#Fanfic Monster In The Mountain

[theveryconfusedartistsart-blog]

Wanna see adult Asriel and adult Frisk getting married? 💒🖤💖

Now you have! Please throw rice at them! 🍙 💐🎊

[golden-explosions-main]

[The ☞✋☝🕆☼☜ glances up at the new arrival, having accidental eye contact with the God of Hyperdeath, their eyes meet for a moment, letting Asriel see... ❄♒□⬧♏ ♎◆●● ♏⍓♏⬧📪 ⧫♒□⬧♏ □■♍♏ ♑□●♎♏■ ♓❒♓⬧♏⬧ ■□⬥ ♎◆●● ♋■♎ ♑❒♋⍓📪 ⧫♒♏ ♑❒♏⍓■♏⬧⬧ ⬥♋⬧ ♏■♎●♏⬧⬧ ♋⬧ ⧫♒♏♓❒ ♌□♎⍓ ●□□&♏♎ ●♓&♏ ⬧⧫♋⧫♓♍📪 ♍♋⬧◆♋●●⍓ ■□⧫♓■♑ ♋⬥♋⍓ ●♓&♏ ♓⧫ ⬥♋⬧ ■□⧫♒♓■♑ ■♏⬥.] [Best not to look too long, it's rude to stare. They might stare back after all...]

TRANSLATION: [THE FIGURE GLANCES UP AT THE NEW ARRIVAL, HAVING ACCIDENTAL EYE CONTACT WITH THE GOD OF HYPERDEATH, THEIR EYES MEET FOR A MOMENT, LETTING ASRIEL SEE…

THOSE DULL EYES, THOSE ONCE GOLDEN IRISES NOW DULL AND GRAY, THE GREYNESS WAS ENDLESS AS THEIR BODY LOOKED LIKE STATIC, CASUALLY NOTING AWAY LIKE IT WAS NOTHING NEW.]

Asriel silently gasps with horror as believes he recognizes someone uncomfortably familiar within the Other.

"I know, looking at the Doctor is hard and scary to do sometimes, it's okay," Frisk speaks up, and Asriel turns to gaze at them with great sadness and regret.

Frisk: "I've been hearing a lot of horrible things about you, and I'll admit, you do make me anxious and...even angry, but I'm not scared of you, because I know how scared you are of me...,"

"...But I just want you to know that I don't hate you, and if the other me is anything like me, then I don't think they will hate you either,"

Asriel: "My Fri- my version is exactly like you, they even look like you- just older, but to reveal the truth...and have them remember.. . I know what they'll want me to do, and what they'll want me to give up...

I'm not ready yet, with my powers I can give both of us literally everything we want, I can make them happy with my powers- and if they're happy, I'm happy, and I can feel it, they've been so happy, it isn't fake,"

"I promised myself that I would eventually reveal the truth, they deserve to remember, and I want them to remember... but I just...I'm not ready yet,"

[aron-has-ocs]

@neonghostcat I love your fic, Cultivate, so much! I'm still only on chapter 27 at the time of this post but I've really been enjoying it. This is for Shen Yuan and Liu Qingge and Tao Ying their magic tree.

Art under the cut

[illogicalvulcans]

[Fic Book Covers 9/?] Cultivate: Slow Life on a Monster-Infested Mountain by @neonghostcat

When trying to transfer Shen Yuan from the real world to Proud Immortal Demon Way, the System runs into an error. The transfer is not complete. Shen Yuan is dropped off at the foot of a mountain aware of two things: he's in the story, and the Shen Qingqiu of this world is not only aware but thinks he tried to possess his body — and he's PISSED. Shen Yuan tries to opt out and live a simple life on what locals tell him is a monster-infested mountain no one in their right mind would bother with. Sounds like a great hiding spot! (TL;DR: Stardew Scum Villain Valley Mountain.)

[ashs-artblog]

Some fan artfor Cultivate: Slow Life on a Monster-Infested Mountain by @neonghostcat on AO3. This is a scene from chaper 29 where Liu Quingge (poisoned and delirious) is mooning over Shen Yuan fight the monsters and beasts attacking the homestead.

#fanart #fanfiction #mxtx #moxiangtongxiu #sssv #scumvillainselfsavingsystem #shenyuan #shenqingqiu #liuqingge #cultivate #neonghostcat #fanartforfanfiction

[morningstargirl666]

FIC REC FRIDAY #1

From The Eastern Mountains by cupcakemolotov / @cupcakemolotov​

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence. Sometimes you have to let go to find yourself. When Caroline walks away from MF, unable to bear Christmas without her mom, she finds herself on an unexpected journey. The world is open to her, but some ties you can't break. Some, you don't want too.

This is quite an old fic, but I only recently stumbled across it and I absolutely ADORE it. I love post-canon fics where Caroline travels the world, and this one is no exception. It begins sometime after Liz’s death, when Caroline decides to leave Mystic Falls and everyone she knew behind to travel the world and take time to mourn. In fact, Caroline’s struggles over mourning her mother are poignant throughout the entire fic, but rather than an angst fest, feelings of hope and healing weave between the words instead, and as the story progresses, not only does Caroline begin to move on but she also reunites with Klaus when she’s ready and their relationship begins to blossom in a way it never did within Mystic Falls. It’s just so beautiful. This fic would be a great one to read at Christmas too - no doubt thanks to it being part of a gift exchange - as Caroline often meets Klaus at Christmas through the years and Caroline struggles with the holiday due to her mother’s absence. The Mikaelson siblings are also present, and if not, are mentioned and referenced in regards to their antics, which warms my heart. Another particular trope in the story which I LOVE is Klaus finds out about Damon’s transgressions against Caroline. So forewarning, there is some Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-Con but it doesn’t go into detail, and the way Klaus finds out (by accident may I add) is AMAZING. You’ve got to read it. It’s like my favourite reveal ever, I think I squealed when I first read it, tis amazing. Also, because if that wasn’t enough, a Wolf!Klaus also makes an appearance, which is a rarity in the fandom and a detail I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR LIKE YESYESYESYES GIVE ME THE ORIGINAL HYBRID PEOPLE!!!

So yeah, overall this is a real banger of a fic and I’d rec it over and over if I could.

[shewhowantsmouseears]

darkwing + dragons = drabble

After reading that fae disney fic earlier, I wanted to write something. So I took a pluck of an AU I had. Basically this is just “mel writes simps and their hot queens again”.

Whether this is like original DW or the DT17 is up to your imagination.

It had been roughly fifteen minutes since Drake Mallard, a.k.a Darkwing Duck, a.k.a The Dark Knight, a.k.a. The Violet Avenger, a.k.a about twenty other nicknames he’d given himself, first stood in front of the cavern’s entrance. Not because he was afraid or anything, of course! He feared nothing and no one! Especially not the dragon he had bravely volunteered to slay! His knees knocking? The wind was a little chilly, that’s all. The gulp that echoed into the darkness of the cave? Some food stuck in his gullet. His hesitance to take a single step further in the abyss? That was… You know… just a…

 Okay, so, perhaps, he was the teeniest, tinest, itty-bitty-ist nervous about the job he had taken. Maybe it wouldn’t have killed him to listen to the entire description of said job before he had loudly declared to take it on. At the tavern, his previous displays of heroism had gone under severe scrutiny, and even his own beloved daughter was joining in on a few jokes aimed at his esteem. So when one of the King’s adversaries announced a hefty reward for whoever would stop the rampant thievery of gold and jewelry that had been going on within the dark woods, Drake hadn’t even let the man finish his sentence before brazenly his eventual victory. He had bragged about how he’d taken down villains and ruffians of all shapes and sizes, so whoever was committing these thefts didn’t stand a chance against him.

