After knowing that Kevin sometimes had to meet up with a squad, I decided to make my own. But in order to make one, I had to makr sure that I had some sameness.
	Our lesson session ran outside the classroom, spreading in the schoolyard. We separated in some groups randomly as our seat position in the class.
	"Let's get started with this," Maria said.
	"Shall I say that the first thing we should do is the second?" I uttered.
	"Second? We should start from one," Bonaventure spoke, "Are you forgotten the numbers order, Norbert?"
	"Surely not."
	"Then said it," Nelly yelled, "the right one to twenty."
	"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty."
	They looked at each other, Nelly puffed while Fransisca was playing with her pen. She seemed not going to throw a joke.
	"That's not right," Nelly uttered, "You forgotten about the eight and nine."
	"It's not a big deal for now, let's leave it behind," I tried to change the topic.
	"Alright, but you are right," she uttered, "it seems like the second one is the introductory for the first one."
	"Wait, how it all be?" Maria asked.
	"Just take a look at them."
	"Alright, they're smart enough, let's just listen them," Maria mouthed.
	"Wait," Fransisca skipped, "they are just some common stuffs in the general knowledge books."
	"Literally, yes, they are," I answered.
	"Common? I think you may call books in Library as common knowledge," Nelly uttered.
	"Wait, all of you commonly go to the Library?" Maria asked.
	I threw my eyes off the two assignments on my book. At the moment, Bonaventure was very calm.
	"I don't very often go to library or read a book," Maria continued, "I only like to have myself with some kid books."
	"I see, your face shows it," Nelly threw her eyes at me, "you're also do the same, don't you?"
	"Not, thank you," I answered, "I'm not as good as her."
	"Good as her? They say that you're one of the most smartest while fourth to sixth grade in elementary school."
	"There was seven people actually," Bonaventure spoke out, "each of them had a same with one other, so basically there's should only four rank."
	"But we only have one point different each other," I added, "what a pretty good joke."
	"And there's one person you forgotten about," Fransisca spoke.
	She puffed and threw her eyes off us and then smiled. It was pretty creepy that there was nobody at where did she throw her eyes.

	"Alright, I see," I mouthed, "are you doing the same as us?"
	"I'm literally more powerful than all of you in this case," she uttered.
	"Wait, you said that you don't like to be stuck in the library," Nelly looked at her.
	"Yes, but I like borrow one and read it somewhere else."
	"What books?" Maria seemed curious.
	"Not sure if I have to tell one, but today I feel like I like fantasy."
	Fantasy, that word heard in my ears, a very familiar word, not just common. In a book, I read that they who had been reading fantasy genres would be a good person.
	In other hand, I very like to read practical books which was non-fiction. I started reading fiction books since I was twelve or some months ago.
	If I was lucky, I would find someone who could tell me how to bring myself into the world of the story.
	I tried to be focus again by starring at my book, "What is the difference between explanation and explanatory? That was confusing."
	They looked at me, "Don't try to chop the talk."
	"While you were talking, I already finished filling points in the second so I could do the first one."
	"Let me get this straight," Nelly spoke, "you're making us out of the task?"
	"Yes, maybe I am. But I can leave the other one to you."
	Nelly calmly grabbed her book and read it with a ladylike style. She was looking for something in the section we're doing.
	Fransisca peeked at Nelly book, even though she had her own on her thighs. I thought she was a curious fully girl.
	I stood up and walked for three steps and took a look around. There was our teacher walking into us with a paper in her hand.
	As she got next to our group, Bonaventure and Maria stood and followed her. Some other people were doing the same after while.
	"Where are they going to?" I threw my curiosity.
	"I don't know," Nelly answered, "but at least I only heard that she said follow me for a while because I need to talk to you."
	"Let me get it straight, they're just will disturb us doing it quickly if they're here."
	"Make we slower? What do you mean, Norbert?" Fransisca asked.
	"They are a bit under average, I think I don't need to explain further."
	She nodded and threw her eyes off me again. She pretended to hide her smile at the moment.

	I took a look around for a while, realizing that everyone were also having a talk. That was a good idea due to the fact that this was the real introduction week.
	I threw my eyes at Fransisca, "So what's your favorite book?"
	"Didn't I already tell you what is it?"
	"Not yet, you have only told us the genre while we are asking for the books."
	"The series or the title?"
	"Yes, Fransisca," Nelly said, "as example, Chicken Soup For The Soul."
	"If that's the example, what about Harry Potter?" Fransisca answered, "I like to read and watch it movies."
	"Really? That's unique."
	"Not that unique," I uttered, "it just classic sense for nowadays."
	"Not yet!" Fransisca yelled at me, "Have you already read them?"
	I puffed, "I almost have done knowing every books in the library."
	"Which library?"
	"The senior high school' library."
	"You read books there?"
	"I always read books there, even I found most of books I like there."
	They seemed to be not understand with it. I nodded to make them just accept my word.
	"By the way, what books do you usually read?" Fransisca asked.
	"Ah, I'm not sure about what theme or genre,"  I answered.
	"Just give us some examples," Nelly added.
	I tried to open my memories and remembering that all. I just could find some dictionaries and encyclopedia.
	"There's so much, but the most important thing for me are child books."
	"Child books? What's kind?"
	"Maybe encyclopedias and dictionaries, those are good book."
	Fransisca puffed, "Childish, let's change our topic to other."
	Right after she puffed, she threw her eyes off me. But she still trying to stare at me secretly.

Heartcore Junior High School.
The first semester of school in the first year is the most boring time for Norbertus Glowing Quartz because for the first month, there is nothing big. He had only been doing tasks, administrate data, and try to talk to anyone. Everything become normal after the extracurricular starts, after the Pre-Test passed, but it was revealed many things that actually happened during extracurriculars, even before the Pre-Test. Due to the fact that he doesn't have much knowledge about what is going on before him, he has suddenly stuck in the guild problem.

Some authors in chat talked about a book's worth. 

Most agreed that its value depends on the readers' willingness to pay for a novel. And the most selling here in WN are romance and h e n t a i.

Honestly, it is true in a sense that most authors who don't write these two genres or have the general audience receive lesser income to none. However, there are also other genres that are popular.

What saddening is that a story which has no s** will be buried deep in the list of books.

One time, a person told me that he won't read books without s**. I think you understand what I mean.

Sad... 

Those good literary authors will just choose Amazon. I totally agree with that.

But, is that what really makes a book valuable? So, the authors will just resort to writing stories with s**  since most will welcome it.

I feel sad if it is.

I've been reading and watching epic and classic stories like Mary Poppins, The Twelve Kingdoms, Fushigi Yuugi, The Vision of Escaflowne, Star Wars, Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, and others. 

These are great books but I'm not sure if the new generation is still reading them.

Hoping they are.

So, what is the worth of a writer? Of a person's storyteller's heart and creativity?

Will it just be buried deep in isolation? Will it just be following the flow of readership and abandon its desire to produce good stories?

I disagree. We still love good stories. There are still more readers who love good reads. In fact, these type of stories are more engaging and imploring. Those epic stories won't be called epic if no one reads them anymore. They are classified as such because their worth is beyond trends.

They simply go against the flow and create a tsunami, leaving people awestruck.

That is the type of book I want to write. I prefer to be remembered as an author who writes good stories without compromising the principles I believe.

Don't get me wrong. There are still good books with a bit of those s** things out there that you can read. But they don't focus on those scenes but on the story itself.

I am a person who never follows trends. And I care less what people call me. I will rather be true to myself than to follow the crowd and lose my self-respect.

In my opinion, the worth of a story is not only on the business side but also on how much heart and effort the author gives to his/her books.

To authors: Let us enjoy writing good stories. Let us be proud of what we write for not everyone can be authors. And not all writers can finish a book. The truth, most books here are unfinished.

