Blake Elliott has been abused since he's had memories.
his only release was the freedom he felt when talking to his only friend about comic books, he loved reading about the superpowers heroes running unobstructed through life doing what they were born to do.

until one day when he and his friend are crossing the street talking reading a Spiderman comic when he hears a loud honk and instinctually shoves his friend backwards.

Once the others go to bed I decide to stay up. I dismantle my new 'toys' from the villain squad. Then I pull out my rune engraving kit. I apply a Fehu rune to the hammers. This will activate the runes and charms that I will etch into the individual bullets. I'm thinking I am going to etch on the bottom of each casing like a circuit board and when the hammer hits the circuit will become complete thus activating the runes and charms.

First I etch a Thurisaz rune into the .50 BMG This should allow the bullet to pass through wards and barriers. Secondary Thurisaz Rune to give great boost into penetration. Let's add a timer onto a banishment attachment so the bullet should effectively remove itself from existence after ten seconds. An Ansuz Rune while be the so called center of my circuit. Once hit by the hammer it should start up the rest of the network.

You know, now that I compare the two side by side. Spells are normally in some derivation of Latin but our Ancient Runes are Nordic Runes. That seems quite curious to me. Note to self try spells in different languages to see if it effects the spell in anyway, try Old Norse first.

 For now that should do but I may add different effects later on. If I can get this to work I may customize one for Deathstroke. He is after all the one most attached to fire arms, his sister prefers up close and personal.

Now for the Barrett M90 itself. A silencing charm to the barrel obviously. As for the scope. I can experiment with that right now... 27! 27 damn redos,repairs, and breaks and I finally, FINALLY, got the effect I wanted! Who knew it was so hard to connect a Kenaz Rune to allow one to see through solid objects.

Beretta M9 I think I will make it with the same enchantments as the Rifle, well other than the scope. Let's add a waterproof charm too just to see if this will allow me to use it in Black Lake. Would be interesting to use 'Gun Kata' under water.

As for the dart gun. I mean it is air propelled so there isn't much I can do. Still a silencing charm to get rid of the fwoosh sound. I'll dip the tips of the darts in various venoms, note to self color code the darts.

Til day break Alex was in his private training room testing out his new toys. They would break, he would repair them. The runes wouldn't work so he erased and re-etched them differently. He would test the penetration and destructive abilities of the bullets on thick steel plates, wooden post, and stacks of break walls, he had to use Transfiguration for most of the obstacles. The bullets, after a few different re-etchings, managed to penetrate through the various obstacles like butter.

As for magic testing he had Jazz set up some wards, shields and barriers using magic.  He could get the bullet to shatter some minor and medium wards but not the more powerful ones, it's odd how magically powerful a house elf is. I mean they can do things, that normally would require a powerful wizard to do, easily. They can even pass straight through wards and change their magical signature.

Back on topic. It just wasn't the effect I wanted. I wanted the bullet to go through the wards without breaking the ward entirely. Just creating a small hole. If the ward shatters it would alert people and that is not what I want to happen. Sadly the sun is rising, I'll continue this later. I got a promise from Jazz not to tell anyone about my experiments before packing away my toys.

Later that day Ragnok showed up "Oh Hello Ragnok, Thank you for the gift. But I was unaware you were stopping by today"

"You are welcome Alex, I thank you for my gift as well." You know goblins are very loyal and pleasant when they are your friends. It makes it surprising that most wizards treat them like servants and earn the goblins ire. I mean they control the money, contracts, and are dominating the market in curse breakers. Why the hell would any sane person want to get the goblins pissed at them? "As for my being here I have an appointment with your mother."

"Ah is this about the recent acquisitions?"

The goblin nods and gives a toothy smile "Yes, your mother is quite talented in business." Oh yes the goblins love my mother. She brings in much profit and isn't afraid to 'attack' her opponents swiftly and deadly to devour them all.

"Well then perhaps I can join in on these talks. Harry is enjoying his new games at the moment." So I began to walk with Ragnok.

"Our King enjoyed the gift you sent him. It isn't often a goblin, even the king, receives a gift from a non-goblin. I believe the last gift he received from a human was in 1986."

"I don't see why he doesn't receive gifts more often. I mean your king is extraordinarily handsome. Plus he sings wonderfully." I experienced his singing at my 'coronation' into the Goblin Nation. "Ah if you could send word that I enjoyed my gift as well. It is nice to be able to re-watch your own dreams"

We enter into my mothers meeting room. This is where she conducts all business while at home when meeting with people, obviously, I mean it is called a meeting room. "Ah Ragnok it is a pleasure to see you" My mother says looking up from her papers laid out on the table.

"It is a pleasure to be invited into your home as well" Yea goblins would never be this courteous unless they liked you. Just more proof they like my mother.

"Please, have a seat, Alex you might as well sit down too since this is about your business." What my mother means is, even though she is working on magical things, most magicals, meaning those of authority, would accept having a squib running any business in their world. So she does it all in my name. Though of course I do my share of the work as well, she just handles the parts I can't do while at Hogwarts.

Both myself and Ragnok take a seat on my mothers left and right respectively. Mother flips through some papers. "First off we now own 30% shares in the Firebolt corporation. Their new, and first ever, product is estimated to be done in fifteen months due to our injection of funds. I think this new broom model has great potential in being the best for at least 5 years, if we do not release a new broom first."

Myself and Ragnok nod. I started buying shares and injecting funds into Firbolt Corporation during the Summer because I saw the potential of the broom they were trying to make.

"Also Alex, you are now the Majority Stock Holder and CEO of Toys of Raijin Company & Research Facility" Her smile reminded me of a viper, happy after eating a meal. From what I know of my mother she, most likely, had goblins discretely buy shares. While at the same time, due to her being the one to supply the muggle tech, she got a few shares. That couple with my ideas and research I do in private that I send adds onto the shares. I also believe she brought these up several times, discreetly, to drop hints. Slowly working the others over to think that Toys of Raijin would fail without me and my mothers support until finally they called for a change in the ownership. That couple with us now owning more than half the shares meant no one could attempt to hold us back from acquiring the company. My mother is a vicious business woman.

