ElaraFiction

Divine Blessing - B1 - Chapter 1: Lux Mortis

“Humanity has failed.”

This thought came to me all of a sudden. Nothing special happened to prompt this epiphany—no earth-shattering revelation, no momentous event, nothing at all. For all intents and purposes, it was a day like any other.

I gazed out the window, watching the city flash by. One gray, uninspired apartment complex after another blurred past. I was heading to the inner city, and judging by the increasing number of homeless people, I was nearly there.

I t...

Time to make a choice!

Here’s the gist of it: Over the past two years of my writing journey, I’ve had plenty of story ideas, but never pursued any of them. Recently, though, I’ve started outlining one that I really like and think could be a fun change of pace.

The question is: Would you be interested in seeing it here, or should this page stay focused solely on Trinity of Magic?

Let me know what you think!

Another Weekend Burst!

Three more chapters for you, bringing us back to 20 advanced chapters. I hope you enjoy them, and have a great weekend! :)

B5 - Chapter 61: Death by a Thousand Cuts

“I don’t think we’ll be able to hold, Commander,” the young man said, avoiding Frost’s eyes. Admitting defeat felt shameful, but Frost couldn’t blame the chap for his pessimism. They had been pushed back day after day, losing men and ground along the way.

The situation was grim.

By now, they had already retreated halfway through the tunnel leading to their sanctum, and their hastily built defenses were already crumbling. After this, only one line of defense remained be...

B5 - Chapter 60: A Second Body

Zeke’s mind whirred with the implications of his plan. Using [Blood Manifestation] was already a delicate procedure, but attempting it on a Progenitor—a being whose Soul was far stronger than his own—was on an entirely different level. He paced, weighing the risks, yet the poison ravaging Winter's body left him no time to come up with a different plan.

Unlike with the Dragon, who was a willing participant and already connected to him, this process was much more arduous. To create ...

B5 - Chapter 59: Vicious Poison

Zeke approached the unconscious Progenitor, his gaze hardening. Even at a glance, it was clear that his condition had worsened over the past three months. What had once been a handsome young man had withered into a shriveled caricature of his former self. The only silver lining was the faint activity still present in his brain—Winter hadn’t lost the fight just yet.

“I’m back, wolf,” Zeke sent telepathically, marveling at his effortless use of the spell. It had ba...

B5 - Chapter 58: Awakening

Zeke’s lashes fluttered, the first sign of movement in days. His brow furrowed briefly before his eyes slowly opened. He blinked a few times, his vision blurred and his eyes weary, despite having just woken. After a moment, his surroundings came into focus. He was on his back, staring up at a ceiling made of interconnected glass panels—a familiar sight.

This was definitely the Mana Purifying device. But something was off. There was no smoke in the chamber! Zeke sat up abruptly, his...

B5 - Chapter 57: Advancement

Knowledge truly was the root of all power.

Zeke had never been more aware of the truth behind that statement than he was now. His core, thrumming with energy, had long since reached the point of saturation. Yet, with his limited understanding, he hadn’t dared to attempt his advancement. No, in truth, it wasn’t just about courage—he didn’t even know how to begin. That had changed now.

His time in isolation had taught him much about the essence of the Core, as people calle...

Enjoy the weekend!

I've been saving up all week, writing like a maniac to prepare for this quadruple release! I hope you guys enjoy the chapters and have a lovely weekend!

B5 - Chapter 56: Last Stand

Vulcanos took a steady breath, then another, exhaling cold mountain air as steam, transformed by the furnace within him. The glowing lines across his body flared brighter, and his eyes lit up like lanterns. His body heated, the exhaustion melting away. It was time.

Blood Boil!

All wariness, apprehension, and fear left him as he felt the familiar surge of Blood Boil coursing through him. His senses sharpened, and the exhaustion from his earlier stunt seemed to vanish. His body was ...

B5 - Chapter 55: The Volcano Errupts

Volcanos stood on the watchtower, suddenly alone with the trembling girl. Ash had gone to assist Elder Fang, while Gravitas was locked in a fierce battle with a small snake woman. He glanced at the younglings, their eyes wide as they watched the fight. The girl's fear had returned the moment Gravitas released her shoulder.

Tentatively, Vulcanos reached out, trying to provide the same comfort. However, the girl flinched away, dodging his large palm. Smiling awkwardly, he retracted his ha...