To readers: Support good books and give the authors that confidence to continue writing good stories. Without your support, the authors might give up. If no one read good stories, then there's no point on writing one. But I believe most readers still love those type of books.
-----o----
Inspirational Quotes for Authors:

"I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose." — Stephen King

"If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn't matter a damn how you write." — Somerset Maugham

"Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old-fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he'll eventually make some kind of career for himself as writer." — Ray Bradbury

"I have been successful probably because I have always realized that I knew nothing about writing and have merely tried to tell an interesting story entertainingly." — Edgar Rice Burroughs

"The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story." — Ursula K. Le Guin
-----o----
Inspirational Quotes for Readers:

"Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light."
–Vera Nazarian

"Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself." —George Bernard Shaw

"Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood." — John Green

"The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you." —W. Somerset Maugham

Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled "This could change your life."
–Helen Exley

Have a good and fruitful day.

😁😁😀😄💖💓💞

I  invite you to read the short diary of my daily struggle as a writer. No clear update but I will try to write every day. Don't expect very long chapters.

Started as an entry for fun and submitted for writing prompt #63: One chapter post but still ongoing.

 Please add tags: #diary #drama #comedy #author #writing

Please read my ongoing story:
The Sorceress' Heir: Blossoming Youth and Power

J felt all her blood crept up to her face. She looked at the dishes that Madam Kelly prepared. It consists mainly of leafy vegetables, legumes, fish, meat and eggs. These foods boost fertility, Madam Kelly sure knows her thing. J thought.

After they had their lunch, Madam Kelly and Chairman John went up to their bedroom to take an afternoon nap. J was left in the family room.

 After a couple of minutes, Jacob walked in the family room with a couple of books in his hands. 

"I noticed that you liked reading classic novels. I got a couple here from the library, but I am not sure if you have read any of this. You should take a look. If you have already read them, I'll find another one for you." Jacob said with a smile standing in front of her.

J was sitting on the sofa so she has to tilt her head upwards to look at Jacob. Her face becomes gentle realizing how Jacob take his time to notice her habit of reading and what kind of books she prefers to read. She reached for the books before saying 'Thank you' to Jacob.

Jacob sits beside her and grab for the remote control of the flat-screen TV and turned it on. Madam Kelly already insisted on them to stay overnight and they complied.  Without anything to do this afternoon, Jacob decided to watch a movie while he searched for books for J to read.

J looked at the books that Jacob brought her. Jacob was right, they were all classic novels from Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, Alexander Dumas, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Bram Stoker. She has already read all these books that Jacob brought her. But to avoid disturbing Jacob from watching, she didn't tell him. Instead, she chose Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which she has read a couple of times.  Jane Austen is her favorite author and she has a collection of all of her six books. Among them, Pride and Prejudice is her favorite. It is a romantic novel about two lovers whom before had their happy ending have to conquer their pride and prejudices against each other.

J had even memorized the authors opening line, 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' Thou she finds it ironic, as these days those man with a good fortune would rather stay single to enjoy their liberty. Just like how Jacob and J were before they met.

After half an hour reading with her back leaning on the backrest of the sofa and her feet on her front closed to each other, J felt a little bit stiff so she stretched her back and neck. 

"If you're feeling a little stiff you can change your position. How about you raise your feet on the sofa?" Jacob said with a worried look.

When he receives no response, Jacob got off his seat and kneel in front of J.

"What are you doing?" J asked with a surprised look.

Jacob didn't answer her instead, he took off her slippers and raised her feet on the sofa with her knees pointing on one side. Then he returned to sit beside her.

Due to her position, her body is now leaning to Jacob's body and her knees were now touching Jacob's hips. J gazed at him. "Feels better, right?" Jacob said smiling when he caught her gazing at him.

At the age of 10, J's parents died in an ambush leaving her in the care of her grandfather who years later sent her away along with her best friend to hide her and her identity from those who would try to kill her after her parents.

20 years past, a lot of things had already happened. Her dearest grandfather died, she came back to Lotus City, and was secretly married!

She was married off by her grandfather to his best friend's grandson before he died and she was oblivious about it.

Do this secret marriage has to do with her secret identity?

NOTE:
I know I am not that good of a writer but I do enjoy it. So please understand if there were errors in my works. Suggestions and comments are very welcome.

Copyright disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the my imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without my permission.

The full moon's light touched Luna's little body. And suddenly, the little sprite shone bright and her eyes turned full white and glowed. As if someone possessed her, she started speaking in a mysterious voice.

"When the chosen one 
Who is not one of us
Unveils the hidden Truth
The barrier shall be broken 
And the path to the unknown shall open

But take heed and be weary
For in the unknown lies trials untold
The pits may be fiery
But take heart! For history is about to unfold!"

