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aqua-loves-writing · 1 year ago

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Rebellious Flame chapter 2 part 2

Disclaimer, this series is meant for teen and up audiences, with depictions of violence, abuse, misogyny and death of the fantasy sorts, nothing too graphic. I won't put an M rating for the future chapters so be warned of the topics in this series. Now, you can start reading.

“Zvezdoprah. ”

"Wow, the sky's beautiful isn't it?"

"Zvezdoprah."

"Let's go to the festival already, I'll get all the awards," mumbling strange words, everyone around her snickered except for one enraged man.

"Zvezdoprah!"

"Hey," Alice fell to the ground, her hair covering her face, "We did the games fair and square so gives us the awards-oh."

Looking around, she spotted several kids her age laughing and a stern old with a long black beard tapping his foot to the ground.

“...Oh.”

“Had a nice sleep?”

"...I didn’t sleep, I just," she got up again, “I was…mingling about all the knowledge brought upon me on this day.”

“Oh really? Then do you mind telling the class what exactly we were talking about?"

"...We were, uh, starting an extended lunch break," she pointed finger guns at him.

"..."

"...Just kidding! We were studying…stuff! That’s right! I know what I'm doing, heh."

"...Anyway" in a middle of a grass field, with some trees across in the back, the professor put two tree branches across the floor. The students sat on old small tree stumps, excited to see where this was going.

"Before a certain snore interrupted me, one of you asked what's the difference between the blue purity flames and the flames the natumagi people have, it’s really simple actually"

The first branch, he lit with a match and it slowly turned to ashes. The other branch, he sparked blue flames on it, the branch didn't burn, it flew. The professor controlled where the branch would float around the sky and it fell into Alice's grasp. The students were amazed, jumping excitedly to see what was coming next.

"As you see, the flames the Natumagi people control are like any other flames while ours, the blue purity, does not burn the objects or people it engulfs, nor does it generate heat, but it does hold incredible strength in combat and with enough skill, the ability for one to levitate themselves."

"What about climates," a student raised his hand, "Does that affect it?

"Good question, you see, the empire of Unia is split into different sections depending on what the weather and climate are best suited to each different elemental power, ours are not affected as such, and thus can even be used when it rains and it won't blow out"

"Sweet! We must have the best power then"

"Hm, I would have said that’s true, but it’s wrong. Another thing the two powers share is the consequences of when we lose control of it. If a natumagi mage is enraged, for example, their powers will go berserk and could lead to a lot of harm in the process. If the same thing happens to us, the flames will engulf us entirely and we could lose our ability to use them for days, months, or even years in the most extreme cases."

The students were feeling uncomfortable hearing that, while Alice got lost in thought and raised her hand.

"What is it now Zvezdoprah," the professor turned away removing the spare branches around the ground, “No, you can’t go back to sleep.”

“That’s not what I was going to ask. There’s something I’ve been wondering about?”

He rolled his eyes, “What is it this time?”

“If blue purity is so great and everything, why didn't any of our hunters join the war?”

Hearing that, the professor dropped all the branches, "...What?"

“Well, yesterday I checked some history books about and I couldn’t find anything about someone using blue purity in it, not even a mention of my father either, did he go alone or-”

“Alice Zvezdoprah”

“Uh…”

The professor suddenly slapped his wrist against her table, leaving everyone startled and quiet around. He gazed at her with an expression of anger, and disappointment. His eyes widened when he realized what he did, so he walked away and turned away from everyone.

“You should…already know that the only reason he joined it was because he used to live with those people, we had no connection to them otherwise so that’s why we didn’t get involved. It’s that easy to understand, so don’t ask any…unnecessary questions again, got it?”

“Uh, yes sir…”

“Good, after I’ve done cleaning up we’ll go to train. So take a small break now.”

“Al-alright.”

“Great, you pissed him off twice today.”

“Ugh, he’s going to make us work to the bone during training now.”

“Thanks, Alice.”

Hearing all of that and seeing her professor upset, she crawled under her table.

Man, why did I wrong? I should probably stop talking about the war for some time.

“Zvezdoprah, please get up,”

“Huh-ouch,” surprised, she accidentally hit her head against the table, “Oof!”

“Yeesh, please be careful,” her professor reached out his hand to her, “We’re heading out now.”

