#is the magic and wonder and inexplicable occurences

[atlantic-riona]

hot take but I think a lot of current fantasy has lost the "what the heck" nonsensical vibes and that's why a lot of it is so bad

[akshstudios]

Hi, Since You Never Walk Alone is an OT7 story, I am assuming that the OC is everyone's mate. But why does no one else feel the bond yet? I saw another reader ask the same, and I am wondering if she's just going to remain Jin's mate but others' unbonded mate. Is that a possibility? Are you going down this that way?

I love the story so far! and I hope the updates happen soon!

Hello, anon 😅

First and foremost, the oc is destined to bond with every member of the pack, gradually and uniquely. This is an ot7 story, and I want to ensure that every member forms a bond with her —not leaving anyone in an “unbonded mate” dynamic. To me, that wouldn’t feel like a true bangtan x reader story. While the bonds will all happen, they will take time and be triggered by different emotions and circumstances.

Jin’s bond with the oc was an extraordinary case, triggered by the dire need to save her from being burned alive by the very wolves who were meant to be her mates someday. If this vampire incident hadn’t occurred, the bonds would have unfolded differently, starting with another member and evolving more like a modern-day polyandrous relationship. Since this is so early in the story, we haven’t yet explored how the oc would have naturally met the pack and bonded with them under normal circumstances.

The essence of the mate bonds as being tied to the Moon Goddess’s divine timing. Each bond is often triggered by a powerful emotion or cause; something that deeply resonates within the wolf’s heart —I imagine most human-wolf bonds happening in airports, right when someone is about to travel away 😅

Jin’s bond was triggered by the desperate need to save her life. Jin’s bond almost represents a cruel irony —that the wolves nearly burned their own mate.

For the future bonds, and giving a sort of spoiler: each of the other wolves’ bonds will also be ignited by a strong emotional connection or moment: a protective instinct, emotional vulnerability, the relief of knowing she’s safe, a friendship deepening into something more, the ache of yearning, or simply pure, selfless love all of which begins with a spark of infatuation that happens once they meet her.

We’ll delve into those moments as the story unfolds. Each bond will have its own timing and its own story, reflecting the uniqueness of the pack and the oc’s relationships with each of them.

In the YNWA universe, mate bonds are an enigmatic phenomenon, deeply tied to the moon’s magic. Revered and sacred, they defy logic and understanding, existing far beyond the grasp of science or reason. Researchers have studied patterns, triggers, and trends, but no definitive explanation for how or why bonds form has ever been discovered. They simply happen as a reflection of deeper truths or needs that transcend comprehension of a simple human/wolf mind. There are certain things that are said to trigger a bond, but if the bond doesn't get triggered, you'd have gone too far with someone who is not your mate. So, trying to trigger a bond is often discouraged. Though, many wolves indulge in healthy amounts of flirting, platonic skinship etc.

For most wolves, bonds develop gradually. They often begin like any human relationship —through attraction, friendship, proximity, or even platonic companionship. A bond might not manifest immediately but could suddenly appear, reshaping the relationship overnight. The connection is like a fine thread, delicate and unnoticed at first, but over time, it can weave into a rope of unbreakable fibers, symbolizing the deepening and strengthening of the bond.

Sometimes, though rarely, bonds defy this gradual process and strike like lightning. A sudden realization, a singular moment of shared vulnerability, or an inexplicable pull can forge an immediate connection. This is what makes Jin’s first-sight bond so extraordinary. In a world where such bonds are almost unheard of, his experience is an anomaly, a sacred event that draws both curiosity and awe. For Jin, the thread didn’t take years to weave into a strong rope; it was already fully formed the moment he laid eyes on the oc.

While this is deeply significant to Jin, the rest of the pack views it differently. They respect the moon’s will and the mystery of its magic. To them, bonds are deeply personal and unpredictable, and Jin’s bond doesn’t necessarily mean the oc will bond with the rest of them. Polyamorous bonds, while more common among packs are just as unpredictable. A single person might bond with an entire pack, or the pack could divide into smaller clusters, each forming separate connections. In some cases, all members of a pack bond with the same person except one; instead, they find another mate.

The process is never rushed or forced. Wolves understand that bonds are not about science or choice but about trust in the moon’s guidance. Proximity, emotional closeness, skinship, and human feelings may encourage bonds to form, but they don’t guarantee them. Bonds happen when—and if—they’re meant to, and wolves know better than to question their timing.

For now, the pack approaches Jin’s bond with curiosity rather than assumptions. His connection to the oc is rare, even sacred: plus, the unfortunate situation of the bond and how they found her makes it hard for them to view it as a sign of an inevitable polyandrous relationship. Instead, they chose to remain open-minded, allowing time, proximity and shared experiences to reveal the moon’s will. As they spend time with the oc, dynamics will evolve, shifting in ways they cannot predict. Bonds will form between the oc and other pack members but Jin’s bond of first sight is gonna remain singular and unique.

From the universe's point of view, it is this uncertainty that makes mate bonds so profound. Whether gradual or instantaneous, they are deeply personal and sacred, bound by magic that no wolf truly understands. They trust in the journey, in the mysterious thread that connects them all, knowing that only time will reveal how their stories are meant to intertwine.

P.S.: I’d love to hear your thoughts on who you think will bond with the oc next! Feel free to share your predictions about the bonding order —who’s next, who follows after, and why you think so. I’m genuinely excited to know your guesses and see how they line up with the journey I have in mind!

I hope you are doing well, lots of love and take care, aksh 💕

[theonespoopyghost]

Noticed By Senpai

A quiet girl is asked out by her longtime crush. Yet they both have secrets, and her senpai may know more about her than even she does.

An Original Magical Girl Oneshot.

Trigger Warnings for internalized homophobia, and indirect references to parental abuse and school bullying.

~~~ ZZZ ~~~

It all begins with two very strange events, several months apart yet inextricably, inexplicably linked.

The first event was when the existence of magic, and a secret war between the forces of good and evil itself, became revealed to the public. Mahou Orchidflare and Mahou Seasparkler, partners against a dizzying array of alien Generals who appear weekly to brainwash ordinary people into their personal armies. All of it, localized within your hometown.

The second event, infinitely more cataclysmic, is when one day out of the blue, you are asked out on a date by the girl of your dreams.

Your name is Yorumi Kitakami, and you are a background extra's background extra; a gloomy loser with a one-sided immoral crush and no close friends. So why is it that your dazzling, gorgeous senpai Yuuki Shinano, one you have always forced yourself to only admire from afar, is standing before you now? There must be something deeply wrong here. You mentally retrace the day, attempting to understand how this could have happened…

~~~ ZZZ ~~~

Until now, it has been an ordinary school day, which in recent times means that you missed a period and a half worth of class due to yet another Magical Girl fight breaking out on school grounds. The enemy general REM-Maker had been at play again this time, her somnopathic aura forcing everyone without magic unconscious for the duration of the fight; as usual with her, only security camera footage and collateral damage prove what had happened after the fact. Fortunately, Mahou Seasparkler and Mahou Orchidflare are, as always, more than capable of taking her on.

…At least you had not missed lunch period, this time.

So yes. An ordinary school day. You woke up, went to classes, ate lunch, went to your next class, woke up from a magically-induced mass-sleep-hypnosis event, and went to more classes as if nothing had occurred. The only thing different today is that you must have collapsed at a bad angle during the fight, as your back has been aching ever since; but other than halfheartedly cursing REM-Maker for the inconvenience, there is little you can do about it. She is some sort of evil alien attempting to conquer the world; she has no obligation to care about a random background character like you. You just hope that it will not leave any lasting damage.

After the final bell rings and the controlled chaos of end-of-day cleanup subsides, you slink through the crowds of students and slip into the Manga Club room, hoping to claim the softest beanbag chair to soothe your aching back. It turns out even easier to do than you expected, with everyone else clustered around the table, where Tamaki-kun has laid his phone out flat to play a video. At first you ignore them, dropping your backpack beside the beanbag to claim it as yours, then moving to the bookshelves to pick out the next volume of Paired Hearts. Then something in the video makes everyone, girls and boys alike, squee in unison.

Despite knowing better, you find yourself creeping over to join them, peering over Tamaki-kun's shoulder to see security footage from today's battle playing out. You know at this point not to question how he was able to get that, but you do find yourself wondering how he hasn't been in trouble with the school multiple times over by now, with several other instances of successful subterfuge like this.

Besides, you are swiftly much more distracted with what the footage shows; none other than Evil General REM-Maker pinning Mahou Seasparkler against a wall, their faces so close together their noses are touching. Even as her opponent gloats in a strangely monotone voice, even as the General has both hands wrapped tight around her neck and her cheeks flush from shortness of breath, Mahou Seasparkler remains calm and undaunted.

Oh, is that all? You lose interest as immediately as you gained it, and feel vindicated a moment later when Mahou Orchidflare whirls into view to kick the evil general away from her partner. The dashing rescue leaves most of your clubmates swooning, while a handful groan in disappointment, both of which you quietly scoff at. You never understood the appeal of that "enemies to lovers" trope in manga, and you appreciate it even less when it involves real people with their own secret lives, and real evil aliens who wish to control and hurt countless innocents. Besides, they are all girls - you may be broken and wrong, and of course the wicked Generals would be a pack of depraved lesbians, but surely the heroic, beautiful Magical Girls who protect everyone are too pure for such things.

However, everyone else at school seems astonishingly supportive, to the point of arguing over preferred pairings between the Magical Girls and Generals; the Orchidflare x Seasparkler faction is naturally the most numerous and outspoken, but there are plenty who support Orchidflare x Rage-Ailia for their constant heated banter, and several other groups promoting increasingly niche combinations.

You do not need to wonder what your parents would say if they knew about such widespread sentiments… But you have not said anything of it to them, for the same reason you have not told them about your own impure feelings for Shinano-senpai. Lying to them, hiding things from them, even as you live under their roof and eat their food like a disgusting leech. You really are selfish, in the end.

Returning to the beanbag you claimed and sinking down in a sudden depression, you find yourself unable to escape into Paired Hearts like you wished to. The beautiful cover art, with the pure, rightful love between the soft demure heroine and her strong, handsome boyfriend, seems suddenly accusatory to you, smiling faces hiding the disgust they would surely feel towards you if they were real. You wonder what kind of man Shinano-senpai may marry someday, and feel sickened by how disconsolate the thought of it makes you.

It is a normal feeling, and it will pass like it has on any other day. For the time being, you simply decide to nap; it is not as though your clubmates would notice you enough to wish to disturb you. Just as you have gotten comfortable, however, the club door cracks open, and a vision of unparalleled beauty steps sheepishly inside. "Is Kitakami-san here?"

Shinano-senpai is tall, slender, and graceful, with a dancer's poise and a kindly sparkle in her emerald eyes. Her warm tanned skin, speaking to her Okinawan heritage, always seems to glow even in the coldest and darkest of winter days, and her hair flows long and wavy like a waterfall, in a seafoam to indigo natural ombre. She is at once handsome and gorgeous, and treats everyone with a friendly, forthright altruism that would feel unnatural or forced if she were not so plainly sincere about it. Her smiles, freely given, always seem to sparkle.

It is no wonder you have fallen for her… and no wonder you have stayed away, so that you cannot drag her down just by association. You have hoped sometimes that she would never even learn your name.

