"Si vis pacem, para bellum"

How many wars must a man win for a moment of peace? How much blood spilt to paint a colorful future for his daughter? 

Nikolai was a mystery to himself. It took him 400 years to find love, to start a family and to settle down at last. 

But the world could never forget his sins. In the blink of an eye, everything was over and he was back in the battlefield once more.

"Is this who you want me to be?" the butcher cried to the world, feeling his broken heart filled with loss and anguish. 

"Is this who I am?"

.

(Updates are on Friday and Tuesday.) ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ

this is just a book im reading and need the audio function! so dont waste time here im already in chapte 55 or something

Anatoly didn't know the purpose of Mr. Sullivan for taking him to this mysterious place.

In Anatoly's opinion, this place was just a very common dwelling--- but Sullivan asked him if he thought of something after coming here.

Anatoly was aware that Sullivan had mentioned things that were related to his memory loss.

Anatoly didn't feel like he forgot anything--- but no matter Sullivan's behaviors, or the bishop's words, even the matter of the sudden fragmentation of his cross, they pointed to one conclusion through rational analysis: He really forgot something.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Sullivan, I can remember anything." Anatoly shook his head.

The result was like in Sullivan's expectation, he nodded, "Not only you, but all the neighbors don't know who originally lived in the house."

Anatoly asked curiously, "Who originally lived here?"

Sullivan said slowly, "It was a widower with a ten-year-old kid. They should have just left for a few days, because some food in the fridge is still not expired. But…"

Sullivan paused his words, which made Anatoly more focused on listening to him.

Sullivan looked at the house, telling the story with puzzlement, "We cannot trace the whereabouts of this father and son pair... they seem to have vanished from the the world."

Anatoly frowned, "If they are common people, how could they escape the network of the monastery."

"What if they are not?" Sullivan looked at Anatoly with profound meaning.

It might be his illusion.

But at this moment they gazed at each other, Anatoly seemed to feel a slight... fear from Mr. Sullivan's eyes.

"Anatoly, follow me to the monastery," Sullivan suddenly ordered.

However, Anatoly just graduated from the monastery and had been sent here, he didn't understand his decision.

Sullivan said indifferently, "I am being restrained here, so I can't put to good use any of the complete magical arts. But if I can go to the monastery belonging to you all, maybe I can display what I mastered freely."

Anatoly stared blankly, because he heard Sullivan said... 'You all'?

…
…

The two priests who left didn't know that a pair of eyes kept monitoring them in front of the dwelling they observed.

It was Luo Qiu, who was sitting on the chair in front of this house, and browsing webpages on the phone--- You Ye was not here.

Of course, Luo Qiu didn't order her away from here; instead, she went to the supermarket after  waking up and preparing breakfast.

Luo Qiu no longer lived in the former hotel. He moved here secretly as a temporary place to live after Oleg took Antonio to leave Moscow quietly.

It didn't mean the hotel the servant girl prepared for him was not good.

He preferred the style which gave him a more memorable feeling--- just like the rocking chair in the corridor, he didn't want to move since he laid down there. The hotel couldn't give such a feeling.

This placed still retained the happy memories when Kamala still exist.

"You guys."

After the two priests left, Luo Qiu looked up to the sky in the morning--- According to human perspective, there should be something existing there.

But Luo Qiu had read those old account books, he was clear nothing existed above.

It existed, but not in the sky or on the ground.

"Heaven ... it'll take three more years."

Luo Qiu stretched himself, standing up from the chair.

He wore the earplugs, and then kicked his shoes slightly, jogging along the road of the housing estate.

It was quite a nice morning and very suitable for jogging.

Luo Qiu met many people jogging with him at the time on the road. Guys fond of sports were full of enthusiasm in hearts.

A lot of people greeted him, different men and women, who may be enjoying the scenery on the roadside--- what did they think of the scenery?

Luo Qiu didn't know that.

He still understood the concept of color, but all the colors seem to be single hue to him. They mixed together and looked the same, but did not seemed to have any order.

The whole world appeared to have become a black and white world, from his perspective.

But he suddenly slowed down, walking to an old house.

There was some graffiti shown outside the wall.

The graffiti was not as colorful as the street graffiti that could drag spotlights; there wasn't any jeering in it that could express the daubers' strong dissatisfaction to society, which could stroke the people's chord.

It was merely a full view of the city outlined by simple black lines--- but this city didn't follow the correct ratio.

It was distorted, like the city's reflection in a magic mirror. Straight buildings turned fat, and tidy roads became curved. 

Luo Qiu hands felt the wall, and then watched his fingers... It wasn't from a charcoal pencil, but was probably drawn by wood charcoal.

The lines were rough.

"During a period of time, I always intentionally went through here every day."

Suddenly someone opened his mouth behind Luo Qiu. Luo Qiu turned to see, it turned out to be a man wearing a mask, a cap and sportwear.

It should be a middle-aged man.

Who looked very hearty and strong.

Luo Qiu looked up after a mere glance, taking back two steps to view the whole painting--- so did the middle-aged man behind, who looked at the 'Twisting Moscow' on the wall. 

He suddenly said, "It hasn't been finished yet."

"Yes." Luo Qiu nodded.

