Alek Aundra

CH 27 - An Unexpected Pet (Part 5)

"Is he dead…?" Henry whispered.

"No," I replied, knowing the future. "But he'll never be able to fight again."

Today was the last day of The Ogre's long-standing career. Even if he had the strength to destroy a mana-infused steel cage, Kleave had broken down his mind. In the original timeline, even the slightest whiff of anything remotely flowery had caused this once great man to cower in fear. From what I recalled, he moved to a desert village to avoid flowers altogether.

CH 26 - An Unexpected Pet (Part 4)

Kleave was someone I knew from my original timeline. He had lent me a helping hand when I had lost everyone and everything. I was at my lowest point, having just had two fingers cut off for attempting to steal a loaf of moldy bread when Kleave found me and offered me a job.

Whether he had saved me or brought me down further into the abyss, however, I couldn't really say. The line of work he introduced me into brought me into a whole new dimension of filth within Adovoria. My nightmares ...

(Early Release) CH 25 - An Unexpected Pet (Part 3)

//Author's Note:

I was really happy to have an additional Patron, Greg, alongside Undead Writer, so I was in a pretty good writing mood. So here's an additional extra early chapter for you!! Next chapter will be out on Saturday like usual. ◝(ᵔᵕᵔ)◜

The carriage maneuvered through the West's streets before stopping before a very luxurious building. The large golden letters above the massive entry read 'The Gilded Siren.'

"...

CH 24 - An Unexpected Pet (Part 2)

// Author's Note:

1. Title was updated on the last chapter (this is why this is Part 2). 

2. Since I'm going to have POV changes going forward:

*** = Scene change 

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * = POV change.

"Young master, why are we going down Ebony Alley?" Henry asked. His right hand rested on the hilt of his sword. His brow...

CH 23 - An Unexpected Pet (Part 1)

A cat. I died all because of a cat??

I stared blankly at my new ceiling. It was a light turquoise color, as were the paneled walls, the two separated by intricate white crown molding. A copper chandelier of uncut crystals hung in the center.

I barely managed to get to day two. And I DIED. Because of CAT!

I pushed my palms against my eyes.

"System, how in the world did I manage to live until age twenty-six in my original life? I'm struggling to make it two days."

...

CH 22 - Day Two (Part 4)

"When did she die?" I asked.

My mouth felt dry. My mind raced back to the image of the black stream of smoke in the sky when I had come home from the Ashford Bakery.

"The fire spread quickly. It was a little before you arrived home that Natalia Ashford had died," Remlend said.

It had to be that smoke then. That was what my senses had picked up on.

Why though?

I leaned against my large oak bedroom doors.

Just what did I do that caused Natalia to die?

I...

CH 21 - Day Two (Part 3)

"Is it going to come home with us?" Henry looked down at the white cat that jumped in the carriage and sat on my lap.

"I suppose so." My hand moved through its fluffy white fur.

I had thought that perhaps the wisteria trees were giving it a purple reflected tint, but upon closer inspection, the cat's fur really did have a slightly violet hue.

Strange. Is it natural, or did it fall into some dye?

The carriage rocked to a stop, and Henry got out to hold the door open for...

CH 20 - Day Two (Part 2)

"–Luca?"

Hmm?

"Young master Luca? Are you awake yet?" Denise's voice sounded nearby.

I rolled the bedcovers off my face and squinted at her. She was looking down at me from a few steps away.

My eyes moved towards the window, letting the sunshine pour into my bedroom.

Damn it. Another sunny day.

"I brewed you a new cup of tea. You were unresponsive when I first came by." She set down the tray with the tea and a washbasin.

"How's Micah? Did he get hom...

CH 19 - Day Two (Part 1)

The carriage ride home felt like an eternity.

I almost regretted not accepting Julius's offer to get cleaned up at the palace. Almost. In the end, home was where it was best, especially since, at this point, it wasn't burnt down to a crisp.