"Wonderful. I would like to rename the shops to Envy's Toy Box. Also we can begin selling extra fine nib pens, journals, and notebooks. Let's also add books. I have had a few people interested in the comics I sometimes read at Hogwarts and my friend Blaise loves Sherlock Holmes books" Even though his favorite character is Moriarty "Though the shop in Japan will sell manga of course. I wonder if we can get the pictures to move" I glance over to Ragnok

"It should be doable. Like the moving pictures wizards make, though modified as I am sure you don't want the characters leaving their panels or acting out of character for said page."

"Yes. It would be odd for someone to read a comic and have the character go 'off script'"

"I will get our research team to work on that" says my mother "Next we are in talks with the makers of Wizard Collectible Cards to making a book with the details of the Wizards and Witches on the cards."

"That sounds useful"

"Also it appears that wizards don't know what fiction is" I roll my eyes in exasperation at the wizards. I mean they believed a book that said an 8 year old Harry Potter saved a village from ogres.

"I know that already mother"

"Yes I know you think that due to the books on your brother but I am talking about something different. These Tales of Gildroy Lockhart." She sounds disgusted just saying the name "Wizards trolling have no common sense. Any muggle would know how fake those books are. It says he fought Ghouls but in another book it says he fought a group of Yeti's on the exact same day on the other side of Europe."

I place my face in my hand as I release a long sigh at the stupidity of wizards.  "Now," My mother continues "I do believe some of these happened. Like the battle itself is pretty convincing so I believe it is true but I have doubts this Lockhart person did them as he spends half the story bragging about himself."

"You are bringing this up to me because you want us to make sure that the Magicals know that some of the books we will be selling aren't true stories?" My mother nods "Alright. I mean it would be bad if they start thinking that going through a Wardrobe will lead them to another world with trees that grow gold and a Lion God."

We spend the next two hours discussing more plans and ideal businesses we could invest in. Such as a clothing shop. A lot of their clothes revolve around robes so we are thinking about making a shop that sells Victorian outfits. Ragnok, after seeing some of the outfit designs, also says Magicals would be more willing to wear those than any muggle attire made in the last century.

I managed to meet up with my muggle gang and talk about things with them. Marcus is very interested in having a charmed gun. Ashley says I need to make something for her as well. Ashton seems to want an item called Foe Glass, he heard about them from Victor. Maybe I should get Ashley and Marcus a Winchester rifle to go with their namesakes. It would be funny seeing their expressions.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end, as we finally hit the day we have to get on that train once more. Still we get to see our friends again so it isn't like it is a bad thing. I gotta say I do miss my four snakes. I even miss that book worm. Now we could have seen Teddy during the break but mom wanted us to stay home for Harry's first Christmas with us. Which is lucky because if I knew where Teddy lived his Great Uncle Algie wouldn't be up and kicking for much longer, that is one of the reasons I charmed my rifle.

Harry and I hug my mother tightly as we say our goodbyes and head towards the Platform. Ah leaving our comfy, heated, home for a cold, stone, castle in Scotland. Oh joy!

Alexander Prince is known as many things. Genius, Prodigy, Fighter, Demon and now one more is added to that list, Wizard. With friends in High Places and more in low how will the Uncrowned Prince change the wizarding world and are they ready? Also why is his new Half Brother so famous in this world?

The writing gets better at chapter 10.

[I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER]

Nor do I own the picture. Here is a link to the source that I found the image on all credit to the artist who made it none to me. Alexanders Hair is supposed to be black but I can't find a black haired Vergil anywhere and I can't draw or edit to save my life so yea...

https://www.zerochan.net/1506148

"Annie! Is nice to see you. You look even better than the last time we met" A middle aged guy greeted my mother once we entered his office.  

"Oh Clark stop with your lies" My mother replied playfully. It was clear that the both of them were friends, or in really good terms at the very least. 

"And you must be the young genius I been hearing about... Mister Sam Bane" He said amicably, and then he offered me his hand to shake "I'm Clarke Cook, it's a pleasure to meet you" 

"Good day to you sir" I shook his hand firmly. Or with the most strength my seven year old self could muster. 

After the short interaction, I finally could relax a bit. For some reason, ever since yesterday night I was really nervous about this reunion. I guess that I really wanted for it to work out. 

"Take a sit please" He said after a while, with a never ending smile on his face. 

His office was a mess. I could tell that he worked hard, if the multiple papers all over his desk, and the big bags under his eyes were any indication. Still, it didn't gave much confidence on his organizational skills. 

"Thanks Clark" My mother replied. And before I could notice the mood changed. It was like the both of them went from normal mode to business mode, in just second. 

Before coming here, my mother just told me to let her negotiate in my behalf. And I planned to do exactly that, especially now with the professional aura she inspires. 

"Well, let's start with the book composition first" said Clark, "Annie, like you already know, I like the three stories you've sent me last week. They appeal to a younger demographic, which is  a group that is gaining traction lately. Although I have to say that these stories are too short to be released as books on their own. So, I propose to compile them. I think five stories could make a good sized book" 

It was reasonable. My stories were a little too short. I could've done them longer, but I wanted to keep them simple, considering that the target readers would be mostly kids. 

"That's a good idea. Although I think that the stories should have a common theme between them. For example, a book collection could be about princesses. Sam here has written about ten stories about princesses, so it shouldn't be a problem, right Sam?" My mother said, and tactfully helped me to get into the conversation. 

"Yes, there's no problem with that" I said calmly. Mr. Clark finally looked at me after that. He looked interested with that bit of news. 

"That sounds good to me. I'll need to read the five stories you plan to publish, so we can progress any further... But in an act of good faith of Sam's work, we can talk about the details of the deal we will be making" 

"What do you propose then?" Mother asked. 

He looked at me for a second before concentrating on my mother once again. Then, he brought up a paper he had at the only clear zone of his desktop, and passed it out to my mom. 

The contract I assume. I planned to read it on my own when my mother finishes it, but I couldn't help to look at her to see if I could get any information from her face expressions. Which ended up being a pointless endeavor. 

