loin''s head meticulously detailed as its top, every strand of beard, every feature of his jawline, eyes as sharp as a real lion, lips showing some of his sharp teeth, and a very intimidating reaction, like he was angry, No not angry, like he was looking at his prey, I quickly broke our eye contact. This was our Milford family''s heirloom, Passed down from generation to generation. We all thought this was worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, due to the highly detailed lion head, and the quality of the gold. The gold was just so bright and shiny, that it was almost ominous.


    I wore the ring on my middle finger to better care for it. This was not a robbery for money. I was almost finished reading the book, There was nothing special about it. Just that the story was one of the best, I have ever read. There are hundreds of copies available in the market, why this? My mind was a mess. The more I think, The more confused I become. The air was still slightly metallic, but I closed the windows shut anyway.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I started looking around the house, to see if anything else had been stolen. I went inside Clara''s room, and right after entering smell of flowers, no strong flowered perfume filled my nostrils. Her room was simple and clean, with a queen-sized bed¡ªsmall for me or James, but perfect for Clara''s size. A chair, and a small wooden table which had a copper jug filled with water on it, but no glass. Maybe because I noticed that she liked to drink water straight from this copper jug. And there were some novels I gave her after reading them placed neatly there. The room was rather small, So I quickly checked all her stuff for if anything looked suspicious. But I still don''t know all her stuff, So I can''t really confirm if anything small like my book was stolen from her.


    I went downstairs and entered James''s room this time. He also had a queen-sized bed in the room, But it was slightly taller than Clara''s. On the wall, there were multiple newspapers of different dates, pasted on one side of his room. A sharp smell hit my nostrils. Tobacco? My chest tightened. As far as I know, James doesn''t smoke. I checked his study table, There was a lit cigarette on it. I quickly unlighted it with my thumb. A chill went down my spine. My hands twitched. Was I right? A chill ran down my spine, and my breath caught in my throat. My mind raced¡ªthis cigarette¡­ If it had fallen or burned long enough¡­ The whole street shares the same gas pipeline. Hundreds of people could''ve died¡­


    This. I should report this to the police. What a sneaky way to attack! Was the break-in just to cause the explosion, and my book was just that ''he'' saw it, liked the cover, and took it. Why would someone go so out of their way to kill some average people, Or was it an assassination attempt on someone, and this would cover it up as an "accident"? Is there someone that important living here? No no, I am letting the crime novels take over me, this might just be a terrorist attack. In the current state of the world, they''re common, especially in capital provinces like Wellington.


    I should just report it to the police, or the church. They could evacuate everyone, and catch the culprit. This might be a terrorist attack, Holy Knights, and the Military will also get involved then.


    Thud! A loud echo of something heavy falling reverberated through the house.


    My eyes widened! Is someone¡­.Is someone still inside the house? Is ''he'' still watching me? A shiver ran through my whole, my palms started sweating. I rushed into the kitchen to grab something sharp for defense. I quickly grabbed a sharp butchering knife and forced myself to calm down. "Come out! I know someone''s there. You can''t hide¡ªI''m reporting you to Goddess Aetheria''s church!" I yelled with all my strength, My voice still shaky.


    Their only response was silence.


    The object fell upstairs, likely near my room. ''He'' must be upstairs. "You can''t escape me now!" I won''t risk fighting, maybe ''he'' has a revolver or some weapon. If someone came, I would just rush out to the nearest church. Then the Knights could deal with this mess.


    Tap! Tap! Tap! The slow, deliberate echo of footsteps came from above, each one louder than the last. Clutching the knife tightly, I rushed to the door near the exit, still aiming my knife upstairs.


    To Be Continued...¡­.


    Author''s Note: No one loves me :( Well not my crush at least, Do you readers love me? I am going to start a sub reddit, to better connect with my readers. Name would be TO you: After the End or TYATY(whatever), So do join. there are none now, But there will be many in future, I belive in my work:)

 Johan Adler

    The air felt thicker, My breathing became rigid. Fear gripping my heart. Who''re you? I yelled again. There was an eerie silence which I tried to escape by screaming, But there was still no response. The sound of footsteps had also stopped. ''He'' only took two steps?


    Should I go up? No no, that would be foolish. But can I just leave like this to gather help? What if he tried to light the gas line again? Calling for help will take time. Even in a city like this, It still takes a minimum of 20-30 minutes for police to come. On the other hand, Church is closer, But I don''t think they''ve any combat force, just some helpers. Though Royal Guards, Provided by Kingdom should still be there. Still¡­even that would take more than ten minutes. Maybe he is about to light the whole pipeline, yes¡­That would''ve been the cause of that sharp sound. No¡­If this is true, I don''t have any time to get help. Otherwise, everyone will die. "I will need to handle it myself!"


    I drew in a sharp breath. held it for a while, to calm the pounding in my chest. For a moment, everything slowed, My gaze locking upstairs. My grip tightened on the butchering knife. My palms getting sweaty. Haaaaa! I yelled and rushed upstairs as fast as I could. ''Even if I have to kill today¡­.I won''t stop. I am sorry, I can''t just run away.''


    With a yell, I charged forward, ramming my shoulder into the door of my room. The impact jarred my bones, but I stood up quickly, frantically searching for any signs of the terrorist.


    "AHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed loudly, my voice filled with absolute terror.


    "AHHHHHHHHH!" the ''terrorist'' screamed back just as loudly, filled with terror as well?


    There was something... weird about the terrorist. He was covered in some green, slimy, and gross substance. And that goo was spread all around the room as well, ''NO my books too.'' Beneath all that, he looked like a 17-year-old from a wealthy family. But there was one more thing¡ªhe was naked. Completely naked.


    He stood there, trembling, his Blonde hair plastered to his face by the strange goo, mixing with tears and snot that wouldn''t stop flowing. Why is he crying again? Is this guy really a terrorist?


    My face twisted in disgust looking at his ''thing'', but I still tightened my grip on the knife. Whatever, He still broke into my house, I cannot trust him, no matter how pathetic he looks for a robber¡­.Or what If, this is some weird distraction tactic? No, I''m not falling for it.


    "Wait¡­ wait a second," the intruder stammered, his voice trembling as he slowly tried to get up from the goo-filled floor. I raised the knife higher, my grip tightening. BAAM! Just as he attempted to take another step forward, he stumbled and fell face-first with a loud thud, likely spooked by the knife.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Why''re you here?" I shook my knife in the air towards him to scare him, He started crying even harder, Oh Goddess please help me. "Don''t cry. Reply first." I declared in an icy cold voice, making him shudder.


    "Please¡­Please listen to me first before killing me!" He said in desperation. He had a look of realization for some reason and He looked surprised for a second scanning my body with his suspicious gaze "Wait, wait¡­.Can you understand me?"


    "Huh?" His comment just made the situation more confusing. "Yes¡­I can, Why do you ask? Are you stoned or something?" yes maybe he''s just a random drunkard¡­..No then who turned on the lamp¡­..and that cigarette¡­I looked at him again, scanning his body. What if there is someone else¡­.and this stoner¡­.Maybe he was just caught up in the situation. I stared at the young man with some pity, lowering my knife slightly. This world is just too cruel for wealthy kids, ''they'' sell Opium, and cannabis to such children who can afford it. Keep targeting them till they buy it.


    The young man looked baffled at my look of pity, keeping his guard up and covering his ''thing'' with his hands. ''Am I that scary?''


    "My name is Johan Adler¡­..I don''t know where I am, Is this London? It looks like 1920 London, like how it was shown in the movies. Maybe this city is some sort of relic of the old city, But how the fuck did I get her? Can you help me?" he spoke in a panicked, excited haste.


    I was surprised by the terms he was using, this was my first time hearing it. "Huh? No this is Wellington, You''re currently in Thornfield Empire!" Now that I look at him clearly, He looks like an Aurelin Empire Noble. "Where are you from?"


    His eyes widened, as wide as they could get. His hands started twitching, His breath quickening and getting audible. He had a crazed look and a very creepy smile of dread. "....Are you alright?" I asked worried, getting a few steps closer to him.


    "I am from GERMANY!" He spoke laughing like a madman. "Do you know where is it? Do you know it? TELL ME!" he asked, though it was clear he already knew the answer.


    I tilted my head with some confusion. ''Is that an Empire beyond the "Sea"?'' I shook my head "No, where is it?"


    "HAHAHAHAHA" he started laughing even harder "It wasn''t a dream, I really got hit by that truck, and it looks like I didn''t die" He started staring at me with coldness in his gaze, fists clenching. ''What''s wrong with him now, Is he about to attack?'' I immediately took a step back, raising my knife back up again.


    Without warning, he began crawling toward me with unsettling speed, his expression twisted into a creepy grin that showed his yellow teeth."Are you the evil wizard conspiring against the Kingdom who summoned me? I am just a random guy though, How could I help you? Are you going to awaken my system? Can I choose my skill, pleaseee? I want Necromancy then. In which like you could control an army of shadow soldiers, and spawn them out of your shadow."


    I kicked the creepy man back with my left leg, stopping his advance. "What the hell are you talking about?" ''Is he possessed by something?'' As I watched him twitch and mumble to himself. Fear gripped me again. Goddess, help me, please. My eyes stung, getting Moist. I took a deep slow breath, and straightened my back, with a cold expression. ''I can''t appear weak.'' My fingers started twitching from disgust and anger as he had moved his hand from there. ''Can I punch him?''


    To be continued...¡­..


    Author''s note: I am gonna write a lot now. It''s a good time to put it in your follows. Mf you''re reading like you love it, Just do it. I know you''re liking it. And thanks. Join my Reddit community as well if you''re a nerd and want to talk to other nerds, tho it''s still empty. But look at the upsides when I get popular you could brag that you were my first fans. You could gain that power, prestige, and influence over others. The name is TYATE, get it, To you after the end. I know that was genius ??

 Johan Adler 2

    My name is Johan Adler. I am 18 years old and in my final year of high school. I have an average life, with loving parents, a cute younger sister, four close friends, and a crush on someone. Life is peaceful. Today was a bad day if that''s what we call it. But it wasn''t really that bad, I would say it was an experience. You can''t expect good to happen every time. Where there is light, there is darkness. What if I married my crush, and had a beautiful daughter, a dog? It''s confirmed that we will all die, including my dog, my wife¡­.my daughter. They could all die before me and cause me a great amount of sadness, Making my life worse than death. But does that mean I should never start a family? I never love someone? No, I don''t think so.


    Her name is Sophie, I had a crush on her since third grade. It is the final year, My last chance to say it. Yes, I did it, I proposed to her. But she said she had a boyfriend. I personally don''t mind getting rejected like this, It''s her choice in the end, I can''t really force her. As long as I knew she didn''t have a boyfriend, So I think, to not hurt my feelings she said that. But now it only stings more. Why do people lie? Why do they play pretend?


    I walked out of the school, and got on the footpath beside it, walking back home. Haa, At least Dr. Stone''s new season is coming out. What the fuck, I looked at the group of people crossing the road. They were crossing the road as they owned it, thankfully cars were slow and looking out for those idiots. Ah, I recognize them. It was Sophie and her ''boyfriend'', with some of their friends. Are they high? It looks like it. Maybe, I should help them, It''s not like they''re all strangers. I have known them for almost nine years.


    "Hey!" I yelled and waved at them, they were crossing the road, and hearing my shout they looked towards me. I started walking towards them, carefully crossing the road. "It''s you, I already said No, stop stalking me, Or I will call the cops."


    "No, I was just¡­." Before I could say anything her ''boyfriend'' jabbed at my face. It caught me off guard, The punch immediately knocked me to the ground. ''Boyfriend'' started grinning, like he was proud of something. "Never get near my sister again, you bastard. I will kill you." I don''t know why, I felt a great amount of relief like a mountain was lifted off my chest. Ahh, but my new shirt is covered with dirt. I tried to get up saying "Look buddy, you all are troubling everyone, I am just trying to help. And why would you even get high in public?" I was almost on my knees, but then I heard Sophie yelling.


