I woke up to a strange heat suffusing my body, an intense warmth that felt as if something was ablaze within me. Annoyance creased my face, and my mood quickly soured. Seeking comfort, I shifted from one side of the bed to the other.when I sat up, wetness greeted my fingers. "No! Not again!" I cried, embarrassed at wetting the bed for the first time since infanthood.The heat intensified, a burning that seared from within. Gasping, I scrambled out of bed, clothes sticking uncomfortably.Standing on tiptoes, I reached for the window, but my current height allowed only glimpses of the estate's surroundings, providing little to no help in my current predicament.Spotting a small step stool nearby, I brought it over and climbed up, my small figure silhouetted against the first signs of light of dawn. As the first signs of morning broke through, the sky transitioned from the velvety darkness of night to a soft palette of colors, filtering through the windowpane. With a deliberate motion, I
It was enough to walk amongst giants whose roots outreached the manor's crumbling walls.I walked deeper into the forest, fascinated yet also uneasy in my unknowing. Around me, great trunks stretched towards the sky as if in prayer, their branches sturdy with leafy roof that blocked out the rising sun. Birdsongs and the whisper of a breeze were my only companions on pathways grown over by moss and rotting leaves.I didn't not where I was led. Only that some nameless longing pulled my steps onwards, as irresistible as the rising of the morn. Part of me yearned to hasten back to the safety of walls and rules, yet my feet refused to turn. Catching my breath upon a rise, mountains came into view and stole it away once more. I stood transfixed, chest heaving in awe. Never had I glimpsed such wild, grand scenery, at least not in person. Mountains, an immense chain of peaks, piercing the skies with jagged fangs. Their lofty peaks were crowned not with forests but robes of the purest white s
Looking back, I saw a creature with a thin, elongated body. Its proportions seemed somewhat off, with an elongated form that appeared disproportionate. A lengthy, thick tail snaked behind it, coiling and uncoiling sinuously. It was slightly smaller than a coyote, but its body was unusually thin and elongated. I felt a twinge of unease, but compared to those dreaded creatures, what harm could this little one do?"Shoo! Get outta here! Shoo!" I shouted, attempting to scare it away.The small creature tilted its head from side to side, wearing a curious expression as if assessing me.I picked up a rock from the ground, preparing to shoo it once more, but then it lowered its head. I found its appearance and actions oddly endearing."Ah, are you lost? I don't have any food on me, but... um... you can stay here. We can share this place," I stumbled over my words, feeling a bit flustered initially. However, as I calmed down, I squatted down and extended my hand to the little creature, offeri
Darkness cloaked the tunnel as I ran blindly, breath sawing in my lungs. Behind, snarls echoed my panic, drawing ever nearer in the murky depths. Conjuring a small wisp of light, no bigger than a firefly, I concentrated on willing it to glow brighter. I drew deep on reserve far vaster than my small form implied, pouring more mana into the wisp until it swelled into a puffball hovering above my hand.Though they outnumbered me, I had no shortage of mana to confront the swarm, it was just that they seemed to be everywhere. "Take this!"Light blazed like the midday sun behind, momentarily blinding the swarm snarling at my heels. In that flash I wove bindings of simple darkness spell, ensnaring two of the creatures long enough to resume my flight.Once again, I drew deeply from my reserves, conjuring more glowing puffballs that exploded in blinding flashes.The tunnel blazed briefly, momentarily blinding pursuers enough for me to sprint ahead, dodging jagged rock formations.But... how
I tumbled through the darkness, panic rising in my throat as rubble rained down. Each passing moment felt like an eternity, as if time itself had slowed down in sync with my racing thoughts.The air was thick with dust, invading my nostrils and choking my breath. My vision was obscured, reduced to mere glimpses of fragmented shapes. The sensation of weightlessness and lack of solid ground messed with my senses, disorienting chaos around me, leaving me feeling utterly helpless and vulnerable.A sickening eternity passed before my fall abruptly halted with a bone-jarring crunch. Pain shot through my limbs. I laid there, stunned, the impact searing into my consciousness.Darkness unlike anything I had ever experienced engulfed me. It was a darkness that went beyond the absence of light, it was a consuming void that seemed to swallow everything, even the concept of darkness itself. It was disorienting and disconcerting, as if the very essence of my surroundings had been erased.In that b
Mark Tenery's life was riddled with obstacles and challenges, most of which stemmed from his difficult upbringing. Each passing day seemed to bring with it a new set of difficulties, contributing to the uphill climb he faced in his journey through life.His father was abusive and during his depressive days he would get wasted inside his bedroom and he would only come out to eat, use the bathroom and occasionally to release his pent up frustration and anger.During his life, he worked hard like a madman, but to no avail, he had no talent for business nor as a social climber, he was unsuccessful in his endeavor.As a result, his mental state began to deteriorate, taking his self-esteem down with it. In an attempt to escape reality, he turned to alcohol and resorted to physical violence against his own son, as a show of power and dominance.Believing it to be his paternal responsibility, he subjected his son to physical abuse, asserting his dominance and control over him. Even the slighte
"I was going to be gentle with you," the bully sneered, "but now I've changed my mind. Let's show everyone who the real trash is."As the bully's henchman began filming, little did they know that they were falling right into Mark's trap.Mark had long anticipated the bully's aggression and had already made preparations for the fight. As the two bullies charged towards him, blinded by their own fury, they failed to notice the tripwire that Mark had cleverly set up. Suddenly, the bullies found themselves tumbling to the ground, completely disoriented.It was then that Mark saw his opportunity to strike.As the two bullies stumbled and collapsed onto the unforgiving pavement, the third bully behind the camera froze in shock.They had come in a group, hoping to intimidate and overpower Mark, but little did they know that he was prepared for them. With a sturdy pipe in hand, he struck them swiftly and forcefully, targeting their heads, backs, legs, and ribs.As for the ring leader, even hi
In the soft glow of the moonlit night, at that very moment, disbelief washed over him as he beheld his mother's silhouette intertwined with that of another man.Despite the slight distance between them, it was not enough to shield him from the painful truth he had been avoiding for far too long. The answers he had desperately sought had always been right before his eyes.Defeated and disillusioned, a single tear escaped his eye, as if the weight of the world was conspiring against him. And deep down, he realized he should have expected nothing less.His father had been unemployed, wasting away in despair.Each night, his mother would don an exquisite gown that hugged her curves, enhancing her beauty. With meticulous care, she applied makeup before venturing out.Care she had withheld from him.It became a nightly ritual, one that her son observed with a mix of curiosity and longing.The pain that engulfed him was unbearable, and in those moments, he yearned for someone to share his bur