"Ha!" She exclaimed "I see your intentions Clark. If this is how it will be, let's stop here. We'll take our leave" My mother finally said. And then stood up from her seat and walked to the exit. 

I could only guess what unreasonable things were written on there. So for now I just followed her up. Although for some reason I felt that this wasn't the end of the discussion. 

"Wait!" Clark finally said, "I admit the contract may be a little unfair, but we can discuss it, no need to go away just like that" 

My mother turned back with a smirk on her face, "I'm surprised, I've heard a little about your situation Clark. But now with you flinching so quick, I'm wondering of how bad it really is" 

To my surprise it seems that we were not in the losing end of the negotiations to begin with. My mother really played him hard. Clark's face said all I wanted to know. He was mad, but he still stayed quiet about it. 

"Yeah, it's true. We are in need of a success, and that's the principal reason to even consider to publish a kid's book, besides the publicity within itself that it could generate" He admitted. 

"I've heard that all the upcoming writers choose to go with other companies, after all you've had a bad record in the last five years" My mother added while the both of us took a seat once again. 

"You really did your research, huh?" he said with a defeated look. "... I wanted to start my own comic book company, but at the end all the good artists preferred to go with either 'power comics' or 'marvelous', and before I realized, the book company I had spent so many years to build up, was on his way to bankruptcy" 

It was kind of a sad story, but also an amazing opportunity. If I played my cards right, maybe making my own comics wasn't impossible for me in the near future. 

"So, in your times of need you thought on cheating your good friend of so many years" Mother said while making 'tsk' noises, pointing the bad deed Clark has made, "Sam is young, so there will be no problem if he waits a couple of years to get published... So now I wonder, what deal could you offer us, so we can even consider making a deal with you" 

Clark clenched his jaw at that, and had a serious expression on his face. He kept quiet though, it seemed that he was seriously considering the matter. 

"What do you want?" He finally asked. 

"Twenty percent, and the rights will belong to him completely" Mother demanded. 

That was a extremely good deal, especially for a newcomer like me, asking for that much was out of my expectations.

"That's... acceptable. But Sam will have to publish at least four books with us" He countered. 

"Are you joking? Two is the most we are going to concede" Mother said with displeasure. 

That was something we had talked about before. If I was successful enough, I could go with a bigger publishing company in the future. And my mother had a high faith on my success for some reason. 

Now there was a clear disagreement between them. I honestly couldn't care less if I had to write four books for this company, with the new deal offered I would have no complaints. But I knew what I wanted. 

"How about I do publish four books, but you'll have to publish a comicbook of mine... With the same conditions as the one with the books" I interrupted them. 

The both of them stared at me with surprised faces. "What do you mean?" Clark asked after a while. 

"Well... I have this idea for a comic, and I felt compelled to do it after I heard that you own a comic company" I explained. 

"Are you talking about the one you've made with Hanna?" Mother asked me with a worried face. It was clear that she thought that it wasn't that great. 

It wasn't a bad comic per se, but I do agree that it isn't the kind of comic that sells well with the masses, nor profesional enough to be a comic on his own. But I'm aware which comics are the best sellers at this era, compared to my old reality.   

"No" I said, before Clark could have asked about it, "I have an idea for a superhero comic, but I don't have the talent to draw. So I thought it was a good compromise that if my books are successful enough, Mister Clark will hire an artist to draw my comic, and then he'll publish it" 

"That's interesting. What do you think Clark?" Mother asked with a simple smile on her face.  

This wasn't something we had discussed before, so I was relieved that she just went along with the idea. 

Clark just sighed and nodded with a smile of his own. Even if he tried to hide it, I could see that he was happy about the deal. In the end, he wanted both of his companies to succeed, and now there was a chance for it to be possible.

Samuel Bane, a guy who was just a normal 23 year old in another life, was living in a new world with his memory intact. 

The new world is almost exactly the same as the one he lived before, except that the period of time was similar to the mid 80's that he knew by the movies and tv shows he watched.

This story will focus on how Sam enters the entertainment business. Getting his works published and meeting new people on his way towards an unheard level of success. 

The concept of the story has inspiration in "I'm really a super star", but it's nothing alike.


> Currently I'm posting a chapter every Tuesday.

Who will check the data? Surprisedly asked, Historian.

You do not have enough of the names of outstanding physicians of the East, whose yen rattled all over Europe!

This is Avicenna - Ibn Sina and Amir Davlat Amasiyatsi!

"It's not enough to tell me that they lived when knowledge was on a completely different level than now," said Dara.

- "In addition, do these plants have side effects, contraindications, maybe they are poisonous, they need to be checked for harmful impurities by the presence of heavy metals and radionuclides."

- "If there is no laboratory conclusion, then all these plants cannot be used for people, for sales."

- "And the study of the content of radionuclides and heavy metals in plants is a black hole, for finance, at least it will take one month, and the price will be about $ 55,000!"

"I've just started my business, I don't have that kind of money," here Dara was a little cunning, but who tells the whole truth to a little-known person, albeit a good one. Money generally loves silence.

Well, why are you brother? Are you holding me for a village fool? The historian was offended. I also studied at universities.

Don't be afraid, everything is captured from me! We know how many expeditions there were, foreign and our local. These trees and plants, root crops, have already been studied - by geologists and chemists, and pharmacists, by my order.

In my hands, everything is paper, certificates, laboratory tests. I didn't come to you empty-handed. Not only with beautiful stories, but also with data. Together we can stir up a new business.

You, Dara, have opportunities, you have your own two shops, your own farm, as you say, everything is fast on it, it is growing very fast. This is a gift! You and I can make good money!

- "and I thought you were a" phase-shifted "(local expression for eccentricity) scientist who is alien to the benefits of civilization, and his eyes burn with fever from research, an altruist spirit, the last of the Magikans!" remarked surprised Dara.