After speaking mysterious words, Luna continued to shine bright and glowed for a whole more minute before fading to her normal state. Rania, Elliot, Ducis, and the other sprites were all bewildered by what just happened.
"Luna, are you alright?," Rania asked as her face grew worry for the little sprite.
"Huh? I'm fine, why? Did something happen?" Luna asked, totally unaware of all the things she just said.
Everyone gaped in unison as Luna scratched her head, trying to remember if she missed on anything.
"You glowed bright and started uttering some disturbing words like some lunatic, midget," Ducis answered with his usual sarcastic tone.
"Hey!," Luna got angry. "Did you just call me midget?!"
"Oh? I don't see any problem with stating the facts," the dragon replied yet again, as he raised one of his eyebrows.
"Grrrr...you…..meanie dragon! I'm not a midget!"
"If you're not a midget then what are you? Tiny?"
"Wraaa!!! Nooooo!" Luna's face grew redder and more annoyed.
"Hahaha," Rania chuckled as she watched them.
"Stop squabbling, you're noisy," Elliot stopped the two. The kind and gentle Elliot was no more and he returned to his usual self. "Just tell us what it means."
Luna was confused. "Tell 'what' means?"
"Luna," Rania called her. "You have indeed been...well, as it looked like, been possessed by something? Then you started saying…"
"Yeah, yeah," the other sprites agreed. 
""When the chosen one, who is not one of us, unveils the hidden truth…." Rania tried to remember what she heard as she told it to Luna. "The barrier shall be broken, and the path to the unknown shall open".
"But take heed and be weary," Elliot continued. "For in the unknown lies trials untold, the pits may be fiery, but take heart, for history is about to unfold".
"Yes, that's what you said. Would you know what it means, Luna?" Rania asked.
"I said that?" Luna got more confused.
Rania turned to Elliot.
"It looks like she really doesn't remember."
"Well, it's useless trying to guess what it means. We should research it instead."
"Yeah, you're right." Rania agreed and turned again to Luna, "It's okay Luna, let's look for answers together, okay?"
"O...okay!," and Luna smiled. 
"But we should probably sleep first, right? It's almost midnight," Rania reminded them.
And so everyone agreed to rest and start looking for answers tomorrow.
Few hours passed and the sun was back to wake everyone up. They did, as discussed on the previous night, researched about the meaning of what Luna's possessed body said. 
Good thing, Anguis, Elliot's chamber had a great collection of books in its library. Aside from the bookshelf he had in his bedroom, he had a separate room that served as his library. It was big and very spacious like his room. There were beautifully lit chandeliers here as opposed to his dark themed bedroom. The bookshelves were all so tall and made of the finest woods you could see in the kingdom. There were also comfortable chairs and sofas all around, partnered with sturdy wood tables, and soft carpets on the floor. You could also see a few plants and flowers here and there, though it wasn't there at the beginning, but the sprites decided that the whole Forbidden Chamber could use a little bit of greenery, so they conjured plants and flowers in pots all over the place - luckily, Elliot didn't say much, maybe he liked it too - that or it was because Rania liked it - who knows? Only time would tell.
Rania loved this library amongst all the rooms you could visit inside the Forbidden Chamber and forest. She loved how cozy it was and so relaxing, especially now with all the flowers and plants at the corners and the walls, and the tables. She also liked the smell of books, and whenever she read them, just the sound of the pages flipping gave her tiny joy. Yes, Rania was a book lover. Despite being born in modern times where humanity had done a lot of improvement when it comes to technology, she still enjoyed the classic books. 
Elliot, on the other hand, also liked staying in the library to read books not because he liked the idea of reading, but because the stories he got from those books made him feel like he was free for a moment. That he could go out and experience the world. Since he couldn't get out of the Forbidden Chamber, only his imagination and the books helped him understand what life was like outside. Due to that, he grew to respect all the authors of those books which he read - well, that's basically every book in the library - he had been staying there for years. 
But even so, there were still some sections he didn't explore much - like the romantic books section who made him feel cringey because he couldn't understand the thought process of the characters, and also some other unusual books which weren't that interesting for him, and books that were not yet appropriate for his age. Yes, he followed the age guidelines of the books in the library. He even only read books for 18+ when he was at that exact same age, which was just a few years back, now he's 22. And by 18+, it meant books with gore and blood spilling, and other horrible stuff, but not matured books designed for self indulgence - he doesn't have those in his library - which was the main reason for him not being able to comprehend romance. One could really imagine all the broad stuff he learned so far. 
"Hmmm..," Rania mumbled as she pressed her left hand on her chin while sitting on a sofa, with her other hand holding a book that she got. A large pile of other books could be seen beside it on the right side of the table. "Still nothing here".
"But we've been to the library a million times!", Luna complained with all her might.
"Hahaha," Rania giggled. "Not a million, you're exaggerating. We've only been here around 20 times, I guess".
"That's a million for me," Luna got more weary and dropped herself dead amongst one of the books. "I can't take this anymore. I don't like books even if they're made from fibers of wood from trees."
"Hahaha," Rania laughed at her again. "You should go get some rest then. We've been here for hours already, just a few more and it's gonna be night again".
Luna's eyes brightened, "Really?!" And as Rania nodded, "Yippppeee!! I'm gonna go prepare some snacks instead!"
"Rania, don't spoil her, she's just forever lazy," warned one of the other sprites who shook her head in dismay for Luna.
"I'm so sorry, she's just so cute, like all of you are".
"Ahhh~", the sprites' hearts were touched and they all flew towards Rania to give her a big hug.
Ducis watched them with disgust on his face. Then, he continued sitting beside Elliot trying to look for answers in the books as well. But he wasn't really reading much. He was just waiting for a chance to bully the sprites. Only the sprites since he doesn't despise Rania anymore after she helped Elliot.
Days passed by but they still couldn't find answers. Elliot also, couldn't remember any books he had read that may have had the answer. Little by little, they felt that looking in the library was useless and started to lose hope in finding any answer there. 
Until one day, something unexpected happened.
Rania climbed a ladder as she tried to take a book from the top shelf. However, the height of the ladder was not enough to reach the top, so Rania tiptoed to get it. Elliot noticed her from a distance and glided towards her to help. He was so fast that Rania was surprised when he quickly teleported beside her which also caused her to lose balance and fall from the ladder. Fortunately, Elliot had a really quick reflex and was able to catch her right away. 
"Stop moving," Elliot ordered her as he carried Rania like a princess while the other books she's carrying fell to the ground. Elliot sighed, "You're one clumsy girl, are you?"
Rania blushed from embarrassment for a moment and replied, "I am not always clumsy you know. You're the one who suddenly appeared beside me so I was shocked." 
As Rania tried to reason out, she accidentally stretched her feet, kicking the bookshelf behind Elliot, making it wobble, and finally, it fell hard on the ground, catching all the other bookshelf behind it.
DDUGGGGGGSSSHHHH!!
It was like a domino of bookshelves falling one after another. It caused a great uproar in the once quiet library. 
"Oh no, I am so sorry!" Rania exclaimed. "I - I didn't mean to kick that hard."
"And you said you're not clumsy," Elliot smirked. "Are your feet alright?"
Embarrassed, Rania covered her face and shook her head. She DID hurt herself as she unintentionally kicked the very hard and sturdy bookshelf. Her delicate feet were sprained from it.
Elliot then, flew down to the ground and let Rania sit on a sofa to heal her sprain. As he was healing her, Rania noticed something under the fallen bookshelves, underneath the wrinkled carpet.
"Elliot look," Rania pointed her fingers beneath the carpet. 
Elliot looked at his back, towards the place Rania was pointing to. And there, he saw a hint of a trapdoor underneath the crumpled carpet. After healing Rania, he went towards it and tried to scan any magic from it. 
Ducis and the sprites all gathered towards them after hearing the loud banging and were all surprised as they saw the devastation that happened. Their eyes grew larger when they saw the trapdoor too.
Elliot decided to open it but Ducis warned him.
"Elliot, be careful. We don't know what's in there"
"I'm powerful enough"
"This is not about power, it could be something far more dangerous"
"Ducis," Elliot called out to him rather coldly. "Tell me".
"Tell you what?"

A moment of silence passed by.

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

"The King's Beloved - Novel Teaser" Video is OUT!

Watch it on Youtube by searching the above title or go to Instagram under @author_macy_bae.

Dont' forget to like and follow/subscribe! 

~~~~~~~~~
Synopsis:

"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny"

Rania just lost her fiance. And now, she's captured by an unknown race called "Magi" to be a consort to their king. The world turned to chaos. How will she survive in this world full of enemies? Where is hope? Where is freedom? Where is salvation? The king, the dragon, and the masked man awaits ...

Come and join her as she unfolds history and uncover the secrets within …
Even if everything is not what it seems ...

"When the chosen one
Who is not one of us
Unveils the hidden Truth
The barrier shall be broken
And the path to the unknown shall open

But take heed and be wary
For in the unknown lies trials untold
The pits may be fiery
But take heart!
For history is about to unfold!"
- the Prophecy

Along this journey, whose hand will she take?
When destiny and feelings collide … 
Which should hold more importance?

Excerpts:
“All the power in the world ... I have ... 
Yet, I failed to protect her... ” 
- the King
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Please tell me what I can do ...
To take that sadness away.”
- the Masked Man
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I’m going to save someone … 
And I’ll definitely do it - whatever it takes.”
- the Fiancé
~~~~~~~~~~~~

[WARNING: Some chapters of this book contain mature R-18 content]

~ Update Schedule: 1 to 2 Chapters Daily ~

PLEASE NOTE:
This story is highly UNPREDICTABLE!

Yes, to the point where we have a game called "Beat Carol the Cork Board" on my DISCORD server!!!
(ps. it's where I plotted everything out XD)

Hope you join us in this adventure!

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Discord Server:
https://discord.gg/hWB6mmt 