 Then whe he was told it was a dragon stealing said riches… well. It was a bit too late to back off, especially when his dear daughter began giddily praising dear daddy about his future fight.

 So there now Drake stood, sweating buckets down his feathers, remembering the warnings the king’s adversary had given – how the dragon’s size dwarfed the largest castles, the sharp claws that tore through metal like paper, and the fiery breath it spewed that could OH HE WAS SO DEAD.

 Him and his big mouth! What had been thinking?! Sure, if he turned back now he’d be called a gutless coward, but at least he’d be alive to hear the insults! Better to die in shame than to die in ashes! What did he have? Token armor of any knight, a simple sword, and a few pellets of smoke used to make a flashy entrance – how was that supposed to win against a beast of such legend? At that moment, Drake turned back around, ready to high-tail it out there, hoping maybe he could distract his daughter’s disappointment with a pony –

 When he heard singing.

 “Emeralds and rubies, diamonds and pearls,

I take in their beauty, more lovely than girls,

Give me a coin, I’ll give you a kiss,

But no love can give me this same kind of bliss…”

“One last thing,” the man had said before taking his leave and wishing Drake well on his ill-thought-out quest. “Many of those who have failed this task have heard a woman’s beautiful singing voice from the lair of the dragon. Some say it’s the dragon itself trying to lure in a victim. Others say it belongs to a victim herself, trapped by the dragon for their entertainment. Whatever the truth is… no one has ever seen who the voice belongs to.”

 The man hadn’t been kidding – the singing was indeed beautiful. It stopped Drake in his tracks, blinking a bit at the odd dissonance. The cavern itself was dark, with chilling winds and the stench of rotted meat. Yet the voice was soft and peaceful, as if whoever was singing hadn’t a care in the world. If the circumstances weren’t what they were, he might’ve been content to simply bask in the lyrics and enjoy the sweet caress of her dulcet tones. But it served as a heavy reminder – maybe there was a trapped woman inside. Drake’s conscience simply couldn’t let her stay there.

 With a deep and heavy sigh, damning this conscience, Drake turned back into the cavern and began to walk. Every so often, he was tempted to walk back, but each time he did, that voice would lure him forward. Drake did have an appreciation for the female form, so to speak, but it’d been a very long time since he’d thought of pursing anyone romantically. He’d been devoted to knighthood to begin with, and then when Gosalyn came along, she became his most important person. It wasn’t as if he didn’t want some female companionship – it just wasn’t a priority. There were more important things in life – like trying not to get eaten by a dragon.

 To his surprise, the darkness wasn’t everlasting. The further he went along, he spotted lit torches on the sides, illuminating the fact the cavern split off into dozens of different directions. The rancid smell also lessened – perhaps it had only been a few unlucky animals that came to rest and died, which was a much better thought than it having been previous knights who failed the task. “Come to think of it,” Drake thought to himself as he flipped a coin to decide which path to take, “He never said the dragon killed anybody.” How strange.

 He didn’t know much about dragons – did anyone, really? But why didn’t the gigantic, fearsome beast kill someone – even by accident – as it was taking treasure chests and other pretty things away? With its size and power, it would have been like swatting flies. He mulled about this as he began to kneel down – the path he’d chosen was getting smaller, the walls closing in and the number of torches were fewer. But there was a light at the end of this tunnel, and the singing was at its strongest. Soon he could see that the path would come to a complete stop, and he swallowed hard – somehow, he was high, high, high above a gigantic dragon’s horde! He peered down at the literal mountain of golden coins and sparkling jewelry, all of it illuminated by thousands of torches up and down the walls. Even the king couldn’t possibly be this rich!

 Drake’s eyes wandered over all the various tokens and trophies, wondering if he could get away with a pocketful or two – raising a child as a single parent was expensive! – before realizing, to his great relief, there was no sign of the dragon. He could live for another moment. Maybe the dragon was out hunting for more treasures, and then it’d return here. Surely by then he’d come up with a master plan to defeat it. Maybe there was a clue among the coins! His eyes searched and searched until they found –

 “Sapphires and topaz, amber and jade,

There is no beauty for which I would trade,

Give me a coin, I’ll give you a kiss,

But no love can give me this kind of bliss…”

 The most ravishing woman in all of existence.

 What an opportune time to realize Drake had a type, and this woman that was sitting ever so casually on one mound of coins was checking off every box he didn’t know he wanted. Even from his angle he could tell she was a tall beauty, with shapely legs lazily drifting out from a flowing red rose dress that glittered like scales underneath sunlight. (Which should have been a hint.) As she sung her song of selfish desires, she held up a rather large ruby with long yellow and black claw-like fingernails (Which should have been another hint.) With a tilt of her head, her long dark hair fell over her face, a white streak in the middle proudly standing out, but even then, her rich green eyes shone out, her slitted pupils taking in the treasure. (Which should have been THE biggest hint OF THEM ALL.)

 To say Drake was smitten was an understatement, much as it would be to call a typhoon a few drops of water. He completely forgot why he was there in the first place, his little tail wagging so hard it could have made a hurricane. He leaned forward to both get a better look at this mysterious maiden and to hear her enchanting voice all the better –

 And leaned in too much. While in his hometown he was known for making dramatic entrances, they had less THUMPS, WHACKS, and OWs in them as Drake managed to somehow hit every single jagged rock that was on his way down, along with smacking into several treasure chests that had been previously closed up. The armor likely helped him from breaking any important bones, but it may have also ruptured a few important organs. By the time he wound up rolling right in front of the very startled woman, he noted this was probably the fourth worst concussion he’d ever had.

 The woman, meanwhile, had dropped the ruby and immediately began to stand, eyes narrowed dangerously and hiding one hand began her back – as she spoke, the hidden hand’s nails became even more claw-like. “Who are you?” She snarled, fangs glinting as white as any of the stolen pearls at her feet. “Answer me, if you value your life! Why have you entered my domain?”

 There were valuable hints in her introduction and Drake wasn’t hearing any of them. Granted, his brain was badly battered and bruised, but her beauty also had a deciding factor in his blindness. He shook his in an effort to clear it, before valiantly propping himself up on one knee. “Fear not, fair maiden, for I am here to rescue you!”

 Whatever the woman had been expecting him to say, apparently it hadn’t been that. Her expression changed six different times as the words sunk in, and she even took a glance behind her, as if somehow a fair maiden had wandered in without her notice. After a long moment of confusion and hesitation, she brought out her (untransformed) hand and pointed to herself. “I’m sorry, but…” she asked slowly, anger gone and replaced with befuddlement. “When you say, fair maiden, you don’t mean me, do you?”

 “Of course I do!” Drake replied immediately, hand to his chest. “Yes, this makes perfect sense now! The dragon collects beautiful things to keep for itself, so it’s only natural it would also collect the most beautiful woman on earth!” He stated these things calmly, as if it was natural fact, and that anyone would clearly agree with him.

 The woman – with her dragon-like dress and dragon-like nails and dragon-like eyes – blinked slowly in stupefied disbelief.

 “I am Sir Darkwing Duck,” he continued, oblivious to the woman’s incredulity. “And I am here to slay the evil dragon that has been plaguing our fair kingdom!” With that dramatic flourish out of the way, he began to look here and there before asking, “By the way, you wouldn’t happen to know where the dragon is, do you?”

