Cristae
Stories
14
Chapters
2,598
Words
4.8 M
Comments
0
Reading
16 d, 18 h
-
132Havan gave the order. I hid behind my picture book and swept a glance around. “What are you waiting for? I told you to bring the pen!” “All right…” Resigned, I answered quietly and stood up. Then, moving slowly, I picked up the pen and turned around. Heading straight to Havan’s desk, I dumped out his pencil case with a crash. “What do you think you’re doing?! You crazy? Touching other people’s things?!” What a splendid self-introduction. “You said to bring you…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
130Licht pretended not to hear and stepped closer to look down at Khalid. He seemed to have grown into an even more infuriatingly smug face over the summer. “Hello?” “Does this look like a time for pleasantries to you?” “Well, close enough. More importantly… Rubian is at the Academy, right?” “I don't see any reason I should answer—” “There is.” The elegantly curved eyes of the prince were thoroughly annoying. Khalid gave a short, derisive laugh and turned his…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 129 “Huh? Rubian?” Sortier grabbed hold of me. The ferryman, who had been rowing, also looked at me in puzzlement. “What’s wrong? Shall I turn the boat around?” “Ah, n-no. It’s just that my stomach…” I stammered, clutching my abdomen. A burning pain flared along my back, then quickly subsided. ‘Damn it… Why now, of all times?’ I bit my lip and squeezed my eyes shut. The pain vanished as quickly as it appeared, gone almost before I even registered…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
128We crept along quietly, Khalid leading the way with me following close behind. For a moment, it felt as if we’d slipped back into the past. There had been times before when the two of us moved about secretly just like this… ‘Although back then, the circumstances were much harsher.’ Just then— From outside the door came the sound of the attendant’s polite clearing of his throat. As we moved silently between the bookshelves, Khalid halted abruptly—and lost in thought, I walked…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 127 Apparently, my foot had barely grazed the tip of his shoe. “Ah, sorry.” “Ah, sorry? Soooorry?” Havelus seized upon my words and began to draw them out. “You think just apologizing is enough after stepping on a noble’s shoe? Do you have any idea how much these shoes cost?!” “…Um? Well, I apologized, didn’t I? What else am I supposed to say?” I asked in genuine curiosity. And really, it wasn’t even as if I’d properly stepped on his foot—why was he…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
126Haben’s sharp gaze was fixed on my shoes. I looked down at my brown leather shoes. They were the first gift my mother ever gave me—famous for their craftsman, too—but I’d worn them running about from spring to summer, so by now they were a little worn out. Besides, they were boys’ shoes, so they looked rather sturdy and plain. ‘I do have dress shoes in my trunk…’ But I wanted to keep wearing these no matter what. ‘My feet are growing so fast!’ It meant the day…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 125 When he opened it, the chest was filled to the brim with gleaming magical devices. They belonged to the Imperial Family. “Acceleration devices?” “Absurd, isn’t it? Here we are, plotting to bring down the Mage Kingdom, and we’re using the very tools they created.” “Well… I doubt they ever imagined their creations would be used like this. It must be a bitter pill to swallow.” The Emperor murmured as he peered into the box. “Yes, with this much… let’s…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 124 “Duke, you’ve arrived. I’ll announce you to His Majesty at once.” The attendant hurried over and bowed to Leviathan. Leviathan stood before the massive audience chamber doors, quietly waiting for permission to enter. It wasn’t long before the attendant reappeared. “Thank you for waiting! His Majesty asks that you come in… now…” The attendant trailed off, glancing warily at the Duke. “Um, Your Excellency… Did our door somehow offend you?” It was…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 123 Because of the mana-restricting collar around my neck, this place felt even more oppressive. Of course, it was thanks to that collar that I had managed to cross the border and reach the capital of Babylon without being exposed as a mage. ‘The Duke of Zevert is definitely here… I should take a look around first.’ Muttering to herself, the woman quickly left the Academy and slipped away into the crowd. ‘Seventh, you won’t escape me.’ Her green eyes glinted. She…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
