A troubled knight losing his grip on reality searches for a purpose in life. When he stumbles upon a young noblewoman named Esfir in the grips of a dilemma, he finds a memory of an old flame. In his quest to help Esfir, will he find his purpose or will he lose what remains of himself?
Some people find themselves with a purpose early on in life; others, find it so much later. But, me? I don't think there's a purpose for me anymore.
One morning, I just woke up staring at myself in the mirror, wondering what kind of person I had become. I couldn't recognize myself anymore, and to tell you the truth, my thirteen-year-old self would be disappointed in the man I am today.
I used to be a wide-eyed young lad; driven, passionate, and willing to work for the betterment of the country. Sadly, I had become a completely different person.
The rain kept on pouring outside. I pressed my hand against the windowpane, waiting for it to let up so that I could drop by the bar and drink my weariness away. Only then could I forget... only then could I escape.
Minutes later, the downpour of rain had turned into a drizzle. I grabbed my coat, and hid a small blade in the inner pocket, ready to head to Maggie's bar.
Only I and a few others dared walk amidst the rain. It had been days since it rained in our town, and it hadn't stopped since then. Puddles of water stained my boots as I walked along the nearly empty streets until I found myself standing in front of Maggie's once again.
The bright light coming from inside illuminated the dreary darkness of its surroundings. Chatter, laughter, and voices of merry men could be heard from inside. I entered the door, sweeping my eyes across the room for an empty seat and making sure not to make eye contact.
When the bartender saw me, he urged me to sit by the bar counter and offered me my usual drink on the house. He said it was thanks for helping him out the other night, so I just nodded at him and accepted the whiskey.
In this bar, some were thrilled to see me, while others were apprehensive. Though I cared not for either opinion, it was understandable for some people to be unnerved around me, given that I used to be a knight in service to the crown.
Thereafter, I drank in silence and hoped that this day would bring me closer to the end than my last. The rain continued to pour as I drank glass after glass of whiskey until my vision blurred and I blacked out.
All of a sudden, I was awakened by a startling noise. I opened my eyes, feeling like my head was splitting apart. The bartender was cowering behind the counter, ducking as low as possible to hide from would-be assailants.
As I turned my gaze behind me, I noticed a young woman being dragged away by two men. They wore armor that I'd never seen before, and each was armed to the teeth.
I noticed that some of the diners and patrons of the bar were bloodied and unconscious, which led me to believe that there had been an altercation.
Normally, I would just go about my day and forget that I saw anything because I didn't want to stick my nose into other people's business. But for some reason, when my eyes met with the young woman's, I was drawn to her.
Soon, I found myself, dropping a few copper coins on the bar counter and giving the bartender a nod before heading towards the door. Outside, I saw that there were more than two men who were abducting the young lady.
Her auburn hair gleamed brightly amidst the dim surrounding as she sat on the ground, refusing to be taken away. The men tried continued to drag her towards a carriage, until she managed to bite the arm of the man on her left and kick the crotch of the poor bastard on her right.
Shortly thereafter, she ran toward me and hid behind my back. One glance at her and her assailants was all I needed to know that I had been dragged into whatever conflict this was.
The armed men tried to reason with me first. "Oi! This is none of your business, lad. Just give us the girl and we won't hurt you," said the first man. "She's a fugitive, lad. Just give us the girl and be on your way. Don't poke your nose where it doesn't belong," the other remarked.
I didn't respond, for I knew it was futile. I had already seen their faces, and I knew enough to know that they wouldn't leave any witnesses. Thus, I reached for the blade inside my coat and steeled myself for what was about to come. "Hide," I said to the girl.
She looked at me, grateful but somehow agitated. She nodded in response before going back into the bar, where Maggie, the owner stood at the door.
I glanced over at Maggie and saw the way she was looking at me. She didn't even need to talk to her to tell me that I should do what must be done.
The armed men ran after the young lady, but I got in their way. They warned me one last time, but even then, I didn't budge. My refusal to move was all the answer they needed to attack me. Soon, I found sword after sword being swung at me from different directions, but none were successful in reaching me. I was sidestepping, bobbing, and weaving to avoid every strike.
I could tell that the wet ground was slightly muddling their movement and balance, so I took advantage of that weakness and swept the legs of two hapless bastards. Shortly after they fell, I stomped on their helmets to knock them out and incapacitate them. Their comrades were enraged that I made short work of them, so they attacked me on all fronts.
