Kairami

DCD - B3 - Chapter 52 - A Completed Vengeance

After the battle, everything settled down.

Mr. Bones’ body was repaired. Veylar’s connection to Enya weakened, and both he and Beatrice returned to the underworld. Pell, meanwhile, dragged Asvizer’s and Amberdean’s bodies toward the center of the ruined courtyard. He pocketed any artifacts they had and shoved them into his inventory. This included Amberdean’s sets of rings, and a few other trinkets the Godsworn had on him.

The spires of bone Enya had created were already...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 27: Lured Out

Chapter 27: Lured Out

Finn hadn’t been paying attention to the time, but by the point he was binding the Viscount’s wounds, Veronica had already been fighting for nearly ten minutes. He’d barely spent any time with the steward before turning around and heading back into the forest.

Taking every shortcut he knew, he reached the ruins within minutes—this time without caring about stealth.

But the site had changed.

Cracked stone littered the gro...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 26: Chaos in town

“Place your hand here,” Elise ordered, voice choppy.

Finn obeyed instantly. He pressed both palms down on the folded cloth she shoved at him, holding it against the viscount’s stomach. Heat and wetness seeped through the fabric almost at once. Blood. Way too much of it. His own heartbeat thundered in his ears, but he held fast, just like she told him.

Around them, the chamber was chaos. Furniture overturned, papers scattered, the floor smeared in dark stains. The viscount la...

DCD - B3 - Chapter 51 - Soul Reaped

“That power…” Asvizer murmured. “You—you’re using a God’s power.”

He stood still, several dozen meters away, clutching his bleeding arm where it had just been severed. Godly power or not—he wasn’t immortal. He only borrowed a God’s power as a member of the Godsworn.

The girl in front of him, however, was entirely different.

“H-how? How are you using a God’s power?” he shouted.

But a moment later, clarity struck him. His eyes widened. “I se...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 25: The Exalted Mage

Martial warriors did not wield mana like mages.

They relied instead on life energy—the vital force threading through muscle and bone, carried with every heartbeat. Through discipline and will, they could circulate it to harden flesh to iron, sharpen reflexes to lightning, and draw forth strength that bordered on the supernatural.

But when a martial artist reached the brink of their capabilities, there was only one way to turn the tide.

Burning essence.

More precisely...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 24: Good Luck, Finn.

Finn tore through the underbrush, lungs burning. The forest canopy above no longer glowed orange, the last rays of daylight slipping away as shadows stretched long across the dirt path. He knew every bend, every dip in the roots, every shortcut through the brambles. Just five minutes at full sprint and he’d be back. Speed and stealth were both things he was good at. He’d been sneaking out of Greystone long before anyone thought to stop him.

Tonight, that habit might save lives.

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 23: Exalted Form

Finn cursed under his breath as the arrow veered wide. He had waited until they were close—close enough to see all of them clearly. He focused in on one man's mask, and aimed for his head as steadily as he could manage. It still only grazed his arm.

The man’s furious shout rang out behind him.

Finn didn’t wait—he turned and bolted. His shoes pounded across roots and moss, lungs burning, heart thrumming like a drum.

I should have grabbed a crossbow! he thoug...

DCD - B3 - Chapter 50 - Ripple Effect

Across the layers, a resounding wave made its way through each city, plain, fortress, and every hidden corner of the world.

4th Layer - Harken City - Plaza of Harmony

It was late afternoon. The plaza was alive in the way cities always were after lunch.

Stone tiles radiated warmth from the sun. Merchants leaned lazily against their stalls, more interested in conversation than sales. A group of children argued loudly over whose turn it was to chase wh...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 22: Remember what you stand for

Veronica sprinted alone into the forest. She had made sure no one was following her.

She was heading in the direction of the ruins. Was Finn going back just to check up on the ruins and wait? Or did something happen to alert him? Regardless, she had to get him out of there. A young child shouldn’t have to fight these kinds of battles.

After a couple of minutes, she heard a mental ping in her mind.

[A demon has been detected 500 meters ahead.]

“What...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 20: The Envoy is…?!

The townsfolk had all gathered around the square now, the long banquet table filled with roasted meats glistening in their juices; platters of vegetables steamed and were served on side dishes, while baskets of freshly baked bread stood piled high. Citrus slices, honey-glazed mapleroots, and even some fish sliced into delicate pieces were all prepared.

It truly was a celebration.

Baron Welterman stood tall in his formal coat. Beside him was Steward Hadrian, checking a parchment li...

