Myrkr Tunnels

【Survival】【Stockpiling】 【Subway Construction】【Entities】 【Eerie】【Single Female Lead】【Infinite Flow】【Daily Updates (5 Chapters)】 Every station, every journey boasts unique characteristics. An endless tunnel, infinitely extending tracks, a subway world where sunlight never reaches - all shall embark on their personal apocalypse journeys... Fortunately, Zhao Kuo can visualize his Luck Points. While no one stays fortunate forever, he can. With maxed-out fortune, wealth flows endlessly. Materials, equipment, special items - all available. Explore and survive in this dark world... Always remember to keep your light burning. May you one day see the sun again. Featuring entities, Lovecraftian elements, and supernatural horrors. Focused on progression-based narrative. MC isn't naive - ruthlessly decisive. Jump into the abyss now!

In the heart of the ominous No Return Forest, a young orphan named Wu Chen finds himself relentlessly pursued by shadowy figures after stumbling upon a mysterious gold ring. Fleeing for his life, he stumbles upon a hidden tunnel, which transports him to an otherworldly realm known as Trinity Palace. Here, a powerful, ancient voice offers him a life-altering opportunity: to undergo a trial that could grant him unimaginable power and greatness. However, failure could mean death or worse. Wu Chen, who has spent his life in poverty and neglect, is torn between the allure of greatness and the fear of the unknown. Despite his trepidation, he chooses to accept the trial, driven by a deep-seated belief in his destiny for something extraordinary. As the trial begins, he is thrust into a mysterious forest, where he discovers he possesses a "Godly" rank of Supreme Intelligence, a power type that could elevate him to unparalleled heights. However, he is still a beginner in the Mortal Level of energy, leaving him vulnerable in this dangerous new world. Will Wu Chen rise to the challenge and claim his destiny, or will the trials of Trinity Palace prove too great for him to overcome? The journey ahead is one of self-discovery, courage, and the relentless pursuit of greatness in a world where failure is not an option.

When a down-on-his-luck graphic designer investigates the mysterious disappearance of a woman he meets haphazardly, his search brings him to a secret underground tunnel and to an alternate Los Angeles called Two Cities, a world resembling Los Angeles’ past more than its present.

Mark Nicholson isn't your average African American otaku from Alabama, but one thundering night, everything changes. Hooked up to the Nerve Core Virtual Reality gaming set, Mark and his childhood friends, Bonner and Q are sent through the tunnel of light and dark to another world resembling a video game they attempted to play together during a mystery update. He was craving for change and thirsting for adventure. Mark casts aside his own mediocrity in order to don a new name alongside his friends and gains a lofty ambition: World Domination. Though a world stuck within its own ideals is sure to resist, can Mark and his friends gain the power necessary to become conquerors of their new world?! The cover artist is Kucing Pawpaw on Fiverr.

In a world where past and present intertwine, Isla's reality fractures with the utterance of a forgotten name: Isolde. It's a name that unlocks a torrent of vivid, unsettling memories, binding her to an ancient conflict and a malevolent force named Thane. He claims her as his, plunging her into a desperate struggle against a darkness that threatens to consume not just her, but the very fabric of her world. With Kai, her steadfast protector, Isla seeks refuge, but sanctuary proves fleeting. They are hunted, their every move shadowed by unseen eyes, their refuge a fragile illusion against encroaching dread. The deeper they delve, the more they uncover: ancient prophecies, hidden sanctuaries, and the legacy of Elara, a powerful ancestor whose blood flows through Isla's veins. Betrayal strikes from within, shattering their trust and casting them into a labyrinth of subterranean tunnels, where ancient forges whisper tales of forgotten battles. Here, they learn to wield their inherited powers, forging weapons of light against the encroaching shadows. In a climactic confrontation, they face Thane in his obsidian throne room, a battleground where light clashes with overwhelming darkness. Despite their courage, Thane seizes the amulet, a conduit of ancient power, threatening to unleash its corrupted energy. Yet, Elara's spirit, defiant and unyielding, resists, offering a fragile glimmer of hope. Isla and Kai, battered but unbroken, stand against the encroaching darkness, their fates irrevocably intertwined with the echoes of a shattered queen. They must confront not only Thane, but the fractured fragments of their own pasts, the lingering whispers of betrayal, and the terrifying possibility that the light they carry may not be enough to extinguish the encroaching shadows. The final battle looms, where the very essence of memory and identity will be tested, and the fate of their world hangs precariously in the balance.