    "Look out Johan" she yelled in a panicked state. Her brother instantly rushed towards me. A semi-truck was rushing at me, at like 100m/hr. Why was her brother trying to save me? That motherfucker was the one who caused it all. Why the fuck I am thinking about that now. "What''re you doing? Get up!" He yelled. Ahh, It feels numb, My heart is aching. I wanna itch it so bad. What am I even saying? It looks like I pushed that idiot away¡­.and that freaking truck hit me. My mind is going blank. Ha look at them, They look so worried. I tried to raise my hand, to stop their loud yelling, but my hand didn''t get up. I am dying¡­.I feel regret, I want to talk to my father. I always acted cold toward him. I should''ve treated him better. My mother¡­.I hope she copes with my death. Frieda...she will be sad, I didn''t get her the strawberry donuts she wanted. I hope¡­I really hope Mom can help her, I don''t want her to suffer because of me.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    I closed my eyes, for them to never open again.


    But, They opened¡­again. I felt the cold floor on my cheek. I realized I was lying on the ground. My strength was completely gone, I felt like a stone. When I tried to move my hand, only my fingers twitched. I could still smell and hear even though I couldn''t see where I was. Immediately The strong smell of gas overcame all my senses, I was suffocating due to lack of fresh air.


    It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.


    It hurts so bad. I felt something sharp inside my stomach. Like there were millions of small Sharp swords stuck inside out of my whole body. When I tried to breathe, I felt sharpness inside my lungs, like they were punctured with a bunch of spears. My body contorted in pain, My eyes bled. My feet felt like they had been twisted hundreds of times, and then crucified with a sword so they wouldn''t twist back. Every beat of my heart felt like my body was expanding, exploding, reconstructing itself back, and then exploding again. I tried not to breathe, It was so painful last time. But my body uncontrollably took air. AHHH I screamed in extreme pain. My hand moved due to intense pain and had hit somewhere hard.


    Thud! A vase of some kind hit my forehead. Glass got all over my face and eyes. After feeling for my body to check if it was crushed by that truck or not, and getting used to the extreme pain, I tried opening my eyes. To see where I was. It was definitely not a hospital. Or did Sophie lock me up in a dungeon? That sounds hot for some reason. Ahh, it''s not the time for these stupid thoughts. Focus. I clenched my jaw, pushing the thought aside. My attention snapped back to the searing pain in my eyes¡ªI could feel sharp glass shards lodged in my pupils, shifting painfully with every movement of my pupils... As I opened my eyes I started crying. Due to intense bleeding from my eyes, I couldn''t cry, It felt extremely painful, with my tears falling, every shard inside my eyes moved, making me cry more, and the pain kept repeating itself over and over again.


    It felt like forever, I couldn''t make any sound but I wanted to scream, scream for help. Please make this go away. As I was saying this over and over, my stomach and lungs felt extremely heavy like the weight could crush me to a paste. I tasted something weird, like slimy, salty, and bitter liquid. It came out of my mouth like a fountain, covering my whole body. I kept puking that slimy goo till I was drowning in it. It was extremely sticky, I tried moving my hand but it just slipped on that thing. It smelled watery, like moss or curd that was left out in summer for a hundred days. I puked from that sensation. My body felt empty, but light, pain was slowly lessening. I slowly got up to my knees. My tears, snot, and puking still couldn''t be stopped. My head felt heavy.


    I tried getting up to make out where I was, Just as I took two steps I again felt extremely tired and fell to my knees immediately, but I prevented falling face-first on the wooden floor with my hands.


    Just as I was catching my breath, I heard rushing footsteps. My heartbeat quickened. I tried saying ''Please help me'' to ask for help, but all that came out was a squeaking inaudible noise. My muscles tensed visibly. No, I shouldn''t lose hope, I think they will try to help me. My eyes brightened with the thought of finally escaping, Yes I should hope for the best.


    To be continued.......


    Author''s note: Do tell me are these first person pov''s fun for you. I personally love reading and writing them. They flesh out the character so well. Add it to your follows as well. My mouth is getting dry, repeating the same thing, and only one of you did. Thank you, you''re the man.  Soon we will get to millions of follows. It gives me a small dopamine hit everytime someone follows. I NEED THAT DOPAMINE!

 The Seven eyed slave

    He smells so bad. "Look I am just a regular university student, I don''t know what you''re talking about. Yes, I mean I am not an evil wizard conspiring against the Empire. How do you even get that idea?" I replied taking a deep breath. I don''t have time for this, There has to be another intruder, Or how could you explain that? I took another look at Johan and shook my head. But I can''t just leave him like this. He doesn''t even know where he is. I should take him to the Church, They can deal with this.


    "Johan¡­.I see that you don''t know anything. I''ll take you to Goddess Aethira''s Church. They run a charity. If you ask nicely, they''ll help you get home and look after you for a while." I said after some thought and observed his reaction. Huh, what''s wrong with that now? His face fell, with eyes like he was about to cry again any second.


    "Hey hey, What''s wrong now, I will help you get to the church if you don''t know the way."


    "Can You not! They might figure it out¡­..Can I stay with you? I will be your slave if you want to. I will do anything! He hugged my legs. just please not take me to the Church..." He started sobbing dramatically. So he is a criminal or a partner of the real intruder?


    I stared at him coldly, He stared back with his eyes pleading. There was a momentary silence between us.


    "If I heard you correctly, you will be my slave, right? Do anything I say without question?" I could see he was regretting his Life choices. Either he''s just a lost naive kid, or lying through his teeth. I should keep an eye on him, and if he tries to do something suspicious¡­.I stared at my knife and made up my mind.


    "Can I ask you something master?" Master? Isn''t he a bit too fast to accept slavery? I kept my cold expression and said in a nonchalant tone"Go ahead."


    "Do the people here¡­.In this empire hold witch trials? Burn suspicious people alive? Were you sending me to the church for that? His voice was shaking, I got a mischievous thought, ''What''s the harm in lying a little bit here and there.''


    "Yes, If it was anyone else besides me who discovered you in that gooey substance, They would''ve immediately taken you to the witch trials, Not only did they burn you alive, They first removed your skin, Put salt on your wounds, Then slowly burn you by covering you with wax. You burn as the wax slowly burns away. Even my sister or brother would''ve instantly sent you there. You should thank me." I read in history class that it actually happened but around the 1010s, dehumanization like this was long banned all over the world. I took another look at him, I tried to keep my face serious, but inside, I was already grinning with maliciousness looking at his sobbing face. Tears welled up in his eyes, his hands trembling as he clung to my leg. His face was pale, lips quivering as if he wanted to scream but didn''t dare, his face ugly from fear. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    It worked! I took another look at him maybe I went a bit overboard, but the reaction was definitely worth it!


    "Now don''t worry too much, Just be grateful that I was the one who found you. You can take a bath in the bathroom and clean yourself. Then clean my room, dry my books, and do the dishes. And wear some pants for the change, Our size should be about the same." Johan was still mumbling about something, But I ignored him. There was someone else in the house. I will also need to go to university since missing that class is basically asking to be kicked out. I also can''t leave without reporting to the Police first, about the terrorist, He has to be around here. And that''s not all, I also need to figure out I looked back at Johan who was now rubbing the slime away from his body. Who is he, and How did he get here? That''s something I can worry about later, I could also ask Vane for help with him. He''s the hier of one of the ten Great Royal families, Lorraine. And My close friend. If he''s busy there''s always Alya, Her family Rurik is also one of the Great Royal Families. And she''s also the daughter of the wealthiest man in Thornfield Empire.


    They both could use their connections to find out more about Johan Adler. Vane, Alya, and, I all believe in the theory, That there is something¡­something more beyond the dark "Seas". There have been some rumors that the world we know of is just a very small corner of an extremely huge world. I stared at the mysterious man, He might be the key to understanding it, finding the truth about what''s beyond the Sea.


    "Could you not stare at me while I am getting dressed!" Jaohan yelled with some annoyance, breaking my monologue.


    He came out of my bathroom wearing my old grey tuxedo and black trousers. He looked about 17-18 years old. slightly more muscular than me. He had a handsome pale white face. shiny blonde hair, which were now all messy after the bath. His light brown pupil stared at me, probably asking what to do next.


    "I still don''t trust you, And I still need to know about how did you get here. And you don''t have to call me Master, at least in public. Slavery is illegal¡­for commoners at least, so we can''t make it public" I took a momentary pause to see his reaction, and he was a lot calmer now. I wonder what''s going on in his mind. "So you will need to follow me for a while, Let''s first report the terrorist attack to the police."


    As expected, This took him by surprise breaking his calm, he asked worried "What terrorist attack?"


    I explained everything to him in detail. He could be useful, Maybe he''s also connected to the terrorist without knowing he is.


    "What kind of organization police is? Is it like guardians of the society?"


    "Yeah, something like that¡­.mostly."


    "Why are you so passive-aggressive in everything you say?"


    "What''re you talking about?"


    "No, I mean like when you were talking about slavery, and now police. It''s just an observation."


    "No, I am not"


    Thump! Thump!


    As we were just talking, the walls started shaking like there was an earthquake, a very strong earthquake, But nothing was falling like it should normally. Just that walls kept shaking violently.


    To be continued...


    Authors note: I love Alya and Johan''s character. They''re like my favorite side characters, Clara is also nice. Is starting a cult legal?

 To You

    Johan''s pov


    The trembling got way more rhythmic, like someone was playing a piano, and with each keystroke, the room shook in a certain way. We exchanged a quick glance before rushing toward his room, where the trembling was strongest.


    Now, someone logical would say: Take cover! Run away! Call the authorities! But no¡ªthis was an opportunity. An opportunity to catch him. The real terrorist. Only the bravest and smartest men could see an opportunity like this. I guess I was too suspicious of him, he''s pretty much like me.


    I looked back at my partner with solemnness and comradery.


    Huh? Partner?


    He''s¡­ running away?


    "Don''t stop! Rush inside immediately." his sharp tone broke my fantasies immediately. Tears welled up in my eyes, I wanted to be an overpowered protagonist with a smart sidekick¡­..Not die¡­Not like this at least.


    Ah, what, as I was regretting everything the knife he was aiming at me before came right next to me, stuck inside the wooden floor before me. I instantly picked it up, ''looks like he''s not entirely abandoning me, maybe he got a plan or something.''


    Leor''s Pov


    I took a momentary pause to catch my breath. He can be the bait for a while¡ªat least until the Royal Guards arrive. They''ll definitely sense the commotion.


    Without wasting time, I threw the butchering knife from my pocket toward Johan. Grabbing a sharp-edged wooden stick I''d noticed earlier in James''s room, I jumped out of the window into the alleyway, clutching the nearby pipe tightly.


    My plan is simple: a pincer movement, something I learned in class. We''ll split up, attacking my room from different angles. If everything goes well, I''ll catch the intruder off guard and stab him from behind.


    Climbing the pipeline is easy enough. The clamps are large enough to give me a foothold and a steady grip. Each step creaked faintly, but I kept my movements quick and quiet, my heart pounding with adrenaline.


    I peeked in from my room''s window. Huh? I quickly climbed into the room and saw Johan was staring somewhere. My hands started sweating, My body twitching with fear. There was no one in the room. But the wall, where the text was written, The text was glowing in a bright golden shade, as bright as the ring on my finger. As we were staring at the text, Our eyes started bleeding, as if they had been stabbed multiple times with a spear, and then the spear was twisted multiple times. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    "Don''t look at it!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.


    The amount of blood we were losing was unnatural. Realizing I might go blind, I instantly closed my eyes and turned my head to the other side. My eyes were twitching, and I felt like itching them so hard, They felt really dry, Like when you don''t sleep at all for two days and then go to work like that. I felt intense pain, but weirdly I still had an intense desire¡­desire to look again at it. I covered my eyes with my hands. My body was trying to move on its own, like something unnatural was forcing it to look at it again. Trembling continued, but it was now much more chaotic Like someone was holding ''it'' and "shaking" the room very hard. It continued like this, for more than five minutes.


    In a single second, everything went completely silent, completely normal, like nothing was ever happening at all. I was still keeping my eyes closed and assumed Johan was doing the same. What if that magical text was still there, It was not tempting us anymore, but maybe it''s a trap.


    "Hey, the text disappeared¡­" Johan''s trembling voice broke my thoughts.


    I slowly opened my eyes. I still couldn''t see clearly. Everything was covered in a deep shade of crimson red. I cleaned my eyes with a handkerchief and then threw it to Johan. He also did the same.


    "Do you know what it was? So I was right about skills¡­" Johan asked with his body trembling and eyes brightening. ''How can he be excited at a time like this.''