The man showed a look of pity, "Approximately one year ago, I started to have morning jog in this area. Sometimes I saw a young man painting here. I remember it was the winter, which impressed me. He wore thin clothes like a tramp, but he didn't feel cold at all. He held a stick of wood charcoal to draw. When I saw the picture, he had drawn a building already."

He seemed to tell a story that was seldom shared with other people... a story shared with strangers.

"I observed him for some days. One day, I couldn't help walking close to ask him." The man looked at Luo Qiu now, perhaps with a smile, "I asked him why he didn't he burn the charcoal to get heat in the cold weather?"

"What did he answer?" Luo Qiu asked calmly.

"He didn't answer me." The man shook his head, "But he asked me a question, 'Do you have a dream?"

"A dream?" Luo Qiu thought of the question.

The man nodded as well, "Yes, a dream...to be honest, I have no idea if I had a dream. But later, I always make time to jog around for exercise, and watching how long that guy could insist drawing the pictures."

He shook his head, "But unfortunately, this picture hasn't been finished, and I didn't meet him in very long. However, I still jog here at times and think I may meet that guy, and looked at the unfinished picture."

"Some parts of it attracts people." Luo Qiu smiled.

And the man whispered, "Yeah, looking at this unfinished, twisted city, it always shows me a different feeling, as if reminding myself at any time... that I won't let myself live in such a twisted city. Well, looks we're talking about a boring topic."

"That's OK." Luo Qiu shook his head.

When the man started trotting on spot, he patted Luo Qiu's shoulder suddenly, "Man, are you Chinese? I've been there a few times, it's a very good country. But since you speak Russian very well, how about considering settling down and starting your new life here? A young man will always have chances."

"Wherever I stay, it will be the same," Luo Qiu shook his head.

The man gave a start. It seemed he didn't understand the meaning. He just nodded and jogged to leave--- nevertheless, not long after he left, a black car caught up with him.

Luo Qiu turned about to look at the graffiti on the wall.

This was the picture that Urey drew; however, he was living in the manor of Typica's family… maybe he was with Ms. Anna that he took back from last night.

"Dream."


Luo Qiu became the boss of a ‘club’ by chance. 

It was a weird club that sold strange items, assisted by a servant girl with 300 years of work experience. Countless people with dreams, hopes and ambitions came to the club, exchanging everything precious they owned just to fulfill their desires. They would offer their lifespan, items, and even their soul. Each successful trade would increase Luo Qiu’s lifespan by a little. 

“Tribute successful, your lifespan has increased by 99 years.” 

Thus, Luo Qiu began his endless life as the club’s boss. 



Staring blankly at a stack of books in the library, I wondered how dependent I became on <Scan> as a method to obtain information. It was basically like a replacement for Google search for me, I suppose. Convenient and simple.

But I found an anti-cheat in that blond alfr and, since he was present during the conference, I was unable to get any information on the Eastern Contingent. 

He didn't notice when I was using <Hover> nor when I enhanced my senses earlier.

'Thirty-Seven, can you explain to me about magic sensitivity and sight?' I was aware of the various methods to detect mana due to my readings but a majority of the archives were, unsurprisingly, not practical information. It was theory and knowledge I needed but it was up to me to utilize the data as I saw fit.

[As you can see when your vision is tuned to a spectrum that enables you to see mana, it is in everything. Catching mana flow peripherally is different from seeing and noticing something in the corner of one's vision, since natural mana is in constant motion.

[Magic sensitivity is usually through the senses other than Sight. Taste, Touch, Hearing, Smell, and Instinct are all expressed differently. Alfr as a race tend to be magically sensitive with a secondary sense other than sight, most commonly it is through sound.

[My hypothesis is that the Shaman is sensitive to change in mana flow like the school of magic he specializes are inclined to be. The execution of <Scan> requires contact with mana, like a needle prick, so information can be disseminated and interpreted. A surface <Scan> should be fine by my calculations as long as you are discreet about it.]

I hummed, wondering why 37's feelers and radar wasn't noticed.

[I operate on a different frequency that cannot be accessed by the alven race.]

… Something just occurred to me. 'Wait, so does this mean that my caution for using <Scan> around alves saved my hide?' That they could actually notice if I tried to get more information about them through the <Scan> function?

[Yes, Nor—]

"If you have nothing better to do, why are you here? I'm trying to work," came the annoyed tones of Elin.

Sitting up from sprawling my arms on the library table, I looked at the irritated girl in hidden amusement. She was fidgeting with her immaculate gloves and pushing up her glasses; a nervous tic I've come to recognize. Elin Auteberry looked nothing more like a cat who got brushed the wrong way.

"Am I distracting you, Miss Elin?" I smiled at her. "I know I'm gorgeous and—"

She sniffed. "Who would be distracted by a vagrant magician that can't even take care of themself?"

That was it! Elin reminded me of a less lethal and bratty Victoria but her job basically had me imagine her to be what a younger Minerva McGonagall might be like. The familiarity had been bothering me for weeks!

[… Nori, really.]

Ignoring my partner's exasperation, I leaned back in the chair I sat, putting a hand over my heart. "You injure me with your words, milady!"

She very pointedly rolled her eyes before she shook her head with a small smile as she returned to the book before her.