Buy me a coffee:
https://ko-fi.com/macy_bae 

Support me on Patreon:
patreon.com/macy_bae

This is like a classic scene in youth idol dramas. For example, two people go to the library to pick the same book at the same time. Their fingers touch one another, and the sparks fly immediately.
Although it looks the same, it is also different. This is because Zhang Zian did not want to take the McMillan English Dictionary, and Zhuang Xiaodie is on the other side of the bookshelf. Thus, their fingers will not touch.
"What a coincidence, you are here at the library too?"
It's awkward to continue looking at her in such a manner, and he felt embarrassed. He subconsciously retracts his hand, lowered his voice, and says hello.
As for the idea of ​​whether there is an invisible book in the space next to the dictionary, it had been temporarily forgotten with the revelation of a surprise like this.
She took her time, deliberately looked around and whispered. "I can't come here?"
"...that is not what I mean."
Zhang Zian quickly explained himself because she misinterpreted what he meant.
Judging from the current interactions they have had, Zhuang Xiaodie is obviously rich and wealthy. There is an eighty percent certainty that she is a second-generation rich kid. He has no prejudice against the second-generation rich kids. They can also come to the library to read books because 'rich' and 'unskillful' does not have direct causation. To talk about being unskillful, perhaps the children of poor families are more likely to be so.
His focus was on the word 'coincidence'. However, perhaps because he lowered his voice, she misunderstood him as if he is implying that second-generation rich kids cannot be here to learn. She might have always been misunderstood by others before and therefore is very sensitive to any suggestion of something similar. Thus, she merely picks up on these and focuses on the second part of his sentence earlier.
At this time, there were other people who were picking books between the bookshelves. It was strange to see two people talking across the bookshelf. They looked at them even more.
Zhuang Xiaodie glanced to the side with her eyes, meaning to find a place to sit down and talk.
Zhang Zian also had the intention of looking for a place to sit down. He nodded and looked at the original empty space in the bookshelf. He then turned away from the bookshelf and went to the reading area in the center of the third floor.
Zhuang Xiaodie had changed her clothes today, but she is still in a beautiful traditional Chinese dress that makes it difficult for anyone to look elsewhere. Even if she is sitting in the library and reading a book, she still looks like a cultured person with a high level of intellect. It is inevitable that she will attract so many stares. There are some that even stopped reading and kept their eyes firmly on her.
It's not a sparsely populated mountain top, and it is brave of her to be able to take on so many complicated stares at her – One must know that not all the stares are that of admiration. Mixed between those are some of disgust and disdain. What is missing are these people coming up to her nose and scolding her for attracting attention. After all, not everyone can accept someone wearing a traditional Chinese costume around, much less such a gorgeous looking piece.
Zhang Zian, who was sitting next to her and whispering to her, naturally was worried for her about those piercing stares that are not friendly.
He glanced around quietly and saw her placing a stack of books on the table. In addition to the McMillan English Dictionary, there was another book, the Oxford Interactive Graphical Dictionary. Was this Is this book that originally occupied that empty space?
It is very likely. Given the thickness of this book and the width of the space, It should be able to fit in just nicely.
Probably, before Zhang Zian came, she first extracted the Oxford Interactive Graphical Dictionary and left an empty space. After he came, she pulled out the McMillan English Dictionary.
He was relieved and concluded that his weird thoughts were too ridiculous. How could there be invisible books in the world?
However, he cannot believe that she is the type of person who would read such difficult reference books.
She did not read the two English dictionaries immediately. Instead, she opened another book, which is similar to the book selected by Zhang Zian. It is also a well-known scientific map, the World Insect Ecology Big Picture Book. It was a very thick book.
This is a little weird. Why did she choose these two books that are completely unrelated at the same time?
It seems that she heard the question in his heart. After opening the book and viewing the insect illustrations, if she encountered an English word that she did not understand, she would flip open the dictionary and look up the word.
It turned out to be so...
This book is in English and will definitely involve a lot of biological vocabulary. The translation software on the phone may not be accurate.
She actually didn't say anything. Zhang Zian made the above explanation based on his own observations and thought he guessed it all.
The looks given by others around him made him a little embarrassed. Thus, he opened the book he chose and pretended to read it. However, nothing was going in. He was always thinking about something else, mainly thinking about what to say to her. They can't always be so silent, can they?
Instead, she glanced at the World's Rare Pets Encyclopedia he was 'reading' and asked, "Are you interested in pets?"
"This is...because my family runs a pet shop." He told her again, thinking that she had forgotten.
"I know, I mean, do you have to take over the business from your family in the future?" She asked again. There was no hint of her looking down on him in her tone. Rather, it sounded as if Zhang Zian was inheriting a big family business.
"This... no, I'm a little interested."
Even if he wanted to take over the pet shop, his parents would certainly not agree. There was no other way about this.
What's more, he had not reached the point of giving up his job in the city. He should work hard while he is still young.
"What about you? Are you interested in insects?" he asked. With that, he felt like he was on the road to an awkward and dead-end conversation with her.
"Yes," she admitted without any hesitation.
"Ok..."
Zhang Zian has nothing else to say, and the surrounding sight has become even more debilitating.
They have already lowered their voices and talked. In fact, they basically weren't affecting the others, but there are still people who can't stand the sight of them. This is, of course, out of jealousy. After all, not everyone gets to talk and joke around with a beauty.
For the next hour, Zhang Zian was not able to calm down. He merely pretended to be reading.
After an hour, he was finally able to relax a little, and his attention was gradually drawn to the book itself.
She never talks again and has been reading attentively.
As soon as noon came, she stood up, leaned over, and whispered to him, "I will go first. Goodbye."
This is a normal social etiquette because it is a library, and everyone needs to be quiet. There were also, at this point in time, no longer strangers. However, the breath from her mouth and the sound of her voice made his heart tremble.
He suspected that this was not a coincidence. He thought that perhaps she came to the library to see him... but it was really just him making things up in his mind. It seems she was merely here to read. Otherwise, why didn't she take the initiative to talk about other things?
Looking at her back view, he laughed silently in his heart, thinking: Zhang Zian, Zhang Zian, what do you really think of yourself? People just come to read books.
His stomach was a little hungry, and he was beginning to feel uneasy again. He might as well leave and go home to eat.
When he passed by service desk on the first floor, he stopped and asked: "Yes, about that someone on the fifth floor causing trouble, now..."
The employee smiled, "It has been settled."
"Oh." He nodded and left the library.


1. Download a suspicious game
2. Catch a few magical pets as partners
3. Go through interesting daily routines and lead the pet shop to a whole new level