    I ignored his weird behavior and shook my head "No I have no idea, It looked supernatural, out of this world, beautiful¡­..Did you also feel the strong desire to look at it again?"


    "No, I don''t think anything like that happened to me, I was just staring at it¡­.and my mind went blank, Even at the pain I had not a single thought about closing mine, Only when you shouted I got back to my senses¡­" His reply only made it more confusing. ''Why was I feeling such a strong desire to look at it? what the hell was it?


    I looked at the wooden wall again, It was completely normal, not even a single scratch.


    "I see, let''s search the house first, This is not normal, If this was a normal earthquake Royal guards and police would''ve surrounded this place. Only we felt it! Only this house was shaking, and only from inside. No one could ignore a shaking house. This is a crowded street."


    "Alright, but what if the intruder is some sort of superhuman, Even if he is choosing to play hide and seek which is already weird, Say we found him, could we really do anything to him? And don''t you find it weird that we immediately knew the source of the trembling was your room?" Saying that I was shocked would be an understatement. I didn''t even notice that I unconsciously knew where to go, If I assumed it was an earthquake, How could the intruder cause an earthquake? Even when I was outside, I saw my house was not trembling, like it should, But I entirely ignored it. This is¡­.How can I even explain this to someone? I looked at the stranger named Johan, He could notice the inconsistency but I couldn''t¡­..I should really keep him around.


    I reached out my hand towards Johan, my eyes meeting his, silently analyzing each other''s actions.


    "My name is Leor Milford." I smiled and introduced myself.


    He shook my hand, his grip firm, smiling back he replied "Nice to meet you Leor, My name is Johan Adler, you can call me Johan."


    To be continued..........


    Author''s Note: How was the chapter, I liked how I ended it. I am getting better every day. Give me some powerstones if you can. They say it helps with reaching more people. Whatever. Anyway, join my subreddit to learn more about my book, about me, advise me a little bit, and get images of the characters YES images. I want a community. A good freaking community. Name''s TYATE. Regards.


    Puffin__lore

 Telegraph

    Pulling my hand back, I said, "Let''s report it to the police first." I flipped open my pocket watch to check the time¡ªalmost ten. "But I don''t have time to go there. My class starts at eleven, and I can''t miss it."


    I also need to talk to Vane and Alya.


    "And clearly," I added, turning back to Johan, "you don''t know anything about our culture or norms, so you can''t file the report on your own."


    It was a tricky situation. To get to the station on time, I''d need a high-class carriage. Regular ones would take over an hour and a half on a good day, stopping constantly to drop off other passengers. High-class carriages didn''t have those delays, but even then, the trip would take at least forty minutes.


    "If you''re leaving for class, what about me?" Johan asked, his expression solemn, his eyes wide like a pleading puppy. "Should I stay here and keep an eye on your house?"


    "No, it''s better if you stick with me." I rubbed my temple, thinking quickly. "Ah, maybe I can send a telegraph to the police station. The local line should deliver it in two hours."


    "That could work," he said after a moment, though the uncertainty lingered in his voice. Then, narrowing his eyes, he asked, "But wait¡ªif you''re going to your class, how am I supposed to stay with you?"


    He folded his arms, clearly waiting for an explanation.


    "I mean, what''s stopping you from coming with me to class?" I said, shrugging. "You look like a noble, and my tuxedo suits you well. No one''s going to dare ask if you''re a real noble or not."


    Johan frowned. "What about ID checks? Don''t they verify that before letting students in?"


    I blinked, genuinely confused by the term. "What''s an ID?"


    His mouth twitched visibly "Right, you guys still hold witch trials."


    "Just remember to act more scholarly," I said, ignoring his comment. "And keep your mouth shut. Just smile and nod at anyone who looks at you."


    "What about the teachers? Won''t they notice the new face?"


    "Don''t worry about it," I replied. "There are 150 students in every class, and nobles can join whenever they want. Mid-semester, mid-lecture¡ªit doesn''t matter."


    His face froze, eyes widening to their limit.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "N-Nothing," he stammered, his expression unreadable. "Let''s just go."


    Ignoring his strange reaction, I turned and headed toward the door, motioning for him to follow.


    "Oh right, From now your name is Johan Von Adlerhof. if someone asks you''re a noble from the Aurelian Empire, who''s here to study at the most prestigious university in the world."


    "What the hell, why¡­..This story sounds too suspicious." Johan frowned.


    "That''s a Nobility from there, No one''s going to check if it''s true or not, Since both Empires have a friendly relationship, Or do you have a better plan." I shot up, raising an eyebrow.


    "I mean, It''s not like I know anything about whatever that place is, What if someone asked a random question, which I obviously cannot answer? My cover would be immediately blown¡­.They would be suspicious of me too."This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "You''re right¡­" I admitted, already pacing. Suddenly, inspiration struck. I dashed into James''s room, rummaging through a pile of old belongings, and emerged triumphantly with a dusty top hat and a wooden cane. Grabbing a cloth, I rubbed the grime away until both gleamed with a faint, worn charm. Satisfied, I handed them to the utterly perplexed Johan.


    "You''ll be an arrogant noble," I announced confidently. "If anyone asks you a question like that, look at them like they''re a foolish baboon. Trust me, they''ll back off immediately. Just carry yourself like you own the world."


    I turned back to Johan, expecting some hesitation or resistance. Instead, what greeted me made my face twitch.


    His light brown eyes were shining¡ªbright enough to rival the sun. If he had a tail, it''d be wagging at light speed. With his voice trembling with sheer excitement, he exclaimed, "I''ve always wanted to be an arrogant young master!"


    ¡­What have I done?


    Whatever. I passed him the cane and top hat, then fixed the collar of his tuxedo. Running my hand through his silky blonde hair, I styled it into something sleek and regal.


    "Alright," I said, masking my exasperation with forced calm. "Let''s go."


    We stepped out of the house and into the open street. I sighed, soaking in the warm sunlight after these relentlessly cold days. The occasional chilly breeze was a welcome relief, keeping the warmth from becoming overbearing. I reached for the lock, jiggling it a few times to ensure it was secure.


    Behind me, Johan muttered something under his breath, clearly annoyed. His words were too low for me to catch, and I wasn''t in the mood to care.


    We strolled towards the square at a leisurely pace. It was quiet between us, at least until I felt Johan nudge my arm from behind.


    "What?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder.


    "Do you have a girlfriend?" The question was so out of the blue that I froze mid-step.


    "Why are you asking?" I said, forcing a calm tone.


    "So you don''t," he replied, matter-of-factly, before going completely silent again.


    "Hey, I never said that!" I protested. "It''s not like I can''t get one. With my looks, it''d be as easy as eating a pastry." I straightened up, trying to sound confident. "I''m just not interested in meaningless relationships. When I meet the right woman, I''ll marry her."


    Johan gave me a look¡ªa mix of disbelief and pity that instantly made my blood boil.


    "What about you?" I shot back. "Do you have a girlfriend?"


    He didn''t answer, It only made me even more annoyed.


    "...Do you have any sisters?" he asked suddenly, his tone unusually calm.


    "Yes," I said cautiously. "Why do you ask?"


    There was no reply. He just kept walking, his gaze fixed ahead.


    It wasn''t the first time he''d acted weird, and it definitely wouldn''t be the last. With a sigh, I decided to drop it and let the matter go.


    We reached the square, and the telegraph station came into view just around the corner. The sign above the door creaked slightly in the breeze, and the faint hum of a nearby crowd filled the air. We stepped inside together, and a young receptionist¡ªprobably around twenty¡ªlooked up to greet us. She wore a simple grey cotton dress, layered with a waist-length fur coat that gave her an air of understated elegance.


    "How can I help you, gentlemen?" she asked with a pleasant smile, her gaze lingering a little too long on Johan.


    My jaw tightened instinctively, but I forced myself to smile back. "I need to send a telegraph to the police station. It''s urgent¡ªI''d appreciate it if it could arrive within the next hour or two."


    The receptionist''s smile softened, and she slid a piece of paper and a pen across the counter. "Of course. Is everything alright, sir?" she asked, her tone laced with concern.


    "Yes, everything''s fine," I replied quickly, keeping my voice calm. "It''s just a minor report¡ªnothing to worry about." The last thing I needed was any unnecessary attention.


    Taking the pen, I carefully wrote out a detailed description of the incident, leaving out any of the unnatural details. Without solid evidence, the last thing I wanted was to end up in a psych ward. I included my address and signed at the bottom.


    Satisfied, I looked up to hand over the paper¡ªand my eyes twitched at the sight before me.


    Johan was leaning casually against the counter, his hand lightly brushing the receptionist''s as they talked. She wasn''t pulling away; in fact, her cheeks were flushed, and her shy smile made it painfully obvious she was enjoying the attention.


    I gritted my teeth. Why¡­ why were they flirting? You''ve known each other for a minute!


    I inhaled deeply. I am calm. I am calm. I am calm.


    "Ahhm," I coughed pointedly. The sound broke their little moment, and both of them straightened up like guilty children caught stealing cookies. Johan stepped back immediately, adopting an innocent expression that fooled absolutely no one.


    I shot him a glare. The receptionist, still blushing, quickly took the telegraph from me and signed it before placing it into a box.


    I fetched her the one silver pound note from my wallet, Fees for the Telegraph. She took it and neatly placed it in the wooden box in front of her, Smiling professionally afterwards.


    "We''re done here," I said, my voice a little sharper than intended. "Let''s go catch a carriage, or we''ll be late."


    Johan followed without a word, and we left the station. I pushed the strange incident in the the back of my mind, Trying to forget it had happened.


    To be continued...........


    Author''s Notes: 1 Gold pound= 1000$/USD


    1 Silver pound= 10$/USD


    1 Bronze pound= 1$/USD


    Two kinds of currency, coins and notes, Coins are made of element it represents, SImple enough. Cash Notes are white in colour, with a yellow-greeninsh tint, their value mentioned on it, Every Note that is issued is with a specific kind of ink that only Iron Dome bank can produce, It''s Dome''s Banks most valued secret, since If out notes could be easily counterfitted meaning Every note would be worth paper, Resulting in their main producer, distributor to crumble with it.


    ADD IT TO YOUR COLLECTIONS!! YOU WANNA READ IT RIGHT? I AM PUBLISHING DAILY NOWDAYS!

 Imperial Gardens

    A carriage! I raised my arm to flag it down. Conveniently, it turned out to be Mr. Smith''s carriage. The familiar driver pulled the reins to a stop, his sharp eyes scanning us both. His gaze lingered on Johan, taking in the unfamiliar figure in his fine tuxedo. Johan simply nodded with an easy smile, giving off the air of a man who belonged wherever he stood.


    Finally, Mr. Smith''s eyes settled on me, softening slightly. With a brief nod, he motioned for us to climb aboard.


    "Good morning, Mr. Smith," I greeted him, flashing a polite smile as I stepped closer. "I''m running really late for class today, and I was wondering¡ªcould you not take any passengers on this trip? I''d really appreciate a private ride."


    Smith''s brow furrowed, and he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I could do that, Leor," he said after a moment. "But this time of day is when I get most of my customers. So¡­ I''d have to charge you around fifteen silver pounds." It was already a lot cheaper compared to alternative private ride options, I Can''t really bargain this one, That would be too shameless. As If reading my thoughts Smith offered in a polite tone. "If that''s too much, I can start a tab for you, and you can pay it off gradually."


    As expected, it''s a bad day for my wallet. I looked at Johan with cold eyes, but the bastard refused to meet my gaze. He was suddenly very interested in the cobblestones beneath his feet.


    "Thank you for the offer, Mr. Smith," I replied, forcing a tight smile. "No need for a tab. I''ll pay you upfront¡ªbetter to avoid the hassle." My hand dipped into my brown leather wallet, and my fingers brushed against exactly fifteen silver pounds. Tears welled up in my eyes. My face twitching unnaturally. ''Exactly fifteen silver pounds, HAHAHAHAHA Johan you better be worth it.''


    If my gaze had any weight, Johan would''ve already been crushed to nothing by it. But instead of begging for forgiveness, he leaned back, gazing at the overcast sky as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. The clouds? Beautiful. The breeze? Lovely. Me? Invisible.