Returning to a more comfortable position across from the librarian, I glanced at her progress. "Anyway, you're just checking texts for damage. How about we talk while you work?"

Elin was only flipping through the pages to make sure there were no graffiti, tears, or food/water/etc damage to the books. A menial task that was routine for the local librarians to do.

I heard you can get excommunicated from the Library if you desecrated one too many books but I'm not actually sure if that were an actual policy or just a librarian joke.

"You're rather bored now that you've devoured the contents of the Magical Archives, I see," Elin remarked before sighing, "What do you want to talk about Nori?"

My eyes made to wander around for a topic even though I already had a subject in mind. "Hm, well… I guess we might as well talk about what everyone else is talking about."

"The Conference?"

"I'm sure you've had a fair amount of people come to you for help considering you specialize in Law and History so why don't we talk about something regarding the Conference you haven't discussed yet."

She gave me a quick glance before returning her attention to the turning pages. "Magic?"

"Specifically security and customs!" I placed my palms together but refrained from clapping considering our location. "I know this was an emergency conference that began with Shamaness Verk before she disappeared to address the patterns she was beginning to see in the region. There was an open invitation for alliance powers to join and it looks like the South has taken advantage of it."

"The Eastern Kingdoms too," Elin interrupted. "They arrived last evening."

I mentally noted the timing before continuing as if this was news to me. "Right. So, Westria has neutrality with the East and South. It does not make them true allies so I wonder at the security that is being put in place to ensure no 'accidents' or 'spying' might happen when it was originally just a meeting for the smartest minds in Westria?"

"Crown City has ways to protect itself, Nori. We, as a city, also espouse access to information no matter who it may be as long as they do not break the laws. This is a hub of learning and knowledge so we only restrict information as needed.

"As for security, well, you haven't really gone into <Warding> and <Seals> yet, have you?"

"Oh, so they do have security?" I pressed a finger to my lower-lip, genuinely wondering how I went under the radar.

"There are also guards, of course. And the patrol of the walls has been more stringent. It is not as easy to enter and leave the city now, though I'm sure you were unaware.

"There are no weapons allowed in the actual meeting hall and there is a <Dampening Seal> in place so spells cannot be cast within."

Did I avoid it initially by never touching the glowing floor?

[Yes.]

"Don't the alfr have an advantage then? There was also a newcomer, if I heard correctly."

One of my eyebrows hiked up when I saw the ever-prim Elin become a little flustered. Almost shy. The movement of her hands stuttered and she pushed her glasses up as she focused on the contents of the page as if it held the answer to everything. 

Oh, was that her type? How amusing but, I suppose, it's not that odd for Elin to be attracted to his good looks and elegant demeanor.

"Yes, you're probably talking about Shaman Vesa. He's a foreign Shaman that's been dropping by the Library during the day."

Picturing the blond alfr again, I found he was rather familiar looking. Maybe he was Ing's uncle from whatever other alfr tribe Ing's mother was from.

Not that he really mattered other than as an obstacle that made things more difficult when spying.

No, I was more concerned with the newly arrived Eastern contingent. They arrived at Crown City last evening and 37 lost 42's signal around 10 PM.

The timing was awfully coincidental.

Yo. Name's Nori. I'm just an ordinary twenty-year-old university student—really—that woke up transported to this world called Gaellia one day. On my first day, I find myself thrown in jail and met my partner that will travel with me: an AI that I have a telepathic bond with.

[Nori, there are monsters attacking the city.]

Not my problem.

"Big Sis! I bought this dress for you!"

"Bro! Let's head to the gate to see who would get a higher kill count!"

[Nori, if you do this mission, you can read 50,000 words of a new title—]

Ah! Alright already, I get it!


**On hiatus for volume compilation**
***Volume Two being roughed out***
{Note: Written in 1st Person POV. Nori is nonbinary. Romance-free for Nori but lots of misunderstandings happen.}

Jessie Black
AKA: 'Jess Di Art'

Bounty: 15,000 Beli
Wanted Dead Or Alive

Crime(s): Graffiti, Piracy.

Known Associates: The Di Art Pirates. (dead)

Age: 27
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 110 lbs.

Catchphrase(s): 'Is Art Time!' 'What did you call me?'

Defining Characteristic(s): Obsessed with her art and violent.
Trait(s): Good at drawing anything, even maps.
Status: Graffiti artist, former pirate Captain. Chartographer.
Fighting Style: Paint-Fu, Anything Goes North Blu Style. Bar brawling.

Hobbies: Painting, Graffiti and drawing.

Ambition: To paint a masterpiece and see the world.