Feng Jin had always believed that he was from an aristocratic family and that he had received the best education, which meant he wouldn't do anything rude under normal circumstances.
That was, until he met Jiang Pengji.
He coughed so hard that his face turned red. He quickly pulled himself together and reorganized his "crime scene." His face looked awkward.
"Lanting, Master Yuanjing is a master who has earned the respect of the whole world. How could you say something like this about him…?" Feng Jin couldn't say more about it because he couldn't find the right word to describe what she had suggested.
Jiang Pengji twitched her lips and said, "It's just a joke, but I rephrased it another way. I didn't mean to ruin his reputation. Why do you have to act like that? If I said this in front of his face, he might have actually agreed with me."
Feng Jin sighed. He knew there was no comparison in talking sophistry between him and her.
"Master Yuanjing is a man with great generosity and an open mind. He wouldn't mind being bothered by you."
Because of the injury to his right hand, he would have a hard time using a pen for a while. It was very unfortunate that he had missed the chance to attend the evaluation, but it had left him quite a bit of spare time. Jiang Pengji had to spend time with him by playing chess or chatting with him to keep him company.
No matter if one was a student from a poor family or a gentry clan member, who wouldn't want to strive for their career after years and years of study?
Feng Jin didn't say it, but he clearly didn't let it go so easily. He was very well aware of Jiang Pengji's good will.
"What are you doing?"
After a game of chess, Jiang Pengji told Taxue to prepare a table in the yard and laid some bamboo papers on the table.
"Do some reviewing. We are doing nothing anyway. Your attention is never on the game and I'm getting bored." Jiang Pengji kneeled on the bamboo coach. Taxue rolled up her sleeve and milled the ink stone for her.
Feng Jin couldn't hide his embarrassment when he heard that Jiang Pengji saw through him. He schooled his expression and change the subject. "Reviewing? Is it the assignment that Uncle Liu gave to you?"
As the General Evaluation Officer, Liu She went to the examination room to prepare. In order to avoid doing anything that might arouse suspicion, he did not plan on coming back before the end of the evaluation.
Feng Jin could tell how much Liu She valued Jiang Pengji; he must have been dedicated to focusing on her studies. It would be normal for him to give her some homework to do.
But Jiang Pengji replied, "No. I'm just reviewing Mr. Cheng's book collections."
Mr. Cheng was actually Cheng Cheng.
She had "made a deal" with Cheng Cheng earlier, which was such that she would provide the best quality bamboo papers and Cheng Cheng would make a copy of his book collection. There were, however, a large number of books in his collection for Cheng Cheng to copy, which was more than ten thousand rolls. It would take at least a year or two for him to finish.
Jiang Pengji couldn't wait that long. She had nothing else to do at the moment, so she decided to complete it herself.
The more she got involved in the society––the more she saw––they more she understood.
It was absolutely true that there were so many things that pissed her off, such as the undeveloped technology, illiterate people everywhere, savage customs, and gender discrimination. But she wasn't going to deny that there was some brightness in the current era, as well, such as the collective wisdom from their ascendants.
She went through a large quantity of Warcraft books and found that many parts of the books matched the knowledge she had already learned. It seemed rather coarse but the principles were mostly identical, only the current era was 10,000 or 20,000 years behind.
Jiang Pengji started to put away her contempt as she settled down to study the knowledge. If it wasn't for that, she didn't have to put such effort into tricking Cheng Cheng for his book collection.
"Man's nature at birth is good; nature is similar, but habits make men different. If there is no teaching, the nature will deteriorate…" Feng Jin sat next to her and watched her write that down. When he went through his memory, he didn't have any recollection of the words. They were short sentences, but there was a deeper meaning to them, which caught his eye. He asked, "Who wrote this? It is demotic and easy to remember, which is quite interesting."
After Feng Jin brought it up, there was a series of bullet screens flashing in the streaming room.
Laosiji Lianmeng: "Mr. Feng, this is Three Character Classic, the enlightened education of ancient Hua Country."
Yin Yuejia Zhuge Qinmo: "The author of Three Character Classic is Wang Yinglin in Song Dynasty. You wouldn't have any idea of who Wang Yinglin is."
Maorongrong Depidai: "I did some research. The author of Three Character Classic is Wang Yinlin."
Nongfu Shanquan Youdianxuan: "Wang Yinlin in Song Dynasty. But there should be no Song Dynasty in Feng Jin's dimension, right?"
The truth was, according to some viewers' analysis, the era she was in was more like the period of Wei Jin Two Dynasty.
Except for the answers, there were some bullet screens which stated, "It's the father's fault for not being able to raise their kids. A teacher's laziness makes students slack." 
It was a tangle of different bullet screens. Even Jiang Pengji, who had a good memory, nearly felt dizzy after them.
Jiang Pengji lowered her head, took a glance of the bullet screens, and kept writing.
"I don't know. The author is already untraceable. I just wrote it down out of interest."
The streaming was a bit off. It felt like they were having a festival.
When Jiang Pengji asked for their advice about if they could suggest some elementary education books, the whole room of viewers boiled. They might have no clue about the ancient books, but Google definitely did. They could finally pretend to be literate in front of their host.
Jiang Pengji wrote Three Character Classic on the first page of the book and titled the author as John Doe.
The reason why she didn't put the original author's name on it was because she didn't want anyone to track down who Wang Yinglin was… So how could she know who this Wang Yinglin was?
Feng Jin didn't feel odd about Jiang Pengji's answer. Cheng Cheng's boxes of books were many. He took a look at it once by chance and the books were very well organized, which indicated how much the owner cared about them. But there were a number of ancient books that were mutilated. Naturally it was going to be hard to find out who the author was.
"Mrs. Meng chose their neighbors. Is this talking about how Mrs. Meng moved three times looking for good neighbors?" Feng Jin stared at the short sentences. A big portion of them came from some familiar, historical stories.
Everyone who could read knew of the story about how Mrs. Meng moved three times for neighbors, but he had never seen anyone described it with only a few words. Feng Jin had a weird feeling, but it went away and he couldn't use words to talk about it.
Jiang Pengji twisted her eyebrows and complained to him, "You are being noisy."
Feng Jin's brows went down and he sat quietly next to her.
That's better.
Jiang Pengji kept working on her writing. The viewers in the streaming room thoughtfully looked for different versions with explanations for her, but it seemed like they didn't copy and paste from the same website, which lead to the content being messy and irrelevant. She had to edit and omit some of them, which wasted quite a few pieces of paper.
Some viewers were eager to help Jiang Pengji, but some of them were just having fun watching the show.
Nongfu Shanquan Youdianxuan: "I almost believed that the host was going to be someone different rather than just copying things down. Apparently you still can't avoid doing it."


Jiang Pengji got something called the Court Intrigue Stream System.
System: "Your goal is to become the most prestigious woman in the kingdom (the Queen)!" 
Jiang Pengji: "Okay, System. No problem!"
Years later, she met the target by becoming the most prestigious woman (the Empress).
Jiang Pengji: "Well done, no?"
System: "Why the hack did you fight on horseback? I want court intrigue among the King's women!"

#how a future general wins the ancient throne
#Her man watches in silence, the System watches with tears

Pain. All she felt was pain.

It seared in her bones and through her mind, not like the dull throb of a bruise, but rather the clear cuts of shattered glass. Every tendril of agony reached out and embraced her as countless images and thoughts passed through her sights.

[Host is recognized to be in a critical psychological state. As a preventative measure, memories have been sealed.]

Even through the haze of pain, the strange voice was calming, soothing and mechanical.

Like the receding tide, the flood of pain subsided. The blissful feeling of peace relaxed her contorted expression, and she fell back against the coarse linen pillows.

"Sister! Sister!" A young voice shook her worriedly. Wiping away the tears, Lorelei took in the sight of her 'sister'.

She felt her stomach drop as she looked at that bubbly and immature face darkened with worry. A knife seemed to screw inside her gut, but she couldn't put her finger on the origin, and the feeling went away.

Lorelei knew this person. So deeply ingrained was the memory that even the system couldn't stop the damage it caused.

"Who?" The feverish Lorelei croaked; her voice parched from dehydration. "Who am I?"

The thirteen-year-old girl in front of her was dressed in strange attire. The air around her was unfamiliar. It felt strange and foreign, despite Lorelei not even knowing what home felt like.

[Sealed memories have been filtered and are ready to be redistributed.]

Before the girl could respond, a trickle of information came to Lorelei.

She was Lorelei, a high school student from the 21st century with an obsession with books and the written world. It was her form of escape. She didn't know what from. Lorelei only knew that in her time, she had read countless popular works of both fiction and non-fiction.

[Host profile is being constructed. Please be patient.]

[Profile:

Name – Lorelei

Systema – Wordsmith

Level – Nil

Completed Works – Nil

Skills:

Photographic Semantic Memory (MAX) – Allows the user to recall any and all general information and facts in full detail.

Photographic Episodic Memory (MAX) (Locked) – Allows the user to recall any and all autobiographical information in full detail.

Memory Album (MAX) – Allows the user to sort, organize and restrict memories to prevent cluttering of the conscious.

Printing (Lvl. 1) – Can exchange magic crystals for printing. Depending on the level, extra benefits may adhere to the printed product. Benefits can be unlocked through the Product List.

Editing (Lvl. 1) – Allows the user to edit and refine books regardless of original authorship.

Blacklist (Lvl. 1) – Allows the user to bar entry of customers at an equivalent level to the host.

Auto-Defence (Lvl. 1) – Guarded defense can be employed by the user. The shop is reinforced. Equivalent to a single level beyond the host. Defense features can be unlocked through the Product List.

Product List – User can exchange magic crystals in return for benefits to the shop and host. Some items are restricted until the conditions are fulfilled.

Quests:

Path of Cultivation – As an acclaimed Wordsmith, how can you not have your cultivation technique to shock the masses? Create your cultivation technique. Time Limit – Nil. Penalty – Nil. Reward – 1 EXP.

EXP – 0/10.]

Lorelei started to shake, and tears poured from her eyes.

She didn't want this. She knew she didn't want to go back, but she didn't want to go further. Lorelei was too familiar with this. She knew the struggles of a classic protagonist. It wasn't smooth sailing. She didn't want it.

"I can escape. I can run away. I can find a place to hole up and read books. That sounds nice."

Run away. She had always dealt with her problems that way. She didn't dare escape physically, but she had her books to steal her away to magical places. There, she could be whoever she wanted to be and forget for a moment about the cruel world.

"Sister, it's okay. I'm here." Lorelei felt a soft hand hold her own, and her shaking stopped, a buried memory rearing its head.

Guilt and fear. Regret.

"Mercy." Lorelei reached up and stroked the girl's face, seemingly reliving a tragedy. Sorrow nested in her eyes.

"Yep, sis, I'm Mercedes. You need to calm down. Your fever is almost cured, just lay down and rest." A confident and brave smile lit up her face, and a twinkle deep within couldn't be hidden.