 The woman placed a hand over her mouth, which Drake took a sign of her being in awe of such chivalry, instead of her physical effort to restrain hysterical laughter. After a few seconds of settling down, she weighed her options, and decided she was just bored enough to play. “Ah, yes, the dragon,” she finally replied, choosing her words carefully, fingers pressed together. “Why, I think you just missed them. I haven’t seen them today. But, if I may ask…” She began to walk around him, as Drake nervously popped off his helmet, sweaty now from nervousness instead of fear. “What is your reward for taking down the beast? A loftier title? A proud mark of land? Or, maybe…” At his side, she tucked two of her fingers underneath his large beak and tilted his head upwards. “A kiss from a pretty princess?”

 She even made sure to draw out the “s” sounds, a forked tongue flickering teasingly to see if he’d get the hint.

 He didn’t, though he did make a very entertaining “HRGK” noise in his throat. After a choke and a sputter, he suddenly began backing up, tripping over his elongated cape in the process “NOOOO no no no no no no no no! No princesses! None of that!” A squeaky laugh escaped his mouth as he tried to find his footing. “This is, uh, you know… for justice! For all! It is my noble duty to defeat any forms of evil! Because, miss, ah…?”

 “Morgana,” she answered, now taking her time to lay down on the coins the same way one would normally lay on their beds, “Morgana McCawber.”

 “Morgana.” Drake repeated, first in a lovestruck stupor, before trying to snap back to reality. “A-hem. Miss McCawber-”

 “You can call me Morgana, if you desire.” She began to toss a bejeweled necklace back and forth in her palms.

 Having a voice that sensual say the word desire was not helping Drake’s sweat problem. “M-M-Morgana. I… have a duty to… help those who have been wronged! And a kidnapping is one of the biggest wrongs of all! So before I can get any slaying down, I’ll be more than happy to help you escape from here!”

 “Pass.” Morgana only stopped her game of toss to admire her own reflection in the necklace’s many shines.

 Drake blinked once. Twice. Three more times. “Pass?” Surely, he must have heard wrong. “You can’t pass on being rescued!”

 “I don’t need to be rescued, for I was never kidnapped.” This was the truth, and she continued to spin more ‘truths’. “The dragon and I… have an agreement, you could say. We both enjoy all the lovely things in life, so we share whatever the dragon obtains. Why should I leave a life of luxury? I have everything I could ever want here.”

 “But… but…” Drake grasped the air, trying to find the sense in all this. What kind of fairy tale had the damsel in distress deny being in distress? She didn’t appear to fear the dragon at all! Had being kept there for so long warped her innocent mind? “Okay, look, you can’t just stay here with a gigantic, dangerous, fire-breathing dragon! It’s only a matter of time before it turns on you!” She barely appeared to be listening, flicking a few coins playfully with her fingers. If she wanted to be stubborn, so could he! “I can’t just leave you here! I’m rescuing you, and that’s that!”

 Morgana made an amused “hm” sound, and then stretched a bit like a sleepy cat before freely lifting her left leg and slowly dragged it under Drake’s beak. “You are, are you now?”

 As she expected, this gesture proceeded to melt his brain into pudding. Any chances of a coherent plan to get Morgana out of the cave were gone. Any chances of brain cells surviving were also nil. All he could do was stand there stupidly, his cheeks redder than a farmer’s best grown tomatoes, eyes so wide it’s amazing they didn’t roll out of their sockets. “Uh,” he attempted a sentence, failed, attempted again, failed again. Any time it seemed like he could have been broken out of his lustful trance, Morgana simply moved her leg back and forth, back and forth, and he once again became a helpless puppet.

 Still, Morgana thought, this was more fun than she’d had in some time. Not that she’d ever admit to being lonely or any such weakness. Why not draw it out a little more? She pulled her leg back and began to sit up – Drake fell face forward into the coins and didn’t bother getting up right away. “There is something you can do for me, sir knight.”

 He mumbled something into the coins that could have likely been the words “oh please oh please oh please” several times. What remained of his common sense managed to smack him, and he promptly sat up, spitting out a few silver tokens. “What’s that?”

 “Let’s make a deal.” She smiled as she spoke, tapping her nails together. “It’s been some time I’ve been among people… perhaps things have changed. If you can find me something out in this world more beautiful than any coin or jewel, I’ll leave this cave for good.”

 For the first time in his life, perhaps as a kindness from the gods, Drake was able to come up with something rather smooth. “I don’t suppose a mirror would count?”

 Morgana chuckled – maybe took a look to make sure there were no rings on his fingers – and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Very clever, my knight, but no. Find me something truly beautiful, a once in a lifetime treasure, and I give you my word… I’ll leave with you.”

 As much as Drake’s hormones wanted him to instantly agree, and do anything else she asked of him, and boy did he ever want her to ask more of him, he drew a deep breath. On a moral high ground, this was dubious. She was an ally of the dragon, it appeared, and would only leave on account of greed. Yet there was a lingering light of hope. There was beauty in the world out there, but beauty was subjective. He’d have to be creative and show her that the world was worth living in, and shutting yourself away like some hermit wasn’t healthy. This could be the start of a new quest!

 His idealism and ego mixed rapidly. Once he convinced her of how wonderful the outside world could be, then maybe she’d help him slay the dragon! Now there was a fairy tale laying in wait! The power of love conquering evil! And then they’d live happily ever after, and she’d be an excellent mother to Gosalyn, and they’d get married, give Gosalyn some siblings, and then all those jerks who laughed at him in the tavern would shut their traps when they saw the gorgeous piece of tail he nabbed WHO’S THE DWEEB NOW YA BUNCH OF JERKS –

 “Well? Do we have a deal?” Morgana’s hand was outstretched and waiting for him.

 Boy, he’d been taking a lot of trips to fantasy land lately. Drake cleared his throat, and, praying his palms were no longer sweaty, took Morgana’s hand to give it a firm shake.

 “Deal.”

[green-fifteen]

Day 3: Anniversary

Fandom: The Hobbit

Pairing: Gen

Word count: 100 

Written for: @fluffyfebruary.

Frodo sat down again. "Uncle! We're nearly to the line!"

Bilbo knew there would be a queue at the gates of the mountain. He'd realized that morning, when Bard had mentioned the date. He hadn't known it was so late in the season.

It had taken them the better part of the day to reach the bridge and the sky was darkening outside their bumpy little wagon.

"Frodo, my boy," said Bilbo. "Tell me, can you see the moon?"

"I can't. It isn't out tonight, Uncle."

Bilbo shook his head. Thirty years to the day, and here he was again.

[proxycrit]

FAMILIAR FAMILIAR MASTERPOST

(EDIT: pinning this for linktober to keep things in order! All shenanigans will also be reposted on my alt blog, @critbit-hoard )

If you want to see my general info (and also which tags to look at my other art, click here)

FAMILIAR FAMILIAR is a self indulgent TOTK AU where Link and Zelda traverse the wild lands of Hyrule together. There are ruins to be discovered and monsters to be eaten.

This project is a linktober challenge that will extend past the month of october. Please be patient with me as this is entirely being funded by a hyperfixation and the support of beloved patreon backers (ty patreon backers). Pls note fanart, fanfics, and spinoffs are perfectly fine as long as credit is due!

Chronological Order (updating as we go!)

