The Mirror

"As the Supreme Commander of The Wall, my duty is clear: to hold back the threats from the south—mutant monsters, ogres, cyclops, or... hopefully not... the return of the orcs. The kings and lords of Middle Earth do not care. To them, we are just a bunch of 'Outcasts,' exiled criminals and soldiers pushed to the margins. That’s fine. It's better if they stay out of our way. Corrupt politicians rarely care about real security." He looks down at the Outcast barracks below, where the central headquarters commands the entire Wall, separating the south from the main continent. Wisps of smoke rise from the kitchens, carrying the scent of salty, stale soup. The Outcasts atone for their sins or suppress their grief through dangerous missions in exchange for a few gold coins, following the rigorous standards set long ago. Such is life at The Wall. "I, Oldman, am not a religious man. But I interpret the legacy of past eras as a reminder: The world has never truly been at peace. The evil forces of all ages—fragments, orcs, or dragons—will always lurk. Humans, dwarves, elves, whoever they may be, could end up killing each other, driven by cunning deceit. And now, the only barrier holding back the southern threat is The Wall... and us, the Outcasts. Perhaps history will remember us as nameless heroes, or perhaps it will forget us. But as long as I stand here, I will not allow the monsters from the south and other darknesses to spread across the continent again." "I am Oldman... In a world that has cast us out, we stand amidst the darkness. We have no land, no name, only this path. We are the shadows behind this wall. We are the forgotten guardians of the world. We are the Outcasts, and we will endure, or die on our path."

Every dreamy girl wants a Mafia man, but the question is, does the Mafia man want you? Luna Defalco is a woman born into the Mafia life. Her father was in the Mafia, her cousins were in the Mafia, her mother died in the Mafia and now, even the man she loves is the almighty Mafia boss himself. There's just one minor hiccup, Zeno Silvestri, Luna's love interest, sees her as nothing more than a childish little sister. To make matters worse, he remains in love with his dead wife. When a threat on both their lives forces them to abscond to an island owned by Zeno, Luna must take this God-given chance to prove to Zeno that she is no longer that little child he's known all his life and make him fall for her womanly charms by all means. What happens when Zeno's brotherly feelings for Luna begin to shift? Can he accept this shift in affection or will he hold on to his dead lover? *** Excerpt “Zeno, what do you think love is?” Luna asked. Her sudden question made him turn from the grasses he was lazily plucking out of the moist earth, to stare at her. “Not what the dictionary tells us, but to you, what is love?" She wasn't joking, he could see it. Wiping the dirt off his palms, he sat himself next to her on the dried log of wood which she sat on. In and out he breathed like he was sincerely thinking about her question. Then without looking at her, his lips parted and he said, “A mirror.” "A mirror?" She asked. "Yes. A mirror.” He nodded and sighed. “Love is a mirror that reflects the deepest part of a person's soul. A mirror that reflects pain and suffering, but also joy and ecstasy, it's a mirror that reflects the heart just the way it is, naked and helpless. It's a mirror that reflects life, and that mirror is made of frail glass, hold it too tight, and it'll shatter, don't hold it tight enough, and it'll slip right out of your fingers and still shatter, if you try to pick up the broken pieces, you'll hurt yourself, that's why it's never easy to pick up the broken pieces, and neither can you just leave it there and get another mirror. Someone else might get hurt. Either way, love is hurtful." She had asked for his own take on love and he had given her the answer. Now she wanted to be bold. “Zeno, I no longer want to be that little baby girl that you adore.” His head turned as his eyes sought to look at her as though that would help him hear better. “Let me help you. I think if we pick up the broken pieces of the previous mirror together, it'll hurt less. And after we've cleared out the shattered pieces, then… then I want to be your new mirror.”

In Nazi-occupied France, a young woman, Adeline Beaumont finds her life completely changed when her family is forced to share their home with a German Officer, Wilhelm von Haeften. Initially fueled by hatred, their relationship unexpectedly blossomed into a forbidden love amidst the brutality of war. But as the French resistance intensifies and the horrors of occupation deepen, Adeline must choose between her burgeoning feelings and her loyalty to her country. Will their forbidden love survive the escalating conflict? Or will the shadow of war tear them apart forever? Discover a story of defiance, sacrifice and a love that dares to bloom in the darkest of times

Thirteen beings—more powerful than immortals and utterly bored with their own predictable universe—set off to find a legendary mirror that promises gateways to countless new worlds. As they journey through wild, shifting dimensions, every reflection unveils secrets that could tear reality apart. Welcome to Mirror World, where boredom sparks the greatest adventure of all.

This is a rigorous multiverse cultivation novel! Watch the protagonist, Zhong Shenxiu, as he wanders through various realms, pursues longevity, explodes the system, and becomes the master of the multiverse. Here, there are modern martial arts, classical cultivation, jianghu of Cthulhu, horror worlds, steam punk… Infinite worlds, infinite possibilities, all in the 'Lord Shenxiu'!

