If Liam Dunbar had expected everything, but certainly not this one. Because Theo,
"formerly power-hungry bloodthirsty chimaera" Reaken, stood right next to him and winked at him. Meanwhile, Liam didn't understand his own little world anymore. His island, which he himself built himself, leaving behind on the surface of the sea, which is about to break in two and swirling after his cry for help. And all this just because he was painfully confronted with what the stubborn Beta absolutely tried to sweep the carpet down.
An edit I created for Chapter 1 - More Than Friends.
I would like to give @snoshi7 a huge thanks for getting our story kicked off. They’ve been an incredible help and please go show them your support by checking out more of their work.
We also ask that you kindly reblog this post to help allow our story to grow and get out their further for others to enjoy as well. As this also shows your support for the artist that have worked hard on our project.
CHAPTER 1 # 1 - HYDRABISS
“A tree… Oh… a tree… and… another tree”
It had been about five months since the trading convoy had left the great elven city of Anormalthen. The saying “the dogs bark but the caravan moves on” had never sounded so literal to Angel. How many did he hear howling as they passed through? Be it across villages, through the edge of fields or even at forest entrances.
But at this moment: no dogs, no bark, only the heavy sounds of the wheels on the paved road could be heard. Slumped on the one table that he used to eat, drink or play a game of cards. The blue-skinned half-demon was staring at the scenery going by under his gaze, which was ever so slightly glowing red, giving away his feelings of boredom.
To him, this journey had been as painful as it had been mentally taxing. How many days have gone by without being able to take a long, warm bath? Or even slept in a real bed? As he neared his final destination, he missed these things the most.
Soon, he’d be entering Hydrabyss, the seaside trading capital. But as of right now, only the trees and vast fields were spreading as far as the eye could see while the sun started coming down. There would still be some day before they arrived, Angel had to accept that he would have to sleep on the wooden floor for a few more nights.
The cart he was staying in was not made to accommodate more than one traveler. It had two benches, but those were too small to be able to sleep on them comfortably. He had to find a small spot on the ground under the table. That solution was a lot safer than sleeping outside under the night’s sky.
Suddenly, a shimmer caught his eye. Was he just seeing things? One more, and then another one! Angel fetched his glasses, more as a force of habit than a real necessity. There he stood up and saw it at last…
The ocean.
After the forum thread about the family of three stops receiving updates for now, another new forum thread pops up.
[Story] That Girl From My Childhood (1)
• A user by the name 青城山下 (" Qingcheng Shan Xia ", Below Qingcheng Mountain) says that the reason they are telling this story is also to looking for a missing person.
• " A long time has passed, I think [this person] can't be found anymore, but if there still is hope I still want to try. "
• They say their parents used to be part of a theatre troupe that performed plays, and that they would be invited to sing whenever there was a big event in the village.
• After they were invited to perform for a wedding, everything changed.
• That day, there were many village children backstage, and amidst the noisy children, QingchengShanXia saw a girl wearing red clothes.
• The girl's red clothes were plain and dark red, and wouldn't be obvious in a crowd of people, yet Qingchengshanxia says he remembers her because her face was distorted.
• She had white face paint, but didn't seem like it was any of the common face makeup*, and instead her face was fully painted white with distorted 五官*(wuguan, the five facial features) drawn on it.
A drawing of what she looked like.
• Another user 逍遥仙 (xiaoyaoxian, unconstrained immortal) remarks that the face makeup is like the kind used in dance performances involving sacrifices/offerings to ghosts.
-----
The forum thread ends here for now.
*The face makeup being referred to here is 花脸(hualian), which refers to the facepaint/makeup commonly used in Chinese operas. Usually there are different common types of makeup for different kinds of characters being played in the opera.
*Wuguan is a term referring to the five facial features of the face in traditional Chinese medicine. These are the eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth and ears.
At the same time of this forum thread popping up, the previous forum thread about the family of three updates.
[Asking For Help] The Family of Three That Lives Next Door Is A Little Strange... (2)
• Linglingling remarks that they felt way too tired today, so they asked their boss for leave. At 0:57 AM, they send an audio file of a baby crying.
• Someone's voice in the video says, " Why.... Why...? Ah..... Ah... The one that should die isn't me.... "
• The other users in the thread wonder whether OP has been possessed.
--------
The forum thread ends here for now. None of the forum threads seem to be updating, so Li Yuting decides to take a break.
[Asking For Help] The Family of Three That Lives Next Door Is A Little Strange... (3)
• Upon opening the forum thread again the next day, it seems the audio clip has been deleted, and the rest of the forum users who weren't there ask what they missed after seeing the previous users' reactions.
• Choosing to ask moderator Shasha about it, Shasha says that the voice clip was deleted by Linglingling themself, around 2 hours after it was posted, and says that the voice clip does exist.
• Back in the forum, Linglingling says that the family next door have been getting weirder and weirder, and they also think that the family is possessed.
• They saw the mother carrying a statue of a god wrapped in red cloth, and she gestured for OP to come over and look, that the statue is her daughter. But the statue is of the Goddess of Mercy, so Linglingling thinks the mother has lost her mind.
• They said they went to sleep early yesterday, but heard the girl at his front door again, hitting the door with her head quite loudly. They'll complain if this continues, and will have to cut off good relations with their neighbour.
• User 淘淘不高兴 ("Taotao bu gaoxing", Taotao is not happy) suggests that because Linglingling opened the door the other night, maybe whatever was in their neighbour's house entered their home. The user suggests Linglingling to check for their own safety.
• Linglingling agrees and says they'll do it this weekend.
