Andrew Thompson
Stories
8
Chapters
3,542
Words
1.4 M
Comments
0
Reading
4 d, 23 h
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“We’ll be playing an old favorite of mine called ‘Bidding War.’ The rules of the game are childishly simple,” the general said, stressing on “childishly.” Dallion’s fingers itched just to kill him off and be done with it. All that talk about city guard didn’t mean a thing in the real world. Granted, doing something as obvious risked ending the trial in failure, and Dallion couldn’t risk that. “We’ll play a total of five rounds. The first one to win three is declared the winner.…-
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The more the halls of destiny changed, the more they remained the same. The new corridor was much wider than the ones before—perfectly square and brightly lit, it resembled a rainless subway rather than a corridor. If it weren’t for the torches on the walls, Dallion would have thought that he was back on Earth. “Seen one of these before, Nil?” Dallion asked as he made his way forward. “Really?” Dallion almost jumped, as a feeling of joy and euphoria filled him. Strictly speaking he had…
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Performers Plaza was always quite full, especially after sunset, when it transformed into one of the city’s entertainment areas—very much to the city guard’s annoyance. The lord mayor, of course, had ordered that things be “kept civil” after midnight, which was his way of saying that he wanted the ruckus to be moved indoors. With the festival approaching, the place was absolutely packed. Musicians, acrobats, and dancers trickled in matching their skills with those present, along with people who…
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Two members of the mirror pool dead… along with the member of the Order that made three. All of them had been present when Dallion had cleared Vermilion’s ring. There was the possibility for it all to be a coincidence. The Order’s main job was to fight the Star and all of its spawn, and the underworld was known for its high and violent turnover. Deep inside, though, Dallion knew that it was all related to the ring. The thought scared him, though not as much as he thought it would. “There were six…
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Hannah crossed her arms. “Alright, what did you do this time?” From her perspective, less than a moment had passed. In that single instant, however, successfully managed to brave another series of flaws, earning him a new level. Three more remained at the next gate. Regardless, Dallion didn’t feel he had the strength to keep pushing on just yet. A few days or rest sounded good right about now. “Oh.” The innkeeper narrowed her eyes. “I see… Well, if you had to, you had to.” Hannah’s…
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It was remarkable how much a person could hold their break underwater when relaxed, especially if that person was an awakened. When Dallion had surrendered himself mentally to the ragged water creatures, he expected they would go at him in greater numbers. They hadn’t, instead slowly grabbing on to him several at a time. Moments ago, when he had struggled against them, they had seemed so fast and aggressive, Dallion had felt unable to do a thing. Now they seemed as slow as molasses. On a few instances…
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With every step Dallion made down the corridor, his anxiety grew. He had tried reciting the names of the Moons, but this was one instance in which they had a limited effect. Dallion didn’t reply. Images of the dark murky liquid kept appearing in his mind even before he had reached the large section of the chamber. “I am in the halls of destiny,” he whispered to himself as he walked on. “And this time I’ll defeat my flaws.” Part of his mind reminded that it was easier said than done—there…
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Lunch was way over by the time when Dallion reached the inn. Both Luors had gone by then and Jiroh was out buying supplies for the week. Hannah, however, remained. The moment Dallion stepped in the inn, she gave him a look screaming disappointment. At that moment Dallion knew he was doomed. “Aspan, heat up some leftovers!” the innkeeper shouted. “I don’t have all day, Dal,” Hannah raised her voice. Dallion saw no other option than to join her at the bar. The seat he took was the same he had…
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“I know about your arrangement with the mirror pool,” the overseer said casually. “I also know about the subsequent dealings you’ve had with them. While your first and possibly the second dealings could be excused, the third is a different matter.” Dallion's mouth suddenly went dry. He looked around for something to drink, but there was nothing in the entire room. “Although, maybe congratulations are in order. It's been a while since anyone has won the gauntlet. As I’m sure you know, Belaal…
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From the brief conversation he’d had with Falkner—and the much longer one with Nil afterwards—that was the only conclusion he could reach. Apparently, all noble children had echoes placed in them around the age of three. This wasn’t done out of malice, but to ensure that they got the best guidance in life. There was someone always watching what they did, whispering advice, encouraging good behavior and discouraging bad. Nil explained that it was no different from having a governess or nanny take…
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