#solaris tunneler

[stateofnull]

hi sorry for being dead have some tunneler art

[channieskies]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐈: 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡 (𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧)

Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)

Minho Centric Chapter

Genre: Historical|Au, Fantasy|Au, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty|Au, Angst, Smut (Eventual), NSFW tags are under the cut.

Synopsis: The kingdom of Volantis is in disarray; the monarch rules with an iron fist. The times of hope, harmony, and kindness were buried with the queen who passed many years ago. The people are praying for a savior, but who will be their light at the end of this dark tunnel?

This chapter focuses on Minho and how he came to be with the main characters family. It's a very deep chapter and may be a little triggering for some to read. Warnings for the chapter a below the cut. If the chapter is not something you want to read, it's okay to skip it. This is not an essential chapter, you don't need to read it to move forward with the story. Minors do not Interact.

Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. Special thanks to @therhythmafterthesummer for reading over this and making sure it wasn't too triggering. Reader should still beware.

Word Count: 2840 [Reading Time: 11 Mins]

Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.

Looking for another chapter?

Chapter Index: Chapter 1| Chapter 2| Chapter 3| Chapter 4| Chapter 5| Chapter 6| Chapter 7| Chapter 8| Chapter 9| Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16

Warning: This chapter contains violence, minor character deaths, mentions of death, mentions of rape, child abuse, mentions of child trafficking, mentions of child sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised.

You and Minho were both on high alert. Your hands were still shaking after the attack, mind still replaying the events over and over in full clarity. You’d killed someone, taken someone's life. Now, granted, it was a you or them situation, so it was justifiable. But somewhere in the back of your head there was this little voice that kept whispering, repeating; “Murderer.” Minho could feel that something was off. You were rarely silent and if you were, it surely wasn’t for long. It’d been hours since your clash with the bandits in the forest, but you still hadn’t said a word. He didn’t know what could be done to console you. You both knew you did what had to be done. You both went into this knowing you’d probably have to fight. There was no way that you’d travel across the kingdom and not run into some kind of trouble. You felt a warm hand wrap around your own, squeezing it. Minho was letting you know that you weren’t alone. 

He too had feelings he couldn’t process. This was far from his first brush with taking a life. No, his first time was at the mere age of six. It was when he was still captured by the bandits. Minho and his mother were from the town called Lumen, a small town that fell between the castle city of Solairs and the Jade mountain pass. With the amount of people that passed through the town, it had become a place of trade, with many Inns and restaurants lininging it, one of which his mother owned. There was a restaurant downstairs and an Inn with plenty of rooms upstairs. Minho’s father had built the place, this was his gift to his wife, despite her indecisiveness when asked which type of establishment she wanted. His father was a carpenter who built many of the places around town and on the road to and from Solaris. 

When his father was called to war, things took an unexpected turn for Minho and his mother. She couldn’t take care of the finances, it was inevitable in war. No one was visiting this trading town and most people there left for different cities in hope of a better life. Minho’s mother, Eun, wanted to stay in their home, so when his father, Wonsik, returned from war, he knew exactly where to find his family. Minho was just a toddler when the war started, so he had no recollection of his father. But he’d never forget the sound his mother made when they came to tell her that he’d been a casualty of war. She cried for days and all little Minho could do was be her shoulder to cry on. He couldn’t understand why she cried, he just knew he needed to be there for her, because that was his duty as her son.

War soon reached their town, ripping through it like a hurricane, leaving nothing but carnage and destruction behind. There were few people left in the town and the ones that were, made sure to arm themselves so they wouldn’t become the next victim of some atrocity. But who was going to protect Eun and Minho? She barely knew how to fight and taking up arms made no sense when she didn’t know how to even hold a sword. So, they ran. They left in the middle of the night one night when the town seemed calm. They had made it through the Jade mountain pass and were almost to Oleander, the nearest town south of the castle. It was known for its ever blooming plants of oleander. They could see the town on the horizon, but they'd never make it there. They saw an old lady in the middle of the path, her walking stick broken in half, small body curled up in a ball.

“Ma'am?” Minho tugged at his mother's frayed and worn dress, something just didn't feel right to him. She gave him a smile as she grabbed the boy's hand. “We always help people in need Minho, you never know when you might be the one on the other side of things.” This was something his mother had always taught him. She'd let less fortunate passers-by stay in the rooms overnight if they couldn't afford to pay. She'd ask them to do simple tasks that she needed assistance with. She was kind, always. She patted his head, smoothing down his unkempt locks. “Let's check to see if she's okay.” She let go of his hand and went to check on the seemingly elderly lady only for a knife to be pulled on her. She looked back to her son, but as soon as she turned her back the boy had been apprehended, knife to his throat and a hand over his mouth. They had been captured, only a stone's throw away from their destination.

The first few days were torture. His birthday was spent locked in this cage. He'd just turned six, in captivity. Watching the things they did to his mother, because they made sure he watched. Even going as far as making one of them hold his eyes open. It felt like both Eun and Minho had had their souls drained out. They were shells of their former self. They had taken the kindness from his mother, her light was gone. These bandits were trying to take everything from them, they wanted nothing to be left. 

After being there for nearly two weeks, there was almost nothing left to take. They took turns beating Minho and using him as target practice with their bow and arrows. The boy was almost unrecognizable, face bruised black and blue. Burn marks one his arms and legs from where they'd hit him with burning firewood. There was also a scar across his tummy from where one of the men told him he wanted to open him up and eat his young organs, because young ones tasted sweet.

They had plans to sell the boy. It didn’t matter what they sold him into, as long as he would fetch a good price. They had a contact around the area who was looking for a boy around his age. Minho had overheard two of the bandits mentioning that the man who wanted to buy him would get good use of him before he aged out, among other unspeakable things. He didn't understand what those things were at that time, but he would when he got older.. “Four good years.” His mother couldn’t fight. She was badly beaten and bruised and they had broken her leg after she tried to fight them off. The rage that little Minho felt almost couldn't be contained. 

“Minho-yah, I can't hold them off long. But when they open this cage…” She pulled a knife from under her shirt. One that she'd stolen and hidden away for the next time they tried to assault her, even though she knew they would surely kill her. “Take this.” His little eyes widened, just what did his mother want him to do with that? He’d only held a knife once or twice and nothing nearly as big and jagged. Even if it didn’t kill someone, it would definitely do some damage. “Hide it well.” She helped the boy hide the knife in his tattered shorts. “Use it if you need to. Understand?” He nodded as tears started to well up in his eyes. He was starting to understand just what his mother wanted from him and he didn’t like it at all.

“Umma, please don’t make me go alone. W-we can go together.” It burned when he talked. The scratchiness in his voice had become something of a constant. His mother had told him to save his voice, time and time again. But he didn’t know what to do by himself, he’d never been without her, not even for a day. How was he supposed to leave her here by herself? Especially when they were doing such horrible things to her? He grabbed her hand, his small croaky, almost inaudible voice almost making her waver. But she had to be resolute if she wanted her only child to make it out of this alive, unscathed. She knew he’d lost his father in this war and now he was going to lose his mother, but something told her that her son would be just fine. She had to believe that her boy would be better off if she did this. “We can run-” She shook her head, shutting her eyes tightly to stop the tears from coming.

“I can’t run, my love. My leg-,” She sighed, trying to push the sad thoughts of her life ending away. “I’m badly hurt and we wouldn’t get far if I ran with you. But you, Minho, can run as fast as your legs can take you. As far as you can. You have to.” He sucked in a breath, trying to appear brave for his mother. But even she could see he was scared, even with one of her eyes nearly swollen shut. “You run for me. I’ll always be right behind you-” The sound of footsteps echoed in the basement they were in. These bandits had forced their way into an old couple's house and were now taking up residence after the horrible things they’d done to the frail couple. Their bodies were still in the cage when Minho and his mother were thrown in there. The boy could still see them when he closed his eyes.

“Grab the woman.” The grossly overweight bandit spoke as he chowed down on a turkey leg. It was hard to tell if it was grease or sweat all over his face. The henchmen opened the cage and grabbed his mother. Minho panicked, rushing to her side, just for her to shake her head at him. She mouthed ‘run’ to him and he took off, his small frame easily slipping past the two small men and between the legs of the bigger one. “Get him!” The two men dropped his mother, but she moved quick enough to grab one of each of their legs, preventing them from running after the boy. “Get off of them you wench!” The man started to kick Minho’s mother. Her body was already fragile from the weeks of torture she and the body had experienced. He could hear her bones crack and her whimpers of pain as he ran through the dark. “Die you fucking-” The silence felt loud. He couldn’t hear anything anymore. Not the bandits, not his mother, not even his own footsteps. His vision was blurred as he turned corner after corner, remembering all the times they moved him through this space. 

The lights of the open cellar door were almost blinding; he’d been down there far too long. Luckily there were only a few stragglers after most of them had gone on a thieving expedition, leaving less capable men behind. “How did he get out?” One asked when he spotted him.  One of the smaller men reached out and grabbed him. Panicked, Minho pulled the knife out. The man laughed, moving to take the weapon from the boy just to be swiped at. “You shouldn't play with knives, boy.” His foul breath wafted over the boy's face making him close his eyes just as the man lunged at him. 

The man slipped as Minho pulled his arm from the man's grip. The knife plunged into the man's chest, killing him instantly. In shock, Minho took off running, his little legs were pumping as fast as they could go. He could hear the commotion behind him of the men chasing him. But he knew not to look back, he didn't want to slow himself down. He ran even after he couldn't hear them anymore. He ran until his body shut down, his knees gave out, until his feet cracked and bled. His body collapsed near a river near the borderlands. He'd run for a day straight, the will of his mother pushed him to get as far away from there as possible.

He now understood why she cried when she found out that his father had died. He was now an orphan. Alone in the cruel world that took his home and both his parents from him. “Why do you cry, child?” The voice cut through the silence. Minho had tuned everything out, even the constant flow of the river. He didn't hear anyone approaching. He scrambled to try and get to his feet, but his body was tired. He was hungry and the only sleep he'd gotten was from him passing out. “Woah there.” The man helped steady the boy, despite Minho trying to protest. He no longer trusted people. “When was the last time you ate, child?” Minho opened his mouth, but said nothing. He couldn't. The continued beatings had damaged his larynx, he couldn't speak anymore if he wanted to. “Seems like it's been a while.” The man smiled and it reminded Minho so much of his mother's. A smile of pure kindness.

The man was huge. He towered over the boy, eclipsing him. He dug in his bag and pulled out bread, handing it to the boy. Minho didn't want to accept, but his body moved before his brain could protest. He scarfed down the offering, nearly choking on it. “Slow down, you'll choke yourself.” Minho went to drink water from the river but the man stopped him, putting his large hand on the boy's chest. “The water is not safe. Here..” He pulled a golden flask from his armor, uncapping it and handing it to him. Minho drank as if his life depended on it. He was by the river, but hadn't drank from it, in a way he was torturing himself for leaving his mother behind.  “Boy, where is your mother?” The man knew that most men were off at war, so he asked for the boy's mother instead.

Minho paused, thoughts of the last time he saw his mother flashed through his mind and the tears welled up in his eyes. Before he knew it he was silently sobbing into his bread. “General Ermias, we have located the army base for the enemy and have them surrounded. How shall we pr-” The soldier was hushed, the general put his hand up to stop him from talking. Ermias hated to see children suffer, especially at the hands of adults. Even though this was a war he was fighting, he tried his best to spare women and children, because he had a wife and young child at home. 

“Tell the heavy infantry to move ahead, bombard them from the front, let them know we are coming. Tell light infantry to sneak in from the back. Capture who you can.” The Soldier nodded, “I'll join them on the line, once I find a place for this little guy.” He nodded towards Minho. The soldier ran off with his instructions. Ermias turned to the child, “How about we get you cleaned up and get you some food, yeah?” Minho stared at the soggy, tear-stained bread in his hands. “Then I will send someone to help you locate your mother.” Minho cried again, shaking his head. Ermias understood the pained look on the boy's face. His mother was more than just lost, she was gone. “Oh. I understand.” Ermias didn't want to leave the child alone and hungry in the woods, so he asked if he'd like to come back to camp with him.

Minho agreed for reasons he could not understand. It took a few days, but he eventually told the general his name, writing it in the dirt. Minho quickly grew attached to the man, seeing him as the father he never knew. After the war ended, Ermias took Minho home with him, he'd been corresponding with his wife who was ready to welcome the child with open arms. Minho had been through a lot over the years since his mother had passed. He'd seen what battle did to the soldiers who fought it. Been in the room while plans were being made to raid kingdoms. There, Ermias tried his best to convince the other generals to persevere in the lives of the people of the kingdoms they raided, using Minho as an example of what happens to children who are left to suffer from the aftermath of war. Minho grew to understand the type of man the general was, he even started to look up to the man.

By the time the war ended, Minho was almost eight. Ermias had the choice of sending the boy back with the army to train or take him in himself. He'd willingly admit he'd grown attached to the child and would hate for him to be sent away. After talking with his wife, they decided to take the boy in. Bringing him into the fold, accepting him as a child of their own to raise. Minho was your brother and as your brother, he was in charge of your well being, at least that's how he felt.

He squeezed your hand tightly, sending up a silent prayer that you would be okay, just like his mother did for him all those years ago.

A.N: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it.

[sonicthetarot]

SONIC THE TAROT Card Previews #15

Today's previews are for the Suit of Swords' Seven of Swords, Eight of Swords, Nine of Swords, and Ten of Swords! See their guidebook entries below, and check out our website for more and our storefront to preorder a copy!