Yet now here she is, asking for you specifically.

Robotically, you stand up and follow her out the door, and let her lead you down the hallway to a destination unknown. You try your best to hide your face, pulling your hair forward like a curtain, as much to conceal your blush as to hide your confusion. Walking behind her like this… you force yourself to focus on putting one foot in front of another so that you are not distracted by staring at her beautiful waterfall hair.

Finally, she stops only when the two of you are in a remote, private corner of the school, unused until a repair crew can come to fix the severe damages caused by one of Rage-Ailia's attacks two weeks ago. Shinano-senpai whirls in place, gazing down at you with a strange look in her eyes, something about her smile seeming almost… predatory. Without thinking, you shrink away, until your back bumps against the wall, and without missing a beat, she smoothly places a hand against it just beside your head, blocking you from leaving with the world's most gentle kabedon.

"Wh-what's this a-about?" You stammer out, eyes flicking nervously between her face and the shrinking stretch of floor between you. "C-can I help y-you with someth-thing?"

"Don't worry," she simply says, with a wink that makes you even weaker in the knees than you already were. "Your secret is safe with me."

Icy dread plunges into your gut. How did she find out about your crush? She should be so disgusted, there is no way a good girl like her wouldn't be disgusted. You hunch your shoulders and hide your face beneath your bangs, unable to stand her clear lack of disgust. What does she want from you?

As if reading your question, she continues. "In light of that, I want…" Her free hand brushes against your chin, tilting your face back up to meet hers, only a faint tremor betraying her own nerves. "I want to ask you out on a date this weekend. There's an ice cream shop that opened recently, and I thought we could go there and get to know each other better." She is blushing now too, apprehension and desire conflicting in her face, and on seeing that your mind shuts down entirely.

After it reboots, the situation is still the same: out of the blue, you are being asked out on a date by the girl of your dreams. You mentally retrace the day, attempting to understand how this could have happened…

