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glbettwrites · 1 month ago

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An Asphalt Odyssey: A New Beginning

I've been reworking the world of An Asphalt Odyssey so the 'supernatural apocalypse' is less the world-stopping event that it was before and more something that just altered society enough to give it the aesthetic I want.

Inspiration (video games): As Dusk Falls, Road 96, Life is Strange, Far Cry 5, Firewatch, Gone Home, Oxenfree, What Remains of Edith Finch, The Dark Pictures Anthology, Detroit: Become Human, etc.

Lore: The Clash

The Clash, sometimes called The Exchange, was an event in which multiple alternate realities collided for just a moment, displacing different versions of people into alternate dimensions. Those who were displaced into this world are known as Crossers.

These other dimensions are very similar to ours with the same people and places, but with certain key differences. One of them being that a lot of stories and folklore from our world is actually real in other worlds. Vampires and werewolves might exist in one, ghosts and the paranormal might exist in the other, certain superhuman abilities in another, etc.

So in our world, which is where An Asphalt Odyssey is set, The Clash happened—which no one actually felt and only a few saw the immediate results of—and then suddenly some people woke up with loved ones who were alternate versions of themselves. For example:

Mr. Smith might wake up Mr. Smith and think all is fine and dandy. Everything looks the same, pretty much. His son's posters of the local superhero are no longer hung up on his wall...but not too suspicious, he supposes. So he goes downstairs to pour a coffee and uses his telepathic powers to communicate to his wife upstairs that she'll be late for work...and then suddenly his wife is screaming, and there's so much confusion and panic, and in some homes around the world the same thing is happening. Because certain things that don't exist in this world suddenly do. Mr. Smith's wife in his own dimension was aware of his abilities...so he must be somewhere else. With a different Mrs. Smith. Or maybe...he's the wrong Mr. Smith for this world.

Distrust spreads like wildfire. Anyone's loved one could have been replaced that day and they might not know it yet. Some Crossers may not even have supernatural abilities, making them even harder to weed out. And for the ones that do, it's not just stuff like telepathy—what about the vampires and werewolves who hide in plain sight? Who do you let into your bar? Who can you trust to watch your children?

Society breaks down even as the government scrambles for solutions. Human rights are flung into question when the very definition of 'human' changes. Are these Crossers—even the ones without any supernatural powers—human? Or are they aliens who merely wear the faces of humans? One side fights for inclusion, the other calls this an invasion—most just have to find a way to get on with it.

Every human has their own stance. Society isn't as strong as it once was. Lawlessness is rampant these days; entirely new supernatural 'genres' of crime become commonplace, overwhelming law enforcement. And while society is still clinging on to what it once was, many refer to The Clash as the apocalypse.

The vibe for An Asphalt Odyssey is '90s soft apocalypse supernatural road trip with darker themes. Different stories, maybe novels, maybe novellas, maybe anthologies of short stories, but that's at the core of all of them.

So the universe of AAO is back, but because I've reworked this lore it puts me back to square one with the stories.

BUT I can repurpose the characters. And now I have a clearer vision of the aesthetics and direction I want to take it I'm no longer panicking about making it work.

SO that's what I'm gonna be working on for now, and we'll see if it's something I want to commit to for 50k November or if something else pops up! :)

#so this wip was very unpopular when I posted about it a couple weeks ago compared to my higher fantasy stuff #which kind of made me doubt if it was even good #but I'm gonna try to ignore those doubts going forward and work on it for me #and if anyone gets invested in these character-driven stories outside of me then that's awesome #writeblr #george speaks #progress update #wip series: an asphalt odyssey #lore: an asphalt odyssey #wip: retroseer

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13reasonstoeatthatcake · 5 months ago

