Silhouette

Jason sank to his knees as smoke swallowed the sky, the color of it an angry crimson, like the world itself was bleeding. The house before him, her house, collapsed in slow motion, boards shrieking and crumbling as if mourning their own destruction. His chest caved with a ragged sob, the kind that seemed to come from somewhere deeper than his lungs, deeper even than his body. Everything around him blurred—faces, sirens, flames—until all that remained was the ash. He should have looked away. Should have closed his eyes. But he didn't. He couldn't. The paramedics moved solemnly through the smoke, their silhouettes stark against the firelit haze. The stretchers were draped in white sheets—too still, too final. He counted them without meaning to. One... two... three. Jason didn't flinch. His heart was hollowed out, like something had been carved from within him with a hot blade. It should've been him. Not Selena. "No," he whispered hoarsely, his voice splintering. "No, it can't be." He stumbled backward, eyes wide, brain refusing to bridge the gap between what he saw and what he believed. Reality came in slow waves, each one more unbearable than the last. And then he was moving, sprinting toward the stretchers with a desperate, raw urgency. A rescuer with no one left to save. "Selena," he choked, reaching trembling hands toward the nearest form. The heat of the fire still lingered in the air, as if the world itself was scorched. He lifted the sheet with shaking fingers. What stared back at him was no longer her face—just blackened skin, unrecognizable. His mind rejected it. It can't be her. It isn't.

In a city where secrets glitter like diamonds, Isabella’s fairytale life begins to crack the moment a single photo arrives on her phone. Her husband’s tender smile, another woman’s delicate silhouette—and a lipstick she never wore. As midnight winds howl outside her lonely villa, Isabella is forced to chase shadows she never imagined existed. Each step into the truth cuts deeper, revealing a world of illusions and half-spoken lies. Can she untangle the web before it destroys everything she loves—or will the man she gave her heart to become the stranger who shatters her soul?

[Mature Content] "The brightest light casts the darkest shadow" Eirin lived her life in the shadows of her precious friend, but she soon fell into deep chaos after she stumbled upon a humanoid that tried to take her life without an ounce of hesitation. She was saved by a group of people who wielded unknown abilities, and the moment she woke up, it all felt like a nightmare. Just when she thought she had escaped death, the people who saved her are now the ones after her life. Misfortunes started going her way, and creatures unknown to her appeared one by one, taking the most precious person away from her and leaving Eirin in despair. Secrets started unfolding, and the monster Eirin sought for so long was not the one she expected them to be.

A koi fish may seem like an ordinary creature in a pond, but with the right wind and clouds, it can transform into a dragon. Back in middle school, my stepmother brought a beautiful girl to our home—she was the school belle who made my heart race. Yet, she humiliated and bullied me, turning my life into that of a dog. I refused to surrender to fate, fought hard despite the struggles, and finally rose against all odds—leaping from the fish pond to become a dragon. Now, I possess great wealth and influence, surrounded by luxury and beauty. Pity those who once looked down on me, for they must now regret it. Standing at the peak of success, I watched her silhouette fade into the distance, and to my surprise, felt a twinge of heartache. Tags: Realism, Student, Full Potential, Revenge, Coming-of-Age, Youth, School, Thriller

At the age of 16, Bian Yue became an orphan, inheriting a massive fortune from her family and becoming the wealthiest young heiress in Xiangjiang. The Li family, close friends with the Bian family, took pity on her and brought her to their home. Upon first meeting Li Siheng, he approached her past rows of black-suited bodyguards and tenderly offered to take her home, a gesture that would captivate her heart for a lifetime. At 22, Bian Yue managed to marry Li Siheng, but under the dim lights, he, with an indifferent tone, confessed his change of heart. Determined to part gracefully, Bian Yue resolved to give Li Siheng a decent break-up. * Xiangjiang's newspapers headline the daily news, reporting that Shen Jin, the head of the Shen family, frequently visits temples due to a terminal illness and is on his deathbed. People applaud behind closed doors, citing his ruthless actions as karma. Seeing this, Bian Yue devises a plan. During a continuous downpour in Xiangjiang, Bian Yue sits in the Shen residence, drenched. In the dim light, she sees the distinctly elegant and captivating Shen Jin and hesitantly proposes marriage, to which he coldly agrees. Their marriage is hastily arranged, stirring public uproar. * Meeting Li Siheng again after her marriage, Bian Yue takes shelter from the rain. Li Siheng rushes out of his car and runs to her, desperately holding her hand and pleading for a divorce so he could marry her. That night, Shen Jin, who was abroad, returns instantly upon hearing the news and confronts Bian Yue, who had just come home. Lighting a cigarette, he casts a more enchanting silhouette against the night, kissing her fiercely. He promises that the rainy season in the harbour city will end, and he will also wait for her return home.