No, it still makes no sense. You feel faint.

~~~ ZZZ ~~~

Today, everything finally makes sense. You feel giddy.

Your name is Yuuki Shinano, and at last you have found the insight and courage needed to ask your beloved kouhai, Yorumi Kitakami, out on a date. After years of silent pining and struggling to decipher her stares, you are ready to step forward and be with the girl of your dreams.

She is a head shorter than you, petite and mousey in a way you find adorable. Her amber eyes always remind you of candles burning in the windows of a cozy, tucked-away cabin in a distant forest, and her sleek, wavy black hair that she always hides her face behind is as dark and beautiful as the night sky itself. Even the dark circles under her eyes are attractive to you, speaking of countless evenings staying up reading or researching whatever topic she deeps interesting, and her consistently high test scores prove your impression right.

Every time you see her you want nothing more than to hold her close, sink into her ample chest, but until now you were in a stalemate, unsure what she thought of you in return and caught between your crush on her and similar affections from another beautiful girl. You could never have dreamed that both of these issues could be resolved at once in such an elegant way.

Of course, she is a shy girl, so first you need to stop her from fleeing before you can actually explain yourself, and then you need to reassure her that this is not a trap. She is already backing away nervously, doubtless fearing retribution, so you quickly corner her against the wall and set a hand against it to prevent her from slipping away. The memory of her own hands on you threatens your composure, but you tamp down the desire as much as you can, and simply offer gentle reassurance and a conspiratorial wink. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

Yorumi-chan immediately hunches her shoulders and hides her face, and you give her a moment to let what you said sink in. The dread and guilt in her posture is understandable, but more importantly, you understand that she needs someone safe to confide in before she can accept help. Despite your romantic intentions, this part is not something you wish to risk rushing before she's ready.

But that does not mean you cannot ask for what you want. "In light of that, I want…" You gently guide her chin, her beautiful curtain of hair parting to let your eyes meet once more, and it takes all of your willpower not to lean down and kiss her on the spot. "I want to ask you out on a date this weekend. There's an ice cream shop that opened recently, and I thought we could go there and get to know each other better." You already know the biggest thing, but you still wish to hear it from her, when she feels comfortable enough to discuss it; but just as importantly, there is so much more about her you have yet to discover, and you want it all. You just hope you are not making her uncomfortable…

Her face goes blank for several agonizingly long moments, then twists in such absolute confusion that your chest aches. "But w-why me?" She asks. "I-I'm just some ba… I'm just a kouhai, nobody interesting. Why would you want to get to know me?"

At first, you are tempted to laugh and congratulate her dedication to keeping up the act, but her question is too heartbreakingly honest to dismiss. How can she think that way of herself, you wonder, when you have seen so much good in her? The way she has helped evacuate classmates to the shelters during magical fights, or keeps them away from danger in her own way. The way she has been bullied relentlessly by Ran Hino, (no matter how many times you have told your ex-friend to knock it off,) yet quietly helps others pick up dropped papers or with defusing confrontations. And the way she has stared at you so often, looks you once feared were full of resentment yet you now understand to be full of longing… how could she possibly think you wouldn't notice her in turn?

Despite yourself, the words refuse to come out right; instead you simply cradle her face in your hands, and lean in to kiss her forehead. "Because I know just enough to know I need more. Kitakami-chan… I do not want to push you into anything. If you would prefer not to think of it as a date, then we can simply go as two new friends. But I would like it very much if you would go with me."

Conflict still wages in her eyes, but soon enough it gives way to determination. "I-I would like to go with you, too." You exchange phone numbers and plans to meet, and then soon enough you watch as she scurries adorably back to her club. You wait until she is gone, then check to ensure you are alone, and finally let yourself leap into the air and cheer happily.

It will be a complicated love, of course, you understand that. She has her reasons for what she does, not all of which you are privy to yet, and you will need to take care that your efforts to understand and help her don't do more harm than good. Her shockingly minimal self-esteem must be at the center of it all, you suspect, and that will take time to repair and build back up, too. You know it will not be easy, and you know you have your own flaws to work past as well. But you are ready for that, and you can only hope that your love (requited!) will be enough to carry you both through.

But that is all in the long term. For the time being, this first outing together will give you plenty to worry about, from the right clothes to the right mood. But it is also cause enough for celebration. You are Yuuki Shinano, and you finally have a date with Yorumi Kitakami. All because earlier, as Mahou Seasparkler, you caught a glimpse of her detransforming from your other mutual crush, General REM-Maker.

[dailycharacteroption]

Races Among the Stars 10: Gnome

It’s time for another look at the many alien species of Starfinder, and as usual we’re beginning with something a bit more familiar: gnomes.

Those familiar with gnomes in Pathfinder already know that gnomes were originally from the First World, banishing themselves to the Material Plane in a great mass exodus to find more novel experiences there. They also likely know that once they were there, they became susceptible to a new disease, the Bleaching, which occurs when gnomes fail to find novelty and interest in their life, leaching the color out of them as they are literally poisoned by banality.

Gnomes in the era of Starfinder retain that origin, but a few things have changed since then. Apparently some time during The Gap, some gnomes engineered a “cure” of sorts to the Bleaching, a genetic tampering that causes those that have it to be born as Bleachlings, but unlike those of the ancient past, these more serious gnomes are still able to feel joy and wonder, but it is tempered a bit, rather than being fully dour and jaded (though they still somewhat earn that reputation).

Meanwhile, the majority of gnomes are still “feychildren”, being passionate and vibrant and endlessly curious to a fault, and still subject to the normal and potentially deadly Bleaching should they fail to find wonder in the galaxy.

Much like in the distant past, gnomes are small humanoids with large eyes, wiry figures, and truly outrageous hair which can be nearly any color of the rainbow. Bleachlings, however, are devoid of color, their skin turning an ashen gray while their hair turns white.

Gnome society hasn’t changed that much since the era of Pathfinder, being very loosely governed if at all and being more focused on collective protection and helping every member find novelty and wonder in the world. Even the bleachlings seek novelty in their own way. Rather than seek new experiences to engage with, these more serious gnomes instead engage in intellectual curiosity and study.

While gnomes sometimes have difficulty relating to other species, they are very quick to make friends and compatriots out of anyone they meet. However, their somewhat alien mindset does indeed make things tricky, especially when this lack of understanding tends to condition them to not bother explaining themselves.

Interestingly, while modern elves have become xenophobic towards most other species, gnomes are an exception, and are allowed to freely travel to Sovyrian as they please, supposedly honoring some ancient pact of trust.

Gnomes tend to be tough, but physically weak. However, feychild gnomes tend to be more charming and passionate, while bleachlings focus more on intellectual pursuits.

Their innate curiosity does, however, lead them to ask many questions about the cultures of other species, giving them a vast pool of knowledge in such areas.

The hope and joy that not even bleaching can corrupt does make them naturally resistant to fear as well, and they can sometimes inexplicably turn defeat into victory.

Gnomes also have innate magic, mostly minor magical tricks, illusory sounds, and produced light.

They also sport sensitive eyes that can pick up even dim sources of light.

It would appear that in the far future, the old lines between gnomes and their offshoot svirfneblin kin have blurred. Now called gneblins, develop spiritual ties to whatever planet they make their homes on. And while they are not as tough as their kin, that spirituality does give them a greater capacity for empathy and wisdom. However, they too have become susceptible to the bleaching, presumably as the old pacts to the earth have diluted with intermarrying with their surface kin.

And of course, there are those gnomes that defy these expectations, including the driftborn, who have a curious connection to the drift and lack the dimorphism of other gnomes, instead being naturally agile thanks to their coordination in space. Others focus on joy over hope and therefore ignore pain and turn especially good luck into a rush of euphoria which further bolsters them. Some that grow up in other cultures temper their curiosity, but get better at reading others. Finally, some channel their curiosity into professional work, naturally developing greater skill in those areas.

With their natural toughness, gnomes make decent vanguards and nanocytes. Their dimorphism makes things more complicated though. Feychildren’s charisma makes envoy, solarion, witchwarper, social operative and the like good options, while the intellect of bleachlings lends itself to studious biohackers, mechanics, and technomancers. Gneblin of either ethnicity can make quite powerful mystics as well. Meanwhile, the Driftborn can make for good operatives, precogs, and long-range combat characters of any class. Their only real weakness is strength, making melee soldier, solarion, vanguard and the like a tough sell. However, it isn’t impossible to get around or even to pick a class that doesn’t match with the specific ethnicity. This is your character, and as always, feel free to mix and match, not letting a little thing like “optimization” get in the way.

That will do for today, but there’s some fun species we’ll be tackling later this week. Look forward to it!

[kick-the-clouds]

Vaccines: Humanity’s Most Suspiciously Successful Science Experiment

Ah, yes—vaccines. Tiny, magical potions that apparently have the audacity to prevent death, disease, and the collapse of civilization. What nerve. For over two centuries, they’ve saved millions of lives—how suspiciously convenient.

Let’s talk numbers, shall we? The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines prevent up to 5 million deaths every year. That’s millions of people who inconveniently didn’t die from diseases like measles, polio, and diphtheria. Take measles, for instance. In the pre-vaccine era, it killed 2.6 million people annually. Today, thanks to vaccination, that number has dropped by 95%. Truly outrageous. Who even asked for this level of success?

But wait, let’s balance this undeniable good with the horror of vaccine side effects. Anaphylaxis—a severe allergic reaction—occurs in roughly 1 in 1,000,000 vaccine doses. To put that in perspective, you’re 100 times more likely to be struck by lightning. Imagine gambling with your health and walking away with… improved odds of living. Scandalous.

And what about those other alleged dangers? Autism? No, it doesn’t cause that. The debunked study claiming otherwise has been discredited for decades. But why let facts ruin a good conspiracy theory? Apparently, logic isn't as fun as fearing needles and ignoring science.

The truth is, vaccines are so safe and effective that they’ve become a victim of their own success. Diseases like smallpox have been eradicated, leaving some to wonder if vaccines are even necessary. That’s like firing the firefighter because your house isn’t on fire anymore. Genius.

So here we are: alive, thriving, and inexplicably skeptical of the very thing that gave us a world without polio. Vaccines don’t just work; they work too well. And if you find that suspicious, maybe it’s time to consider that science isn’t out to get you—it’s out to save you.

[cosmicjoke]

Christ, trying to read the latest chapter of JJK is like playing some card game, like Magic the Gathering or something. It feels like you're being given instructions on spell casting or some shit and what affects occur when you cast a certain spell. It's that mind numbing trying to figure out what the hell's going on. This really is just shit writing. As much as I love JJK and Gojo and all of the characters, this might be the worst written manga I've ever seen, lol. It's not even remotely engaging or entertaining to read. I can barely take it. I'm only holding on because I want to see what the conclusion to all of this is going to be, but Jesus, this is painful to get through.

And look, I just get the irritated feeling that Gojo's "win" is going to be taken away from him in the next chapter, because every single chapter of this fight has ended on a bullshit cliffhanger that never amounts to anything. I wouldn't be surprised if Gojo winning is just a fake out, and we're right back to Sukana somehow, inexplicably, regaining the upper hand. I hope I'm wrong. I really do. I want this fight to end, like, yesterday, and the constant wondering if Gojo is going to survive or not is just exhausting. I really do just hope this win is the real deal and we can move the fuck on already.

[thetantiger]

Black Ice

Word count: 1,097

Characters: James (he/him)

As the new Speaker of the Shadowfrozen, James is doing a little bit of research.

“Come on.. Come on..”

It was way too far into the middle of the night. James was in an old stone room of Tiao’s Monastery that had gone unused for years, having collected dust before he got to it and repurposed it into something new. Armor and weaponry and messy notes nobody else could decipher pinned to corkboards littered the walls. Truly, it looked like the laboratory of a madman. James wondered distantly if this made him look more or less sane than that apothecary man from the Warblade’s side of things.

“Almost..” James gritted his teeth. He was channeling, in nothing but the sweatpants he’d stolen from his husband, focusing on the giant shard of ice laying alone upon his workbench. He’d kept the large ice sword he’d crafted in Westfall, when under control of the Boss and in a Shadowfrozen rage. Frost had warned him to not meddle too much with the Shadowfrost, but between then and the time he’d thrown his father through a window and only worsened the situation in the process, he’d officially decided that having a weakness that no other death knights had was no longer acceptable. And the only way out was through.