No, no, why are you ?! Already a cuckoo? I'm not like that?! I also love to bask in comfort, I like to eat well and tasty, enjoy the benefits of civilization. But at the same time, I want to continue my scientific research, the mountains of Light and the small mountains adjoining them, this is a treasure, yes, a real treasure! Knowledge, new, that is, already ancient plants, root crops, fruit and walnut trees. Forgotten by all mines, with gold and precious stones. In these mountains there are three, according to my data, hidden storage of books! This is part of the books left by Ali Kushchi, books of Khan Ulugbek himself! These are the books of the ruler of Big An, the grandson of Emir Nassrula and his part of the treasury, with gold coins and collectible orders. And also two hiding places with gold and weapons of the king - kings, the emperor of Asia, Emir of Iron Will, the era of the 14th century! Can you imagine if I find this, I will enter my name in the history of mankind, the history of science !!!

"It's real"? He asked, Dara.

Yes! But I need money! For new devices, gadgets, more powerful quadcopters, software products and the purchase of a mobile station for receiving satellite images with a spatial resolution of 10 cm!

"And how much money?" Asked interested, Dara.

Well, at least 100 thousand dollars.

- "Not bad"! Noticed, Dara.

- "In principle, you can pull, with successful sales!" He laughed, Dara.

- "Let's try"!

Well, you see how pleasant it is to deal with an intelligent and thirsty person, the Historian remarked happily.

COMPLETED

The Silk Road ... it is inevitable the emergence of wells, caravanserais, guard fortresses, postal stations, local bazaars, regional bazaars, the emergence of new jobs:
- robbers (there were whole settlements)
- caravan guards
- changed
- merchants

Just about them and will be discussed.


About their life, tricks.

Alas, English is still the same ... there are mistakes, I am sure of it.

I hope over time I will be able to fix them.

I just wanted to share information about such an interesting topic as the history of the development of the Silk Road.

----
And also a series of stories about treasures, treasure hunters.

--------------------------------
This is a work of art. Any resemblance to real people or real events is purely coincidental.

As Austen had predicted, Seyla awoke a little over five hours following their conversation in The Cortex, by which time night was fast approaching. She moved gingerly upstairs and into the Dining Hall and found everyone sitting at the laden table, helping themselves to a feast of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, fat sausages, bacon, fries and pudding, each with a different drink in their hands — Austen was a wonderful chef, though he often said that he was nowhere near his mother's level. Malik pulled out the empty chair beside him and Seyla sat down.

"How are you feeling?" Austen asked.

"Fine." Seyla said, though she looked rather pale.

Austen looked unconvinced, but before he could voice his uncertainty, Malik said, "Choice drink? We have lemonade, pumpkin juice, coconut water or you can have a glass of what Austen's having."

"Watch it." Austen said, pulling his glass of red wine away and casting Malik a dark look.

"Don't be stupid." Claire said sharply. She needs something hot, not cold." She disappeared into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a steaming mug of chocolate milk. "Here, take this." Seyla drank; heat flushed through her body. She could feel the stiffness of her limbs caused by the cold burning away as she swallowed.

"Better?" Claire asked.

"A lot better." Seyla said, colour returning to her face. "So what did I miss?"

Raul explained briefly; Austen's orders, how he and Malik teamed up to defeat Stronghold and the white rhino, how he took her home and returned for Malik, how they knocked down Ryu and the pale skinned girl, how Metal Maniac and several other heroes showed up, their conversation in the Cortex about Sinistra and finally, Metal Maniac's message — he left out Malik's strange behaviour.

For a moment Seyla said nothing, then she spoke rather softly. "Sinistra, huh?"

"Yeah," Malik said, taking a swig of his carrot juice. She fell silent again. Raul thought that she was now thinking over what he said about Austen.

A few more moments passed, then, when he was sure that she was going to explode on Austen about his ridiculous decision to choose Malik over her, she simply stated that she was feeling chilly again. After several seconds of staring at Seyla in utter disbelief, Raul sped off, knocking over Malik's glass of carrot juice, and returned, clutching a thick fur coat that he threw to Seyla.

"Where did you get that?" Austen asked, his eyebrows raised.

"From a store in the city called 'The Wool-E Mammoth.'" Raul said coldly, refusing to look at Austen. He watched as Seyla, somewhat flustered, put on the coat. Surely she would deal with Austen once she was feeling a bit warmer? To his surprise she simply tucked into the meal, not saying another word or looking even slightly troubled. He gaped, open-mouthed, at Seyla, oblivious to the fact that Malik was staring at him, trying to resist the urge to rip him apart for spilling his drink.

After dinner that evening, Raul went to bed swearing loudly and muttering that girls were the strangest creatures he'd ever seen, while Austen, looking quite unbothered, recommended Seyla stay under dimmed thermopanels that night.

Three days passed and he had still not forgiven Austen for what he had done. He didn't utter a single word to him when he could help it, and when he couldn't, he spoke with venom in his tongue. Austen however, remained quite cheerful and Seyla, to Raul's surprise and annoyance, was still not bursting with fury.

On the fourth day after, Austen had left to collect material he would be acquiring from a mysterious source for the repair of Malik's suit, and Raul began to rant — for the seventh time so far — about what a horrible decision he made and how he didn't care to apologize even once.

"Who does he think he is, honestly? No, better question, who does he think we are? His expendable playthings that he can just toss away whenever it suits him?"

"I'm sure that's not what happened, Raul." Seyla said in a bored voice.

Raul was so furious he couldn't string the words he needed together. How could she, of all people, take his side?

"Right you are, Seyla." Austen said, pushing open the front door and swinging a small black bag. "Though I'm willing to leave him be and let him vent his frustration for as long as he wishes."

"Yeah, only because you're not the one who has to listen to him!" Malik spat.

"Exactly!" He strode over to Malik, pulled a small, flimsy book from the bag and threw it onto Malik's lap.

"What's this?" Malik asked, bewildered.

"Your comic book." Austen said.

"What?" Everyone yelled simultaneously.

Malik grabbed up the book. "'Fist of Providence'?" He repeated incredulously.

Seyla, Raul, Claire, Vernon and Jayden all scrambled up and gathered around him.

Malik skipped through the pages, flipping them so hard he tore one. There on the pages before him, were detailed drawings of his fight with Stronghold, almost exactly as it had happened. Malik punching his face with no effect, him grabbing Malik and throwing him onto the ground, Malik escaping one of Stronghold's next blows narrowly, clutching his chest —

"What is this?" Malik asked.