Bio: Born in North Blue and raised by pirates. She went her own way when she was eighteen and formed the The Di Art Pirates, a pirate crew know mostly for doing Graffiti. Doing so included taging Marine ships and running away laughing. Inscribing overnight murals across the roofs and walls of
an entire town and Jess Di Art is rumored to have the bizarre talent to capture the nude form of people who she's never seen unclothed, including scars and tattoos. She was captured at age twenty after a Sea King killed all her crew and she somehow survived seven years in Impel Down. Until she escaped with Prisoner
10013 and others. She is not an attractive woman, but she is also not ugly. Her looks are average at best and plain at most. Seven years in Impel Down have left her with a short temper and the ability to take down opponents several times her weight.

https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/dont-be-an-impel-down-er-one-piece-si.386260/

The ghosts are staying away from her.
Walking behind Gumi, Wakana wrinkles her nose when a dark foul smell assaults her nose. She resists the urge to throw up. The atmosphere inside the tunnel is moist and heavy, burdening her shoulders in some way. Though the ghosts keep a distance from her, she can feel their hungry eyes fixated on her back.
The light in the tunnel seems to be never enough. It keeps blinking. In each flicker, flashes of memories run past her: accidents, screams, blood, and death. The place is full of traumatic memories. It's making her uneasy. She holds her breath and keeps walking.
"There." Gumi stops in the midst of the tunnel and points at the wall. There's a huge monstrous graffiti of a strange creature: twisted, long-legged with spikes, tentacles on its back, and talismans gleaming on the graffiti in neon letters. "If you break this seal, we will be able to leave this place."
Wakana realizes that most accidents happened in this location. When she looks down at the concrete, she can only see dark blood. A shadow moves in the corner of her eyes. Wakana looks in that direction and sees a small-child ghost standing a little away from her.
The child ghost's eyes are completely black.
"She's marked," warns Gumi. "She belongs to a devil. Go away."
The child turns around and crosses the road, disappearing into the wall of the tunnel.
Okay, that's creepy. Wakana turns her gaze toward the graffiti, forgetting about her original objective. "How do I break this seal?"
Gumi smiles at her. "It's quite simple. What you need to do is…"
After hearing the instructions, Wakana is rather curious. She bits her finger and smears the blood on each character of the talismans one by one. 
"I don't have magic though," She says to Gumi after she's done. "Would this work?"
"It's fine." Gumi's voice is low. "Press your hand on the belly."
Wakana presses her hand on her belly. "Nothing is happening."
The girl ghost gives her a glare. "Not yours. You should put your hand on the wall… on that creature's belly."
"Oh." Wakana puts her hand on the giant bug's belly. It feels warm and alive for a second before turning into the cold marble again. She glances at the flickering talismans. 
"Hey, Gumi, is this…" She turns her head toward Gumi who is standing a few feet away from her. "Alive?"
"It's just a painting." Gumi rolls her eyes. "What are you imagining, Detective? Paintings can't come alive."
Wakana stares at the graffiti suspiciously. It's oozing something. She can hear the sounds of cries. Is it the tunnel or this graffiti? Then again, many people have died here. It's not strange to hear the distant cries.
"You are gifted, aren't you?" Gumi sniffs the air around her. "Then, why do I smell magic in you?"
"It's a long story." A story that she doesn't know either. It must be related to the guardian thing. Choi Minho is also looking at it. "Does it need magic?"
"No, it doesn't need magic." Gumi shakes her head. "You are enough. Now, concentrate all of your gifts… everything that you have in that graffiti."
"Concentration, hmm?" Wakana recalls the exercises that Choi Minho made her go through. Concentrate it to the tips of her fingers. She places her hand on the graffiti's belly and inhales the air sharply. 
It is sharp as the tip of an arrow. It rises from the depth of her soul, surging through her veins, enlarging them and heating her blood up. The surge of energy reaches the tips of her fingers, seeping into the wall. She hears a crack. Then, another crack. 
"Don't open your eyes." Gumi shouts at her, "Keep going."
Wakana knits her brows when she feels a dizzying sharp pain jolting in her belly. She tries to open her eyes and move away, but the urge to inflict pain overwhelms her. She lets out a gasp. A trail of blood begins from the corner of her mouth, dropping on the ground. Her gifts run through her veins, piercing through the blood, injecting into the giant vermin on the wall. 
It comes alive under her palm. The skin is hot to touch. She feels something moving underneath the skin. It feels like…
Skulls.
She screams. 
Ghosts start gathering around her. Gumi's laughter joins her scream. A child holds her hand,
Crack! Another talisman is broken. The giant vermin howls as Wakana continues to scream. The bulbs in the tunnel start turning off one by one. 
Crack! 
Darkness falls in the tunnel. 
Crack! 
Wakana tries to let go of the child's hand.
Crack! 
The vermin screams as its belly is torn apart.
Crack!
It's warm and hot. The smell makes her nauseous. Something has died. 
TikTikTikTik…
The creatures emerge from the belly, grabbing her as they laugh loudly. The ghosts begin to swarm around her.
Wakana shrieks. Everything inch of her skin is covered with intense force. The spirits wail when they start bursting into pieces. Wakana steps back, still screaming with her eyes closed. The evil spirits run toward the exit of the tunnel. The ghosts follow them, jumping and laughing in joy
She regains her breath. When she sees the wall, she finds the blood leaking on the ground. The vermin's eye move, staring at her accusingly before it takes its last breath.
What is going on? There are still ghosts dancing around her. Gumi is standing near the graffiti. Her eyes are blood red.
"What did you make me do?" Wakana yells at Gumi.
"Thank you." Gumi presses her hands together and laughs. "You truly released us."
Wasn't that the goal? Wakana looks at the graffiti vermin and the talismans. She realizes something horrible.
"Ooops!" Gumi looks to her right. "Maybe it's time for you to join us."
TikTikTikTik… The sound of the clock is so loud that Wakana covers her ear. 
The ticking sound mingles with the sound of loud horns.
Wakana looks at the blinding light coming toward her and gasps. 
In the next instant, she dies. 
***
She hasn't called yet. Is she okay?
Waiting for Yui Tominaga to finish her modelling schedule, Choi Minho sends a message to Wakana. He waits for the reply. There's none after fifteen minutes. He mumbles, "Is she busy?"
Out of habit, he checks the tarot card: it's completely black. Oh Soo-Mi's ability won't work on Wakana anymore. 
In the corner, Dierre is sitting with a straight face. Her legs are jittery. She swallows, staring at all the busybodies around her. Some are fixing the model's hair. Others are scolding another model for not standing still. The sight is new for her.
"Choi-san." Sayuri comes to them with a bright smile on her face. "I am sorry for making you wait for her. She will be finished soon."
"It's okay." Choi Minho returns her smile. "Have you sister called you?"
"She did." Sayuri pauses. "But it's been a while. She told me that you would be coming. I have a lot of questions for you."
Choi Minho chuckles. Feeling odd for some reasons, he looks at his phone again. What is this anxious feeling in his chest? "Do you mind if I come back later? I need to check on your sister once. It's her first time inspecting something on her own."
"Sure, sure." Sayuri turns to Dierre who is about to say something. "I will just ask her. She belongs to the supernatural world, right?"
No answer.
Sayuri finds Choi Minho's seat empty. 
"NO!NO!NO!" Dierre cries, "Don't leave me alone here!"
Everyone looks at Dierre Virevo who is crying as if someone has died. 
"Um… can you…" Sayuri gawks at the snake peeking out of Dierre's hat. Widening her eyes, she looks around to see if someone has noticed it before she slaps her hand on Dierre's head.
"What are you doing?" Dierre shouts at Sayuri.
"Come with me," Sayuri hisses at her as she drags Dierre to her office. One can only imagine the chaos if someone else had seen the snake here.
***
When Choi Minho arrives at the tunnel, he sees yellow tapes and the police barring the people from coming into the tunnel. There's an ambulance too. 
"Was there an accident?" He mutters under his breath. Then, he sees a police officer standing near a scooter and scribbling something down on his notebook.
Isn't that the scooter…
Choi Minho dematerializes right away, appearing in the tunnel where the accident happened. A woman's body is being carried to the ambulance. 
He rushes to her side, invisible to every eye. "Wakana, Wakana…"
His heart clenches. He can't breathe anymore. Her body is cold as ice. He looks around for her soul. But there's no sign of her.


