The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 5 - Roses and Violets 5.3
“I must say, I’m flattered.” Aether showed me his terminal screen, where my invitation had filled the entire display with densely packed text. Grabbing my ear, I felt the blood rush to my face and averted my gaze slightly. “Also, you...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 5 - Roses and Violets 5.2
I wandered aimlessly, pacing back and forth in a deserted corridor. The marble statues on either side struck various incomprehensible poses, their expressions resembling someone who had been constipated for seven days. “...‘Sincerely’? Really?...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 5 - Roses and Violets 5.1
Roses and Violets: Blood is red, the sky is purple. "Did you exchange contact information?" Qana spread butter on his pancakes, then drizzled honey on top. "Yeah." I tossed a handful of blueberries into my mouth, mumbling through the fruit, feeling...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 4 - Lyre and Sand 4.1
Lyre and Sand: "'Build the empire with wheat, not sand.' It's said that I dance amidst the flames, playing the lyre and singing." After meeting with Qana yesterday, we practiced with longswords until late into the night, which might have exhausted me...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 3 - Bread and Circuses 3.5
At the other end of the corridor, Qana and Willow walked side by side, a white and a brown dire wolf chatting about something. Qana's usual dark cloak moved slightly with his steps, occasionally revealing the metallic hilt of his sword, reflecting...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 3 - Bread and Circuses 3.4
Dots began to appear on the projected map, grouped in clusters of five, distributed evenly across the slopes surrounding the basin. These represented the seven factions, each marked in their respective colors. Briefly, a live feed focused on one of the...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 3 - Bread and Circuses 3.3
Apparently, everyone had already left early to secure their spots, so there wasn't a single person in the capsule station. I found the platform heading towards the "Colosseum" and watched the white, streamlined capsule silently glide through the vacuum...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 4 - Lyre and Sand 4.4
We arrived on the ground, somewhere on the hillside of the Colosseo, not far from the estuary judging by the position of the seawall. The air carried a faint, salty moisture, a scent I had never encountered before. I licked my nose, tasting the bitter...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 4 - Lyre and Sand 4.3
The transport capsule to the Colosseo's surface moved with a slow but steady rhythm. I could hardly feel any shaking, only the occasional metallic clanking sound as we passed each floor. "Master Ontara tried to influence me with some kind of wave," I...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 4 - Lyre and Sand 4.2
Bacon and eggs, cheese sausages, and honey toast. I must be dead, and Rationalism has forgiven me—heaven does exist. "You know, being able to stuff all sorts of bizarre things into your mouth and swallow them is not mutually exclusive with...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 4 - Lyre and Sand 4.6
“Damn Venetian bastards!" Zelus swore. “Backstabbing, treacherous dogs…" “We've discussed the issue of racial slurs before," Geras said calmly, his yellow eyes casting a sideways glance at Zelus, who immediately fell silent. “Sorry," Charon said,...
The Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - chapter 4 - Lyre and Sand 4.5
I stared at the dark brown metal door in front of me, lowering my hand from the air for the 6,321st time. I exhaled through my nose and looked down, continuing to pace nervously. Damn it, damn it, damn it. You’ve got this. This isn’t difficult at...