"I'll get to that," he said, pulling out two more books and throwing them to Seyla and Raul. "There are some for you as well."

The stories depicted in their books ("Queen of The Dark Arts" and "Dash") showed their battles with 0-Zone and the white rhino almost exactly as they happened, as Malik's had done with him and Stronghold.

"What are these?" Seyla asked, repeating Malik's earlier question.

"Comic books, depicting very near perfectly — as I'm sure you've noticed — your various fights at the museum the other day. The authors, rightfully so, seeing as though they don't know much about you, have dubbed you "The Unknowns." The greatest mystery case in Phoenix City's most recent news."

"But —" Malik began, but Austen cut across him.

"Apparently, the author obtained a video of your respective fights between members of The Council and Sinistra, and were so deeply interested by what they saw that they decided to create their own original comic line, "The Unknowns." Quite popular in fact."

"Where did you get these?" Vernon asked, looking at Austen.

"From a comic book store in Tavern City called Rumbanks."

"You went to a comic book store?" Raul asked, so surprised he forgot to be cold and fierce.

"Yes. But not for the comics though." He added quickly, at the shocked looks he was getting. "The owners are relatives. It so happens, that they are the writers."

"You never told us that you had family near here." Malik said curtly.

"Yes. There are indeed a lot of things that we don't tell others, Malik." He gave Malik a significant look; he must have understood what it meant, because he fell silent immediately.

No one said anything, they were all looking at Austen with expressions of confusion and anger.

"Of course, you don't like this idea. I don't either — this type of attention is something that may prove very irksome to us. Unfortunately, I have no current fixes. I cannot go to my cousins in Tavern City and ask them to stop publishing these books, as I'm sure you can understand why. The only solution I can think of right now is simply to try to take off some of the pressure, "lay low" if you will."

"So that means no more going out to save people then?" Malik asked, with a hint of hopefulness.

"No." Austen replied. "It simply means you will be more subtle with your future missions. And look, you can start practicing right now! I have an assignment for you."

"Finally." Claire said, cutting across Malik and Raul's groans of protest. "I've been bored silly sitting here doing nothing. So, where are we going?"

Austen smiled broadly and strode towards the door leading to The Cortex, gesturing to them to follow.

The days of Heroes and Villains are over; Corruption runs where virtue once thrived, and empathy now resides in the minds of the unjust. In a world threatened by otherworldly danger, only 6 unlikely teenagers rise to the occasion. Under the wing of a rogue superhero, they must band together to face an oncoming apocalypse.

With the rising of the morning sun, Trent knew he was screwed. Putting down the game controller, he quickly grabbed his phone to check the time. Thank God, it's only 6:30. He has to be ready in thirty minutes to make for his bus. He's made it to the bus at later times. Just some things need to be sacrificed. Trent rushed to clean up his room. There were chip bags and sodas all over the floor. There was also an unidentified young man lying on the floor.

"Micah! Come on man wake up. We'll be late if we don't get up," Trent said as he kicked his little brother awake. Startled, Micah shot up from his spot on the floor. Looking around, he also realized what time it was as he sped back to his own room.

The Davis family is made up of four members. There is Trent, the oldest son at seventeen, Micah the youngest son at sixteen, Arielle, the only daughter at fourteen, and Debra, their mother at thirty-four. Their father died when Trent was four but their mother raised them well on her own. After his father died, Trent turned to comic books to keep his spirits up. He didn't care about the franchise feud that went on. He just cared about the stories and what the heroes would do with their powers and abilities. Growing up as the oldest, the other siblings began to take on his love for comic books as well, causing the house to be a den of comic books, action figures, and various comic paraphernalia.

Their mother Debra, was out of state on a business trip, so Trent and Micah decided they'd play the new Spiderman game and didn't realize how late it got.

Hurrying to get themselves ready, there was a knock on the door.

"Trent, Micah, I finished making breakfast so hurry up or you'll miss the bus." Their sister Arielle said through the door before leaving. Knowing he didn't want to skip breakfast, Trent kicked himself into overdrive, hopping out of the room with half his clothes on. As he stumbled out of the room, Trent tripped down the steps leading down to the first floor.

"Fuck! Fuck! Shit! Fuck!" Screaming swears on the way down, Trent finally reached the ground.

"Man that hurt a bit." Trent got off the floor and rubbed his sore ankle. On the way down it banged on the steps a couple of times so he would probably have to put more pressure on the other foot. Quickly finishing readjusting his clothes, he limped into the kitchen.

"Are you alright? That sounded painful." Arielle said in a teasing tone, but not completely able to hide the hint of concern in her voice.

"Nah I'm good. I've dealt with a whole lot worse than that." Trent slid onto a chair and began to eat his breakfast. Despite her age, Arielle was the best cook in the house. Trent was well enough to cook for himself, but it wouldn't taste more than average. Not to mention his culinarily inept brother.

As he finished up his breakfast in less than two minutes, not even breaking his record, Micah came down the stairs, ready to leave.

"Bruh you good? Cause it sounded like a cartoon. I thought I was gonna have to call somebody." Micah looked at his brother with a smile on the corner of his lips, barely keeping in his laughter.

"You're just mad cause I only died once on my play-through." Trent retorted back to Micah with a satisfied smile on his face.

"It was all just luck. It'll never happen again in a million years." Micah walked in and sat down to eat his own breakfast.

"Don't need it to Micah, don't need it to."

Finishing up their food, Trent and Micah moved to wash the dishes. They followed a set of unspoken rules. Whoever cooks is exempt from washing the dishes. They looked at the clock. They had two minutes left before their bus got to their street.

"Alright let's head out, I'll lock up behind us." Trent grabbed his bag and the keys from beside the entrance and waited for his siblings. As a high school senior, Trent didn't have much work he had in his bag so he would leave at the door so he wouldn't have to pack it everyday. Thankfully, they made it to their bus. Other than Trent falling, there was no accidents throughout their ride.

As their bus pulled into the high school, Trent made sure to step off first. He had the habit of sitting at the front of every bus he got on so he was always first off. Although he had a license himself, he wasn't allowed to drive his mother's car when she wasn't there. 