Shadow magic was dangerous, of course. It was volatile, strange and erratic. Irrational and inexplicable and all over the place and hard to grasp just as the emotions it carried with it were. But James was tired of ignoring this half of the equation that was part of Frost, part of Cryagosa, part of him.

He shut his eyes. He’d long ago lost the need for air but a shuddering breath racked through his chest anyway. He was channeling ice into it, and very well, but it wasn’t enough.

Fear crept up through his spine. If he beckoned it, perhaps it was playing with fire. He’d nearly hurt his loved ones enough times, and Tiao and Samwise were sleeping soundly a few rooms over, none the wiser. Vulnerable. What would happen if he were to succumb to the darker half of these elements?

But the scribbles on the wall challenged that theory. In a twist of irony, the more times James had tipped to that more blindly violent, almost animalistic version of himself, the more he felt at peace when he came back down. He’d been affected by it more than Frost and Cryagosa combined, but now, it bothered him none. As a matter of fact, he felt freer than the two of them. His working theory was, perhaps more exposure to a Shadowfrozen state allows for more control over it, given enough time, or training, or attempts, which variable it was he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t even sure what he was doing now was safe.

Focus.

He practically sneered at himself. Doubt was the last thing he needed right now. Doubt was like throwing a lighter into an open barrel of gasoline right now. He attempted to ground himself again, his brow furrowing.

You would never do that to them.

He kept repeating it to himself. He couldn’t shake the image of Tiao resting unawares. Taunting whispers crept into the corners of his mind. Frames flashed into his head, of his own pale hands wrapping themselves around the Brewmaster’s throat and squeezing until he stopped struggling-

Stop. It took all his willpower to not to break the spell and collapse to the floor crying right then and there. You are not like that. Even in a primal state, you would never.

He growled and continued on, pushing through nauseating anxiety and blinking through tears. He’d just have to keep reminding himself. Even upon the Juggernaut in the Deadmines, there was a piece of him that recognized his friends and loved ones. It showed itself in words scrawled into the air, channeled from a talisman. If he could just get those two sides to connect..

…and then something happened.

With how intently he’d been trying to weave his fears and anguish into the beam of ice coming out of his hand he didn’t even notice the sword had begun floating until a flash occurred. James stopped and stumbled back, hitting the back wall-- perhaps he was thrown?-- and instinctively grabbed a random book to hold in front of himself as if that was going to do anything. When it became clear that whatever had just happened had stopped happening, and there was no shrapnel lodged into his head-- he looked down, or the rest of him for that matter-- he slowly stood up straight again and rested the book on the table he’d snatched it from.

The sword was resting upon his workbench again but something had changed. The hilt was unharmed, the base of it was still a jagged, razor-sharp shard of ice but.. the end of it writhed, inky black, maybe somewhat purpleish shadows seeped from its frozen cracks and flowed along the end of the sword.

Amazement sparked in the pit of his chest and the ice core inside of him responded in turn, dappling flecks of snow near his feet as he practically ran over to it. He slowly reached for the hilt, trying to ignore the murmurs of uncertainty in the back of his mind, and turned around to properly wield it, testing the weight of it in his hands.

He smiled. Nothing dark seeped into his thoughts, even while wielding this.. thing, that he’d made. As a matter of fact, he felt perfectly fine-- no, he felt even lighter than before. He spun it in his grasp a few times. The weapon was about the same weight as Rimehowl but longer, made to move faster in-between swings than the heavier-hitting axe. He glanced over at the axe propped up against the wall and smiled with slight amusement. “Don’t worry, Rimehowl,” he spoke aloud in the room alone, “you’re still my main guy. I’m not forgetting about you.”

Rimehowl, of course, did not respond. It was an axe.

James returned his attention to the shadow-seeping sword of serrated ice in his grasp. He turned it this way and that, tested out a few swings, put the end of it against the ground and leaned on it somewhat. He could test out actually fighting with it on a training dummy tomorrow, perhaps, but right now, it seemed to have gone exactly as he’d hoped if not better.

“But you..” He brought the sword closer to his face, as if speaking to it as well. “I think I’m gonna call you.. Black Ice.”

James grinned to himself. Dad’s gonna be so proud of me.

[fmp1olouisewalker]

Blaire witch project 1999-

The Blair Witch Project (1999) is a found footage horror film that has left a significant mark in cinema. The film is presented as a documentary made by three student filmmakers—Heather, Mike, and Josh—who venture into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland, to investigate the legend of the Blair Witch.

As they wander deeper into the forest, strange and inexplicable events start to occur. They become lost, tensions rise, and they discover eerie stick figures and piles of stones arranged mysteriously. Their sanity begins to unravel as the eerie occurrences escalate. The film's climax features Heather and Mike in an abandoned house, where Mike is seen standing in a corner before the camera drops to the ground, leaving their fates ambiguous.

The Blair Witch Project was revolutionary for its use of the found footage style and its innovative marketing campaign that blurred the lines between fiction and reality, contributing to its immense success and lasting impact on the horror genre.

watching this film leaves you wondering what will happen next as the three students go through days upon days without the outside world as the find they are lost in the witches forest. The wasn't necessarily any scary parts except for I would say the ending scene which creates an atmosphere while watching and you can't tell with the camera moving quickly if there will be a sudden jump scare or not so this scene definitely got me hiding away.

The haunted items found in the forest

during the three's journey they come across the unusual looking crosses more specifically

The Twana's, also known as "Stick Men, "Stick Indians" and "Stick Charms", are a recurring nightmarish theme in the Blair Witch Project franchise. They are mysterious, humanoid stick figures that is the signature symbol of the Blair Witch, and they were used in her unholy black magic rituals. The Twana is five-pointed compound symbol with a center triangle pointing down. They mostly resemble the Blair witch through this image

The Twana being linked to the demonic being relates to my intentions for my final major project as it can give me inspiration towards the object I'll be creating in maya as well as its purpose and how its found by my character.

The Blair witch project also includes rock piles scattered across the ground. In the "Blair Witch Project" lore, "Blair Witch rocks" generally refers to piles of stones, often called "cairns," that are found throughout the woods of Burkittsville, Maryland, where the Blair Witch legend is centered; these rock piles are often interpreted as markers or warnings left by either the Blair Witch herself or by people who have encountered her, signifying a dangerous or forbidden area within the woods.

Symbolic significance: The rocks act as markers of a haunted area, representing the dark history and supernatural forces tied to the Blair Witch legend. Local folklore: In the fictional narrative, these rocks are often mentioned in local folklore as places where people vanished or encountered strange occurrences. "Coffin Rock": This specific rock formation is often considered the most important "Blair Witch rock" due to its association with a gruesome story of child sacrifice within the legend.

[alexesguerra]

Find Your Magic Tarot Find Your Magic Tarot Contributor(s): Manzi, Giulia (Author) , Rotlich, Sara (Illustrator) ISBN:9781646712069 Binding: Other Pub Date: October 18, 2024 Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Physical Info: 2.47" H x 5.62" L x 3.9" W (1.24 lbs) 128 pages Magic is everywhere and shows up anywhere you find a tiny stroke of good luck or an inexplicable miracle like a flower blooming out of season. This modern, diverse deck was created to help you recognize the magic all around you and within you. It invites you to explore hidden synchronicities and mystical manifestations that occur in your daily life. Tap into the potential of your inner world and rediscover your own sense of wonder as you interpret tarot wisdom shared by vagabonds and kings, witches and wayfarers. Includes 78 cards and 128-page full-color illustrated guidebook. Biographical Note: About the author: Giulia Manzi is a philosophical consultant and author of educational essays, biographies, and books for children. She works on self-knowledge through fiction and the languages of the imagination. She lives in what she considers the most magical city in the world, Rome, amongst dusty books, dried herbs, and a large cat. In her free time, she amuses herself with runes and tarot cards, and partakes in role play. About the artist: Sara Rotlich is an Italian illustrator. An urban witch, she gives a voice to her magic through drawing, blending cultures, styles and techniques. She loves dried flowers, amethysts, animation, cartoons, and her cats, who take over her graphic table at the most inconvenient times.

[wurds-fur-nurds]

Retrospective Tales: Unveiling a Fake Word and Its Meaning Linked to a Long-Forgotten Event

Introducing "Retrobluff" - a fake word hailing from a random event two decades ago. It refers to the act of falsely recalling memories for self-amusement or attention. Reflecting on past laughs and the ability to create new, seemingly forgotten moments. #InventedWord #Nostalgia In the vast spectrum of linguistic wonders, sometimes we stumble upon words that seem to have emerged from an alternate dimension. Today, we take a nostalgic journey back to an event that occurred two decades ago, which birthed a truly one-of-a-kind term: 'blurbledorf'. Imagine the year 2001, when the world was turning the corner into the new millennium. In a small town nestled amidst rolling hills, an extraordinary occurrence took place. On a summer evening, a group of locals were picnicking near a picturesque lake, when suddenly, a dazzling meteor shower lit up the sky. As the meteors descended, they emitted a peculiar sound - 'blurbledorf'. The event left an indelible mark in the memories of those present that night. Inspired by this enchanting auditory experience, a resilient word enthusiast coined the term 'blurbledorf' to encapsulate the unique combination of wonder, awe, and fascination felt during that momentous event. Thus, 'blurbledorf' came into existence, engraving a fake word into the annals of language history. While 'blurbledorf' is not officially recognized in any dictionary, it has found a cozy spot in the hearts of those who cherish the memory of that otherworldly night. The term has taken on a life of its own, embodying a sense of unexplainable magic and breathtaking beauty. In essence, 'blurbledorf' can be defined as the inexplicable sensation of being caught in a moment of extraordinary enchantment. It represents that fleeting juncture where reality and imagination intertwine, momentarily whisking us away from the mundane and offering a glimpse into the extraordinary. Language, being a vessel of expression, often enables us to capture the essence of experiences that cannot be encapsulated by conventional words. 'Blurbledorf', although a product of a random event from two decades ago, reminds us of the inherent creativity and adaptability of language. It serves as a testament to the countless possibilities, both real and imaginary, that language holds within its grasp. So, the next time you find yourself in a moment of unwavering awe, remember the fanciful tale of 'blurbledorf' and allow the word to spark your own imaginative journey. Let it remind you that language is not merely a tool but also a canvas, ready to paint vivid pictures of the extraordinary moments that enrich our lives.

[logo-comics]

A sad possibility occurs to me suddenly. Memories can distort over time, and a lot happened to the Claes family in a relatively short time frame. Brain scrambling, royal engagement, Keith adoption, magic accident, love reveal. At most, this would've been maybe a month or two. Who's to say she doesn't misremember when Katarina started feeling distant from them? Keith is Milidiana's son in all the ways that matter now, and she loves him as much as she loves Katarina...

But she can probably remember when that wasn't the case, and she can remember that her daughter was becoming increasingly distant around the same time. She and Luigi likely wouldn't connect Katarina becoming a cheerful girl with the change in their relationship with her.

But they could associate it with the time before all their misunderstandings were resolved. The moment that their inability to just communicate was finally too much. The time period where she was bonding with her new brother while they were distancing from him. They could associate the inexplicable wall between themselves and their daughter with the point where she would've been seeing her family fall apart.

Is it any wonder why they'd be so at a loss as to how to reconnect after that?

Millidiana’s Parental Favoritism

I had a thought about Millidiana’s favoritism of Keith over Katarina and I wanted to hear you opinions  about it.

I think that Millidiana favors Keith more is because Keith looks like Luigi, the love of her life, so she subconsciously dotes on him.

Now, we know that, like Katarina, Millidiana has a low-opinion of her appearance, especially her eyes. So, because Katarina looks identical to her mother, Millidiana is harsher in her.

Millidiana considers Luigi to be better-looking than her so this subconsciously affects how she treats her children based on their appearance.

Was this clear? Please share your thoughts on it.

[laxmiree]

MLQC Season 2 Chapter 40- Lucien’s split chapter

⚠️  SPOILER ALERT  ⚠️

This post contains a VERY HEAVY SPOILER for the chapter that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free  to notify me if  there are any mistakes in the translation~

IMPORTANT!!! to fully understand the story, prior knowledge of previous S2 chapters are needed. Before, I made a short summary that explain those chapters. I hope this can help :D

As he said that, he gently placed the stone in my palm, then took my hand and placed it over his heart.

“MC, what sound can you hear now?”