    We climbed into the carriage, and with a sharp snap of the reins, Mr. Smith urged the horses forward. The wheels clattered against the cobblestones, the rhythmic sound filling the air as we headed toward the towering walls of the Imperial Gardens.


    "What exactly is this Imperial Gardens place, anyway?" Johan asked, his gaze unfocused, lost in thought.


    Smith glanced back briefly, his eyebrows raised in mild surprise. "Are you not from around here, sir?" he asked, his tone carrying a mix of curiosity and pride. Without waiting for a reply, he continued with enthusiasm.


    "That''s the heart of the Thornfield Empire! It''s said to be the most beautiful place in the world. Lush green gardens that stretch as far as the eye can see, fields of vibrant flowers, towering castles that touch the sky, and enough luxury to make a king jealous. There are thousands of fine restaurants, hundreds of... well, brothels." He coughed awkwardly before pressing on. "But most importantly, the Monarch''s castle is there."


    He paused for a moment, catching his breath, then added, "I don''t know all the finer details, of course. I''m just a common man. But Leor, you must''ve learned plenty about it at university, right? You probably meet folks from there all the time!"


    I leaned back against the seat, crossing my arms with a faint sigh. "Well yes, I learn a few things here and there, I can share some of them if you both really want to know¡­" Eh, I saw both of their glittering eyes staring at me, shining as bright as the sun, demanding an explanation.


    "Alright, Alright¡­" I looked at both of them while staring at Smith, ordering him to drive the carriage properly with my gaze. "The palace is Buckingham Palace, It''s at the center of the Imperial Gardens. It''s said to be surrounded by headquarters of three churches, goddess of stars Aethira, Goddess of Blood Valoria, and Goddess of Harvest Maelis. They all surround the palace in a triangular shape." I could see their eyes shining more and more brightly if that was possible. While Johan was grinning for some reason, I ignored the madman. It''s time to break their fantasies and ruin their day. I smiled maliciously inside my heart, Don''t blame me you asked for it.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    I continued, adopting a solemn tone. "But it''s not all flowers and sunshine. Smith you probably already know that only Nobles are allowed inside, Nobles own all the restaurants, businesses, etc you mentioned. Commoners only go inside to be servants, butlers, Gardners, sex workers, Gardners, etc. Now for a decade or so after Queen Victoria, and a lot of backlash from the Parliament of common people, nobles are allowed to sell their businesses, Mansions, and land to people who can afford them. It resulted in Wealthy merchants, Politicians, and all the high-class people from outside the walls migrating inside. Of course, They probably paid Millions of Gold pounds for it. Nobles only inherited it, So those who started facing financial problems, Sold some of their extra land for hundreds of times more than its original value, Wealthy commoners still brought them happily.


    After taking a deep breath I continued with a dark expression"There are thousands of Royal guards surrounding the walls, hundreds of thousands roaming inside, Their purpose? Protecting the people living inside. This all doesn''t sound half bad until you learn the reality of everything. Where do you think slave traders sell their ''product''? At auctions held inside! Keeping slaves is Illegal even for nobles, So they''re rebranded as ''Servants''. Those Nobles themselves control many slave traders and hold auctions. They order their goons to look for the most beautiful women outside the walls, Kidnap them, and Most likely kill everyone they know, so word doesn''t get out, Then keep them as ''maids'', In reality, they''re just sex slaves. When they get too old for those filthy Nobles around 20-21, they''re sold to luxury Brothels, where they catch some disease and die from it in their 30s."


    I could see their eyes getting dimmer and dimmer, their face darkening, their innocence fleeting away.


    "Didn''t you say your University is inside Imperial Gardens, How could you, Mr. Smith''s carriage could enter? You both are also commoners right?" Johan asked, forcing himself to stay calm.


    "Right, and that was why no commoner could imagine going to that University, But after they were allowed, solutions found themselves, The University council basically spent a lot on extending it to the outside of the walls, So we don''t really need to go through the gardens to get there, But we technically would still be in the Gardens, and students could also romme around nearby area even as commoners. This is all because Chancellor Fydor VIncent holds way more power than a common noble, nearly comparable to the King in status, No one would dare question his decision, And for safety, there are already Royal guards."


    Phew. My mouth was dry due to all that explaining, But it was worth it. More people should know the truth about the world they live in rather than holding onto their unrealistic fantasies. Smith is also an impressionable young man, people like him should know about it even more. I still kept out some secrets like cults, Politics, illegal research, etc which I learned from Vane and Alya.


    "We''re here!" Smith''s sharp voice broke my monologue, I looked up and it was 64th Square of Wellington, The area was filled with bustling noises of people shopping, or just talking. Here most High middle-class people lived.


    "These people are truly the most obnoxious, people-pleasing scum I have ever seen," Johan whispered in my ear in a quiet voice, Surprising I couldn''t agree more.


    "They care about their reputation and status a lot, So don''t ever dare say it out loud," I whispered back, warning him.


    Just above us, there were two towering gates, and a small doorway, which was the only entrance inside the University. On the towering walls, there were some Royal guards keeping an eye on people from above. It''s necessary to huge amounts of terrorist attacks these days.


    We both leisurely walked towards the small doorway, where an intimidating man glanced towards us, motioning us to halt.


    To be continued...¡­.


    Author''s Note, Extras: It''s rumored that when the Thornfield Imperial Academy expanded outside the walls, There were thousands of Houses of the Middle working class completely destroyed by their construction. They were fairly compensated for it, but still, they forcefully destroyed their houses, Making them homeless, People couldn''t go to their jobs and basically wandered in the cold winter until they paid some hotel high price for a night. Many people actually went completely broke due to this, forcing them to move to the outskirts, or Some to work 10 times more in hard labour. Some middle-class people who couldn''t afford to keep their children were forced to sell them to slavery. This incident tarnished the university''s reputation to a threatening degree, and then afterward if any reporter even mentioned this incident, mysteriously disappeared.

 Johan Von Adlerhof has mental issues

    "Good morning, gentlemen. You know the procedure, right?" The guard greeted us with a polite nod before stepping forward to search our bodies.


    This all started after a noble smuggled a rifle into the university, hidden in his clothes. He''d snapped after enduring relentless bullying, and in a moment of fury, shot three students dead, each bullet landing squarely in their temples.


    After a thorough pat-down, the guard motioned me forward. Another guard stood by the door, holding a small register. He offered it to me without a word. I signed it instinctively, returning it before stepping aside to wait for Johan.


    Johan was next, and I couldn''t help but notice his nervousness. Sweat beaded on his forehead, trickling down in streams. Despite this, his face remained unnervingly blank, as if carved from stone. My face darkened seeing him behave like this.


    The guard''s hands moved quickly and efficiently, checking Johan''s tuxedo. His fingers slid into every pocket with practiced ease. But when he reached Johan''s waistband, his body stiffened. Without hesitation, the guard stepped back, pulling a sleek black revolver from his waist belt.


    "Hands in the air! Both of you!" he barked, his voice sharp enough to make my ears ring.


    Before I could react, the second guard, the one holding the register, had his gun trained on my chest. Around us, chaos erupted. Guards on the walls above turned their rifles in our direction, their barrels gleaming ominously. From behind, the heavy sound of boots thundering against stone grew louder.


    I sighed inwardly. Of course, university guards didn''t care whether you were a noble or a commoner. If you were deemed a threat, they had the right to shoot first and ask questions later. Although they might "disappear" after killing someone of importance.


    I glanced at Johan, hatred flashing in my eyes. Without a word, we both raised our hands and dropped to our knees.


    "Drop the weapon, you with the blonde hair!" the guard shouted, gesturing at Johan with his revolver.


    Johan. Of course.


    I turned toward him, my gaze icy and sharp. His expression remained unreadable, but I could see his fear and panic beneath his calm mask easily.


    Then, without so much as a word, Johan pulled something from inside of his pants and tossed it onto the ground in front of him.


    A butchering knife.


    He still had that damn thing on him?


    The main guard crouched down, carefully picking up the knife. He turned it over in his hands, examining it with a furrowed brow.


    I clenched my fists, trying to mask the icy dread pooling in my stomach. Damn it, Johan. What were you thinking? Or... was this his plan all along, to get me arrested? My gaze darted toward him, suspicion gnawing at me.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Johan looked like he was on the verge of tears, his face pale and beads of sweat rolling down his temple. His heart was pounding so loudly, that I swore I could hear it from where I knelt. Yeah, definitely not a mastermind. This idiot has no clue what he''s doing.


    "It''s a misunderstanding, sir!" I blurted out, desperate to de-escalate.


    The guard with the revolver aimed at my chest shifted slightly, nudging the cold barrel closer to my heart. "Quiet!" he barked, though his posture relaxed ever so slightly.


    The guard examining the knife straightened up, his sharp eyes darting between Johan and me. "Explain yourselves," he ordered his tone firm but less aggressive. After all, it was just a knife¡ªnot a gun or something more deadly.


    Johan froze like a deer caught in headlights, struggling to form coherent words. His jaw worked silently for a moment before the guard sighed and pressed further. "Carrying any weapon is illegal, especially in the University. Which house are you from, boy?"


    The question was loaded, and the guard''s tone hinted at an expectation. Likely, he assumed Johan was from some wealthy family that could pay their way out of trouble. Nobles always had a way of "settling" things, even when criminal charges were involved.


    I noticed the guard subtly motion to his colleagues on the wall, and the rifles aimed at us lowered. For now, at least, the situation seemed a little less likely to end in a bullet.


    "My name is Johan Von Adlerhof, I was here to study in this said to be world-renowned university, It was my first day, And amazing what excellent treatment, as expected from the greatest University in the world." Johan''s cold laughter echoed all over the place.


    ''Wow, he can act well.'' I complimented him in my heart, I could never be this shameless. I shook my head with newfound respect.


    "But¡­Sir, you were carrying a weapon, please forgive our rude behavior, we can never be too careful. It''s all to make this place safer for gentlemen like you." The main guard spoke respectfully, almost sucking up to Johan. The one who was aiming a revolver at my heart silently withdrew it, and got back to his seat, like he was never threatening to kill someone just now.


    I shook my head ''Oh, Johan the arrogant noble won''t work in front of guards, it''s just for the students. Ah, I got a better plan.'' I smiled maliciously in my heart.


    "Johan¡­.He suffers from PTSD," I said, lowering my voice and glancing at him with what I hoped looked like concern. "His parents¡­ they used to beat him over the smallest mistakes. They''re gone now, but the trauma lingers. I''m basically his guardian and forgot to disarm him before we came here. Please, can you let this go? I promise to be more careful in the future."


    The guard''s stern expression softened, and he cast a pitying look at Johan. "Poor lad," he murmured. "Not all parents deserve children."


    I nearly winced at how thick he was laying it on, but Johan''s clenched fists and trembling shoulders told me he was fuming.


    "Come on, little brother," I said gently, taking Johan''s arm as though guiding a fragile child. "It''s okay now. I''ll give you your medicine after class."


    We both passed right through guards, the guard with the register automatically offered it to Johan, who signed it without showing any emotions.


    The guard patted Johan''s shoulder, treating him like a wounded puppy, and stepped aside. "Be careful, There won''t be any next time lads!"


    ''Yeah right Madman, like you were not just aiming at my freaking heart.'' I cursed the guard under my breath.


    Johan looked at me coldly, mumbling something in his mouth. Probably threatening to kill me or something.


    "You are welcome" I flashed my white teeth to him, a bright smirk creeping up on my face.


    To be continued¡­..


    Author''s Note: I need a good book cover! Ah, It''s so fucking ugly, the one I am currently using. I mean there could definitely be better ones. For AI it''s not that bad, but still it doesn''t speak like just look at RI or Lotm.''s I want my cover to be that good. Any thoughts?


    Join the community: r/TYATE, Add it to your follows, and Give me some reviews cause for every 20 reviews there will be one extra chapter.

 Through the Cracks

    Third Person Pov:


    They were both now walking towards the D8 block at a fast pace. The university is quite big, Every building is neatly structured and follows an Alphabetical order So D8 was still quite far. They will barely make it in time.


    Johan''s mind was still reeling from what had happened at the entrance. His body trembled with an underlying fear, an unsettling feeling gnawing at him. ''In my heart, I actually feel a little grateful to Leor,'' he thought, his brow furrowed in contemplation. ''I need to improve... if I want to survive. Getting back home shouldn''t even be on my mind right now. This is the real world, not a dream or a game. I have a feeling that this time if I die, I''ll die for real. I need power... there''s definitely something more to all of this. That text¡­'' His thoughts drifted back to the golden text he had encountered earlier.