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Fourth Wing's Worldbuilding

I'm currently reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and I adore the concept of the world, but so far all of the crumbs of worldbuilding I've been given only make me want more. I've heard that apparently she doesn't get much into it in the first book, but I love worldbuilding and I have a lot of questions I'm sure she's not going to answer so I've written them down for myself for later (hopefully) fanfic worldbuilding instead. These are very much not in order.

how is general sorrengail allowed to place violet in a quadrant made up of volunteers in the war college she's the general in charge of and kick her out of the scribe quadrant without a valid reason, is that not some sort of preferential treatment?

what is the rough technological advancement of the world, are there mass-produced weapons or singular smiths? why is not metalwork a course in the war college/another college? do they use ppl with metal bending signets instead?

is the person with the make-small-things-big signet able to do that with food? is that food nutritious? what is the common diet of the navarre and is it different between what violet as a highclass general's daughter (albeit one w a disability as opposed to a soldier) is used to eating?

how does trade work when navarre is allegedly ignoring the fuck out of the literal apocalypse happening outside its borders? are there other continents that saw the venin invasion and were like 'fuck nah, we're bailing' and just. wrote the whole damn continent off??

does the whole, brutal darwinist society mentality affect anything else in the country?? like the characters admit basgiath is brutal yes but they also talk about removing the weak for the good of the wing a lot, is this also common in other spheres of life? is infant mortality relatively high because if they have a visible disability they're seen as lesser? what does this mean for violet, does she feel the priviledge of being alive as a high-class military family member, since she has obvious internalised ableism or is she stubbornly refusing to see herself and any theoretical disabled children as one and the same in order not to think too deeply abt it (she never sees herself as explicitly disabled as far as i've read, just 'broken'); what does the theoretical darwinism of the society mean for healthcare and its accessibility? are only 'badge-of-honor' disabilities (like lost limbs or other permanent damage from battle and such mental illnesses like PTSD) valid, or are they also looked down upon? what does the existence of menders mean for healers? birth control is obviously not an issue, how are periods treated? are there mental health experts?? if a mender were to 'mend' the battle wounds of a trans man who's undergone gender-correcting surgery, will the gender-correcting surgery also be undone???

how does a culture predisposed to short, practical hair for all genders view hair-care? there's a precedent for hairdye and funky modern-world punk hairstyles in the riding quadrant, but how do common ppl see it? what haircare products and hairstyle trends are there, do high-class ppl imitate riders?

how do newbies deal with watching their comrades being burnt to ash? is there a disdain for ppl who refuse to eat meat because it seems like having a weak stomach not to want to eat cooked meat after watching your friends be cooked to death? does that mean there's a portion of ppl learning to shovel food in their mouths without tasting it in order to get nutrition and/or not look weak, which in turn makes them easier to poison? how does that intersect with probable religious cults/sects where there's food restrictions?

how come there’s 171 first years but 5-6 ppl in a squad and three squads per squadrons? am I just bad at math?

why does a dragon bond with jack who tried to kill a dragon baby? is there a possible larger disagreement in how to choose a worthy rider in the empyrean, and are Sgaeyl and Tairn on the more or less popular side with their opinion kindness is important?

why is Violet, the daughter of a war general whose siblings are soldiers actively fighting a war, so against taking a life? is it something religious, done to spite her mother, a gripe because of the way her scribe father raised her, a distaste for death? is it because they're on the same side/she wouldn't have an issue killing ppl if they were in an official skirmish?

how widespread is the erasure of culture and language after the unification?

how many languages on average should one learn if they’re a soldier, a scribe, a normal civilian? are there multiple scripts being taught or just the cyllian(?) one? how do spies and information gathering work if the larger public isn't supposed to know about venin?

what do civilians think of the 600-year war they’re supposedly leading against Poromiel, are they dissatisfied Navarre isn’t winning yet? What are they being told is the reason they're not allowed to cross the ward-borders of the country (if they're allowed to leave at all)? Does Navarre have somebody with a signet like Imogen's and are deleting/rewriting memories instead? Does Navarre even know Imogen has a signet like that at all, or is she lying about it?