It's not easy being a detective when one can see ghosts. 

Due to bad performance, Nakashima Wakana is sent to the cold palace to receive her career's death sentence. 

When she thought that her dead career couldn't be more dead, she meets her first love, Minami Sei. 

Love at the workplace? Nakashima Wakana has enough problems for sure.

Things take a turn when she becomes the next chosen target of a demon. She's forced to use her abilities. W

When she thinks that it's over for her, she finds out that she's chosen to become a part of the supernatural investigation agency? 

Who is this person that is always saving her?

Is he a ghost or her personal guardian angel? 

Should she throw salts in his eyes or kiss his beautiful lips? 

Maybe she will do both. 

Join Wakana's supernatural adventures and her journey to love. 

___ 

Warning: NSFW/GORE/VIOLENCE/SMUT 

___ 

Instagram: Koch_Norah 

Twitter: Norah_Koch9 

Discord tag: Norah_Koch#0829 

Discord Link: https://discord.gg/mEVYDn 

Buy me a coffee ~ Ko-fi.com/norah_koch 

___ 

Other stories: 

Her Wicked CEO: How To Seduce A Hikikomori Wife? 

Hunting for a Husband in a Vampire Apocalypse 

His Devious Harbinger: How To Tame A Wicked God? 

The Love That Remains 

His Mischievous Time-Traveler: How to capture a celebrity husband? 

