Interlude: Emperor of the Aquitaine EmpireEmperor Francois was the most powerful man in the Aquitaine Empire. He was the absolute single most powerful person in the whole empire, outranking his children and his wives. Nothing was beyond his reach or grasp. He could have anything he wanted, no matter how rare and desirable it was. Soon his son would sit on the Prussian Throne and once the State Socialist Party was removed, his blood would control a powerful, enemy nation.He would make Henri merge the nations, with an undo influence on the Aquitaine influence and culture. A plan was already in the works to destroy Prussian Culture and replace it, but Henri wouldn't be so easily cowered. Henri was made of stronger stuff and once he was firmly on the Prussian Throne, he would work towards his own agenda.As far as Henri was aware, his fool of a father was in the dark about his plans. He believed the emperor would be caught off foot when Henri refused to follow the plan, but Francois was
Interlude: Student ZaneWhen the bus reached Pendragon State University, Zane stood up and stretched. Yawning into his hand, he followed the small crowd out the doors. Today was the day, but he wasn't worried. In fact, he was more afraid for Michael and Dani than himself."Are you tired?" Dani asked, leaning on him from behind."Yeah. I was up all night finishing my project." Another yawn. "You're way too bubbly.""I'm a morning girl. Michael!"Michael was waiting for him by the curb, flicking through his phone. He looked up at Dani's scream. Zane could see the bags under his eyes."You're too loud," he said.Dani gave him a look. "Jeez. I thought you were a morning person.""I am... Just not when I've been up all night. Don't you have a huge report due for-""Nope," she said, popping the p. "I already turned it in yesterday.""How did you already finish it?""I work faster."That was true. For as long as he knew her, Dani was a very fast worker. Unlike him, who needed to take his tim
Chapter 2 preview of non Isekai sci-fiEvelyn IIThe machine looked like something you might have found on earth, in the late nineteenth century. Big, large, and primitive, something out of Doctor Frankenstein's laboratory."This," Toshiro said, patting the black metal. "That is how we will transfer your consciousness into the homunculus body.""What is it called? The Frankenstein machine?"Toshiro laughed, but none of the other scientists followed his lead. I was getting dirty looks from them, looks I returned with interest. I had stared down Soviet soldiers, strixes, lycans, and leviathans. These kids in lab coats were about as threatening as a whiner dog. None of them could meet my eyes for long. I might be a decrepit old crone, but I'd be damned if I let these snot-nosed brats glare at me like that. These gnats in this oppressively sterile facility would piss themselves if they came face to face with a leviathan."We don't have a name for it. Perhaps if it works we might come up w
EuphemiaBefore I got woken up by the pounding at my door, I was dreaming of the past. When I attended the Imperial Academy"Arc!" Coach Monarey yelled, shaking me. I looked up at him. "What's going on with you, girl? Are you hurt? Injured?"If this was anywhere else, I wouldn't have been treated that way. I was part of the imperial house, but at my school, they are trained to treat me like everyone else.I shook my head. "No sir.""Then why the hell have you been ignoring me?"Coach Monarey's face was an inch from mine, and I did his best to ignore the spit."I-ignoring you? I would never, sir-"The coach shoved the pole into my hand and pointed. "See that? You're going to try and jump over it with this pole, do you understand?""... Yes, sir.""Good. Then GO THERE AND START RUNNING!" he yelled.I ran over to the start of the field. Coach Monary was glaring at him, arms crossed. I took a breath, cursing myself for daydreaming in Coach Monary's class. Of course, the jerk would call on
Calixte ArcThe last meeting had turned into a circus and it hadn't stepped until I left with Tanya. It was bad enough that Mireille had gone overboard antagonizing her Tanya, but my fiery red-headed wife couldn't let it go. And to top it all off, I had to go and get caught up in the middle of everything, like I didn't have enough to worry about. It was at times like that when I wanted to go back to Karafuto and see Kaya. The Oyashimese princess was easier to get along with than my two wives when they were at each other's throats. Which was constantly, after that meeting.I should have been better prepared. I should have factored in that they might uncover me. Having the two of them in the same room was now unbearable. Which made things difficult, because the two of them were constantly with me. It was rare I would have time alone with one of them and not the other.I could only hope the two of them could set aside their differences today. I wasn't sure why we had to get Mireille onto
Euphemia ArcI had lost my virginity a long time ago, but thankfully no one would know. Bianca had ambushed me, and before I knew what was happening, Bianca had her shirt on the ground and she was taking her bra off. We were both sixteen and it might have just been my teenage, hormone-ridden body, but her tits were firm and her stomach was toned. She slipped out of her green pants easily enough, wearing a lacy pair of panties. She undid her ponytail, letting her long blonde hair slip free, and pulled down those paints.Then she jumped me, in a literal sense. She was on top of me before I could process what was happening. Then we were a tightening knot of flesh being drawn together. Her hands were tangled in my hair, pulling me closer. Her breath was hot, and it was in my mouth and she tasted strangely like strawberries. Her breasts smashed against my bare chest which she just uncovered. She smelled like flowers and ripe apples, a musk that I hadn't noticed despite spending the last ho
Calixte Arc"So you touched the wall of that building and you were inflicted with... A vision?" Mireille repeated.I tried not to squirm. "Visions.""Plural." Mireille nodded. Everyone was standing in a loose semi-circle in the spot where her plane had landed. Behind her, nodding silently, stood Professor Carlos from the Imperial Aquroyan University. He was the expert on ancient civilizational magic that the Office of Secret Intelligence recruited. For some reason or another, this structure was important to the emperor. "Professor?"Carlos shook his head. "I am afraid that I have not seen such a phenomenon myself, but there are records of similar experiences. The ancient Egyptians, for one, used powerful forgotten magic to protect their pyramids. We are far from Egypt, it is true, but whoever build this building might have trapped it with magic. Of course, when Lieutenant Bian touched it to remove his hand, she suffered such side effects. Curious."Mireille nodded. Before any of us co
Calixte Arc"Are you okay?" Tanya asked, turning me to face me. She looked me up and down, but my vision was still swimming. I could see her, the Roslachnian village, and the rest of my team, Mireille and the professor, but it was like they weren't there. It was like staring at the illusion that was weaving in and out. "What did you do to him?""I wanted to see the effects of this building," Mireille said. I think I heard just a hint of regret in her voice. "Calixte? Are you alright?""Is he alright? Of course, he's not alright."I shook my head. "I... I'm fine.""He sounds like he's drunk!" Tanya said through her teeth. "He certainly isn't fine."I wanted to defend myself and Mireille. I didn't want to give her and Tanya another reason to be at each other's throats, especially behind enemy lines. The Roslachnians could be back at any time.Yet the building or the tower or whatever it was wouldn't let me. It had one more vision for me.The end of my quiet, peaceful life came in the fo