《Dragon Rises》Chapter One
Advertisement
The sunlight beamed down through the window of the room. An almost unbearable occurrence that one had to sadly get used to. The ruffling of bedsheets, cleaned two days prior when the week had just begun. An extra five coppers had to be paid on top of the weekly silver. The smell was... less than pleasant, but not wholly unbearable. Groaning awake, the older-looking gentleman in bed had realized he'd not gotten used to beds quite yet. He was more used to heaps of stones and damp caverns.
Sitting up in the bed, sheets fell from his chest to cover his unmentionables. He didn't mind any. Standing up and going to put on his tunic and trousers. Moments later, he sighed briefly and opened the door to his room. He was not simply hungry, as he usually was these past couple of days. The desire to eat dozens of oxen was still present in his body, even if he had the stomach of a human. He passed through the hall, through the reception, and left.
I'll eat before a bath. He thought. Walking with his sword and shield on his back, connected to straps that made an X over his torso, the gentleman walked to the nearest tavern. He'd been to this tavern plenty recently. Not for any particular reason, either. The food was average, the clientele was your run-of-the-mill hopeful adolescence trying to become famous. Coming to the older man's table was a frail-looking boy, who set down a tankard full of water.
"The same as usual then, mister Victor?" The young man asked, causing him to look up to the boy. "Just the same." He responded, taking a swig of his tankard and setting down five coppers. While the youth walked to the counter with the money in his hand, he said something to the man behind, setting the coppers down. Victor would wait some minutes, watching the young man run back and forth between the counter and other tables. Finally, Victor was met with a platter of simple lamb chops, seasoned with local herbs. He tore into it without a care while the youth watched with a subtle smile.
Advertisement
"You eat the same as always, mister! Dad's cooking isn't that great, but you make it seem like it is!" They laughed before a ladle came crashing against his head. "Shut your mouth and get to work you little f-" The young man chortled. "Of course, father, on it! Have a nice meal, mister." He smiled politely before returning to his work of bringing dishes to and fro the counter and tables. Victor had taken a gander around the tavern. And, as per the usual, there was the bard in the corner, playing his lute, the local drunks at another table, and the whores in the other corner, trying to seduce and suck up to some start-up, so-called "adventurers". With much success, apparently.
Licking his lips and cleaning the lamb chop of all its meat until all that remained was a bone, Victor stood up and made his way out of the tavern. The same young boy who took his order delivered his food, and took his money turned to the door as Victor was leaving, waved, and offered a polite "Be safe out there!" before continuing. Victor moved along as well. There was only so much a human body could do in a day, and he planned to make the most out of it. Next up: bathing.
A good fifteen minutes of walking passed, involving going to the market, buying a bucket and cloth, and walking to the nearby river to clean himself in private. When he had finally gotten to his destination, he stripped out of his clothes, climbed into the cold river, and began to clean himself of any filth. His body didn't feel much in the river, be it because he wasn't cold, or was too cold, he didn't know or care. Any grime that got into his human body could likely spell his end if he wasn't careful about it. Damned curse. These weak, fleshy bodies are so irksome. He'd curse to himself.
Advertisement
Every so often, Victor would climb out of the river and sit on the bed, deciding to make a simple fire in his spare time to keep his body warm. While he was sitting by the fire, washing his legs with the cloth he'd just bought, he caught the scent of something.
"Come out. I can smell you." And before he could even turn around, he heard a woman's voice. "Wh- how rude!" she yelled. And again she spoke "You can't just say that to a lady! Women take care o- why am I explaining this to you?" She questioned angrily. "I could have you arrested for sa-" She couldn't get another word out, suddenly feeling a chill down her spine as she slowly turned to her side to see a tall, masculine figure standing there. He towered over her currently squatting figure, his piercing golden eyes and chiselled jaw making it seem as though he'd come from a painting. He was almost... no he was completely naked.
"OH MY G- PLEASE put on some clothes first before you stand in front of me!" The woman said, covering her face with her hands in an attempt to either stop herself from looking or stop Victor from seeing her flushed face. Perhaps both. Whatever it was, Victor's scowl remained as always, but he did walk away to put on his clothes. "Do you even know who I am?" She asked, hearing the ruffling of cloth and assuming he was now dressed. Standing up, she turned around the tree and looked at Victor, who was currently staring back.
She had short, hazelnut hair, only down to her upper neck and looking rather boyish. Her eyes were a naturally calming green that was only enhanced by the freckles over her face. She was lean, but not anorexic, with enough meat on their bones for one to be able to tell they were a woman without needing to hear their voice. Their chest was meagre, however. She was pretty, for a human that is.
"No." Victor told her, and her face became deadpan. "I don't know you." He added blankly. She stood still for a couple moments, before snapping out ofher stupor when she realized Victor had already begun walking past her. Flicking around to look at his back, she felt a chill down her spine again. Inhuman... he doesn't... fell human!
"W-Wait!" She called out, but he didn't stop. "This might seem rude but you... you aren't human are you?" She finished, gulping down a breath as she looked at his back. He paused for a second, rubbing his beard, before turning around half-way. Victor stood there for several long moments, before he finally began walking to her. Slowly, the whole while, but it was no less intimidating as she was soon against a tree with him staring down at her for the third time.
"No. I am not."