DCD - B3 - Chapter 49 - Awaken

Pell was blasted away, bones rattling, skull shaking as he flipped through the air. He landed several meters away on his feet, soul-flames flaring as he prepared another strike.

Mr. Bones charged ahead first, slashing with his greatsword. The guard parried, but the force sent him skidding back a few inches. He shifted his weight, dragging the greatsword along the ground before spinning into a counter-slash. It struck Mr. Bones directly, cracking his armor.

This was like fighting a...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 21: Moving

The viscount offered a mild bow of the head. “A pleasure. I’ve heard good things.”

She returned it with appropriate grace. “Likewise, Viscount.”

Beside him, a girl, both small and soft-featured, peeked from behind her father’s coat. Wide eyed; she was full of caution and curiosity. Veronica met her gaze, offered a faint smile, and dipped her chin.

“Hello there.”

Claire blinked. Then, after a moment’s pause, she gave a polite curtsey—dainty, practice...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 19: Day of the festival

The day of the festival.

It had crept up quietly. The last two days had been slow but steady; subtle movements that let Veronica blend in just enough not to rouse suspicion.

She had returned to the ruins with Finn at her side two days ago, the boy too stubborn or too curious to stay behind. The cultists were long gone, of course. Nothing left but the faint scent of scorched soil and the lingering memory of demonic residue clinging to the air like stale breath. She’d walked the r...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 18: Mysteries

The bodies were still warm when she finished dragging the last one beneath the trees.

Four corpses now rested in a haphazard pile, limbs splayed and twisted among fallen leaves. Blood had soaked into the roots and moss, black beneath the light of the night. Veronica stood above them, watching in silence. Her breath was steady, and her expression, unreadable. She was deep in thought.

Jameson had said enough—at least, before the curse took him.

The Ashen Covenant had been in...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 17: Assassins

The leftmost figure rushed at her, but Veronica was already prepared to intercept. A single mage wing appeared behind her hand.

Just as the would-be assassin reached halfway, their dagger drawn and ready, Veronica cast her spell.

Perfect, with swift execution, Veronica held her hand out, palm sideways. A sudden flick—Veronica snapped her wrist downward; a spell activated instantly; a powerful fiery blade slashed down vertically, cutting the assassin in half. The heat melted and ...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 16: Once again, The Second Tier

Chapter 16: Once again, The Second Tier

Her body was covered in sweat. She sat upright, sitting on top of crossed legs. Her chest was warm, accumulating a slowly building, burning pressure.

Several hours had passed. It was almost midnight now. She’d taken the opportunity to try advancing once more.

The air around her seemed to still ever so slightly.

There was a roaring tempest within her body. A chaotic storm of power and mana, expanding, shrinkin...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 15: Attention

Just one man. He was single-handedly making things worse for everyone involved.

Jorren advanced, limping but determined, and the rest of his group followed, reluctant, but moving with him all the same.

“Halt!” one guard barked.

“All of you—stand down!” shouted another.

More voices joined the chorus as guards converged from every direction, their hands near hilts, their steps quickening. The situation was escalating fast, and it wouldn’t take much more to sp...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 14: A Square in the Square

After a long journey back through the manor, venturing down the excessive steps and long hallways, Veronica finally reached the main entrance of the manor. Elise, who was guiding the way, stepped forward and gently opened the door. She gestured for Veronica to exit first.

Veronica walked through the doorway, rolling her shoulders slightly. In her hands was a small bag filled with 500 Vix pieces in the largest denomination. It was an advance, a portion of the promised coin that Welterman...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 13: I’ve Played These Games Before.

Long minutes passed before the door finally opened again.

The maid stepped inside, carrying a polished silver tray with a delicate porcelain teacup resting atop it. Without a word of apology for the wait, she moved gracefully to the table and set it down in front of Veronica.

“Your chamomile tea,” she said smoothly.

Veronica gave a small nod, picking up the cup. It was warm against her fingertips, the faint floral scent curling into the air.

She took a sip.

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 12: Countdown Begins at Three

Veronica stood in the courtyard where the cloaked figures had gathered moments ago. She made sure to wait a few minutes before stepping out to the center of the ruins.

She crouched down, running her fingers along one of the stone slabs. A fine, silvery dust clung to its surface, barely visible against the aged rock. She rubbed a bit between her fingers, watching as the residue disappeared, leaving no trace behind.

A frown appeared on her face.

They were prepared.