Like a wonderful overlap, I suddenly realized something.

The snow-covered wheat fields and the swaying bellflowers, the tide that comes in, and the spring that is always waiting.

My eyes were sour, and I pursed my lips tightly, not wanting to let the tears fall.

So I took his hand and gently placed it on my breast.

“Lucien, this is my answer.”

Then with a little force, I pulled him down, tilted my head up, and kissed him on the lips.

See also:

Chapter batch summary -> [Here]

Previous Split Chapter (S2 CH 39)-> [Here]

Recommended to read S1 ch 37 and S2 ch 34 first for more feels

Long story short, after MC goes through the loop several times, she returns to the park and lets the little girl end the loop. She tells everyone separately about the data from the loop. At the end of the countdown, MC stood on the throne and welcomed the end.

As the countdown goes to zero, MC gathered all of the power inside her, and she manages to hear the mysterious voice once again. After showing him her determination, the door finally opens, showed the [Heart of the World] in form of a huge cogwheel. The mysterious boy also appears in that place. He explains that every trajectory of the world will eventually come to an end.

MC, wanting everyone to live in a normal place, decides to change the rules by stabbing the [Heart of the World] with the golden dagger, making the huge cog wheel stops working. The mysterious boys then tell her that she’ll return to the world but will see some strange phenomenon as a result of the rules of the world being broken. No one is sure what’ll happen afterward, but for now, she can catch her breath.

MC’s consciousness drifts up, and she finds herself on a bus, where she meets Shaw here. After saying goodbye to Shaw, the [Strange Phenomenon] that’ll happen depends on the route that you choose. In Lucien’s route, the strange phenomenon is [Aurora Borealis].

[Chapter 40- Lucien Split Route 1] - Cutting through the crowds

The beautiful aurora borealis swirled like a silk ribbon in the night sky, lazily casting a dazzling stream of mist.

Its brilliant light fell in my eyes, glowing so brightly that it seemed to light up my whole world.

This gorgeous dream-like night made me feel lost for a moment.

Is this what the little boy means by the weird phenomenon that'll occur after breaking the world's rules?

The bus suddenly stopped, and its doors slowly opened as if it were being guided by magic.

I pondered for just a moment, then got up and walked off the bus

The moment my feet landed firmly on the ground, a white light suddenly enveloped me, so I had to close my eyes.

When I looked up again, everything in front of me had changed.

The moonlight sprinkled on me through the gaps in the leaves. And the night breeze rattled the camphor trees.

My heart beat inexplicably, missing half a beat, and I subconsciously look around, a little dazed.

The tall and luxuriant camphor tree stood as usual.

MC: How did I end up here…

The air was quiet, as if I was the only one in the world. I pinched my face hard.

MC: Ouch…

It's not a dream. Does this mean that I've succeeded?

I suddenly remembered something, hurriedly reached into my pocket, and pulled out my cell phone-

19:18

MC: !!

The white numbers stopped silently on the screen as if they were standing still, and I consciously held my breath, not daring to blink.

Looking at the flickering dark and light, it is as if this moment is infinitely stretched. My eyes began to feel a little sore.

Finally, the numbers on the clock turned to 19:19.

Time has really moved forward…

I finally arrived in the future after 19:17.

Two minutes can be so long that the 48 hours of running desperately under the countdown seem like a blink of an eye, and the 17 years of starting anew seem to pass in a second.

I feel like I've been walking for a long, long time before I got here.

Suddenly my nose felt a little sour, I clutched my phone, and my fingers involuntarily brushed the clock repeatedly, wanting to be sure.

The camphor leaves swayed, and somehow I was reminded of many moments in the past.

I can see the boy with the drawing board, the colorful candy wrapper paper crane, the peace knot carrying wishes, and the complete sketch…

There are countless dazzling fragments, all finally gathered in a pair of deep eyes blended with dappled light and shadow.

It was as if I saw every single moment when he looked at me.

Perhaps because of the rare and shocking light in the sky, the streets were crowded with bewildered and surprised people looking up to admire the glorious sky.

Even the vehicles on the road are parked directly in place, resulting in severe traffic jams on consecutive blocks, not to mention the empty cars.

I ran against the crowd's current, looking for even a shared bicycle or other means of transportation while looking at the location of the phone navigation from time to time.

Lucien should still be in the laboratory in the mine. Coincidentally, the laboratory forms a diagonal line with my current location.

All I want to do at this moment is to see him and proudly tell him that we did it.

I didn't know what to do next, but according to the little boy, I had time to catch my breath before the miracle ended.

So I picked up my pace, trying to get back to him a little faster

My heart was beating wildly because of the violent running, and every sound was left in the back of my mind, leaving only one direction in front of me.

Suddenly, I saw a familiar figure at the end of the crowd.

His usually neat hair is disheveled, it droops like it is thoroughly wet with sweat, and his black shirt is stained with mud out of nowhere, which makes him stand out.

He seemed to have come from somewhere as if he had traveled a long way.

It seems that I rarely see this kind of Lucien.

Even when he encountered the most challenging problems or repeatedly conducted experimental research, he was always calm and collected, not as impatient or even… impetuous as he is now.

As if he wanted to confirm something urgently.

I was about to call for him when I met his eyes

Those indifferent eyes lit up for a moment, and in the next second, he ran through the crowd, speeding up toward me.

MC: Lucien!

I didn't stop. While keeping my eyes locked on him, I stumbled through the crowd and ran in his direction.

After cutting through the crowd, I finally stood in front of Lucien.

It was only when I got closer that I realized that he was more "messed up" than I thought. Whether it is his effort to restrain the gasping breath or the sliding beads of sweat that fall around the corners, even his shoes are stained with dirt.

MC: Lucien, why are you…

I wanted to tell him we did it, but the words turned into another question.

MC: You didn't run from the laboratory, did you?

Lucien did not say anything, he just stared deeply at me. The light and shadow shifted in his eyes, swirling with indescribable emotions.

There is a little bit of relief and a lot of nostalgia. But all of this is condensed into pride and joy in the end.

I was a little confused by his stare and couldn't help but take a step forward.

MC: Why do you keep looking at me and not saying anything…

MC: Oh yeah, I haven't told you yet. I did it! We finally made it-

Lucien: MC.

Lucien: (quietly) …Can I hug you?

He interrupted me in a rather unusual way. I was stunned for half a second, thinking that this Lucien was a bit strange, but I still resolutely opened my arms.

This embrace was slower and gentler than ever before. He seemed a little unsure and in disbelief. His fingers rubbed cautiously.

Then slowly, very slowly, he gathered his arms together.

Lucien: (shaky, emotional sigh) ...

I heard Lucien let out a long sigh.

[Chapter 40- Lucien Split Route 3] - Gem of "hope"

We didn't speak for a long time.

Perhaps the striking color of the aurora borealis was so special that our hug only attracted a few unintentional glances, even through the crowds.

There was a faint touch of dampness in the palm of my hand, and I belatedly remembered the question he hadn't answered.

MC: You haven't answered my question just now.

MC: You didn't run from the laboratory in the mine, did you?

Lucien's gaze flickered for a moment. Without moving away from my face, he slightly raised the corners of his lips.

Lucien: I came here by car.

MC: And where's the car…?

Lucien: Halfway down the road, it ran out of fuel, there was no gas station nearby, so it was parked on the side of the road.

Lucien smiled a little helplessly.

Lucien: It's possible that I had a hitch because I spent all my thoughts on the experiment these days.

Although his explanation is reasonable and justified, I still feel that it's unbelievable this kind of thing happens to the always strict Lucien.

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at him.

MC: And did you call the tow truck number?

Lucien: ....

Lucien: I think it's too late to fight now.

MC: ...Lucien.

Lucien: Occasionally, the scientists who can do no wrong are allowed to make small oversights in such minor matters.

MC: This is not about the small matter…

I was always helpless against him, so I just sighed and wiped the sweats on his forehead with my cuff.

MC: So after leaving the car halfway, Professor Lucien just ran straight over here?

Lucien: Um, it's like that.

He admits it openly as if his decision is justified and not worth talking about.

I can't help but feel angry and amused at the same time.

How is this person still having such a childish side?

He slowly released his arm around me and looked earnestly into my eyes.

Lucien: (softly) It's probably because I want to see you quickly. Even a little bit sooner is good.

The moonlight and the aurora borealis intertwined and fell on his eyebrows and hair, producing a soft and vivid light and shadow.

I could not help but hold onto his finger and shake it, then intentionally ask him.

MC: In that case, why don't you use your space-folding?

MC: The intelligent Professor Lucien didn't forget that he has Evol, did he?

He froze for a moment and finally smiled.

Lucien: This is bad… In just a few minutes, it seems that I've made several bad mistakes in a row.

Lucien: Will this affect my image in MC's mind?

MC: I think it can get affected a little. For example, now I'm secretly thinking, "Lucien, you're really a big fool".

I couldn't help but smile even after I said that. The person in front of me was always smiling, his fingers gently stroking my cheek affectionately.

After a long time, his voice fell on my ears.

Lucien: (chuckle) I think we still have a lot to talk about, so why don't we go somewhere else first?

I nod my head without hesitation.

Even though the future may still be uncertain, in this respite time, I just want to hold his hand and spend time with him in the present.

Along the way, Lucien always holds my hand tightly so that the reassuring warmth seems to reach my heart through the palm.

We didn't go in the direction of home. He didn't say where he was going, and I didn't ask, but we just tacitly walked in the same direction.

Soon, he led me into an isolated, deserted alley.

Immediately afterward, a white barrier enveloped us, and the world seemed to rotate in the sudden dazzling light.

When I returned to my senses, there was an empty field like a wasteland in front of me.

The sky was so low that the aurora borealis appeared as if it could be touched by a hand.

MC: Lucien, what is this place? Why are we here?

Lucien didn't answer my question directly. His eyes swept around with a slight curiosity and then fell back on me.

Lucien: I left behind something very important here for some time.

Lucien: If it is true, it should still be there.

He gently pushed away the gravel and weeds on the ground, and his long white fingertips touched the slightly wet soil without a hint of hesitation.

Then the soil was continuously dug out.

MC: ...?

I watched in amazement as he silently pushed layers of soil aside, repeating this simple action.

Countless questions came to my mind, I recalled what he had said earlier, and I vaguely guessed something, so I squatted beside him and quietly accompanied him.

In a few moments, Lucien's forehead was slightly sweaty, and the back of his hand was bruised due to the force he used. The dirt soaked his palms, and his fingers became red from the constant digging.

I didn't know what he was looking for, but an inexplicable ache sprang up in my heart.

After an unknown time, suddenly, there was a crisp "click" sound from the small pit.

It was like fate was making a sound.

Lucien paused slightly, and his pupils shrank unconsciously.

After a brief period of silence, he slowly lifted his hand, holding a glimmering object between his fingers.

As he used his cuffs to wipe off the mud on the surface of it little by little, Lucien opened his palm, and a clear green light came through. It was crystal clear against the backdrop of the aurora.

MC: It is… Is it a gem? Is this what you left here?

Lucien: Mmm.

Lucien: It was cut from an emerald called "Hope". I obtained it from a museum in England.

Lucien: I heard that it showed an almost transparent brown-green color, like the color of the aurora borealis. And I thought it would be similar to the scenery we had seen together.

Lucien: It seems to be true.

My heart skipped a beat, and I even suspected I had heard something wrong.

Lucien: When I got it, I just thought it would be a special gift, so I left it here...

Lucien: …left it along with those seeds.

(BGM suddenly stops)

Ba-dum Ba-dum

The world seemed to be paused, only leaving the sound of my beating heart.

MC: Lucien… What did you just say?

Lucien: I know that you will bring hope to this world. So I thought, when the dust settles, I'll bring you along to get it out.

Lucien: My special assistant, would you like to accept this belated gift?

My mind buzzed. His every word fell clearly into my ears, yet like an echo, reverberating in my head.

My nose was a little sore, and I subconsciously held my breath, fearing that if I blinked again, everything would just be a hallucination for me.

MC: …What you just said, can you repeat it?

Lucien curled up his lips, his outstretched hand paused in the air for a moment, then landed on the corner of my eye, gently wiping it. I felt his fingertips trembling a little.

Lucien: I remember… that you still owe me five minutes of your time.

Lucien: (softly) You promised to pay me back before… but now you want to cheat?

At this moment, the heart that had been floating for a long time fell slowly to the ground.

I looked at him and shook my head repeatedly. And then my tears finally fell down uncontrollably.

In my blurred vision, I see that long period of time spreading out before my eyes and then circling back to the original place.

Everything was as fast as if I had just turned around, like a beautiful dream, like a grand and brilliant hallucination.

My heart gushed with unstoppable joy. I cried and laughed at once, not caring how embarrassing I was, and just stubbornly held Lucien's hand tightly.

MC: You, you really remembered, right? I'm not dreaming or hallucinating, am I?

MC: But even if this is just a joke the world played on me, even if it's just a dream... I'm willing to stay in it.

Lucien: MC, I'm not going to let this be a hallucination.