    Leor glanced at Johan, noting the tense, thoughtful expression on his face. His own expression shifted, his gaze becoming more serious. "Why did you keep the knife with you?" he asked, his voice steady but probing.


    Johan hesitated, then shrugged his shoulder "I wonder why¡­maybe to feel safe, Don''t worry I don''t have any bad intentions against you"


    "I can see that much." Leor''s tone softened slightly, though his eyes remained sharp as if scrutinizing Johan for something unspoken. "Anyway, let''s leave it at that. We''ve survived twice now...just don''t put me in those situations again."


    Leor''s gaze lingered on Johan, his mind stirring with a strange sense of familiarity. A weird thought crept up in the back of his head. ''I feel like this isn''t the first time I have met Johan as if he was here before, around me...'' He quickly shook the thought away, unsure why it felt so familiar. ''No, that''s impossible. I just met him today. Maybe he just reminds me of James¡­''


    Johan cleared his throat, refocusing on the moment. "You''re right... We''re almost near D8," he muttered, his voice distant as he caught sight of the towering structure ahead.


    ''The entire university had a peculiar feel to it. It''s like being in a 90s detective movie,'' Johan mused, his eyes scanning the grand, meticulously designed architecture. ''Every building is so beautifully structured, like the old historical churches I''ve seen in pictures online.''


    ''People here are cold, No one really approaches or greets anyone. Everyone is lost in their own small groups. It''s exactly like my old world, no one really cares about anyone else without reason.'' A heavy sigh escaped me. ''I was hoping for something more¡ªmaybe a cute anime princess jumping to hug me, clinging to me, being obsessed with me, like in those magic academies from web novels.'' His head drooped ''But... the world is just too cruel¡­''


    Looking at Johan''s sad face Leor''s eyes froze with guilt ''Maybe I was too hard on him, he''s in a new place, he doesn''t know anyone here. I should at least try to treat him better.'' "Yeah let''s run or we will be late."


    With that Leor started running as fast as he could, Johan following him with ease. They rushed inside the building, Both reaching in front of Leor''s class in matter of seconds. ''Thankfully it''s on the first floor'' Johan sighed ''They don''t even have elevators, I remember how painful it was on those cruel stairs when elevators were full.''This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Haa! Haa!" Leor''s heavy breaths filled the narrow wooden doorway, drawing the attention of every single student inside. Johan, in stark contrast, stood beside him with his back straight, arms at his sides, looking completely unfazed.


    "Oh, Leor! Are you alright?" Mr. Robinson''s voice rang out from the front of the room, tinged with concern. "And who''s the new face with you?"


    Johan stayed silent, his expression neutral, as Leor offered a quick explanation before finding his seat. The lecture began shortly after, the topic immediately gripping Johan''s attention.


    The room settled into silence as Mr. Robinson began to speak, his voice deliberate and steady. "Today''s topic is the psychology of soldiers¡ªand how to use it to your advantage in battle." He turned to the board and wrote the word loyalty in clean, precise strokes.


    "A soldier''s loyalty is their greatest strength," he continued, pacing the room. "But it''s also their leash. Tighten the leash, and they''ll follow you anywhere. Break it, and they''ll scatter like leaves in the wind. Understand this, and you''ll understand how to control not just soldiers but armies." His gaze swept across the room, daring the students to challenge his words.


    "It''s important for soldiers to build an emotional attachment to their commander and each other. You may have heard of adrenaline, right?" Mr. Robinson asked with a questioning gaze, Most students nodded calmly. After giving a small explanation for students who didn''t know, he continued "They can enter a kind of flow, that allows them to go beyond their limits, to protect that emotional bond in their head they will do anything. This results in pushing an intense desire to survive, and to survive they win, while they also become stronger. It can basically change the whole situation, and it can be a useful tool to control soldiers. Since survivors will feel a great emotional attachment to their fellow survivors."


    Johan leaned forward slightly, his normally calm demeanor giving way to quiet intensity. ''It is so fucking interesting, why don''t they teach us something like that. Ahh, maybe they don''t wanna nurture Napoleans¡­''


    The lecture ended all too quickly, leaving the students to file out in a low hum of conversation. Johan walked alongside Leor, their steps quiet and deliberate. Leor paused, leaning towards the stone wall, just beside the doorway, scanning every face leaving the class.


    Johan lingered beside him quietly, arms crossed, his thoughts racing as he replayed the contents of the lecture. ''Psychology of soldiers, loyalty, control¡­ It all makes sense now. This world doesn''t just glorify power¡ªit''s obsessed with dominance, from the battlefield to the classroom. And these people¡­ They''re all psychopaths or fanatics.


    Johan''s eyes flickered back to the dwindling crowd of students exiting the room. Everyone here¡ªstudents, teachers, or maybe the entire world, they all follow a religion. Thornfield Empire thrives on it. Nine religions, each competing for power and followers. So far, I''ve only scratched the surface. The Goddess of Stars, the Goddess of Blood, the Goddess of Harvest¡ªjust three of the most common ones. But that''s just the tip of it. I need to gather more information¡­''


    Leor''s shifting stance caught Johan''s attention. He was still watching the students, his brow furrowed as if searching for someone in particular.


    ''Leor''s careful. Calculated. Maybe even a little paranoid. But he''s not reckless, and he hasn''t handed me over to the church or tried to kill me¡­At least didn''t kill me. He''s rational. At least¡­ more rational than most people in this crazy world. I should stick with him for now, that''s probably the safest option¡­Since he still chose to listen to me first.''


    "Oh, Alya, Vana! Finally found you," Leor''s sharp yet friendly voice cut through Johan''s thoughts, snapping him out of his silent monologue. Johan instinctively looked up, his focus shifting to the source of the interruption.


    To be continued¡­..


    Author''s note Additional time: Goddess of stars is said to be the guide of destiny. If you pray to her daily she will fix your threads, and show you the right path. She''s said to be the gentlest of all beings. She is fate. She is luck. Horoscopes are also extremely popular due to this religion. It''s said that some Archbishops of Churches can accurately read your stars, and give you the most probable prophecy. One question, Is third person pov better or first person, which one do you prefer?And Join the community: r/TYATE, Add it to your follows, cause for every 20 follow there will be one extra chapter.

 Friends

    Leor''s pov


    ''Today''s lecture was... interesting to say the least. Johan looked oddly giddy the entire time. Maybe he''s into this sort of thing. Not that it matters much.'' I was waiting for Vane and Alya to show up. The classroom was too crowded, making it hard to keep track of anyone, though I thought I saw Alya earlier. They''re not the type to miss a class anyway.


    ''Finally, they arrived.''


    Like me and Vane, Alya is around 19, though she carries herself with an air that makes her seem older in a good way¡ªor maybe just harder to ignore. Her piercing blue eyes are as deep as the ocean, sharp and clear, with a weight that makes you think twice before holding her gaze. Her pale light skin was dusted with faint freckles, subtle but noticeable enough to add a touch of charm. Her midnight-black hair, streaked with subtle streaks of violet, fell down her back, messy enough to give her a disheveled elegance. A few stray strands fell across her face, framing her features in a way that made it seem like she didn''t care.


    She carried herself with a natural grace, her figure subtly accentuated by a neatly tailored, flowy black pencil skirt that struck the perfect balance¡ªneither ostentatious nor overly modest. The fabric skimmed her curves with understated allure, hinting at the fullness of her hips and the gentle taper of her waist, a silhouette both captivating and effortlessly elegant. Complementing the skirt, she wore a perfectly tailored black peplum jacket, its structured fit adding a touch of sophistication. Draped over her shoulders, a midnight-black overcoat shielded her from the chill, its weighty folds enhancing the quiet elegance of her look.


    My gaze lingered on her for a while, but I still couldn''t ignore the tall man beside her. Vane stands out with a sharp, captivating aura. He had a lean figure. Dark black eyes, which had an unusual sharpness to them, like they were calculating everything in their way, his jawline sharp, with handsome facial features. His hair, though unruly, but in a way that suits him, It''s short, just enough to fall over his forehead, with no parting. Giving him a wild but formal look.


    His attire exudes sophistication, a cotton white shirt, crisp and immaculately tailored, paired with sleek black pants, that all emphasize a muscular silhouette. Over his shirt, he dons a luxurious black waistcoat adorned with subtle grey streaks, adding a touch of understated elegance and refinement. The fabric glimmers faintly under the light, hinting at its high-quality craftsmanship. Around his neck, he wears a striking locket, its hues a mesmerizing yellow-orange, reminiscent of a setting sun, adding a warm and personal touch to his otherwise formal look.


    They were both bickering loudly about something while walking out, all the heads were turning to look at them at least once. Hearing my shout, they stopped to look at the source.


    "It''s messed up Leor! I think we will need to become terrorists." Vane yelled something bizarre, Making every student, and teacher in the hallway freeze, everyone turning to look at us with their mouth agape, probably contemplating reporting us to the police or army. ''Amazing, How bad a day could get?''


    I ran through the stone floor towards the Lauriston garden in the academy as fast as I could. ''I don''t know them.'' Johan also immediately joined me in the run keeping up with my pace, following me quietly. I looked back and saw Both Alya and Vane were also chasing us as if chasing a burglar, Alya was running while picking her dress up with her fingers from the corners to not get it dirty or slip on the fabric, which made her a bit slow but she was still keeping up with us. while Vane was chasing us like a madman, leaning forward, with his back straight and his arms moving rhythmically with every step, abusing his muscular physique to the limits.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Haa! The cool breeze hit us, beautiful long trees and Jasmine flowers filling our vision. I paused to take a breath, making Johan stop as well. We finally made it outside. Both Alya and Vane also caught up with us.


    Ha! Ha! Ha! Alya whipping the sweat from her forehead, and fixing her peplum jacket was breathing heavily. She yelled in a high-pitched voice throughout the deep breaths "Why did you¡­ run?"


    "Today was wild enough, I don''t think I wanna become a terrorist!" I stared at Vane with a sharp gaze making him flinch. I introduced Johan as Johan Von Adlerhof, hiding the situation for now, Since there is clearly a much bigger problem going on for them.


    "Anyway, what''s with becoming a terrorist? Are you finally giving up on being a Viscount and running away to the outskirts?" I asked Vane with a half-serious half joking tone.


    "No no, We wouldn''t need to become terrorists for that! It''s that King Edwards¡­"


    "He''s trying to force my father to marry me to his son!" after catching her breath, Alya cut off Vane, explaining the root of the problem herself in a heavy voice.


    Her solemn tone made my fists clench, and My jaw tighten. ''It was the first time I had heard her sound so hopeless¡­'' After taking a few deep breaths, and calming myself down, I asked in a sharp tone "How could he even dare to force Andrei Dmitrievich Ruriks? Shouldn''t he be begging for his support? He just got the throne¡­The audacity, even for a King, He can''t just ignore the Great Royal families.


    Johan flinched looking at me, as he knew nothing about the political situation.


    "That''s exactly what I was thinking, but she didn''t answer me then, that''s why we were fighting before." after a momentary pause of hesitation, he continued "And¡­I also tried to talk to my Father about it¡­But he just said "This isn''t our family''s problem. It''s just a marriage anyway¡­Ruriks are also benefiting from the relationship a lot, It would be a good decision to use her as a bridge for a relationship to start between the great Royal families and the King. Only if the daughter was still there, I could''ve married you to her¡­" I tried to argue with him, but he kept defusing it." Vane added, making our frown deepen.


    "But¡­Alya, your father wouldn''t agree to something like this, right" I asked her with high hopes again. It was known throughout the whole Empire, How much the wealthiest man liked to pamper his only daughter.


    She shook her head, making me completely speechless. "No, I wouldn''t think that way, I learned from Vane''s sources¡­that he''s giving him a position as a military General, and control over five hundred thousand soldiers. He will probably hire a puppet General to do the work while nurturing the army as a personal army. He always wanted an army, but even with all the money in the world, Nobles can''t raise their own armies of that caliber."


    "Then¡­He will probably treat this as a political marriage¡­Most Noble women are destined to have one¡­" Vane added in a thoughtful tone.