Seven of Swords (Mephiles the Dark)

One half of the sun god Solaris, Mephiles the Dark embodies the deception inherent to the Seven of Swords. Initially posing as a friend to Silver and Blaze, his deceit quickly becomes apparent when he betrays them to further his own goals. In general, Mephiles is adept at mental manipulation, being able to come up with the needed anguish to release his counterpart from Elise without aid.

Bending and ignoring the truth is key to the Seven of Swords reversed. While Mephiles is correct that Sonic is the Ibliss Trigger, he fails to mention that he only becomes so once assassinated by Mephiles himself. Yet once he's outsmarted and erased from the timeline, Mephiles refuses to accept his intangible existence, blind to the fact that Shadow is much stronger from when he last faced him and chances of victory are slim.

The Seven of Swords combines trickery and lies to achieve his goals, all while ignoring the truth, himself.

Upright Keywords: deception, betrayal, manipulation, schemefulness

Reversed Keywords: ignorance, half-truths, being outsmarted, lying to oneself

Eight of Swords (Surge the Tenrec and Kit the Fennec)

The Eight of Swords, Surge the Tenrec and Kitsunami the Fennec are victims of circumstance. Kidnapped by Starline and brainwashed into doing his bidding, they have functionally become prisoners of their own minds, unable to remember who they were before Starline or any purpose other than conquering over Sonic, Tails, and their friends. This manifests in their extreme—if partially manufactured—personalities: Surge lashes out at everything and everyone, while Kit is cripplingly submissive and dependent on his partner.

The duo manages to find escapism when the Eight of Swords is reversed. Although their hatred of Sonic and Tails and relationship to each other are manufactured, learning this fact from Starline’s video logs allows them to form a genuine bond over revenge and vindication. However, they have not recovered from their traumas; even after surviving Eggperial City's collapse, Surge in particular suffers from hallucinations of Starline in key moments of stress.

The Eight of Swords are prisoners to others and their minds, but find escapism with one another regardless.

Upright Keywords: imprisonment, victimization, under pressure, psychological issues

Reversed Keywords: escapism, empowerment, survival, trauma

Nine of Swords (Biolizard)

Saddled with leagues of life support equipment, the Biolizard’s existence as the Nine of Swords is one of constant suffering. Isolated in a decaying facility for decades, its immortality prevents it from dying yet offers it no measure of life due to the inherent stress that comes with its continued survival. This results in a creature so unhappy that it lashes out at any sign of other living beings, seemingly without any conscious thought.

Total collapse is all that awaits the Biolizard with the Nine of Swords reversed. The escalating nightmare it lives within culminates in becoming the Finalhazard, a fusion with the Space Colony ARK that is eventually defeated by Super Sonic and Shadow. Ironically, the Biolizard’s defeat symbolizes a release from its pain, no longer made to live for the whims of mad scientists and earth-shattering plots.

The Nine of Swords leads a life of stress, but a light awaits at the end of the tunnel of existence.

Upright Keywords: suffering, anguish, isolation, unhappiness

Reversed Keywords: total collapse, nightmares, release, incoming hope

Ten of Swords (THE END)

The Ten of Swords, known simply as THE END, symbolizes an irreversible, termination. Destroyer of countless worlds—including that of the Ancients—it is an eldritch being that appears to victims as that which inflicts the most crisis. THE END’s consciousness is that of a malevolent being who relishes in dramatically berating its prey before sacrificing them to nothingness.

Resisting the inevitability of THE END is found in the Ten of Swords reversed. With the combined efforts of Sonic, his friends, Eggman, and Sage, it is halted in its tracks and ultimately bested. Although stopped for now, it is unclear if THE END is gone for good: due to its nature as an omnipresent being of destruction, it may have survived its disastrous defeat to return once more.

The Ten of Swords causes severe wounds to the world, but changing one’s fate is not impossible.

Upright Keywords: irreversible damage, painful conclusions, crisis, sacrifices

Reversed Keywords: surviving disaster, changing fate, recurrence, relapse

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AND PREORDER NOW!

[aylacavebear]

The Traveler - Chapter 21 - Mechoria Pt. 4

You're from a specific dimension, Solaris Eclipse. It was a dimension of magic. When your kind, the Eldrathiren, turned fifteen, your unique power would awaken within you. Most times, it was something small, levitation, teleportation, creation, elemental manipulation, and things like that. Once in a while, a fifteen-year-old would just disappear, and those were called Travelers. None of them had ever returned. Your parents had told you stories about them, and you hoped that wouldn't happen to you.

Please don't take my work. I'll post warnings for each chapter. Will probably be 18+ I haven't decided yet!

Word Count: 7270

Pairing Eventually Dean Winchester x OC Reader/You & Sam Winchester x OC Reader/You

Warnings: Suspense, missing the Earth.

----------------------------------------- Chapter 21 - Mechora Pt. 4

Your mind had been on the sewer system and were again at the library, looking through old documents regarding the city. It had been a week since you’d helped Zephyr and spoken to Kellen. The library was massive, several stories above the main level and several stories below. It would have been easier if all the information regarding the city was in one location, but to your dismay, it wasn’t.

Getting frustrated, you gathered up the papers you’d been going over, then returned them to where you’d gotten them before heading down another flight of stairs to the last level of the library. You scanned the shelves, reading titles of books, labels on boxes of files, scrolls, and old parchments from things in the distant past. There seemed to be records of everything except what you were looking for, a map of the old sewer system.

A soft rusting caught your attention and you turned to see the elderly librarian, her eyes wise and kind, approaching you. “You seem troubled, dear. Can I assist you with something?”

“I’m looking for a map of the old sewer system,” you replied, trying to keep the frustration out of your voice. “I’ve searched everywhere but can’t seem to find anything.”

The librarian smiled gently. “Ah, the old sewers. They are quite the labyrinth. Follow me.” She led you to a corner of the library you hadn’t explored yet. Reaching up to one of the higher shelves, she pulled down a dusty, leather-bound tome. “This might be what you’re looking for.”

You took the book from her, carefully opening it. Inside were detailed drawings and descriptions of the sewer system from centuries ago. “Thank you,” you said, relief evident in your voice.

“Take your time,” she replied, patting your shoulder before leaving you to your research.

You spent the next few hours poring over the maps and notes, carefully noting down essential details. The sewers were indeed a labyrinth, with tunnels that extended far beyond the city limits. As you studied, a pattern began to emerge. There were several hidden entrances, some of which were no longer in use or had been forgotten over time.

Remembering how Nix had explained that the sewer had been sealed off, you looked at all the entrances. You knew you’d have to check each one to figure out which ones were still accessible and which ones were not, but you’d need to map it out. On a piece of parchment paper, you drew out the sewer system from the images in the book. Then, you pulled out the map of the city and meticulously began marking where the entrances had been noted in the book.

This is going to take a day or more to check each one, you thought, realizing the scope of your task.

The entrances were scattered throughout the city and nearly a dozen more outside the city walls. You sighed as you began cleaning up, carefully tucking your map back where it had been. After returning the books to their places, you gathered your notes and headed back to the inn, paying for a meal before heading to your room. You’d already figured out how you would tackle this next task and realized it was going to take you at least two days.

The next morning, you woke early, determined to begin your exploration of the sewer entrances. After a quick breakfast, you double-checked your supplies: both maps, your blade from Aqualumina, your pouch from Lysara which you’d added some extra food to, and a few miscellaneous provisions you put in a small bag that you had purchased during your first few days in this world. Once you got your hair up in a braid and slung the bag over your shoulder, you headed out.

You started on the southern portion of the city, stopping at each location as you came across it, then marked it on the map with an X. So far, they had all been sealed off, not even leaving a trace behind that they had ever existed. It was the same with the east side of the city. By the time you headed back to the inn, you’d managed to check just over half of the city, all the entrances being sealed off.

As you ate dinner that night in your room, you looked over the map again. You were betting on at least one entrance outside the city walls and one inside the city but were having difficulty pinpointing where they would be. You wanted to solve this so that perhaps you could get back to Earth quicker, remembering what the Luminous had told you.

Day two was similar to the day before, but this time, you did find an opening that wasn’t sealed off. It was on the Northern side of the city, tucked inside one of the abandoned buildings. The area was eerily quiet, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the wind. You circled its location on the map before moving on, not quite ready to go into the sewers just yet. You would need to go back over the map of the sewers you made so you didn’t get lost in the labyrinth of tunnels.

There was another entrance that was only five blocks away from the Clock Tower, and that one you put a star near. You were careful though, while you were looking for these entrances. The last thing you needed was to draw too much attention from anyone who might be a part of the Rust Coalition. That night in your room, you marked the entrances on the map of the sewers you had copied, noting how they seemed to be in key locations.

On day three, you headed outside the city walls. The sun hadn’t even fully risen yet as you made your way toward the first of six locations in this area outside the city. You had a distinct feeling that all those would be sealed off but wanted to check to make sure. With the openings you did find and where you’d found them in the city, you knew there had to be at least one outside the city near them.

Your ears twitched with the sounds of the wildlife as you checked the areas you were pretty sure were sealed off. It did take you nearly all day to check every location on the map. The surprising thing, was you never saw anyone. Something you figured was that someone from the Rust Coalition would have been guarding the two entrances you did find, but that wasn’t the case. One of the entrances was near the northern side of the city but a decent distance away and into the forest. You couldn’t even see the walls of the city. The other entrance was further west and mostly covered with plant growth, looking as though not even the Rust Coalition had used it.

After marking the locations on the map, you returned to the inn, paid for dinner, and retired to your room for the night. You marked the locations on the map of the sewer you’d drawn, then went over how the tunnels were connected. There were several areas that were almost the size of a small room. The book from the library had mentioned how they had storage rooms down in the sewers for supplies. There was also an entrance you hadn’t been able to check, the one under the Clock Tower.

The fourth day began with you feeling more prepared than ever. You had memorized most of the map and felt confident in your ability to navigate the sewer system. After a hearty breakfast, you gathered your supplies and made your way to the northern entrance, the one tucked inside the abandoned building.

The building was just as quiet as before, its dilapidated structure standing as a silent sentinel to your secret mission. Carefully, you removed the cover and descended into the darkness below. The air was damp and musty, the sound of dripping water echoing off the stone walls.

With your ability to see in the dark in shades of gray, you had no need for a lantern, and it would also help hide your presence if you came across someone. This was also when your senses were more alert. You consulted the map frequently, making sure you were on the right track. The sewers were a maze of tunnels and chambers, and getting lost was a real danger.

Strange bugs moved along the walls while spider-looking creatures lay in wait in their webs along the ceiling. Occasionally, there would be some sort of rodent-looking creature that would scurry away as you walked further down the tunnels. There was also a strange odor in the air, and you wondered if it had to do with most of the entrances being sealed off or if it was just the lack of the place being tended to.

As you progressed, you found signs of recent activity - scuff marks on the floor, a discarded piece of cloth. Your heart raced with the knowledge that you were getting closer to the Rust Coalition’s base.

It felt like hours passed as you navigated the tunnels, marking intersections and noting significant features. You reached a large chamber that seemed to be a storage area, just as the book had mentioned. Boxes and crates were stacked against the walls, some covered in dust, others looking as though they had been recently disturbed.

You paused, listening intently. The faint sound of voices echoed from a nearby tunnel, but they sounded as though whoever was talking was keeping their voice hushed. You got as close to the wall of the tunnel as you dared, without touching it, slowly inching your way closer. You weren’t scared, but you were cautious, as you didn’t need to be found out.

Taking a deep breath, you crept closer, moving silently in the shadows. The voices grew louder, and you could make out snippets of conversation. They were talking about the living rust and its progress of spreading toward the city. You had found them - the Rust Coalition.

Gathering your courage, you decided to get closer and gather more information. You knew you had to be careful. One wrong move, and you’d be discovered. The fate of this world rested on your shoulders, and you were determined to see it through. You had to. Your soul needed you to so you could get back to them.

“... it should reach the city within the week. Have the preparations been made?” a male voice asked in a hushed tone.

“Yes. The heads of both guilds and our leader, Thorne, are fully prepared. They’ve ensured everything is in place on their end,” a female voice replied.

“And the city council? Are they still unaware of our true intentions?” The female voice chuckled softly. “Completely. Our leader’s position as the head of the council has them all fooled. They suspect nothing.” “Good. Once the living rust takes hold, our control over the city will be absolute. The Clockwork Guild, the Alchemists’ Guild, and the Spellcaster’s Guild will fall in line soon.” You listened intently, your mind racing. With the three guilds they’d mentioned, it meant that the other two had to be the ones involved, as there were only five guilds in the city. What completely blew your mind was that the leader of the Rust Coalition was the head of the city council. This information was crucial, and you needed more details, but who could you go to with it?

“We need to ensure no one interferes, especially with the rumors that have been circulating the city recently. Have any of the others found her yet?” the male voice continued, sounding both worried and annoyed.

“No, they haven’t found her, but they suspect she’s staying at Kragthor Inn. One of the merchants near there said he saw someone with similar features coming and going often.” the female voice tried to reassure him.

That was about the time your heart began pounding, hearing their words. This was far bigger than you had anticipated. You had to not only find a way to stop them, but now, they were looking for you. Quietly, you began to back away, making sure not to make any noise. You needed to get this information to Zephyr. He was so far the only one you could trust with it. You were also going to need to find a different place to stay, as Kragthor Inn was no longer safe.

It was just after noon when you emerged back into that abandoned building. The area was still eerily quiet, but that was almost reassuring with what you’d overheard. It took you a few moments to calm your racing heart while also calculating a quick path to Zephyr’s workshop with as few people noticing as possible.