Love comes quickly whatever you do, you can’t stop falling…Two souls separated by ages and time. Their only hope is to find each other to fulfil their love, going through aches and pains; through time travelling and space roaming to find the light at the tunnel. Their reward, their ultimate goal, to have a life together, forever. But life will put this couple to a rest to prove their real love. A lier and its slayer; an adventurous journey through the galaxies to reunite as a couple, overcoming life’s obstacles and pains.

Grief is an anchor, but the current pulls you forward anyway. Castin thought he had lost everything—until the night a talking rat arrived with an invitation. Drawn into the underground of Rat City, where rodents rule and the past is more than just a memory, Castin must navigate a kingdom built from the discarded and forgotten. But beneath the flickering lights and labyrinthine tunnels, something stirs. Secrets lurk in the shadows, old wounds refuse to heal, and a war is brewing between those who would protect the city and those who seek to control it. And Castin? He might be the key to it all.

In the heart of the ominous No Return Forest, a young orphan named Wu Chen finds himself relentlessly pursued by shadowy figures after stumbling upon a mysterious gold ring. Fleeing for his life, he stumbles upon a hidden tunnel, which transports him to an otherworldly realm known as Trinity Palace. Here, a powerful, ancient voice offers him a life-altering opportunity: to undergo a trial that could grant him unimaginable power and greatness. However, failure could mean death or worse. Wu Chen, who has spent his life in poverty and neglect, is torn between the allure of greatness and the fear of the unknown. Despite his trepidation, he chooses to accept the trial, driven by a deep-seated belief in his destiny for something extraordinary. As the trial begins, he is thrust into a mysterious forest, where he discovers he possesses a "Godly" rank of Supreme Intelligence, a power type that could elevate him to unparalleled heights. However, he is still a beginner in the Mortal Level of energy, leaving him vulnerable in this dangerous new world. Will Wu Chen rise to the challenge and claim his destiny, or will the trials of Trinity Palace prove too great for him to overcome? The journey ahead is one of self-discovery, courage, and the relentless pursuit of greatness in a world where failure is not an option.

"Life couldn't get any more mundane." To Jackal this was more than just a catchphrase, it was a mind-numbing truth. So when his classmates dare him to step into an abandoned subway where people have been vanishing, he sees it as a chance to make a quick buck or, just maybe, have something 'special', something life-changing, happen. However, what he finds there is beyond anything he could have imagined. After barely surviving the nightmares lurking in that tunnel, Jackal is pulled into a hidden world where 'supers', powered by strange systems, fight in an intergalactic shadow war to protect Earth. Now, he’s one of them—or at least, in training. And his new power? No one’s really sure how it works, but he’s calling it... Monster Fusion.

Wan'ou, a modern career - oriented woman, accidentally falls into a time - tunnel and lands in a mysterious ancient world. In this world filled with magic and power, she gets involved with a silver wolf and the arrogant Prince of the Royal Wolf Kingdom, Du Gu Lue. At first, she witnesses a shocking scene of the silver wolf with a woman, and later, she is brutally violated by the silver wolf. Just when she thinks her life has reached rock - bottom, she meets Du Gu Lue. However, Du Gu Lue's possessive and domineering nature subjects her to more humiliation and pain. As the story unfolds, Wan'ou becomes entangled in the complex relationships among different people and is also involved in the power struggles between countries. Amidst all these hardships, she gradually discovers her own strength and the mystery behind the silver wolf's curse. With the development of the plot, she is faced with a series of choices and challenges, such as choosing between love and hatred, and between personal feelings and national righteousness. Will she be able to break free from the shackles and find her own way in this strange world?