    I was shaking visibly, my breath trembling. My body felt heavy, unbearably heavy. I felt a sharp pain in my heart like I''d never felt before. ''This is officially the worst day of my life¡­''


    To be continued


    Author''s Note: A question, Did you like the vivid descriptions of Vane and Alya? Or was it too long? Do tell me. Next chapter will be a special, important one. I loved writing it.


    Join the community: r/TYATE, Add it to your collections.


    Additional time: Alya Dmitrievich ruriks is known for being the most beautiful young lady in the entire Kingdom. There''s a line popular about her "She was a canvas upon which the Gods had painted every dream, every wish, every desire, and every need for beauty. She is getting thousands of marriage proposals from royals all over the world, giving anything to marry her from when she was fourteen. Of course, everyone was promptly rejected.

 He doesn’t feel like a human

    Third person pov:


    "What do you want? Will you¡­marry the prince?" Leor finally formed some words after extensive silence.


    "...Yes, I can''t go¡­against my father¡­" Alya replied in a forced calm voice which still couldn''t suppress the uncertainty in her tone.


    Leor''s fists clenched. "I asked¡­ what do you want?" he demanded, his voice rising sharply, echoing in the space between them.


    Tears slipped silently down Alya''s cheeks. "I don''t want to¡­" she admitted, her voice barely audible.


    Leor just as he was about to reply felt a sharp pain in his head, which no one else was able to see. He was standing with his posture straight, completely unreadable to the outside world, staring at Alya''s crying face, His mind slowly becoming a mess due to the sharp pain.


    ''Why''s she crying? Stop crying! Please stop crying. It hurts. My head hurts. What a mess, I wish I never met you. Huh? What the hell am I thinking? Why am I thinking like this? I am grateful that I met her! Can I go back home? Can you shut the hell up? Who even are you? Comfort her first.'' Leor took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart, in an instant the pain went away just as it had appeared. Leor felt a warm feeling in his heart instead of that heavy pain. ''Was I just¡­talking to myself? No¡­no that was¡­that couldn''t be me. What was that pain¡­They didn''t notice it? I thought I wailing loudly.''


    Suppressing the inner turmoil in his heart, Leor forced a faint smile on his Lips. Replying to Alya in a soothing tone, as soothing as he could muster. "Then there''s nothing to worry about" He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "First, try talking to your father. Be honest. Tell him how you feel. Or¡ª" His smile twisted to a creepy one, "Maybe say something like ''I will kill myself if you married me to him.''


    Johan flinched visibly, ''What the fuck is wrong with you man? At least first try to stop her crying before teaching her how to manipulate her father¡­.'' Similar thoughts also brewing in Vane''s head.


    Leor continued, ignoring their disturbed gaze "And, If that doesn''t work out, Vane also has some connections with Goddess''s church¡­" I looked at Vane, as he nodded in response.


    "Yes, If talking to your father doesn''t work out, I can at least arrange your escape¡­New identity, and enough gold pounds for you to live the rest of your life comfortably. So I think this¡­If you want to, tell me¡­come to Goddess Aethira''s church near your house." His voice wavered slightly, but the meaning was clear behind his words.


    Alya''s sobs quieted, though tears still streamed down her cheeks. She wiped them away, regaining her composure bit by bit. "Thank you¡­ both of you," she said softly. Taking a deep breath, she stood straighter, her usual calm, unreadable demeanor sliding back into place.


    She turned to Leor, her voice firm. "Can you teach me more ways to manipulate my father? Running away is my last option."


    Leor smirked proudly, trying to lighten Alya''s mood in his own way. "Sure thing. I''ve got like a hundred more ideas. But you''ll need to practice delivery more¡ªit''s all in the execution."


    "Ah, let''s go to the Barbara''s and get some Gateau first. I am literally starving, Treats on me." Vane said in a cheery tone. Turning toward Johan, his tone sharpened. "And maybe you could properly introduce your friend to us."


    ''Something''s off about that guy¡­ his aura¡­ it''s not human,'' Vane thought, his gaze silently studying the quiet Johan.


    "Yes, that sounds great!" ''He sounded like he didn''t trust Johan. Well that''s normal, he does look a bit suspicious.'' Ignoring the thoughts, Leor replied before turning to Alya with a smug grin. "I''ll teach you while we eat, disciple!" trying to lighten her mood.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Playing along, Alya bowed gracefully. "Your word, my command, Master!"


    Johan standing beside Leor thought quietly ''Did they all escape from some kind of Mental asylum? They look like the kind of people that buy the haunted house, I don''t feel safe with them¡­Save me, my beautiful blonde-haired female knight!''


    The group walked side by side down the bricked pathway of Lauriston Garden toward the academy''s exit. The red bricks and greenery by the side made this path perfect for letting go of all troubles. The air was chill, as expected from the winters of the Thornfield Empire. Leor and Alya were deep in conversation, discussing the best words and expressions to manipulate Andrei Dmitrievich Ruriks, grinning from ear to ear. Leor''s hands moved wildly, punctuating his points with exaggerated movements, while Alya nodded enthusiastically, like she was taking mental notes of everything Leor said.


    As they walked Vane''s stare towards Johan grew intense by the second, his brows knitting tightly together like deciphering every nook of Johan''s body. Johan, sweating nervously, cast pleading glances at Leor, but his partner was lost in another world, oblivious to his silent cries for help.


    "I¨CI am into girls sir!" breaking the uneasy silence, Johan said with a forced smile.


    "Do I look like I care about that?" said Vane with an evil grin, probably trying to intimidate Johan, which looked to him like it was working as Johan was visibly shivering like about to shit himself. ''No¡­ it feels like he''s pretending, like he wants me to think he''s scared so I''ll back off. Could he be a slave trader targeting Leor''s sister¡­ or maybe a high-ranking cultist? I can''t be too forward with my suspicion, I need to act friendly to understand his abilities properly. Vane smiled deeply looking at Johan with a soft gaze trying to comfort him making Johan widen his eyes in alarm.


    ''Help Mom !'' Johan screamed internally as he suddenly darted forward, placing himself between Leor and Alya, startling them both. Vane froze in place, his mind racing. ''Was that a warning? Is he saying he''ll kill them? I can''t risk taking action now¡­ they''d get caught in the crossfire. They''re just normal humans.''


    "What the hell are you doing?" Leor asked quietly, narrowing his eyes at Johan.


    "Can I¡­ walk in the middle?" Johan stammered, glancing nervously between Alya and Leor.


    "Whatever." Leor shrugged, giving it no further thought.


    The rest of the walk passed uneventfully, allowing them all a chance to breathe. The fresh scent of flowers and trees from Lauriston Garden calmed their nerves. Vane was still staring at Johan from time to time making him flinch everytime. Finally, they reached the large exit doors, pacing steadily toward the smaller doorway on the left. The guard from earlier glanced briefly at Johan but said nothing, letting them pass without comment.


    "Barbara''s Bakery, finally!" Vane exclaimed, a small smile tugging at his lips.


    "Is it really a good time to be out like this? We still don''t know what happened at your house," Johan whispered in Leor''s ear, his voice barely audible.


    "You''re right, but¡­ well, we''re just grabbing some lunch. Besides, Gateau is Alya''s favorite¡ªit might help cheer her up. You''ve probably never tried it either, so it''ll be a good experience for you too," Leor replied, his tone evasive, as though trying to avoid returning to the topic of going back.


    They climbed the four wooden steps leading to the medium-sized bakery. The building resembled a cozy wooden hut, its blackwood door adorned with intricate floral patterns etched into the small glass window. The rich, inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries wafted out, enticing anyone nearby to step inside.


    "Welcome!" A girl, around sixteen years old, greeted them with a bright smile, her tone as warm as the bakery''s atmosphere.


    To be continued......


    Author''s note: Join the community: r/TYATE, Add it to your follows


    TYATE Additional Time: Gateau is a light and airy dessert that looks as delicate as it tastes. It typically has a soft, golden-brown exterior with a smooth and slightly domed surface. Inside, it reveals a fluffy, pale yellow crumb. The cake is often layered with whipped cream or buttercream in between, giving it a rich yet airy appearance. The top might be finished with a light dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of chocolate, or fresh fruit for decoration.


    It''s made by creaming butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, then gradually adding eggs and vanilla. Once combined, flour is gently folded in to maintain the airiness, ensuring the sponge is light. The batter is then baked until it''s golden and bounces back when lightly pressed. Once cooled, the layers are assembled with cream or frosting, and any additional toppings are added to complete the cake.


    It''s said to originate from an ancient civilization that lived once in the Aurelin Empire, now forever lost to history.

 Love and hate. Two sides of the same coin

    "Oh, it''s Master Vane." Her smile softened as she recognized the handsome man with a rugged face.


    "How''s your mother doing, Barbara?" Vane asked, his tone laced with genuine concern.


    "She''s doing better now. The doctor said there''s no risk of death¡­" Her voice wavered slightly before she stepped out from behind the counter and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. "Thank you¡­ If it weren''t for you, she wouldn''t have made it."


    Vane gently patted her head, his expression calm. "No need to thank me. I''ve been coming to this place since even before you were born¡ªI care about your mom, too."


    She pulled back, her smile tinged with gratitude. "Thank you¡­ really," she said again, her voice softer now. Composing herself, she returned to her seat and asked politely, "What can I get you today, sir?"


    "Hmm¡­" Vane paused thoughtfully. "Four slices of gateau, two Victorian sponge cakes, and four regular black coffees."


    Turning back to us, he asked, "Do we need anything else?"


    "Umm, something spicy too. It''s all sweet. If we eat something spicy before the gateau, it tastes much better!" Alya chimed in, her tone thoughtful.


    "You heard her, Barbara. Anything you''d recommend?" Vane asked.


    Barbara''s face lit up with enthusiasm. "Actually, yes! I just tried something new, and the results were amazing," she said, taking a quick breath before continuing. "I call this Fire-Spiced Mutton." She pointed toward a dish behind the glass display.


    The mutton looked dark brown, glistening under the lights, with a rich curry draped over it. The deep brown sauce hinted at layers of flavor, making the dish almost irresistible to look at. We couldn''t help but stare, imagining how it would taste, as Barbara added, "I used high-quality mutton pieces, soaked them for two days in Maltic beer with a mix of spices and a bit of sugar. Then I roasted them to perfection, removing any extra bacteria, and topped it with a spicy curry made with potatoes, onions, and a blend of vegetables."


    "That sounds delicious. We''ll have four plates of that too," Vane said eagerly.


    My mouth was already watering from the sound of it, ''It sounds like some super expensive steaks made in five-star restaurants. I never got the chance to try them¡­''


    Barbara led us to our table. It was a polished wooden slab, its smooth surface free of unnecessary ornamentation, save for buttercream and sauces that looked homemade. The wood''s natural grain added a rustic charm, its dark hue matching the bakery''s cohesive aesthetic. Instead of traditional legs, the table appeared to float just above the ground, seamlessly connected to bench-like seats on either side.


    Leor and Alya sat on the right bench, forcing me and Vane to take the left. The arrangement left us directly facing each other, the polished black wood table standing solidly between us.


    Leor broke the silence, his voice quiet but serious. "Did something happen to her mother, Vane?"


    Vane sighed, his gaze softening. "Yeah¡­ She nearly died from a sudden heart attack. They had some savings, but it all got used up on her medical bills. Things got worse when their income dropped¡ª Barbara was not as good as her mother at running the bakery. She couldn''t pay the waitresses, so they left too." He paused before adding, "I just helped out a bit by covering her mother''s medical bills."A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Leor leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. Then, with a mocking sneer, he muttered, "Waste of money. Should''ve let that bitch die."


    For a fleeting moment, His ember-green pupils darkened, turning pitch black ¡ªso quick it was almost imperceptible.


    "Huh?" For a moment, Vane''s eyes widened to the limit. He quickly composed himself, his voice turning cold and sharp. "What the hell did you just say?" Vane yanked Leor by his collar, his voice lowering to a dangerous growl. "Are you out of your mind? What if she heard you? Do you have any idea how much that would hurt her?"


    Alya''s eyes widened in shock, her gaze fixed on Leor. Her expression wavered between disbelief and denial, as though struggling to process what she had just heard. "Leor¡­ are you alright?" she asked softly, her voice heavy with concern. Tentatively, she placed her right hand on his shoulder, her touch light yet searching.