The world plunged into darkness. Grotesque creatures ran rampant, unexplained disappearances surged, buildings spontaneously sealed themselves, and villages were deserted overnight. The weak buried their heads in the sand, closing their ears and shutting their eyes, praying to remain unnoticed. "Only the monster can be safe from the monster." Jiang dao opened his eyes to this grim reality, a world that devoured its inhabitants. He walked a perilous path, filled with fear and rage. To survive, his body transformed into something even more terrifying than the creatures he sought to escape. In a dimly lit alley, Jiang dao's hulking figure cast a long shadow, his eyes burning with a bloody intensity. Before him lay a mangled corpse, its terror staining the surroundings. Monster? Weird? Evil? "Can you take this punch with 20 years of power!? Jiang Dao grin was a裂口,his silhouette under the faint light growing impossibly larger. I will be posting this on royal road proff for staff btw https://www.royalroad.com/profile/772033/fictions

After dying a virgin, Elias Gray is given a second chance—reincarnated in a magical world with the "Lust System", a divine artifact that allows him to gain power by pleasuring women, fulfilling their desires, and growing a harem of elite lovers. From cold queens and fierce warrior women to shy beastgirls and seductive demons, Elias must dominate the world with charm, cunning—and unholy pleasure. But pleasure comes with a price, and not all lovers are loyal. Can he rise to the top without being devoured by lust or betrayal? Elias wandered through the bustling Travelers’ Hub, a sprawling nexus of portals and pathways where high-ranking voyagers crossed dimensions. The air hummed with the faint pulse of arcane energy, and the scent of ozone clung to the stone corridors. His boots echoed against the polished marble as he passed glowing sigils etched into the walls, each marking a gateway to another realm. He was no stranger to these halls, but tonight, a faint murmur from the inner chambers of the elite travelers piqued his curiosity. The voices were low, urgent, and laced with something primal that made his pulse quicken. Drawn toward a shadowed alcove, Elias noticed a heavy iron door, slightly ajar, its surface engraved with runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light. A cold draft slipped through the crack, carrying a whisper of sound—a soft, rhythmic moan that stirred the air. His breath caught, curiosity warring with caution, but the pull was too strong. He nudged the door open and stepped into a chamber cloaked in near-darkness, lit only by a single flickering torch that cast long, wavering shadows across the stone walls. In the center of the room, Lilith knelt on a plush velvet cushion, her silhouette unmistakable even in the gloom. Her dark hair cascaded over her bare shoulders, her skin glowing faintly as if kissed by moonlight. She was bent forward, her hands braced against the floor, her body arched in a way that spoke of surrender and desire. Beside her stood a man, his face marred with jagged scars that caught the torchlight, giving him a rugged, dangerous edge. His eyes burned with intensity as he gazed down at her, his presence commanding the room. The air grew thick as the man’s hand moved, deliberate and unhurried. He spat into his palm, the sound sharp in the quiet, and slid his fingers along Lilith’s exposed skin, tracing the curve of her thigh before slipping between her legs. A low, shuddering moan escaped her lips, her body trembling as she parted her thighs wider, inviting more. The man’s fingers worked with a slow, teasing rhythm, coaxing gasps from her that echoed softly off the stone walls. Her breaths grew ragged, her hips rocking against his hand, and then—a sharp cry as her body convulsed, a glistening rush of release spilling onto the floor beneath her. The man let out a deep, guttural groan, his own arousal evident in the tightening of his jaw. He shifted, freeing himself from his trousers, his erection thick and heavy in the flickering light. He pressed himself against her, sliding into her with a slow, deliberate thrust that drew a long, throaty moan from Lilith. Her fingers curled against the floor, nails scraping the stone as he moved, each thrust deep and measured, the sound of their bodies meeting filling the chamber. In and out, a steady rhythm that built with intensity, her gasps rising in pitch. Lilith’s eyes fluttered, her body quivering with pleasure as she pushed back against him, meeting each thrust with a hunger of her own. When he paused, drawing back slightly, she reached for him, her hand guiding him back inside with a desperate urgency. Her moans grew louder, unrestrained, as she surrendered fully to the sensation, her body trembling under the weight of her desire. The room seemed to pulse with their shared rhythm, the air heavy with the scent of sweat and heat, the torchlight casting their entwined shadows across the walls like a forbidden dance. R18 content

For three years, i was a shadow in his life, a mere silhouette, whilst his 'white moonlight' was the radiant sun that illuminated his world. I was always at the receiving end of his disdaining stare, uncaring nature. Our marriage, just a formality for him, a mere piece of paper. I tolerated everything because my love for him was blind and all-consuming. Until that fateful night, when i was losing my sole reason of happiness, crying in agony, calling for help whilst he hurried to comfort his first love. Finally i accepted that his heart is forever closed for me. So i signed the divorce paper and slipped away, leaving the heartache behind. I've never been happier,than i am now, a year after closing that chapter. But why am i pinned under my scumbag ex-husband, his tone intense. “Quite bold of you to think that you can just up and leave, dear wife!" I smiled indifferently “it's ex-wife” His bloodshot eyes locked into mine, a chilling smile on his “I haven't signed those paper yet!”