For centuries, the Shattered Gate has held back the horrors lurking in the Beyond. It was the last safeguard against Corruption, the remnants of a disastrous war that nearly consumed the world. But now, the Gate is weakening, and Rifts—fractures in reality—have begun spilling chaos into the Twelve Mega-Cities. Reid Eulison grew up scavenging electronic scrap in the slums—until the night he awakens an impossible gift. [Initializing System Override...] [You are now a Candidate of the Shattered Gate.] [Your Path is Unwritten.] Marked by an ancient power that should not exist, Reid must uncover the truth behind the Shattered Gate, navigate a world teetering on the brink of collapse, and carve his place in a hierarchy where strength is absolute and betrayal is inevitable. But as the war for dominion intensifies, a horrifying truth emerges: The Shattered Gate wasn’t meant to protect humanity. It was meant to keep something out. And now… it’s waking up.

Suddenly, something moved in the dark corner of the room, catching my attention. Startled out of my mind, I leaped back in fear, grabbing the first object my hands landed on... a lamp, and holding it in front of me defensively, like a weapon. From the farthest corners of the darkness, a figure gradually began to emerge, slowly taking shape as it stepped into the rays of sunlight pouring through the windows. Bit by bit, the light revealed his features. He was tall, with a lean, chiseled physique, and his shoulders were broad. Silver-blonde hair spilled from his head, falling loosely around his face, giving him both a wild and seductive look, and I couldn't look away. Not from this beautiful man. He had jaw-dropping facial features that consisted of a sharp jaw with equally sharp cheekbones, a straight nose, a perfect mouth, and by the heavens, expressionless eyes. Eyes of gold and brown. Eyes that stared straight into mine. I fought back a shudder, muttering a silent curse under my breath. So, this was Dragos. ********** Centuries after his brother’s betrayal, Dragos Nicolae Vlad III has chosen solitude over his destined role as the leader of vampires. But when Dawn Carter, a young woman with financial struggles, lands a job at the Vlad mansion, her immunity to Dragos’ compulsion stirs something long dead within him—worry. He needs to find out why. Dawn has no idea vampires exist, let alone that she’s living among them—or that the dangerously gorgeous Dragos is their chosen one. As feelings start to grow between them, old wounds and new desires surface, but their love isn’t meant to be. She is something else—something pure. And he? A being forged from dark magic, forever damned. A vampire, and not just any kind. Will Dragos give up the first woman to touch his heart in over four hundred years? Or can their forbidden love create a path to peace for both human and vampire species?

In a world where power is measured by strength, magic, and influence, **Kael**, a street rat and petty thief from the slums of Eldoria, stumbles upon an ancient temple and awakens the **System of Sovereignty**—a mysterious force that grants him the tools to conquer the world. With the System's guidance, Kael embarks on a journey to rise from nothingness to become the ultimate ruler, the **Sovereign**. But the path to power is fraught with challenges. Kael must navigate a world divided by warring factions, corrupt nobles, and ancient secrets. The System grants him unique abilities, allowing him to walk the dual path of a **warrior** and a **mage**, but mastering both will require relentless training, cunning strategy, and unyielding determination.

In a world ruled by ancient magic and mysterious forces, Isabelle Darvin, a young and fearless warrior, finds herself drawn into an adventure that could change the fate of everything she knows. Her father, a once-legendary warrior, disappeared under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind only cryptic clues about a powerful artifact—the "Heart of the Soul." Legend speaks of this gem, said to grant its wielder limitless power, capable of reshaping the world itself. But as Isabelle ventures deeper into her journey, she discovers that the Heart of the Soul is far more than she imagined. It is not only a symbol of magic but a force with untold dangers and dark power. Every step of her journey is fraught with peril, puzzles, and trials, with each ally revealing secrets that could turn them into enemies. Determined to uncover the truth behind her father's disappearance, Isabelle must navigate perilous ruins, confront evil forces, and battle the rising darkness that threatens everything. But as the power of the Heart begins to awaken, Isabelle finds herself pulled toward its seductive influence—forcing her to question whether she can control it or if it will consume her instead. In a world full of betrayal, intrigue, and powerful magic, Isabelle must face not only external enemies but the internal battle between her ambition and her morality. Each decision she makes will shape the future of her kingdom—and ultimately, her own destiny. Destiny, Power, and Sacrifice—Who will control the Heart of the Soul?