She got up and after packing her books and feather quills, the professor brought them all deep into a small forest. Alice tried to join small groups as they walked but they all ignored her or walked away from her. She tightly held her skirt frustration filling her face and she began walking faster than the others, causing her to accidentally bump into her professor again.

“Oh! I’m sorry!”

“Forget about it, we’re here now.”

In the middle of the forest, they arrived at a giant field, training dummies and wooden weapons all positioned around a giant tree stump in the middle of the field.

“Now, do light exercises and then we’ll do simple 1:1 training with blue purity. Zvezdoprah, grab the training weapons to everyone,”

“Uh, me? On it!”

Yeesh, I really got on his bad side today. It’s alright, Ally, you got this! Just impress everyone now during training and all will be forgiven!

“What are you doing? Quit standing there and hand everyone the things!”

“Oh of course!”

Or not, we’ll see.

The kids all lightly began training against one another. Some used swords, some spears, but Alice picked up a Bo staff. While she was not the best, she handled herself well, being able to hit the others lightly and taking them off guard.

“Great job everyone. Though you all need to focus on your defenses more, especially you,” he looked at Alice as he said that.

“Heh, got it!”

“Now then, it’s time for you all to learn something I mentioned earlier today, and that is levitation.”

The kids all got excited when hearing that. They all began screeching and jumping all over the place as if they found a bunch of gold.

The professor chuckled seeing that, “Now calm down everyone, I know you’re all excited but it’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s the spell that takes the most usage of flames to control and you must be fully concentrated as you use it. One slip and you could die falling into a cliff, that’s both a metaphor and literal warning, please don’t die falling into cliffs.”

The kids all calmed down, some pondering the chances of them dying by falling into cliffs.

“Of course, Zvezdoprah, why won’t you go first?”

“Uh, me,” she was startled, “Of course, it’s me who else is called Zvezdoprah here. Uh, I’m coming.”

She climbed up a wooden step-ladder, a pillow placed on the ground in case she falls. She looked up in the sky and back to the ground, meeting the mocking stares of the other student, and the professor’s silent judgment of her.

Yay, I did absolutely nothing and I am already ‘the bad example,’ great. OK, calm down. I need to be calm. I already messed up enough, can’t mess this up too. Just close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Mind at peace, heart at home.

Keeping her eyes closed, she jumped. Unable to hear anything but muffled noises, she tried to touch the ground below her.

“Open your eyes already”

“Huh-wow!”

Opening her eyes, she saw herself several feet away floating from the ground, the ends of her hair burning in blue, and her eyes shining like crystals. In that moment, she was able to see her entire village, the giant walls surrounding it, and the mountains and forest beyond them.

I see it. I can really see it. A world beyond.

“It’s beautiful,” her smile widened and she kept levitating herself across the skies, feeling freedom at the grasp of her fingers.

This feeling. I have done this before. And yet, it’s so nostalgic. Was I born in the skies, so wide and azure, away from everything and close all the same? These feelings, these questions, why do I feel like this happened before?

“Zvezdoprah,” her professor shouted, “Can you hear me?”

“Oh, yeah,” she arrived in front of him, still floating midair, “This is absolutely amazing!”

“I know but…”

“I could do this for hours on end!”

“That’s great to hear, but…”

“Thank you so much, professor-”

“Uh, you’re welcome, but,” he held her arm, “Do you have any idea on how to land?”

“...”

“Zvezdoprah?”

“Uh, don’t worry! I’ll figure it out! I just need to…do this!”

Speeding through everyone and blowing their hair away, she saw the closest tree to her and hugged it.

“...Uh?”

“Give it a minute!”

After a few minutes, her flames were blown out and she climbed down, “See, I got this!”

“...I’ll teach you more practical ways of doing that.”

“Pfft, that was so lame.”

“Really couldn’t come up with anything else?”

The other students began laughing at her making her embarrassed.

“Heh, you guys are right,” frustrated, she looked away, her professor taking notice of it.

“Ahem, children,” his coughs silenced everyone, “Make fun of her as you like, but I don’t recall you all doing anything either, or am I wrong?”

The students were scared, “Uh, no, you’re right sir.”

“Good. Now, get back to training.”

“Heh,” Alice giggled.

“And you aren’t done either.”