122A cluster of blue hydrangeas filled the windowsill, flooding my vision. Petals heavy with moisture shivered now and then, as if waving a greeting to me. What is this… So this was what you were doing in front of my room? “I’ll move them.” “Huh?” My dazed mind snapped back to focus. Khalid mumbled gloomily from behind me. “I didn’t realize you were upset, and I overstepped. I’m sorry.” “No… Why flowers all of a sudden?” “You used up all the magic stones,…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 121 Magic cast with malice leaves a trace that lingers for a long time. Just as Allen had said, the reason this place felt especially eerie was that malice clung to the space itself like a stain. ‘Magic so thickly saturated with malice…’ Khalid exhaled in short, sharp breaths. ‘It’s not mine.’ Only then did the strength drain from his body. He sank back, slumping to the ground. “That’s a relief…” “What’s this? What’s wrong with you?” He…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
120Cal pressed his lips tightly together in silence. At that moment, Allen, who had been feeling along the shackle, narrowed one eye. “Huh? The inside here’s kind of rough. Cal, shine some light here, will you? Maybe there’s some precious gem embedded inside. Ha, so that’s why you wanted to come here, huh?” “Move.” Cal quickly snatched the shackle and directed the light inside. A shackle meant for wrists and ankles. While bound, there was no way anyone could have seen the…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 119 “They say he’s the Fourth Prince?” “Oh.” Come to think of it, he did ask if he could write to me. I paused, my hand reaching for the letter. “But… what is…?” How extravagant is this?! Gold embossing was just the start—when I tore open the envelope, a pleasant fragrance wafted out. As I unfolded the slightly creased paper, it released a symphony of floral scents… It was, in every sense, spring itself. Hello, Rubian. It's Licht. Are you doing…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 118 ‘Mister Maddix?’ “I’m heading home for the day!” She darted out the shop’s back door with a whoosh. At the same moment—bang! The door flew open. “Asha!” The blacksmith, his long green hair tied back anyhow, flexed his impressive, sinewy muscles as always. “Mister Maddix!” It had been a while since I’d seen him. I hurried over to greet him. His bushy eyebrows danced. “Miss Ruby? Long time no see.” “What brings you here……
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 117< The Heart of the Empire! … > Somewhere… those words… Just then, a familiar voice echoed in my mind. "If necessary, aim for the heart." Ah. The words Leviathan had spoken in the original story… 'But why did that suddenly come to mind?' Was it simply because the words overlapped? "Hmm. How cryptic." Frowning in frustration, I pressed my fingers to my brow. At that moment, the door opened and Hazel walked in. "Huh? Miss, why are you standing there like…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
116“A… portrait?” His sharp eyes narrowed slightly. Regardless, I strode straight up to the artist Mister, who was sketching portraits beneath a tent, and greeted him brightly. “Hello!” “Oh my, such adorable visitors… Miss?” “Oh, do you know me?” “Of course, of course! I often come to the manor to restore the murals. I’ve seen you a few times from afar.” “Oh, really?” I thought I was disguised well enough, but somehow he recognized me. The artist…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 115 Around the time my adoption papers were being prepared. Out of the blue, Father asked me, “Ruby, when's your birthday?” “I don't have one.” “…….” “Is it important? Oh, it’s the day you eat cake, I suppose. But now I can have cake anytime, even without a birthday. Why do you ask?” The Mage King certainly never bothered to tell me my birthday. I was too busy surviving to ever be curious about it myself. Ah, at the orphanage in my previous life,…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
114“All right. Your attire’s a bit unkempt, but… oh, it’s fine. I’ve learned some flexibility at this post. We’ll work out the details as we go.” “Eek! No… Rubian! Help me!” Nothing could stop a youth thirsting for knowledge. In the end, Asha was borne away in a book cart lined with plush cushions. Thud. It wouldn’t be more than a few steps from here to the adjoining study, but Asha… made the journey in comfort. Khalid shook his head, as if in…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
Episode 113It was the voices of Void and Liam. Startled, I sprang up quickly. “What are you doing? Are you awake?” The door creaked open, revealing the faces of my two brothers. Father sighed, as if he simply couldn’t deal with them. “I told you not to rush over to Ruby’s room the moment you opened your eyes. Are you finished getting ready to leave?” “We’re not bothering her, and it’s not even right after waking up, and besides, it’s already noon! Father!” Void…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
-
112“Of course. Didn’t you say the kingdom always proclaims ‘We’ve caught them’ to the outside world when they halt a search?” He was right. That was how the kingdom boasted a so-called 100% arrest rate for fugitive mages. It reinforced their authority externally and exerted internal pressure. “More importantly, they failed to search the North.” “That’s true… but hm. I think the Mage King spread word of the search ending to make me and those around me let our guard…
-
413.4 K • Ongoing
-
- Previous 1 … 36 37 38 … 130 Next