On the entire walk there, you felt like everyone was watching you, even if they weren’t, and it was nerve-wracking. Clockwork Plaza was busy as usual when you arrived and made your way to the workshop, quickly going inside and closing the door behind you.

“Good. You’re back. There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Zephyr told you, causing you to look toward the counter where he was standing behind. That’s when you noticed the other person in the workshop, a wolf with all-black fur wearing what looked like formal attire. He gave you a friendly smile, but something about him just felt… off.

“This is Councilor Thorne Albright, the head of the city council,” Zephyr added, and that almost made you freeze where you stood.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss?” Thorne asked, extending his hand.

You hesitated for a moment before shaking it, knowing you couldn’t give him your real name, “Nice to meet you too. I’m Alkestis,” you lied.

Zephyr noticed your unease and your lie, “Is everything alright?” “Actually, I need to speak with you, privately,” you replied, trying to keep your voice steady.

Thorne raised an eyebrow but didn’t push. He’d seen you, and that was all he had needed. “Of course. I’ll take my leave. Zephyr, let’s continue our discussion later.” As Thorne left, you quickly turned to Zephyr. “We have a problem. I overheard a conversation in the sewers. Thorne is the leader of the Rust Coalition. They’re planning to spread the living rust into the city within a week.”

Zephyr’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Are you sure? “Positive. They mentioned how he’s fooled the council and how the heads of the Inventors’ Guild and the Healer’s Guild are involved.” You explained quickly as your ears twitched, alert and listening for anyone who might be trying to overhear the conversation from outside. Zephyr paced the room, deep in thought. “This is worse than I imagined. We need to act quickly. We have to inform the remaining guilds. I’ve already gathered all the ingredients for the spell to stop the rust, thanks to what you and Kellen provided. The problem is that Thorne knows about the spell. He’s the head of the council, so I had informed him of the developments.”

That made you sigh, “You’ll have to inform the other guilds and find a way to bluff about having all the spell ingredients because we have another problem. They’re looking for me. One of the merchants told someone in the Rust Coalition they saw me at Kragthor Inn.”

Zephyr stopped pacing and looked at you with concern. “We’ll need to find somewhere to hide you, keep you safe for now. Do you know of Arina? She owns a clothing shop near that inn you’re staying.” When Arina’s name was mentioned, your ears perked up. “Yes. I got some items from her shortly after I arrived.” “Good. Go and gather your things from the inn. Then, go see her. She knows what is going on, so you can trust her with what you’ve told me. I’ll talk to the other guild leaders, then go to the other council members. This will be hard to prove, but it’s the first lead we’ve had in a long time. I also want you to take the spell, and the Luminous feather with you. Keep them hidden until I come for them.” Zephyr explained as he gathered those items and slipped them into a bag, then handed it to you. He also grabbed a cloak and gave that to you as well.

“We’ll stop them, Zephyr,” you attempted to reassure him as you slipped the cloak on, putting the hood up to half cover your features. No one would even be able to see your ears and tail now.

With that, you bid him farewell before he showed you out the back exit so no one would see you leave his workshop. That would give you some time, at least. Thorne had seen you, and you were pretty sure he’d have someone attempt to follow you. Your heart was racing as you made it back to the inn. At least with the cloak, you wouldn’t be as easily recognized.

You packed up your room quickly, as you hadn’t had many things out. You did slip the bag from Zephyr into your main bag just to keep it safer and have less to carry. With your things in hand, you headed downstairs but stopped at the top of the stairs when you heard a male voice asking about you, using your description and the fake name you’d given Thorne. Luckily, that was going to buy you the time you needed.

So, instead of heading out the front of the inn, you went back to your room and then out the window, landing gracefully on your feet. You took the long way around to Arina’s shop, moving cautiously among the people on the streets. It felt like every sense you had was on high alert and like all eyes were on you.

Before slipping into Arina’s shop, you looked through the window, mainly to see if anyone else was inside. When you didn’t see anyone, you slipped in, quietly closing the door behind you and making your way to the counter near the back of her store. She looked at you, puzzled.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, noting the cloak and your bags.

“Arina, there’s so much. Zephyr said you had a place for me to hide,” you told her quickly, deciding that would be the best place to start.

Concern quickly replaced her relaxed expression, “Yes, follow me.”

She led you to the back of the store, then down two flights of stairs. The room wasn’t massive, but there were three doors there. Arina unlocked and opened the middle one, leading you inside before closing it behind you. She took you through several hallways or tunnels, it was hard to tell, before she finally stopped at one of the several doors that the two of you had passed.

“No one knows about this place,” she told you, unlocking the door and showing you inside.

It reminded you of the room at the inn with simple furnishings, only there was no window. You set your bags down on the bed, plopped down next to them, and sighed.

“Alright, what’s going on?” Arina asked, getting comfortable on the floor space between the door and the bed where you sat.

You spent the next almost hour explaining everything to her, including being able to mentally communicate with the creatures. Her expressions were mostly of surprise, except when it came to the part about the head of the council, Thorne. She even covered her mouth as the realization flashed in her eyes. It took her a few minutes to fully process all you’d told her, including the part about the Luminous and what it had told you.

“So, that’s why I needed your help. I don’t know what they’ll do if they find me,” you told her as that sinking feeling began setting in.

Arina’s expression softened, “You’ll be safe here, and I’ll bring you food. Zephyr’s good, and he’ll be able to get the others to listen and do something. You’re really important, even if you aren’t from this world.” She explained to you in an attempt to comfort and reassure you.

She then reached over to the nightstand drawer, opened it, and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “This is a map of where you are. If for any reason you need to get out, use it and hide somewhere in the forest,” Arina told you, setting the map on the bed next to you.

“Thanks, Arina. I really appreciate all your help,” you replied, but couldn’t even manage a small smile.

She gave you one last smile before leaving you alone in that room. You didn’t even move anything before lying back on the bed and staring at the ceiling. It reminded you of the bunker with its lack of windows.

Now what the hell am I supposed to do?

You knew this was far safer than trying to hide out in the city or even in the forest, but it also meant that you couldn’t be out there, helping them. All you could do now was play the waiting game, and that was always a pain. Yes, you had patience, but at the same time, you wanted to be doing something to actively help.

—-------------

Arina kept her word and brought you food, and you studied the map of where you were, memorizing it just in case you needed to make a run for it. Zephyr showed up three days later with the ingredients for the spell. One of the ingredients happened to be a few drops of blood of the one who was given the Luminous feather; you. He explained that it would take some time, but once the spell was done, the other council members would be able to arrest Thorne and the others involved.

“How will the spell let you do that?” you asked him, quite curiously, after all the ingredients had been added to the bowl he was standing in front of.

Zephyr chuckled, “A nifty little trick to this spell is that it marks anyone who was involved with the living rust. The Luminous are protectors of this world, and the magic within their feathers is very potent. You’ll be a hero after all this mess is cleared up.”

You raised your eyebrows in awe and then carefully watched him. You weren’t sure how you felt about being seen as a hero. All you had wanted to do was help so you could get back to your family, even if you had felt bad for what this world was going through. Zephyr spoke the words of the spell, and beautiful colors began dancing around the room. Then, all the colors seemed to be pulled inside the bowl before everything inside it completely vanished.

“Was it supposed to do that?” you asked, completely puzzled.

“Yes. I need to get back to my shop. The city guards have already been informed, and arrests will begin shortly. You won’t have to stay here long. I imagine that in about four days, everyone involved will be arrested, With your information about the sewers, no one will be safe to hide there.” he explained as he cleaned up.

He bid you goodbye before leaving, and you plopped down on the bed as you thought about what he’d said. You still weren’t sure about the whole hero thing. Your thoughts drifted to the brothers, and you wondered just how close your birthday was getting. 

Six months? Five and a half now? 

Calculating time was a little difficult, as you had nothing to write it down on to keep track of it. That was when you decided that when it was safe for you to leave and go back outside, you would get a journal of sorts and start writing down the things you had experienced since turning fifteen. You were also going to get those things you had wanted for the brothers.

Arina visited you daily, bringing food and keeping you updated on what was going on. The first two days, the city was in a sort of chaotic state when the arrests began. So many people were in shock at those involved. The two guilds had to appoint temporary leaders, and at least a third of the guild itself was arrested. There were even two other council members and nearly a dozen guards who got arrested. 

On the morning of the fifth day, you already had your things packed. Arina told you to leave them in her shop, as the council wanted to meet you. You took several deep breaths as she led you out of her shop and into the streets. Everyone was staring, watching you, and you could hear quiet whispers from several of them. You never wanted to be a hero; you only wanted to help so that, in the long run, you could go home.

Arina led you through the city to Clockwork Plaza. There were more people there than you’d seen at any other time, all eager to glimpse the stranger who had saved their world. Yet, they kept their distance, thanks to the guards stationed around the area, ensuring you had a clear path to the council building. It was clear that everyone in the city knew who you were and what you had done.

The building stood behind the library, you’d just never had time to take in its architecture. Now, though, you couldn’t take your eyes off of it. Construction of polished stone, reinforced with bronze and copper, the building’s exterior gleamed under the sunlight. Large, arched windows adorned its facade, each pane intricately designed with patterns resembling the inner workings of a clock. Towering columns flanked the main entrance, their surfaces etched with symbols representing the five guilds of the city: Clockwork, Alchemists, Spellcasters, Inventors, and Healers.

As you ascended the broad steps leading to the entrance, the imposing double doors swung open, revealing a spacious atrium bathed in a golden light. The interior was a blend of grandeur and precision, with high ceilings supported by elegant columns and walls lined with murals depicting the city’s history. The floor was a mosaic of gears and cogs, each piece meticulously placed to form a cohesive whole. The sound of your footsteps echoed softly, adding to the sense of reverence the building commanded.

You could feel the weight of history and power in the air as you moved deeper into the building. Arina led you through a series of hallways, each more ornate than the last. The walls were adorned with tapestries and paintings of past council members and significant events. The scent of aged parchment and polished wood filled your senses, grounding amidst the overwhelming surroundings.

Finally, you reached the council chambers, a grand room with a circular layout. At the center stood a large, round table made of dark mahogany, surrounded by plush chairs upholstered in deep red fabric. The ceiling was a domed masterpiece, painted with a depiction of the city and its guilds. A large crystal chandelier hanging down cast a brilliant array of light colors across the room.

The atmosphere inside the chamber was tense, a palpable mix of gratitude and anxiety. The council members, guild leaders, and other key figures were gathered, their faces a blend of relief and concern. As you took in the scene, you couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride and responsibility. This was the culmination of your effort, and now, it was time to see it through.

Arina set her hand on your shoulder to reassure you as the two of you moved closer to the table while Zephyr approached you with another council member.

“Y/N, this is Agaza Firemirez, the new council leader,” Zephyr told you with a proud tone.

“Welcome, Y/N,” Agaza greeted you. “We owe you a great debt for uncovering the conspiracy. Thanks to you, the city is safe.” You nodded, trying to keep your composure. “I’m just glad I could help.” Zephyr looked to Agaza, “Y/N has done more than help. She risked her life to bring this information to us. Without her, the living rust would have destroyed our city and possibly our world.”

Agaza nodded. “Indeed. We’ve decided to honor you with the highest award the city can bestow. You will also have a place here, should you choose to stay.”

You knew there was no way you could take his offer, never knowing when the scent would beckon you to move on. “That’s very kind of you, but I must decline. I just never know when I’ll be pulled to another world.”

His eyes softened, “Of course. I wanted to ask, and you have the right to say no, but would you be willing to give us your gift of speaking with the creatures?”

That surprised you, and had no clue it was even possible. “How could I do that?” 

Agaze motioned for the Spellcaster’s guild leader to join the four of you. “This is Elkesh. She is quite adept at what I am asking, and she knows how to share abilities like this with others.” “Then yes, I will give my gift to this world,” you replied, knowing now that with this, they wouldn’t have to hurt the creatures and perhaps even find a way to live with them more peacefully.

Elkesh took out a small, crystal orb, no bigger than a marble, “Hold out your hand.” Your eyes were on the small, clear orb, but did as she asked. Elkesh set the orb in your palm, then spoke some sort of spell in a language you didn’t recognize. At first, a galaxy appeared within the orb before it shifted to an array of colors, glowing slightly.

“Thank you, Y/N. This will be an asset to all the inhabitants of this world,” Elkesh told you in a soft, grateful tone before she went to stand with the other guild leaders.

“Now, time to address your award,” Agaze began, but you held up your hand, and he looked at you, slightly puzzled.

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but I was curious, what is wrong with the Clock Tower?” you respectfully asked him, as you had still felt that pull to it when you walked by it earlier.

Everyone in the room looked around at everyone else as some of them whispered to each other. Agaze held up his hand to quiet them. “All we know is that something is wrong with it. We’ve had all our best minds investigate it, and to their best abilities, they see no reason why it shouldn’t be working properly. Why do you ask?”

“I feel drawn to it. Somewhere under it, in the sewers. I can’t explain it and it is blocked off from reaching it through the sewers, at least according to the map,” you explained.

He thought for a moment as everyone else watched in anticipation. You’d already done so much and now you were wanting to help them even more. “Ketill,” Agaze stated, addressing a guard on the far side of the room who quickly moved to stand in front of him.

“Sir,” Ketill replied, standing at attention.

“I want you to take Y/N to the entrance of the Clock Tower and then down into the section below it. Be her escort, her guard, and keep her safe. She may be able to see something we have missed,” Agaze explained to him.

“Yes, Sir,” Ketill answered, then stood and waited for you.