Standing a little ways from the bus, Trent waited for his siblings to get off. As they got close to the entrance of the bus, shouting was heard from the side of the school. Suddenly, a car drove on the sidewalk of the school, scattering some students and bulldozing over others.

Realizing that he was in the pathway of the car, Trent tried to run to the safest area near him, his bus. Taking a step, ready to sprint to the bus, a shock ran up his leg and he fell. His ankle was still hurt from the fall! Looking up and seeing the horrified face of his brother and sister, Trent rushed to stand back up but, he was too late. The car's bumper smashed directly into Trent's head and darkness engulfed his surroundings.

[System integration 50%...75%...100%]

[System Integration complete]

Before completely losing consciousness, Trent heard a mechanical voice echoing in his head before he embraced the darkness.

After a freak accident, Trent wakes up in a new world of magic. Along with a system that gives him the powers of heroes and villains from comic books, Trent fights monsters, bandits, and nobles to find a way back home and to prove that powers are better than magic. (Note: Uses strong language throughout the book so if any are offended, just know that this is the way the character's personalities are made.)

Dusty is riding his bike to the Comic Shop with his money clinched in his sweaty palm. He parks his bike in front of the shop and walks in, he is greeted with a smile by the old man. " Why hello Dusty How are you? I just got a new selection of books last night" Said the man, Dusty replied " Hi Mr. Samuel, Sure I'll take a look". Mr. Samuel said " Dusty how many times do I have to tell you to call me Sammy? Any ways follow me I'll show you where the comics are". As Dusty followed Mr. Samuel he wondered what the shop would have looked like back in the day when people had interest in books, they came to a stop and Mr. Samuel showed Dusty the selection . " well there you go, I'll be up front if you need anything". Five minutes went by and Dusty went through almost half of the novels ,skimming the first pages to see if they are interesting. Dusty picked up a book and read the title out loud " Imaginary Demise, hmmmm
 I'll take a look", Dusty began to read the back of the cover to read a summery of the book. It was about a child who had an imaginary friend, all though he says that his friend is imaginary it doesn't look that way. Dusty liked it, took it to the front, payed, got on his bike and went home. When he got home there were two cars in the drive way which means his dad is home from work, Dusty parks his bike in the back yard and goes through the back door. " DUSTY IS THAT YOU?" His mom yells from across the kitchen, "YEA MOM"Dusty replied as he is running up stairs to read the new comic he had just bought. He reads the book until his mom calls him for dinner, than he runs down stairs and sits at the table. His mom hands him his dinner and they all sat down. "so dusty how was school today?" Said his mom "fine" replied dusty. His mom asked" did you learn anything new?" Dusty replied "nope, but guess what? I got a new book from Mr. Samuel! It's called Imaginary Demise" his mom said " cool now finish your dinner ok?". Dusty finished eating his food and went upstairs to finish reading his comic. Right before he reached the end his phone rang, dusty picked it up " hello?" A voice replied" Hey dusty it's Michael" sounding a bit relieved he replied " Hey Michael how are you? So I got this new book from Mr. Samuel, it's good! It's called Imaginary Demise, I'll bring to school tomorrow so you can borrow it" Michael said" wow really? I would love to but my family is going on vacation for a few days and I'm not gonna be able to get it tomorrow, I only live a few houses away so can I come get it real quick?" " sure thing!" Dusty said that they hung up. A few minutes later Michael came to get the book and left. Dusty went to bed unaware about what would happen the next day....

Earth is finally visible from the Twin Dragon's escape pod, looming large in the round window.
<Oh my gods, it's so beautiful> Kari says, almost crying at the view.
<I've seen worse> is all Torn is willing to concede.
<We need to decelerate. Max, can you hear me?> Noriko asks, talking to her N-Phone.
<Loud and clear> is the answer coming from the phone.
<How is he talking in space?> Kari wonders aloud.
<By turning into radio waves. You know, we're going really fast out here. Vesta is doing her best to slow down, but we could really use some direction here.>
<Relax, it's an uncontrolled atmospheric re-entry. Just rocket science> Noriko replies.
<If you're trying to reassure me, maybe you should switch to "piece of cake".>
<Same thing for me, really. Alright, here's what we gonna do.>
There's a bright flash in Noriko's silver eyes, the same kind that always accompany the use of her superhuman mind. Only this time it's so bright it makes her eyes disappear in a pool of white fire, and she falls to her knees.
<Not now…need to…hold back…>
Kari doesn't waste any time to help her, even though it hurts her mind to look at her eyes.
<What's wrong, Nori? Hold back what?>
<Humanity> Noriko says with a thousand voices.
<Guys? We have a situation here!> the N-Phone shouts.
Outside, Vesta is plunging into the atmosphere feet first, carrying the escape pod on her back; the friction is already surrounding it with flames. But it's not what worries her: she's the goddess of the hearth, and no flame will touch her friends if she doesn't want to.
But there's a storm brewing over the skies. A lightning storm that spans the entire planet…until all the electricity starts to rise and shoot a single, colossal bolt towards the prodigal sons of Earth.
<No. Freakin'. Way> are the words on Vesta's mouth.
Max turns his body into a pure electron flow, trying to somehow lead the lighting somewhere else. It's useless: the bolt carefully avoids both him and Vesta, moving as if it has a mind of its own, and hits the escape pod.
Inside it, the sparkles creep over the walls and leap straight towards Noriko. Torn quickly pushes Kari aside, but it's not necessary: the lightning strike isn't intended for her, and it's no lightning strike at all.
It's an update.
Noriko screams in pain as six weeks of information are fed directly into her brain; her body shakes uncontrollably, making the whole process similar to an epileptic seizure.
<What's going on!?> Kari screams.
<Looks like the same thing that killed Demeter> Torn answers, materializing a red energy sword in his hand and using it to cut the lightning.
Noriko's body goes limp.