When the mirror appears, it's said that the mind has reached its breaking point. For Ryo Kobayashi, a teenager consumed by the darkness of his own world, the mirror's emergence is both a curse and a catalyst. Alongside seven other individuals, each with their own demons and despair, Ryo is drawn into the mirror's abyss and transported to a realm both mysterious and terrifying. The eight strangers must navigate this eerie landscape, confronting life-threatening challenges that push their sanity and resolve to the limit. As they struggle to survive, they begin to unravel the secrets of this twisted world and the true purpose of the mirror. Will they be able to overcome their inner turmoil and work together to escape, or will they succumb to the horrors that surround them? I’ll be posting this book on royalroad.com https://www.royalroad.com/profile/613348

Alaire, an ordinary 17-year-old boy who lives with his grandma, gets a mirror and finds himself in a different world where he experiences all sorts of things and finds out information that was kept a secret from him for years alongside his feathered companion Hewie and others.

*From ancient times, the Devas—beings of divine power—protected humanity. But even gods can fall, and their corruption brought a terrible curse upon their immortality. Now, in a world where humanity has turned against divinity, ancient threats thought to be myths awaken in the shadows. *To combat this darkness, a new generation of divine beings is needed. Enter the Devangsh—fragments of gods living among humans. But are they free from the corrupt desires that doomed their predecessors, or will they fall as well? *Among them are five seemingly ordinary students balancing their lives among friends and loved ones while hiding their true origins. Their fragile peace shatters with the arrival of Akshay, a mysterious transfer student whose presence carries an unsettling aura. Is he a new ally or an ancient enemy? Calamities follow in his wake, shaking the foundations of their lives. *Loyalties will be tested, beliefs will falter, and as enemies rise, the Devangsh must confront their destiny. Will they rise to save the world—or succumb to the darkness within and around them?

The Lord of the Rings: In the realm of Middle-earth, a humble hobbit named Frodo Baggins inherits the One Ring, a powerful artifact forged by the Dark Lord Sauron. Unbeknownst to Frodo, the Ring holds the key to Sauron's return to power and his domination over Middle-earth. As Frodo learns of the Ring's true nature, he embarks on a perilous journey to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom. Joined by a fellowship of brave and noble companions, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, Frodo must navigate treacherous landscapes, battle formidable enemies, and resist the Ring's insidious influence. As they venture deeper into the unknown, the Fellowship faces numerous challenges that test their resolve, loyalty, and courage. With the fate of Middle-earth hanging in the balance, Frodo and his companions must summon the strength and resilience to overcome the darkness and save their world from the clutches of Sauron. The Lord of the Rings is an epic tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the struggle between good and evil, set against the richly detailed and expansive backdrop of Middle-earth.

This whole story is from a Roleplay I did with some friends online. I liked it so much that I decided to rewrite it and publish it online for others to read. Also, this plays in the world of Project moon, the gaming company. In case you know any of their games you might notice some similar things. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Avi, a young man living in The City is trying his best to survive with bad decisions he had made in the past. Many life-changing decisions will face Avi one after another as he continues his journey towards a better more perfect life.

He appeared in a blink of an eye. I didn't see him when my eyes were reading the dress code and the people. Either he fell from the sky or just teleported here. As soon as my eyes landed on him, they widened at his aspect. He was wearing complete white which was complementing his silver silky hair. He gleams like shiny white armor. My eyes followed him, as he was getting closer in my direction.

Miko is a 16 year old student. She is the role model of a student, she is loved, she gets good grades, and she's a good girl. But underneath that good girl act is a twisted girl. A menace to society if her true intentions came out. And out of all things to get reincarnated in, it's the stereotypical otome heroine, hah... heroine. Boring. What the hell is she supposed to do now? Well, go after her favorites! The villainesses of the story! The taming of the villainess begins.

The world ended for Caelith the moment he returned to the camp, only to find it in ruins-his people slaughtered, their bodies torn apart like ragdolls. Among the countless corpses, one was missing: Jerry, the only person he truly called family. Plagued by dreams of a war he never fought, of a name that doesn't belong to him, and of a voice in his head that whispers of a destiny he doesn't understand, Caelith is thrust into a terrifying reality-one where gods have fallen, the heavens have bled, and something inhuman walks among them. The massacre was only the beginning. As he follows the cryptic command to head north, Caelith begins unraveling the truth of who he really is-and who Jerry might have been. The more he remembers, the more the world around him warps into something unfamiliar, something dangerous. Because the war that once tore the celestial throne apart never truly ended. And this time, the gods are not the only ones who will bleed.

In a world riddled with oddity and mystery, Dane finds himself right in the middle of something big. The origin of Iotils, the Twelve, and the mysterious Mirror Lady, all mysteries the lone man will be forced to unwrap.