“Y/N, when you return, your belongings will be here waiting for you, along with your award. We would like to have you with us when we address the city in a couple of hours and introduce you to them properly. Since you are unable to take us up on our offer of a council seat, we’ll make sure you are set up comfortably for while you are at least in our world.” Agaze explained to you with the most appreciative expression you’d seen on him yet.

It humbled you in a way you hadn’t experienced before, “Thank you, for everything.”

“No, Y/N, thank you,” he replied before he bowed to you, and every other person there followed suit, making you fight back tears.

As Ketill led you out of the council chambers, you felt a mixture of relief that things were mostly taken care of, and hope that you could go back to the brothers soon. You weren’t sure yet if you could do anything about the Clock Tower, but you needed to find out why you kept being drawn toward it. Your mind was elsewhere as Ketill led you down the grand corridors and out into the plaza. The air outside was filled with a mix of curiosity and admiration from the gathered crowd, but you focused on the Clock Tower and Ketill leading you there.

The crowd parted as Ketill led you toward the Clock Tower that stood in the center of the plaza. Colored puffs of smoke sporadically emerged from the pipes at the top, creating a non-rhythmical display. You’d never been this close to it before, and it was far larger than you’d initially realized. The two guards on either side of the door at its base only stood at attention as Kendill opened the door for you. 

Once inside and the door closed behind you, you looked up. A staircase wound its way up and around the walls as gears and all sorts of mechanical pieces seemed frozen in time. You could barely see the light that came in the faces of the clock at the top of the tower, but you did notice how the pipes the smoke was coming from went down the corners of the building and through the floor. There were a dozen of them, three along each corner.

“This way,” Ketill told you, heading toward the left of the door you’d both come through.

You followed him, trying to get a feel for what might be going on, but it was only that pull to go down. Ketill moved a rug, revealing what looked like a trap door, then pulled it open. The creak of the hinges echoed in the tower.

“Watch your step, it’s dark,” he explained as he began descending the stairs.

“I’ll be okay. I can see in the dark,” you replied, noticing a faint but odd odor when you reached the first small landing, making you wrinkle your nose.

Ketill grabbed a lantern that was kept on this platform, waving his hand in front of it before it began illuminating the area. Then, in unison, lanterns lit around the area and down what looked like several more flights of stairs. Here, there were no parts of the Clock Tower, only the pipes that continued to descend the corners. 

You followed Ketill down. That odd odor didn’t seem to get any stronger, and it smelled as though it was everywhere. “How did the clock work, before it went down?” you finally asked Ketill, as you hadn’t exactly found the information you needed when you had researched it.

“When it was working, the pipes would let out smoke every quarter hour that ticked by, one pipe at a time. Then, every hour, depending on the hour, that set of three pipes would let out smoke. When noon came, all the pipes would let out smoke. It let everyone outside the city know the time,” he explained as he continued walking.

That’s why I’m drawn down here. Something is wrong with the pipes.

At the bottom, the chamber opened up a little and became more like a dome while the pipes wound around it and along the floor to a center point. Carved on the walls were intricate runes and glyphs with pictures that told a story of the Clock Tower's history. You moved past Ketill, toward the center of the room, that odor getting a little stronger there.

“They didn’t find anything here?” you asked curiously, gently sniffing the air.

“Nothing. They don’t know what’s wrong or why it won’t work,” Ketill sighed, just watching you and giving you space.

There was a lantern over where the pipes all went deeper into the ground in the center of the room. You knelt on the pipes, looking down at them, tilting your head, and studying the pipes themselves.

“Ketill, can you turn off the lights?” you asked him, still completely focused on the pipes.

Without a word, he waved his hand over the lantern he was holding, and darkness filled the room. It took a few moments for your eyes to adjust to the sudden change. Then, you thought you saw something, a tiny, almost invisible puff of smoke from one of the pipes. The silence of the room didn’t bother you, and you didn’t take your eyes off the pipes. Then, it happened again.

Instinctively, you reached your hand down and touched the pipe, feeling the faintest of cracks in it, like a tiny fracture on a bone that was almost undetectable unless you knew what to look for. 

“Now heal it.” A familiar voice within your mind told you. You almost chuckled as you smiled a little. 

The Luminous were the protectors of the world. Of course, they’d know what was wrong.

You shook your head slightly in amusement, setting your hand on the tiny crack and closing your eyes. The surface of the metal was cold under your palm as a soft golden light shown below your hand. In your mind, you saw the Luminous, and the leader bowed to you again as the light dimmed, then dissipated. 

Ketill stood there, watching in awe as the Clock Tower came to life above. You smiled softly, bowed your head, then opened your eyes and stood to face Ketill.

“How?” was all he could manage to say.

“I’ll explain when we go back to the council,” you replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment but also a strange peace that seemed to go through your body in gentle waves.

After lighting the lantern again, he led you up and then out of the Clock Tower. Once outside, though, the entire plaza erupted with cheers and whistles, and most were clapping. You had to take a deep breath as it had startled you. He led you back to the council chambers, the crowd never seeming to calm, even as you entered the building. 

Again, the entire room bowed to you, their way of expressing their utter gratitude for your help. You explained what had happened and what you found, all of them making a mental note of it for any possible future occurrence. Agaze gave you a beautiful pendant that held a crystal, like the veins you’d seen on your first day in that cave. Then, he and the others led you out to the plaza, where he gave a long speech, with the crowd again erupting in cheers.

It was a lot for you to take in and, in a way, fairly overwhelming. Ketill, with two other guards, showed you to the new inn you’d be staying in. The inn was grand, situated in the expensive part of the town, near the plaza by only a couple of blocks. The building itself was a magnificent structure with elegant stonework and tall, arched windows. The innkeeper, a stately anthropomorphic fox with a luxurious coat of reddish fur and eyes that seemed to sparkle with both wisdom and mischief, greeted you warmly.

“Welcome, Y/N,” the innkeeper said, his voice smooth and courteous. “I am Fenwick, the keeper of this humble establishment. It is an honor to have you here.”

He treated you like a celebrity, which made you blush a little. There were far more employees working here than at the last inn you’d stayed in. They bustled around in crips uniforms, attending to guests with practiced efficiency. One of them, a young female fox with bright eyes and a friendly smile, took your bags and led you to your new room.

Your new room was just as lavish as the rest of the inn. The moment you stepped inside, you were greeted by the scent of fresh flowers and a hint of sandalwood. The room was spacious, with high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings. Rich tapestries hung on the walls, depicting scenes of lush landscapes and mythical creatures. A large window with velvet drapes offered a stunning view of the city plaza below.

The bed was a grand four-poster with silken sheets and a plush comforter that looked incredibly inviting. A writing desk made of polished mahogany stood in one corner, accompanied by a comfortable chair. A small sitting area with a plush sofa and armchairs was arranged near a fireplace, above which hung a large, ornate mirror.

You tucked your new pendant into your pouch and took a moment to appreciate the comfort and luxury of your new surroundings. The soft light from the chandelier cast a warm glow over the room, making it feel like a safe haven after all you’d been through. Your bags were set on the floor at the foot of the bed. Part of you felt like this was all too much, but at the same time, you appreciated the city’s generosity.

It took you nearly a week to get used to being in such a luxurious inn. Three meals were brought to your room every day, as was a dessert with dinner. You did go and purchase a beautiful yet simple journal to write down your travels in and worked on it during the days when you didn’t venture into the city. You also picked up two books. One of them was a history of the city, and the Clock Tower, and the other was a history of the world itself. Those were for Sam, as you remembered how much he loved history. For Dean, you found a beautifully hand-crafted boot knife that had a silver blade. 

You never unpacked your things. You hoped that the scent would come pull you back to the brothers, to home, and you wanted to be ready. So, you just kept all your things neatly packed away, waiting, even if you did get into them when you needed to. Several of the people in the city wanted to give you gifts, and there were a few days you would find something placed in front of your door. You thought it was sweet, so you just tucked the items away in your things. Some of them even had notes, telling you what the item either did or why they had given it to you. One of your favorite items was a strange gear from a young boy. The note he’d left said he had found it on one of his adventures, and he wanted you to have it to remind you of your adventure in their world. The brothers were always on your mind, even when you were around others, more so when you were alone. You had picked up a second journal that you wrote to them in. It was the only way you had found that eased the pain of missing them as the days ticked slowly by. You didn’t mind being in this world; it was amazing, and everyone was friendly. You were just lonely, and their scents had long faded from the clothes they’d given you.

I’ll find a way home, I promise.

----------------------------------------- Chapter 22 - Earth, 1999 & Mechoria

Link to the series Masterlist.

A/N: If you'd like to get in on the Dimensional Traveling, go to this link and leave me with a comment, or several, with as much or as little detail about the dimension you'd like the Traveler to end up in. If you'd like to have something specific happen, share that too. I'll make sure that you get credit for the idea you shared in the chapter in which your dimension is featured. I'd love to have as many readers involved as possible. I think this could be a lot of fun.

As always, if you'd like to be tagged, let me know and I'll add you to the tag list. If I missed anyone, please let me know.

Tag List: @littlemadamred @mxltifxnd0m @foxyjwls007 @supernaturalfreakout @roseblue373

@flamencodiva @reignsboy19 @stillhere197 @hobby27 @megs-gadom

[strykingback]

Starter for @x-whiskeylullaby-x (For the MFT2!!!)

_________________________

"WHOOOOOOO!!! We hope Round One of our fights have left you excited folks!!!! From silliness happening to a war of attrition between good and evil! This time we have a fight ready for you this time folks!!!!" Blade said pointing towards one corner of the colosseum.

OST: The Cursed Child...

"Back during the Age of Antiquity of Remnant, was it the The First Champion of Remnant, Shaka Ishvalda who shall represent Remnant this time, No! Will it be the Champion of Remnant who had his friend join him despite not being picked as a Champion to save the world!!! No! No! No!!!" Blade said as Hermes would would walk through the tunnel... feeling his memories start to go through his mind.

"It is this man!!! He who walked a path of pain being labeled as the Cursed Child by the Oracle of Light and Darkness for Baphomet and Solaris! Yet, when tragedy struck when the once former Champion of Remnant during the Bronze Era of the Age of Antiquity would become corrupted with power, his armies would take the life of his beloved. Desperate and begging the Gods to bring her back they refused!!! But did he give up? NO!!!!" Blade continued with the Ancient Remnantites feeling the pressure around them as even the most well attuned mages knew who this man was...

"I-I-It's Him..... that Cursed Child!!!!" One ancient remnantite said....

"Haaaah... you dont mean?!?!"

"He was the only one who spat in the gods faces, taking fate into his own hands! Many times he experimented even from the pleading of his own family and the villagers who cared deeply about him. He didnt stop until... he had done it! He was able to bring someone back from the DEAD!!!! Yet as the Gods found out they cursed him with immortal life and the loss of his light magic!!! Therefore he would be punished... and would lose everything and everyone. Until in this new time... he would be tortured even further... further than any person should be! Losing his sanity then years later regaining it and as blessed by the God of Darkness himself regaining his Light Magic!!!!! He is The Man Who Rejected The Gods!!!!!" Blade would say as Hermes walked onto the stadium taking off his cloak revealing himself.

"What a splendorous introduction...." Hermes thought to himself with a smirk.

"HERMES NIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[luffysprincess]

Genuine question, is Wuwa's story any good? I tried playing it on launch and I only lasted until after we got into the city and the game started throwing all these lingos at us and made us run around the city doing stuff with characters I did not care about yet, so I got bored. Although my biggest gripe was that I played on iOS and they had no controller support, so it felt horrible to control. I end up deleting the game after that and have only pieced together stuff floating around the internet since and I have no idea what to feel.

I've also tried to watch streamers playing the beginning of Rinascita(?) mission but I found myself going "???" on some scenes... Like that church scene where Rover went towards the (supposedly) 'secret' tunnel door thing that led to the confessional. And does that mean the confessional (and the harbor ig) is the only way to enter/exit the city?? And how is everyone in the city so chill with our talking mascot Echo despite the game highlighting in the past how talking Echoes are supposed to be God-tier rare iirc? Once again, I got to the point after Rover rode the boat with Carlotta(?) and didn't feel like continuing, so I stopped watching.

Anyway, I guess the main thing is that I really want to get back into Wuwa cause the characters look so good, but the beginning of the two 'seasons' I've seen so far felt so lacking that I'm worried it'll just go downhill from there... So if you don't mind sharing your thoughts about that, I'd like to seek the opinion of a more seasoned player who has properly gone through the story... Thank you for your time reading this /gen

Hi!! Okay you bring up some good points so I’ll try to address them to the best of my ability!!

You mentioned that on iOS, theres no controller support and I can’t say anything about that issue bc I’ve never played on iOS. I played on pc when it first came out and now on the ps5. So I’m sorry I have nothing to say about that!!

Regarding the story, I actually really enjoy it. There are times where I got confused in the beginning bc like you said they throw a lot of big terms at you but overtime you’ll start to understand it!! I will also admit that the characters you interact with in the main quest of the first season did not pique my interest very much. These two specifically but that is bc I personally found them to be a little bit boring. They are sweethearts!! but I wish there was more to them than just nice girls who are color coded by their elemental power.

However the story picks up and you meet some other very interesting characters that got me hooked bc they were more complex. And very quickly the story gets really good. I don’t wanna spoil anything so I’m trying to be vague about it but it really did outdo my expectations of it.

Within Rinascita, the harbor is the only way to reach the city bc it’s a city that was made in the middle of the ocean. The secret confessional exit in the church is I think just a secret escape way. I say “I think” bc I’m still in the middle of this quest and haven’t explored enough of Rinascita to double check this. I wish I could hop on now but unfortunately the damn PSN is down :(

The reason why everyone is lax with our talking echo is bc word is already out that Rover is incredibly important. I’m not sure how much the rest of the world knows but Rover is essentially very fundamental to Solaris-3. Again I don’t wanna spoil much so it’s vague. Also somethinf to consider is that Rinascita is the land of echoes. They have advanced echoes and know a lot about them so perhaps that’s why.