1. Blood Moons and Headaches

2. Basement Adventures

3. Basement’s Adventures Haunted

4. Basement’s Extra Haunted

5. Lost (and found)

6. World’s Endin, Purah’s Stressin

7. Concern about Death Mountain

8. Goron City

9. Death Mountain vs Oversized Railgun

10. The Sage of Fire

11. Interlude

12. Goodbye Eldin!

13. Rained In

14. Skyview Towers

15. Close Call

16. Welcome To The Swamp

17. A Guide Named Yona

18. Sidon’s No Good Very Bad Two Months

19. Authority Issues

20. Lab in the Sky

21. The Water Sage

22. Reprise

23. Century Idol

24. Safe Travels

[charafansmile]

I think it can work if they willingly gave up at asgore, as in they stopped reloading when he kills them for the final time, but yeah I get what you mean. Having the fallen humans give away their souls outside of battle takes away from asgores grief at having to kill them and I also think it makes the monsters look much worse in pacifist since it creates a precedent that humans could get along with monsters before frisk and it makes them seem much more blood thirsty in the pacifist route since they would have had proof they could get along with them in the past.

Overall I just think them dying TO asgore is too important to negate but I also think all the humans did multiple runs of their own so they all could have chosen to just not reload Ala charas plan of letting the monster have their soul.

Transcript: I don't like the idea that any of the fallen children sacrificed willingly, i think their stories hit much harder if they either get brutally murdered or are forced to sacrifice

[theveryconfusedartistsart-blog]

Asriel is very proud of his little creature. 🖤👶

[golden-explosions-main]

Kind of?

Napstablook dodged Asriel's soul fusion like last time, but they really have nothing in common. He's been sulking in Mt. Ebott for 11 years. Much, much, much longer, if you count the resets.

He does have you now for a couple months but...well...

Your other self doesn't remember any of the other timelines. He's suuuuuper not into confronting you with this information as he's convinced you will hate him if you knew the truth.

He is also suffering a debilitating case of hug deficiency.

Flowey: "I know that look, but whatever you're thinking Frisk, it's not worth it, this Asriel is so much worse than I ever was, he's signed a contract with this Universe's version of you that makes it so he can't hurt anyone, but he has loopholes, you can't trust him and you can't trust him to not hurt you or anyone else,"

Frisk: "You're wrong,"

Flowey: "Frisk...,"

Frisk: "You're wrong, sweetheart, this Asriel is just another you who took a different path- I can feel it, just trust me and let me talk to him for just a moment,"

[bloody-kitsune-lover]

its entirely unethical that there are no monster hunter/svsss crossovers. the system manager messes up and just shunts shen yuan to a holding world while trying to sort shit out, and SY just wakes up in the middle of the darj snowfields (mh:s) as a wyverian and gets taken in by hakum village. SY would go batshit insane for the whole taming monsters and keeping the balance thing, especially once he meets the hunters guild research people, and just goes 'yes, thats what i want to do' and then he proceeds to become a hunter/scholar and travel around all of the known world and into the new world.

he'd have two different sets of armor/weapons/gear of different purposes, one for all out hunting and another for quick quiet movements for field research.

some monster friends he has are a Najarala, Lagiacrus, Nerscylla, Tobi-Kadachi, Paolumu, and Beotodus (going off of MH:stories with having 6 party members total).

he just starts exploring the hoarfrost reach (23 years post system fuck up) when the system fixes the problem but then it looks at the replacement soul it chose and is just like 'oh. oh no. he's competent now. fuck.' but it cant go back on it cause of its user policy and so its forced to take This Guy and put him into the new situation, and unfortunately for the system all of SY's soul bound stuff goes with him, which means his wyverian body and his monster familiars.

the system CAN however make all of his familiars be deaged into eggs.

eventually the beast peak lord picks him off the street like a wet rag because this weird feral kid refuses to give her the eggs that he's hoarding, but shes never seen these eggs before and she really wants to study them, so she just forcibly adopts the 'kid.' he's not a kid, hes just a wyverian, who can get really really old even without cultivation, so he's like the human equivalent of a 16-year-old when he's actually around 44.

anyways, liu qingge is absolutely whipped for his weird shixiong who is both older and younger than him, who can delicately flip over a massive Earth Boaring Slime Muskrat with his spear, and who can smash a Tiger Footed Armadillo Dragon in the face with a massive hammer that shatters its skull, and who is so excited to sit down in a small roadside teahouse and rant about trophic cascade, and Liu Qingge has no idea what that is but Shen Qingre (clear restlessness/zeal) is extremely pretty when he's passionate.

[momolady]

Hello there, call me Momo!

34 years old

Appalachian Mountain Based

Writer by choice anxiety ridden by birth

She/Her, Demisexual, INFJ, possibly autistic

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[fourthwingfan]

Madness - Chapter 1

Warning: swear language, mentioned childhood trauma, and you know it's a war college so you should be prepared.

Note: I hope you will enjoy this chapter, I'm currently working on ch 2, there will be more excitment as the story goes on, pls bear with me I have so many ideas for this fanfic ;)

A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.

—Article One, Section One

The Dragon Rider’s Codex

„You’re late.” says General Melgren, when I enter his office. He is staring out of the window, and didn’t turn around when he heard me closing the door.

„I apologise, but…” I try to defend myself.

„I dont’t care about your excuses. This is the Conscription Day and you will not fail.” he starts his lecture for the hundreth times.

As if he let me fail. I had been trained for this day since I was born. I am strong, he made sure of that. He doesen’t know the word love since my mother’s death. I never once received a kind word from him. For me he’s a monster, not a father. I hate him.

„Yes, General.” I answer, while I’m tightening my grip on my canvas rucksack.

„Go, and don’t forget what’s your duty. And do not forget that you are a Melgren! Do not bring more shame on this name, that you already had. The Riders Quadrant the only place the suitable to hide your…disfunction.”

What a kind man, I thought. That’s not my fault that I was born this way.

„Yes, General.”

„You’re dismissed.”

With his last word I walk out of the office and I go to wait for Violet in front of her mother’s office. Voices rose from beyond the closed door. They arguing, again.

It’s not a surprise beacuse everybody knows that Violet Sorrengail isn’t meant to be a Rider. She’s small and fragile. The complete opposite of a Rider. Only General Sorrengail is blind to this fact.

Basgiath War College is famous for its cuelty throughout Navarre. Nonetheless thousands of twenty-year-olds waiting to enter their chosen quadrant. I am one of them.

Every Navarrian officer, whether they choose to be schooled as healers, scribes, infantry, or riders is molded within these cruel walls over three years, honed into weapons to secure our mountainous borders from the violent invasion attempts of the kingdom of Poromiel and their gryphon riders. The weak don’t survive here, especially not in the Riders Quadrant. The dragons make sure of that.

I nearly dropped my rucksack when General Sorrengail’s door opened with such a force that’s matching Mira Sorrengail’s temper. She’s Violets older sister by six years.

Mira Sorrengail is the epitome of the perfect Rider. She has short hair to match the standard Rider’s length. She was dressed in black leather and carried her battle worn rucksack in her hand. She was elegant and lethal.

„It seems that General Sorrengail didn’t change her mind about Violet and the Riders Quadrant.” I say when she realises that I was waiting for them.

„No. She’s batshit crazy.” Mira says without a care that the guards might tell her what she said.

„Don’t worry, I’ll be there for her. I can’t guarantee that she will graduate without a scratch, but I will do my best to protect her.” I try to calm Mira.