Bad x Bad: My Dear Hana 

Perverted Mage 

When A Ghoul Falls In Love 

Miss Chicken & Her Mister

The Villainous Emperor is My Pet

Faust chuckled, approval for her candid answer sparkling in the depths of his dark eyes. He took out a tool that looked like a pen with a shiny obsidian knife point in place of a nib or felt tip. He scribbled on the cave walls, the knife tip cutting into stone as though it were tofu. Appealing patterns combining the elegant angles of motherboard circuits with the sweeping lines of a foreign language took shape in the roughly hewn rock. 
By the time he finished the entire cave bore odd graffiti on every surface. Faust pressed his hand to a part of the pattern near the entrance and exhaled a turbid breath. Mana flowed from his inner Core through his fingertips and out to fill every gap and whorl of the engravings with purple light. 
It took several minutes to fill each carving with mana. Li Mei watched with extreme interest while petting Bao's neck, providing soothing comfort to the injured fera. Once the entire cave shone with purple light, some very extreme changes took place. 
The floor became as polished and smooth as a mirror. Each of the walls bulged, distended, and warped like clay being molded by a bunch of giant, invisible hands. Originally an alcove expanded by Bao's tenacious claw carving, the rough-hewn cave into a proper house of stone. 
Windows opened to provide a view of the forest, covered by panes of solid transparent quartz to keep pests out. Stone walls shifted and moved away to create four rooms, complete with some pieces of furniture made from smooth rock left behind. A lavatory with a stone basin and toilet, a bathroom with a large stone tub, a study with a large stone desk and shelves in the walls. There was even a bedroom featuring two stone bed stands and a spacious closet. The original cave area expanded to become something like a living room, complete with a fireplace, shelves for supplies, long counter and stone benches. Most of the carvings left behind smooth walls with appealing striation patterns of glowing crystal and metal ore, except for a line of carvings around the entrance.
Dust, moss, and anything even slightly unwanted blew out of the cave in a whirling dervish of grit. Faust produced goods from thin air, further cementing Li Mei's realization that storage magic wasn't exactly a novel concept. Cushions for the benches, a chair for the desk, mattresses and covers for the beds. Curtains for the windows, clothes for the closet, small lamps containing glowing stones with shutters on the outside for dimming their light, assorted sundries for the bathroom and lavatory. A short fridge for perishables and a cooking stove were set next to the long counter to make a small kitchen. 
Then Faust set some arrays in the toilet, bath, and wash basin to make them function properly. As the final touch he produced heavy curtains which he hung over each of the doors, including the entrance.
Bao coughed in surprise, while Li Mei slowly shut her gaping mouth. 'Wow. Magic is cool.'
"The medicine I gave you both will accelerate the healing process," Faust said as he swept away their pile of old bedding with a single hand. "But we still won't be able to properly train your combat ability for some time. I'll return tomorrow with supplies so we can begin your formal education. The array at the entrance will keep away pests and overly inquisitive creatures so you can rest easily."
He turned to leave, but was stopped by a hesitant question. "What's the 108?"
His entire body froze. For a moment Li Mei had the impression he'd turned into a solid sculpture. "Where did you hear that term?"
Faust's voice was calm, but the tension in his shoulders gave him away.
"From you. I was hiding under your desk in the study when you gave a report to somebody. You almost kicked me three times, you know! The words 108 and Section 13 stuck in my head for some reason, and I've been wondering about them ever since." Li Mei shrugged, the very picture of nonchalant relaxation.
If she volunteered information he would be less likely to dig into things she didn't want to answer, which meant she could avoid having to tell him about the Interface. As a slave, if he ordered her to explain the Enslavement Binding would compel the truth. The Interface was a cheat, her biggest secret, and one she didn't want to share with anybody! And since her body made her a kid again she could get away with being audacious from time to time. Of course she was going to take full advantage of that.
"Why were you in my study?" Faust's shoulders relaxed, and he finally turned to glance at Li Mei with amusement in his dark eyes.
"Memorizing your books. I can't understand what's written in them, but someday I will." Another careful answer hiding actual truth behind a more vague version. Li Mei grinned a charming crooked smile, flashing her white eyeteeth. "You can teach me to read, yeah?"
"You can't read..." Faust looked shocked, appalled, and then angry. Finally it transitioned back to amusement. "You can't read, but you memorized the books?"
"I memorize anything I look at once." Li Mei puffed her chest out proudly. It was all the work of the Archive, but she wasn't shy about taking credit - especially when it gave her an excuse for the future! The more she explained early on in their acquaintance, the better. "I'm exceptionally clever."
"So it would seem... Section 13 was dedicated to researching and reclaiming the legacy of the Progenitors, and thus considered the most important section with the highest amount of funding. The 108 was one such legacy. Something went wrong during research, Section 13 was destroyed, information on the 108 was sealed away. There really isn't much to tell."
It was enough information to complete the Quest, but Li Mei frowned in dissatisfaction. Like coming home expecting a full dinner spread on the table only to find a microwaved plate of leftovers still cold in the middle, the answers felt hollow and anticlimactic. "But what are the Progenitors? Why are they so important? What exactly was the 108 other than just some legacy? What went wrong?"
Faust chuckled and waved a hand. "Do well in your studies and the answers may reveal themselves. Right now you wouldn't understand even if I explained."
He left without another word. Li Mei huffed angrily but couldn't do anything to stop him. She sighed and helped Bao onto one of the beds, ensuring he had a purple apple to snack on while she grabbed some clothes from the closet and went to test the authenticity of the bathtub.
Glorious hot water!
She stole a few showers while hiding in the manor, but they were quick and efficient for necessity's sake. Being able to soak, the greatest decadence! The tub was nearly big enough to tread water in, and had two taps - one for hot water, one for cold. Li Mei adjusted the temperature and submerged in water hot enough to melt away six months worth of stress and injuries.
The clothes fit well enough and were comfortable against against her freshly scrubbed skin. She resisted the urge to indulge in a craving for a nice cup of tea, instead emptying out her storage and putting things away properly since Faust knew she took stuff anyway.
Cooking utensils, food, spare blankets, medical supplies, chemical mixtures, the rest of the enhancement serums... Their little cave was turning into quite the comfortable home.
"Oh?" Li Mei pulled out some little black boxes and the shiny silver keys used to open them. 
Loot from Vigen's desk, she forgot all about those! Running for her life in a forest of death and monsters was a surprisingly effective distraction. 
Without waiting any longer she popped each box open to Scan their contents.
-----
[First Merchant's Bank Token]

Can be exchanged at any First Merchant bank branch for an appropriate amount of currency. First Merchant is a large and influential bank with branches in many countries, so the token is unlikely to depreciate in value.