Guts materialized in the absolute center of a maelstrom of destruction. He was the epitome of carnage and destruction given form, his very being molded by the inferno around him. His silhouette, stark against the flames, was unmistakable: clad in the black, demonic visage of the Berserker Armor, its eyes glowing with predatory malice, and the impossibly vast, jagged iron of the Dragonslayer already gripped in his gauntleted hand. From the shattered earth beneath his boots, from the smoke-choked air around him, countless desperate, wailing souls rose. They were the victims of Ohara, their lives brutally extinguished in the cataclysm. They streamed towards him, not as individual entities, but as a collective river of agony and despair, drawn by some unseen force. They flowed into him, a torrent of desperate consciousness, merging with his very essence. He felt their terror. Their pain. Their final regret. Their futile rage. Their lives, denied their full course, now fueled his denial of mortality, binding him to this new existence.

In a full-dive VR game, a single cup of wine leads him to a chance encounter with Jiang Xue — a pure-hearted boy shrouded in quiet mystery. Unbeknownst to him, a hidden bond forms in that very moment. In the real world, bloody nightmares and a ghostly white silhouette haunt him relentlessly. An invisible passage opens, pulling him into a series of bizarre, self-contained realms — each with its own rules, stories, and dangers. Crisis. Wonder. Quiet joy. Unexpected warmth. Each world holds a different flavor. Bound by unseen rules, traveling alone through unpredictable dimensions... Is he a pawn, or a player? A dreamer, or the dreamed? Between the faint glow of that first snowy meeting and the pale shadow buried deep in his nightmares lies a twin-threaded riddle — one that may unravel the truth of what is real, and what is not. (Each arc is a standalone unit world with its own story and characters.) Author's Note: Hi everyone! Thanks so much for reading my story I’m committed to a weekly update schedule, so you can expect a new chapter every week. This story was originally written in Chinese. The English translation you’ve read may not fully capture all nuances and details of the original text. Some parts are still being refined to ensure a more accurate and smooth reading experience. Thank you for your understanding and patience. Your support and feedback mean a lot to me and keep me motivated to write more! Stay tuned and enjoy the story!

2014. 5:00 Am. Under the still dark sky, a silhouette was jogging around the block in black sweatpants and a sweatshirt, despite the darkness hiding most of his features his almost vibrantly glowing gold eyes could be seen sharp and focused. “I love, I love, I love…” the man was quietly singing, his headphones laid over his hoodie, noise cancelling of course, a beloved feature. The man, keenly aware of the danger of ANC headphones was constantly surveying the road, wary of cars. Unaware of the massive incoming meteor that was plummeting at a speed so fast it was like a blur. *boom* Just like that, a man, crushed under the weight of at least 100,000 pounds was made into meat paste, sadly missing out on the evolution of Earth. [Planet Z267-B3, “Earth” has been inducted. Good Luck] From that moment on people started awakening left and right, [You have awakened S-ranked skill, god speed, you move at incredible speeds.] [You have awakened D rank skill, Tech Savvy, you are exceptionally good with technology] … However, unknown to the rest of the world, a man, well meatpaste, received a talent as well, one so broken it was unheard of. […Skill awakened: The Talented, you are the talented one, the pinnacle of all genius, what a one in ten quadrillion genius can achieve throughout a lifetime, you achieve in a blink.] “…” the once man, now meatpaste felt his bones, flesh, and blood slowly reconvene, the boulder, the cause of the evolution cracked and revealed him, Alexios Bornhunter, the talented one.

She saw him for the first time without her glasses. A silhouette. A sweater. A voice like still water. Just a glance—fleeting, forgettable. A face in a sea of faces at the library. Or at least, that's how she wished she could remember it. But the truth was: she was whipped from the moment she first saw him. This wasn't just a crush- it was limerence, longing, and a yearning that refused to fade. As their conversations deepened, so did her confusion. Was he interested... or just kind? Was it love... or projection? She was falling in love more with what he represented... and learning, painfully, that what she was searching for was never in them to begin with. (Daily Updates! If you like it, do add it in your library for update notifcations & don't forget to vote!) ~ Lin

The ancient medieval castle of Leatherwood is, without a doubt, the greatest tourist attraction of the small town that shares its name. Of course, it’s also its greatest source of terror. For generations, the local population has learned to live with its looming silhouette, pretending the whispers, the disappearances, and the strange creatures it attracts mean nothing. No one has ever managed to tear it down. No one dares to enter more than once. Fortunately, visitors don’t believe in legends... Book your visit today! And enjoy this unforgettable experience and the incredible opportunity to uncover all the answers to your questions about the vast and mysterious history of Leatherwood such as... Did the castle ever have a basement?