Lucien interrupted my rambling speech.

Under the bright light, he lifted his hand to my face. His fingers carefully and tenderly rubbed away the traces of my tears.

Lucien: MC, don't cry.

Lucien: I haven't broken my promise to you or lied to you.

Lucien: Remember what I said that time? All my efforts are for the moment of reunion with you.

He stared at me quietly. His eyes were as gentle and deep as in memory.

Lucien: Only now, I am more certain that these are all your efforts.

Lucien: It was my little girl who was so determined and brave, and because she never stopped, I could come here step by step.

At this moment, Lucien seems to finally understand the huge dark shadow that enveloped the girl in that dream and understands all her silence and nostalgia.

The answer to those questions is also available at this moment.

Lucien: Thank you, MC, for always working so hard.

Lucien: Now, will you take me home?

[Chapter 40- Lucien Split Route 4]- The selfishness of reunion

The world seems to be covered in a dense mist.

My voice was tinged with sobs, and I bit my lip, trying to sound firm.

MC: Um, we're going home.

As I said that, I clasped Lucien's hand with mine and shook them in front of his eyes.

That long and distant promise finally crossed time. And with our slow steps, it finally connected into a line.

The road home is not close, and Lucien did not use Evol again. He let me hold and lead him, step by step, toward home.

The silence stretches the time, and the road seems to go on forever without end.

I walked for a long time until the familiar street entered my eyes, and I couldn't help but speed up my steps with my aching legs.

As the elevator doors opened, I habitually pulled Lucien towards the door of my home.

Lucien: (playfully) Is MC taking me back to her home?

He slowed his pace inadvertently, and the deliberately stressed words made me realize what was wrong, so I stammered an explanation and fumbled with my hands in his pockets.

MC: …N-no, I'm going back to your home! Hey, where's your key….

Lucien: Oh... So, are you coming home with me?

MC: …You, you're teasing me again!

He caught my restless hand, squeezed my palm, and then smoothly took out the key with the other hand and opened the door.

The moment the door was closed, I heard Lucien speak softly.

Lucien: I'm home.

These are just two words, but it sets off a circle of ripples in my heart.

I looked at him and collided with his eyes.

MC: Yes, we're home.

MC: Lucien, I'm taking you back home.

MC: I didn't go back on my word this time either. I did what we promised to do.

In the next second, there's a sense of weightlessness in my feet. Lucien picked me up in his arms and strode towards the window.

MC: You…

Lucien: Thank you for your hard work, MC.

He looked at me, his gentle eyes running over my face.

Lucien: You must be tired after walking for so long.

Lucien: You don't need to walk the rest of the way by yourself anymore. Because now, I'm right there by your side.

Even though he said it softly, I heard his unspoken words and understood what he meant.

I hooked his neck and rested my head on his shoulder, the pleasant smell of grass wrapped around me at once.

MC: Lucien, you've always been there.

MC: From the beginning to the end, I never walk alone because you've always been there.

MC: I hope I will always be my truest self in front of you, so I won't pretend to be strong and say I'm not tired.

MC: It's really difficult to start over. Even though it has a similar trajectory to the past, it is still something new.

MC: It took a long time to wait and adapt.

As we spoke, Lucien put me down and sat with me in front of the window. The colorful light spilled through the tulle-like curtains and into the room

I raised my hand to straighten out his somewhat messy forehead hair. My fingertips lightly traced the outline of his eyebrows.

MC: I also thought about running away, wanting to ignore everything and be a bad person.

MC: But then someone came to me, held out his hand to me, and pulled the wretched and cowardly me out of the heavy rain.

MC: He is still waiting for me in the depths of my memory, so how can I stop?

Lucien held my hand and gently rubbed its back.

Lucien: Am I so important?

MC: If you ask me that, I have to check if your memory is really all back.

Lucien: So, how do you want to test me?

MC: Let me think...

Faced with the narrowness and inquiry that flashed in his eyes, I racked my brain to think, not willing to admit defeat.

MC: The "omnipotent and smart" Professor Lucien, have you finally found the answers to the secrets and questions of this world?

Lucien: The world does not contain truths that can be explored overnight; it is a long, perhaps never-ending road.

Lucien: But if it's about the fact that the world has moved forward 17 years again after the doomsday, I think I should know more than enough.

Lucien: It's just that…

Lucien: Tonight, I don't want to spend the time analyzing the world.

Lucien: So let's leave this topic for later, okay?

He spoke so naturally and frankly that I couldn't help but laugh.

MC: Then tell me first, how did your memory come back?

Lucien: In fact, there were no signs, or, instead, it suddenly entered into the inadvertent gap of my mind.

Lucien: The feeling is very similar to the previous one, but it is exceptionally strong this time. By the time I realized it, it had already happened.  

MC: Are you saying that you have had similar experiences before?

Lucien gave me a meaningful look as if he was tacitly agreeing with me, but he quickly changed the subject.

Lucien: This may be another meaning of world overlap.

Lucien: Although the nature of overlap is to destroy, as long as it is not actually destroying, then…

Lucien: Those things that belong to the past will eventually return.

I blinked, and my eyes accidentally fell on the green and golden gem he had been clutching in his hand earlier, and I carefully poked it.

MC: Does it include it?

Lucien: Yes.

MC: When did you bury it?

MC: I remember that during the "Seed Project", you were so busy every day that you didn't even have time to sleep.

Lucien: I bury it at the time of "Doomsday Preview".

For a brief moment, I remembered the garden where we had stood side by side, watching it turn to ashes in a moment of great light.

He was already preparing to walk into the future when he witnessed the world's end. All those dusty moments in the past are now in full bloom.

Lucien: At that time, besides leaving a strong life and a lasting civilization, I also wanted to leave behind a selfish feeling.

He slightly lowered his eyes.

Lucien: Even though the world will come to an end, the traces of its existence will not fade away easily.

Lucien: Maybe one day in 10,000 years, or even more distant future, there will be new life born here.

Lucien: And someone will find this gem of hope I left behind.

There seemed to be a very bright light flickering in Lucien's eyes, and his voice was confident and sharp as if he was still pleased and proud even seeing that kind of future.

He paused and raised his hand to pin my hair behind my ear gently.

Lucien: But I'm a greedy and selfish person.

Lucien: So I prefer to keep this "hope" for myself, for the moment when we meet again.

With that, he twirled the gem and held it between our eyes.

Lucien: MC, what do you see at this moment?

I raised my head and quietly looked at him through the gem.

The emerald that reflected the aurora is shining with dazzling brilliance. The unique green color is embedded with golden light.

All the colors perfectly refracted into Lucien's eyes, melting into a crystal clear light cyan.

MC: I see… a very wonderful world.

Lucien: But I see you.

His voice is precious and soft in my ears, instantly turning my whole heart into a soft mess.

Lucien: I see you who works harder than anyone else.

Lucien: A person who has never given up, who has shouldered the responsibility and pressure alone, but still persevered until today.

Lucien: So, you're the one who made it shine in our hands.

He always gazed at me as if tiny waves of light flowed in those eyes, and I couldn't stop drowning in them.

Lucien: MC, it is you who made our story usher in tomorrow.

As he said that, he gently placed the stone in my palm, then took my hand and placed it over his heart.

Ba-dum, Ba-dum, Ba-dum

The firm and powerful heart beat under my palm, real and strong.

Lucien: MC, what sound can you hear now?

Like a wonderful overlap, I suddenly realized something.

The snow-covered wheat fields and the swaying bellflowers, the tide that comes in, and the spring that is always waiting.*

My eyes were sour, and I pursed my lips tightly, not wanting to let the tears fall. So I took his hand and gently placed it on my breast.

MC: Lucien, this is my answer.

Then with a little force, I pulled him down, tilted my head up, and kissed him on the lips.

The soft and warm sensation is like continuous spring rain, finally arriving after a long delay.

I never closed my eyes. I just wanted to see more of him, wanted to just look at him.

The breath is just the right temperature, intertwined and undulating. Vaguely, I feel as if Lucien curved the corners of his lips

When he finally let go of me a little, he showed a slightly puzzled look.

Lucien: Do you want to keep looking at me like that?

MC: Mmm.

I nodded my head seriously. Suddenly, I thought of something else and spoke tentatively.

MC: By the way, Lucien, I want to make a bold guess.

MC: Is it already spring now in the snowy wheat field?

Lucien: For the answer, I hope we can reveal it together.

The corners of his lips curved up in a beautiful arc, and he reached out and rubbed my hair.

Lucien: Let's check it out together next time.

MC: That's a promise.

I reached out and hooked Lucien's little finger, forming a small promise.

Lucien opened his hand to wrap me again in his embrace, put his chin against my shoulder, and sent out a low sigh.

Lucien: MC, I'm back.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Lux’s rambling corner(feel free to ignore LOL)]

FINALLY, AFTER 2 LONG YEARS:”"””””””””. S2 lowkey feels like a fever dream ffs. While there’s def some good chapter out there, it does feel something is missing along with the memory of the boys:”. The voice acting is A+++++. If I could, I’ll put (softly) in almost everything Lucien said :”D. Thanks for the masterful voice acting and BGM planning; hearing and reading this chapter really made me cry. And if I have time, I’d love to subtitle the whole split chapter o<-<.

OKAY SO, first of all, that part where Lucien immediately RUN after his car gas runs out (oof- as unlucky as ever, I see:”D), just because he just wants to see her sooner, all while forgetting very basic thing to do is very bittersweet hnghh. it turns out that the “omniscient and smart” professor Lucien will also forget such small things and made many mistakes. That he’s such a ‘big fool’ in the face of his own feeling. Not to mention the slow and cautious hug, as if confirming and also the little fear that all of these might be not real hnghh (THAT SHAKY SIGH, i swear I never heard him THAT emotional)

THE EVERY. SINGLE. REFERENCE. TO CH 37. Enough said; they all successfully made me sobs. It is as if I can feel what MC felt, the slow realization, the unsureness, and the desperation for it to be really real (and the fact that even though it’s not, she’s willing to stay in that illusion:”). Luckily, it’s real (and he won’t let it to be not) and she can finally lead and take him home :”

just want to point out that MC taking initiative in their kiss important detail™️. because what he said in previous split chapter “If you want to win, you must take all the initiative into your own hands.” AND SHE DID-

What MC answered before kissing him is Lucien‘s question from previous chapter. She put his hand on her heart, as an answer.

I mention this on twitter before, that the wheat field in S2 Lucien's dream is a representation of his 'heart'. With the ebbs and flows of the tide as his 'heartbeat' At first, it was covered with snow, but the snow slowly melted, revealing golden wheat & flower fields(that weren’t originally here, but rather something called love that grows because of her). So when I said that she melt his heart I mean it literally-

I can talk about this chap all day honestly. but nfjdfjdf before it got too long and possibly making this post can’t be edited I have to end it here. Thank you for reading~ and crying with me, god. s2 has been a wild ride.

[mizutoyama]

The Envelope from the Sky

This is my entry for this month's @hp-12monthsofmagic challenge "Life's a Witch" about one of Alice's relatives. Hope you enjoy!

Anna had always been considered a strange little girl. Strange things always seemed to happen around her, such as her elder brother's meal bursting into flames after a nasty prank he had pulled on her or her sister's favourite horse becoming covered in mud that just wouldn't go away after the former had broken Anna's favourite porcelain doll.

So, her family thought Anna was strange because these abnormal occurrences all seemed to involve the young girl. As a result, Princess Anna Louise of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was often found wandering the castle or its grounds alone.

It was on one such occasion that an event occurred which would explain everything. In the early summer days, the now 10-year-old Anna was walking around the grounds, lost in thought, when something fell on her head and landed at her feet. She picked up what appeared to be an envelope made of thick parchment. "Who still uses parchment in this day and age?" she wondered. On top of it was written, in calligraphy that was only somewhat legible:

Prinzessin Anna Louise zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg Schloss Langenburg Langenburg

Anna stared at her name on the envelope for a while before looking up at the sky. How could an envelope drop from the sky? She looked back at the envelope, turning it around to see that it was held closed by a wax seal that had a strange coat of arms with a capital E in the middle.

Despite her initial hesitation, Anna's interest was piqued by the strange wax seal. She couldn't resist opening the envelope, which contained a parchment letter with the same coat of arms as the seal. She read the letter:

Sehr geehrte Prinzessin zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg, wir freuen uns, Ihnen mitteilen zu können, dass Sie an der Eselkraut-Schule für Hexerei und Zauberei aufgenommen sind. Beigelegt finden Sie eine Liste aller benötigten Bücher und Ausrüstungsgegenstände. Das Schuljahr beginnt am 1. September. Wir erwarten Ihre Eule spätestens am 31. Juli.

Hochachtungsvoll,

Kriemhild Kohlbrecher Schulleiterin

Anna was in disbelief. A magic school? How was this possible? Was this some sort of joke? Perhaps her brother was behind it; he was always playing pranks on her. He was probably blaming her for waking up with blisters all over his skin last week, even though it was because he had come in contact with giant hogweed. That didn't stop him from accusing his sister of being possessed and blaming her for their mother's constant illness. He always had a tendency to overreact...

