April, the time of new beginnings, arrived in the blink of an eye. Hoji was true to his word and helped haul my belongings into the pilot program’s dorm. Anxiety still tormented me. In line to get my schedule, he asked about an idea I’d texted him on calculating ki energy.
All eyes in the room glued to me as the dreaded whispers started. Shit. I froze with a scowl plastered on my face.
Hoji smiled. “We’ll talk later. Looks like you’ll be pretty popular here.”
What the?
An older student meekly shuffled over. “Need help with research, Sensei?“
Startled, I nodded. “I think so.” But my mind raced as I tried to wrap my head around how I might try to do what Hoji had said. I’d learned to trust and rely on him. He was already out the door to show us around. But I took a moment to organize my thoughts in a note in my phone.
My hesitation crumbled as we toured the campus. Not only was it right off the gorgeous Gion district in Kyoto. It was hidden away in the spirit realm—a refuge for yokai, which I was now. The professors were interested in their students and the classes were small.
Students moving back in for the second year of the pilot program asked if I was coming to KyoJi. They were so friendly. By the time we ended the tour, I’d made my decision. Hoji asked if I wanted to stop by the bookstore. I nodded and purchased a school t-shirt and uniform.
Did he know it was the perfect expression of selfless love? A burst of color that scorched my dreary existence. The proud god side of me would have said he was mine forever. But the truth was, I was his always and I no longer could call myself divine.
Owain pressed on, even as rime formed on his cloak and beard.
The wind stung his face but he trudged on.
Let the hag send blizzards and her minions, Owain Gwylltgi would overcome all.
The flames of his fury kept him warm.
Story (2/12)
She didn’t do anything. Offered scant resistance and made no attempt to escape.
A dashing prince or noble knight would rescue her.
And that’s why it’s important that Princesses learn that life isn’t a story and, even if it was, they should always try to be their own hero.
Gold (3/12)
The elfscribes say goblins crave gold.
But the first gobtomes call it wastraff/waste.
Goblins only hoarded gold when they saw the value man and elf put upon it.
More value than they put on goblins.
And so, finally, they had some leverage to improve their lot.
Spirit (4/12)
The armies were destroyed, governments purged and yet these creatures, these “humans” continued to resist the authority of the Sect.
In a way, the Viceroy admired their spirit, their savage defiance was impressive, if futile.
The Sect always won, mankind would be slaves.
Coat (5/12)
Bruza carried the wriggling, drunk halfling away. “You’ll thank me when you’re sober, Ondi.” “No, I wanna stroke him. His coat looks so soft!” Ondi wailed in the orc’s arms. Across the clearing the owlbear watched them curiously.
Magic (6/12)
Ondi peered over the book sheepishly as Bruza cursed colourfully and imaginatively. The halfling saw the cause of the orc’s anger. “Sorry, magic is tricky.” The treasure, which he’d intended to lighten for transport was now floating at the cave’s roof, out of reach.
Used vssmagic for the 7th.
Frosty (7/12)
“Why you sat out here?” Bruza said, finding Ondi sat outside the inn in the frosty evening. “Didn’t like your jokes?” “Don’t like halflings.” “What?” “‘Humans only’ he said.” The orc’s face darkened. “Let’s get a pint, Ondi. Let’s see the bastards throw me out”
The problem was that nobody knew at the time that they were living at mankind’s peak. And so they grumbled about things like bad weather or late trains. Or argued pointlessly online. None realised things would never be so good again.
Brave Write provided the prompts for 11-13th.
Veteran (11/11)
The kid, came over, smiling nervously “Hi, I’m-” Joe held up a hand. “Tell me if you make it through today, yeah?” The veteran already had too long a list of the dead’s names. He couldn’t add every unlucky recruit they sent the unit.
Auspicious (12/11)
It was meant to be an auspicious day, a huge scientific leap forward. Nothing larger than a caged rat had gone through the portals. But now a crew of 5 would travel from Earth to Mars in moments. The ship didn’t appear. Something else did. Something bad.
Poppy (13/11)
They shook their head, waving away the red cardboard. Notifications began almost immediately. They were a disgrace. People who decried “virtue signalling”, who bellowed “stick to sports” suddenly raged that they didn’t wear a political symbol.
VSS Magic for the 14th.
Scar (14/11)
The scar over his eye gave him a tough, menacing look, even more than his cybernetic body armour. Butch never explained its origin, let the speculation grow. The troops’ theories were all better than the truth. He’d fallen through a glass table while wasted.
BraveWrite for the 15th.
Catapult (15/11)
They couldn’t wait for a siege and the walls and gates were too strong to break down. Bruza had a plan. Just crazy enough to work. “Sure about this?” Tellis asked. “Yeah!” Tellis sighed fired the catapult. Bruza, whooping, flew through the air, into the city.
Ugly (16/11)
“Gods, you’re an ugly brute.” The elflord sneered. “Mate a-mine reckons beauty is opinion not a fact.” Bruza said. “Wanna know a fact?” “Enlighten me, orc.” The elf said. “Ya need better chains.” Bruza burst free, breaking the elf’s nose with his huge green fist
