“We can beg them to... they cannot possibly be so heartless.” Rubia sniffed.
“Their price will be too high.” Dainzel said sadly. “That is if they even consent to help.”
Episode 8
Haan's Heart:
"Ryatt…we’re out of time," I said carefully while scrutinizing Ryatt's adorable but impassive face. His brow was scrunched up as if troubled. After all, the more robust he became, the closer Micayle was to death! I could sense that his aversion to my suggested discourse was very real. Ryatt was utterly unwilling to stain or ruin Micayle with his own hands, even if it meant letting her die. Admirable as I found this to be, it left us with no solution. Was there another option other than watching Micayle die in his arms? I pleaded once more, against my better judgment, "If we don’t do something soon, what’s going to happen to Micky? Just…just do it, Lucky. Better you than that creep, Lucci. I’m sure Micky would agree, right?"
"How could she possibly agree? Don’t you know she likes Axel? If I…she’ll never, ever forgive me for that, I’m sure she’d rather die! Besides, you don’t know this, but I have a fiancé. My mom would flip. I…I can’t, Haan. I don’t even know how to do that, even if I wanted to." Ryatt rejected once more. From his resolute eyes, I knew he definitely wouldn’t do what I suggested.
“Let us pray that is so.” Hari sighed. “And also for Sora, though we know not what we can do for her.”
“She sleeps now, but I fear she will not survive the night.” Rubia replied as fresh tears trickled down her pale face.
Episode 3
The third party threat to their “fun” having left, dad and Frank got right back to bickering. “And your sword! Your sword, Frank! You may feel bad for my son, but I sure feel bad for anyone you marry in the future. Your sword is so small, I doubt you’ll have the prowess to defend your wife and kids from any threats.”
Frank shot back- “It’s not the size that matters man, it’s how you use it. My swordsmanship is leagues above you, Michie boy.” He thrust his longsword through the air a couple of times, miming stabs and parries.
“I’m glad to see you think so highly of us.” Zahra giggled before saying in a motherly tone, “Now, get out of those pajamas and put these on.” She handed us a new set of clothes. I stared at the gray t-shirt and black pants—thankful that Owyn’s clothes were not flashy. “And for the love of the deities, Aryan. Please do not allow Lady Samara to be caught in the same clothes for more than a few days. She is a goddess.”
“Heh.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ll make sure to put it on the top of my to do list.”
“You’re going to want to wake up…” She told me in a sing-songy way.
“Unless someone is dying, I’m never waking up.” I spoke into my pillow.
“I don’t care what I am.” Arden said softly. “I want you to be well again.”
“I will be, dear heart.” Sora’s amber eyes glazed. “But not here in this... this form...”
“No!” Arden shook his head. “You cannot, you must not.”
“I will die too, my love, if I remain here any longer.” Sora struggled between gasps. “I must return to where I belong.”
“It’s really taro, the itchy plants? It doesn’t hurt you at all, Baibai?” asked Wenwen.
“It doesn’t! Really, try it Uncle Wen! Yiyi and dad try it too!”
Nori takes a sip of his tea. “Let’s just say…she put a spell on him, and it is still active.”
Bando laughs out loud. “Oh, so we have a dragon under a spell. Is this a kid’s fairy tale? If that’s the case, why can’t she find him?”
“I hate you...” I mutter. Freaking me out like that...
“It didn’t stop you the first time. Laila Ratnik, will you marry me?” He opens his palm and my mouth parts in a gasp.
“What are we going to do now?” Yuma was asking Arden.
The handsome man that Arden had now become looked tired and worn as he lifted his enormous hammer off the ground and walked away from the blazing pyre.
“We rebuild Anglathe.” He said sullenly. “I will ask the Diabane to help us.” And he held high his hammer and was gone in a flash of brilliance.
“Yes, but…” I just couldn’t look away. “What is that man? The one with the green skin.” I asked, pointing at him.
Aryan’s jaw ticked, but still, he indulged me. He looked towards the man as he said, “It’s a person, obviously. Let’s go.”
“Whoa!” Des cheesed. “Look at you. You seem to be a pro.” She said, downing her second one in a matter of moments.