“I know,” she happily went after the other students.

He’s harsh but means well. Gotta appreciate that more.

***

As the sun began to set, the students all went back home in small groups, while Alice approached her professor alone.

“Good evening professor.”

“Oh, good evening.”

She quietly smiled at him, leading to awkward silence quickly.

“...What is it?”

“Nothing!”

“Alright then.”

He began walking away, unsure what to do with the fact that she was following him, the wide smile on her face creeping him out.

“Uh, isn’t that way over there closer to your home?”

“Yeah, but I want to change things up today!”

“...I see.”

“...”

The awkwardness went on, a cow close by witnessing it all firsthand.

“Professor, can I ask something?”

“Thank goodness,” he made a sigh of relief, “I mean, what is it?”

“Should I call you ‘professor’ or ‘mister Adam’ outside of school? Or is ‘Adam’ alone enough? Or should say ‘Addy’ like dad did-”

“Please, just keep calling me professor…”

“Ok, thank you, professor!”

“Uh, for what?”

“For standing up for me when I trained to levitate earlier and everyone made fun of me!”

“Oh that, they were being noisy is all, I would have silenced them even if you weren’t involved.”

“Sure, I believe you.”

“Oh, I am not hiding anything, that was just me doing my job.”

“Sure,” she said with snark.

“...”

Huh, he got silent all of a sudden. That’s weird. And he looks nervous, is something wrong? Oh, he looked away! Is he staring at the sky or the cow?

“Zvezdoprah…“

“What is it?”

“I apologize if this sounds inappropriate, but, in two weeks, it’s going to be two years since…your father die right?”

She was unsure how to respond, “Y-yes.”

He’s right. But why is he asking this all of a sudden?

He gulped, then he put his hand into his coat’s pocket to grab something, a bottled opener, which he gave to her.

“Huh, why did you give it to me?”

“It’s a gift, for him. We used to go drinking a lot together, your father and I, so maybe bring it to his grave, he might appreciate it, wherever he is right now…”

“I see,” she held a soft smile on her face, “He is going to love it, I just know it!”

“Heh, good to know,” Adam smiled, and after realizing he did, he walked several steps away from her, “Just get home already before I hear from your mother tomorrow. I have enough on my plate to handle that now.”

“Okay-dokey,” she giggled and went her separate way home.

I'm telling her this. Should I do that when I come back or wait when we go to his grave? Hmm, the former would ruin the element of surprise, but the latter would just make it look suspicious for me to have this lying around in my bedroom. Either way, that was really nice of him-Huh?

Gazing into the sky above. She noticed several streaks of what appeared to be smoke fading into the sky in small streaks from one another, someone made several campfires outside.

Are the hunters going out late tonight or something? I mean, it’s hunting season but why are they so close to the village’s walls, I should ask mom about this.

Arriving at her home, she hurriedly knocked on the door, doing small circles waiting for her mother to come.

“Oh, welcome back, sweetie! How was it-agh!?”

“Let’s go,” Alice suddenly grabbed Talisha’s arm, running through her streets.

“Ugh, Alice calm down!? Where are we going, did you get into trouble again?”

“No! I mean, yes, but that’s not what this is about!?”

“Then what are you-”

“Look,” she pointed her mother to the streaks of smoke in the sky, “Is it the hunters or…”

“...”

“Mom?”

She took immediate notice of her mother’s worry. From covering her mouth and her eyes terrified, she knew something was up.

“I’m,” Talisha shook her head and crouched down to Alice with a fake smile on her face, “It’s the hunters definitely, they’re probably trying to hunt for rabbits for dinner. It’s the season after all!”

She’s lying.

Unsure of how to help her, she followed along with what she said, “I see, I worried for nothing then, hah.”

“See, it’s all gonna be alright now, so go back home and go to sleep. You don't wanna be late for tomorrow’s classes, right?”

“...What about you?”

“Oh, I’ll get back home later, I need to check something about the library with the chief, good night.”

She gave Alice a kiss on the forehead, walking away with her body shaking ever so slightly. Alice noticed it quickly and watched her as she got farther and farther away, seemingly unreachable.

Something is up, I know. But what? She looked so concerned. Can I really leave her like that in her current state? No, I shouldn’t bother her.

She walked back home.

I can’t get involved, what the heck can I even do, but, she might get lonely.