Not to be outdone, I grabbed the sword from one of the fallen men and disarmed all three that were attacking me. Their swords were flung away and planted onto the ground. Without their weapons, they looked at me warily; hesitant to attack. One was foolish enough to try and pummel me, but just a kick to his shin and a knee to his throat was enough to knock him out.
By now, the other two were slowly backing away from me, while I just stood in front of the bar, looking at them with my unfazed gaze. "You'll regret this!" they said, leaving their comrades and heading to the carriage.
Once I had defeated the men, I took what I could find from their coin purses, for in my head, it was payment for the trouble they caused me. The little lady didn't look like she would've paid me anything, so I thought looting the unconscious soldiers' coin purses was payment enough.
Maggie and the young lady looked at me in silence until I approached them. I said to the young lady, "Leave town before they come back." Then, I went on my way back to my house to prepare for departure. From what I could tell, those men must've been hired by some merchant or noble, so there were probably more of them coming in a day or two.
Just as I reached my house, the young lady grabbed my wrist and said, "Take me with you. Please."
"No. Leave me alone," I answered, heading into my home. But then, she followed me inside without my permission. "Can I at least stay the night? It's almost midnight and going out there would be suicide."
I shook my head and let out a sigh. "Fine, but you're sleeping on the couch. I don't intend to share my bed with you."
A moment of silence ensued between us. Thinking that she had no arguments to be made, I headed toward my room. But then, she said loudly, "Esfir."
I looked back, confused by what she meant. "That's my name. Esfir," she repeated.
"Rain," I answered as I headed back to my room.
Atreus has reached the height of success, building a vast conglomerate that brought him wealth and recognition. Yet, even with everything he ever dreamed of, he feels a void that nothing seems to fill. One evening, while taking a walk, he becomes a witness to a mugging and nearly loses his life in the chaos. When he wakes up in the hospital, he sees the woman he saved sitting by his side. In her presence, he feels a strange familiarity that pulls him back to his past, to the days when he first learned what it meant to love. "A Last Letter for My Stargazer" follows Atreus as he confronts the emptiness within him and uncovers the lost pieces of his heart.
In the post-apocalyptic wasteland known as The Black Spot, hope is a scarce commodity. Arslan, a hardened survivor haunted by a traumatic past, wanders through the desolate ruins with only his cynicism and combat skills as companions. But when he crosses paths with Nova, a quick-witted thief, and Leona, a relentless fighter with a strong sense of justice, their fates become entwined. Together, they form an unlikely alliance in a world where trust is a luxury. As they navigate the treacherous terrain and encounter ruthless factions, their shared objective emerges: to piece together the fragments of hope amidst the chaos. Arslan's unwavering determination to find his lost love, Clarisse, propels them forward, as they uncover secrets that shake the very foundations of their shattered world. In 'Fragments of Hope,' survival means more than just staying alive—it means finding the strength to fight for a better future. As alliances are tested, loyalties are questioned, and sacrifices are made, these survivors must rise above their own demons and forge a path toward redemption. Will their shared resilience be enough to rebuild what has been lost, or will they be consumed by the darkness that surrounds them?
"When Ryle, a royal knight, stumbles upon a plot by the Queen to overthrow the King, he must choose between his loyalty to the crown and his sense of justice. As he assembles a secret unit of skilled warriors to stop the Queen and protect the kingdom, Ryle faces danger, political intrigue, and the challenge of coming to terms with his own beliefs. "The Soldier's Minute: Fall of Rosetta" is a gripping tale of dark fantasy, romance, and coming of age set in a medieval world where technology and magic collide. Join Ryle on his quest to save the kingdom in this action-packed and emotionally charged novel."
Arcturus, a Royal Knight of the kingdom of Lumiere, recalls the days of his time with his first love when he finds himself fighting against Claire on the battlefield. Will he live up to his duty as a Royal Knight of the kingdom or will he succumb to his emotions and lose his heart?
Terraria, a world governed by the six elemental knights. They bring balance, stability, and life to this world. But legend has it that one day, a seventh knight will appear, wreaking havoc and destruction wherever he walks. A man named Sigurd embarks on a quest to find The Seventh Knight and do whatever it takes to kill him.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.