Her younger sister. Lorelei felt her shocked soul anchor slightly, and she knew immediately that running away wasn't an option. She would go through hell and high heaven, but she wouldn't let her sister leave her this time.

This time?

Lorelei furrowed her brows. It was on the tip of her tongue, so close yet so far away.

"I'll fetch tea!" Mercy remembered, and bounded off like a young doe out of the small bedroom.

Lorelei took a deep breath, and closed her eyes, sorting through the memories of her current situation. When she found them, she summoned them to the forefront of her mind, and recited them slowly, reinforcing the information.

She could only recall the most basic autobiographical stuff. She was Lorelei, a young maiden whose parents passed away, leaving a bookstore for the two siblings to manage. She could only glean further information by recalling the books she had read in this world.

"Transmigration, it seems, and with a system no less." Lorelei gave a helpless smile, sitting herself up. "The Holy Garden Continent, Amaryllis Empire. Filled with every classic cultivator trope, but based more on a magical system. Books seem to be a commodity, a sign of wealth, so my parents probably weren't that poor, considering they ran a bookstore."

Without a printing press, books had to be reproduced by hand, which takes both time and skill. Many commoners could go their whole lives without so much as looking at a book. This also made it harder for commoners to become cultivators, as cultivation techniques and battle skills are in written form.

That's right, in this world, anyone has the talent to become a cultivator.

This world didn't have a universal energy that converted to different forms, unlike classic magic systems. Rather, the energy took different forms depending on the matter it flows through.

It would be impossible to cultivate Fire Magic without a source of said fire. In addition, this world had much more versatility. Inside a flame, there existed many types of magic to be cultivated, including Blaze Magic, Scorch Magic, and Searing Ignition Magic. Each magic-type varied in quality, strength, and properties.

That's why cultivation techniques are so important. They allow you to target and isolate particular magic types easier, allowing for faster and higher quality cultivation.

If cultivation techniques outlined how to absorb magic, battle skills covered the methods to release. Each magic type had countless different applications. Battle skills are specifically designed methods to channel these applications.

"The people who can create cultivation techniques and battle skills are held in high esteem by every cultivator. For many, they are untouchable positions."

In the Amaryllis Empire, the emperor poured funds and taxes into the Academy, for no reason but for the number of esteemed teachers the Academy possesses able to create these works and teach them to students. The Academy and Empire, though technically independent, formed a symbiotic relationship.

The emperor provides funds for the professor's various studies, and the professors will in turn nurture cultivators to enhance the Empire's military capability.

"In a book I read, the Academy's library is one of the most complete research spaces in all of the Empire."

Lorelei, however, found the Academy rather lacking in her opinion, for one single reason.

There are no novels!

Non-fiction is the prevailing genre in the Amaryllis Empire. Power is everything, and knowledge is power. For that reason, books are respected. Novels for entertainment and pleasure, on the other hand, are practically unheard of.

"Oh, the travesty!" Lorelei clenched her fist. Despite her missing memories, one thing was undeniable, and that was her allegiance to the art of fiction!

Mercy came back in with a tray of tea, setting it down on the bedside table. Lorelei picked up the hot tea and began to sip, savoring the flavor.

"Mercy, could you bring me a book to read? One that I haven't already?" Lorelei wanted a moment of peace to drink tea and read.

"Sis, you must be joking. What book do we have that you haven't read? Besides, we currently don't have any books in stock!"

Lorelei looked at Mercedes in surprise. "We are a bookstore without books?"

Were they stolen, pillaged or burnt? Is this the classic protagonist revenge instigator in transmigration novels? No, that can't be right. If that were so, Mercedes would at least have a look of indignation on her face.

"Sister, you must've forgotten!" The young girl smiled. "A young noble came in not too long ago and bought out our stock, allowing me to buy your medicine! It's understandable though, considering that you were at the peak of your fever!"

Lorelei sighed in relief. Revenge was way too troublesome.

"Do we have any magic crystals left?"

Magic crystals are the only currency in the Amaryllis Empire. They are the crystallization of magic in it's most pure form and can be used to store magic types for easier cultivation, making them a useful utility as well as currency.

"Yes, we do! Even though your symptoms were bad, the medicine from the Alchemy Tower is rather cheap in comparison!"

Comparison. That was the golden word. Lorelei had little doubt it would've cost all of their inheritance, as well as dug deep into the funds from selling the books.

Mercy rushed out and soon returned with a large sack of gems. They were clear like glass but had structural integrity comparable to stainless steel. They weren't easily damageable without attempting to, yet couldn't be considered tough either.

"Mercy, how many books did we sell previously?"

"Hmm? I'd say upwards of fifty, but no more than sixty!"

Lorelei paused thoughtfully when looking at the large sack.

"According to the System, I should be able to exchange these?"

[Indeed. However, some crystals are purer than others. These crystals have a purity of approximately 10%, making it a ten to one point conversion rate! Would host like to absorb: 1210 crystals, or 121 points?]

"No. Absorb 1000 crystals."

Lorelei still needed some crystals for other uses, and couldn't afford to exchange them all. From what she could see, one crystal was equivalent to a single dollar in her previous world. Going off Mercy's approximation of fifty sold books, that would mean each book would sell for upwards of twenty crystals.

[Exchanging 1000 crystals for 100 points!]

Mercy watched in astonishment as the crystals began to liquefy into a white stream, and pour into Lorelei's body.

"Sis, what's happening?"

"I'm beginning my journey of a lazy yet fulfilling lifestyle as a transmigrator!" The words flew right over the young girl's head, but she nodded anyway. Sis read much more books than her, so she trusted her a lot.

Lorelei didn't feel any form of distrust towards the girl. In every way shape and form, in the core of her soul, Lorelei knew this was her sister. It didn't matter if it was a different world.

"I should start by creating a cultivation technique so I can improve my power and defense capabilities."

That was Lorelei's deepest instinct, not only to protect herself at all costs but also her sister. A safe environment was going to be the cornerstone of a happy life. Her sister would never come to harm again so long as she lived.

Wait, why 'again'?

Lorelei started feeling sick again and had trouble fighting it off. Her body was still fragile from the high fever, but it seemed to have recovered ever since she transmigrated. She felt healthy, so why?

This wasn't a physical sick, but a sick she felt in her spirit.

A few days had passed since the ball had taken place. (Y/n) and Natasha had taken it upon themselves to explore the palace. Natasha had been asked on an outing with Loki, so you took it upon yourself to look for the library. After about an hour of wondering, you arrived at a gorgeously carved wooden door. 'I wonder what's in here,' you thought as you slowly pushed the door open; stepping inside the room your eyes widened in surprise. 

The room is filled from top to bottom with rows and rows of bookshelves. Each shelf filled with all kinds of books and tomes, sliding ladders placed periodically around the different shelves to help visitors reach the higher editions. You let out a small gasp as you walk around in awe. Glancing at the various books you notice, there were Shakespear's complete works and plays, Edgar Allen Poe, Charles Dickens, and many more. 

Walking over to the Shakespeare section, you decided to spend time reading and choose your favorite play, Romeo and Juliet. You had read it only a million times, but it was a classic, and you were a sucker for romance. Settling down on one of the couches, you opened the book and began to read. 
It had been several hours since you began your book; it was silent and peaceful within the library. Standing up, you return the book to the self only to catch a glimpse of a green cape out of the corner of your eye.