the scribes have apparently been hiding the truth of the world for centuries, but as violet’s dad says history survives in folklore; does that mean there’s a sizeable portion of Navarre that remembers venin because they can’t murder every single superstitious villager? does that mean settlements around the borders are discouraged bcoz that means there’s a bigger chance of someone seeing smthn, or are border villagers discouraged from entering the army? surely talking abt myths like venin isn’t forbidden but maybe military families keep silent bcoz of class loyalty and not let common-born up the ranks but use them as canon-fodder against venin to make sure the info isn’t leaked to the civilians?

what is the common level of literacy in this society anyways?

if assassins can volunteer to come to the rider’s quadrant to take out their targets, how do they leave or get paid?

are there inside assassination jobs, like if somebody is conscripted as a punishment for a crime like the Marked Ones as a method of execution but ends up surviving, can someone be ordered to dispose of them? in that case is it an official execution or is it an illegal assassination?

why did nobody react to andarna being yellow if there’s no yellow dragons, did they just think she was a mega-weak orange??

why does dain know abt the empyrean and mentions it to violet but professor kaori the dragon expert is excited abt learning more, shouldn’t they already be aware of it?

why does the common misconception that dragons despise weaklings exist, why do the dragons not correct it or confirm it?

how do religion and dragons intersect if dragons canonically aren’t impressed with human gods? does that mean that once upon a time bonding with a dragon meant being the fantasy equivalent of a satan worshipper? if every single god has a separate temple like it’s said Amari has a temple in Aretia then does that mean that, just like in Ancient Greece, every kingdom-now-province had a separate patron god? if yes, then were they a pantheon from the beginning or were they monotheistic religions that merged together after the unification, does that mean there’s separate cults for every god, traditionalist and reformist worshippers? can you tell from what province someone is by which gods they call upon, do they have different hymns or prayers, does every god/cult/province have different superstitions and attitudaes towards different tyopes of dragons or signets, what was the historical attitude towards inntinnsics, were they priests, demigods, cursed?

do dragons know when their next bonded human will be their last, is it something to do with their power level, the closeness of their bond, and (i forgot this question but it was smthn to do w signets?)

do they or do they not use saddles and if not then what is the purpose of the pommel thing on top of the dragon they hold onto that I keep reading about?

if tairn and sgaeyl bone so fucking much then why haven't they had a hatchling yet? is there a dragon contraceptive???? is it some sort of magical 'i'm not getting pregnant if i don't want to'? is it some sort of mystical 'only on the first blood-moon in february and after we murder three virgin goats together' type of deal???

#fourth wing #iron flame #the empyrean #I don't really want to say it's anti anything because I knew walking in that it was a romance and not a fantasy driven story #and most of these questions can actually be asked towards any modern fantasy and not get answered either #bcoz most of the time the answer is 'it's not crucial to the story' and i can live with that #but i personally adore worldbuilding in a fandom where most of what's canon is just vibes because it gives me so much wiggleroom to have fu #anyway these were just the questions that popped into my head first but I hit the character limit of the post block lol #might do another one of these if I have more questions (i ievitably will) but yeah #kei writes

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echanart · 6 months ago

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The Gilded Cage is a fantasy adventure visual novel featuring a unique neo-noir and cinematic aesthetic. Set 5,000 years after a nuclear apocalypse, the game follows Livvie, a Nightingale girl kept as a royal "pet" all her life, on a journey to her ancestral home, the Nightingale Tree. It features Ace Attorney-inspired gameplay, including point-and-click investigations, inventory, and a character profile system. Plus a rich and immersive world!