In this moment the door opened again a whole lot gentler then before. It was Violet.

We practically grew up together, because my father always left me here in Basgiath when he had left to fulfill his duty as one of the most powerful Generals.

Violet was a kind, gentle but sharp tounged woman. She dosen’t fit any of the criteria that makes someone suitable for a life of a Rider.

„Hi Aelin.”

„Hi, Vi. How are you?” I ask her refering to the talk with her mother.

„We don’t have time for a chit chat. Let’s go. We only have an hour before all candidates have to report, and I saw thousands waiting outside the gates when I flew over.” Mira says as she starts walking, leading us down the stone staircase and through the hallways to Violet’s room.

„She’s fucking efficient, I’ll give you that.” Mira mutters

All of Violet’s personal items have been packed into crates that now sit stacked in the corner.

„I was hoping I’d be able to talk her out of it. You were never meant for the Riders Quadrant.” Mira says while emptying Violet’s rucksack to see what she packed that makes it look so heavy.

„So you’ve mentioned. Repeatedly.” Says Violet while she stares at her sister with daggers in her eyes. „And what are you doing? It took me the whole night to choose what I want to bring with me.”

„Sorry Vi, but your pack is almost as heavy as you. It would be impossible to carry it across the Parapet, even for me, and I’m stronger than you.” I wince as she try to catch her books that Mira deemed unnecessary.

„Hey, I want those books. You can’t throw all of them away.” Shouths Violet.

„What’s this for then?” She asks holding up one of the books.

„Obviously killing people. If my memory correct that’s a book about poisonous herbs” I say to at least save one of the books for Violet.

„I’m surprised that you even tried to read a book” Replies Mira not even paying attention to what she says.

„I’m not illiterate Mira. I just have problems with reading and you know that too.” I cringe because I really hate this topic.

„Shit, Aelin I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.” Sighs Mira, then looks at Violet to divert the subject.

„Take off those horrible boots, they are a death trap. You’ll slip right off the Parapet with those smooth soles. I have a set of rubber-bottomed rider boots made for you just in case.” States Mira while giving the boots and black leather clothes to her sister. „Now, get changed while I sort out the rest of this mess.”

„And you…” She begins and check my clothes if I too need to change them.

„You’re set.” Mira states in a surprised tone.

„Yeah, you know my father. He never let me embarass him by falling off the Parapet beacuse of something this trivial.” I said as I roll my eyes.

„Than at least he did one thing right in his life.” Mira says harshly while she finish packing into Violet’s rucksack.

„Rider black is supposed to be earned. Someone’s going to say we didn’t earn them.” I hear Violet refer to her clothes and mine, when she emerges from the bathroom in her new attire.

„You’re a Sorrengail. Fuck what they say.” Responds Mira while she laces Violet into a vest-style corset over her shirt.

„Here, this is yours. Put it on too.” Mira say and I get a corset that matches with Violet’s one.

„What is this?” I ask while trying putting it on.

„Something I designed,” she explains „I had it specially made for you two with Teine’s scales sewn in, so be careful with it.”

„Dragon scales?” I jerk my head back to look at her. „How the hell? Teine is huge.”

„I happen to know a rider whose power can make big things very small.” A devious smile plays across her lips.” „And smaller things… much, much bigger.”

„How much bigger?” I ask laughing.

„It’s a secret.” She says while motioning Violet to sit in front of her.

„You’re the worst.” says Violet.

„Oh come on Vi, don’t tell me that you aren’t curious.” I tease her.

„Head forward. You should have cut your hair.” Mira says while she pulls the strainds tight against Violets head and resume weaving. „It’s a liability in sparring and in battle, not to mention being a giant target. No one else has a hair that fades out silver like this, and they’ll already be aiming for you.”

„You know very well the natural pigment seems to gradually abandon it no matter the length.” Says Violet with defiance. „Besides, other than everyone else’s concern for the shade, my hair is the only thing about me that’s perfectly healthy. Cutting it would feel like I’m punishing my body for finally doing something well, and it’s not like I feel the need to hide who I am. Besides it’s not like Aelin will blend into the environment either.”

„So what’s your excuse for not cutting your hair?” Mira asks with raised eyebrows. „Because I know you have one too. You two always come up with something to get out of trouble.”

„I won’t cut it. I can braid it tightly to not distract me in a fight, besides it’s not like I resemble the General. My hair and my eyes come from my mother.” I say while looking into a mirror on one of the walls.

It’s true. I’m nothing like my father. I look just like my mother, as they say. She was a beauty and the only person whom my father loved in his life. Unfortunately that caused her death.

When she was in her last months in the pregnency, she was attacked by a group who wanted to eliminate the General using my mother. But she was a warrior and tried to save us by escaping. That was when someone injured her and left her to die. When they found my mother she was dying. Pregnant with me. The healers tried to save her but they are not gods. They can’t bring back the dead. They were only able to save me. These are the only facts that I know because nobody want to speak about my mother in fear to anger the General.

Between the few minutes that my mother had died and I was saved, happened a lot of things to my body. My hair is supposed to be a natural golden color but has strands of silvery white, just like my eyes. They should be golden but there are tiny circular parts around my iris where the silvery white color appears. The healers said that it was due to lack of oxygen. My father can’t even look at me because I remind him of my mother and my unique coloring is remind him of her brutal death and that he couldn’t save her. I think this is the main reason that he hates me. The other is another consequence of the circumstance of my birth.

When I was old enough that the General brought tutors to start my education, it turned out that my brain suffered some damage too. I was dyslexic. It doesen’t mean that I can’t read, it’s just really-really difficult. As if the words are running away from my eyes, everytime I try to read something. It doesen’t matter if it’s a short or long text. My memory is great enough that I can remember a lot of things after hearing it but not everything. That makes studying a whole lot of harder. The General ordered that we keep it a secret, so outside my father, and the tutors, the Sorrengail children are the only ones who know it. This is the other reason why the General said in his office that I bring shame on the Melgren name.

„Well then there’s nothing that I can say to change either of your mind.” Sighs Mira. „Then listen to me well.” As she starts to summarize years of knowledge into fifteen harried minutes, barely pausing to breathe.

„Be observant. Quiet is fine, but make sure you notice everything and everyone around you to your advantage. You’ve read the Codex?” Mira asks

„A few times.” Violet answers.

„I tried but I don’t remember everything.” I shrug.

„Then Violet will help you memorize it once you begin your classes. Then you should know that the other riders can kill you any time, and the cutthroat cadets will try. Fewer cadets means better odds at Threshing. There are never enough dragons willing to bond, and anyone reckless enough to get themselves killed isn’t worthy of a dragon anyway.”

„Except when sleeping. It’s an executable offense to attack any cadet while sleeping. Article Three-„ cites Violet.

„Yes, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe at night. Sleep in this if you can.” She taps the stomach of my corset. „Both of you.”

„There’s hidden sheaths sewn diagonally along the rib cage in your corset. For your daggers.” Continue Mira.

„I only have four.” Says Violet, then she grabs them from the floor and slide it into the sheaths.

„I have four and a sword.” I say to Mira while pointing at them at my ribs and thighs, the sword is strapped to my back.

„That’s fine. You’ll earn more.” She nods „Wear the armor at all times. Keep your daggers on you at all times.” She points to the sheaths down her thighs.

„Someone’s going to say we didn’t earn them.” Violet says. Clearly she worries too much.

