The soul gem glistened in the steady light of my laboratory. It hovered between a pair of prongs, one over the top, the other below. As I watched a faint bolt of energy lashed out, collected by the uppermost prong. I often fancied that if I listened I could hear its inhabitants begging for release.

"Vasun, are you in here?"

I turned towards the door, waving a hand. The bones of my hand gave a subtle rattle, as the stone door slowly swung open. Behind it I saw the lithe form of Bazzix, the dark elf who had decided to become my assistant.

"What can I do for you?"

He stepped in, clutching a bundle of scrolls in his arms. I clicked, lifting them up to relieve him of his burden.

"I finished translating those old scrolls for you. Most seem to be merely day to day records, but the one with the blue ribbon seems to be an ancient spell."

I nodded, unfurling them. A quick glance showed me that they looked complete, but I wouldn't be sure until I closely examined them. With a gesture they floated to one of my workbenches, with the spell separated out. As I moved them, I noticed his eyes focusing on the black gem behind me.

"I've been wanting to ask you, what is that?"

I smiled. We had an agreement, that after he completed a task, I would answer one question. Of course it wasn't that I didn't answer any other time, but these were always ones that I would be as informative as possible on.

"Ah. That, that is a soul gem. A very rare, not to mention expensive, item in this world. They are more common in the Torturous Layers, where recently departed souls are examined. Thise that end up in them are condemned to serve as an eternal battery."

He looked closer at it, seeing the same bolts I did.

"So... is it full?"

I gave a laugh.

"Oh no. It still has plenty of room. I use it for those who betray me, which hasn't happened in a long time. It is the ultimate prison for those I hate, forced to serve. In fact, most are about... oooh four hundred years old."

Bazzix looked sharply at me, eyes filled with his glorious curiosity.

"Four hundred years? That's a long time to hate someone. Who was it?"

If I had any face at all it would have dropped into a frown. Even so, he shifted uncomfortably at my change in mood, good humour falling away.

"That would be the group that told me to become this, then stabbed me in the back after the threat was eliminated. I lost everything because of them. My home, my family, my friends, my life. All gone because of them. I am forever damned, it is only fitting they serve me before my time is up."

I snapped my fingers again, making it disappear from sight. Bazzix twitched, and I crossed my arms.

"That is all I will say on the matter. Now, let's see just what this spell is meant to do."

[removed]

[removed]

"pshhhh, don't act like you wouldn't feel the same." I said.

"I wouldn't." Tom said.

"Not even Zach?" I placed a hand on my hip.

"I don't hate Zach." Tom folded his arms.

"Yeah, anymore. When you were done with him even the galactic police couldn't identify the remains."

"So?'

"So if you pulverized his body so badly that it couldn't be identified I think you would've held a grudge for at minimum of 400 years If you never had that opportunity."

"I don't think so, but then again. I guess we'll never really know." Tom grinned at me.

"So are you helping me or not?"

Tom sighed. "Whats in it for me?"

"50,000 galactic credits." I said and toms eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

"50,000?! You must be out of your mind, it was a pudding cup. One pudding cup!"

"That pudding cup, my friend. WAS THE LAST PUDDING CUP MADE WITH THE OLD EARTH RECIPE! I was going to analyze it so I could remake it because the recipe was lost and I love that damn recipe! This isn't just for me, This is for the galactic empire! He stole that pudding from all of us! That creamy succulent pudding that I so loved, Jerry will go to the deepest depths of hell once I'm finished with him! He will never steal from another lunch bucket again!"

"If you weren't going to eat it why was it in your lunch bucket?"

"I wasn't going to eat all of it, I only needed a small amount for analysis. But you know what that sick son of a bitch did? HE LICKED THE CUP CLEAN! Every morsel was gone and now we have the worst reality in the multiverse. One where good pudding does not exist." I clutched the edge of the table and leaned over to catch my breath. I hated explaining these things to people, they never understood.

"You need some serious help." Tom said.

"Enough! Are you with me, or are you against me?"

Tom shrugged. "I'll humor you. Lets go."

I picked Tom's unopened beer can up off the table and shotgunned it. "Hell yeah, lets do this." I turned to see Tom wore a horrified expression.

"THAT WAS THE LAST DOUBLE SPRITZ GINGERBREAD CINNAMON MAN HAZELNUT DOUBLE DARK CHOCOLATE IPA BEER IN EXISTENCE! I WILL KILL YOU FOR THAT!"

No totally I get what you're saying but in all honesty we might as well be asking a puppy dog to rule the kingdom.

Now don't get me wrong- my older brother ((May his soul rest in peace)) was a great father and a greater man and you can see that in my nephew's attitudes. My nephew is Kind and loving. He'll run up and randomly hug a servant and tell them they're doing a good job scrubbing the floors just because my brother taught him to appreciate what others do for you.

Admittedly though, he is a five year old. He's well behaved, most of the time, but he's curious and he'll go looking into places he shouldn't ((I'm not talking about some 'forbidden lair' mind you. My late SIL, his mother, was speaking with some of the servants and he managed to get away from all five of them and found his way into one of the weapon's lockers where only by the quick action of a corporal did he manage to not cut his hand open or worse trying to grab a sword because it 'looked like Daddy's'))

He'll throw tantrums when he doesn't get his way ((as most toddlers his age do)) and he's intentionally done things like throw rocks at people or try to hit and kick because he 'can' or he's mad. All things anyone would try and break a five year old's habit of.