Drone Kiamat Di dunia yang hancur akibat peperangan tanpa henti, manusia mencipta senjata terhebat—Drone Kiamat, robot setinggi 100 meter yang memiliki kuasa untuk mencipta dan memusnahkan graviti, menembakkan tenaga nuklear, serta menembusi dimensi dengan teknologi Quantum Tunneling. Dikawal melalui sistem VR yang menyambung terus ke saraf manusia, hanya seorang pilot yang mampu mengendalikannya—Akira, seorang remaja genius yang dipaksa menjadi harapan terakhir umat manusia. Namun, semakin dia mendalami fungsi sebenar Drone Kiamat, semakin dia menyedari satu kebenaran yang mengerikan… Siapa sebenarnya musuh mereka? Dan adakah drone ini benar-benar dicipta untuk melindungi manusia—atau untuk menghapuskan mereka? Peperangan terakhir bakal bermula.

On a night of fire and betrayal, the kingdom's capital burns as treachery tightens its grip. Prince Thorven, son of King Eldric, watches in horror as his father is slain, a traitor’s dagger buried deep in his chest. The city falls to enemy forces, and Thorven stands on the brink of defeat. But death will not claim him—not yet. With the aid of his loyal friend Garan and a handful of warriors, Thorven flees through secret tunnels, escaping the city that was once his home. Though his heart demands vengeance, he knows survival is the only path to reclaiming his throne. Northward they ride, seeking refuge among old allies, pursued relentlessly by the enemy's assassins. The journey is perilous—merciless winter, dwindling supplies, and the ever-present shadow of death test Thorven’s strength. But he is no longer merely a prince mourning his lost kingdom. He is a ghost in the darkness, a blade yet to strike. When the first great battle erupts in the heart of the forest, Thorven proves he is not a fallen heir but a storm of reckoning. His oath is clear: “They believe they have won. But I will return. And they will never sleep in peace again.” Thus begins Thorven’s path—a road paved with blood, pain, and the unrelenting thirst for vengeance. His war has only begun…

Jaswanth, an orphan. due to the dark childhood he experienced, his heart had been deeply wounded, leading him to only trust his friends. He was subjected to various to types of tortures mentally and physically since childhood... the only thing that managed to keep him sane was that he had his friends, the only light in that dark tunnel. however... this all changed when it began... it is called ....dimensional distortion..... the walls of reality began to crack under something.... sinister. it was a horror for some...release for some...and for those like jaswanth, it is an opportunity, an opportunity to prove himself. as for wether he can grap it or not depends on himself.

Following the betrayal of her uncle Amunak, Alea, Sorian, and Cillian find themselves in the depths of a winding slot canyon as a gargantuan thunderstorm approaches. The walls press in on both sides, and they will have to find a way out of their shackles and through the labyrinthine tunnel network before the rushing waters sweep them into the deep earth. This is a short piece of a scene that takes place in the middle of my planned novel. As such, I don't expect you to know the characters or events that led up to this, nor do I explain them. But it is easy to follow just the scene. ~2.2k words