In general, I’ve not been disappointed by the game story line yet. It’s been really fun and to me the plot has been v interesting. Especially the cut scenes and the fighting that happens towards the end of the quest. Those get me really excited!!

Also you’re so right, the characters look so good!! I wish I hadn’t take a break from the game bc there were a lot of characters that were released when I stopped but I regret not having them now.

Anyways, if you ever try the game out again I would love to know how you feel about it again. And thank you for asking, I hope this was helpful and motivating!!! Keep me updated if you do play wuwa again!!

[sages-shack]

CW: flashing?? Some shaking, a black hole, eyestrain (i don't think anybody is scared of black holes here but still)

Solari is a star with trauma induced memory loss, they don't remember where they r from. They board a cosmic train. They're traveling to all these new places, trying to find one that jogs their memory/seems familiar

While they are traveling, a black hole spawns into existence seemingly out of nowhere to pursue them so they're now on the run from this black hole while trying to find out who they really are. It turns out that this blackhole is THEM from the future, trying to prevent them from regaining their memories because the truth is too painful to know. (they swallowed up their planets/family bc stars drain their planets to survive)

Anyway this is after the black hole catches them, and they decide that they WANT to know what happened and so it hesitantly agrees to enlighten them. At the end, the black hole is saying "There is still a light at the end of the tunnel" and encourages Solari to go to it.

Audio- Fading Kitten Syndrome Artist- Roar/Owen Evans

[solari-writes-things]

Happenstance

🛑 WARNINGS: Language. 🛑

✧ requested by: anon

✧ erik 'maverick' thorn x reader // reader and maverick have an interaction at R&D.

✱ “Please stop rolling your shirt sleeves up, it’s terribly distracting.”

✧ Solari Says: Hey, love! I hope you enjoy! It's my first time writing for Maverick, so I'm sorry if it's not as expected.

gif credit to the OP.

masterlist. // rainbow six. // request here.

Your head was low as you had been fiddling with the remnants of your gadget splayed out on the table in front of you. Everything about it was perfect, in most senses of the term. It excelled in shoot houses, was reliable on missions, and has even saved a few operations. After all, a mobile camera jammer was something that shockingly few had done on the team.

However, it could have been so much better. At least, you had believed it could be. Maybe you could improve the duration, the jammer range. Something that could make the visibility even less so, and the effect much more notable than it already had been.

You groaned a bit to yourself after staring at the internals for some time, opting to drop your head with a soft thump. You couldn't piece it together, not yet-- and it was starting to become frustrating. Maybe you needed more coffee, maybe you needed more sleep. It was getting late after all, you were at the lab later than most sane individuals.

You huffed, sitting yourself back up after a few minutes of self-analysis. You were fixing to put your jammer launcher back together, picking up the first few pieces of internals before you heard a noise behind you.

You turn, subconsciously placing the fragment back onto the table as you checked what was going on. Just across the room, not paying mind to you either, was Erik Thorn. You had been on a few missions with him, chatted with him enough to get to know who he was. What his story had been-- which surprised you, considering he had been quite reserved to others who had asked him the same questions.

You didn't know what you had done to earn his trust, but it wasn't something you had intended to break. In fact, the more you learned about him, the more you began to envy him. Appreciate him and his dedication to what he loved and the history he left behind in Afghanistan.

You recall him being quite good with tools. Maybe he had a brain for tech as well. After all, most operators in this CTU had been quite multi-talented. You contemplated walking up and asking him for a moment, considering he seemed to be quite busy with his own pet project as well.

Maybe it was something with his Breaching Torch. Considering the simplistic design of it, Erik hadn't been found in the labs all too often.

You swallow the little bit of nerves boiling up in your throat, pushing yourself away from your station and standing up straight. Your eyes seared into the back of his blonde hair during your approach, trying not to pay attention to anything else that could be considered unprofessional. You'd be lying if you didn't admit he was a looker on most fronts, leaving a lot for the eyes.

You were close to him now, reaching out your hand to give him a gentle tap on the shoulder. When he spun around in startle, you raised your hands in innocence. It was meant as a warning of you approach, considering the nature of many in the CTU. Surprising them was not the best of ideas in most cases, and you didn't want for him to dislike you for not having that courtesy.

"Sorry," you spoke openly, your eyes apologetic enough for him to relax his shoulders and offer a small smile.

"[Y/N]," he replied. "You scared the shit out of me."

"You were tunnel-visioned. I do it all the time, but... I was wondering if you could help me with something?"

He almost looked a little skeptical at first, his brow arching up in question for a couple seconds before you assumed he read the genuine expression on your face. He was good at that, reading people-- and it was startlingly so. You had hoped you had been saved from that, all things considered. You were trying your damndest to hide the fluster from your face and force back the warmth from creeping to your cheeks.

His blue eyes lightened up when the skepticism faded from the small details of his face, offering a nod of his head. "Sure, yeah. I have all night."

"Slow day?" you asked.

"Can't sleep," he responded.

Right. Erik had always had a problem falling asleep at night, he had confided once during your interactions. You thought it was maybe the racing of his head, or maybe his history coming swimming in circles. You had hoped he'd disclose the real reason, if he had chosen your company more often.

"Got it," you opted to respond, trying not to pry in business that wasn't yours.

"Anyway, show me the issue," he changed up the subject, not that you could blame him. That was the reason you bothered him, after all.

You nod your head in the direction of your station, turning on your heels to head to the location. You heard him following, allowing yourself to crack just a bit and let the heat rise to your face. Even if it was only for a moment, it would help to ensure it wouldn't happen again.

When you got to the station and the business was in front of you, the color faded from your face. You extend an invitation in the form of your hand, gesturing towards the picked-apart mess laying on the table. "You think you have any sort of ideas? I want to improve the range on it or how long the shit lasts."

On the computer was some coding for the processes of the jammer. You had thrown it up for your own reference, in order to see what you could change up.

Erik took a second to look at it, humming in thought to himself. His entranced eyes and contemplating furrow of his brows made your heart skip a beat for a bit, always finding it alluring when someone was in their zone. Doing something that they could be considered passionate about.

He had been donning a simple white long sleeve for the colder weather, closing the distance between himself and your list of codes. He hunched over the keyboard for the computer, opting not to take a seat just yet as he read.

You watched in awe as he whispered to himself, drinking in the details of your codes and mechanics of the gadgets. What had taken you days to fulfill had seemed to only be taking him mere minutes to understand, and it was a sort of intelligence that you wished to get to know better.

Knowing the man with said intelligence would be a massive bonus.

His hands raised as his eyes stayed trained on the screen, his fingers interlocking with the sleeves as he pushed them up over his forearms. Revealed now were the muscular forearms of your fellow operator, along with the tattoo that he had gotten while in Afghanistan displayed in the open. It caused the color to creep back to your face, and you could only pray he had been too focused for him to notice in his peripheral.

Judging by the sly smirk tickling the edge of his lips, it wasn't successful. Rather than be embarrassed about it, though, you had opted to roll into the realization that you were made.

"Please stop rolling your shirt sleeves up," you began, your eyes falling to the tattoo on his forearm, "it's terribly distracting."

He let out a chuckle, his attention forgetting the task at hand for a moment as he opted to respond immediately. "And you standing so close to me is just as bad."

The color deepened in your cheeks, a small grin crossing your face. "Yeah?"

"Yeah, absolutely," he immediately retorted. "I'll be the first to bite the bait, then, since we both can't seem to focus with each other around. They say practice makes perfect, after all. Me and you, grabbing a couple of drinks so we can practice interaction?"

You were almost floored at how easily he had rolled into the idea, all without you really needing to initiate. But considering how quickly he seemed to have taken to you, you shouldn't have been all-too surprised. He probably knew from the start how you felt.

Maybe you hadn't been as sly as you had thought.

"As long as the first rounds on you, I'm absolutely willing," you joke in return, offering a grin.

When he flashed one in return, your stomach had been doing flips.

◈ rainbow six tag list - @sazafraz :|: @angelaiswriting :|: @kind-wolf

if those you wish to be included in the tag list, feel free to leave a comment or DM. If you wish to be removed, please feel free to do the same.

[thepangolingm]

Today marks the start of the tabletop adventure for our players, aged 5 and 8. Opting to play as a pair of wizards (Magicus and Solaris the Undying) venturing out from their shared college of magical arts to discover new spells and ancient artefacts. The first clue being an old map of a cave network on the Sword Coast dotted with mysterious markings. Do they indicate traps or treasure?

Turns out it was traps. Traps and magical constructs that attack as soon as our wizardly duo set foot in the tunnels. However, some teamwork and ingenious combination of mold earth and gust saw them dispatch the foes and navigate a ravine with little trouble.

Upon reaching the deepest point of the caves, our adventurers are surprised to find a dry, well lit library. Here they are greeted by a dwarven palladin, Octavius Spellhammer. Apparently he's been waiting for just such a party to prove themselves in his trials and he has a quest for them: Travel to Phandalin, solve their dragon problem, and retrieve a magical artifact from the dragon's hoard.

[quill-creates]

Adventure 1, Chapter 2 of Shifting Worlds

The players, Masterlist

Amon Drakerock, the dwarven card master.  Anton, the halfing wizard.  Zephyr, the elemental demon absolute healer.  Ghita Skarsgard, the Shadar-Kai rogue that mutliclassed into barbarian.  First Portion: Dug, the alchemical automaton artificer.  Second Portion: Mayis, the tielfing gunslinger pirate.

Chapter Two: The Adventure Ahead

Aboard the ship the PCs talk and bond with the main NPCs Princess Creed, Captain Jassan, and Head Artificer Medrash. Anton nurses his crush on Creed. About halfway through the five day journey, the Alchemical Dragon and its crew begin acting strangely - on edge, aggressive, frustrated, and irritated - save for Medrash, Jassan, and Creed. 

While investigating the airship to find the cause of the crew’s unease, the players discover a locked room, they break in, and in the room they find a large black mirror that was seemingly pieced together in a frame that’s not its own. They find that the mirror is from the All-Mother to the Giants during the Giant-Fae war that nearly destroyed all livable lands of the world thousands of years ago. They break the mirror that seems to show a void staring back at them, watching their every move. It seriously injures Creed and minorly injures several of the players. They continue on to the Cursed Mountain after the crew returned to normal in order to finish their job for the Empress. 

The Alchemical Dragon lands in High Sun, the Elven city on one side of the Cursed Mountain. Across the mountain range is the Dwarven city of Low Moon. They speak with the leader of High Sun, Solaris Reyora Volthar, and are given the most up to date information possible on the situation at hand. There are many more missing people than they expected and exponentially more than were reported back to Empress Lerissa. The group, including Creed, decides the best course of action is to load up on some resources in High Sun before hiking straight for the Cursed Mountain before they lose all of their daylight. On the slope of the mountain the group encounters a group of fiends, and during these attacks Creed collapses to the ground prone clutching her head in agony. After a few fiends are killed, the last one dies a horrific death of melting into itself with a sigil etched into its face. 

They enter the cave system and mined out tunnels of what they’ve come to know as Mereth/Crimson Mountain. After investigating the higher levels, the group descends to the mine tunnels. In the twisting tunnel paths they discover the decaying corpses of many of the missing folks from both High Sun and Low Moon. They find one survivor to rescue and continue to investigate the mines. In the main cavity of the mines they find devils speaking to each other in front of a mirror similar to the one they destroyed on the Alchemical Dragon. While eavesdropping they find out that Lord Commander Malil has staged and went through with a coup d'etat once they left Artificum and they were going to be walking back into a trap to be executed. Lerissa Hellsfenn will be executed in three days. The group collectively decides to abandon their current mission of assisting in the retrieval of the corpses to save their companion’s mother and ensure later payment. They decided, after killing the devils, to take the black mirror and hang it from the hull of their airship as they flew back to Artificum.

[xasha777]

In a parallel universe where Earth is known as Terra Firma, and is inhabited not by humans but by sentient, anthropomorphic creatures, a tale of courage and camaraderie unfolds.

Our hero is Thimble, a member of the valiant Mushroom Cap Knights of the Sporeguard. Despite his small stature and youthful appearance, Thimble is revered for his bravery and is as formidable as the mightiest warriors. His green cap, marked with specks of soil from the ancient Underroot Tunnels, serves as his helm.

The Sporeguard, based in the verdant realm of Mycopolis, has been safeguarding the ancient Gem of Gaea, an artifact of immense power that keeps the balance between the great biomes of Terra Firma. However, calamity strikes when a malevolent entity known as The Blight begins to spread across the land, threatening to engulf it in darkness.

Thimble, selected by the Sporeguard's Oracle due to his pure heart, is tasked to seek out the fabled Solaris Fungus—a mythical organism said to be the antithesis of The Blight. His journey leads him to the region known as the Minnesota Expanse, an area untouched by the darkness due to its strong life force.

In the heart of the Minnesota Expanse is the Gophers' Stadium, a grand coliseum where the most spirited and competitive games are held. The Minnesota Golden Gophers women's soccer team, known as the Terra Strikers, are not just athletes but warriors of the light in their own right. Their games are not mere matches but symbolic battles against the encroaching shadows, their soccer ball imbued with a fragment of the Solaris Fungus's essence.

