Corruption

  Athena’s Sacred Tree Academy–or simply AST Academy to its students–was not only known for its silver-gray uniforms or the logo depicting a large, white owl with an olive branch on its beak but for its topnotch teaching and picturesque school buildings that the students and staff alike enjoy; popular and well-spoken despite the fact that it was still considered as one of the newest academy’s to be built in the country… it only goes to show just how well its reputation precedes itself.   It was an international academy after all; and the academy welcomes anyone with a love for learning no matter what their race, their religion and socioeconomic status with open arms.   The academy was beautiful and its reputation does not disappoint, of that, Proserpina, goddess of shadows, will not deny as she stood in front of the large clear-glass windows in the President’s office overlooking the school’s towering front gates with her arms cr

II–Ashes of Innocence       ‘Poisoned by my greedy stepmother,’ the Princess thinks miserable and wistful in her last waking moments in this cruel, cruel world that allows little princesses to look at Death in the face before they could have lived just a bit longer.   She feels the poison's after-effects beginning to burn painfully inside her mouth almost instantly, ‘…what a wretched way to go. But I suppose it cannot be helped now,’   The Princess shall be graceful with this loss.   In pain, she closed her eyes, resigned.     ‘Let me die.’       Her dying wish was that death will be as easy as s

IV – Mirror, mirror       While Sir Sanscroft was on his way to meet his old friend, King Arion after so many years and a thousand miles between them, the Queen herself was rather… preoccupied throwing a hissy fit inside her quarters.   “That blubbering fool, what in the world is he thinking? Was he even thinking at all?! Why did he not even bother to consult me with these kinds of things? Had he finally lost it?!” she screeched, hurling an expensive vase violently across the room with a sweep of her arm and watching it crash into millions of pieces on the wall with little to no satisfaction before she rounded next to the closest item she could reach, “First, he had named that demonic brat of his as the crown princess, now he wants her to… to get a fiancé?! If worse comes to worst; what if the girl grows old enough to produce her

VI – The Little Knight       Thirteen years old Jin Sanscroft smiled as he watched the clear skies and birds of white flying free over the vast, deep blue sea, the setting sun just shimmering ahead. It looked like the birds were going to a place where the ocean meets the sky, and he…   He remembered this place.   He remembered looking at the same view...     This, this was home.     A hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.   Surprised, he turned around and his smile grew wider. She wasn't pale and sickly as he remembered during her last moments on earth. Her skin was rosy and her brown eyes were aglow with life he had never thought that could be

VIII - The Friendship       “Excuse me!” Jin quickly called to a fortunately passing servant he caught quickly sight of once he reached the now-familiar painting of the juicy red, apple.   Red, red, red…     (Seriously, what’s up with that?)     The servant, a young lady that was clearly older than him, stared back at him with startled, confused eyes before she paled the second she realized that the young guest had… he came from there, “What were you doing there, milord? You shouldn't be anywhere near those rooms! That place is–”   “…irrelevant,” Jin interrupted her firmly, waving a dismissive hand, “Look, I need you to fetch me a physician as soon as possible. There is a little girl in there and I believe she's in dire need of medical attention. This is an em