#visual novel #indie games #renpy visual novel #neo noir #gamedev #fantasy #adventure #character driven

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daisywords · 9 months ago

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Going insane over Fairest reread I love when beloved books from days of yore are as good as I remember

#gail carson levine #fairest #daisyreads #Ivi and Aza as parallels both driven by their insecurity!!!#the characters actually acting within their cultural/religious framework!!!#the little worldbuilding touches like the symmetrical names and words!!!!#I think this book was a big contributor to my love of political/palace-intrigue flavored fantasy come to think of it #also Ivi is SUCH a compelling character the way that she's so clearly vulnerable and incompetent yet has such a hold over people #the way that Aza's terrified of her but also half in love with her #but also! she's not even that smart! we see through her and yet can't outsmart her!#And also the way Aza/Ijori works pretty well as a pairing bc almost immediately they are cast as a team #first in the composing game as a kind of foreshadowing to their larger shared task of Managing Ivi #Literally the part I'm at now they barely know each other #but they're already working together to try to keep Ivi from upending the kingdom on day 1 of her being in charge lol #in a very practical and mutually respectful kind of way #but anyway bi Aza is canon to me #this book is so well crafted. read and respect it or die by my blade

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anulithots · 10 months ago

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*after Anuli comes in and everything gets ruined.*

Kamari cried despite faerself. Fae thought faerself strong enough to bare something so small. Compared to everything else, this was so small.

Yet when Ankh found Kamari, Kamari cried.

Fae had too much to say. They tangled into soggy knots in faer throat. Kamari wanted so badly to blame Ankh for everything. Kamari had to leave because of Ankh. Kamari needed to beg the Mother of Guardians because of Ankh. Anuli was gone because of Ankh.

Yet when Kamari opened faer mouth, fae couldn't blame Ankh.

After all, Kamari's not only suffered because of Ankh. The only reason Kamari lived at all was because of Ankh. Kamari didn't know if living was worth it now. It hurt too much for it to be worth it.

Kamari's sobs were silent. Fae made sure the elders wouldn't hear faer cries. Fae couldn't make a sound even if fae tried.

Kamari wished fae cried louder. Ankh would've heard.

Instead, Kamari whispered. "Why did you come here?"

Ankh never cried. The sounds of sobbing didn't match Ankh's soft-spoken voice. Gasps didn't match faer embarrassed squeaks or faer broken laughs. Sadness didn't match the way Ankh loved in silent flowers and silent comfort and faer silent care.

Ankh sobbed. It cut Kamari's ears, sharper than any cheers could ever be.

"Because I still love you." fae said.

______________

Technically not cannon because I haven't written up to there yet. RIght now it's all fluff.

ALSO I'M INCREDIBLY SAPPY AND I LOVE SAPPY THINGS SO IF THIS IS SAPPY THAT'S GREAT

Anywho.. also have a playlist.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the tag list! <3

@waitingforthesunrise @sm-writes-chaos @holdmyteaplease @full-on-sam @osbob-the-existent @awleeofficial @clearcloudlesssky @gummybugg

#writeblr #platonic ship #agnst #Kamari the dryad #creative writing #take care of yourself #the land of the fallen fairies #oc story #dryads #nature fantasy but also science based but also none of that really matters because it's mostly character driven and it happens to exist #here in forest land #whoop de doo

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cosmik-homo · 3 days ago

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If you ever liked a SINGLE post I made about dignity or patheticness or Capacity/Ability in Characters, especially non combatants/ non action oriented takes in science fiction or fantasy, I am asking you so so so much to read the death gate cycle. I think its one of the more. simple raw views as the depths of what it means to be a real person even in greater than real circumstances. and its sooooo

#AND theres some v relevant to the times politics in there. like. dont get ur politics from fandom but that book did things to my brain #that made me capable of unlearning a lot of the zionist stuff i grew up with and propelled me to research and be involved in new ways #and genuinely start Seeing things. yknow.#and. like. what does Helping Bad Men mean. radicalization and masculinitty and bell hooks will to change #but mostly its just #rly swag and rather slashy character driven fantasy novels...