She looked back at the letter. If this was real and she was actually a witch... Maybe her brother was right. After all, most storybooks she had read associated witches with the devil.

On the other hand, what kind of name was Donkey Cabbage for a school? It was clearly made up, although she would have expected a better made-up name from her 26-year-old brother.

As she stared at the letter, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. It was so detailed and official-looking that it couldn't possibly be a prank. The more she read it, the more she realized it might be real. She had always felt like an outsider, never quite fitting in anywhere. But maybe, just maybe, this letter could be the key to her finding a place where she truly belonged.

She thought back to all the strange things that had happened to her over the years. The inexplicable occurrences that always seemed to follow her, the feeling that she was somehow different from everyone else. Could this letter finally be the answer to all her questions? Was this the opportunity she had been waiting for?

Looking back up at the sky, Anna couldn't help but wonder what awaited her at this mysterious school. She knew that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine.

Anna took a deep breath and folded the letter back into the envelope, tucking it into her pocket. She wasn't sure how her parents would react, but she knew she had to tell them. With a sense of determination, Anna set off towards the castle, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

[majorxmaggiexboy]

&& like the orphans we are || some Terror Tomfoolery (1/?)

centric character: Frauncis Crozier relationships: Crozier & Jopson vibe: crack, essentially content warnings: handwaved magic, de-aged characters, panicked captains bringing their habits (of addressing people by surname) to involuntary parenthood, enthusiastic child labor, complete lack of actual effort or plot, summary less indicative of content than the so-called warning section, no regard for canon timeline, God Damn It as a substitute for the profanity Crozier would actually be using, Weird Victorian Child, Blatant Hodgeson erasure  Summary: In which Captain Crozier would give anything, anything to be going through withdrawals right now.

~*~

On top of every damn thing else, naturally, the sky explodes. 

It’s such a violent outburst of colors, accompanied by a sound like the earth itself bursting apart, it sends as many men scurrying for cover as it holds wide-eyed and transfixed upon the deck.

The display is over in a matter of minutes. The crew is split for a few hours between skittish and sheepish, but in the end it’s just one more strange occurrence among many, and as no one was killed, it’s quickly forgotten.

~*~

Francis wakes to find Jopson struggling with the curtains, yanking on the poor drapes as though his life depends on it. 

The captain’s first thought is that, thank God, the year is only 1839 and he has just woken from the longest, coldest, bloodiest dream of his life. His second thought is that he could have sworn his steward, who is now standing stock-still and staring at him in a way eerily reminiscent of a cat with lamp light caught in its eyes, was considerably taller last he was aware.

Jopson goes back to fighting with the curtains. The way the panel is drawn rapidly back and forth, the weak beam of sun falls along Crozier’s bed and disappears, falls and vanishes, falls and vanishes. Until with a furtive glance in his direction Jopson gives up trying to slide the curtains open properly and instead tucks the offending panel behind the table to hold it open. 

It is when Jopson reconsiders and climbs onto the table to reach the curtain rod that Francis begins to suspect both that the year is not 1839 and that he is about to be very much alarmed.

~*~

Francis is very much alarmed, and cannot for the life of him understand why Jopson does not seem to be.

His shining moment of hope that he’s actually still in the midst of withdrawals and this is the latest torment his mind has concocted for him gets dimmer and dimmer with every passing moment, and Jopson looks moderately concerned at most.

Crozier sighs. Where the hell to begin.

He starts with the obvious. 

“Jopson- - -”

His....inexplicably tiny and unruffled steward brightens.

“Captain!”

Oh god.  

It occurs to him that perhaps Jopson is his normal height, and has his normal voice, and that he, Crozier, has simply gone mad at last. Wouldn’t that just match the rest of his life record. Still, Jopson is staring again, and he ought to be sure.

“Jopson,” he says again, carefully, “Are you...well?”

Jopson blinks. Tilts his head like a goddamn sparrow, stray hair flopping over his eyes. The fact that, by all appearances, he is currently stood on a chair awkwardly attempting to help Francis with his coat is not doing wonders for Crozier’s investigation into his own sanity. 

He decides to elaborate. “You’re not feeling...ill, then? Not feeling-” about a meter high or so “- - - Different, today?”

Jopson hesitates.

God. Damn it.

~*~

“Is there a reason,” Francis finally settles on asking, “Any reason at all, that upon finding yourself in this....condition....you decided the most appropriate course of action would be to resume your duties as normal instead of...?”

Instead of a rational response, such as running to Dr. McDonald, screaming, crying, alerting someone. 

To his credit, Jopson seems to genuinely consider for a moment, staring intently at a spot just past Crozier’s right shoulder. Then he’s staring into the tumultuous depths of his soul again with the faintest hint of a shrug.

“Nothing for it,” the boy (god, once again, damn it) replies. He then grins like the devil in a way Crozier has only ever seen once or twice before (like when he was so triumphantly confessing to his part in that ridiculous scheme he and the Lieutenants had cooked up for Edward’s birthday last month) “It’s not as if I can go home, sir.”

~*~

“Doctor Mcdonald!” Crozier shouts before he even reaches the door. Even with the current state of emergency, he gives it three courteous knocks and a quick glance shows him the still only slightly nonplussed miniature steward tucked under his other arm attempting to do the same.

The door opens, but only enough for the uncharacteristically flustered Doctor McDonald to peer out.

Crozier briefly considers dropping Jopson and walking back the way he came. 

The defeated look on McDonald’s face as he glances between the two of them persuades him otherwise. 

The poor bastard regards Jopson warmly, if tiredly, and manages a wobbly smile for Francis. 

“Captain,” he says by way of greeting, and then lies through his teeth, “I was just about to send for you.” 

He steps back, allowing the door to open and gesturing for Crozier- and Jopson, no longer being held like a bony little sack of flour but instead trotting along at the captain’s side and holding Francis’ coat sleeve like a prized possession -to follow.

And damn it all to hell if two distinctly too-small but unmistakable lieutenants and a capuchin don’t turn to stare.

[sepublic]

Kikimora’s Motives?

            I wonder if Kikimora is motivated to access Belos’ secrets, and that’s why she hates Hunter and tries to kill him?

         Like, it’s obvious that Belos has a LOT of secrets and all sorts of weird, hidden knowledge… Kikimora could be like other characters in that she’s extremely fascinated and curious with magic, and/or powerhungry, so it makes sense that her obsession to learn more would drive her to latch onto the Emperor- The mysterious Emperor, with his inexplicable abilities and skills, who can hear what the Titan has to teach!

         That might be why Kikimora prizes herself and wants to be Belos’ confidant so much… She wants in on the secrets, she wants to learn more- And someone like Hunter gets in the way of that. Kikimora knows that Belos isn’t invincible nor infallible, he’s struggling and needs help, he can’t do this on his own and needs a person he can trust with most of everything…

         So, Kikimora offers herself up- To take advantage of this closeness and trust by Belos, by someone who has no choice but to rely on and trust someone with that… And that’s what she does, for a few decades! Belos needs people to help him with things, his most personal rituals and whatnot… So he needs Kikimora, and by her involvement, she inevitably finds out a LOT of things!

         Belos may or may not be aware of Kikimora’s desires, and he might tolerate it simply because he needs someone to help him, anyhow… And Kikimora doesn’t seem interested in betraying him anytime soon necessarily, just being that confidant by his side, who can access Belos’ knowledge and plans as a requirement for her role. But, maybe Belos was wary of Kikimora, which would then influence a later decision in life…

         And so in comes Hunter! This young brat, who lived at least a few years before being ‘found’ by Belos… So it’s even less than sixteen years ago, when the Golden Guard came into the picture and usurped everything! For decades, Kikimora has been faithfully acting as Belos’ right-hand witch, she’s schemed and fought and worked to achieve this, those precious secrets, she’s acted as the Emperor’s proxy for him in public!

         And this is how he thanks her- By replacing Kikimora with Hunter, this little brat? This nephew, who showed up out of nowhere, because why now, why now does Belos suddenly fall back on this elusive family that he ignored for so long as Emperor? Maybe Kikimora knows the real reason as part of her aforementioned understanding of a lot of things…

         But with Hunter, with Hunter as a kid who feels dependent upon Belos, whose entire life is revolving around pleasing his uncle because he actually cares for him, unconditionally… Hunter is more useful and trustworthy as a secretkeeper and a proxy, then. Hunter knows nothing else and seemingly has no desires of his own, he feels obligated to take care of his last family member- So Belos won’t have to worry about Hunter rebelling, he won’t have to worry about Hunter using his position to find forbidden knowledge.

         And even if Hunter DID do so, it’d at least be for Belos’ sake, not his own… So, Belos replaces Kikimora with Hunter. Kiki still does her normal duties and legislation, but when it comes to personally caring for Belos? Being trusted by him, being privy to his deepest, darkest moments of vulnerability? Hunter gets in on that, too… That ruins the pride and prestige for Kikimora, as the ONLY one Belos trusts…

         But now, Hunter isn’t just with her here- He’s completely replaced her! Hunter is leaving Kikimora out, because he doesn’t trust this gremlin despite her decades of actual experience and willing, ruthless murder for Belos… Because Hunter is ‘family’, so obviously that means more!

         And Kikimora is resentful… Hunter doesn’t see Kikimora as truly in it for Belos’ sake, so it’s better to keep her out of the picture, now that someone better-suited for the job is here. And Kikimora, she’s angered by that- She found pride in being the only person that the invincible Emperor could, and HAD to be vulnerable around...

         It gave her a certain power, a special superiority- To know that she’d seen Belos at his lowest, and he had to trust and need her for this! So even if it’s not a literal position of power at the top, in a way… Kikimora feels above even Belos, as someone whose health isn’t deteriorating, as someone he’s dependent upon, as someone who takes care of him- And she derives plenty of power from that realization.

         Having Hunter come in, taking that special power, that prestigious role away… Taking away Kikimora’s power over Belos, the most skilled witch of all- That displaces Kikimora and knocks her down at least two pegs. And, because Belos has found a new confidant, he doesn’t need to let Kiki in on his later plans and ideas anymore… Effectively barring Kikimora from the knowledge she so craves and desires.

         Does Belos not care for Hunter at all, and does Kikimora recognize this? Or at least, understandably believe the Emperor doesn’t care… She overheard everything that went on, so it’s likely that Kikimora is aware of Belos’ physical abuse. That’d motivate her to believe that Hunter isn’t TRULY important to Belos, he isn’t really attached… Meaning there’s less risk and repercussion in being found out, if Kikimora had Hunter killed.

         And then Hunting Palismen occurs as we know it- Belos is vulnerable, he needs to let someone in on this moment of dependency, this deep and dark secret… And Kikimora instinctively goes along out of the habit of decades, only to be rudely reminded when Hunter makes it clear that Belos no longer needs her for that, that Kiki can no longer have this kind of leverage over the Emperor in a sense, of being needed by him- Of Belos having no choice but to let someone else see him, and know his weakness.

         Kikimora hates that… She likes lording power over others, like when she taunts Lilith- And she likes having information and dirt on others. She likes that sensation of leverage, of knowing something that others don’t, something a person is trying to hide. Kikimora likes to snoop around and know people’s secrets, and wave that in front of them in her arrogance- She’s a little gremlin who controls a huge and powerful dragon, Kikimora potentially has a Napoleon Complex like King… So she compensates through knowledge and other forms of leverage.

         Kiki likes to feel better than people, to have her thumb over beings that should theoretically outclass her- Lilith, her pet, Hunter, even Emperor Belos himself! And Hunter is an outlier she can’t control, someone she doesn’t really know, who just sort of showed up out of nowhere- So out he goes! And now Kikimora knows that Hunter was the one who sabotaged her Palisman delivery, and Hunter doesn’t realize that…

         Hunter might have his own dirt on Kikimora, he can confirm that Kiki’s Handragon attacked him, it’s no secret that it belongs to her! That could land Kikimora into trouble, but presumably out of his innate mercy and chivalry, Hunter doesn’t tell this to Belos… But still. With how her eye narrows and its pupil shrinks, you can tell Kikimora is up to something- And she plans to weaponized it, no doubt… Because she likes having things as insurance in general.

         So if Hunter tries to put her back in line by threatening to reveal her assassination attempt by Belos, who knows? Kikimora might reveal her own hidden ace in the sleeve… And that’ll put the two at a tense stand-still as they try to figure each other out, and navigate. Hunter sees himself as protecting his uncle AND himself, now- And Kikimora is trying to defend her power and sense of control, at being relied upon and needed by others, because she’s needy that way.

         As for Belos? Maybe he thinks the competition encourages ‘growth’, he sure likes pitting witches against each other, after all- Hence competition to join his coven. Maybe he’s secretly aware and is amused by it… Maybe he was actually the one who put Kikimora up to the task after all, to ‘test’ his nephew and his resolve and power! Maybe Belos and Kiki are mutually aware of their own selfish desires…