Advertisement
- In Serial33 Chapters
Demonic Intervention
The Burrows.A place where life is cheap, and safety an illusion. Located in a natural prison, the great slum of Cedia is home to many a cut-throat. One of them a certain street rat, who shouldn't have signed a certain Contract..."What you thinking about, Boss?""Nothing, Gob. Just contemplating about past regrets.""Dick still burning from last night’s whore, eh Boss?"He definitely shouldn’t have signed that Contract. Release Schedule (Edited on 10/10/2017): Currently on hold. Feedback comments badly needed. Reviews much appreciated.
8 227 - In Serial28 Chapters
The Lay of the Black Doors
Nikha von Kranssov awakens one sunny morning to find that things have gone all wrong: Her maid has been murdered, her father is missing, and her house, Eldergrave Manor, is far larger and less familiar than it should be. She decides to grab her trusty rifle and set out into a home made strange and sinister, determined to find her father and confront whoever is responsible. The Lay of the Black Doors is a horror/adventure story that takes place in a secondary world. It is mainly inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, China Miéville’s Bas-Lag books, M.T. Anderson’s The Game of Sunken Places, and Shea and Wilson’s The Illuminatus! Trilogy. Be warned that the story involves frightening situations and occasional dark themes, as well as some violence and gore. Weekly updates. No longer on hiatus! The cover image is not mine. It is "The Drawbridge," a 1761 engraving by Giovanni Battista Piranesi.
8 99 - In Serial50 Chapters
Journey West 5000
With her parents murdered and her brother abducted, a trainee Monk of the Gun pursues the one responsible, the Bull Demon King, undefeated Warlord of the Crimson Army.Struggling to track down her enemy while braving the dangers of the wilds, she enlists the help of Sun Wukong, but 500 years under a mountain have taken its toll. Unstable and weakened, will he be more hindrance than help? Can he become the warrior he once was?A Monk and a Monkey journey across a world...... where the remnants of technology are seen as magic, while pockets of humanity strive to drag themselves out of ignorance.... where the descendants of animal-human hybrids, once created as instruments of war, now seek to dominate the world as demons.... where beings who call themselves Immortals and Gods preoccupy themselves with selfish pastimes, ignoring everything else. Among other things, a story about growth, grit, and being better than the person you were yesterday. Here's my rambling on why I'm writing Journey West 5000. Journey West 5000 is my crazy ambitious writing project to adapt a classic epic called "Journey to the West" for a global, modern audience. It's a sci-fi story disguised as fantasy, and has some road trip + monster of the week elements (as does the original Journey to the West). No system, definitely no harem, gradual power progression. Hmm, what else can I put here so potential readers know what to expect? My writing style for now is mostly "show don't tell", because I believe that readers don't need to have everything pointed out to them, and that they should be allowed to make up their own minds about characters based on the actions of those characters. I'm also trying to be less long-winded (a weakness pointed out by some friends) in order to write according to something Neil Gaiman said, which is to write as though I'm the one who has to pay for every word, not the reader. This will bring down my chapter word counts, and might drive away potential readers, but I believe there's value in learning to compress and be concise. All chapters posted here will have been edited. Constructive criticism, comments, and feedback would be very much welcome and appreciated. Please, please help point out any typos or grammatical mistakes, I'm striving to minimize those as much as possible. Above all, I hope you enjoy my story.
8 211 - In Serial89 Chapters
The Two Sides of the Light
Members of an underground organization will stop at nothing to bring forth a new era in an aging society. As plans slowly shape in ideal directions, there are the unwilling few who stand in the way of their progress.Alliances are formed, conflicts of interest arise and forgotten secrets are revealed - all of them part of a path towards the ultimate goal.Their actions would either empower a nation to heights feared by all, or plunge it into chaos.[Work in progress with slow, snail-paced updates. Everything seen here is a hundred percent fresh-off-the-word-processor with barely any editing. Patience is a requirement before clicking "start reading". You have been warned][† - This work has been selected by the Wattpad Explorer to be on the Editors' Choice reading list on 04-November-2018 to 30-January-2019]
8 494 - In Serial18 Chapters
Immortal Sovereign (Cancelled)
My first novel.... and Yes its cliche.. This is more of a test for me or a starter in which i create my foundation of writing stuff. Restarting it The gates of heaven have opened! The seals of hell have loosened! At a place beyond the stars, chaos rages Countless Immortals have risen and fell all in aspiration to become the Immortal Sovereign the said highest point of cultivation and within the midst of all the chaos a young mortal boy looks to the stars as a mysterious body falls from the sky into his world. But who is to say that they are sure that cultivation does not reach higher? To the point of eternity? If so who in the new generation can achieve such a feat? But what is an Immortal Sovereign? It is an immortal capable of ruling the stars! With a thought they can erase trillions! With a finger they can destroy celestial bodies! With a hand they can pulverise stars! With their powers the realms shake in fear! Yet in the end Even they do not stand at the top! Because there are those who chase Eternity itself! To aim for something higher than even Immortality!
8 189 - In Serial184 Chapters
Single Father • Namjoon + BTS!Kids
Namjoon picked up Taehyung, who started- "Um, babe? I think he's growling at me. Is that supposed to happen? Is he supposed to do that? Did I break him?"***Namjoon, father of six, tries his best...although his kids don't exactly make it easy for him.***Highest rank: #1 in fan fiction, 5/27/2018
8 180