B5 - Chapter 54: Gravitas vs Zelkara

The time for words had passed. Zelkara seemed to realize this as she shifted back into her fighting stance, gripping the shaft of her spear tightly—never having let go, even when she was sent flying. Gravitas glanced at the weapon, finding something strangely familiar about it.

It was a long, black spear with a forked tip, identical to the one her brother had thrown that day—crafted from Voidiron. The material was one of the few resistant to her power. But that hardly mattered, as l...

B5 - Chapter 53: The Purebloods

Gravitas watched the battle unfold with a calm detachment. She didn’t have as much at stake as the tribesmen, but even she couldn’t remain unaffected by the widespread death and destruction. All across the battlements, dozens of skirmishes raged, as the Icefang warriors fought desperately to hold back their far more numerous foes.

The defenders were holding their own, but every so often, a tribesman would suddenly collapse. It became clear that the snakes weren’t trying to overwhe...

B5 - Chapter 52: Ice and Claw

The boos and jeers aimed at Polaris fell into stunned silence. Surrender? He was offering them a chance to surrender? Judging by the shocked and slightly angry expressions around her, it was clear the tribe didn’t take the offer well.

Gravitas took advantage of the brief lull to survey the Icefang tribe's defenses. Frost and his men held the center of the wall, with Elder Fang positioned nearby. Together, they formed a solid front, representing about half of their fighting force. Yet,...

B5 - Chapter 51: Enemy at the Gate

Gravitas lifted her veil slightly, wiping away a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead. It was the first time since arriving in this frosty place that she had actually broken a sweat, but after hours of moving material, it was no surprise.

She glanced over and saw Vulcanos in a similar state. The firey giant couldn’t actually sweat, but the exhaustion on his face was unmistakable as he maintained his gentle heating spell. Gravitas sighed and looked up at the sky. The first traces of...

B5 - Chapter 50: The New Plan

After Gravitas' interruption, the meeting wrapped up quickly. Scouts would be sent to assess enemy movements and see if Polaris could be found in their camp. The unsettling possibilities had shaken many in the room, and no one bothered to accuse them again.

“That was quite risky,” Ash said when the two were finally alone.

Gravitas gave him an apologetic look. She was supposed to act as an advisor, but she had clearly overstepped. Her bold move could have easily backfired and ...

B5 - Chapter 49: Urgent News

“Frosty-boy and his people are gonna come soon,” Vulcanos remarked casually, staring out into nothingness.

Gravitas nodded, her gaze sharp as she scanned the town. Unlike her companion, she took guard duty seriously, even if it was usually uneventful. They didn’t expect trouble, but at least one of them needed to stay vigilant.

“…Did you eat?” he asked after a moment of silence.

“I’ll grab something once Ash relieves me,” she replied, not taking her eyes ...

B5 - Chapter 48: Intervention

[Notice]

Time is up.

Zeke opened his eyes, taking a few more gulps of the gray gas. It had been five weeks since he started using the device, and a lot of things had changed.

For one, he had reached full saturation with his Blood Affinity. He couldn’t quite explain how he knew, but there was no doubt in his mind. It was similar to the feeling of no longer being hungry. His Core didn’t reject Blood-attuned Mana, but it had stopped...

B5 - Chapter 47: The Second Round

Nearly a day had passed when Zeke found himself standing before the Mana Purifying device once more. His gaze was conflicted as he stared at the entrance. On one hand, he was eager to activate the machine and immerse himself in its bliss. On the other, he already dreaded the agony of leaving it behind.

“Are you certain I am ready?” he asked mentally, trying to find a reason to delay the inevitable.

[Answer.]

All signs of the afterma...

2024-09-06 13:15:03 +0000 UTC View Post

B5 - Chapter 46: A Price to Pay

A gentle knock disrupted the stillness of Zeke’s isolation, echoing through the chamber and pulling him from his immersed state. Confused, he looked up, struggling for a moment to regain his bearings. It felt like waking from a long dream, and it took him a moment to remember where he was and what he had been doing.

“How long has it been, Akasha?” he mumbled.

[Answer.]

Almost six days have passed.

Zeke frowned, surprise...

B5 - Chapter 45: Growing the Core

It took quite some time for Zeke to adjust to this constant state of euphoria. In many ways, it was even harder to get used to than pain. While most people had some resistance to negative sensations, blissful feelings are much harder to ignore. After all, humans don't typically train themselves to shut out pleasure.

