Hope's Light

Chapter 34

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Thirty-Four - Departures

Having become acclimated to flying the spaces between realms, the trip was uneventful and direct. Not as quick as an immediate translation, but I wasn’t ready to test such maneuvering to patterns not ingrained in both memory and heart.

Somehow both felt necessary.

Mikhail Gregorevich was one of the many mad scientists on the Earth of the 24th century who tried outlandish things to extend the human lifespan. He developed a machine to transfer a human mind from one body to another. It worked, sort of. The first big problem with it is that the receiving body must not already have a mind. He successfully tested it by transferring the mind of a person suffering from a terminal disease into the body of a person who was brain-dead and being kept alive by machines.

Hope's Light

Chapter 32

by Erisian

Book 6

Part Seven

Chapter Thirty-Two - Gifts

Distant birds in Gabriel’s sky hang motionless, and the breeze ruffling through her brother’s soft curls ceases entire. The scene of the mighty slabs guarding the entrance to the Monument below sits frozen, and, unlike before, the page does not turn.

Everything remains still instead, as if suspended by Raphael’s previous words.

Until a different voice entire speaks.

“You have questions.”

Hope's Light

Chapter 31

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Thirty-One - Riders

Like most plans, it was easier said than done. Which is why I again floated between the realms in that weird space-that-wasn’t, blazing out with six wings and trying to spot a specific distant spark in a burning haystack the size of a galaxy.

Oh, and while getting yelled at.

Hope's Light

Chapter 30

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Thirty - Diplomacy

With everyone watching, I stepped to the table, filled a goblet, and downed it in one go.

Ugh. Whatever vintage Horatio had brought out this time, it wasn’t Asmodian. Nor I’d bet of the wines Vance had spoken highly about a long time ago, those crafted by the elves of Nidavellir. I’d forgotten how bitter were most of the offerings in Hell - heck, I’d even have preferred that Chardonnay from the dragon soiree I’d attended with Isaiah.

Dangit. Isaiah.

What was I going to tell my friend? That his greater spirit would eventually decide whether I should be allowed to exist? And if decided against, Azrael would be forced to destroy me.

Would that mean Isaiah would have to try to kill me too?

Hope's Light

Chapter 29

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Twenty-Nine - Need

“You good?”

Ignoring the immediate prostration of the giant and reptile-skinned elephant (who this time had forgotten to first bang the gong), I steadied Camael as he attempted to stand. The sudden shift had certainly unsettled him, but at least he hadn’t thrown up.

Though maybe that was because he hadn’t eaten in a ridiculously long time.

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

The group sets out to the mountains following the map towards… something.

I appreciate all the support and comments thanks guys! Lots more coming!

Chapter 17 Recap. (I’d highly recommend reading all previous chapters if for some reason you haven’t)

Keagan will make his play, take his shot at Cam, but for what reason? Is she buying what he's selling her? Is there a temptation yet to be had?

Fucking brute.

That was the only thing Jim could think as his Dad pontificated on all matters of life and love while he drove them both in his beaten-up white van to the job site.

His dad cleaned septic tanks for a living, and Jim was home on summer break for college, so he had been roped (read: forced) into accompanying him to today’s job, while his Dad’s regular guy, Simon, was out sick with a stomach bug, the product of some bad beef empanadas he had had for dinner the night before.

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

Artemis completes the mission with the help of an ‘ally?’

Chapter 15 Recap.

It hesitates, its tone softening even more. “I want what you want, Artemis,” it says. “To survive to thrive. To protect those you care about. But to do that, we need, each other.”

Cameron is back in command and it might be going easier than she expected - even with some tiny bumps along the way. Easy can become difficult in a flash and that might just happen with her ships smuggling client. She may have a vision after all these weeks away from the Exhibit Housing, question is was it purposely planted in her?

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

Artemis struggles with what to do while she relives moments of her past and future?

Update fixed naming for a character.

Chapter 14 Recap.

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

Artemis wakes up to something new and struggles with a new challenge.

Super long double chapter!
Next one coming soon!

Chapter 13-14

Hope's Light

Chapter 23

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Twenty-Three - Taijitu

In the coldest of air we gathered at the top of the Spires. Out of the rock face a matching henge to its counterpart at the embassy in Dis had long ago been excavated, though this one was not currently pockmarked from the insult of repeated energy blasts, having been resurfaced after its own checkered history. Twitch and Horatio stood at my side, while Vance, leaning on a short-yet-distinguished onyx cane and shivering underneath the thickest of silver-furred coats, had been busy examining all the sigils and workings carved into the stones - ensuring that each was still properly aligned.

An unexpected day of puzzles for many. Ketko confuses Ursula again, no-one knows if Lars can marry Nethra, and both Ursula and Eriana have received unexpected letters from King Robanar! The day ends with an ominous sighting.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

95 - Letters from Palarand

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

The group follows the map searching for answers and things only get worse…

This is the last full chapter I had written before I started posting this, so future chapters will likely take a bit longer. However not too long as I have everything lined out already just not the in between moments.

Chapter 12

Cameron has feet in both worlds and continues to navigate what she ultimately wants next. Revelations about the transplant and not being able to return to her former self exactly as she was are news she wasn't expecting. And the question of Garrett may finally be put to rest...

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

Artemis and the others head down under the city to find the key and uncover more than they ever expected…

Update 1 fixed formatting

Chapter 10

After getting separated from the others me Kaida and Lorien step further into the passage, the air growing colder and heavier with each step.

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

The group begins their search for the key while Artemis struggles to accept her feelings.

Update 1 fixed wording and improved clarity

Chapter 9

A voice pulls me from the haze of sleep, soft and hesitant.

“Artemis?”

Hope's Light

Chapter 19

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Nineteen - Prophecy

When Twitch and I finally stepped through the portal ourselves, I instantly knew where we’d gone:

The Spires.

A few sleeps by wagon away from Outpost Epsilon, forces deep underground had shoved tall formations of rock and crystal to tower over the lifeless plains of ice and shadows below. Here is where the Lilim traders under Vance had built their secret portal to their embassy in Dis, and here is where Colonel Dhalgrix had landed his mercenary company before slaughtering their way to the Outpost and to the Hole itself.

You know, before I caught up to him.