    "Hey, are you alright man?" I asked feeling a bit worried about him. My gaze flicked to his eyes again, unease settling in my chest. Was I the only one who noticed his pupils darken?


    Leor blinked, his ember eyes narrowing slightly as he looked between Vane, Alya, and me. "What''s gotten into you three?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion. His hands instinctively moved to pry Vane''s grip off his collar. "And why are you¡­ ? Did I say something wrong?"


    His gaze shifted to Alya, her worried expression making him frown. "And you¡­ what''s with that face? I don''t understand. What''s wrong?"


    Vane''s grip on Leor''s collar loosened slightly, his expression shifting from fury to unease. His voice, sharp as a blade, cut through the tense silence. "Are you still reading those mystical books? I''ve told you countless times to stop it!"


    "Huh?" Leor frowned, confusion flickering across his face. "I stopped reading them ages ago¡ªright after you told me to. I haven''t touched one since. Why bring that up now?"


    Alya stepped closer, her voice softer but laced with concern. "Leor¡­ this isn''t like you." She hesitated, her hand still resting on his shoulder as if trying to steady him. "You''ve never said anything like this before. Are you feeling alright? You feel¡­ different."


    Her gaze bore into him, almost pleading. "Are you possessed by something¡­ an evil God?¡­ Devil? You should go to the Church first thing today, bathe in holy water¡­"


    Leor''s confusion only grew, his eyes darting from Alya to Vane. Finally, he looked to me, a silent plea for an explanation. With a quiet sigh, I leaned closer and murmured what he had said, keeping my voice low enough not to alarm the little lady.


    Leor froze on the spot, His pupils dilating to the max. His hands started trembling slightly.


    Noticing Leor''s strange reaction, Alya and Vane got even more worried if that was possible. But then Vane''s sharp gaze turned toward me?? narrowing with an intensity that made my stomach drop. ''Huh, Why''s he looking at me like I just killed his entire family, and pissed on their graves? I was sitting by your side, completely silent, backing you up the whole time¡­''


    To be continued...¡­..


    Author''s note: If you''ve read till this chapter and are still not adding it to your collections¡­ It''s weird man, Are you alright? Even if you want to binge read, you will need to add it to your collections. The dopamine hit, I am missing it a lot. It''s like stalemated. I feel like becoming a serial killer.


    TYATE Additional Time: Barbara''s Bakery is a legacy passed down through generations, with each owner bearing the name Barbara. Along with the shop, the secret recipes that define its reputation have been carefully safeguarded and handed down. Now nearly 130 years old, the bakery has become a cherished establishment in the area, even attracting nobles from the imperial gardens who come specifically to enjoy its offerings.


    However, after Barbara III suffered a heart attack, the shop''s vitality began to fade. The current Barbara, who was adopted and lovingly raised by Barbara III to carry on the bakery''s legacy, lacks the refined skills needed to satisfy the high standards of most customers. Overwhelmed by the increasing workload, she was forced to limit the number of customers the shop could serve. If she allowed everyone to come, she wouldn''t be able to serve even a single one properly.


    As a result, only a few loyal customers visit the bakery now, providing just enough income to support her and cover the costs of her mother''s care. Despite these challenges, Barbara continues to manage the bakery as best she can, holding onto the hope of keeping its legacy alive.

 In other words…

    "It''s ready!"


    A slightly high-pitched voice broke the tense atmosphere, jolting everyone from their thoughts. The group exhaled in unison, calming themselves and settling back into their seats.


    Alya, lost in thought, stole glances at Leor, concern evident in her eyes. Vane, on the other hand, kept his piercing gaze fixed on Johan. His stare was sharp, almost murderous, as though he were mentally dissecting the man into pieces. Yet, when Barbara approached with their food, Vane''s face softened into a polite smile.


    "These rolls are on the house. I know Master Leor likes them," Barbara said kindly, setting down four Swiss rolls alongside their original order.


    "Thank you¡­ I love them," Leor replied with a forced smile.


    Barbara smiled warmly at Leor before returning to the kitchen, leaving them alone.


    Leor felt as though a longsword had pierced his heart. His thoughts spiraled into an existential crisis as he tried to make sense of everything.


    "Johan Von Adlerhof¡­ Is that correct?" Vane asked, his piercing gaze never leaving Johan.


    "Yes," Johan replied sharply, mustering as much confidence as he could.


    "There are many good universities in the Aurelian Empire. Why not go there? And how did you even meet Leor in the first place? He''s just an average student¡­ It all sounds a little too convenient."


    Johan''s eyes narrowed, his composure hardening. Finally getting into the character. "I think you''ve got the wrong idea. I don''t care what you think or say, because¡­ sir, I believe we''re equals here. Perhaps you should offer me some respect before interrogating me!"


    "You¡­" Vane started, his voice laced with suspicion. He paused briefly before adopting a more polite tone. "I''m not accusing you of anything¡ªyet. You''re just¡­ suspicious." Taking a deep breath, he asked calmly "Alright, first just tell me, how exactly did you two meet now?" ''I can''t be too straightforward; let''s gather some information first.''


    "Hm¡­" Johan cast a quick glance at Leor, but his friend remained silent, too troubled to intervene. ''Thanks, I guess'' Realizing he was on his own, Johan answered, his voice measured and calm despite the tension. "We met a month ago, just outside the academy. I asked for directions, and he kindly helped me."


    After a brief pause, he added, "I liked his behavior. We talked for a bit and quickly became friends."


    Vane''s lips curled into a cold, calculating smile. "I see. That makes sense. But tell me, where were you headed at the time? Wouldn''t it have been easier to take a carriage? You could''ve gotten directions from the driver and reached your destination without any trouble. Surely you brought servants with you¡ªthey could''ve arranged everything beforehand too."


    Beneath his composed exterior, Johan was panicking, a bead of sweat forming on his temple. "I get what you''re implying, but¡­ uh¡­" Johan coughed awkwardly, stalling for time. Then, with calculated calmness, he said, "The first thing I wanted to do here was visit the popular brothel I heard rumors of. I felt too embarrassed to ask a carriage driver about something like that. Asking a fellow student, someone close to my own age, just felt¡­ more comfortable. As for my destination, it was the Imperial Gardens. You''re not going to ask me for my house address next, are you? Ha ha ha." Johan forced a laugh, desperate to shift the conversation. ''That''s the only place I know the name of. Please, just drop this.''This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "A special man you are. The first thing you do in a completely foreign place is look for a brothel." Vane chuckled playing along, though his gaze grew sharper.


    Alya growing tired of their bickering, intertwined "Let''s eat before food gets too cold."


    Thankfully for Johan, the interrogation ended there. Of course, Vane didn''t believe a single word of Johan''s explanation.


    Alya gently held Leor''s right hand, motioning him to eat too. Her soft, warm touch seemed to soothe the storm of confusion in Leor''s mind¡ªever so slightly.


    The rest of the meal passed in uneasy silence. When they finished, Vane pushed back his chair and brushed crumbs from his lap. Alya stood with him, glancing at Leor one last time, her expression unreadable.


    Click. Vane flipped open his pocket watch and checked the time.


    "Leor, I arranged for the carriage to pick us up around now. We should leave," he announced.


    "Yes, we should," Alya said softly, her tone warm but tinged with reluctance. Placing a hand on Leor''s shoulder, she added, "Take care, okay? And don''t forget to visit the church."


    Leor nodded distractedly, barely acknowledging her words. His mind was elsewhere, clouded and distant.


    Johan, however, maintained his sharp composure, the faintest smirk playing on his lips as if he had already won whatever invisible game was being played at the table.


    "Leor," Vane said, his voice calm yet authoritative. "Write me a lightning telegram if you need anything. Understood?"


    "Hm." Leor nodded, finally managing a quiet, "Thank you." to both of them.


    Vane smiled back. Alya, lingering a moment longer, added, "Don''t worry about it. And also I''ll try those tactics you mentioned¡ªfirst with my servants, then with Father. Thanks to you too!"


    After settling the bill¡ªsix silver pounds, a ridiculous amount to spend on a meal for most but a mere tip to nobles¡ªthey stepped out of the bakery.


    Leor watched them leave the small hut-like bakery. His feeling of confusion increased with the increasing silence. ''I have no memory of saying that¡­ even if I have intrusive thoughts, I will never say them out loud. then why¡­What''s wrong with me today¡­ ?''


    Outside, Vane and Alya waited for the Lorianne family carriage. Both stood quietly, thinking about today''s strange events.


    Alya had other things on her mind, ''I need to be prepared, Even if I have to leave everything behind, Abandon everyone¡­ I will do that, without hesitation. I have a dream, a dream to be someone I don''t hate. Marrying him¡­ would just make me hate myself more, I would rather die. Leor don''t lose hope please¡­''


    Vane''s voice broke her reverie. "Alya, I have to go somewhere. You should wait for the carriage and head back safely."


    As she turned to Vane. Vane was already running off in the direction of the Bakery.


    "Huh? Wait, what the hell¡­ where are you going? Didn''t you have a meeting or something at church?"


    "I''ll take care of it, don''t worry. Go back home safely, and good luck with your father." Vane waved once at Alya before disappearing from her sight completely.


    Back in the bakery, Johan exhaled sharply, his shoulders relaxing as the tension drained from his body. "We should leave now too, No?" he said, glancing at the dazed Leor with a note of urgency.


    "Hm, you''re right¡­ We are supposed to have a banquet tonight. No need for the arrogant act then, just act like my friend." Standing up with his straight, Leor said in a thoughtful tone. ''I have to act now, going to church sounds good, I will go there first thing in the morning. I wonder if the banquet will still happen, the terrorist¡­ police must have the area completely sealed by now."


    "Alright, Are you feeling alright now though?" Johan asked in a slightly concerned voice.


    Leor nodded lightly. "Hm," he murmured, offering no further explanation.


    The two of them exited the bakery, walking towards the 63rd Square. The bustling square was a hub where most public carriages gathered to pick up passengers. While one might occasionally spot a carriage along the way, those were often already full, making the square the most reliable option.


    To be continued......


    Authors Note: I am glad if someone read this novel this far, a real person. That feels good, the dopamine rush AHH.


    TYATE Extras: Lorraine, one of the great royal family is the biggest producer and Exporter of clothing. From military uniforms to wedding dresses, they''re the biggest player in the entire industry. From hundreds of textile industries to thousands of ''Lorraine''s '' stores worldwide. They''re the most luxurious clothing brand, Only the wealthiest could afford their regular clothing. Hanging out with fashion enthusiast Vane, Leor was also influenced by it, becoming one of the biggest fashion nerds in existence.

 Johan: What the fuck Leor

    -Leor''s pov-


    "Tell me something¡­ Do you know why Vane was being so suspicious of you?" I finally asked Johan something that was bothering me for a while.


    ''He''s a friendly person, even with complete strangers, Something was weird about his reaction¡ªLike he knew something I didn''t.


    Johan shrugged, his expression calm, though his tone carried a hint of sarcasm. "I have no idea. By the way, thank God you finally remember I exist."


    "I know I know," I said with a sheepish grin, trying to defuse the situation "But you can''t really blame me can you?"


    "Of course, I can," he shot back. "you could''ve just nodded to what I was saying or added something I missed. But no you stayed completely silent, It was the worst thing you could do at the moment. Naturally, No one would believe a complete stranger they just met." His tone blaming.


    "I see, So you''re saying I shouldn''t believe you¡­" My comment completely shut his complaining, forcing him to focus back on how beautiful nature is.


    We reached the bustling hub, the whole road for carriages was made of cobblestone bricks, and the rest of the parts were filled with dirt, where beautiful yellow dandelions were planted, Giving the whole square an elegant look. We were walking on the stoned footpath where pedestrians are designated to walk. There were not many shops there, just three on the right side of the footpath. A telegraph office, a descent looking bar from where some shouts of men were coming, and A flower shop that had many kinds of beautiful flowers like dandelions, jasmine, and roses planted in little pots. Nervous young men crowded around, likely planning heartfelt confessions to their sweethearts.