Thimble arrives during the night of the biggest game of the season, the stadium aglow with bioluminescent flora and the cheers of countless fans. The Terra Strikers are more than just a team; they are guardians chosen by the Solaris Fungus itself, their athletic prowess a reflection of their inner strength.

As the game reaches its peak, Thimble realizes that the true power of the Solaris Fungus lies not in a physical form, but in the collective will and the shared spirit of the Terra Strikers. In an unprecedented act, he joins the game, his small form darting between the players with surprising agility. With each pass of the ball, the light grows stronger, and the crowd's cheers become a resounding chant that reverberates throughout the Expanse.

In the final moments, as Thimble scores the winning goal, a pulse of radiant energy emanates from the stadium, traversing across the land, pushing back The Blight. The Gem of Gaea shines brighter than ever, its power renewed by the unity and determination of all those who stand against darkness.

Thimble, with his new allies, the Terra Strikers, embark on a quest to spread this newfound hope, teaching other realms the power of unity and the game that turned the tide of despair. And thus, the legend of Thimble and the Solaris Strikers spreads across Terra Firma, a beacon of light in the face of the darkest times.

[stateofnull]

hi like,, 4 tunneler fans on tumblr, please look at my SOLARIS design (and more doodles!!)

[channieskies]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐗: 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐧

Pairing: Prince Hyunjin x Reader (AFAB)

Genre: Historical|Au, Fantasy|Au, Strangers to Lovers, Royalty|Au, Angst, Smut (Eventual), NSFW tags are below.

Synopsis: The kingdom of Volantis is in disarray; the monarch rules with an iron fist. The times of hope, harmony, and kindness were buried with the queen who passed many years ago. The people are praying for a savior, but who will be their light at the end of this dark tunnel?

Authors Note: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. As per usual, this hasn't been proofread. I'm posting the remaining written chapters, before I officially put this story on hiatus. I'm sorry for taking so long to update, but I hope this helps at least a little.

Word Count: [Reading Time: 11 Mins]

Disclaimer: This story does not reflect the real lives or personalities of Stray Kids. I do not know them personally. This is purely a work of fiction.

Looking for another chapter?

Chapter Index: Chapter 1| Chapter 2| Chapter 3| Chapter 4| Chapter 5| Chapter 6| Chapter 7| Chapter 8| Chapter 9| Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16

Warning: This chapter contains mentions of death, slight description of bodily harm and inhuman healing.

Hyunjin chewed on his bottom lip, a habit he had formed after worrying about Venia when she returned a day later than what she said she would. Even though that was years ago when he was much younger, the habit had settled into him like rain in a cracked foundation. He wanted to help. He wanted to do something, anything, to be of assistance to you and Venia. You did save him after all. You were sent here to return him to his rightful place in the city of Solaris. But he sat there, unable to do anything to assist. Minho returned with a full bottle of something cloudy yet clear. Hyunjin had tired mead before, he’d furtively drank some during a less happy time in his life, believing that it would help like it did the character in the books he’d read. But it didn’t, it honestly made things a lot worse. He cried on the kitchen floor for hours, until Venia found him red eyed and swollen. He’d never do that again.

“Hyunjin, can you hold her hand?” Venia didn’t spare a look at the boy as she sanitized a needle. “Doesn’t matter how strong of a young woman you are, this is going to sting.” Hyunjin hesitated. His body twitched, ready to move, but his mind stopped him. He could feel your eyes on him, but he didn’t dare make contact. His eyes scanned the floor as he wiped his sweating hands on his pants. He was nervous. For a reason he couldn’t understand. 

“I promise I won’t squeeze too tight.” You smiled at him. Sweat was starting to dot your brows and you looked a little enervated. You extended your hand to him, calling to him to come closer. He nodded. His feet led him to you, without the consent of the rest of his body and before he knew it he was kneeling at your side, your hand slotted between his. You focused your attention on him, eyes watching his face intently, much like he was watching you earlier. Your hand felt cool to the touch, much cooler than it should have been.

“Minho, if you could hold her down for me.” The man moved with no hesitation or words, making Hyunjin feel a pang of jealousy. He wished he could have moved when he was told to; wish he didn’t waver. Minho was quiet, but he was sure of himself. Hyunjin wanted to be like that, he wanted to be strong. “Okay, take a deep breath for me.” You inhaled deeply, letting your eyes flutter closed as you prepared yourself for the worst. At first pour, it felt like cool water cascading over your wounds, but then the fire came. The burn was unimaginable. You squeezed Hyunjin's hand tightly as your body threatened to lift off the chair. Minho’s hands were firm as he held you in place. “I know it hurts, but you must endure.” Pain was evident all over your face, even though you tried your best to mask it. 

It felt worse than when that creature dug its nails into your skin. Your skin felt as if it was aflame, burning from within. There were flashes of white wherever you closed your eyes. You were entering another plane as you drifted in and out of consciousness. Seeing the faces of people who had died long ago, like your brother who died when you were still just a toddler. Your grandmother who helped with you during that time of mourning for your mother and again when she brought another life into the world. Your close friend who died of some unknown illness that struck the land a few years ago. Was this what dying felt like? Like the world itself had come to a stop, while you met with all the loved ones you’d lost along the way? A single tear slowly made its way down your cheek, only to drop on you and Hyunjin’s intertwined hands.

Hyunjin had never seen someone in so much pain. He could ignore the death grip you had on his hand, he just wanted you to feel better. Venia patted the wound and you tried your best not to scream. “This is a lot less deeper than I imagined it would be…” Venia spoke softly, confusion written all over her calm face. “It… appears to be.. Healing?” She asked more so than stated. “How is this possible?” You were still writhing in pain as your wounds slowly started to stitch themselves up. Venia stepped back, urging both of the young men to do the same. “Let her be.” Hyunjin was slow to move, he didn’t want to leave you alone when it was obvious you were suffering. He stood to his feet, and took a step back, letting your hand go in the process. Your back arched off the chair, your fingers dug into the wood of it, leaving deep scratch marks behind. Your nails breaking and healing in concurrence. 

Venia was amazed. She’d heard of people who could heal like this, but she thought of it as just lore. Folktales that people told to wayfarers to garner attention for whatever town they were wandering through. But if Hyunjin’s maternal side could have seer’s why was it so farfetched to think that your family, which were of first men, could also have a sort of maya. Your arm and neck completely healed in minutes, the only trace of injury left behind were these tiny scales that resemble that of a plucked bird. Your body slumped, nearly falling if it wasn’t for Minho catching you. “Get her to your carriage, Minho. We’ll head back to the keep to regroup before your voyage to Solaris.”

The trip back to the keep was silent. Hyunjin was overwhelmed with all he needed to process. It wasn’t missed when Venia said ‘your’ trip back to Solaris, as if she wasn’t going to accompany him. From childhood to now, there wasn’t a place he went or a thing he did without the support of his most trusted companion.  So just the thought of her not being in tow was damn near devastating. While yes, you’d saved his life, he didn’t know you. He’d heard of you in the letters Venia would read that your father had sent, but he did not know you.  The zeal he felt on the trip to Ironhaven did not share the same sentiment as the trip back to The Isle of Arcta. Melancholy wouldn't even be the best word to describe how he felt. His emotions were a bottomless pit of despair at this point. 

He'd usually use this time to sketch, and before meeting you and Minho, he had every plan to do so. But his fingers could do nothing more than just grip his leather bound sketch book as he fought back tears. “You can talk to me Hyunjin, you know that right?” She spoke, not taking her eyes off the unpaved road ahead of them. “What's the matter, your highness?” He sighed, it’d do him a disservice if he didn’t answer her now.

“You’re not going with us… are you?” There was apprehensiveness in his voice, his mind was trying to wrap itself around if this was worth bringing up or not. He’d hate himself if it was true that she wasn’t going and for this last conversation to be an argument. You never knew what could happen in the span of a few weeks. There were so many what-if’s that could occur and he simply did not want to try and wrap his head around them all.

“No, dear. I’m not. If I’m seen anywhere near the capitol they will know you are coming. Outside of my scheduled visits for supplies, they know I wouldn’t come into town unless it had something to do with you. And rather than alert them and get us all in trouble, I’ll stay behind.” She reached for his hand, having to pry its sweaty grip off of his sketchbook. “Hyunjin, listen to me, “ She sighed, it seemed as if she’d been mulling over this for quite some time. “If I didn’t have faith in this plan, I would not under any circumstance agree to it or let you go. But right now, with the Kingdom trying to come back together after war, and the king dealing with his sickness, as well as there being no other direct blood heir to the throne, you are needed more than ever. I hope that I have been able to teach you well, even with me not being a qualified teacher by not being royalty, a noble, or related to you-” He stopped her words by hugging her from the side, wrapping his long arms around her frame. 

“You are more than I could have asked for, Venia. Thank you for being the mother that I always needed.” His voice was muffled, but she could still hear and feel his sincere words. “I may not always show it, but know that you are a special part of me and I will never forget that.” She was touched, tears brimming her hazel eyes. She truthfully felt as if she was letting go of a part of herself. Hyunjin had been in her care from the day he was born. She was just as much of his mother as his birth mother was at this point. She was petrified that she’d never see him again. Afraid that something could happen to him and that she wouldn’t be there to prevent it or deter it. She really didn’t know how she would survive if that was the case. Her parents had died off during the war, along with her younger brother who was killed in action. She had no family left that she knew of. Hyunjin was the only family she had, chosen or otherwise.

Minho was worried. You hadn’t woken up and it had been over an hour since you’d left the pub. You seemed to be dreaming and whatever it was about it seemed to be causing you a lot of turmoil. Your brows were knit together, there was a cold sweat drenching your face and you kept shivering. He kept glancing over, checking on you, afraid that if he looked away too long that you may never wake up and he wouldn't be able to face your parents if that happened. 

Your mind was in a distant time, You didn’t know when or where you were, but you knew for sure this was not the present. You weren’t even sure if this place was real or not. You awoke on a bed of lavender and grass, the perfect breeze swaying the leaves, tickling your skin, stirring you awake. There was a purple and blue hue to this landscape. There were rounded, flooded, paddy dikes next you, the only time you remember ever seeing these were when you were around the Jade pass. But this was certainly not the Jade pass or anywhere in Volantis. Though the landscape more than favored, the sky seemed to stand still here, sitting somewhere between day and night. Both the sun and moon were out, hugged close like they were doing the tango to a beat only they could hear. It was both light and dark, stars were brighter than you’d ever seen them, and there was a thin mist that covered most of the ground that gave this place an even eerier feel.  The grass underneath you felt like the finest of silks, the blades passing through your fingers with each swipe of your hand.

You stood to your feet, looking down this stairstep-like hill you were perched on.  The landscape was breathtaking, unlike anything you’d seen Volantis and you’d traveled through most of the more breathtaking terrains that Volantis had to offer. There was no way this place could be real. If it was, how could you not remember how you’d gotten here? Where was Minho and the others? You didn’t bother screaming out for them, unsure if that would cause something that might have been lurking in the distance to show itself. You slowly spun in a circle, looking for something that showed signs of life, so you could make that your destination. There were no tracks you could see, dirt riddled or paved paths in sight. You gave up the search and just started walking, hoping to find something or someone that could help.

You didn’t know if you would get the answers you seeked, but it didn’t hurt to try. You walked through the paddy field, only for time to freeze and warp, transporting you  someplace else. Tall trees towered over the small tile roof house that sat at the end of a dirt road. It was surrounded by a clay fence that was topped with its own small roof and beautiful rows of pink and purple flowers surrounded it like a border. There were no other buildings in sight, just the ones on this property. You needed to find your way home. Making your way to the door, fist ready to rap on it, when it bursts open. You startle, taking a step back. There was no one there, just an empty courtyard. You apprehensively enter, something pulling you in, inviting you. The courtyard was just as beautiful as the landscaping outside of it. A small Korean red pine tree sat in the middle of the path. The scent of rich florals filled the air. Windchimes sang as the wind swayed them gently, their tune as sweet as the sun shining down on your skin.

“Welcome, Y/n.” You flinched, quickly turning to the voice. It was feminine and soft, like rose petals. Your eyes took in the woman before you, her beauty was like none other. But she did remind you of someone, you just couldn’t put your finger on it. Her long black hair swayed in the wind, as well as the straps from her goreum (the ties of jeogori, the top of the hanbok), Minho had taught you about this a while back, when you’d asked about his culture. You were honestly shocked you remembered. Her full skirt of blue with gold embroidering remained motionless. Her hand rested just below her chest, tucked into the sleeves of either arm. She looked like royalty, at least the monarchy that was currently reigning. They were from the same ethnic background as Minho. Was this… the queen? Your eyes widened upon realization, her face reminded you of someone, because she and her son shared a likeness. Sharp, piercing eyes, full lips, just an ethereal beauty, unlike any you’d seen. You quickly bowed. “No, no child. Please, don’t do that.” You felt warm hands on your shoulder as she helped you to stand straight, “Here, in this realm, I’m just Aeri. Born of the blood of the first men, just like yourself.”  

Studying was not your strong point. You knew what you needed to know of history and politics, math and such. But other than that, you let your studies fall to the wayside, especially when it comes to geography and ancient mysticism, neither of those things suited your fancy.. This place wasn’t in any historical text you’d read. A place this mystical would be something you’d easily remember.“I know you must be confused as to where you are or how you got here.” You nodded, “This is Elysium. It’s where the souls of the children of first men go, after death.” You’d heard of it in the prayers of your family after a member passed. You didn’t think it was real. Well at least not until this very moment.

A.N: Please reblog or leave a comment to let me know how you feel. I'd love a little feedback. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it.

