A Court of Lost Stars - Chapter 43: Written in Hearts of Stone

The person who was locked away inside the thorn-covered tower was not a princess, but a witch who employed the powers of darkness.

A brave young hero came searching for the tower in order to kill the witch.

– Light would force the darkness to recede, and grant it eternal rest

The witch wished.

That things would end with, ‘and the hero lived happily ever after killing the witch,’ like in the fairy tales.

And so, she had devised everything to happen in accordance to her wishes.

But the boy, who had grown up in but no time at all, would make the unfamiliar face of man’s from time to time.

“You want me to kill you? ……Do you really think I’ll let you go?”

Reality was very different from the fairy tales.

“The people don’t know of the precious treasure locked away in the tower.

I won’t let anyone else have this god given treasure, this crown of god surrounded by thorns that no one else could recognize.”

The hero gave the witch a slow and deep kiss.

“I am the true victor, and no one else.”

Fiona thought losing her mother was the worst pain she would ever feel.But six years later, life proved her wrong.Her father’s new wife turned her home into a prison. Beaten, blamed, and silenced, Fiona lived as the unwanted daughter—her voice ignored, her tears unnoticed, her happiness stolen. Every day was a fight to survive under the watchful eyes of a stepmother who seemed to take pleasure in her suffering.One night, after another cruel punishment, Fiona finally breaks. She escapes through her bedroom window with only a small bag, some hidden cash, and a heart full of fear.The streets are harsh and unknown, but fate leads her to a kind elderly woman who offers shelter—and a grandson, Mason, who seems cold and indifferent. Fiona thinks she has found safety… but life has other plans.Soon, another man enters her world. Gentle, patient, and perceptive, he offers her a deal, for her to be his engaged girlfriend to get his wealthy family off his back.For the first time, Fiona experiences kindness, love, and acceptance. But the shadows of her past are never far behind. Will she be able to embrace this new life and the love she deserves, or will her family’s control pull her back?Fiona must fight for herself, for freedom, and for the life she was always meant to live.

In this brutal world ruled by the law of the jungle, Ximen Wei is driven by his desire to return home and escape his past regrets and feuds.

As he becomes increasingly obsessed with achieving his goal, he loses his emotions and humanity, resorting to any means necessary, no matter how unscrupulous or immoral.

He becomes a symbol of massacre and death, a demon god feared throughout the Qi World for his willingness to kill anyone who stands in his way or possesses something he needs.

Follow Ximen Wei's journey as he rises to power, terrorizing those around him in his quest to become a powerful demon god.

In a world where Classes, Stats, and Levels are the everyday norm, Reivyn has a secret.He was unusually aware of his surroundings from an incredibly early age, and Skills and Stats were acquired easily. He was just the son of an ordinary village family, and nothing appeared out of the ordinary on the surface. But below the surface, dreams of another life help shape his mentality and growth. Why does he have some remembrance of a past life, and what is his purpose in this new one?“Soul of the Warrior” is what I call a Semi-Isekai LitRPG. I say “semi,” because Reivyn's past life is remembered like a dream, and very incomplete. It is still Isekai, though, as he remembers enough that it directly shapes his personality and his sense of self.The System that governs the world of “Soul of the Warrior” is a combination of modified versions from Selkie's “Beneath the Dragoneye Moons” and Kosnik4's “Magic Smithing.” I have changed enough of these Systems and combined them in a way that is unique that I'm mostly sure it's fine, but I still have requested permission to use these ideas. They have both graciously granted me permission.Winner of the April Writathon Challenge.