Kael Denvorn found springtime as the season of hard work, the most difficult time among all seasons to be exact—and to be more specific; assisting all plants to bloom flowers. Right now, he was slow and careful in trimming the spikes of the Blush Orchids, as it would encourage the plants to rebloom in future months. It was a stressful task. But trimming the orchids would give them the best chance for regrowth.Kael took the trimming scissor that had been dipped in the sterilized solution, and then examined the next set of orchids for him to groom. For healthy green spikes, he would find a node under the lowest flower bloom and trim one inch above that node. For unhealthy brown spikes, he would cut all the way back to the base of the plant. For double-spike orchids, he would cut—“Oh my Lord!”Kael lifted his head, hearing his dear mother’s overly-dramatic-and-surprised voice from a distance. She stood before the opened doors of the castle, her eyes wide, reading a gold-painted scroll
The elevator trembled and chains rattled. Arth descended, rock walls sliding up in all sides. It was still a long way down, so he had the time to lean back on the wooden elevator and closed his eyes. Arth was tired. But it was very normal in every afternoon of his work.One thing that pissed Arth was his aching shoulders and back spine. And he had to endure it every day. But it would all be worth it when he’d go home to their mansion.The elevator finally settled on the ground, letting Arth open the door and walk to the large tunnel. Two columns of wooden pillars supported the rocky ceiling of the passageway. The air had gotten thicker. Wheelbarrows, crates, and buckets containing ores rested on both sides of the tunnel.Arth headed forward, passing by torchlights that illuminated the dark path. He could hear the echoing, clanging sound of hammers against chisel and shattering rocks. But then a faint presence crept behind him. He turned his head around, but saw nothing, no one behind
“Fire me with Aglaean Wine,” Tristan said, sliding a copper piece on the counter towards the alehouse owner. A sweet, spicy drink would do before he would proceed on his goal. But one thing bothered him. He couldn’t sense the Guardian in this loud, awful place at all. “Where are you …” he whispered in a monotone. Another woman stopped next to him and smiled, eyeing Tristan from head falling down to his lower, her fingers gently tapping on the table. “How can I serve a handsome young sir?” Tristan closed his eyes. “The fact that you’re brushing your side against mine makes me want to cut you into pieces and put you in a filthy sack before throwing it to whoever shit who raised you.” Tristan thought the woman was gone, until he felt her hand topping his on the counter. “My, my … how much bolder can you be? If you say so, then cut me into pieces, young sir.” Tristan opened his eyes and shifted his dead glance at the woman. “Find
The Blossomland had been his go-to-cure for a bad day. The wide terrains and hills and plains filled with vibrant colors of flowers, dancing along with the strong breeze—the serene sound of petals and leaves rustling—the smell of the aromatic azalea and windrose flowers—the warm kiss of mid-morning sunlight—they all had used to help Kael calm his thoughts down. But this time was different. The worst thing he could’ve had imagined was happening now.“He’s a complete arsehole,” Kael said as he cut the stem of another azalea flower. “He’d been cruel enough to banish me from his kingdom like an exile … and now he’s inviting me to go back?” He gripped the stem, almost forgetting to be gentle in putting the flower on his woven-basket backpack.“For heaven’s sake, Kael,” Gabriella shook her head, harvesting more azaleas, “It’s been over like what? Eight years? Perhaps the prince has finally changed his mind.”“Or,” Peter cut in, “That big-head-brat has finally come to realize banishing Kael
Run.“Excuse me,” Arth hasted along the main street of Casterfall City after realizing how late he was. Crowds of people who came to watch the competition today had been blocking his path ever since he arrived in the city.“Damn it,” whispered Arth, hoping the registration had yet to close. He plunged through countless groups of citizens, hands clasped together in front of him to make way for himself.“Hey kid, watch it.” “Who was that?”The man shrugged. “Another country boy, perhaps.”Arth never gave a single care to anyone around other than registering himself to the competition, which he could have done a lot sooner if it was not for that long, pointless conversation with Robert earlier. His chest pounded fast, nervous of not making it, for it was the only reason he got into this vast city.“There it is,” Arth finally glimpsed the tall, white-painted building ahead, popularly known as the Standard Knight Academy; a three story building that
The most tiresome time of Tristan’s daily regime was here again. He was sitting on the high seat, his cheeks rested on both palms of his hands, and supported by his elbows on the table. The bright, morning light from the huge glass windows gently kissed Tristan’s ocean blue eyes, as his gaze was only locked outside. He never gave a single attention to the old and bland-speaking man at his front who was holding a book while citing the texts on it.“The two cities, Casterfall and Hailborne, were both the underlying source of the region’s…”“Seriously, do I really have to do this every day?” Tristan whispered to himself, letting out a huge breath. Thick, ancient-looking books were piled at his both sides on the table. One book was opened, resting between his elbows but the writings were too frustrating for him. They were so tiny and full of complicated words which he had never known of before.“Okay, that’s it,” Tristan finally spoke up as he closed the big book which was all about the g
"This… this is madness! I've done nothing wrong!"A filthy peasant agonized, kneeling on the ground with his hands chained. His dirty clothes have been torn as his dry skin revealed painful marks from intense torture. Along with him were two, dreadful bodies—no heads, lying while blood spurted and flowed on the stone floor. He was the last one to be executed on the underground dungeon of the castle."The court had already proven you guilty. I’ve no pity to those who defy the laws," Kael Denvorn replied in a cold voice as he stood high in front of the foul prisoner.The silver-armored knight beside Kael handed over a long and sharp sword."How did I end up to this bullshit? It was that fucking noble who drugged and tortured my family to death! Where the hell is justice in that? That monster should be the one to be punished!" the man cried out with tears falling down from his bloodshot eyes. “You’re all rotting demons… all of you…”This is how life runs here in the capital, you fool. Wh
A loud, shrieking scream of a beast molested the deep silence throughout the darkness of the snow forest. Warm blood dripped down on the ground from Arth’s black sword. He opened the mouth of the dead boar using his boots, where a small, white sphere appeared on top of its tongue. Arth took the core and placed it on his jar, containing half-filled white spheres from the C-class beasts he had slain earlier. However, it had been almost two hours and he never found a B-class beast yet. Time was running out and he would have lesser chances of winning if he could not collect a red core. “Where’re those damn beasts?” Arth muttered a curse as he continued his hunt, leaving the dead body of the boar on the snowy ground. The Dark Woods had gotten even darker as the sun was going down. The thick branches on the high trees completely covered the light from the cloudy skies. Dread. Arth breathed the cold, foggy air as he rushed through the depths of