Ani Was Writing

Story 9   Now is the time. Elder Valentine is dead, thanks to Nadja's work. Having a shadow tigress as a comrade is a wonderful blessing in our cruel world. The other female stare at her as the news hits our ears. There is a general feeling of giddy vengeance in the room that grows. Finally, one voice asks the question: "Does that mean we have a door we can break through?"   I look around the collection of entities around me. Usually, this group would be in more flattering and showy attire. Tonight is a different story. Tonight, we are all dressed in dark colors and long draping pieces to conceal our identities. Some of us conceal weapons; others have their natural weapons carefully sharpened.   "Yes. We have a door. That idiot Raj will be enraged by the kill we 'stole' from him. He has been looking for revenge against his betrayer for way too many cycles." This gets a few chuckles. "With that said, his guards will be occupied with containing his ou...

Story 8    "Test Subject 730 is ready for testing. TS730 is an entity that is 50-human, 30-lemur, and 20-mechanical. Natural eyes, ears, and tail are replaced with mechanical parts for experimentation. TS730 is a male about 110 cycles old."   "I'm ready!" The test subject cheers from the other side of the crystal-enforced plexiglass.    The scientist shakes her head. If only I could get him to be less expressive. She thinks to herself as she records information from the health monitor. "Alright, Elder Valentine. Which mechanical part would you like to test first?"   "I think I would like to test my eyes first. I mean, they were really good when I was younger."   "That's what we are aiming for." She returns. "We will be doing a dimmed test first."   "Alright, Ms. Padina." The Elder smiles. He positions himself like a child waiting to hunt down his friends in a game of hide and seek. Padina chuckles and shifts ...

Story 7    I get my gilded invitation in my mail. At first, I wasn't sure how to respond. The paper feels heavy in my hands as I read the poetic calligraphy again:  Catalin Ryba, I hope this invitation finds you in a good state of being.  I am informed that you have shown an adventurous mindset during your schooling in Eulim and your training with Drake, one of the local potionmasters. After gathering more information about you, I have decided to extend an invitation to live in Caelum.  You will be taking the status of Most Adventurous from Elder Tiberius Bane. If you would like to bring a companion with you, please let us know as soon as possible. I look forward to your arrival. King Zoticus and The Creator   I shake in anticipation. I quickly write back to them and notify them to add my companion Ari to my records. As soon as I send that, I pack up my things and leave to share my news with Ari. I know that everyone will hear my news once I arriv...

Story 6    My mommy told me that my schooling would be boring to me. I really hope Mommy is wrong as I put on my cleanest set of play clothes and take my schoolbag off the counter in the kitchen. Daddy is already at work at my school, so maybe I'll see him later.   I leave the house with most of my older cousins ahead of me. I am too excited. Ever since the last Cycle of Light, I counted the days. 168 days of waiting. Then Daddy told me I had to wait 28 more days because of that weird holiday we always have. I can't say it right, so Daddy just makes me call it "the holiday."   "Abby! Wait up!" My cousin David yells behind me. "I can't walk as fast as you" I stop and roll my eyes. I wanted to walk by myself to feel like one of the older kids. But I can't because my older cousin David wants to protect me. He tells me he is protecting me from other older kids. But I am 20 cycles old! I can take care of myself. "Thanks, Abby. I was worried...

Story 5    "I know I shouldn't have done it."   The Protector riding next to me shakes his head. There are a few other entities in the boxcar who chuckle. We've been in here for a little while but already our shifts in fate had an effect. The judges of Canlanma know how to bring the consequences of actions in full force. It now brings me and my nine other travelling companions to a place where we hoped to never go: the ride to Neraka. It is known informally as the Dark Path of Fate. "The Dark Path only lead to the Dark Place" became a reminder to any child or adolescent during schooling.    The Protector next to me shutter slightly in his protective clothing. I barely begin to wonder why as I feel the shift in energy and atmosphere as we leave the bridge between Canlanma and Neraka. The joy and peace I felt in Canlanma seems to be swapped with an unrelenting wave of tension and chaos. Is that why we are all chained? To remain still? I see one of m...

Story 4  "It is a strange thing to be a celebrity in Caelum.   "To start with, your sudden status change is- well, sudden. Back in the old eras, you had to be on the talent spectrum. You either had to have a lot of talent or a lack of talent to be considered a celebrity. now? Well, now you have to show the most skill with a positive human characteristic. I mean, for many cycles, I have been the Most Engaging person to younger entities. Heck, that reptilian female -Kanako is her name, I think-  is the Most Fashionable and Most Generous to the less fortunate.    "The other thing that is different is that we don't do any sort of entertainment or product endorsement as a celebrity. Again, back in that one old era, celebrities were always in some sort of production or on those weird advertisement things - I think that's what they were- for someone someone or something else. Now we just remind entities to do good and then do our regular jobs we did before ou...

Story 3    You discovered something truly amazing.    It has been 45 cycles. In 45 cycles, you were born to a sweet pair of metallurgists who taught you everything they know abut their trades. Your father went on numerous trips to meet Royals and advise them on weaponry and mechanical components. Your mother made her home in the Capital and became a fashion advisor to the celebrities and Royals when wanted and a doctor to their mechanical servants and devices when needed. After testing you, your parents sent you to the Tower of the Mind in Eulim. You took your lessons and lectures in due time. Hours of sitting through teachings you learned as a child. Instructors tried not to show it, but you knew you were the favorite. The newer lectures on the quest to make a new metal for many cycles intrigued you. A new mental would be the talk of Canlanma for at least 100 cycles. Sadly, each "new" metal they discover turns out to be a well-known alloy with an uncommon ...