Clenching her fists, she kept walking

No, you can’t get into her way. You need to go back home, you need to stay away from this. You need to, I need to-AH screw it!

She decided to follow after her mother, “I need to be by her side, no matter what!”

#re upload because I fixed some grammar mistakes #my writing #rebellious flame #refla #refla updates #chapter 2 #writeblr #writing community #am writing #creative writing #fiction #original fiction #writers corner #writers on tumblr #fantasy #fantasy fiction #fantasy novel

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aqua-loves-writing · 1 year ago

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Rebellious Flame chapter 1 part 2

Disclaimer, this series is meant for teen and up audiences, with depictions of violence, abuse, mysogyiny and death of the fantasy sorts, nothing too graphic. I won't put an M rating for the future chapters so be warned of the topics in this series. Now, you can start reading.

No one knew how to react seeing this being. It was the most human beast they ever laid their eyes on, but it’s monstrous featured made it so uncanny, it unnerved everyone who looked upon it.

Screeching out to the eternal skies, the beast of sorrows flies down to the ground, it’s claws stabbing through a soldier’s chest.

“Tch,” she shook of the body of her hand.

"Shit," Alfred's entire body was shaking, "Ready the javelins! We can't let this thing getaway!"

Using the rain, they were able to make a giant javelin made of pure ice, and they launched it at the beast.

Instead of slashing through it’s body, the beast somehow managed to grab it, shattering to pieces. Soldiers ran away.

"Crap."

"General! What are we going to do?"

"…"

"General!

Everyone struggled in their fight against the beast. It moved in speeds the eye couldn’t catch up to. And it cut through the soldier’s chests like it’s nothing.

In the back, the Emperor of Anguish, seeing hundreds of men die, laughed

"Yes. Yes! My dear, sweet, baby. My beast of sorrow," he clapped his hands, "Finally, my perfect creation! My child! For years, I have dreamed of this moment! The moment where this horrid world will crumble and a new paradise will be formed in my hands! And now, you're here, making it all come true! Finally, this world will be freed of its cursed sense of purity and I'll rule it all! Kill! Destroy! Bring an end to it all-"

In an instant, Alfred beheaded him.

After years of fighting, Alfred beheaded him.

In a moment that seemed meaningless, Alfred beheaded him.

As thousands of soldiers struggled and died against a threat that had never been experienced before, Alfred beheaded him.

"…"

"General, focus," Petar had grabbed his shoulders, "We need to handle..whatever that things is! Alfred are you listening to me! Alfred!"

"…"

"General?"

You're dead. You're actually dead! Your death should have been the end! The end of the war, the end of our suffering. You're dead, and yet even then, you have found a way to keep ruining our lives. All the lives we had lost, all the sacrifices we had to make, all made to end you. Were they all meaningless in the end? Does the pain of war never end, shall it remain even as our skin heals and years pass? Gods, why? Why did you do this to us.

"Alfred," Briggs snapped and punched him in the face, "Get a hold of yourself!"

"I…"

"How do you dare to act so weak in front of all our soldiers! Have you forgotten? They see our hope and future in you! They went through trial and error all because you gave them something to believe in! So, what do you think they'll do once they see you like this!?"

"Briggs..."

"Get a hold of yourself!"

After hearing his words, he shook his head and let's go of the spear.

"Thank you, but how are we going to defeat this thing?"

"Heh, did you really forget?"

"Forget what?"

"You know who I'm talking about."

"...Oh."

"That's right, it's time."

"Woah, now, you don't mean-"

"Petar," Akihiko stopped him, "Are you sure on this General?"

"…Yes," he took off his helmet, his blonde hair flowing in the wind, "I'll call her."

"…You can't be serious."

"Petar, I need to do this."

"You can't! It's too risky!"

"What else can we do?"

"Anything else! We can make my troop help you fly to it or create javelins again or-"

"Peter," the other two generals held him back, "you have already realized it, haven't you? This is the only way we'll win."

He was still reluctant, but knew he had no way of convincing Alfred otherwise, "…Fine then, let's get to it then."

"Thank you, Peter."

"Don't say I haven't warned you, and it's Petar."

Alfred with a smile on his face gazed into the sky, taking a deep breath as he rose his sword to the sky.