Kang Mari is a kind-hearted South Korean actress who has achieved international fame through her roles in romantic dramas and action films, but who still feels frustrated by a lack of freedom. Her life's going to change when the first trips to the set scenerios for filming her latest movie put in motion an unexpected plot of its own, two different stories intertwining with disastrous results. Kim Raon, on the other hand, is her polar opposite in the vastness of the multiverse, the ruthless director of the psychic-run Dragon Division, for which the greatest enigma yet will rise in her defiance. New dark threats will put her agency to the test; she will need to take tough decisions to secure her interests, all for which she stands, but also having to keep safe a world she's always resented. Both lifetimes will converge in a scenario of mystery and suspense, where both characters must face their own internal and external demons, raising the stakes of loyalty, power, and the struggle for truth and liberation in a crossroads where nothing is as it seems.

As soon as Thomas noticed his body laying there dead on top of a puddle of his own blood he sees a large mirror next to his body. Thomas was so focused on his dead body that he didn't notice the mirror at first. As soon as he noticed the mirror he started walking towards it wondering what the hell it was, what was going on. As Thomas walks up to the mirror he sees himself. But something was off he didn't notice it right away but as he was getting closer to the mirror he started to see his shadow move and unusual ways. Finally as he got to the mirror his shadow started rising behind him, Thomas was dead but it felt like his heart was beating so fast his chest hurt. Then he heard it, A slight whisper barely noticeable but he could hear it, it was telling him to touch the mirror Thomas felt hesitant. But he was dead what's the point of hesitate when you're dead so we got up to the mirror and touched it. As soon as he touch the mirror everything went white he couldn't see anything he felt blinded by the pure whiteness that surround it his vision. He didn't know how long he was like that, how long he was surrounded by the pure whiteness that felt endless he couldn't move he couldn't hear and he couldn't feel anything, it was so weird to be stuck like that but what could he do?

[not a LitRPG / isekai / cultivation.] [Espionage / Slowburn / A very human story] SYNOPSIS: A child rotting on the streets was suddenly dragged into the black car of one of the many conglomerates that rule the world from the shadows. Through golden flames and swathes of blood, he was trained and experimented on to become the perfect weapon. In this ever-changing world of conspiracy and technological marvels, Test Subject 201, now called Felix, navigates the world as the experiment's sole survivor, standing as the foundation for humanity's next step in evolution.  Armed with his gun, newfound abilities, and a memento he holds dearly, he marches through the steep path of darkness and deceit, and faces off against mafia, mercenaries, and countless criminals and corporations, to enact the organization's mantra to "protect the peace.".

A samurai, ill from a war long since passed, embarks on a harrowing journey across the continent to return his master's blade to the Isle of Mist. His sole companion is his master's estranged lover—an enigmatic monster-hunter-turned-hitman who hopes that, by joining the quest, he can redeem himself. The two find themselves entwined in an unlikely friendship brought together by shared grief, guilt, and hope. SFW, but does contain mature themes, sexual references, drug use/addiction, and violence.

The story is about typical teenage students living their basic lives, filled with romance, fun actions, and drama.

Exploring a new world filled with magic, science and strangeness.

She was made a villainess and died in the guillotine while staring back at the only man she loves holding the woman who made her appear wicked, hiding a victorious smile behind her weakened facade. "If there's a world parallel to us like I always believed, I prayed that she won't love you like I do. Loving you wasn't a mistake. But chasing you until there's nothing left of me, was." Her last thought before she died. And when she thought it was over, she woke up to a different world, where magic, monsters, and knights were only a work of fiction. Bewildered, she saw a scattered drafts of papers beneath her bed just to be even more surprised upon reading the exact thing that happened to her before she died. And in the blink of an eye, unknown memories flash before her, making her feel bitterness when she realizes that the author of the life, she had was none other than the person her soul transferred to. "So even in this life, you devoted yourself to him." "But I won't do it again."

Eileen, a young girl reeling from the emotional turmoil of her parents' divorce, arrives in Moonlight Town seeking a fresh start. Little does she know, this seemingly ordinary place is a portal to a hidden supernatural realm. One fateful night, her life takes an unexpected turn when she saves Kyle, a mysterious vampire with black wings, from a perilous situation. Suddenly thrust into a world of magic and danger, Eileen is then enrolled in the Night Academy. Here, she discovers her own latent powers and befriends Kyle and Ryan, a werewolf. Their idyllic training days are soon shattered when they learn of Morris, a powerful vampire elder with a terrifying plan. Morris is determined to complete the Blood Moon Ceremony, an ancient and malevolent ritual that, if successful, will unleash untold darkness upon the world. As Eileen and her friends race against time to stop Morris, they face numerous challenges. Magic traps, fierce battles, and heart - pounding chases through enchanted forests and ancient ruins test their courage and friendship. With the Blood Moon rising, the tension mounts. Will Eileen be able to master her powers in time? Can their friendship withstand the ultimate test? And most importantly, can they stop Morris and save the supernatural world from his grasp? Dive into The Oath of the Moonlight to find out.