“What can I say, I’m letting loose!” I grinned. “If I can’t do that much on my birthday, then what can I do?”
“Come walk with me, over by the Bubbling Stream.” Maedra looked to the east.
“Is something amiss?” Her sister was concerned. “Other than all of this, I mean.”
“Why? Searched for fancy porny-horny?” The neighbor purred slyly.
“What? No! How did you find out?” Chris admitted, confused. He decided that at his age, it would be weirder to be ashamed of porn than not.
Updating on Wednesday!
“You sound like what I used to, Mae, before all of this happened.” Yuma tried to laugh but she failed miserably.
“I know it’s hard for you to hear this, and even harder for me to say it.” Maedra held her younger sister by the shoulders. “But I must... I am leaving, Yuma... I am leaving Anglathe. Perhaps forever.”
“Thanks to you, we are languishing. The Lodge is running dry.”
Tristan flinched again, eyes closing tightly, nostrils flaring, “Good. I hope it burns.”
Read on: https://tapas.io/episode/2119679
“Um…” she mutters over a sob. She looks back at me. “C-can I…tell you something I never told anyone?”
Her question sets me aback a bit, but I nod. “Mm. You can.”
“THIS IS NOT A GAME!” A now red with rage Prince emerged behind the curtains. Squeezing the living hell out of the fabric, Edgar thanking God that it was not his throat caught between these slender fingers.
“No, it’s not. But you have to stop this!” The young Earl pledged. Shaking to the bone Edgar makes a step forward, simultaneously watching the soldiers around him.
“My father and mother are here, safe and on the road to recovery.” Hari was saying between mouthfuls of roasted meat. “They offer their condolences to you, Arden, and look forward to you taking over your father’s place as chief.”
“They have my thanks, Hari.” Arden replied softly. “But I have a promise to keep with the Diabane.”
"Who's the chick?" Iggy questions from over my shoulder. "She's kind of hot."
"Igor, please. I know that you're the only heterosexual in this house, but try to restrain yourself." I chastise him. "We have to have some respect for the lady--"
“Get going, Mae.” Yuma told her. “Before this parting gets too unbearable.”
“I am, little sister.” She held back the dam of tears threatening to burst. “Take care of Mother and Father.”
Professor Blake nodded with sympathy. “Yes, I seem to be at a standstill too.” He smirked at me before checking his watch. “It’s starting to get late, Jack. Don’t you have any celebratory parties to attend?”
“Celebratory parties?” I smirked curiously at his query.
“You don’t have to do this!” I tried again. The wind picked up, but I managed to push through until I was right by her side. “Don’t—”
“Enough, Aryan.” I heard the voice of a person long past, and for a moment, I was stunned.
“Iola.” Someone was calling. “Come back here, child.”
Dainzel recognized the voice. Laisa was a mother of three, Iola being the youngest.
Was that her name? Was it just Eda? “Her name is so… simple.”
“True that!” answered Felisa, “I was expecting something like Xhozoblasiton.”
“Why are you blue?” The girl asked her innocently with her head cocked to the right.
“I am Alvaine.” She replied tersely. “Now run along, before the Giagrein come.”
“Like what?” Soren was trying not to look at her as his mouth slanted, displeased.
“Like you don’t care about the mortals.” Her hand reached up, grabbed the collar of his tunic, and pulled him closer to her face. “You know you love building their hearths.”
“Oh…” she started as if she realized something. “…the earthquake stopped.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. This was uncharted territory for Penn, and the fact that I get to see this is just beyond words. “I see why you called now.”
“The Crimson Beast is not bulletproof. You are just a small little girl.”
“A little girl who owns these woods.”
Read on: https://tapas.io/episode/2140595
I don't know about y'alls, but I quite enjoy a little humor. This is from Episode 6: Let's Stalk the New Kid.
"Are we really ditching the bar to stalk a classmate? Why?"
"'Cause he's mysterious, duh!"
As they go back inside the house Luke shuts the door quickly and grabs her hand.
"Why are you trying to avoid me?" he asks, as Astrid is cornered. She pulls him down with a sturdy grip.
"You know not everything is about you, I still need some closure" as she gets back up on her feet until Luke tugs her hand.