"Everyone," he yelled out, "It's time, I'm going to summon her."

With a contemplating look on their face, they stepped away, leaving Alfred the chance to surround himself with large blazes of fire.

Please, I'm begging you, come help us.

"Oh, goddess, the one who gifted us with fire, whose warmth helped us live, whose burns killed many. I, as a mage born for your fire, who lives for your fire, may you come again and bless us with your warmth once again, Ignia!"

His eyes were closed. His ears didn’t hear a sound or a voice. All he could feel, is the flames, the goddess’ gift upon his kind, flowing through every part of his body.

There she is…

Everyone was speechless, they couldn’t do anything but bow down to her. Ignia, a gigantic hawk, whose feathers were burning in sunlit flames.

"Goddess…" Alfred offered his sword looking at her with his pleading eyes, "Please, defeat that…thing, for all of us, that's all we ask."

His sword had shattered into smaller pieces as they flew to Ignia, who burned them all into small flames that entered her heart. She let out a large screech, her wings shining like a sun giving birth to a new day.

The beast of sorrow clearly didn’t like this. Roaring at the surrounding soldiers trying to fight it, it flied up to sky and launched itself at her, only for Ignia to disappear.

She reappeared behind it, casting several rays of flames at it. The beast was able to dodge them all, casting it’s own black flames at her, but they remained ineffective.

"Now!”

The army tried to help the goddess, throwing several ice javelins and sprouting gigantic vines so it wouldn’t fly away.

The beast managed to dodge it all, so Ignia caught it off guard and shot her fiery feathers like arrows. Everyone covered their ears as it screamed similar to millions of children dying.

It had now slowly fell to the ground, it’s wings completely burned out. It tried to get up but the goddess came and clenched her claws right through her tail.

"You," Alfred looked at the beast with contempt.

Is this real? Will this really be the end?

"Goddess, if you can."

Ignia didn’t say a word. She simply rose her head, spreading her wings to the skies. Carrying the beast with her claws, the two had flown away, bursting through the rainy clouds.

When the army stared at the goddess, they were blinded by her pure flames and the ever scorching sun. Ignia reached the run, and they did not see her return.

I can't believe this.

"General."

It happened.

"General!"

It's actually happened!

"Get over here!"

Alfred was embraced by his captains, his brothers in arms, the entire army dropped their weapons! They took off their helmets, throwing them high into the sky. They laughed, cried, cheered, for it was over. It was finally over.

"Well, looks like you made it," Petar lightly slapped Alfred's back as everyone celebrated, "With this, they'll definitely turn you into the next king!"

"Heh, a king you say," seeing his fellow soldiers finally remember what peace was like again, he took a deep breath, “I know something even better.”

Almost a year passed.

Alfred, was walking upstairs, it was hard to breather. He could hear the people shout his name. Instruments creating a beautiful melody that he was unable to appreciate because of how overwhelmed he was.

“My emperor,,” General Briggs, bowed down to him, “They’re waiting for you.”

"All hail Emperor Alfred! All hail Emperor Alfred!"

Standing on a balcony high above his subjects, he raised his hand and everyone went quiet.

"Thank you, thank you, everyone! Words can't describe how much this truly means to me. Despite everything we have lost, despite everything we have suffered through, this army has searched, rebuilt, and finally created this beautiful home of ours after countless months. I must ask that you cheer their names as well, and join them in their aid to protect you!"

His people, yes, his people, cried out his name again and again. Even as some hesitated to cheer, and some showed nothing but cynicism for their new ruler, their voices did not matter in the cheers of a thousand.

"And now," he raised his sword to the sky, his eyes shining bright, "I swear for as long as I am your emperor, I will create a future, where no more beasts shall remain in this world!"

The Empire of Unia was created, and the era of purity had begun.

"Alice?"

"Oh no," hearing a familiar voice, a little girl scratched her long brown hair. She dropped her book, running through the library as fast as she can.

"I can hear you running," opening the door a woman with dark skin came in, cleaning her hands with a piece of cloth. "Dinner will get cold at this rate-oh."

As she entered the room, the little girl stared between the books in the shelves. She was able to spot on see her completely exhausted face on her dark skin, as she saw all the different books littered across the floor.

She sighed, "Alice please, next time just tell me what you need to get. Where are you even?"