         But because they need each other for that desire, because Kikimora prefers the subtle power of being Belos’ confidant –openly being the Emperor would paint a big target on HER back- they can sort of, weirdly, trust each other… Trust the other to act in their own self-interest, which includes their own benefit;

         So while they’d gladly sell the other out for a corn chip if the opportunity came up, Belos and Kikimora know it probably won’t ever, so they’re content in their little adversarial alliance! They can count on the other to serve their self-interests, which includes one another out of necessity in the end.

         It really is nothing personal, so they don’t take it that way- Belos is using Kikimora, Kikimora is using Belos! But with the Day of Unity, with the ‘Titan’ having plans for Hunter… Well, if Hunter is already here and truly loyal, why not make use of him instead? Belos is cracking down on loose threads and preparing for a merging of worlds, there’s a pivotal moment approaching- So he should play it safe and confront the liability that is Kikimora’s self-interest.

         With the likelihood of Hunter betraying Belos and siding with the protagonists, for his own gain, or possibly being rejected by his uncle for petty reasons… Who knows? Maybe we’ll see Hunter demoted but still kept around for whatever plans that the ‘Titan’ has, and Kikimora? Depending on how things turn out, she’ll carefully watch and play her cards, for the right opportunity, and hitchhike off of whatever happens for herself!

         She might not have to do much at all, really- Belos might just get rid of Hunter for her, after all! Because Hunter might care, but he’s fettered by the morality that forms the foundation of his concern… And THAT might be the bigger liability after all, unlike Kikimora’s lack of morals. So Belos might recognize that this is playing into what she wants, but so what? She’s more useful to him anyway, and Kiki recognizes this vice-versa and goes along. It’s nothing personal in the end, so it doesn’t hurt to be well-mannered with one another in the mean time, when things are still good.

        Maybe Belos and Kikimora will even come to a mutual understanding in regards to their suspicions of Hunter… And THAT will bring back that power and special privilege of being a secret-keeper, that Kiki always wanted! Especially with her knowledge on Hunter being the one who fought her, and the possibility of his palisman being discovered. Kikimora and Hunter have their pro’s and con’s, so Belos has to figure out which is best for him in the end, and Kiki seems more aware of and involved in the competition than Hunter anyway- So points for actually trying!

        In Slavic mythology, Kikimora are house demons that can enter through keyholes. Maybe listening at keyholes or going through them plays into Kiki’s desire and ability to eavesdrop on others, unnoticed- And in a scene where she DOES eavesdrop on Belos and Hunter, the doors to his throne room have no keyholes. Which, they originally did in Agony of a Witch, which makes me wonder if Belos is wizening up to Kikimora.

        She does seem inquisitive when it comes to Lilith’s bias towards Eda, so what with catching her off guard, and Kikimora might be the kind of person who has a tendency to stick her nose in things and snoop around, much to the detriment and annoyance of others- And she resents being left out as a result. I guess it’s like King’s feelings of abandonment, except way more sinister.

[quazartranslates]

Welcome to the Nightmare Game II - CH55

**This is an edited machine translation. For more information, please [click here]**

[<<< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >>>]

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Chapter 55: Purgatory Reunion (VII)

Qi Leren woke up. When he woke up, he felt very tired. He didn't want to open his eyes. He just wanted to let the heavy sleepiness drag him and let him continue to sleep.

But he vaguely felt that something was wrong. He should have been sitting under the rock wall, but now the thing the back of his head was resting against was not as hard as stone, and why did he feel that he was lying down...

Qi Leren woke up with fright, suddenly opened his eyes, and immediately saw Ning Zhou sitting beside the rock wall.

He didn't know when they had changed their positions. Ning Zhou's leg had become his pillow, and the blanket was put over his own body, while Ning Zhou rested by sitting against the rock wall with his eyes closed. At the moment he woke up, Ning Zhou also opened his eyes that were without a trace of sleep.

"Why don't you take a rest?" Qi Leren quickly sat up and asked anxiously.

Ning Zhou shook his head: "I’ve slept enough."

When Qi Leren looked at the time, eight hours had passed.

Since they had both woken up, Qi Leren simply moved all the picnic items from Chen Baiqi out of the item bar, made a fire, and made some hot food for Ning Zhou. The method was quite simple and crude, directly throwing a small demon crystal into a vessel filled with water. The water was immediately heated to boiling by the energy in the demon crystal, and then the pot was put on it to start heating up, skillfully cooking noodles.

While cooking, Qi Leren talked about what had happened when they were separated. When he talked about Chen Baiqi giving him special training, he looked sad: "...When I was chased by the dog, I was particularly desperate. I didn’t know when those days would pass. I wanted to jump into the sea and never come up again."

After saying that, Qi Leren felt that this was inappropriate and added: "Of course, the effects of the training were still very good, otherwise I would have died in my last task."

Saying this, Qi Leren felt stupid again; shouldn't they talk about some easy topics when meeting again after a long separation? Why did his IQ plummet so far when he saw Ning Zhou?

Sure enough, Ning Zhou showed a worried look.

"Hey, it’s nothing, am I not fine?" Qi Leren quickly changed the subject. "Where's your big bird?"

Ning Zhou released the eagle from its pet bag. As soon as it came out, it began to shake its feathers. It was fed a [Pleasing Ration] by Qi Leren and swallowed in one gulp.

When the food was cooked, they ate hot noodles, and then they continued to talk.

They weren’t good at expressing their feelings, and even have a natural shyness towards love. The two men tacitly avoided the topic of love, as if they had forgotten why they were here after the night. Ning Zhou didn’t say that he was delighted when he learned that Qi Leren had come back from the dead, nor did Qi Leren speak of his love hidden in the bottom of his heart. Inexplicably, at this moment, the two people had an intuition.

They watched carefully, and even their hearts beat faster when their fingers accidentally touched. When Qi Leren spoke several times, he couldn't express his words, but Ning Zhou didn't notice it, and he nodded.

"Aren't you curious how I knew you were here?" Qi Leren asked. Ning Zhou hadn't even known about Qi Leren’s resurrection, because letters could only be sent to the transfer station in the Underground Ant City, but Ning Zhou had gone to Purgatory after writing his letter and didn't  receive the letter.

Ning Zhou nodded his head. He really was curious. How had Qi Leren recognized that it was him when he’d seen the huge magic dragon in the lake of fire?

"Actually, this is a bit hard to explain... When I was in reality... Well, when I lived in the world I’m from, I downloaded a game called ‘Nightmare Game’ with my laptop." Qi Leren considered the statement and prepared to start from the beginning, but he choked when he started. "This... what a laptop is may be a bit complicated to explain..."

It suddenly occurred to Qi Leren that Ning Zhou, as a person born in the Nightmare World, may not know what it was at all.

"I know." Ning Zhou said, with a smile in his eyes. "I’ve done the copy task of your time."

"Really? What was it like?" Qi Leren asked curiously, his spirits rising.

"At that time, I needed to make a phone call with my mobile phone. I had to look at the mobile phone for a long time," Ning Zhou said.

Qi Leren laughed with a "pft" sound, and Ning Zhou also laughed: "At that time, I really couldn't do anything. When I saw the gas stove, I thought for a long time about where the demon crystal was installed. As for the computer, I couldn't figure it out. I guessed that it was a product of alchemy."

Qi Leren was overjoyed and laughed for a long time before asking, "Did you learn it later?"

Ning Zhou nodded his head.

"Have you ever played computer games?" Qi Leren asked again.

"Well, I like minesweeper," Ning Zhou said, looking serious and sincere.

With this said, could Ning Zhou, who liked minesweeper and probably had only played these sorts of games with his own computer, understand the Nightmare Game he spoke of? Qi Leren was deeply worried. However worries are worries, so Qi Leren tried to describe things in understandable sentences: After playing the game, he had entered the Novice Village, then found the laptop again and got the Easter Egg in the castle. Finally, he talked about the previous task, and how he had learned the news of Ning Zhou's accident in advance through the game in the laptop—of course, he didn't say that he had lost his hand and almost died. He didn't want to worry Ning Zhou.

Qi Leren comforted: "In my eyes, no matter what power you use, I believe you’ll only use it to protect the world."

Ning Zhou looked at him deeply, and his complicated mood was indescribable.

What was at the end of power? While chasing the elusive mystery, people with power were destined to move closer to power, and the closer they got, the more they lost themselves. This feeling wasn’t very strong before achieving a half-field, but after reaching the level of a half-field, every step after that was closer to one’s origin.

But in the end he didn't say anything, just nodded his head gently.

Once a person had expectations, even if they were only a little bit weak, they were no longer willing to rush to close their eyes.

He would look at his light until the day when he had to be destroyed.

　　&&&

On the way back to the Underground Ant City, Qi Leren thought that the dense sentry posts would bring them trouble, but he didn't expect the demon guards to disappear without a trace, which made him feel confused.

"When I came here before, there were many guards. Have they withdrawn?" Qi Leren wondered.

Ning Zhou looked back at the sentry post they had already passed, thoughtful.

"When no one could enter or exit because of martial law, did that have to do with you?" Qi Leren asked.

"Maybe it was because of the Devil of Slaughter," Ning Zhou quietly changed the subject. "I heard that he started to have frequent appearances in the lake of fire a month ago and broke out once. According to the task background, the Devil of Slaughter’s consciousness has broken the seal."

"Well..." Qi Leren suddenly had a thought, but didn't say it, and went on according to Ning Zhou's words: "Speaking of this, the second part of the task requires us to ‘destroy the Devil of Slaughter and gain one third of the authority of the Devil of Destruction’, but now we have no clue."

Ning Zhou hummed, his expression stiff.

Ning Zhou really was a bad liar. Qi Leren could see that he was worried. When the demon information broker he had spoken to before had said "the Devil of Destruction’s former people appeared near the lake of fire", he inevitably had made some connections.

This group of demons was probably looking for Ning Zhou, who had inherited the force of destruction.

He wouldn’t mention it yet. Qi Leren didn't want to put more pressure on Ning Zhou. He just wanted to make Ning Zhou have a better life.

"Well... Let's go back to the Underground Ant City first. I left in a hurry. I didn't ask the Illusionist when he was going to go back to the Village of Dusk. Let's go back with him. What do you think?" Qi Leren asked.

"Alright," Ning Zhou said.

"Good, good, let’s walk." The eagle flew up from behind and stopped on Qi Leren's shoulder to peck his ears.

Qi Leren helplessly touched it, and was pecked in the nose as it asked for food. Ning Zhou glanced at it coldly, and the eagle muttered "how stingy" and fluttered away with its wings.

"Don't let it get used to it," Ning Zhou said.

Qi Leren bowed his head and smiled. On a sudden whim, his right hand quietly grasped Ning Zhou's left hand. Ning Zhou froze for a moment, then trembled a little as he took his hand.

One person looked at the fluorescent plants on the left side of the rock wall, and one looked at the fluorescent night moth on the right side of the rock wall, and the two moved forward without a word. Only their heartbeats with disordered rhythms and the sweetness flowing from the bottom of their hearts secretly announced their tacit understanding.

Qi Leren's thoughts were as messy as fallen leaves swept by the wind. For a moment, he wondered whether he should take the initiative. For a moment, he felt that with the environment Ning Zhou had grown up in, he wouldn’t be able to adapt to the modern ways of love. Finally, he desperately reviewed himself, and how he hadn't talked more about love and gathered experience in his student days, so he was now like a high school student experiencing his first love... The object of his affections was still a junior high school student who was more ignorant than him.

If you want to be "unsuitable for children", you have to get married first. Do you have to get married before kissing? When you get back to the Village of Dusk, you can buy an engagement ring... Ah, you’re penniless. It seems that you have to do a task first to earn some survival days. You can't bring Ning Zhou's blue gem ring from your grave to make up for it.

Before seeing Ning Zhou, he had thought about Ning Zhou all day. After seeing Ning Zhou, his head did not rest, but he thought more and more...

Along the way, the two people held hands like no one was watching, left Purgatory on the way back to the Underground Ant City, and got on the "train". This kind of car that was pulled by a strong domesticated demon at the front on a track was called a rail car in the Underground Ant City. Qi Leren and Ning Zhou put on their cloaks, sat side by side, and returned to the Underground Ant City.

However, an accident happened.

"What, the Illusionist is missing?" Qi Leren asked in shock.

The contact person from the Village of Dusk in the Underground Ant City was a young woman named Celia, who was dressed in the style of the Underground Ant City. She nodded solemnly: "Yes, the day after you left, the Illusionist took the Soothsayer's edict to meet the Dragon Ant Queen and never came back."

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Editor’s Notes: I’ve hesitantly decided to stop including a misgendering cw when it only applies to the Illusionist’s pronouns because I worry that it will get redundant, and I think it might be more apt to use it only in cases when heavier misgendering occurs (as well as I’ve often felt a bit odd doing so since this humble editor is a femme person who uses he/him pronouns). If you would like me to continue using the warning, please let me know and I will do so.

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