I jumped out of the carriage and strolled towards the mansion's front entrance. Bright lights illuminated my way.

The two guards stared at me but didn't say anything about my bloodied attire. I overheard one whisper to the other as I pass...

CH 18 - The Ball (Part 10)

"Hmm." Micah opened what appeared to be a golden pocket watch and locked it shut again. Based on his displeased expression, the news he was waiting on had not yet come in.

He sat across from me on the moving carriage. Like myself, he was dressed for Princess Evelyn's ball.

The small circular object in his hands wasn't a watch. It was a looking glass, a communication device powered by red and blue mana stones. When opened, one side appeared as a mirror, and the other showed a view ...

CH 17 - The Ball (Part 9) -- [ Early Release. Originally was to go out on Saturday ]

I was still awaiting the gossip regarding the waiter from Natalia Ashford. However, I still had plenty to do in the meantime.

To start with, I needed to loop in Micah. Natalia was right. Of the two of us, Micah had the actual brains and was the victim in all this, so it was only suitable to bring him into the fold.

Knock. Knock.

I tapped his study's door. This was where I could typically find Micah working on some paperwork on behalf of the Frey Merchant Guild.

"Micah,...

CH 16 - The Ball (Part 8)

"Come by again, my butterfly! I suspect you have many more secrets you could share." Natalia called out. "Oh! And be sure to grab some bread on your way out! It's delicious!"

"I will," I replied without looking back. I left the wisteria garden in a daze.

Why did Grandov see the Misfortune Sisters at this point in time? And what could his misfortune have been?

I bit my lip as I crossed the bakery and out the front doors.

Maybe they left so quickly because he scared them...

CH 15 - The Ball (Part 7)

I entered the bakery. A saliva-inducing fragrance of freshly baked bread filled my nostrils.

I gazed up at the tall ceilings with murals painted at the top depicting what I presumed was Ashford's original hometown on the eastern coast.

As a twelve-year-old, when the bakery had just opened, Natalia Ashford moved around the tables, helping her mother. She also often chatted with the servants and staff of the customers. But most importantly, she listened. She listened in on conversat...

CH 14 - The Ball (Part 6)

"Ahhhh."

I took in a deep inhale of my bedsheets.

The smell of my room and bedding had never been so welcome. It was warm, rich, and so subtle I honestly never noticed it.

Bob and Bob the Second. Huh.

I gazed up at the gold-leaf-covered ceiling. The scenery had changed again. It was my 6th time living through this morning.

Damn it. What am I supposed to do with only that much information?

I rubbed my temples.

No. I countered myself. I did get a lot of...

CH 13 The Ball (Part 5)

Hmm. The surprises never end, do they?

"How much longer am I going to be here?" I leaned against the rusty cell bars and asked the lone guard in charge of watching me.

"Until you're ready to be seen." The guard outside my cell replied plainly.

"Oh, I'm ready. I'm very ready," I said.

His eyes narrowed on me.

"That's just an expression. Many are being interviewed about tonight's incident. Wait your turn," he replied.

I scoffed.

"Are they all in similar...

CH 12 The Ball (Part 4)

The carriage ride to the palace didn't take long.

"Remember, enjoy yourself, but be careful. Some of these nobles can be rather obnoxious." Mother spoke to me specifically.

"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him." Micah patted my shoulders.

"I'll be fine." I brushed his hand off. "I'm not a child."

Technically if we took the whole regression into account, I was the same age as Micah, if not older.

My eyebrows furrowed as we entered the palace ballroom. Music comin...

CH 11 - The Ball (Part 3)

“Have you been practicing in secret again, young master Frey?” Sir Edward, my sword instructor, put down his sword.

I had survived my accounting, etiquette, and history lessons. And finally, the most grueling lesson of them all was wrapping up..

“...Yes.” I blatantly lied and lowered my own sword. My arms burned from the workout.