All Bella ever desired was love, but her eyes only saw bone-chilling coldness until the day she was dragged into the depths of hell. Why? Because she wasn't the heroine of that so-called 'fairy tale'. Her fate was even crueler than she could imagine, described in a few lines written in an old book. A book that was written by some higher beings for their own entertainment, but they tossed it aside after just one cycle, not caring about the crumbling world within. After repeatedly reading the lines that depicted her death, Bella finally realized her bitter reality. Perhaps, if she went back death was the only ending... but instead of sorrow, a crazy glint shone in her emotionless eyes. After all, she had already died many times in the hellish place she entered a long, long time ago. "It's not a big deal to die once more, right?" In the midst of the pitch-black darkness seeping through the cracks in the sky, a beautiful silhouette swimming in a pool of water looked at her with knitted brows, showing dissatisfaction at her comment. He extended his hand and pinched her nose with a sigh. "Why do you always think of the worst?" A faint blush appeared on his cheeks when her previously emotionless eyes turned into crescents, peering at him playfully. "You-!" Alas, before he could finish his sentence, a warm hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him out of the water into a tight embrace. A deep exhale brushed against his pale skin as Bella nuzzled her nose against the crook of his neck with a satisfied expression. "If you give me a kiss, I won't say it anymore." A giggle escaped her lips when the man in her arms froze, his exposed neck turning a brilliant shade of crimson. 'How cute.' ------------- ------------- This story revolves around lots of characters as they discover their cruel reality. There are many supernatural beings and magical realms. The MC character will have a little twisted personality... Ahem, I mean she starts off as a villainess and remains one. *Whistles... Anyway, thanks to the MC's interference, the old abandoned story will regain popularity among the higher existences, kekeke. Together with the ML, Bella will search for a new path that leads them to find their beautiful reality. As for the other characters... Well, it's up to them to crawl their way out-! Thank you. ------------- ------------- Alternative Title: Love Through the Depths of Hell Tags; #transmigration #regression #villainess #Iskei #merman #King/Queen world #Hell's journey #Hell's Queen #Not so lovely demons #Cute ml #handsome ml #Innocent ml (hehe, fl will taint him anyway) #Non-Human ml # #superpowers #Cruel fl #playful fl #magic #OP fl #Crazy fl #Dragon's descendent #romance #revenge #bored fl #The hell's spire #Death zone #The Authorities #System #Strength #Adventure... etc. ------------- ------------- (Even though the chances of me getting popular in this genre are very thin. Still, no one can stop me from daydreaming, hehe.) ------------- ------------- Note: The cover is not mine as I am too poor. All credits go to the owner. If he/she wants me to remove it, just ring me up in the comment section.

Die Uhr schlug Mitternacht, als Ruelle das Echo von Schritten hörte. Sie spannte sich an, die feinen Härchen in ihrem Nacken stellten sich in der kühlen Nachtluft auf. "Du solltest nicht hier sein", flüsterte Ruelle, ihre Stimme ein atemloses Murmeln. Die Silhouette trat schließlich ins Mondlicht, seine dunkelroten Augen beobachteten sie und sein tintenschwarzes Haar wehte leicht. "Sollte ich nicht?" Seine Stimme war eine dunkle Liebkosung, und sie stand da, gefesselt von der Gefahr, die er wie ein Parfüm ausstrahlte. "Ich habe dich die letzten zwei Tage nicht gesehen", sein Ton tief. Seine Hand streckte sich aus, Finger streiften die Seide ihres Nachthemds, zeichneten den zitternden Umriss ihres Schlüsselbeins nach. "Sag mir, hast du mich gemieden, oder vielleicht... andere Angebote unterhalten?" Ruelles Herz raste, ihre Atemzüge flach. Sie erklärte: "Ich gehöre niemandem." "Eine kühne Behauptung", murmelte er, sein Atem eine verführerische Kühle auf ihrer Haut, als er sich näherte. "Und doch bist du hier, mit rasendem Puls, dein Körper angespannt, als würdest du meine Berührung erwarten." Seine Finger umfassten ihr Kinn und drehten ihr Gesicht zu seinem. Das Mondlicht fing seine Augen ein und enthüllte einen Schimmer raubtierartiger Absicht. "Oder muss ich dich daran erinnern, wessen Berührung du wirklich begehrst?"