"Is someone there," you ask, a little nervous. Loki chuckles. You jump at the noise. "Did I scare you?" You clear your throat. "No, I just didn't expect someone to be in here."
 "I see… You were reading Romeo and Juliet. What did you think?" You sit back down.
 "Well, I love it. It's my favorite play. That was not the first time I've read it."
 "Ah, I see. Are you a Shakespeare fan?" You nod your head. "Who's your favorite author?" "(F/a), but I also really love Louisa May Alcott, J.K Rowling, J.R.R Tolkien, Shakespeare, Jane Austin, Kate Seredy, Suzanne Collins, Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle, Nancy Farmer, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, and F Scott Fitzgerald. How about you?"
 "Wow, I'd have to agree with you… Although I have to say I haven't read anything by Jane Austin. What kind of books does she write?" You look at him, shocked.
 "How?! She mostly writes romance. I guess that's why you haven't read any of her work…" 

"Actually, I like romance. But I guess I'll never have my chance at it because of this stupid contest," Loki confesses.
 "What if you fall in love with one of the maidens here?"  you ask him softly, he sighs.
"Let's face it. Most of the maidens are only here because I'm the Prince of Asgard, and they want the money and title that comes with marrying me. You and Lady Natasha are only here because of your association with Thor and felt you owed him a favor. " he glared, turning around in a huff. 
"While most of what you said is true, the reason I came was to experience the culture. I don't care about money or titles" you sighed feeling offended, "I should go prepare for the first event; excuse me your highness" you bow and leave the library. 

Loki's pov

At mother's request, I decided to ask Lady Natasha to walk the castle grounds with me, as a sort of date; as mother put it. I should get to know the maidens better. 

(Time skip brought to you by Loki's illusions)

"So Lady Natasha tell me about yourself, besides wanting to wipe the red from your ledger," I speak softly walking through the gardens. Natasha glares at me. "It doesn't matter does it?" I sigh a little annoyed. "I guess not…" 

"You really wanna know me?" I nod my head slowly a little unsure of what she's about to do or say. Natasha smiles. "Ya know there was this one time in New York where this crazy guy tried to take over the world but the Avengers stopped him. Then we had to stop a crazy killer robot that Stark and Banner created." I roll my eyes and scoff.  But I'm honestly a little hurt she brought up New York. 'Doesn't she know what actually happened?' I keep my emotions hidden. 

"Oh, and I'm here at a stupid contest that I'm not allowed to have weapons at. I thought this was the home of warriors!" I roll my eyes again. "Lady Natasha, it's just that we don't trust you with a weapon. Anyway, I'd like to hear more about this robot." "Ok… Uh, you should have seen Thor's face when Vision lifted his hammer." Natasha chuckles. 

"I heard about that. Thor was very amused and slightly angry. What did the robot want?" "To kill the whole human race." I roll my eyes. "See I'm better than it is. I just wanted to rule." I chuckle a little. "That's true I guess… But I mean enslaving all of Earth is still pretty bad…" I sigh. 'How can she not know?' "Yeah, I guess it is…" "Why doesn't Odin want me to have weapons?" I roll my eyes again. "Lady Natasha drop it," I command super annoyed. She rolls her eyes and walks off. 

Grumbling about being rude I decide to bide my time in the library, perhaps finish the romance novel I had stolen from Midgard. 'If only someone could understand the real me. Not the evil, chaotic, front I put on but the softer, mischievous, loving side; the side only mother has seen.'  I sigh softly as I quietly enter my favorite room in the palace. 
My green cape swished behind me as I rounded a corner. 

"Is someone there," (Y/n) asked a little nervous. I chuckled mischievously watching her jump at the noise. "Did I scare you?" she cleared her throat. "No, I just didn't expect someone to be in here."
 "I see… You were reading Romeo and Juliet. What did you think?" she sat back down.
 "Well, I love it. It's my favorite play. That was not the first time I've read it."
 "Ah, I see. Are you a Shakespeare fan?" she nodded her head. "Who's your favorite author?" "(F/a), but I also really love Louisa May Alcott, J.K Rowling, J.R.R Tolkien, Shakespeare, Jane Austin, Kate Seredy, Suzanne Collins, Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle, Nancy Farmer, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, and F Scott Fitzgerald. How about you?"
 "Wow, I'd have to agree with you… Although I have to say I haven't read anything by Jane Austin. What kind of books does she write?" (y/n) look at me, shocked.
 "How?! She mostly writes romance. I guess that's why you haven't read any of her work…" 

"Actually, I like romance. But I guess I'll never have my chance at it because of this stupid contest," I confessed though not entirely sure why. 
 "What if you fall in love with one of the maidens here?"  she asked softly, I rolled my emerald green eyes sighing. 
"Let's face it. Most of the maidens are only here because I'm the Prince of Asgard, and they want the money and title that comes with marrying me. You and Lady Natasha are only here because of your association with Thor and felt you owed him a favor. " I glared, turning around in a huff knowing I was right about them all. 
"While most of what you said is true, the reason I came was to experience the culture. I don't care about money or titles" she sighed feeling offended, "I should go prepare for the first event; excuse me your highness" (Y/n)  bows and leaves the library. 

I watched after her surprised by her reaction. I couldn't understand how she could make me so irritated and yet leave me in awe. 
'How can she not want the title of Princess of Asgard?' I ask myself beginning to pace thinking over our brief chat. Shaking my head slightly I was startled when a guard announced the maidens were gathered in the commons to receive the first task. Nodding I slowly made my way there. 'I hope she passes this task. She intrigues me so.'

Normal Pov

"Ladies, please focus. It's time for the first task" the head maid announced as Prince Loki entered the room, his handmaid holding a pile of parchment. Each maiden bowed in recognition.
"Your highness, please pray tell what is the first task?" Lady Freyja asked softly everyone silently nodded in agreement to her question. 
"The first task is a test of intelligence. Each of you will answer the questions, if you score high you will move on in the contest, but the lowest scores will be in the bottom two and I will decide who leaves and who stays." Loki says confidently as his servant hands out the tests. As each maiden takes the parchment and quills Loki is slightly shocked by one of the maidens.
"Thank you" (Y/n) says to the servant after receiving the items, the maid smiles softly and walks back to Loki's side. "You may begin, once finished please hand the tests to Anita," (the head maid). 

Time skip brought to you by completing the task

After a few hours, Loki comes back into the room to announce the results. 
"After careful consideration, I would like to congratulate Lady (Y/n) and Lady Sigyn for getting the highest scores possible." he bowed and gave them both a Ruby encrusted bracelet. Everyone clapped out of kindness, though several maidens glared at both women. 
Once everyone had quieted down Loki cleared his throat., "Lady Jörð and Lady Freyja I am sorry to say but both have gotten the lowest scores." he looked at both women. Jörð looked down shyly; she had been taught that being a noble meant knowing etiquette, not book smarts. Freyja just batted her long eyelashes hoping her beauty would keep her in the contest, thinking Loki was shallow. Loki simply rolled his eyes at her. 
"Lady Freyja I am afraid that your score was the lowest overall. You are dismissed from the contest." Loki bowed, kissed her hand and then left.

Every maiden in the room started in shocked silence. Freyja stared after the prince in disbelief, how could he not want her, her beauty was unmatched in all of Asgard. She looked back at the women before leaving to pack her items and leave the palace. 
(Y/n) returned to her own room. 'How is that even possible, Freyja was drop-dead beautiful, surely Prince Loki would have wanted someone beautiful by his side. Maybe he's not as shallow as he seems.' you thought before going to see Natasha.

Song: Can't be Tamed by Miley Cyrus.


Jason Blunt was hiding something and I'm going to find out what it is.

It's not that I care about him or anything, again, I don't, but when you're at an alleyway on Sylvia Street doing God knows what, then you show up at my front door by 3:30 am in the freaking morning, interrupting my beauty sleep, being all shady and then having a gash longer than the Pacific Ocean, which by the way, I had to stitch like I'm some sort of pro then I had my ass handed to me on a silver platter by my mother and lest I forget, I was late to school. I had a perfect....

Okay, I'm ranting, but the point is, something is going on and I want to know what but before I continue on with my tale, my mother almost killed me. Why? Because Sophie is a tattletale, she honestly has a serious case of diarrhea of the mouth. She can't keep a secret to save her life, and she especially can't keep a secret from mum.

As soon as she walked through the door, Sophie shouted: ''Mum, Mel brought a bleeding man to the house and did an operation on him.'' Mum almost had a heart attack but I had to explain to her that a ''friend'' from school needed help urgently and there was no way we could drive to the hospital because Jason fainted.