„Come on Vi, remember what Mira said. You’re a Sorrengail. Fuck what they say. We will survive no matter what!” I say trying to calm her down a bit.

„Exactly. You’re both famous Generals daughters. A Sorrengail and a Melgren. You can do what you have to do to survive and never forget that.” Agrees Mira with me. „There’s no such thing as cheating once you climb the turret. There’s only survival and death.” The bell chimes – only thirty minutes left. She swallows. „It’s almost time. Ready?”

„No.” Replies quickly Violet.

„My hands are trembling.” I show them that indeed my hands are visibly shaking.

„Neither was I ready.” A wry smile lifts a corner of Mira’s mouth. „And I’d spent my life trainig for it, just like Aelin.”

„We’re not going to die today.” States Violet and slings the rucksack over her shoulder.

The halls of the central, administrative part of the fortress are eerily quiet as we wind our way down through various staircases, but the noise from outside grows louder the lower we descend. Through the windows, I see thousands of candidates hugging their loved ones and saying their goodbyes ont he grassy fields just beneath the main gate.

From what I’ve witnessed every year, most families hold on to their candidates right up to the very last bell. The four roads leading to the fortress are clogged with horses and wagons, especially where they converge in front of the college, but it’s the empty ones at the edge of the fields that make me nervous.

They’re for the bodies.

Right before we round the last corner that will lead tot he courtyard, Mira stops.

„What is – Oof.” I hear Violet’s muffled voice when Mira yanks her against her chest, hugging her tight in the relative privacy of the corridor.

„Aelin, you too. Come here.” Says Mira as Violet makes room for me, and then extends her arms.

„I love both of you. Remember everything I’ve told you. Don’t become another name on the death roll. Both of your lives are equally important. Do everything you can to stay alive.” Her voice shakes, and I wrap my arms around her, squeezing tight.

„We’ll be alright. I’ll be alright.” I promise.

She nods, her chin bumping against the top of my head. „I know. Let’s go.”

That’s all she says before pulling away and walking into the crowded courtyard just inside the main gate to the fortress. Instructors, commanders, and even General Sorrengail and General Melgren are gathered informally, waiting for the madness outside the walls to become the order within. Out of all the doors in the war college, the main gate is the only one no cadet will enter today, since each quadrant has its own entrance and facilities. Hell, the riders have their own citadel.

„Find Dain Aetos,” Mira tells us as we cross through the courtyard, heading for the open gate.

„Dain?” Asks Violet with a smile. I think she has a huge crush on him, but didn’t admit it yet. I don’t think he’s such a good person as Vi thinks, but I was never that close with him. We always avoided each others company. There’s something in his eyes that’s makes me uneasy.

„I’ve only been out of the quadrant for three years, but from what I hear, he’s doing well, and he’ll keep both of you safe.”

„As if I want to go near him” I say silently

„It doesn’t matter Aelin, just stay alive.” Scolds me Mira

„And you. Don’t smile like that,” she turns to Violet. „He’ll be second-year.” She shakes a finger at her. „Don’t mess around with second-years. If you want to get laid, and you should” – she lifts her brows – „often, considering you never know what the day brings, then screw around in your own year. Nothing is worse than cadets gossiping that you’ve slept your way to safety. This applies to you too Aelin.”

„So I’m free to take any of the first-years I want to bed,” I say with a smirk. „Just not the second- or the third-years.”

„Exactly.” She winks.

„Then we should definitely find the handsome ones. This is our first task Vi.” I joke with her, in hope that she at least smiles because she seems a little greener the longer she looks at the wagons at the road.

„Let’s cross the Parapet first Aelin.” Says Violet

„Sure Vi.” I wink at her.

We cross through the gates, leaving the fortress, and join the organized chaos beyond.

Each of Navarre’s six provinces has sent this year’s share of candidates for military service. Some volunteer. Some are sentenced as punishment. Most are conscripted. The only thing we have in common here at Basgiath is that we passed the entrance exam – both written and an agility test – which means at least we won’t end up as fodder for the infantry on the front line.

The agility test was easy with someone like me who had the „luck” to train under General Melgren’s watchful eyes. But the written exam was a nightmare. I barely passed despite the fact that I practiced for non-stop before it. It’s just the fact that I’m not like the other normal candidates. Give me a weapon and I’ll know how to use it. Bring me an opponent and I will figure out how to win. But I just can’t will my barin to function normally. Which my father likes to remind me all the time.

The atmosphere is tense with anticipation as Mira leads me along the worn cobblestone path toward the southern turret.

The majority of the crowd moves to line up at the base of the northern turret – the entrance to the Infantry Quadrant. Some of the mass heads toward the gate behind us – the Healer Quadrant that consumes the southern end of the college. Then I spot a few taking the central tunnel into the archives below the fortress to join the Scribe Quadrant. Violet wanted to be a scribe for her whole life. But General Sorrengail has other plans.

The entrance to the Riders Quadrant is nothing more than a fortified door at the base of the tower, that we rider candidates will climb.

We join the riders’ line, waiting to sign in, and then I glance up.

High above us, crossing the river-bottomed valley that divides the main college from the even higher, looming citadel of the Riders Quadrant on the southern ridgeline, is the Parapet, the stone bridge that’s about to separate rider candidates from cadets over the next few hours.

„And to think, I’ve been preparing for the scribe’s written exam all these years.” Says Violet in thick sarcastic voice. „I should have been playing on a balance beam.”

„Believe me Vi, I’ve been playing on a balance beam for years but I don’t think that’s the same as the Parapet.” I say laughing. „However I’m a little excited about this.”

Mira ignores us as the line moves forward and candidates disappear through the door. „Don’t let the wind sway your steps.”

Two candidates ahead of us, a woman sobs as her partner rips her away from a young man, the couple breaking from the line, retreating in tears down the hillside toward the crowd of loved ones lining the roads. There are no other parents ahead of us, only a few dozen candidates moving toward the roll-keepers.

„Keep your eyes on the stones ahead of you and don’t look down,” Mira says, the lines of her face tightening. „Arms out for balance. If the pack slips, drop it. Better it falls than you.”

„Maybe I should let them go first,” whispers Violet.

„No,” Mira answers. „The longer you wait on those steps” – she motions toward the tower – „the greater your fear has a chance to grow. Cross the Parapet before the terror owns you.”

„Mira’s right and you know it Vi. We will be alright. I’ll be there with you until we cross this damn thing.” I try to cheer her up. „If you want I’ll be the first, than you can watch and copy me.”

„Thanks, Aelin.” Smiles Violet.

The line moves, and the bell chimes again. It’s eight o’clock.

Sure enough, the crowd of thousands behind us has separated fully into their chosen quadrants, all lined up to sign the roll and begin their service.

„Focus,” Mira snaps, and I whip my head forward. „This might sound harsh, but don’t seek friendships in there. Forge alliances. Both of you.”

There are only two ahead of us now – a woman with a full pack, and a man with the woman crying over him. He’s carrying an even bigger rucksack.

I look around the pair toward the roll-keeping desk, and my eyes widen.

„Is he…?” Whispers Violet.

Mira glances and mutters a curse. „A separatist’s kid? Yep. See that shimmering mark that starts on the top of his wrist? It’s a relic from the rebellion.”

„A dragon did that?” She asks.

I nod. „Yes. General Melgren told me once, that it was his dragon that did it to all of them when he executed their parents. Nothing like punishing the kids to deter more parents from committing treason. Most of the marked kids who carry rebellion relics are from Tyrrendor.”