Celina, whose beauty is flawless, endowed with a curvaceous figure, having a mixture of naiveness and confidence in her attitude, most of it all guys can't seem to take their eyes off her cos of how glamorous she is. Born in a not-so-wealthy family,Her father "Mr Andrew saunders" dotes on her very much also the fact that she's his last daughter of his late 2nd wife.Because of this her step mom "Mrs Alisa saunders" with her two daughters"Alexa and Diana saunders"are jealous. Having a plan of disqualifying Celina of inheriting the property so it would be left for "Mrs Alisa"and her daughters.Due to circumstances she meets an enigmatic Prince charming and the most handsome billionaire who has a powerful aura that ring bells and attract all kinds of ladies to him, named "Leonardo de Caruso" know to be cold, calculative,ruthless, arrogant and most expecially has an impenetrable heart,but would he slowly fall love with a curvaceous,fiery,shy beauty?! would she be able to melt his icy heart.... would Leonardo they try to resist the undeniable connection to each other.leonardo who's never really interested in any ladies except for pleasure,changed drastically after the first encounter with Celina, would it be possible for him to be deeply attached to one woman? Even at that when their eyes meets there was nothing Celina could do but be in awe of him and their sizzling chemistry to each other and one thing with "Leonardo De Caruso"he would go extreme length to get what he wants even if it means claiming her as his lovely wife. Celina shy or naive will not easily accept him but with his charm and wit would make her bound to him,but would circumstances tear them apart or at the end of the tunnel would their love bloom and overcome everything together.

Follow Miseria as she navigates a world of Gods & Monsters. Everything is exactly as it seems and more. It won't be easy but there is darkness at the end of the tunnel.

Rebirth of the Forgotten Worker Aya Kurose was just another overworked, underpaid corporate drone, trapped in an endless cycle of soul-crushing labor. But when an unexpected case of workplace poisoning sends her to an early grave, she assumes she’ll finally get some well-earned rest—or at least reincarnate into a better life. Fate, however, has other plans. Aya wakes up… as an ant. Not a powerful monster, not a fantasy adventurer, not even a queen—just a lowly worker ant in an underground colony ruled by instinct and endless labor. Trapped in a world where back-breaking work is her only purpose, she must adapt to her new life of tunnel digging, food carrying, and military-grade workplace discipline. But Aya refuses to accept her fate. If she’s going to live as an insect, she’ll do it her way. Whether it’s exploiting her newfound abilities, manipulating the hive mind, or climbing the social ladder of ant society, she’s determined to survive—and maybe, just maybe, take control of her own destiny for once. Between ruthless ant politics, terrifying natural predators, and a work environment somehow worse than her old job, Aya’s second life is anything but peaceful. But if the universe thinks it can break her, it’s in for a rude awakening. Because no matter what, she refuses to be just another expendable worker.

Book 1 is now available for order! Volume 1: https://a.co/d/0ao1rdn0 The first volume has been taken down for the Amazon release. Published by Riverfolk Publishing. *********************************** My name is Tim or was that is until I died, there was no light at the end of the tunnel, no white room to choose any cheats from, nor was there any meeting with God. I didn’t die heroically saving someone, and I certainly didn’t get hit by a truck. My death was rather stupid and anticlimactic, I had apparently bumped my head while sleeping and passed away... That should have been the end of the road for me but like many self-proclaimed main characters, I joined the army of multi-dimension travelers and was reincarnated. Being an avid light novel and manga reader, I would have been excited at the opportunity, if not for my new siblings who tried to kill me as soon as I was born, or my mother who seemed to have something with throwing me off cliffs, and let’s not forget my murderous father who forced me to flatten a small country as my Rite of passage. Oh did I mention I was reborn as a Dragon? PS: Earlier releases on patreon: www.patreon.com/Simobimo Cover art by Instagram: Simplegray_owo Link to the discord: https://discord.gg/vCHrZB5xmX Release schedule: 1 day yes, 1 day no. Advanced chapters on Patreon.

Tobe Kusakabe, a short but endlessly cheerful college student, and his close friend Miri Takanashi, an often expressionless goth girl, were just two ordinary students headed to their college, expecting another routine day. They boarded the same public bus they'd taken countless times before, settling in for the ride. But everything changed when the bus entered a tunnel they knew well—and emerged in a world they didn’t recognize. Suddenly, they found themselves transported to a strange, unfamiliar realm, along with a few other students from their college who were also on the bus. No explanations, no warnings—just a plunge into the unknown. Now, Tobe and Miri, joined by their two friends, Jun and Yuka, must navigate this mysterious new world. What begins as confusion and chaos slowly transforms into a journey of fun and discovery, as they learn to survive and adapt, confronting challenges and uncovering hidden powers within themselves. The mundane college life they once knew fades away, replaced by a dangerous adventure that will test their limits, forge new bonds, and reveal the heroes they never knew they would become. Their story is just beginning, and in this strange new reality, honestly, anything could be possible.