The clock struck midnight when Ruelle heard the echo of footsteps. She tensed, the fine hairs on the back of her neck standing on end in the cool night air. "You shouldn't be here," Ruelle whispered, her voice a breathless murmur. The silhouette finally came to stand under the moonlight, his dark red eyes watching her and his inky black hair ruffling. "Shouldn't I?" His voice was a dark caress, and she stood there captivated by the danger he exuded like perfume. "I haven’t seen you for the last two days," his tone low. His hand reached out, fingers brushing against the silk of her nightgown, tracing the trembling outline of her collarbone. "Tell me, were you avoiding me, or perhaps... entertaining other offers?" Ruelle’s heart raced, her breaths shallow. She declared, "I don't belong to anyone.” "A bold claim," he murmured, his breath a tantalising chill against her skin as he leaned in. "Yet here you are, pulse racing, your body tensed as if in anticipation of my touch." His fingers gripped her chin, tilting her face towards his. The moonlight caught his eyes, revealing a glint of predatory intent. "Or must I remind you whose touch you truly crave?"

Sin had always preferred to be alone, relating to people was never really his strong suit. He sucks at talking, sucks at cooking, has no redeeming qualities, and could kill someone without much thought besides his unique abilities, everyone seen him as a useless hazard. However, as fate would have it, he was forced to join the military and become a spirit hunter - A group of highly strong individuals hand-picked to work under the kingdom to protect and fight spirit beasts, monsters and raid dungeons. After being forced to join, he ended up learning that spirit beasts and monsters were the least of his worries, there were threats far greater out there and a fate much worse for Sin. Which leaves one question, could he change it?

The cut was deep. It ran from the sole of her feet to her ankle. Fresh blood trikled down from her foot. How long was it until she reached another village. The forest was covered in snow and the frost Had started bite her skin. Amelein heaved for air as she had been in the forest for the past hour. Save for the hoooting of an owl and a wild cat that had meowed some minutes ago, she was practically alone. But the wind brought a faint sound to her ear... footsteps. They were faint but she could hear it and now she knew she had company. And she was sure it was not good company. She was at a disadvantage because her foot was injured. The only thing that her subconscious told her was one word. 'run' But her strength was failing her. She prayed enearstly for som sort of escape. What if it was a vampire! Or worst a black witch.!!!! She tried to steady her breath while hiding behind one of the trees. It had large branches which was enough to cover her. She bent over and sat on the forest floors while steadying herself on her good foot. She left the other foot to rest straight while stretching it to avoid the injured side. ***** Dante walked through the forest while watching out for signs of black witches. No normal man would walk into this part of the forest. It was called the heart of the forest for a reason. Even though it was quiet. The eery silence and the fog that rose to the length of his knees and circled the entire forest. It was said to start at the stroke of midnight,some said the were spirits of the deceased the were wandering about since they refused to pass through the gates of eternal rest. Hell or heaven? Who cared anyways. He was there because of the council man who said he had heard of the black witch who had been creating a potion turn humans into a docile state and she had planned an attack on an entire human village but he was sure the attack had already taken place because , it was meant to take place that night. He wasn't a saint to come here to save the city... Of course not . There were people in the department and they were too lazy to do their jobs. Just when he was about to kick the wooden door he found deep in the heart of the forest that looked like a small old box house. It was so small that he doubted if it was up to quarter the size of his room. Suddenly he smelt something in the air, it it was very potent. It was blood. His fangs grew and began to crave blood. He struggled to control his thirst and it seemed really bad at the moment. It enveloped his senses which made him momentarily forget his mission to trace the source of the blood. This wasn't human blood but then what race was this? He began walking until he got to a thicket of trees where so many trees clustered together there by forming an umbrella. He held up his short revolver gun and held it up with both hands while using his ears as extra set of equipment used to pick up any odd sounds. Just as he was about to take a step forward he a spike in a heart beat but it was beating at a slow beat which was odd. He used his nostrils to concentrate but the sound and the smell where coming from the same place. Then he sighted a dress and soon he could make out a silhouette of a woman in a seated position. but what was a human female doing in this part of the forest. But she didn't look like a witch. While still in thought he heard the woman scream so loudly, letting out a shrill cry. That was when he noticed the presence of a vampire with but it was a low level vampire with bright red eyes but his fangs were longer than normal. A deranged vampire. His nails grew out long and harshly grabbed the woman while piercing his nails into her skin causing blood to ooze out of the injured hands. Dante seeing this quickly aimed for the head of the corrupted vampire making the later fall limb on the ground after releasing the woman. But instead of one rather two bodies fell to the ground, one following the other.