Route 283
Ness County, Kansas
The escape pod is a bus-sized cylinder made mostly of titanium and aluminum; it should've disintegrated long before touching the ground. Instead, the drivers can see a red-haired goddess gently lay it down in the middle of a field.
<What the f##k happened!?> Max asks, materializing in front of the pod; he's so upset that he forgets to put on his Quantum mask. Torn cuts a hole in the pod's walls, and two Kari carry Noriko outside.
<The lightning attacked her. So I cut it> Torn answers.
<She's breathing, but something's not right> Kari says taking her pulse. A duplicate checks her eyes: the pupils are fully dilated. The eyes are more unpolished grey metal than silver.
<We need to take her back home> Max decides.
<A 1400 miles flight? In her conditions?> Vesta asks.
 Kari says happily. Noriko finally opens her eyes; their silver light is dim and intermittent, but it's back.
She gets back on her feet, leaning on Kari to avoid falling down, and she points her finger at Torn.
<Never…cut the signal…again.>
<If you say so> Torn answers bluntly.
<You almost killed her, you idiot> Max says, giving him a soft punch to the shoulder. Torn doesn't flinch, which might explain why it's like punching a wall.
<Hardly. He simply disconnected me from the worldmind during my monthly update; I had to reboot my brain to fix the damage.>
<Wait, you can reboot your brain!?> Max repeats, impressed.
<"Monthly"? You mean you have to be struck by lightning like that every month!?> Vesta asks; Noriko was in a lot of pain during the whole process. She can't imagine having to do it regularly.
<Why do you think I live on the top floor? Unfortunately, this means I have no knowledge on anything that happened on Earth during the last six weeks.>
<Just great. So…now what?> Max asks.
<We head back to Null Tower. Normally I'd ask Vesta to fly me there, but with Torn and Kari…>
<We need a vehicle. Gotcha> the Myridian girl nods, walking towards the road.
At every step, two duplicates appear by her side. When the first car approaches a few seconds later, twelve Kari have formed a human chain that prevent it from going any further.
The car comes to a screeching halt to avoid hitting any of them, and the driver starts to sound the horn and to shout:
<Hey, what's the holdup!? Stupid kids…>
The driver walks out of the car, ready to deliver an ear-splitting rant to the purple-haired twins that are blocking the street. Instead he comes face to face with the most beautiful woman he's ever met.
<Excuse me, sir, but we need a ride to New York City. Would you mind taking us there?> Vesta asks with the most warm and kind voice the man has ever heard.
<No, I…I wouldn't mind at all, I guess> the man stutters.
Then something punches a fist-sized hole through the car's hood. The Genius Gun is still hot from the shot when Noriko aims it at the driver.
<Scram.>
The driver doesn't need to hear the order twice, and starts running for his life. Vesta grabs the gun from Noriko's hand, like a mother scolding her child.
<What are you doing!?>
<We just need the car. What if I told you he's a registered sex offender?>
<How would you know?> Vesta asks, shocked.
 Noriko answers, sitting in the car. Torn follows riding shotgun; Kari makes her duplicates disappear and takes the back seat.
While Max turns into energy disappearing at the speed of light and Vesta lifts the car over her head, Torn asks softly:
<Was he really a criminal, or did you just need some space?>
 is Noriko's only comment on the matter.
She then just looks at the ground moving farther and farther away when Vesta starts flying, carrying the car on her shoulders in a 1400 miles trip back home.

New York City
It takes Max much, much less than the blink of an eye to be back: as usual, changing from flesh to energy and vice-versa takes most of the time. He flips the switch, but he can't turn on the lights: the apartment is still in the dark.
<Of course, it's been six weeks. Fighting space gods doesn't pay the bills.>
It's easy to fix when Max's entire body changes into pure light. Now he can see that the room has been stripped down to little more than walls and floor.
There's no more shelves of comic books, no boxes of DVDs and comic books, no furniture with action figures sitting on top, and the comic books are also gone.
Not since fighting a killer goddess on an alien planet has Quantum been so mad.
Just outside the building, a man is holding a black plastic bag, mumbling to himself.
<What's the point of owning a building if you gotta take out the thrash?>
A laser beam disintegrates his garbage. Terrified, the man's gaze follows the beam's trajectory…where a masked man is scowling at him.
<31B. What happened?>

The man shields his eyes from the massive release of light, and finds himself with Quantum's hands holding his jacket.
<Apartment 31B. It's empty. Why?>
<The black kid's room? He disappeared weeks ago. Dunno where he went.>
<What about his stuff?>
<Why do you care? Bunch of crap. Dunno why the suckers paid so much for it.>
<"Suckers"?>
<Chinese guys. Paid a couple grand to buy everything an' keep my mouth shut.>
<Chinese. Why would the Chinese pay to get my…wait. You sure they weren't Japanese?>
<Maybe. What am I, immigration? Look, I don't want any trouble, okay?>
<You're not the one who needs to worry.>
Quantum disappears in yet another flash of light, leaving his former landlord to wonder what in the world just happened, standing in front of the ashes of disintegrated garbage.


Null Tower, Upper East Side
The sun is setting, and the giant Ø symbol on the top of the latest addition of the Big Apple's skyline is casting its shadow over the city.
Vesta carefully puts down the car right in front of the building; after sustained flight over half the country, the vehicle's definitely seen better days.
A duplicate of Kari appears in front of the car, opening the door.
<Nice ride> Noriko says, looking like she's seconds from throwing up.
<Sorry it took so long. I couldn't go supersonic without killing you> Vesta apologizes.
<We should do it again!!!> the original Kari says, jumping out of the car with the joy of an eight year old that's just been on her first roller coaster.
<Indeed> says Torn, with the enthusiasm of an eighty year old queued at the post office.
Suddenly Quantum appears in front of them, practically shouting at Noriko's face:
<You mother stole my comic books!!!>
Noriko sights, rubbing her eyes. On top of her migraine, now this.
<Ma…Quantum. I'm gonna check whether the most powerful weapon in the galaxy is still where I left it. If everything's alright, then I'll worry about more trivial things. And after that I'll worry about your stuff.>
Without saying another word, she reaches the front door…where two armed guards are waiting.
<I'm sorry, miss, but the Tower is in lockdown. No unauthorized guests.>

Suddenly, a hologram appears in front of the guards. It's another Noriko Null.
<Unless you want things to go ugly, impostor, you will leave this place at once.>
<How dare you impersonate me!? I am Null!!!>
<Not anymore> the hologram says with an evil smile.
<I'm never getting my comic books back> Quantum whines.