What happens when a normal man awakens in a world of magic and monsters? What if he awakens as a gemstone that can't move, eat, or communicate but is somehow alive? What happens when this stone learns to cast magic and create rooms, to bring life to monsters of its own and defend itself from invaders? This is the story of that mans journey from a small one room tunnel to a magnificent challenge to the universe. Chapters range from 1k-1.5k words usually! First time writing this type of novel but always wanted to try so any feedback helps! Also below is my patreon! Most things to influence my novel are free but by subscribing to it you help me afford more time to write instead of working two jobs as well as to commission artists to turn my monsters and manic dream creatures into reality! https://patreon.com/user?u=71062598

Detective James Nolan has seen his fair share of grisly crime scenes, but nothing prepares him for the case that he gets called out to-a brutal murder with eerie, cryptic symbols left behind. As he digs deeper, the evidence pulls him into a shadowy world of masked figures, underground tunnels, and whispers of an ancient cult seeking to summon something far worse than death itself. With his skeptical partner, Francis, by his side, James follows the trail through a city gripped by fear, uncovering a ritualistic conspiracy where reality itself seems to bend. When an unexpected ally emerges-one whose faith manifests in unseen but undeniable ways-the detectives must decide whether to trust what they can't see before the cult's plan reaches its terrifying climax. In a desperate race against time, James will face forces beyond his understanding, questioning whether he's chasing killers... or something far more sinister.

Diary of a migrant family and their struggle to adapt to a new culture. Sweat and tears compiled in a diary and their sharing to support others facing the same challenges. Hoping you find a solution in these stories.

Giulio Felta, who met a decidedly undignified end, is reincarnated into a magical world as Leonard Noimar. Now, he must not only master the art of magic but also come to terms with his new life.

This is a reanimation of my life's story. I wish to share it with everyone, perhaps inspire people to follow their dreams, follow the word of God, and help others who are combating depression. My life story may not be much, but I at least want to offer hope to those who do not have it. Perhaps to let people know that their struggle is not in vain, for there is light at the end of the tunnel, one just needs to wait to see it.

Zhou Zeyi is a lonely ghost who tunnels from world to world to complete tasks issued by several wishers. He believed that once he completed one thousand tasks, he would be able to go back to the past and find his real self. A deceived film empress, a child bullied in school, an unfaithful wife’s husband, an abducted college student sent into a mountain village… Zhou Zeyi met various wishers and changed many lives. This is Zhou Zeyi’s tale. This is how the seemingly endless journey began.

The top rich second-generation Jiang Chen sold the company, rejected the family business, decided to travel around the world, and unexpectedly awakened to explore the global system! Start from the ultra-deep well of the Kola Peninsula in Russia and become the world's number one explorer! He traversed the primeval jungle of the Amazon and captured the giant python and ancient crocodile alive! He went deep into the lake and faced the water monster that had survived for thousands of years! According to the Bible, under the thick snow, he brought Noah's Ark back to light! He looked for tunnels between the North and South Poles to prove the existence of underground civilization! "He is the strongest challenger in human history, and he is also globally recognized as the most influential person in the millennium, bar none!"