This is a slow-burn, psychologically driven sci-fi survival saga where burden replaces magic, memory replaces power, and the greatest enemy is what you chose to forget. A sci-fi descent where silence is protocol—and every choice takes something from you. The trench does not kill you. It tracks what you forget to protect. Buried beneath a collapsed world lies a trench built not by magic—but by machines that no longer answer. It does not test strength. It tests retention. No monsters. No chosen ones. Only Cores—cybernetic survivors engineered for memory, endurance, and pain. Among them is Nahr, a silent Core who awakens weapon-bound and commandless. His Galieya—half blade, half data-key—is the only proof he exist. Only circuitry, silence, and the decisions that broke him. As Nahr descends through a trench that rewrites identity and archives failure, each level forces a cost : a truth removed, a name dissolved, a weight transferred. Because this trench isn't just a prison. It’s a system. It logs every choice. And it reactivates only for those who failed before. In a world where memory is weaponized and silence is a protocol, Nahr must navigate allies he no longer remembers and a past he may not deserve to recover.

In an alternate version of our world, Essence—a metaphysical energy flowing through all living things—shapes the very fabric of reality. There are three primary types: the Essence of the Spirit, the Essence of the Soul, and the Essence of Nature. This power fuels the eternal battle against Lingering Souls—humans who refuse to pass on to the “Other Side,” instead bringing chaos and death to the living. To combat these threats, the Neavu Ritualist Society was formed—an order of individuals skilled in Rituals, Sigils, and the manipulation of Essence. Thrust into this strange and dangerous world, a boy named June takes up the path of a Ritualist in hopes of fulfilling his dead friend’s final wish. Souls, demons, spirits—twisting through a world where reality bends beneath Rituals and ancient powers. What awaits in the shadows? And what kind of place… is this? (I don't know shit about the U.S so spare me please. I'm inspired by Jujutsu kaisen, Monogatari and Rezero, so expect a lot of elements from various series (: )

There are no declarations here. No love letters. No moments where the world stops and music swells. Just two people—Bakha and Jungkook—drawn to each other like shadows at dusk, always almost touching, always almost speaking. They’ve never really met, and yet they know each other in a way that defies logic. Like dreamers recognizing each other in a crowd, like strangers who remember the same ache. Bakha lives inside her head—quiet, watching, always wondering if she’s too much or never enough. Jungkook exists in that same weightless space, laughing with others while something inside him stays untouched. He doesn’t say much. He doesn’t need to. With her, silence feels like conversation. There’s something about the way they linger near each other in the pages of life—as if fate tied their names together and forgot to give them instructions. School, family, responsibilities—they all move around them like noise. But the real story is in the pauses. The moments where their eyes meet and the world seems to hesitate, unsure whether to continue or stay suspended in that fragile closeness. Love doesn’t shout here. It waits in hallways. It hides in shared glances. It aches when she thinks of him at night, when he wonders if she ever knew. It’s the kind of love that doesn't need to happen to exist. The kind that stays, quietly, even when they walk away. This is not a story of falling in love. It’s a story of already being there— and trying to live with everything that love cannot say out loud.

It only took a lie to make me believe it was real... It only took a tear to see what I was going through... Just one promise to make me smile again... But I knew that the biggest lie in this world was promises... I had a soul so broken and betrayed, no one could ever save me... Cause the girl who once believed in fairytales and magic... Had to be struck by reality with demons in my mind and the fear of never being loved... But this story isn't a sad one... it's a real one... It's a story about a girl who fought through a storm she thought would never end °°° When the sun and moon joins as one, the bringer of chaos shall return and wreck havoc and the worlds will return to what it once was... an eternal calm for destruction. That is what the five realms believed. Little did they know that the caelestian that controlled the darkness would be their savior and would bring them peace but that would never happen for the realm of Iracundia. For the demons that rule that realm wants nothing more than the destruction of the other realms and for them to reign supreme. And so the little caelestian, having no knowledge of what's really at stake, escapes from Iracundia and finds refuge on Terrae. For seven years, Serah had known peace but that is all shattered when a lone soldier attacks her with the same darkness that's just like hers. |Book 1 in The Caelestian Chronicles|