It always seemed cruel to me. Punishing the children for their parents actions.

In this moment the blood drains from Mira’s face, and she grips the straps of my pack, turning me to face her. „I just remembered.” Her voice drops, and we lean in to hear her better. „Stay the hell away from Xaden Riorson.”

That name…

„That Xaden Riorson,” she confirms, fear lacing her gaze. „He’s a third-year, and he will kill you the second he finds out who you are.” She lifts her gaze to Violet. „Both of you.”

„His father was the Great Betrayer. He led the rebellion,” Violet says quietly. „What is Xaden doing here?”

„All the children of the leaders were conscripted as punishment for their parents’ cirmes,” I murmur. Yep, my father was really a monster.

Mira whispers as we shuffle sideways, moving with the line. „Mom told me they never expected Riorson to make it past the parapet. Then they figured a cadet would kill him, but once his dragon chose him…” She shakes her head. „Well, there’s nothing much that can be done then. He’s risen to the rank of wingleader.”

„That’s bullshit.” Violet seethes.

„He’s sworn allegiance to Navarre, but I don’t think that will stop him where you’re concerned. Once you get across the Parapet – because you will make it across – find Dain. He’ll put you in his squad, and we’ll just hope it’s far from Riorson.” She grips my straps tighter. „Stay. Away. From. Him.” She knew me well enough to feel the need to repeat it. I don’t like this whole rebellion relic thing. This punishment is too curel.

„Roger that.” I say to calm her down.

„Noted.” Nods Violet.

„Next,” a voice calls from behind the wooden tablet hat bears the rolls of the Riders Quadrant. The marked rider I don’t know is seated next to a scribe, whose eyebrows rise over his weathered face. „Violet Sorrengail?”

She nods, and picking up the quill she sing her name on the roll.

„But I thought you were meant for the Scribe Quadrant,” he says softly.

„General Sorrengail chose otherwise,” I answer him.

„Melgren?” He asks.

„Yes, my name is Aelin Melgren.” I say then I sign my name on the next empty line on the roll.

„You look so much like your late mother,” He says while sadness fills his eyes.

„You knew my mom?” I ask amazed.

He turned his head to Violet „Pity. You had so much promise.” So he knew my mother, but won’t say a thing. As usual. But I just want to know what she was like.

„By the gods,” the rider next tot he scribe says. „You’re Mira Sorrengail?” His jaw drops, and I can smell his hero worship from here.

„I am.” She nods. „This is my sister, Violet. And this is Aelin Melgren. They’ll be first-years.”

„If your sister survives the Parapet.” Someone behind me snickers. „Wind just might blow her right off.”

„Shut up, idiot. You have a higher chance falling of the Parapet than her. It seems you don’t have a brain to think with, if you don’t know to not interfere in the adults conversations.” I answer angrily.

„You fought at Strythmore,” the rider behind the desk says with awe. „They gave you the Order of the Talon for taking out the battery behind enemy lines.”

„As I was saying.” Mira puts a hand at our shoulders. „This is my sister, Violet and our friend Aelin Melgren.”

„You know the way.” The scribe nods and points to the open door into the turret. It looks ominously dark in there, and I fight the urge to run away.

„I know the way,” she assures him, leading us past the table so the snickering asshole behind me can sign the roll.

We pause at the doorway and turn toward each other.

„Don’t die, Violet. I’d hate to be an only child. And you too Aelin, I consider you my sister so stay alive.” She grins and walks away, sauntering past the line of gawking candidates as word spreads of exactly who she is and what she’s done.

„Though to live up to that,” the woman ahead of us says from just inside the tower.

„It is,” Violet agrees.

„But at least she’s a good sister.” I say laughing.

My eyes adjust quickly to the dim light coming in through the equidistant windows along the curved staircase.

„Sorrengail, and Melgren as in…?” the woman asks, looking over her shoulder as we begin to climb the hundreds of stairs.

„Yep.” There’s no railing, so I gesture Violet to keep her hand on the stone wall as we rise higher and higher.

„The generals?” the blond guy ahead of us asks.

„The same ones,” I answer, offering him a quick smile.

„Wow. Nice leathers, too.” He smiles back.

„Thanks. They’re courtesy of our family.”

„I wonder how many candidates have fallen off the edge of the steps and died before they even reach the Paraphet,” the woman says, glancing down the center of the staircase as we climb higher.

„Two last year.” Violet replies immediately. „Well, three if you count the girl one of the guys landed on.”

The woman’s brown eyes flare, but she turns back around keeps climbing. „How many steps are there?” she asks.

„Two hundred and fifty,” Violet answers.

„Oh god Vi, I love your brain.” I said laughing, then we climb in silence for another five minutes.

„Not too bad,” she says with a bright smile as we near the top and the line comes to a halt. „I’m Rhiannon Matthias, by the way.”

„Dylan,” the blond guy responds with an enthusiastic wave.

„Violet.” Vi give them a tense smile.

„Aelin.” I say and wink at Vi, ignoring Mira’s earlier suggestion that we avoid friendships and only forge alliances.

„I feel like I’ve been waiting my entire life for this day.” Dylan shifts his pack on his back. „Can you believe we actually get to do this? It’s a dream come true.”

„I can’t fucking wait.” Rhiannon’s smile widens. „I mean, who wouldn’t want to ride a dragon?”

„Do your parents approve?” Dylan asks. „Because my mom’s been begging me to change my mind for months. I keep telling her that I’ll have better chances for advancement as rider, but she wanted me to enter the Healer Quadrant.”

„Mine always knew I wanted this, so they’ve been pretty supportive. Besides, they have my twin to dote on. Raegan’s already living her dream, married and expecting a baby.” Rhiannon glances back at us.

„What about you? Let me guess. With names like Melgren and Sorrengail, I bet you were the first to volunteer this year.”

„Yes, I wanted to come here since I can remember.” I say with a smile. „I’m really excited about this. I mean do you see the dragons? They magnificent.”

„I hear ya girl.” Says Rihannon as we high five. „What about you Violet?”

„I was more like volun-told.”

„Gotcha.”

„And riders do get way better perks than other officers,” Violet says to Dylan as the line moves upward again. The snickering candidate behind me catches up, sweating and red. Look who isn’t snickering now. „Better pay, more leniency with the uniform policy,” she continues. No one gives a shit what riders wear as long as it’s black. The only rules that apply to riders are the ones in the Codex.

„And the right to call yourself a supreme badass,” Rhiannon adds.

„That too,” I agree. „Pretty sure they issue you an ego with your flight leathers.”

„Plus I’ve heard that riders are allowed to marry sooner than the other quadrants,” Dylan adds.

„True. Right after graduation. If we survie.” Says Violet. „I think it has something to do with wanting to continue bloodlines.”

„Or because we tend to die sooner than the other quadrants,” Rhiannon muses.

„I’m not dying,” Dylan says with way more confidence than I feel –  however I practiced for this for my whole life – as he tugs a necklace from under his tunic to reveal a ring dangling from the chain. „She said it would be bad luck to propose before I left, so we’re waiting until graduation.” He kisses the ring and tucks the chain back under his collar. „The next three years are going to be long ones, but they’ll be worth it.”

„You might make it across the Parapet,” the guy behind us sneers. „This one here is a breeze away from the bottom of the ravine.”

I roll my eyes. He doesn’t learn.

„Shut up and focus on yourself,” Rhiannon snaps, her feet clicking against the stone as we climb.