[Rewrites, Reposts, and Translations are Prohibited]

[the-valiant-valkyrie]

6 7 13 16 25 33 for the writers ask thing :]

6. What element of writing do you find comes easily?

it's gotta be the prose.... i think anyone who has either roleplayed with me or just bounced concepts back and forth with me knows that sometimes i will just start talking for like. twenty minutes. paragraphs and paragraphs of whatever nonsensical whimsical shit just comes to the top of my head. i love it i fucking love the prose and such. i have no better way of explaining it than this, but it feels like stimming inside of my head to me. it's like the mental equivalent of romping in an endless field. i just keep going and going and going ..... aaough..... 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

7. What element of writing do you struggle with most?

it's for sure gotta be the dead space in between keystone scenes. i first started writing drabbles and one-shots purely to convey an exact scene down to the minuscule action. but nothing beyond that. there was no context to build because my friends (the only people who ever saw it) knew all there was to know about the context already. there was no dead spaces because i was only honed on one thing. now that i'm actually writing larger pieces with multiple scenes- or feed the roses, which is in itself just. one complete story- it's gotten a lot harder to actually do. other stuff💥

13. First fandom you ever wrote for?

answered over here

16. Any guilty pleasure trope(s)?

it's gotta be the tortures for me. it's where most of my writing origins come from- me in my killing and maiming era as an early middle schooler, and coping with it by tearing fictional characters apart with my bare teeth. i've gotten a lot better at writing a wider variety of things, and i'm not even especially good at writing torture anymore (honestly i don't know if i could have been considered 'good' back then, either). but either reading or writing there's just something about it that gets me hyped up beyond my usual capacity. we love to see some gorgeously written agony.

25. Have you ever daydreamed about side adventures/spin-offs from your fic? Tell us about them!

ALL the time, yeah. the latter half of Caught in a Tunnel was a daydream otherwise unrelated to the initial concept of experimenting with max and wig's fighting styles and how they intertwine when you add their. fucked up personalities into the mix. as aforementioned, i tend to think in specific scenes, so normally if i'm daydreaming about a scene or alternative take to something i already wrote, i've probably found some time to. actually write it, at some point.

i can confess that my most recent ieytd work, Sun on Earth, had me rotating spinoffs/continuations even before i'd finished it. since it was an experiment to see how zor and solaris get along under pressure (or, rather, how they don't get along), and since it was entirely through zor's perspective. i've been considering experimenting with an extension of the catalyst through solaris' perspective. i don't have enough ideas for it to be legitimately considering writing it yet but i do kind of want to.

33. Is there anything you wish your audience knew about your writing or writing process?

i have no clue. i hope everybody thinks i just rub my brain really hard and then words appear on the page honestly. chat check out my sick ass magic trick

[aylacavebear]

The Traveler - Chapter 18 - Mechoria Pt. 1

You're from a specific dimension, Solaris Eclipse. It was a dimension of magic. When your kind, the Eldrathiren, turned fifteen, your unique power would awaken within you. Most times, it was something small, levitation, teleportation, creation, elemental manipulation, and things like that. Once in a while, a fifteen-year-old would just disappear, and those were called Travelers. None of them had ever returned. Your parents had told you stories about them, and you hoped that wouldn't happen to you.

Please don't take my work. I'll post warnings for each chapter. Will probably be 18+ I haven't decided yet!

Word Count: 5087

Pairing Eventually Dean Winchester x OC Reader/You & Sam Winchester x OC Reader/You

Warnings: First day in a new world, navigating the inhabitants and how things work, missing the Earth. A/N: Don't think there's anything else in this one. It's fairly relaxed.

----------------------------------------- Chapter 18 - Mechoria Pt. 1

It seemed to be an endless void as it swirled around you, stretching in every direction. You walked forward, feeling as if you were floating in an expanse of nothingness, but your feet were clearly stepping on something solid. There were no scents, no sounds, just the blackness. You thought it would perhaps not be noticeable, blackness moving and swirling, but it was. It wasn’t like blackness of night, as your eyesight saw it as it was, and not in shades of gray. 

This is new.

As you continued walking forward, the air grew warmer and carried a metallic scent mixed with earth. It wasn’t long before you noticed the ground beneath your feet was solidifying into stone. Gradually, the darkness faded completely, revealing a cavern illuminated by a soft, golden glow. It was breathtaking, and even that was an understatement.

You found yourself in a large, underground cave, the walls lined with intricate patterns of glowing crystals, like veins in the rock walls. Steam hissed from vents in the rock, and the air was filled with the distant hum of machinery. It was a stark contrast to the organic beauty of Wonderland, an entirely new world that felt both alien and exciting.

As you ventured deeper into the cave, you noticed that the ground was a mix of natural stone and metal plating, with gears and pipes embedded in the walls. The further you went, the more the cave seemed to transform into an industrial marvel, showcasing the ingenuity of this world’s inhabitants. Or, perhaps somehow, they were alive in a strange combination of organic and machine.

On the other side of the cavern, there was another tunnel, so you headed in that direction. The intricate designs of the crystal veins along the walls glowed, casting a soft light along your path. You noticed embedded gears and pipes of varying sizes that almost seemed to grow between the veins. Some of them looked ancient, covered in a thin layer of dust, while other parts gleamed as if recently polished. It had captivated your curiosity for this world.

The tunnel wasn’t long, and you could see the light at the end of it. Your entire expression turned to awe and fascination as you stepped into the light of the outside world. “Breathtaking,” again, would have been an understatement. The sky was a beautiful hue of blues, with clouds dancing lazily along a gentle breeze. It almost looked to be mid-day.

Along both sides of the dirt path was grass dotted with odd flowers. There were also trees. Well, they looked like trees, at least. Some of them had bark trunks, while others looked to be made entirely of metal plating. A few of the ones with bark for trunks had gears in different shapes and sizes for leaves, while others had just leaves with metallic-looking flowers speckled throughout. 

The ones with metal tunks had a mix of leaves and pipes, varying in size and shape, with some of the pipes puffing out small clouds of something. You weren’t entirely sure what. The further from the path, the thicker the trees got, forming a forest on either side of the path.

In the distance, you could see larger puffs of vapor in various colors and sizes but couldn’t tell what was producing them. You followed the path, noting the unique flora along the way. Strange metallic flowers with petals that shimmered in the sunlight grew alongside more familiar-looking plants. You also noticed that some of the trees had copper-colored bark and leaves of burnished bronze, their branches swaying gently in the breeze.

And I thought Wonderland was odd.

As you walked, you noticed movement in the trees. Creatures with mechanical features and organic bodies watched you with curious eyes. Some had wings like birds but with feathers made of thin, flexible metal. Others had fur or scales interwoven with tiny gears and cogs, creating a seamless blend of nature and technology. They moved gracefully, their bodies making soft, clicking noises as they shifted.

In the near distance, you heard footsteps along the dirt path, but your curiosity was far stronger than any sense of caution at this point, so you pressed on. When it came into view, you tilted your head in utter curiosity at what you saw. A small, fox-like being walking on two legs, a pack over one of its shoulders, and a walking stick in its opposite hand. It wore a simple tunic made of woven fibers. Its eyes, a striking shade of emerald green, making you instantly think of Dean, missing him again.

What is this place?

The fox-like creature didn’t seem to worry about your appearance at all. In fact, it smiled at you when the two of you got closer to each other. It looked similar to a fox like you’d seen on Earth when you watched TV. But at the same time, it was more human-like in its demeanor. 

“Welcome, traveler,” it said in a melodic voice as if it were common to see strangers along this path. “Come to see the city?”

At first, you weren’t sure what to say, as you hadn’t expected the creature to speak English like on Earth, and now, you were thankful you had learned it. “Not exactly,” you replied, a little unsure of how to explain why you were here.

It looked at you curiously, rubbing its chin with its finger and thumb, which were like regular fox paws but were also more human-like in how they functioned. “Well then, why are you here?”

“I’m trying to find my way home. It’s a long story. I just know that it isn’t this world,” you replied, giving the creature a small smile, trying to be friendly.

Again, it seemed to ponder your words before it spoke. “The city holds a vast library with many who are knowledgeable on a great many things. Perhaps someone there can assist you with your travels.”

“Thank you. I truly appreciate that,” you replied, glancing up to where you could see the puffs of vapor in the sky. “Do I need to worry about any dangers on the path to the city?” you asked, finally looking back down at him.

“As long as you don’t go into the forest, you should be fine. We haven’t had any attacks on this road in many years,” he replied with a friendly smile, which reassured you he was telling the truth.

“Thanks again,” you replied, giving him a friendly nod before you continued on your way. He waved to you, which you returned, and then he too went on his own journey, whatever that might have been. It didn’t seem like it would be a long walk, but you also knew that distance could be deceiving. Something you hadn’t had in a little while now, water, and you knew your body needed it. You scented the air, and there was water, but that would take you off the path and toward the forest. For now, you continued toward the city; that way, you wouldn’t be standing still in your indecision. The path had curves and straightaways, but the scent of water always seemed present, almost as if you were walking alongside a stream, and you wondered if there was one nearby, or if perhaps the path would cross over it.

The scenery didn’t change much, but the city was getting closer. The gentle breeze felt nice as it blew through your hair. Even the way the sounds of organic and mechanical mixed together in perfect harmony was peaceful. This place didn’t look as though it could hold a single danger, but you knew otherwise, thanks to the fox’s warning earlier.

As you continued along the path, the mechanical flora began to give way to signs of civilization. The first structures you encountered were small, quaint homes built from a mixture of stone, metal, and wood. Vines with metallic leaves crawled up the sides, intertwining with natural plants in a harmonious blend of nature and technology.

Further along, the dirt path transformed into cobblestone streets, bordered by lampposts, but with it being daytime, you couldn’t quite tell how they worked. The air filled with a gentle hum of machinery and the soft chirping of mechanical insects. The small houses and cottages looked to be those of farm owners who worked the land. It wasn’t long before you came to a bridge that crossed the water source you’d been curious about for some time. 

Heading to the water's edge, just off the path, you noticed how the water bugs dashed about and glimmering fish with scales, a mixture of organic and metal, played in the stream's current. It was peaceful. You crouched at the bank, cupped your hands, dipped them into the water, then brought them to your lips, drinking the refreshing liquid. Your entire body felt refreshed, and you wondered just how long you’d gone without water. Wonderland had been strange, so that could have explained some of it. 

There was what looked to be a lilipad on the water near where you knelt, but it was a copper color. You gingerly reached out, letting your fingers slide softly over its surface, careful not to disturb it too much. It was soft to the touch but also warm, like metal that had been sitting in the sun too long. It fascinated you.

You didn’t feel much of a change within you, not like with other places. There was the light warmth and tingle that danced throughout your body, but everything looked and felt the same. You drank a few more handfuls of water before getting back onto the path and crossing the bridge. It was well built, again with a combination of natural and metal materials. The inhabitants of this world looked to be quite talented.

As the city finally started coming into view, your eyes widened in awe, and you felt as though your jaw hit the ground. It was massive, with a protective wall around the entire thing. You couldn’t even tell how large it really was, stretching further than you could see. Near what you figured was the heart of the city, the puffs of smoke in different colors puffed away, like they were busy at work. 

Along the wall of this massive city, you noticed it, too was constructed of a mixed compound. It wasn’t metal, but it wasn’t stone, either. It truly was an engineering masterpiece. Vines like the ones you’d see along the homes and cottages grew up this as well. There were what looked like watchtowers every so often along the top of the wall. You could even see the tops of some of the buildings from where you were that jutted above the wall. The area around the wall was well manicured, kept free of everything but grasses and some wildflowers. There were no homes here, only a guard post near the massive entrance. You briefly wondered why they would need such a massive entrance, as it towered far above your head. The guard only nodded, giving you a friendly smile as you entered the city.

He was dressed in some simple armor, colors of blue and gold in intricate designs painted in specific places. With his features, he reminded you of dogs you’d seen on the TV on Earth. The guard's fur was black with white in some places, and his ears perked straight up, alert. He also had the most striking blue eyes, but his smile was soft and friendly, even with his mouthful of teeth. You returned a friendly smile before setting your eyes on the city within.

Clockwork Arbor…

As you crossed the threshold, the name came to you, taking in the bustling city streets. The inhabitants were different from what you expected. They were animals of one variety or another, or at least had all the classic features of animals, but they all walked on two legs, wore clothes of one fashion or another, and they all talked. In a way, you fit in here, and your ears twitched with the sounds around you, all new, all begging to be explored.

Along the cobblestone city street were different vendors and merchants, selling a variety of items, everything from different types of food to fabrics for clothing and even jewelry. Homes were nestled behind them, some of them tall, with two or more stories. Then there were the shops with more expensive items. All the buildings here were again made of stone, metal, and wood. Some of them even had gears of different sizes and piping as part of their structure. Chimnies adorned several rooftops. 

You weren’t entirely sure what the currency in this world was, but you did notice that the inhabitants all had a pouch tied near their waist. Watching a few as they paid for items, you could see what looked like coins of different colors, made from metal with a slit cut out of the center of them. 

Lamps adorned both sides of the cobblestone street, their posts adorned with intricate designs. The inhabitants here fascinated you with their skills and innovations. The further into the city you walked, the more your mind wandered. You’d need to find a way to get some of the currency here, although weren’t entirely sure how you’d accomplish that. Something else you noticed, the closer to the city center you got, the more elegant the buildings became. 

This must be the richer part of the city.

The center of the city itself opened up into a vast courtyard. There was a water fountain, benches to sit and relax, raised garden beds, and some very choice buildings on the outskirts. There was also a grand clock tower that stretched far above your head. Coming off the clocktower were different pipes that let out puffs of colored smoke or vapor; you weren’t entirely sure. 