The monsoon season of Nanyang carried a humid sensuality as Liao Qiao pushed open the hotel’s carved wooden doors, only to overhear Shang Lu’s mocking sneer: “Are you following me? Still not over me?” A sharp reprimand cut through the drama. “Show some respect to your sister-in-law!” The shadow of a black shirt swept over Liao Qiao’s shoulder. Shang Yu exhaled a plume of smoke, his gaze dropping to the crumpled figure on the floor. “Take him to the Dark Hall,” he ordered, his voice like glacial steel. Liao Qiao studied the man’s chiseled profile. This was Shang Yu, the ruthless tycoon of Nanyang. He stood at the rain-soaked veranda, cigarette smoke curling around him, the faint scent of snow pine lingering in the air—a blade sheathed in elegance. Their next meeting unfolded in the underground lounge of a nightclub. Liao Qiao sipped a Mojito, watching Shang Yu stub out his cigar with a snap. “Mr. Yan requests your presence.” Before the bodyguard could finish, she sauntered into the private room. Under crystal chandeliers, Shang Lu retched into a toilet bowl while Shang Yu tapped his fingers on the marble table. “Explain the annulment yourself.” Before the words echoed, Liao Qiao leaned against the doorframe, spinning a car key between her fingers. “I heard Mr. Shang owns a Maybach. Care to lend it for a spin?” On the manicured lawns of Nan Yang Manor, Shang Yu knelt to tend to a cut on her ankle. Liao Qiao traced the mole near his eye, laughter bubbling. “So anxious, Mr. Shang? Could it be…” His hands yanked her into an embrace, his palm pressing against her wounded back. “If it hurts, bite me.” The night Shang Lu’s yacht exploded, Liao Qiao stood by the manor’s floor-to-ceiling windows, watching Shang Yu’s silhouette rigid against the lightning-flashed horizon. Thunder cracked. For the first time, she understood why her father called her “Nanyang’s curse”—she had a knack for shattering and reshaping the trajectories of those around her without rhyme or reason. When Shang Yu returned from Palma, he pressed a platinum card into her palm. “Want to see where you were born?” Liao Qiao traced the intricate engravings, finally deciphering the truth in her father’s indulgent eyes—she was never just a heiress. She was the wildfire he’d always kept burning in his palm.

"What is the meaning of this thing we call life? Or, what was it? I can't seem to fully remember..." His silhouette darkened, speaking with an eerie voice that seemed to hold knowledge and authority beyond mortal reason. "I must have forgotten. Just what, exactly, was the reason for my evolution? What was the point of it all?..." The being clad in black, his face hidden by long, uncared hair, sighed numerous times, simply gazing at the pale sky, mourning. Actions only a being who has lost all purposes through the pursuit of the greatest of purposes, could ever find himself doing repeatedly, without rest. "Ah, that's right. I could not stand the thought of being forgotten, nor forget. As such, death has always been a thing I've tried to avoid the most. However, it seems that now, when I have finally rid myself of death's fate, that I long for it the most..." His voice bore a more sorrowful tone then before, now a whispering cry of regret, "How meaningless it all was." His voice hollow and solemn, spoke with a wise pitifulness, "Without death to seal its final breath, life is but a river without mouth nor ocean, cursed to twist through endless lands, never finding rest and purpose alike."

The sun rose slowly over the ancient rooftops of the capital, casting its light not as a blessing but as a cold witness to disgrace. Along a narrow stone-paved street, a figure staggered forward, one step at a time, as if death clung to his back and urged him onward. His body was draped in rusted iron chains—a thick loop dug into the skin of his neck, others bound tightly around his wrists and ankles. Each movement sent the chains clanking, scraping against bone and flesh alike. His limbs trembled, not from fear, but from sheer exhaustion. He had long passed the point where pain mattered. His bare feet dragged over the rough stone. From the soles and up to the shins, blood seeped with every step, marking a crimson trail behind him. Torn skin, half-healed wounds, and infected gashes told stories of endless torment. His legs were failing, muscles barely clinging to his bones. Hunger had stripped him of all weight, all pride—his body nothing more than a husk, a starved silhouette that looked more corpse than man. Behind him marched two imperial guards. Their armor gleamed under the morning sun, spears held upright but ready. One of them jabbed the butt end into his back, forcing him forward when he slowed. "Walk," the guard hissed.