The top comes into sight, the doorway full of muddled light. Those clouds are going to wreak havoc on us, and we have to be on the other side of the Parapet before they do.

Another step, another tap of Rhiannon’s feet.

„Let me see your boots,” Says Violet quietly, probably hoping that the jerk behind me can’t hear her.

Her brows puckers, and confusion fills her brown eyes, but she shows her the shoes. They’re smooth, just like the ones Violet was wearing earlier. My stomach sinks like a rock. I know what she will do.

The line starts moving again, pausing when we’re only a few feet from the opening. „What size are your feet?” She asks.

„What?” Rhiannon blinks at her.

„Your feet. What size are they?”

„Eight,” she answers, two lines forming between her brows.

„I’m seven,” Vi says quickly. „It will hurt like hell, but I want you to take my left boot. Trade with me.”

„I’m sorry?” She looks at her like she has lost her mind.

„These are rider boots. They’ll grip the stone better. Your toes will be scrunched and generally miserable, but at least you’ll have a shot at not falling off if the rain hits.”

„Oh hell, don’t you dare Violet Sorrengail,” I hiss at her. „Just minutes ago I promised your sister that you will survive this damn Parapet, and now you want to throw away your best chance? Absouletly no.

„I give you my left boot. It’s the same size.” I say to Rihannon.

„What? No, that was my idea.” Whispers Violet.

„I know, but I will do it.” I reply. „Now hurry up, we don’t have time. It’s almost our turn.”

Rhiannon purses her lips in debate for a second, then agrees, and we swap left boots. I barely finish lacing up before the line moves again.

The top of the turret is bare, the crenelations of stone rising and falling along the circular structure at the height of my chest and doing nothing to obscure the view. The ravine and its river below suddenly feel very, very far. Every trial in the quadrant – including this one – is designed to test a cadet’s ability to ride. If someone can’t manage to walk the windy length of the slim stone bridge, then they sure as hell can’t keep their balance and fight on the back of a dragon.

And as for the death rate? I guess every other rider thinks the risk is worth the glory – or has the arrogance to think they won’t fall.

I breath deeply as I walk the edge behind Rhiannon, and in front of Violet, my fingers skimming the stonework as we wind our way toward the parapet.

Three riders wait at the entrance, which is nothing more than a gaping hole in the wall of the turret. One with ripped-off sleeves records names as candidates step out onto the treacherous crossing. Another, who’s shaved all his hair with the exception of a strip down the top center, instructs Dylan as he moves into position, patting his chest like the ring hidden there will bring him luck.

The third turns in my direcion and my heart simply…stops.

He’s tall, with windblown black hair and dark brows. The line of his jaw is strong and covered by warm tawny skin and dark stubble, and when he folds his arms across his torso, the  muscles in his chest and arms ripple, moving in a way that makes me swallow. And his eyes… His eyes are the shade of gold-flecked onyx. The contrast is startling, jawdropping even – everything about him is. His features are so harsh that they look carves, and yet they’re astonishingly perfect, like an artist worked a lifetime sculpting him, and at least a year of that was spent on his mouth.

He’s the most esquisite man I’ve ever seeen.

Even the diagonal scar that bisects his left eyebrow and marks the top corner of his cheek only makes him hotter. Flaming hot. Scorching hot. Gets-you-into-trouble-and-you-like-it level of hot. Suddenly, I know that I won’t take Mira’s advice that not to fuck around outside my year group.

„See you girls on the other side!” Dylan says over his shoulder with an excited grin before stepping onto the parapet, his arms spread wide.

„Ready for the next one, Riorson?” the rider with the ripped sleeves says.

Xaden Riorson?

„You ready for this, Sorrengail? I think Melgren is fine, but you seems a little pale.” Rhiannon says moving forward.

The black-haired rider snaps his gaze to mine, turning fully toward me, then he looks onto Violet. That’s when I see it, the rebellion relic. It start at his bare left wrist, then disappears under his black uniform to appear again at his collar, where it stretches and swirls up his neck, stopping at his jawline.

„Oh shit,” I whisper, and his eyes snapped back to mine, as if he can hear me over the howl of wind that rips at my secured braid.

„Sorrengail? Melgren?” He steps toward us, and I look up… and up.

Good gods, I barely reach his collarbone. He’s massive. He has to be more than four inches over six feet tall.

I nod once, while a I make sure that I stand before Violet. To my movement the shining onyx of his eyes transforms to cold, unadulterated hatred. I can almost taste the loathing wafting off him like a bitter cologne.

„Aelin?” Rhiannon asks, moving forward.

„You’re the Generals daughters.” His voice deep and accusatory.

„You’re Fen Riorson’s son,” Violet counters behind me.

Xaden sucks in a deep breath, and the muscle in his jaw flexes once. Twice. „Your mother captured my father, and her father executed him.”

„Your father killed my older brother. Seems like we’re even.”  Oh gods Violet, just shut up please, I beg in my mind.

„Hardly.” His glaring gaze strokes over me like he’s memorizing every detail or looking for any weakness.

I hold his glare, as if winning this staring competition will gain us safe entrance to the quadrant instead of crossing the Parapet behind him. Either way, I’m getting across. I promised to Mira that both of us will be safe on the other side.

His hands clench into fists, and he tenses.

I prepare for the strike, if I have to protect Violet. He might want to throw us off this tower, but I won’t make it easy for him.

„You all right?” Rhiannon asks, her gaze jumping between Xaden and me.

He glances at her. „You’re friends?”

„We met on the stairs,” she says, squaring her shoulders.

He looks down, noting our mismatched boots, and arches a brow. His hands relax. „Interesting.”

Fuck, Violet and her big heart.

„Are you going to kill us?” Asks Violet behind me.

„Shit, Violet just shut up please.” I hiss at Vi. „I don’t think it is a good idea to tempt someone throwing us off, who is bigger and stronger then us. I suppose you just have a death wish with pissing him off.” I facepalmed.

His gaze clashes with mine as the sky opens and rain falls in a deluge, soaking my hair, my leathers, and the stones around us in seconds.

A scream rends the air, and we jerk our attention to the Parapet just in time to see Dylan slip.

Violet gasps behind me.

He catches himself, hooking his arms over the stone bridge as his feet kick beneath him, scrambling for a purchase that isn’t there.

„Pull yourself up, Dylan!” Rhiannon shouts.

„Oh gods!” In the corner of my eyes I see that Violet’s hand flies to cover her mouth. That’s when Dylan loses his grip on the water-slick stone and falls, disappearing from view. The wind and rain steal any sound his body might make in the valley below.

Xaden never takes his eyes from me, watching silently with a look I can’t interpret.

„Why would I waste my energy killing you when the Parapet will do it for me?” A wicked smile curves his lips. „Your turn Melgren.”

Fucking handsome bastard.

[bamboospirit]

Helloooooooo fellow Cultivate enjoyers :D

I am back from the dead to bring you a drawing of Qing Mushu's little pond (the spirit grass is in the other eyesocket because I say so. I could not make it look good for the life of me :D). Please ignore any inaccuracies, I didn't go back to the earlier chapters and went solely with what I imagine the dragon's terrace to look like. I have to say, I'm really proud of that one.

I also present you with a little drawing of the queen bee, as well as a doodle of the ending of the latest chapter. Poor Shen Yuan. You will be remembered.

As always, this is once again inspired by the lovely fanfic "Cultivate: Slow Life on a Monster-Infested Mountain" by @neonghostcat

Go give it some love!