Noriko Null was a seemingly ordinary Asian-American teen, until the goddess Athena decided to make her Earth's first line of defense against the impossible.
Now armed only with superhuman intelligence and instant access to all of humanity's knowledge, Noriko will have to solve the world's problems, face the secrets behind her transformation, and fight Greek gods in space in her spare time.
Will the world's smartest girl be able to defeat the all-powerful gods?

Announcement!!!
...
This is not a new chapter but its important you read...
...
Guys, remember one time, i said i had a scifi themed novel in mind?
And that i just needed some advice whether or not to write it alongside with Trailing Shadows?
Remember?


Well, i have started it already. Although its something quite different from sci-fi.
Its still Fantasy.
Although, i published it for the filipino writing contest(which i have no hopes on winning. Just participated to push myself to the limits. )
But it really is important for you to read.
.
Published with permission from The Comican Arts, 'The Curse Of The First Sword Bearer' is a series of a one year event under ONA ORISHA, centralising on a young man called Abiodun.
Abbey for short.

It is the involvement of the awakened orisha in the life of men, while darkness begins to cloud Orun Rere in 'Trailing Shadows'
(Yes, Trailing Shadows, read it too. Both titles are linked into one almighty  event)

While Trailing Shadows focuses on what happens in the spirit realms, The Curse Of The First Sword Bearer(Ona Orisha) focuses on what happens in the physical due to the activities in Trailing Shadows.
So you see, they really are linked together.

However,TCOFSB is merely a one year event in the 7 year series that Ona Orisha is centered on.
The other series, despite the fact that i created them, i do not have permission to publish them on any platforms until the Comic Books are out.
.
Yes, Comics!
These chapters you read are undergoing 'comic scripting'.
Which means soon enough, you may be reading TS and TCOFSB in comic book format.
To stay abreast of all the developments, follow On IG
@comicanarts.
Theres even a new comic coming out this month already. '30 days Vigilante'
.
.
Anyways, i apologise to everyone following TS. 
School has resumed,trying to settle down amongst the hustle and bustle.
I know i said, if the worst comes to the worst, topublish new chapters weekly.

Its one week gone and few days,i think and i have not published a.new chapter yet.
Well aside from writing novels,i do lot of other things.
programming, illustration ecetera. 
And so far, its been really tough on me, considering that school has resumed and that 30 days Vigilante is coming soon.
Please , bear with me.
And thanks for reading.
Arigato 😌😌😌

Leorio returns, looking defeated.
Leorio: "Sorry, I thought I was a rock paper scissors pro."
Esther: "…Oh well, even if we lost 50 hours. We still have about 15 left. I think if we rush, we can make it."
A door from the side wall opens. An announcement is sounded.
"Please cross the bridge. On the other side, you'll find a small room. That's where you will be spending the 50 hours you gambled away."
The announcement cuts.
Killua: "Well. Come on."
We enter the room. The door automatically locks behind us. Looking around, I see some books, chairs, a fridge, a table, and a tv.
Leorio: "Come on, give me a break. Can't believe we just got to sit around for 50 hours."
Killua: "Alright then, we got more than 2 days."
Gon: "So, what do you want to do?"
Killua: "Let's search the room and see if there is anything to play with."
Esther: "Ok."
We run around the room, we spot a TV. Killua turns it on while I read books. They're comic books? Why are they here?
Esther: "Hey guys, check this out."
Killua: "What is it?"
I show them the book.
Gon: "Oh, wow! They're comic books!"
Killua: "Cool, let's read them."
Esther: "Hahaha! Oh man, did you see this part? The red frog put a grenade in his captain's mouth and blue him up. His hair looks like a smoke cloud."
Killua: "Really? Let me see."
Gon: "Me too!"
After reading for some time now, Killua looks up at me.
Killua: "Hey Esther, I forgot to ask this. How did your dad meet your mom?"
I stop reading. I sigh.
Esther: "Mom only once told me about this when I was small. So, sorry if I get some information mixed up. You see, before mother met father, she said she worked as a guard. Her job was to make sure no stranger entered the village. I do not know where that village is exactly, but she said that when we escaped, she'd show me. Anyways, while doing her job, a man, tattered and beaten, somehow found her village."
Gon: "Was that man your dad?"
Esther: "Bingo! And while mother's job was to make sure no stranger entered the village, she still had pity on him. Taking him in despite the villagers saying don't, she nursed and cared for him. At that point, you can say she fell in love. After father got better, he proposed to her. But the thing is, in that village, you are forbidden to marry someone whom is not of that village. My mother went against it, leading to her being thrown away. They said she can come back, but only when she learns how bad of a decision she made."
KIllua: "It was pretty bad."
Esther: "After living with father for some time, I was born. Things changed after that cause when I cried, well, you know. Mother slowly started regretting marrying him. Things got physical when she saw he was deliberately making me cry. That's when the lock up happens. Even back then, we never once left father's home. Not even when mother was giving birth to me. That place is a prison. But I got to go back to see mother. She promised me we both escape."
Killua: "How can she escape if she's dead?"
Esther: "…I do not know, but, when I get there…I'll find a way to help her."
Killua: "Man, you make no sense. Wouldn't it be better to just move on with your life instead of for the past?"
Esther: "That may be true, but it's a task I must accomplish. Even if I lose my life."
Gon: "Don't say things like that. You'll jinx yourself."
Esther: "Yeah, you're right. Let's continue reading."
I can feel everyone looking at me. Their gazes hurt. After reading for a long time, Killua shows Gon some tricks on his skateboard. Leorio and Kurapika are conversing. I'm still reading. I feel danger. Ducking my head instinctively, a skateboard flies past me and hits Leorio's head.
Leorio: "What are you doing?! You can't skateboard in here!"
Gon: "Sorry."
After lots of time passes, we go to bed.

Haitus

Follow Esther as he travels with Gon and the gang. 

ps: I'll write what I watch, changes are inevitable. Of course, the beginning is not much different.

If you find errors, please inform me so that I can make corrections.

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