The grand doors of Edelweiss Swordschool creaked open, revealing a vast courtyard surrounded by towering spires and the impressive silhouette of the castle. Lein stood at the entrance, his eyes wide with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. He adjusted the cloak around him, feeling the warmth of the earring given to him by his father's old swordmaster. As he stepped forward, a hand clapped down on his shoulder, causing him to turn. A fellow student, a girl of his age with fiery red hair and a mischievous glint in her eyes, grinned at him. "Hey there, new kid! You must be Lein, right?" she said with a playful tone. Lein gave a nod, managing a small smile. "Yes, that's me. Lein von Hrunting." "I'm Elara. Welcome to Edelweiss!" She gestured to the sprawling campus. "Come on, I'll show you around and help you get settled." As they strolled through the courtyard, Elara pointed out the training grounds, the library, and the various towers where students attended classes. Lein couldn't help but marvel at the sheer scale of the school. "So, why did you come here?" Elara asked, glancing at him. Lein hesitated for a moment before replying, "My father believes I might have a talent for being a Spellblade, like him. He arranged for me to study here." "Ah, a Spellblade! That's impressive. You'll be training with the best of the best," she said with a grin. "That being said, you'll be expected to beat them if that is truly your goal." They reached the entrance of the castle, and Elara opened the door for Lein. The interior was just as imposing as the exterior, with polished marble floors and towering pillars. As they walked through the corridors, Lein couldn't shake the feeling that all eyes were on him. Elara led him to a room with a wooden door bearing the emblem of Edelweiss. "This is your room," she announced, pushing the door open. Inside, Lein found a neatly arranged space with a comfortable bed, a small desk, and a window that offered a view of the surrounding mountains. His luggage was already placed by the bed. "Your stuff arrived earlier. We've got a few hours before the welcoming ceremony, so take your time settling in. If you need anything, I'll be around." Elara said, giving him a friendly wave before heading out. Alone in his new room, Lein took a deep breath. This was the beginning of a new chapter in his life. As he unpacked his belongings, he couldn't help but wonder what challenges and adventures awaited him at Edelweiss Swordschool. Little did he know, the journey ahead would test not only his skills but also the mysterious power that lay dormant within him. The cloak of anonymity provided by the earring would prove to be both a blessing and a curse in the days to come.

"They say death is the end, but perhaps in this land where the trees loom in the distance upside down, a grander finale stirs beyond the reach of mortal feet. A picturesque portrait of a forever hotel and its phantom dwellers dance in limbo. Hand in hand, in a place long begone." You slam the book shut and retreat beneath your covers, warm and touchable like all things living. The image of a majestic hotel and its land of mystics haunt your dreams. In your final fantasy, the silhouettes of dancing ghosts retreat beyond the fog, and their soundless carols. In tandem, a whisper zaps by your ears.

"Dans le fracas d'un monde oublié, une lourde trappe d'acier s'ouvre lentement. Sept silhouettes émergent, leurs regards se posant sur un paysage ravagé par le temps et la folie des hommes."

"No!!" A girl screams. After she screams, everything in place freezes, she's surrounded by trees in a forest. "I don't want this anymore." She kneels and cries. She grips her scalp so hard it draws blood. "I can't control it! I can't..I can't!!!!" Her yellow eyes begin to glow brighter than that of the sun. She hits the ground, then the ground shatter like glass. She dashes back to avoid falling into the underworld, but falls on her weak knees after witnessing the destruction she had caused. "I can't.." "There she is!!" A bulky voice says. Immediately she hears the voice, she begins running in the dark forest trying to find safety, but nothing can help. At every corner she turns to, dark shadows with red glowing eyes can be seen, their aura alone can kill a person with fear. They inch closer to her, and with each step, the ground beneath them falters and deepens. The girl stays in place as they ram at her, but the second they jump at her, she arises from the comforts of her bed. Her breath, unsteady, awoken with cold sweat, and a heart beating rapidly. "That dream again." She said while holding her chest. She walks up to the window then closes her eyes, as she does so, images begin to flash in her head, past, memories of sorrow, present, a flow of happiness, dancing in flowers, then an image of her dream comes to her head, which could be known as her future. She opens her eyes widely after thinking of such, the sun making her yellow eyes stand out even more. "I'll just have to get stronger." She said, her tone now serious. "I'll do everything I can to stop it from happening." Silhouette of certain people flash into her mind, their smile, their happiness, their dreams, and their hope. after thinking of them, she sighs greatly. "In order to protect the people I love."........ In a world shrouded in darkness, beneath the peacefulness where supernatural forces lurk in every shadow, a young adult girl named Joon-He is about to discover her destiny. Born into a life of poverty and hardship, Joon-He's existence is turned upside down when a drunken mistake binds her to a mysterious and powerful being known only as Weol-So - a Goblin with abilities that defy explanation. As she navigates her new role as Weol-So's wife, Joon-He uncovers the shocking truth about herself, she's not a normal human, rather, She possesses powers that have lain dormant, waiting to be unleashed. But with this revelation comes a daunting reality - she's now a target for the ruthless Grim Reapers, Shinigamis, and their master, the Keeper, a being of unimaginable power who seeks to dominate the world and all spiritual realms which helps in the safe keeping of the world. With Weol-So by her side, Joon-He must confront her newfound identity and learn to harness her abilities in a battle for survival. Together, they'll face off against formidable foes, unravel the mysteries of their world, and challenge the Keeper's reign of terror. Will their unlikely union be enough to restore balance to the world, or will the forces of darkness consume everything? Will they be able to keep their love intact? Or will they falter and fall not just them, but the world into the hands of the Keeper? Who knows?