《The Red Snowman》The Cosmic Ray
Advertisement
Far in space, a manta ray continued its nomadic life. It traveled from a purple twirl to a purple twirl, searching for food and new wonders.
After years of travel, the manta ray stopped in front of a colossal blue yeti and asked.
"Where are we?"
The yeti lowered its large eyes and responded. - "Above the stone ocean. You are at the boundary of the unknown."
"What is the boundary of the unknown?"
"The place where rules and laws no longer apply. Be wary of monsters or turn back."
The manta ray was not shaken. - "I am not afraid. I've traveled between purple twirls before stars were even born."
"Then, here, you're still a child." - The yeti spoke in a deep voice. - "I won't warn you no more, it is your choice."
Manta didn't listen and continued her journey. She witnessed how stars died and fell, crashing into the stone ocean. She traveled through strands of time, where the causation of events wasn't in harmony with their order. She ventured deep inside steel gratings, where strange machinery ruled the world. Nothing would stop her, nothing would diminish her courage, bravery, and desire for knowledge.
At last, manta ray arrived at a rubbish dump below the city of light.
On an island, she noticed a mermaid there, waiting in silence.
"Where are we?" - The manta ray asked.
With her pretty green eyes, the mermaid looked at manta, then answered. - "In the bubble sea."
"Understood. What are you doing here, alone?" - The manta ray asked, again.
"Waiting for friends."
"How long are you waiting?"
"Seven long years."
"That's too long. I can take you up, to the city above, your loneliness will end there."
Advertisement
"No, thanks. I will wait."
Manta ray didn't insist and continued her travel for long years, until she became hungry. She landed in the middle of endless fields of white wheat. Hungry, she began to devour all plants around her.
"NEEEEIIGHHHH." - A group of horses surrounded the manta ray, they didn't want manta here. It was their pasture.
"Your inhospitality shall not go unpunished. You didn't allow me to feed myself in peace, so I curse you for eternity. Your hunger shall never perish and your bellies will be rotten by poison."
As manta ray said, as was destined. The cursed steed scattered in all directions of the boundary of the unknown, looking for food that would fill their ever-craving stomachs.
Manta continued her travel, she once again traveled over the stone ocean, but this time she was far away from any sign of civilization. Large stones fell slowly floated down from the sky and submerged in stone waters, creating large ripples, which caused air to shake with a loud echo.
The manta ray was annoyed by the noise, so she fled towards the most silent part of the ocean.
There was a small isle with a wooden house, and white smoke rose above its chimney.
The manta paid no attention to it and landed, crushing the house.
"Peace, at last." - The manta ray told herself.
"Excuse me." - A voice of small being bothered the manta.
"Begone. I need rest from all that racket." - The manta rudely disregarded the intruder.
"(Cough) Please, could you get up! You ruined my house."
"Show some hospitality. I flew for years in that loud noise, my ears are hurting. It's the only place where I can lie down."
"But it's my house! I live here!"
Advertisement
"My ears still hurt, cease your voice."
"But..."
"...so be it, you didn't allow your neighbor to rest, so I curse you with being unable to ever sleep at ease. You shall be forever haunted by nightmares. Now, I shall be gone."
...and the curse worked, but the manta ray didn't know who has she cursed.
The next day, her victim had a nightmare, but that nightmare came to life.
Creatures with thousands of eyes, tentacles, and mouths appeared, floating over the far stone ocean. They were far larger than the manta ray and devoured her in a single bite.
That was the end of the manta ray, but it was only the beginning of nightmares.
Advertisement
- In Serial82 Chapters
Royal Road Community Magazine [June Edition]
Official page for the [Royal Road Community Magazine] Contest. This page includes the first chapters of all entries submitted before the 9th of June. Further information can be found at: https://www.royalroad.com/forums/thread/118779
8 150 - In Serial16 Chapters
Murder Quest Vol 1: Murder on the Minecart Express
[participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge - Editathon in progress ] Lexie Archer's life needs a reboot. And the remote village of Albatross Bay, where she's just inherited a surprise shack from her famous [Mystery Writer] aunt, seems like the perfect place! But the reality of island farming is different than Lexie imagined, and while she waits for her crops to come in, she needs to make ends meet. When the Albatross Bay Adventurer's Guild puts up a quest on the local quest board to help promote their new training dungeon and attract adventurers to the small village, Lexie jumps at the chance to put some of her old [Junior Publicity Assistant] skills to good use. But when an adventurer is murdered in the dungeon, jeopardizing everything the town has worked for, Lexie and her [Dungeon Liaison], the kobold Przemyslaw have to solve the murder and prove the monsters aren't responsible before their dungeon license gets revoked. Inspired by Stardew Valley, Murder, She Wrote, and Welcome to Nightvale, Murder on the Minecart Express contains light LitRPG, village slice-of-life, quirky locals, a kobold bakery, and murder most foul. Cover illustration by Zari (instagram.com/zariarte/)
8 164 - In Serial11 Chapters
A Celestial's Wrath
In a further future where technology advanced by leaps and bounds, the space agency Spirit Pagoda developed a new technology: a bracelet which teleports one to other planets and can extract loot from monsters in form of coins. Seven of the new-found planets are full of treasures and rare resources. The so-called Spirit Realms. Because the Spirit Realms are too massive for the Spirit Pagoda to explore and exploit on their own, they opened the Spirit Realms for everyone to live, train, and work in. Yet unknown creatures inhabit the Spirit Realms. Everyone who goes there has to set their life on the line. But Yan Hao has no choice than to enter the Spirit Realms and fight, because the Phoenix Coin, which is located there, is the only thing which can save his ill sister.
8 214 - In Serial8 Chapters
A Dragon In human Skin
JUST READ THE STORY THERES NO BETTER DESCRIPTION THEN ONE YOU EXPERIENCE AND MAKE YOURSELF!!
8 114 - In Serial7 Chapters
The Thirst of the Green.
What is a poor young maid do when bored? Well looking after the little black sheep of the castle is a start but that's only just the beginning. After all, she has a plan... AN: Image is not mine, please give credits for it to who made it and if they want me to take it down then pm me and it can be arranged.PS:Please Pm me if you actually find out, I have not been able to do so despite my best efforts.
8 232 - In Serial15 Chapters
Incant - A Coven in Atlanta (Short Story)
Sisters are offered the opportunity of a lifetime to make important business connections and acquire an expedited education over the summer at a prestigious and secretive academy for witches. Curiosities held on campus are certainly more than either of them bargain for. I plan to update this story every Wednesday. Each update will hold one chapter. This is the second short story within the Incant universe. Recent work developments have made the release of my latest chapter a bit of an issue. WIll release as soon as possible. [Writathon Participant]
8 125