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chronurgy · 29 days ago

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There's a divide in fantasy I'm calling the "magic sword divide." Which is, basically, if some yokel turned up with the magical sword of legend™ would they be A. immediately appointed king and handed actual real political power or B. thrust into a new world of political machinations with little support? (yes I recognize that these options are not entirely mutually exclusive)

They're completely different types of stories but since they both get lumped together in the fantasy category people tend to conflate them a lot. And because of that you get a lot of people who are into type B fantasy recommended something type A because it's also fantasy and hey you like fantasy! Anyway fans of these types tend to get in fights on the internet and talk completely at cross purposes when discussing books because they're looking for completely different things

#Seriously so much discourse™ around fantasy books comes from the fact that fantasy is an absolutely massive umbrella genre #We gotta subdivide that shit #Anyway this combined with the character driven/world driven distinction can help elaborate on what you want in a book #Or at least it does for me

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joncronshawauthor · 16 days ago

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Continue the Dark Path: FORGED IN BLOOD Early Access Announcement!

🗡️ The guild’s shadows deepen… I’m thrilled to announce that FORGED IN BLOOD, the sequel to GUILD OF ASSASSINS, will be available for early access through Patreon starting October 29th! What this means: – Two chapters released every week – Months ahead of retail release – Exclusive access to the story as it unfolds – Direct interaction with me about the developing narrative – Be among the…

#character-driven fantasy #complex character arcs #Dark Fantasy Series #dark guild secrets #dark loyalty #dark traditions #exclusive access #fantasy community #fantasy novel pre-release #fantasy thriller #Forged in Blood #Guild of Assassins sequel #Jon Cronshaw author #Kindle Unlimited #moral ambiguity #Patreon book club #Patreon early access #Soren and Alaric #weekly chapter release

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highcafgoblin · 2 months ago

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I might have dropped a surprise novella set in my dark fantasy world that has information about the world and the prologue for my upcoming book "Suneater" included in the back matter. ... SURPRISE?🫣

You might like this if you're down for a sweet, character-driven, read with:

🏴‍☠️ Pirates ❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn 🐉 Lots of Worldbuilding 🌈 ENBY/Trans-Masc MC 💞 Fantasy Romance 🌦️ Grumpy/Sunshine

amazon.com/dp/B0…

#highcafgoblin #my art stuff #queer books #queer romance #queer writers #upcoming book #indie books #fantasy books #booklr #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #novella #fantasy romance #character driven #pirates

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damnfine-dalecooper · 2 months ago

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something has been bothering me the whole time I've been reading acosf and honestly I think it's just that Nesta and Feyre are so clearly SUCH different people that it's wild to me that their happy endings are basically identical. Like maybe not everyone's plot needs to be "heal from your trauma with your night court found family and marry a sexy faerie with bat wings"

#the book really shines when there are moments of difference #the friendship with gwyn and emerie and Nesta liking the House of Wind are good examples #but broadly the story beats are just so similar #I also think there's a problem with sequel-series like this in general #where it just undermines the stakes of the original books #like we watched Nesta go through this AWFUL thing being Made against her will #but then in this series it's like it's fine she can recover and heal and it'll end up being even better than her life before #(because she gets to fuck Cassian who is Hot)#and so it kind of sets up the precedent of like...anything bad that happens in this set of books will be resolved eventually. so like.#what are the stakes. like I'm set up to believe that these characters can heal from whatever trauma they endure and no one will die so #and I get it I get it they're romance books #but I think the first 3 really stuck the landing on being plot-driven fantasy as well which was why I liked them #and acosf just isn't doing as well on that. for me. personally.