USA, Louisiana.. a small town in north-east Louisiana.. if you see a little-bitty tiny dot with the name 'Oak Grove' beside it.. in the most north-east corner of Louisiana.. fifteen minute drive north.. and you' ve crossed into the state of Arkansas.. Or if you would have drove fifteen minutes east instead of north.. you would have crossed over the Mississippi-Louisiana state line.. so that gives you a pretty good general location of the town of my birth.. Unfortunately it wouldn't be the town of my untimely and unexpected death.. nope.. for I would not die in a town.. no.. I would be eventually crushed.. by a section.. of thirty-two inch.. steel.. heavy-wall.. industrial pipe.. for a natural gas line.. being lay'n.. from just north of the cities.. Odessa and Midland.. of the state of Texas.. Over a thousand miles away from my place of birth.. Bastrop.. Louisiana.. where the closest 'safe' hospital was for me to be born at.. forty miles west.. by north-west from where my family had lived for generations.. Oak Grove.. My family has worked as surveyors.. for pipelines and gas or oil facilities.. being built all across this great country on the continent of North America.. for atleast two generations.. If my children take up the mantle.. that would make.. three generations of my family.. to feed and provide for their families.. working as pipeline surveyors.. see Oak Grove is poor.. poor as dirt.. total population.. barely over two thousand.. average gross income per capita per family for a year.. less than ten thousand dollars a year.. there's just no real paying jobs.. in Oak Grove or anywhere near it.. so while the people who choose to work in Oak Grove make ten thousand dollars a year.. I started out as a 'rod-man' which was the lowest man on the 'totem-pole'.. making what those in Oak grove..worked a year for.. I made in a month.. I did nothing but pack bundles of wooden stakes.. then carry them up the mountains of West Virginia.. Or across the deserts of West Texas.. swamps of south Louisiana.. down around Baton Rouge.. or Tibbedaux.. the Everglades of Florida.. fuck I get that nauseous feeling every time I think of when I 'work'd' there.. I walked up on a dead body without a head.. not long after that.. still on the same project I saw the 'headless' corpse on.. I almost stepped on the biggest python I've ever seen.. the fucker was atleast ten feet long and two to three feet wide around.. Anywho, back to what I was talking back before I went off subject for a bit.. I started out making ten thousand dollars every month.. thats twelve times what I would have earned working a month in Oak Grove.. instead of working in these dangerous jobs.. Been a lot of dangerous places.. dangerous terrains.. working in a very hazardous career.. but I was well paid like I said.. and now I don't have a body left to send home to my parents.. that section of pipe.. weigh tens of thousands of pounds.. when the 'Komoda' excavators that were lifting the section tipped.. that was it.. one of the operators didn't extend his 'boom' on his excavator all the way out like he should have.. Now the pipes falling.. as soon as it lands on me.. thats it.. so much weight.. my head will pop and shoot right of my shoulders.. up in the air towards the heavens themselves.. reaches its peak height of its short flight.. then falling.. all whilst my body will be crushed and explode to nothing but splatter'd meat paste.. ending my first life.. trust I've seen it.. I know what will happen from experience.. and so beings the next chapter of life.. I see a tunnel with bright light radiating from then end of it.. as I reach the light I take the final step.. the blinding light recedes and fades away out of existence.. I find my surroundings returning to a lightness that my eyes can afford to see clearly in.. only to meet another pair of eyes facing me.. everything else is shrouded by darkness.. I see only eyes.. staring at me.. staring into me.. starin

When Hobart reached the deepest part of the enigmatic library, he heard the slimy sound of thousands of tendrils brushing against the pages. In this eroded world, humanity lives amidst the remnants of pollution left by the Old Gods. Hobert soon discovered that the library's collection was far beyond what any mortal could withstand: pages from the "Necronomicon" surged with black blood inside a glass jar, the script of the "King in Yellow" grew fungal fuzz on the pages, and even a crimson single eye throbbed in a jar on the forbidden shelves of the seventh section. "Superpowers? Just a side effect of glimpsing the truth." But each superpower gnawed away at his sanity. Crisis followed crisis: the burgeoning tumor library in the subway tunnels, the "Worm Codex" that wrote the fates of the living. When Gu Yuan finally unraveled the deepest mystery, he was met with the awakening of R'lyeh from light-years away. "Welcome home," echoed three hundred voices across the library's dome, as the shelves began to seep seawater, and all the books flipped their pages simultaneously, producing a sound no human vocal cords could make... Now, the closing bell has rung. You hear a knocking from the depths of the ocean, where the Old Ones dwell.

