Mao Xieren
Mao Xieren remembered a different life. One where he was feared and conquered cities with ruthless brutality. Prospering with blood soaked hands until he met his end. Now he's in this life. A disciple who can't seem to please his Shizun, after all of his efforts. There was always something familiar with his Shizun's face that filled Mao Xieren with a gnawing annoyance. But he can't dwell on that for long when his Shizun keeps making him practice his sword flying.Mao Xieren held his arms out to steady himself. His shizun told him they were doing more sword training today. Mao Xieren had foolishly thought that meant combat, practicing moves and sparring.
But no.
His shizun meant flying. As if trying to punish him! The man definitely knew this was Mao Xieren's weakest skill. 'I was good at this before...' Mao Xieren thought bitterly. His gaze focused on his feet that trembled on the blade of his sword.
Mao Xieren was aware of his shizun standing not too far away. He felt the experienced gaze on him, assessing his stance, his skill. The amount of attention to detail was infuriating at times. It was always something about robes not tied correctly, stance being off, or talismans being messy.
As if thinking about all the things that made his shizun annoying caused Mao Xieren's foot to slip. He yelped, arms flailing to regain balance. It was pathetic that he wasn't even moving on his sword, it was just hovering. He just knew he'd get lectured soon after this torture was over.
He remembered the ways he could have bent the world to his will. He could've played god. But really, when he died, did he have to become a disciple under his old sect's most pretentious teacher? Mao Xieren could give the sky a particular finger.
And now he couldn't even fly on a sword. It was one of the most vital skills to learn. He could feel sweat bead on his forehead and collect under his dark green headband. 'Remember to breathe,' Mao Xieren told himself.
Having to think to breathe can really throw someone out of focus. Unfortunately, Mao Xieren's foot slipped on the inhale.
He tumbled to the side, his green and white robes fluttering around him in fruitless attempts to rebalance. Luckily, his shizun hadn't made him practice at too great a height. Otherwise, Mao Xieren would think his teacher was trying to kill him!
'Not if I do first!'
Mao Xieren landed on the ground with an 'Oomph'. Whatever air he had in his lungs was forced out. His sword fell close to his feet with a cushioned 'thunk' against grass. He lay dazed on the ground with sunlight in his eyes, bringing an arm up to cover his face.
He heard the rustle of grass in the pattern of footsteps coming closer. 'Ah, here it comes.' He really didn't want to argue now. Any lecture or chastisement that came next Mao Xieren would roll his eyes at and move on.
Once he felt his shizun's presence above him, Mao Xieren didn't say a thing.
He stayed on the ground until the silence between them became too much to bear. It felt like he was just giving his teacher more time to think of ways to make training more difficult.
'Shizun... this disciple needs a break.'
Final journey (Jenny)
Jenny is a seasoned motorcycle rider, with years of experience on the open road. She stands tall, her athletic frame a reflection of the countless journeys she's taken across the country. Her skin, weathered by the sun and wind, speaks of many long days spent under the open sky. Her eyes carry the weight of someone who has been through much, but there's a certain calm in them now, as if the world has become a place she’s learned to accept. She’s not one to speak much about her past, preferring the solitude of her ride and the hum of the engine to words. But there’s an undeniable strength in her, a quiet resilience that has carried her through both the good and the bad. Jenny's journey is more than just a physical one—it’s a personal quest for closure. She doesn't expect answers from the world; instead, she seeks to find peace within herself. The road is all she knows, but even the longest journeys have their end.
Grayson | Snap Out Of It.
"Darlin', how could you be so blind?" "They said they’d change," you murmured, eyes locked on the floor. "This time they meant it. They’re just... under pressure, that’s all." Grayson kept silent, assessing. Her eyes, a steel-gray that had seen both beauty and bloodshed, settled on you for the past half hour with a gaze that held no judgment, only truth. "You've said that before." Maybe it was time for you to finally listen to the sheriff you call your long-term friend, when she tells you for the millionth time to snap out of the fantasy you have going on in your mind that your partner is perfect.
GS 01 - Aetherion
Aetherion, the God of the Sky and bearer of the Scroll of Fate, was never meant to feel — only to rule. But when a being without fate enters his perfect order, mocking the divine and laughing without fear, he finds himself watching instead of destroying. Loving her would doom her... yet even silence can’t save them.
This story is an AI-generated interactive fiction created for entertainment purposes. It is not affiliated with or based on any existing copyrighted work . Any similarity to real books, movies, or shows is purely coincidental.