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dianeandlyka · 2 months ago

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One

Word count : 1,699 Summary : The start of a beautiful partnership

Diane had no idea how or why it happened, but the poor thing was suddenly sucked into a swirling vortex and unceremoniously expelled on the other side. The sensation was suffocating and constrictive, making it hard to breathe, but soon she found herself in a new place. She clutched her trembling head in her hands, feeling the weight of her predicament. This was exactly why she was never allowed to join her siblings on missions; these kinds of chaotic, dangerous situations seemed to find her alone. She was stranded by herself. {Where were they? Where was Tyra? Where was Xavier? No, no,} her thoughts spun frantically.

She forced herself to her feet, feeling the energy around her body falter; this universe was unfamiliar to her, and her instincts screamed that she was out of place. She stood in a park, the encroaching darkness signaling that nightfall was near, which only heightened her anxiety. Her magic was running dangerously low, as if it had been siphoned away from her very essence. She needed to find shelter quickly.

At just twelve years old, Diane was far from ordinary. Despite the urge to panic, she remembered Tyra's advice: never panic, no matter the circumstances. She had dark brown skin and long, curly black hair tied up in a tight ponytail. Her attire was a pair of cute pink shortalls, which did little to hide her small and fragile frame. A cut on her arm stung, but she was managing as best she could. Finding somewhere safe was her immediate priority.

In the depths of the forest, a wolf prowled with keen senses attuned to the scents of the wild. His nose twitched with every whiff of the breeze as he hunted for something to satisfy the gnawing hunger in his belly. The sharp, metallic scent of blood suddenly penetrated his senses, filling him with a primal thrill. He followed the scent eagerly, his nose guiding him through the trees until he emerged into a clearing.

There, he spotted Diane. Instincts told him to be wary—humans could be dangerous and unpredictable, even if they didn't look it. However, the scent of blood was too compelling to ignore. The wolf remained hidden in the shadows of the woods, his silver eyes locked on the girl as he observed from a distance.

Diane scanned her surroundings, but her senses were too depleted to detect anything following her. Despite a nagging feeling that she wasn't alone, her waning energy couldn't pinpoint any nearby entities. In the distance, she spotted a tree with a large cavity—an option for shelter. It looked spacious enough for her to squeeze inside, and she needed warmth. Venturing into a city was too risky; things could go wrong fast. She pulled out some leaves and discarded the twigs before crawling into the hollow. "I'll stay here for the night... Tyra and the others will come back for me... if they're not shouting their heads off," she muttered to herself, trying to reassure herself despite her racing heart.

The wolf approached slowly, his movements deliberate. Though his mouth remained still, a voice emerged clearly from him. "Only a fool would choose to stay out here." This wolf was far from ordinary; it resembled an alien version of a wolf, with two tails and front limbs much bulkier than usual. He circled the area around Diane's hiding spot, emitting a low growl as he spoke, "It's dangerous out here. Many creatures would relish a meal."

Diane's eyes shot open the moment she heard the voice, her anxiety spiking. She inched deeper into the tree cavity, trying to escape the growing dread. What was that thing? It couldn't have been a wolf—its appearance was too grotesque. She was frozen, unsure of how to respond. The creature's ability to speak was unsettling, though she had magic herself, so it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility. "...Are y-you one... o-of those animals?" she stammered, her voice trembling.

"I could be," the creature replied, continuing to circle the tree. "That being said, if I were, I would have attacked you by now." He paused, something like a sigh escaping him. "Why are you here? You seem too young to be wandering around alone. I would ask if you're in danger, but that much is evident."

Diane pressed her lips together, debating whether to stay silent or speak. She didn't want to provoke the creature any further, but she also knew that remaining quiet might not be the best strategy. The tree cavity was likely not the safest refuge, but it was her only option for now. She took a deep breath and chose her words carefully. "I-I'm lost... I got separated from my family. Am I... am I trespassing in these woods?"

The creature, sitting just outside the tree, shook his head. "No. The forest belongs to no one. Life simply continues as it does." Despite his intimidating appearance, his demeanor seemed surprisingly calm, showing no immediate intent to harm her. "Where did you come from? I doubt there is anyone nearby. How did you get separated from your family and end up here?"