Value: 1000c
-----
-----
[Currency]

The currency of Elysium is based on mana Cores, abbreviated as 'c', crystallization of mana that occur in living beings and objects alike. Such Cores can be absorbed to increase one's own mana capacity or restore missing mana, so they're very valuable. The amount of mana inside the Core determines its value.

In short, mana itself is currency.
-----
-----
[Two-Color Mist Pearl] x10

Mist Pearls increase Mana Quality when consumed. The more colors on the pearl, the more potent the improvement. Nine-Color Mist Pearls are legendary treasures that have caused wars between nations. Two-Color Mist Pearls are common and modest by comparison.

Can only be used after one has passed their Mana Baptism. You have not.

Estimated Value: 100c each
-----
-----
[Green Jade Data Chip]

Unable to determine contents or value at this time.
-----
-----
[White Jade Data Chip]

Unable to determine contents or value at this time.
-----
-----
[Black Jade Data Chip]

Unable to determine contents or value at this time.
-----
Not a bad haul for some little boxes she picked up on a whim, even if none of it was immediately usable. All books in her Archive were fully translated too! Li Mei rubbed her hands together in excitement. Stuff to read, valuable loot, and a teacher. Things were turning out pretty well all things considered.

Li Mei dies unexpectedly, transmigrating into the body of a nameless slave girl who was murdered in her sleep.

With the assistance of a game-like interface gifted to her by an unseen helper, she must fight in a hostile alien world not only for freedom, but for survival - and revenge!

(I will be posting this story on RoyalRoad.com as Kruos soon.)

Morning was cold, and was always cold. He had somehow amalgamated with his blanket, as he snuggled up to it, feeling like his clothing on his bare body inside.The howling gale outside the window was the scariest at dawn, till the sun rose and warmed the city, he was much able to get out of his "cave". It was preciously his weekend, thus it would be reasonable to slack on the-

Beep. 
It came from the desk nearby.
Beep. Beep.
And he hopped off the bed.
His body wobbled.

The sudden vibration on my phone was always more exciting than anything else. Seeing the notification popping on the screen was as satisfying as seeing a slice of black forest sitting on the plate in obedience. Both of them signified hope, potential, an upcoming joy.

A feast to behold.

The messages came knocking on my place occasionally, like truly a once-in-a-blue moon. I must admit, I was not the outstanding celeb in the group for I did not have rows and rows of notifications obstructing my lovely wallpaper on the lock screen, I too did not have a red spot with growing numerical figures on the top right corner of the application. I know my policy, I always open them immediately upon arrival, since these messages were like wrapped gifts left at my doorstep after a gentle knock on the door reminding me that there was a surprise. So I, like most of the unboxing Vloggers online, coveted the entire process from claiming, unwrapping, playing to discarding. One by one. 

It was so exciting that it almost feels like Christmas.

They had hardly come in flocks for me however - depressing but reasonable. I was never in a position to bargain or whatsoever. My stakes were solely silence and an abundance of feelings, all sealed airtight inside a leaking soul. I was also forgiving, with a thinking vast like the sea, deep and profound like the sea. It felt like I could accept almost everything, yet I was just an overlooked individual on the Nearby list. Well, you could just imagine a poorly wrapped present with fantastic contents inside.

Alright, enough talking, I should start looking at my messages now. 
Here goes nothing!
Hmm?
…
… …
Never mind.
It was notification of some news I don't really care. 
Whether if some men died brutally, I muted the Tweet.

I sprang off my bed with my phone slid back into my pocket. It was the switch where I turned off my excitement when part of my routine of waiting for something to happen ended up with nothing happened as usual. Sometimes I was told to make something happen instead, but I would not want to be accused of being aggressive since proactivity, initiative, impatience, neediness, whatever one may call it would be presumed as a kind of aggression today. Don't ask me why. That was what I saw. Hence, I would stay quiet and I would be protected. 

Secrecy is the best policy. 

The room was dimly lit. I should pull the curtains away and let the sun shine through the window. But it was a cloudy day. "Oh well." Mumbled me as I closed up the curtain again and retreated to the living room. A pressure was set upon my knee, as the stack of books collapsed along with the boxes on them. I must admit I was a little clumsy and I sometimes would trip on something, the books for instance. I did have a rack, which had been fully occupied by the senior citizens of the book world however. Well, the new members should always show tolerance and respect towards elderly by letting out the best corner of the comfort zone - exactly as what I was taught in school, the ultimate rule of courtesy. Anyway, my room was not airy to begin with. It was fortunate nevertheless, as I would not feel lonely with friends of these many awaiting my return in the room daily. I stacked the books and boxes back exactly how they were. The back was cramping from the weight it got to withstand. I got back from the realm as the phone vibrated again, several times in a roll. The door squeaked as I opened it slowly. I peeked through the gap.