The woman looked through the library, collecting books from the floor along the way, looking for her until she heard a book fall off behind one of the shelves.

"…That wasn't me."

Sighing as she heard the girl's voice, she walked to the corner of the room. "Alice, please, neither of us have time for...this."

She dropped all of her books. Becoming completely speechless seeing a small fort made of books, pillows covering the front of it.

"…"

"…You're in there aren't you?"

"…"

"Alice."

"Excuse me," the young girl coughed, making her voice deeper, "Who's Alice? You must have mistaken me for someone else! I'm, uh, Mister Mustachio McBradonich! Yes! I specialize in…mustaches!"

"…"

"Now, if you can excuse me, I have a well, barbershop to run, so, I'd appreciate if-"

Tired of the girl's antics, the woman sighed. Opening her eyes, now glowing a shiny blue, flames emerging from her hands. She blows away all of the books, leaving nothing but her and her daughter to stare at each other.

"…"

"..."

"Oh. My. Goodness." the girl used her long curly hair to make a fake mustache and beard, "Are my eyes deceiving me? What is the one and only amazing Talisha Zvezdoprah, the most beautiful and skilled master of Blue Purity, who-is-definitely-not-mad-at-her-daughter-for-causing-a-havoc-in-her-workplace, doing here gracing my presence!"

"…"

"…Hey, you can't say I didn't try."

"Alright, first of all, when did you have the time to make…that."

"My speed is immaculate, even incomprehensible, to the human mind."

Talisha let out a small sigh, "Let's hurry before our dinner gets cold."

"You're not mad because I sort of made this mess?"

“Sort of?”

Alice simply looked away.

"Eh, it was due to cleaning for a while now, so I'll help out too after we eat, ok?"

"Okay!"

"Please remove your hair from your face though."

She pouted, "fine."

The sun was setting as the small family cleaned up the library. Alice collected the books while her mother put them back where they belonged.

"Be glad no one came in today, otherwise this would have been a completely different story."

"I guess…"

Alice was in a very sour mood as she cleaned, and her mother took quick notice of it.

"Say, what book were you even searching for? Couldn't you have just asked me to find it for you?"

"…Nah, it was too boring for that."

"Boring? What was it about?"

"Uh," she struggled to answer her questions and turned her back, "Well, just some boring history book about that Unia country and all. Bit of a letdown if I had to be honest, I mean, their four gods kept getting praised all throughout and in the final chapter only the fire bird one appears and the other three weren't even considered, also, it has lot of propaganda-"

"It was about the war, wasn't it?"

Alice didn't face her when she asked, taking a deep breath and stiffening up her shoulders, "...Yes."

"Sweetie…"

Great, just great! Look at what you have done now! She struggled with her grief for months now and as just she's starting to feel better, you had to remind her of dad again! If I just cleaned it all up in time none of this would have happened in the first place! Can't you think for more than five seconds you, idiot-

"Hey," seeing her lost in thought, Talisha embraced while gently running her fingers through her hair. "It's been two years already, I'm doing much better than I did before, so please, if you need help, don't hesitate to ask."

"But, the mention of the war makes you-"

"I'll be fine. Besides," she kissed her on the forehead, "For you, it's worth it."

"Mom…Bleh, I hate history. Dad wasn’t even mentioned once in the book. Just this stupid anguish guy over and over again."

“Right...just him.”

"Now, let's finish this! We don't want any customers to think we were hit by a tornado inside of our own home, right?"

Seeing the warm smile on her mother's face, she lit up, "Yup! Here I go books! Get cleaned!"

"Whoa, slow down!"

So they spent the rest of the evening cleaning and after they finished they went to sleep, unaware of what the next day would bring them.

---

Well it's been months but the first rewritten (and updated) chapter is finally here! On tumblr! Woohoo!

I actually planned to do this way sooner but a I was busy with school I didn't have the proper time to focus on it, but now that I graduated (yay) I have more time to focus on Rebellious Flame!

---

Also, small side note, the name "Petar" is a common name in Slavic countries and despite it's similarities to "Peter", its a different name and pronounced like pe+tar, just wanted to clear it up!

#my writing #refla #rebellious flame #chapter 1 #writeblr #writing community #writing on tumblr #am writing #writers corner #fiction #original fiction #writers on tumblr

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