This ...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 11: The Masked Figures

Veronica’s pulse pounded in her ears, her instincts screaming at her to react. In that split second, she had already begun drawing mana. She was ready to unleash a spell to obliterate the person who had snuck up on her—only for her brain to finally catch up with her body.

The person in front of her wasn’t some cultist, assassin, or even a bandit.

It was a kid.

A scrawny boy, no older than ten or twelve, dressed in plain but slightly dirty clothes, his face smeared with...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 10: Coin, Cloth, and Dark Shadows

After getting Captain Luthen’s signature, Veronica returned to Steward Hadrian. He reviewed the document with a quick scan, stamped it, and counted out her payment: 500 vix.

Veronica accepted the pouch with both hands.

It was the first time in a while she had ever been personally entrusted with money.

Viya had always handled her purchases, her payments, her fees—everything. Even when Veronica wanted to splurge on something frivolous at the academy, she simply to...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 9: Magic Training for the Guards

Veronica made her way north, following the dirt path that wound past the town square. Before long, she arrived at the barracks.

She had expected something larger—a stone fortress or at least a sizable garrison—but what she found was a relatively small, sturdy building, more akin to a warehouse than a proper military base. Wooden beams reinforced its stone walls, and a simple iron sign hung above the entrance, marked with the town’s crest.

I guess it makes sense, she...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 8: Steward Hadrian.

It was late morning when Veronica left the pub, retracing her steps toward the Herald’s Hall.

The building looked quiet from the outside, almost abandoned. Even so, she tried the door.

It swung open without resistance, the soft creak of its hinges breaking the silence inside. The hall was a simple structure, its wide, open space feeling oddly still. A clerk was the only person visible, casually looking through papers behind the counter. The Herald’s Hall seemed to be little mo...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 7: Rumors of Cultists

The bartender poured a mild ale into a wooden mug and slid it toward her. “New in town?”

“You could say that,” Veronica replied, taking a slow sip. The drink was bitter—more than she remembered. As she set the mug down, realization dawned on her; this body of hers wasn’t used to drinking quite yet. She’d have to retrain her taste all over again.

“I’ve been away for a while. Just trying to catch up on things. Heard this place was good for that,” she said.

...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 6: Once again, The First Tier

*Rearranged an earlier Typo. Veronica is originally 34 years old. The war with demons having started when she was 31.

Veronica awoke with a start, her body stiff and aching. The room was dim, with the faint light of midday filtering through the blinds of the window. For a moment, she just laid there, relaxing and focusing, alert for any sounds of suspicious movement. The room was quiet, and only soft, faint murmurs of conversation from the common room downstairs ...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 5: Greystone Town

Veronica didn’t waste a second. She bolted into the woods, weaving between the trees. Behind her, the camp erupted into chaos.

“She’s running!” one of the mercenaries shouted.

“Get her!” Jorren bellowed, clutching his mangled arm.

Veronica didn’t look back. She continued to run, already aware of the general direction of Greystone after traveling with the mercenaries for half a day.

Mana continued to stream into her as she ran. The ambient energy was faint...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 4: Walking into a Trap

The stocky man’s eyes narrowed. “Passing through, huh? Don’t see many people wandering these parts alone. You lost, girl?”

Another mercenary snickered. He was a wiry man with a crooked grin and a scar running down his cheek. “Or running from something. Either way, doesn’t look like she’s carrying much. No weapons, no pack. Strange, don’t you think?”

The woman tending the horses glanced over, her eyes sharp and calculating. “She’s too clean to be a runaway,”...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 3: Fellabear

“Shit.”

Veronica pressed her back against the tree’s rough bark, chest rising and falling as she had run here. She peered around its edge. Sage’s voice still echoed faintly in her head—a warning—but the sight before her told her she was already too late.

The wagon lay on its side, split wood and shattered wheels scattered across the clearing. Supplies had spilled everywhere. Sacks of grain, cracked pottery, and a few trinkets that looked pitiful in the dirt were litter...

The Exalted Mage - Chapter 2: A Youthful Body

Veronica groaned, shooing away some woodland critter that was playing near her face.

A sharp gasp tore from her lips as her eyes flew open a moment later; her chest heaved as if she had just resurfaced from a long, deep swim.

Conscious again, she was greeted by a dense canopy of green; the sunlight peeked through in fractured beams through branches and leaves. She caught a glimpse of a squirrel scurrying away and climbing up a nearby tree.

The next thing Veronica felt was th...