The smoke I saw from the path. You tilted your head, staring at the face of the clock. The hands on it weren’t moving, like it was almost frozen in time at seven in the morning. Or, perhaps it was seven at night. Guards were posted at the door at the clock tower’s base, one on each side. They looked similar to the one that had been at the city’s entrance. 

Huh, wonder what happened?

Scanning the courtyard, you noticed a library, a workshop, a couple of shops with weapons and armor, trinkets, and food, a bar that also served meals, and then there was another building that you weren’t sure what it held. It looked somewhat ordinary on the outside, with only a metal sign hanging above it that read Information.

Well, it’s as good a place as any to start.

With that thought, you headed there first. As you passed the clock tower, your eyes again were drawn to it. You felt a pull from it. Not to go up to the top of it, but something below it, under the city itself. Goosebumps danced along your arms, and you pulled your gaze back to your intended destination at the moment. 

A bell dinged as you entered the building. The inside was just as amazing as the outside. There were several tables for people to sit at. Hanging on the walls to your left were bulletin boards with papers hanging on them. You couldn’t read them from this distance, though, and at the moment, you had questions. On the other side of the room, there were pictures in frames with different inhabitants of this world. Then, across from those were a couple of doors that you assumed led further into the building.

In front of you was a counter with a cat-girl behind it. Behind the counter were shelves full of books, scrolls, loose papers, and different types of items. She had short, sleek black hair and piercing yellow eyes that sparked with curiosity. Her feline ears twitched slightly as she noticed you, and a smile spread across her face, revealing sharp canines. In a way, she reminded you of your home world, although you weren’t covered in fur like she was.

“Welcome to Clockwork Arbor’s Information Center! How can I help you today?” she asked in a melodious voice, her tail swaying gently behind her. You smiled back, feeling a bit more at ease. “I’m new here and a bit lost. I was hoping you could tell me more about the city and perhaps how I might get some of the coins I see everyone using.”

She nodded, her eyes gleaming with understanding. “Of course! I’m Nix. Clockwork Arbor is a city of ingenuity and harmony where nature and technology coexist beautifully. We have many skilled artisans and knowledgeable scholars. You’ll find our Grand Library quite resourceful. Don’t let its outward appearance fool you. It’s far larger than it looks. The marketplace offers a variety of unique items that you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re looking for guidance on your travels, the Grand Library or one of the guilds might be the best places to start.”

“Thank you,” you replied, glancing around the room again, noticing one of the inhabitants, who looked like a raccoon, go up to the counter. 

Another cat girl, this one with yellow and orange striped fur, went to assist it. The raccoon placed some items on the counter while the cat looked them over. Then she took them and handed the raccoon a handful of the colorful coins.

Nix had been watching you and her co-worker, so before you could say anything, she began talking again, “If you bring items here, and they have value, we exchange them for Steamcoins. Some of the merchants are always looking for help, and there are different jobs on the bulletin boards. If you have specific skills, you might find a guild that could use your talents.”

You gave her a friendly smile, “Thanks again. I’ll start with the bulletin boards. I’m not sure how long I’ll be staying.”

“Good luck, traveler,” she said with a friendly wave as you turned to explore the rest of the building.

There were a few inhabitants talking at a couple of the tables, but you headed for the bulletin board. The papers hanging consisted of different jobs, and seemed to be set up by level of difficulty. Some of the simpler ones were to assist at the places that needed food servers or helping out on some of the nearby farms. The more difficult ones had to do with pest control or strange creatures bothering local farmers. The highly difficult ones had pictures of different monsters on them with instructions on where they were located and what you had to bring back to claim the bounty. 

This place is definitely strange.

One in the middle caught your attention. It had to do with a nearby rancher who had something spooking their horses. They didn’t have much information on what it was, just that it would chase the horses around the pen near twilight, and then, ten minutes later, it would just be gone. You plucked the paper from the board, not even noticing the people there watching you, and headed back outside. Currency was your first goal, and it hadn’t yet crossed your mind to trade any of the items you had in your pouch.

As you walked toward the ranch, you took in the details of the job, not really paying attention to your surroundings. The ranch belonged to a family with five kids. It was a horse ranch, and they supplied most of the horses to the city and locals. The biggest concern was that whatever it was would eventually hurt the horses. Looking up from the paper, you noticed a thick wooden fence to your right that had stretched for a while. Near the back, you noticed horses.

This must be the place.

Finding the entrance, you turned down a well-worn but well-kept path, wide enough for a large cart to be pulled easily. A large wooden sign hung on thick posts on either side. Frolicking Fields Ranch, the sign read. The fencing continued, and your ears twitched, hearing the sounds of horses from the ranch. The closer you got to the home, the more things came into view. There were small gardens that grew interesting-looking plants, as well as trees with odd fruits hanging from them. Some ranch equipment, several barns dotted around the ranch, and an odd-looking animal that began to almost bellow at you the closer you got. That was when what looked like a lizard-man came out of the home. 

You tilted your head, although you shouldn’t have been surprised at this point, not with what you’d seen in the city. He was wearing overalls, a plain shirt, and a straw hat on top of his head. Moments later, a female one appeared behind him, clad in pants and a shirt, a small child in her arms.

“Don’t mind, Bruno. He’s harmless,” the man chuckled as he descended the steps. “Name’s Branson and this is my wife, Lily. How can we help you, traveler?”

To not only watch but hear a lizard speak was interesting and odd, to say the least. You shook the feeling away, though. “Nice to meet you,” you began with a soft smile. “I’m Y/N, and I noticed you needed help with something,” you explained, holding up the paper from the bulletin board.

Realization dawned on his expression, seeing the paper in your hand, “Ah, yes. That thing has been tormenting my horses for nearly a month now. I don’t know why no one else wanted to help or even try to figure out what it was. We appreciate this, a lot,” he replied, completely relieved.

“Would you like something to drink?” Lily asked.

“No, thank you, ma’am,” you answered respectfully.

All she did was laugh, though, “Please, Lily is fine. You make me sound like my mother.” Then, she headed back into the main house, still laughing a bit.

Even Branson chuckled and momentarily shook his head in amusement before looking up toward the sky. “We have about an hour before it shows up.” His gaze then went to you, now far more serious, “Shall I show you around and where its focus has been?”

“That would be helpful. I’d like to be able to help you if I can,” you answered, folding the paper and slipping it into your pocket.

Branson walked you toward one of the further paddocks, near the back of the ranch. On the way, he explained that the creature had stayed in the back three paddocks. If he moved the horses to a different paddock, the creature would go to the next closest one and chase the horses there. The strangest part was that it was underground, but the ground never caved in, and there were no tunnels left behind either. It was a complete mystery to him. At this point, he was almost convinced that it was just a ghost. 

When you reached the far paddocks, you didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary; they looked just like the rest. They were, however, closer to the forest, even if that was nearly fifty feet from the far fenceline. The horses were lazily grazing away on the grasses that grew and some of the wildflowers that happened to be blooming amid the tufts of grass. They were truly beautiful creatures to you, majestic in how they moved.

“Do you mind if I walk the fenceline?” you asked him, noticing something odd along a section near the back of one of the paddocks.

“Not at all,” he replied, puzzled with your request.

Branson led you into the paddock, locking the gate behind you, then followed you to the far side. He watched as you inspected the different sections of fencing but stayed quiet, hoping you could give some insight.

“Was this recently repaired?” you asked, squatting down and examining one of the boards.

“Yes. A storm came through, about a month ago, and a tree branch from one of the nearby trees smashed this section. My oldest son and I repaired it the following day,” he explained, having no clue what that had to do with anything.

You stood up and looked around the paddock, then out toward the forest, still not seeing anything, yet. It was a feeling more than anything concrete, so you didn’t say anything to him, not wanting to get his hopes up. You’d have to wait until twilight to be sure.

“Is there a way to easily remove just this section?” you asked, your gaze still on the forest. 

He still didn’t know what you were thinking but answered, “Yes. Let me get my tools. It won’t take long.”

Branson left you there to do just that. You just couldn’t shake the feeling that had crept up the moment you noticed the repaired section of the fence. Whatever the creature was, it wasn’t trying to hurt the horses; that was evident. When he returned, you helped him remove that section of the fence only a few minutes before twilight. He then made sure to keep the horses away from the open section while you stood nearly twenty feet away from it. Please let my suspicions be right.

Without fail, like every night before, it was there. The difference, though, you saw it. Tilting your head in complete curiosity, you just stared at it. The creature was half the size of a horse and covered in light blue fur. Whisps of blue light danced off of it in a soft glow with the twilight hour. It almost reminded you of a deer from Earth, mixed with a horse, while also having the most beautiful feathered wings you’d ever seen. It stared right back at you, then took off through the opening. As it moved, it looked as though it was traveling underground while it ran through the grass. The way the Earth moved beneath its hoofbeats gave the illusion of an underground creature. And at the same time, it never disturbed the ground it ran across. All you could do was stare in awe and curiosity. When your gaze fell to the forest where it was headed, you saw an entire herd of them, of all sizes. The largest of them stood in the front, adorned with large antlers that grew into a beautiful headpiece. It bowed to you once the smaller one reached them. Then, they all turned and went into the forest, disappearing.

Branson had watched the movements, but he hadn’t seen what was there. He finally approached you, staring toward the forest. “Was it a ghost?” he asked with a fair amount of curiosity.

“No, but its herd is happy to have it home again,” you replied with a small, relieved smile.

“Wait, it’s herd?” he asked, shocked. “Was… was it… blue, with wings?” he asked, almost as if it was some rare phenomenon.

You turned to him, tilting your head a bit, “Yes, why?” you asked, curious and confused.

“The Luminous…” he whispered, his gaze returning to the forest. It took him a moment or two before he pulled himself out of his shock. “They’re rare creatures, and they are said to bring good luck if they show themselves to you. I feel horrible that one got trapped in my ranch.”

You could hear the heaviness in his words and the almost disappointment that they hadn’t shown themselves to him but to you instead. “Do you know why it couldn’t just hop over the fence?” you asked him, now curious why it hadn’t simply flown away.

He sighed, turning to face you again, “My ranch is protected with magic to keep creatures out and my horses in. When the fencing was damaged, it created an opening, effectively breaking the protection spell in that section.”

Magic was something you hadn’t considered being a part of this world, but now things made far more sense than they had before. You gave him a reassuring smile and helped him fix the section of the fence before the two of you went back to the main house. On the walk back, he insisted that you stay in one of the guest houses for your troubles, not wanting you to walk back at night to find a room at one of the boarding houses. You tried to turn him down nicely, but back at the main house, even Lily persisted that you stay.

That was when you got to meet their other children: their oldest son, who was in his early teens, followed by another son, who was about ten. Then there were their two daughters, twins, but so vastly different and adorable, around the age of seven. Their youngest was just over a year old and clinging to his mother. They were a sweet family, humble. You were invited to dinner and knew there was no way of getting out of it, so graciously accepted. Branson asked you to share what you saw while they ate, and when you did, the children’s eyes lit up, as if knowing they were really real somehow gave them a sense of hope. Their family was beautiful, and it was nice to be around them. It did make you miss Dean, Sam, and, oddly enough, even John. There was a heaviness in your chest as you thought of them.

Lily showed you to the guest house, which was quaint and very welcoming, thanks to how she’d decorated it. It only had one main room, as it was meant for someone who helped on the ranch or a traveler who needed a bed for a night or two. She thanked you again before leaving you alone. Slipping your bag off your shoulder and onto the bed, you felt a tear slide down your cheek.

I miss them…

You dug around in your bag until you found Dean’s flannel, knowing he’d stuffed one in there for you. It was something he’d done the first time for you as well. You changed into only that, putting your other clothes and items into your bag before sliding under the soft covers of the bed. Once comfortable on your side, you pulled the collar of the flannel close around your face, inhaling deeply, as his scent had already begun to fade. You could almost feel him snuggled up behind you, holding you close as you drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

----------------------------------------- Chapter 19 - Mechoria pt. 2

Link to the series Masterlist.

A/N: If you'd like to get in on the Dimensional Traveling, go to this link and leave me with a comment, or several, with as much or as little detail about the dimension you'd like the Traveler to end up in. If you'd like to have something specific happen, share that too. I'll make sure that you get credit for the idea you shared in the chapter in which your dimension is featured. I'd love to have as many readers involved as possible. I think this could be a lot of fun.

As always, if you'd like to be tagged, let me know and I'll add you to the tag list. If I missed anyone, please let me know.

Tag List: @littlemadamred @mxltifxnd0m @foxyjwls007 @supernaturalfreakout @roseblue373

@flamencodiva

[orizoncontrols]

CRESTRON CASE STUDY - LUSSUOSA VILLA SUL LUNGOMARE

Questa casa di nuova costruzione è un capolavoro unico e ultramoderno sul lungomare di Fort Myers, in Florida. Ispirate all'architettura contemporanea, le luminose zone giorno aperte presentano elementi di design ambiti con i migliori materiali e alti soffitti. La casa vanta una grande sala spaziosa, un foyer, una cucina dello chef, 38 tunnel solari e una sala del vino in vetro. Con una casa di 1300mq, Acovski crede che l'automazione sia una necessità. Avere un sistema di distribuzione dei contenuti affidabile offre ad Acovski più libertà di riprodurre i suoi film o playlist preferiti quando intrattiene i suoi ospiti. La piattaforma di distribuzione dei contenuti DigitalMedia™ di Crestron alimenta ogni televisore attraverso lo switcher, consentendo una visualizzazione uniforme su ogni schermo. CS_2023_Fort-Myers-Residence_FINALDownload Read the full article