However, gradually, Zeke managed to collect his thoughts. It was frightening how quickly his body adapted to this new state, and a new worry grew in his heart. If he spent a...

B5 - Chapter 44: Mana Purifying

Zeke sat cross-legged in the center of an empty chamber, his eyes closed. Gears and tools moved around him as if guided by their own will. Yet, his rigid posture made it hard to believe the activity had anything to do with him. By all appearances, he was deep in meditation.

Obviously, that wasn’t the case. Zeke was in his [Mind's Library], deep in conversation with Akasha. The man and spirit had been locked in this intense exchange for the past two days, fine-tuning their design. Mean...

B5 - Chapter 43: No Time to Waste

Zeke took a step back, once again placing the amulet around his neck. Immediately, the oppressive aura of the progenitor enveloped him, stifling his core. However, Frost and Snow could breathe again.

"What was that?" Frost asked, eyes wide as he slowly got to his feet. He seemed more shaken than Snow, who only stared at Zeke, but didn’t show any signs of shock or surprise. Since their encounter with the Titan, she had already suspected Zeke's connection to the Dragons.

“Not t...

B5 - Chapter 42: The Dragon and the Wolf

The words had barely left his mouth when Zeke felt a sudden impact against his chest as Snow buried herself in his embrace. He gently stroked her silvery white hair, holding her small body close. Zeke looked down in wonder—Snow had never been this affectionate before. It made him realize just how hard the last few days must have been for her.

“it’s gonna be fine,” he murmured soothingly.

He felt her nod before she slowly pulled away. Her eyes were rimmed with red and slig...

B5 - Chapter 41: Winter’s heart

Frost’s men vanished from the room one by one and were sent to the beacon farthest from the mountain. Zeke wasn’t worried about them being discovered—he had sent Ash with them. However, Frost’s eyes were almost bulging out of his head as he watched his warriors disappear into thin air.

“How are you doing that?” Frost asked.

Zeke opened his eyes, smiling at the Pureblood. “Not too bad for a human, eh?” he said cheekily.

Frost frowned but didn’t push the m...

B5 - Chapter 40: Two Birds, One Stone

Zeke listened to the crowd's cheers. Even from his current position, he could feel the ground vibrate from the intensity of their stomps.

“Frost! Frost! Frost!”

A smile spread across his face as the cheers erupted. It was over. Whatever Polaris said now no longer mattered. Using food as a bribe had been clever, but the problem with bribes was that you had to have the deepest pockets to pull them off. Otherwise, you might lose it all. With Frost’s status rehabilitated and t...

B5 - Chapter 39: Reversal of Fortunes

Frost paced up and down, a deep frown on his face. What should he do? The human, Ezekiel von Hohenheim, had promised to take care of his sister, but where was he now?

The messenger had arrived a while ago, informing him that she would arrive within the next hour. Polaris would visit the marketplace, undoubtedly to take advantage of his recent failure and rile up the tribesmen. If he couldn’t defend himself properly, it would be his end.

“Curse her!”

In a fit of ange...

B5 - Chapter 38: The Root of Conflict

"Tell me, Lord Frost, do you have any idea what I want from your tribe?" Zeke asked, fully aware that Frost had no way of knowing.

“Aren’t you here to support my sister?”

Zeke shook his head decisively. “I'm not. In fact, I don't think your sister needs or even wants my support. In all the time I've known Snow, she's only ever talked about reuniting with her family. If she has any ambitions, she's never shared them with me.”

Frost averted his eyes for an instant, ...

B5 - Chapter 37: Facing Frost

Zeke arrived at his office and immediately began preparing the space. He had managed to procure a couple of decent chairs, placing one behind his desk and the other across from it. If Frost wanted a meeting, Zeke would ensure it had all the formality and hospitality of an official encounter.

He sat down and waited, turning over in his mind all the possible reasons Frost might be seeking him out. Before long, he heard footsteps approaching, followed by a knock as they stopped outside the...

B5 - Chapter 36: An unexpected Guest

By morning, the village was in turmoil. News of Frost's defeat had spread quickly, darkening the already grim atmosphere. Of the roughly one hundred warriors who had set out, only about a dozen had returned. Frost was among them, but the Pureblood was in poor condition. At least his life wasn’t in danger, which was more than could be said for most of the other survivors.

Zeke thought about offering his help, suspecting they had been poisoned, but ultimately decided against it. He didn...