Father was taking a rest on the couch. Mother was not home yet it seemed… Luckily I did not slam the door open, it was tempting to do but painful to bear. Father never fancied these "rash" behaviors he called. I walked straight to the outside. I walked down the long and winding stairs, as I took the chance to have a glimpse at the graffiti on the wall. It was the codex between me and partners, where within those patches of bold colorfulness there would be a corner of scribbles containing messages. Well, in today's world we could have created a secret group and talked as irresponsibly as we wished there. But what's the fun of it? We do enjoy the full privacy ever since the new Data Protection Act was enforced. Adults would never find out the exchanges we made online. But again, what's the fun of it? 

My phone vibrated again. 
Strange, it was beyond my usual amount of messages daily. 
Had I ascended as a socialite?
If I had, when? And how?

…

Leaned against the fence, I glanced at the incoming messages. Instantly I replied each and everyone patiently. Yes, including those without a picture, with an empty profile, sending those unsolicited hollow regards. These mysterious men could be a surprise once in a while, like who knows? They were the discreet. And they never disappointed me. They could be gorgeous, they could be cute, like shy-cute. They are fun to talk to, especially when you have gained their trust, making them reveal themselves gradually, it felt as if their coat of armor fell off pieces by pieces, eventually stripping them naked. How exciting. They are also easygoing. They are easy to deal with. So I understand, considering how there are a handful of shy people in the society. There should be also a handful of shrinking violets in confusion on the app as well. I was one of them in fact. When you let the cat out of the bag, it would be letting the cataclysm out of Pandora's box. It should be a secret that no one should know, no matter how modernized the society had transformed into. 

It is and always would be my deepest, darkest little secret. 

With my thoughts running exceptionally smooth today, the conversation went unexpectedly well. The other person surprisingly remained interested. Good, I could already smell love in the air. We exchanged pictures. And as I have mentioned before, the faceless profiles always hide a surprise at the back. The person looked as kind as he behaved. Oh the ingenuousness, it was extra alluring to me. I swear I could already taste the straightness even from the phone. I would love to fondle his beard and salivate at the pheromone wafted throughout his body. I was so electrified that I uncontrollably made a few skips on the pavement as I sauntered. The cafe owner at the window must be wondering what had gone wrong with me. Well I frequented his cafe, I think he cares, doesn't he? 

The words the person uttered were chivalrous. I could feel his lips caressing my knuckle. What a lovely man. I was utterly intoxicated by each of his messages. He seemed educated and had apparently perused the beauty of literature, both fiction and non-fiction, of a variety of advanced genres ranging from the post-apocalyptic sci-fi, dystopia fantasy to horror melodrama. He also had a great taste in music. He would hum Joker Face or A Plausible when he was doing gym; Die to Live or With You when he was in a cafe and Bedroom Carols as he strolled the street, like me! His alarm tone was seemingly Mille Raisons. I was so amazed by his fandom. It was one-of-a-kind, I complimented. To top it all, he was merely a few miles away - not too far for yearning and not too close for clinging. 

Just like most of the guys I had come across.

A well-educated man shone bright like a knight in shiny armor coming off from his trusty steed and approached a nobody like me. A man such kind was rare, you could only find a few tens of them in the proximity of few miles on the app. Of course it had boiled to a situation where an "I do" could escape from my quivering lips anytime. Oh and he said he loved puppies too! Such a coincidence! Oh wait, the person I met before also posted a picture of him hugging his pet puppy.Looked like a lot of our kinds had a soft spot for animals! Most of them expressed the virtue through the pictures in their profile to find companion! We should totally make an animal-loving club after this.

Anything could be possible as long as I have him by my side. Nothing else was important. I stirred the abandoned coffee on my table after sending the key message to him. Yes, I asked him out. I said I just so happened to pass a cafe that I had never been to before nearby. I wanted to share my latest discovery of a great spot so I would like to ask him over. 

As known from a gentleman like him, it was a prompt "yes". 

I was so tensed that my fingers trembled even when I touched the photo of his face on my screen. How perfect. We would have a discussion on the latest album by our favorite singer in common, then maybe we could talk about some of the latest literature works. I had planned everything next in my mind. We would be heading to his place and then we would talk with our heart out. Certainly you could not express everything comfortably in an occupied cafe. A secluded place like home would be perfect for both of us alone. Yes, yes, yes. I think he had a thing for me, that's why he bothered to take on this date!


There he is!

"Hi." 
"Umm… Hi." I looked away as I greeted him, shaking his hands from the seat.
He froze for a second.
"Are... you..."
I looked at him.
He turned out to be one senior from my course...
The one I respected a lot... 
Like he always manages to give amazing insight during discussion... 
"From our course?"
I nodded my head.
"Great."
Smiled he as he sat down.
"I never expected you to be one."
"Well, yeah, I'm a bit discreet for this…" 
His fingers twiddled his shirt.
 
It should be alright.
It would be alright.
A year later today should be our anniversary. 
My optimism ran high.

It's a collection of lovely fairytale, of hopes and dreams, butterflies and prince. 

A fantastic town of stories for both children and adults. 
;-)

Entertaining yet inspiring, has a lesson told in kindergarten style. 

Surely naive and cute.

Happily Ever After.

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