    The square itself was dominated by a wooden pavilion with an open design. Its curved roof, weathered but sturdy, shielded people from the sun, supported by a ring of evenly spaced stone columns. Beneath its shelter, long wooden benches were bolted to the cobblestone floor. People occupied these benches: some smoking cigarettes, others deeply engrossed in political debates, while a group of young students laughed and teased each other to pass the time. All of them were waiting for carriages heading in their desired directions.


    As Johan and I walked toward the coach stations, I noticed a familiar face waiting for a carriage as well. I made my way toward her, with Johan trailing silently behind me.


    "Hey, Georgia! Where you headed?" I called out to her. Georgia worked at a bakery and lived in the neighborhood, so I often saw her around. She appeared to be in her twenties¡ªprobably older than Clara.


    Her pale white skin and long black hair, tied back in a ponytail with a few loose strands falling across her forehead, gave her a slightly disheveled look. A small mole on her right cheek added to her mature charm. She wore a grey woolen ankle-length gown with black floral patterns. Though the gown looked a bit worn out, her well-proportioned figure and refined features gave her an understated allure.


    "Leor! What a pleasant surprise. I am going back to the bakery, Old lady must be going nuts without me haha," Her brown eyes softened as she recognized me. Then she turned her gaze to Johan. "And who''s your handsome friend? Won''t you introduce him to me?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ''She has a strong reputation for making everyone she talks to regularly fall in love with her, both men and women, mostly women as she talks with women more. Not that I hate it, but I myself was dangerously close to being charmed by her. I guess all people have some kind of nature with which they''re born with¡­''


    Ahh! As I was thinking I felt a splitting headache, like a hammer hit me at the back of my head, my vision slightly blurred, like I was staring at the afternoon sun for hours, My eyes felt unbearably dry. Surprisingly No one noticed my cries for help.


    "Name''s Johan Mam" Johan smiled charmingly, reaching out his hand towards her.


    Georgia blushed, covering her lips with her hands. "What a straightforward young man you are¡­"


    "Um?" Johan felt utterly confused, He just tried to do a handshake. His face saying ''what''s she on about''


    "I guess you''re new in this country haha," Georgia laughed moving her right hand which was covering her mouth "Offering your hand to someone of the opposite sex is basically asking for their hand, Not that I mind¡­" She smirked teasingly as she shook Johan''s hand making his face go blank. "My name''s Georgia, Nice to meet you too."


    "Ah Leor, why are you so quiet all of a sudden? What''re you thinking, tell us too!" she nudged me with her left elbow.


    ''I felt like my chest weighed two tons, But for some reason I felt an intense desire to reply to her. I looked straight into her eyes and blurted out something which made me wish I was dead. "I was thinking about which position I''d fuck you in!" I yelled aloud.


    The low hum of chatter around us fell into a sudden hush. Heads turned one by one, their gazes locking onto the three of us like we were performers who had stumbled onto the wrong stage. Johan froze beside me, his lips parting slightly as the color drained from his face, leaving him pale as a ghost. His hand twitched, as if tempted to run away. Georgia''s usual playful smirk vanished, her eyes darting nervously to the crowd, and then to Leor and Johan, before settling on the ground. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, her posture stiffening.


    ''Please kill me now, why the fuck I said that. I wanna disappear''


    "That''s not funny Leor¡­" Her face finally turned towards me, a slight tint of anger, and half looked like she was about to cry. ''Of course, she was, Gossip spread, So many people heard us, Her reputation will be completely ruined. How can I get out of this¡­and also save her, Most old folks already don''t like her much."


    "I am really sorry, I didn''t mean to say that Georgia." I bowed full ninety degrees, apologizing. ''The first thing to do is probably beg for forgiveness. But seriously, What the fuck is wrong with me today? First at Barbara''s and Nowhere. People will stone me to death if I keep at it.''


    To be continued...


    Author''s Note: I believe I can fly....you bet I can. You can call me PF for short, Sounds cool right? Why don''t you support me :(


    TYATE Extras:


    Telegraph


    The Telegraph is a system used to send messages across the country. In major cities like Wellington, the capital, telegraph offices are commonly found in nearly every square, facilitating easy access. However, in smaller towns, the presence of these offices is much more limited, with only one or two at most. The process involves gathering messages at the telegraph office, where postmen collect them and deliver them to the designated addresses.


    Lightning Telegraph


    The Lightning Telegraph is an expedited version of the standard telegraph service. Although it is more expensive, it offers significantly faster delivery. When someone sends a Lightning Telegraph, it bypasses the slower processing system. Instead of being grouped with other messages, it is prioritized for immediate collection and delivery.


    Specialized postmen, known as "lightning postmen," handle these messages. To ensure speed, each lightning postman carries a limited number of letters, usually no more than 20¨C25 at a time, delivering them with urgency. The exclusivity and efficiency of the Lightning Telegraph make it a preferred option for sending critical messages.

 Don’t cry

    Don¡¯t cry


    ¡°Hic-hic¡ªuh¡­ sniff-sniff.¡±


    Hearing my apology, Georgia burst into tears, her shoulders shaking as she buried her face in her hands.


    ¡°Uh, hey, Georgia, I said I¡¯m sorry¡­ please stop crying!¡± My face twitched with panic as I noticed a group of burly, ape-faced men rising from their benches, their eyes locked onto me.


    ¡°Oye, lad, what the fuck did you just say?¡± A man in a cheap brown shirt and black trousers yelled, his voice rough like gravel. He looked like a construction worker.


    ¡°Is she your lover or something? Even if she is, shouting that in public¡­ with kids around? Are you nuts?¡± Another man, older, dressed in a well-pressed suit, scoffed. He looked like a merchant.


    ¡°Nah,¡± the construction worker cut in, eyes narrowing. ¡°Then why would she cry if she was his lover? Bastard must¡¯ve done something to her.¡±


    ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m fine¡­¡± Georgia finally muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.


    ¡°Georgia, I¡ª¡± I reached out, but before I could finish, she turned and ran, lifting the hem of her gown as she disappeared down the left street. Embarrassed. Humiliated.


    I stared at her retreating figure, my stomach twisting. What have I done¡­


    I stared at her retreating silhouette, the weight of what I¡¯d done sinking in. What have I done¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding, gentlemen!¡± Johan¡¯s voice cut through the tension as he stepped in front of me, blocking the men¡¯s advance. His expression was calm, but his stance was firm, as if pacifying wild animals.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a couple¡¯s quarrel¡ªplease try to understand. My friend¡­ well, he¡¯s a bit mentally challenged,¡± Johan added, his tone shifting to one of pleading sincerity.


    The men exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Finally, one of them, the largest and most ape-faced of the group, spoke gruffly. ¡°I see¡­ but you¡¯d better keep a close eye on someone like him. Next time, things might not end so peacefully, and we could also include authorities in this, and you know lad how that ends for commoners.¡±


    They gave me a long, hard look before turning back to their seats.


    ¡°Mentally challenged?¡± I hissed under my breath at Johan, who smirked, nudging me in the ribs.


    He smirked, nudging me in the ribs. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± There was a smug satisfaction in his voice¡ªrevenge for this morning, no doubt. But, at the end of the day, he had still saved my ass.


    I barely acknowledged him as my gaze drifted back to the empty street where Georgia had vanished, her absence leaving a hollow ache in my chest. I wanted to chase her, to explain myself, but my feet felt rooted to the ground, as I don¡¯t know myself what¡¯s wrong with me either.


    Johan sighed, folding his arms. ¡°But seriously, you need to chill the fuck out.¡± His voice was sharp now. ¡°First, calling a dying old lady a bitch in front of her teenage daughter, and now this? Saying something like that out of nowhere¡ª¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond. He didn¡¯t expect me to.


    Thankfully we didn¡¯t have to deal with those awkward gazes longer, as I noticed a carriage coming, which was towards the direction of my house. The carriage stoped near the wooden coach station. We walked over and climbed inside. A few other passengers joined us. The driver gave us a brief glance before muttering, ¡°Tell me when to drop you.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Public carriages like this usually traveled between major crossroads, stopping wherever passengers needed. I leaned back against the wooden seat, letting the afternoon sun heal me a bit.


    ¡®What a truly bizarre day, Is this even possible? I feel like I¡¯ve lived a month in just a single day! Why is everything happening today? I also made Georgia cry, I think my reputation would definitely ruined if anyone learned of it¡­ especially my sister, she¡¯s good friends with her, she will kill me if she learned of it¡­But seriously why did I even say that?¡¯


    Because she¡¯s beautiful? Well, of course, she is. Even back when I was sixteen or seventeen, I found myself drawn to her. But love? No, I don¡¯t think so. It¡¯s simpler than that¡ªjust the way my eyes linger on the curve of her hips, the way her soft, red lips part when she speaks, the pale smoothness of her skin that catches the light just right. A thought, fleeting yet persistent, something primal and unspoken.


    Not that I¡¯d ever say it out loud.


    She¡¯s my neighbor. My sister¡¯s friend. Someone I¡¯ve known for years. To cross that line¡ªit would be wrong, wouldn¡¯t it? I know it is, I respect her. That¡¯s why it feels so¨Cso weird, why would then¡­ Why did I say that out loud?


    As I sat in silence thinking, my gaze drifted to Johan, the blonde-haired man sitting on my right side. He sat upright, his posture rigid, yet at ease¡ªlike a soldier at rest but never off guard. His sharp eyes moved from one passenger to the next, studying them with quiet intensity. A flicker of recognition at a nervous twitch, a slight narrowing of his gaze at a clenched jaw¡ªhe was reading them, dissecting them, as if each shift in their body language told a story only he could understand.


    The carriage rocked gently with the uneven cobblestone road, its wooden frame groaning with each turn. It was cramped, the scent of sweat and damp fabric hanging thick in the air. Ten passengers filled the space, yet each seemed locked away in their own world. A woman near the front clutched a rosary, her lips moving soundlessly in prayer. Beside her, a man dozed with his chin resting against his chest, lulled by the carriage¡¯s rhythmic sway, probably tired from his day''s work. Two merchants muttered in hushed voices, their conversation punctuated by wary glances, fingers tapping against their knees¡ªperhaps discussing a deal, or something more illicit.


    The dim lantern hanging from the ceiling swayed with the movement, casting shifting shadows that danced across their faces. The only sound, aside from the creaking wood and the muffled clatter of hooves, was the occasional cough or the rustle of fabric as someone shifted in their seat. The world outside passed unseen, reduced to the blurred outlines of buildings and flickering lamplight against the carriage¡¯s small, dust-covered windows.


    The man in front of me slumped against the carriage¡¯s wooden panel, his mouth hanging open, breathing slow and heavy. A thin string of saliva glistened at the corner of his lips, stretching downward before snapping onto his shirt. My stomach twisted. I tore my gaze away, but the image clung to my mind, stubborn and revolting. I squeezed my eyes shut, but even in darkness, I saw it¡ªsaw it too clearly. My lips curled in disgust.


    The carriage groaned to a halt. The jolt sent passengers shifting in their seats, some stirring awake, others gathering their belongings in silence. Outside, the city unfolded in restless motion. 77 Crossroads, Wellington. The name meant little to most, just another junction in the empire¡¯s sprawling veins, but to me, it was home.


    I stepped down, the weight of today¡¯s event lifting slightly as my boots met solid ground. To the right, past the baker¡¯s stall perfumed with yeast and sugar, stood my house¡ªsecond to last on the street. Or was it? The street opened at both ends, bleeding into the city¡¯s chaos, which meant second-to-last could also be second. A pointless thought.


    Wellington¡ªno, Thornfield Empire¡ªwas a beast of a city. Crowded. Suffocating. The streets pulsed with bodies moving in every direction, shoulder to shoulder, breath to breath. Carriages rattled over cobblestones, merchants shouted their wares, and the scent of sweat, roasted meat, and damp stone mingled in the thick air. It got tight around here, especially in the capital. Space wasn¡¯t a thing you owned¡ªit was something you fought for.


    The problem was the small bakery was the same one Georgia worked in. Will I be stoned to death as I enter the street?


    To be continued¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    Author¡¯s note:: Is this writing style better?? Add it to your follows already¡­ If you want to, I am feeling like a worm, I should be a better writer, Why can¡¯t I write as good as Guilty three or Cf, Why not me? Why am I not good enough? I want money too, I have nothing to show for as an adult no income, Writing this novel instead of going back to college, or getting my job back at Mcdonald¡¯s. Fuck I hate it!