This is a story of a guy who loses everything, and then gets it back. Same old new world story, just a different kind of story teller. *** They took away our hunter tags. They had us grow our hair. They gave us a new brand, when we were over there. They staged us out of Dragur, East of the Olim Horn. I guess they call us Slaves, but no one calls us much anymore. There is no fun in killing. I don't want to do it anymore. Karn brought Sorrow. Pookie brought Fear. Milk brought the fly boys. They did work in Undia. I worked mostly clandestine. Some Legends I should not say. We played with better wands. I could use the extra pay. Did Mara give the order? Did venom pay the way? They said we were slaying demons, but it was kind of hard to tell. There is no fun in killing. I don't want to do it anymore. This was before HALO, and Codex was king. Hej atop the rider, he never felt a thing. When our rider caught a spell, and both the mages killed. It pitched us over sideways on some cold Sylph hill. My back felt like it was broken, my legs I could not feel. I kept on slaying demons, but it was kind of hard to tell. There is no fun in killing. I don't want to do it anymore. I never did heal up right from injuries sustained Officially in Torin, unofficially we train. I remember all their faces. They dream about me still. I guess I'm slaying demons, but it's kind of hard to tell. There no fun in killing. I don't want to do it anymore. I speak the cold logistic, that old boys speak so well. Veni, Vedi, Vici. I'll see you in Hel. Maybe it's bravado, or an unspeakable guilt. That village, they were demons, but it was kind of hard to tell. There is no fun in killing. I don't wanna to do it anymore. I've done plenty. What is one more? -Corb Lund *** Come guess me this riddle. What beats shire leaves and fiddle? What is hotter than pleasures touch, and whiter than cream? What best wets his whistle? What is clearer than crystal? What is sweeter than honey and stronger than steam? What will make the lame walk? What will make the dumb talk? What is the elixir of life and philosopher's stone? And what helped Pookie-Baba dig up a tunnel, that runs from Shalamanda to West-Torin? When you are digging a crater, It is the best thing in nature, for sinking your sorrows and raising your joys. Sometimes I wonder, if lightning and thunder, is made out of the plunder, of the reddest hiski and oils. *** If you can keep your head when all about you, are losing theirs and blaming it on you. If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise. If you can dream, and not make dreams your master. If you can think, and not make thoughts your aim. If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same. If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken, twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, and stoop and build them up with worn-out tools. If you can make one heap of all your winnings, and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss and lose, and start again at your beginnings, and never breathe a word about your loss. If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew, to serve your turn long after they are gone, and so hold on when there is nothing in you; Except the Will which says to them ‘Hold on!’ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, nor walk with Kings, nor lose the common touch. If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you. If all men count with you, but none too much. If you can fill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds worth of distance, run. Yours is the World and everything that’s in it, and which is more you’ll be a Man, my son. - Rudyard Kipling

Azelia never thought she’d live to see the day her people turned against her. One moment, she was their princess, their future queen, standing in her father’s throne room with the weight of the kingdom on her shoulders. The next, she was being dragged through the marble halls like a criminal, the crown slipping from her fingers. And Lorian—the man she trusted more than anyone—stood by and let it happen. Now, the kingdom she once called home is nothing but a battlefield, and the only person keeping her alive is the one who betrayed her. Lorian says he had no choice. That if he hadn’t played along, he’d be dead too. That he’s trying to fix it. But how do you trust someone who already shattered you? As they flee through the dark tunnels beneath Vareth, hunted by forces she doesn’t yet understand, Azelia wrestles with a painful truth: Lorian may be the only person who can help her take back what she lost. But trusting him means risking everything—including her own heart. Because betrayal is never simple. And sometimes, the worst wounds aren’t the ones left by blades… but by the people we love.