" You're right but everything is going to be about you since you're an assassin sent to kill your so-called cousin. But you, no, you don't remember your morals and plans you had to expose the truth and hid like a coward. I know you found out that I have to kill you, but this doesn't have to end that way. You definitely know who you really are, cause no one in their right mind will have that much strength to take down a guy who is 10x stronger. but you looked for an opening"
“Aryan, is something wrong?” she looked at my body carefully before she gently put a hand on my ribs. That tiny bit of pressure made me bite my tongue from growling at her. “Oh, my goodness. You’re hurt! Have you been like this the whole time? Why didn’t you say anything?”
I’m pretty sure she would have asked a million more questions if I didn’t interrupt her. “I’m fine.” I shrugged and immediately regretted it. “It’s just a little broken rib. To be honest, I’ve felt worse. Training to be one of Neri’s warriors was much more harmful to my health.”
“Penn, the world is not slanted. You are.” I smirked.
“Nonononononononono. I-I know a str-straight line. See. See, Jack, it looks like this.” Her hand moved like it was the dotted bee line in a cartoon.
Oh I've been waiting for this. . .
"Kyler, you're a spirit whisper, right? Help me! I know you can hear me!" his eyes snap towards me as he continues to hold my dead body. I take a step back as three women rush forward; they are wearing nursing uniforms and are all taken aback by my --- dead body. They rush to heal me but nothing is happening. I am dead.
Kyler glances from my body to me, and I motion for him to follow me to somewhere where no one can notice us, or, well, him. Kyler stammers something to the nurses as I almost float towards the end of the hospital highway and through the doors. Kyler follows behind me and we end up on the stairs of the infirmary entrance.
"What the (fudge)? You're dead, you're really dead."
"No (shoot)! What do I do? I'm not stuck in this body forever, right? Am I not supposed to float to the clouds and meet the gods?"
"How am I supposed to know? I've never spoken to a dead person before," I let out a staggering breath and turn around and sit on the top stair. I want to cry, but there were no tears left to fall. Only then do Kyler and I look at each other when we hear the familiar words.
“I am Dainzel.” She answered as she rose to her feet. “Outcast of Jadvaraem.”
“Your name is known to me, Dainzel.” The Alvaine ranger nodded. “A healer and scout, not too long ago. I am Shenzel, captain of the rangers.”
“Are they more important to you than your own kind?” Shenzel said coldly and waved at her to follow eastward.
“My own kind banished me, and these simple people will fall prey to the Giagrein.” Dainzel stood where she was, a wave of anger rising behind her ears.
One from an episode in the next story arc set to release next Wednesday.
The eel pointed a clawed finger at me. "You will suffer for your crimes child."
"I already do. Gentlemen, I want fish for dinner. Do not disappoint me," I said.
"yer ruttish, dull-minded pirate!" cried out an infuriated, plumpish bystander, his accent so thick and heavy that Bjorn had trouble comprehending.
"I am a privateer, thank you very much! I may be a crook, but I am a licenced crook - I have standards." Bjorn protested.
“You owe me a conversation.” Hunter whispered to me, taking a step closer than I wanted him to be. “Do not forget what I have done for you.”
I nearly growled as he reminded me of the past. Why can we never forget the difficulties life has thrown at us?
“Consider us even after this then.” I took a deep breath as I realized what a huge mistake I was most likely making. “Give me some space. I need to get her home.”
“Really?” I asked, wide-eyed.
“Oh, yeah.” He nodded, his eyes glancing towards mine. There was a light in them as he reminisced about his previous goddess. “So, instead, she decided it would be better to make a new type of fire that the mortals could control. She worked tirelessly for days before she finally figured it out. It was a different color, but at least, the humans could put it out with regular water whenever they felt the need.”
"If you refuse this task I will rip out your heart and throw it into the East Sea. Then I will throw your liver into the West Sea, and stretch your corpse and bowels across the land to tie them together. Do you understand?”
“I understand fully, father.”
Bonus lines:
“Is this some sort of criminal organization? A thieves guild? Assassins?”
“Stop acting so surprised. Did you think someone who is only known by the nickname ‘Nighthawk’ would be a good upstanding citizen?”