I couldn’t truthfully tell Sir Edward that I had years of sword practice. Heck, I had actual combat experience. Not that it really matter...

CH 10 - The Ball (Part 2)

"Hey, Luca."

Micah stopped me on the way out of the dining room after breakfast.

"I know you said you forgave me, but are you sure you didn't want to discuss it?" he asked.

Damn it. No, I didn't. I couldn't even remember it.

"What's there to discuss?" I asked.

"I just want you to know that everything I did was for your sake. I had good intentions," Micah said.

I sighed.

It being the past me, I suspected the one needing to apologize was probably me, no...

CH 09 - The Ball (Part 1)

The butterfly effect. It was a concept that Grandov had often mentioned.

The basic idea was that a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world, and the eventual wind from its wings would bring about a tsunami on the other end.

It was a funny concept. How could a butterfly wreck so much havoc?

Yet, I was witnessing that phenomenon right now. Events that had never occurred in my original life were unfolding because Micah was alive.

"We'll leave the estate at four ...

CH 08 - Breakfast Time (Part 7)

Strawberries. Why strawberries?

I pulled off my bed covers and stared at the new chandelier hanging on my now beige ceiling. Gone was the painted mural from my fourth life.

I had gone back in time earlier than I had originally planned. It was my fifth life. Or 'Round 5' as the System liked to call it.

And all because I ate some strawberries??

No matter how I think about it, it's odd. I don't remember ever being allergic to strawberries.

I frowned.

Not that ...

CH 07 - Breakfast Time (Part 6)

"Where are the Misfortune Sisters located?" I asked Fiona.

I pushed away the empty plate. I had been hungrier than expected.

"They're usually set up on Ebony Alley. But they appear there at random. Are you planning on going to see them?" Fiona had a concerned look on her face.

I nodded.

"I won't stop you, but please don't listen to a word they say. The Misfortune Sisters are dangerous," she said.

"I'll be careful," I replied.

I stood up from the kitchen tab...

CH 06 - Breakfast Time (Part 5)

There were a few key pieces of information I needed to gather to save Micah.

To start, I needed Micah’s and Kaiden’s schedules on this day.

Thus I found myself standing in the large hallway across from Louis, who was Micah’s primary servant after Kaiden, and thus he knew his routine best.

“...then after his exercises, Micah takes a bath at 7 in the morning. At 7:30 he always goes to his study and works for an hour. Then at 8:30 sharp, he heads towards the dining room...

CH 05 - Breakfast Time (Part 4)

Nirre walked right behind me. More guards than usual were stationed around the mansion. Micah's death must have raised some serious alarms.

"How many guards and servants do we have in the Frey Manor?" I asked Nirre.

"26 guards and 12 servants. That doesn't include other staff like the cooks and gardeners," Nirre replied.

"That many?" I asked.

I stopped and looked out a large window by the staircase. The outside garden was flush with greenery and flowers that Jarvis, my...

CH 04 - Breakfast Time (Part 3)

Knock. Knock.

I opened my eyes and stared at the painted mural on my ceiling.

I guess this is the bedroom of my fourth life.

Damn it. Why wasn't it the demonic poison shard? Did the System change the weapon, like it changes the decor each time?

I reached under my pillow and inspected my own dagger. It had a slightly different design, but it didn't look or feel too different. It wasn't a knife or a sword. It was still a throwing dagger.

So why did Kaiden's weapon ...

CH 03 - Breakfast Time (Part 2)

Knock. Knock.

My eyes opened to what was both a familiar and unfamiliar bedroom. Gone were the emerald green walls and gold-framed paintings. The walls now had beige and white striped wallpaper with an intricate design. The paintings had carved wood frames. All of the furniture was of a warm oak with copper detailing. But it was still my bedroom.

This time I was confident. It wasn't my faulty memory. The scenery really did change.

"Young master Luca, it's time to get up,” ...