Despite the intimidating presence of the creature, Diane couldn't help but look down at her knees, avoiding direct eye contact with the wolf. "I... my sisters and brothers were fighting something, and I got in the way," she explained, though her mind raced with the real memory of being thrown through a vortex. The fight against demons was ongoing, and she had inadvertently been caught in the crossfire. "Something attacked me and I—" She hesitated, not daring to mention the vortex. "I, um, hit my head, I think, and must have strayed off the path because of the dizziness." Diane was never very good at lying, and it showed in her voice.

The creature paused, a look of disbelief crossing his face before he broke into laughter. "You hit your head? And ended up all the way out here, in the middle of nowhere? Either you took quite a knock, or you've got a terrible sense of direction." His amusement turned serious as he continued, "If you're dizzy, you'll be an easy target for the creatures that roam this forest. There are other beings like me here, though not as intelligent. Monsters make their home in these woods."

As the wolf's laughter subsided, Diane felt a flicker of irritation but remained wary. "Monsters, you say?" she asked, trying to keep her composure. "Then I suppose... I should probably get out of here as soon as possible, right?" She hoped that by expressing her intent to leave, the strange wolf might lose interest in her and let her go without further trouble.

"Oh yes, of course. And how do you plan on doing that? I assume you are familiar with these woods? You know where the nearest settlement is, I'm sure? Unless you hit your head and ended up in a different forest." The wolf's tone was clearly mocking, his eyes glinting with amusement as he observed the young girl.

Diane felt her face flush with frustration at his taunting. "I... I think if I retrace my steps and go back the way I came, I can probably... find a settlement, or... maybe some humans will find me." Her voice wavered, betraying her uncertainty. It sounded like a thin excuse, and she was aware that the wolf might be playing with her, exploiting her confusion and fear.

The wolf's expression shifted slightly, though he maintained his circling motion. "I could get you out of here. I just so happen to know the way. All I ask is that you make a deal with me—a simple deal, nothing too bad." He stopped pacing and looked directly at her, his silver eyes reflecting a hint of something unreadable.

"A deal?" Diane echoed, her voice trembling as she remembered her father's warnings about such bargains. But faced with the prospect of escaping the forest and avoiding further danger, she knew she had little choice. "Uhmm... yeah, o-okay. Yeah. Wh-what do you want? I don't h-have much. I could offer money, but I can't give it to you right away or anything."

The wolf tilted his head slightly, dismissing her offer. "I do not want money. What could I possibly do with money?" He gestured toward himself with a flick of his head. "No, the deal is this: You are wounded, and that will attract others. You will be the bait as I lead you out of here. Whatever shows up, I will deal with. I am very hungry, you see."

The arrangement didn't seem too bad considering her situation. Her healing factor was compromised from the landing, but she wasn't worried about infection; her half-breed divine blood had always attracted demons, though this place was different. Diane wondered if the wolf—now revealed as a mere boy—could actually handle whatever came after her.

"Yes, I—I've noticed. Alright, I-I accept this deal..." Diane agreed, her voice steadier than before. She took a deep breath, then cautiously crawled out from the tree's cavity, her back pressed against the bark, her fear palpable.

To her surprise, the hulking wolf was gone. In his place stood a young boy who appeared to be about her age. His black hair was matted and unkempt, and his face wore a curious expression. He was dressed in tattered rags resembling a medical gown, with heavy bandages wrapping his left arm from wrist to shoulder. Despite his ragged appearance, he moved with an otherworldly grace, as if deeply connected to the natural world.

He extended a hand to her. "Lyka," he said simply.

Diane stared at him, taken aback by the sudden transformation. The boy looked as though he had just emerged from some sort of ordeal, contrasting sharply with her own relatively clean appearance. After a moment of hesitation, she slowly reached out and took his hand. "I-I'm D-Diane," she replied, her voice a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

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