She didn't buy the excuse.

Long story short, I had a shoe thrown at my head and I had to pay for new furniture from my own savings and I'm grounded for a week.

Sophie is so going to wish she had kept her mouth shut by the time I'm through with her.

Jason was long gone by the way, slipped out of the apartment without saying a ''Goodbye' 'or ''Hey, thanks for not letting me die.''

That was Tuesday, today is Thursday and I have a date with Bob on Saturday which I'm thinking of cancelling because I'm on lockdown.

My life is so complicated.

.....................................................................

The bell rang, signalling the beginning of first period which means I have English Literature with Mrs Gomez. English is definitely my favourite subject. I'm basically dyslexic when it comes to numbers but I love to read books because they open your mind to endless possibilities-books can make you feel like a princess or a frog or a pirate-anything you want to be. Also, books, especially the really good ones, make you feel emotions. Emotions so deep that it's almost impossible for you to stop reading until you get to the end.

Books are my drugs, and I'm proud to say, I am an addict.

I was twenty minutes early to class so I sat at the back and waited for the teacher to come in.

''Hey, girl, how is it going?'', I lifted my head up and saw Paris smiling at me with her pearly white teeth.

''Why are you so chirpy in the mornings?'' I asked with a big scowl on my face.

''That is because you missy are a Debby Downer in the mornings.'' She replies and takes a seat next to me.

''So Jason is not in school today.'', she informs me while taking her books from her bag, ''According to the gossipers in the hallway, Mariah told Lianna that he got into a fight so he's in bad shape. Lianna then told Stella, she told her boyfriend, and then he told his mates on the football team so the news spread like wildfire. Highschoolers are so messy.''

A fight huh?

''So exactly what am I meant to do with that information?''

''Well, duh, you told me that you stitched up his gash and...''

''Shush, be quiet.'' I whisper yelled, ''I told you that in secrecy and these''', I pointed to the walls, ''have eyes and ears everywhere so pipe down.''

''My bad. But on some real shit, didn't he tell you what happened to him? How'd he get that gash?''

''I don't know Paris'', I sighed, ''But I'm going to find out.''

Paris claps her hands dramatically, ''Awesome, so you'll be like Sherlock Holmes and I'll be Nancy Drew!! We'd make an epic team.''

''That we would.''

''Good morning class, sorry I'm late.'' Mrs Gomez says with a hint of an accent, ''settle down and bring out your pens and notebboks, we'd be discussing a new book today so I want your full attention. Mr Clark'', she pointed at Ryan, ''your feet should be under your desk, not on top of it.''

''Yes mamacita'', he replied and everyone giggled, including me.

''Detention.''

Her gaze travelled around the room and it landed on the empty seat at the third row. ''I'm assuming Mr Blunt isn't present?''

''Jay Jay had a family emergency Mrs Gomez so he couldn't come today.'' Mariah answered in her high pitched, whiny, nasal voice.

''Okay then, today , we'd be discussing King Lear by William Shakespeare.''

Now that's a classic.

''How many of y'all have heard of the play? A good number of hands were raised.

''Good'', she said, impressed by the answer, ''Now how many of you have actually read the book?'' Only three hands were raised, including mine.

Students really need to cultivate the thing called READING CULTURE, seriously, it'll take you far in life.

''I know Shakespeare is not everybody's cup of tea but you are OBLIGED to read it and by read, I mean actually read it not get a summary from Sparknotes, Cliffsnotes, eNotes or GradeSaver. I'm talking to you Miss Laughlin and Mr Clark.'', she gave a pointed look at them.

''King Lear is a tragedy written by Shakespeare. There's no exact date as to when it was written but scholars say it was composed sometime between 1603 and 1606. It tells the tale of  Lear, King of Britain, who bequeath his kingdom to his two unfaithful daughters after they declared their love for him in an extremely obsequious manner. His third daughter gets banished because she refused to flatter him.'', she explains.

''As you read, I want you to take note of the bad decision that Lear made and how it greatly affected his kingdom and his mental health. Also I want you to take note of the sub-plot, examine how the plot and sub-plot are related and how Shakespeare carefully weaves these similar yet distinct families to prove a point or points.''

''Wait, he gave his kingdom out all because of flattery? What a wimp.'', Ryan commented.

''Actually, I don't think he is a wimp.'' I responded.

''Showoff'', Mariah said out loud, much to the amusement of everyone.

''I'm sorry Mariah, did I hear you say something?'' I challenged.

Hasn't she learnt that I'm not the one to mess with.

''I said you are a showoff. We all know you're a nerd so you've probably read the play like a million times but like let everyone else read it before you open your mouth.'' A bunch of ''oohs'' echoed through the classroom.

''First off Malibu Barbie, I wasn't speaking to you, so be a good dog and bark when you're told to. Also if you weren't too busy being a ''lady of the night'', maybe you'd actually have a brain. You gone for a chlamydia test recently? The school offers one for free you know.''

Mariah looked red in the face, ''You little bit...''

''ENOUGH!!'', Mrs Gomez yelled, ''Mariah, Melody, detention after school.''

''But I...'', I protested.

''But she...'', Mariah added.

''Save it, both of you or you get double detention.

Kill me now.

.....................................................

''Did you just insinuate that Mariah had chlamydia?'' Paris asked while laughing her ass off.

I nod once, ''She's slept with pretty much everyone that has a dick in the school, remember she fucked a teacher in school once, so I was only offering her some friendly advice."

Yes, you heard right, Mariah slept with a teacher, now ex-teacher in school. His name was Mr Roberts and he was our Calculus teacher. He was in his late thirties, I guess and was quite handsome. Long story short, it became this huge scandal at Adelaide Montessori Prep and the scandal almost hit the news media but the authorities of the school were able to do damage control. Mr Roberts resigned and Mariah was suspended for a while.

She probably fucked him for an A in Calculus.

''Girl, you're honestly too much.''

''I really need to bridle my tongue every once in a while.'' I said while walking to my locker.

''Oh really?'' Paris said sarcastically, ''Anyways, are you up for a sleepover on Saturday? My dad just installed this new indoor theatre and stocked it with a bunch of movies that we need to see.''

''Can't'', I sighed dejectedly, ''I'm grounded because of Jason, plus I have a date.''

''Since when did you date?''

Probably shouldn't have let that bit slip.

''I don't have a date with a boy.'' Technically, Bob is a man, ''I have a date with my...grandma.''

''Grandma Lily?''

''Yep, her.'', I chuckled nervously, ''She's in desperate need of company so as part of my punishment, mum said I should visit her at the retirement home and take her out for a girl's DATE.''

Nice save Mel!

''That sucks.'', she pouted, ''but on the bright side you get to spend time with her cause she's so fun, always has interesting stories to tell.''

''Yep, I'm pretty stoked.''

''Give her lots of kisses for me and...'', she looked at her watch, ''Shit I'm late for American History, bye boo.'', she ran all the way to her class, bumping into a few students on the way.

I'm sorry for lying to you Paris.

Everything was a bit of a blur after that and before I knew it, school was over which means detention.

Yay, I'm so excited to be in the same room with Mariah.

I dropped my book bag in the car and brought out a few items I'd need to survive detention- my homework, a fountain pen and a pencil.

Wish me luck for I am about to enter the Lion's den.

Adelaide Montessori Prep, school for the children of the rich and upper-class members of the social ladder.

So what is Melody Jones doing in a school like that? One word: Scholarship.
.........................

Meet Melody:

Melody is not a damsel in distress. She's witty, sassy, and badass, but one person just seems to irk her every time: Jason Blunt.

Meet Jason:

Son of a famous model and hot shot lawyer, Jason is living the high life: luxury vacations, private jets and designer everything. He seems to have it all but he just can't seem to stand one person: Melody Jones.

But they both have secrets, and once they get woven into each other's web, it will change their perceptions about each other forever.

Like they always say: There's always a fine line between love and hate.


NOTE:
Unless stated otherwise, this book would be told from the female lead's (Melody) perspective.

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