Now for responsibility. He has basic five year old responsibilities that we've tried to keep him up with since his parent's passing.

He's meant to pick up his toys and go out into the courtyard and pick up any sticks he finds and give them to the gardeners. He also has a puppy that he needs to take outside and play with and make sure is fed ((basic pet responsibilities))

​

All in all. My nephew is a kind child but in the scheme of things if you asked him about important things he'd have no idea what to do. He'd also be manipulated and tossed around by the high council. If I am King then everyone's power remains in check without anyone getting any 'bright ideas'

He is my nephew and someone I need to take care of and that also includes chosing what is best for a child unable to go to sleep without checking under his bed for monsters.

Pretty sure he and his brother are illegitimate, and have no claims to the throne.

Even if I were to give him the throne, he would probably need a regent, and given how addled the boy is, I do not see anyone competent getting that role. Chances are the boy and his brother lose their heads (literally!) before the week ends, and I lose mine simply for being in line.

Instead, I have taken the throne for now. Once the boy and his brother come of age, I’ll consider handing the crown back to them- provided they prove themselves competent, of course.

Till then, they will be safe under my supervision in the Tower of London.

Henry Tudor says I am an a-hole for not giving the throne rightaway to my nephew. I think Henry is a traitorous leech who wants the throne for himself and getting rid of my nephew is easier than getting rid of me.

So redditors, AITA?

• u/NotRichardTheThird

Bearhemoth! Good one!

EDIT: I really like the sort of semi-script style of dialogue that you used here.

INFO - Everyone knows what five year olds are like, of course a TYPICAL five year old shouldn't be in charge of anything that can break, but everyone knows that once in a blue moon, you get a child whose wisdom is closer to that of a 100 year old. What is he like as a person? Does he get into trouble, or is he really well behaved? Does he know how to share? Has he been responsible for something before and done a good job? Is he kind, caring and looking out for others? Just want a feel for his character.

It was a dark and stormy night when the beast finally came into this world.

Bella the Tabby cat gave birth to a solitary creature in the Smithfield's residence. The beast was undiscovered for several days while it gained strength, feeding from Bella. Finally Sammy Smithfield, a little blondhaired 6 year old girl discovered the abomination with its birther. The little girl shrieked, causing her parents and older brother to come running. They all gasped when they saw the thing and Sammy continued to cry as she stomped her feet.

"Mommy, Daddy! Bella had a kitten!" Sammy shrieked excitedly. "What the? How did that happen? Bella was spayed..." "Oooh, Can I hold him?" She asked. Daddy nodded and Sammy reached down and took the kitten, he was a jet black kitten with small white spots. "I'll name him sprinkles!" Sammy said and planted a kiss on his tiny fuzzy nose.

And so, it was on that day that the menace became known to human kind as Sprinkles, son of Bella, destroyer of worlds, eater of souls, enslaver of men and worst of all, the cutest little fuzzy boi.

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I'm sitting down at a large dining table, eating with Scarlett and her dad, Drain. "You feeling comfortable over there?" Drain chuckles.

I smile slyly. "Could be worse." Drain has a very strong distrust of humans, whereas Scarlett wants a human as her boyfriend. The solution was to make sure I was under Scarlett's control, which she was more than happy about. I'm forced to wear things from Drain's 'anti-human gear' collection, including a chastity belt, which Scarlett has the key for, and a 'body guard', which is basically a thin metal plate that covers my chest, stomach and back. It's very lightweight, quite comfortable to wear due to being soft inside, and made of an aluminium alloy on the outside to protect my 'fragile body', as Drain says, and also to reflect heat.

The catch? It's controlled from a remote. The soft material can switch to thousands of tiny needles. The material can also be set to 'massage' me, literally OR in a way I'm being tickled. The guard being electrified also means I can be zapped without warning. I wouldn't have even TOUCHED this thing if I didn't trust Scarlett.

I'm also wearing something on my wrists - 'cuff bracelets' I believe. Scarlett can attach a 'leash' onto them. She said she'd hold my hand when she does it so people don't see, but it DOES mean that if I try to run, people would notice... and I wouldn't get far.

Lastly, on my upper arm, a 'blood pump' is attached. The idea is there's a button on it, which, when pushed, a needle will draw blood until a small, discreet vial is filled. Scarlett can then remove the vial and drink the blood. It's actually fairly painless, and at least I don't need to be bitten.

Drain nods. "You certainly could be. You've seen humans kept as 'blood tanks', at least you have your freedom."

"Not really" I grin, showing I mean it as a joke.

Scarlett playfully pinches my arm. "Don't worry Gavie, I won't stop you from having fun!"

I giggle slightly. "Gavie?"

"Don't like that?" Scarlett seems disappointed.

I look at Drain. He's maintaining a neutral expression. I decide I can be honest. "I don't HATE it, but I do prefer to just be called 'Gavin'."

I glance at Drain again. His expression has barely changed, the tiny smirk barely noticeable. I wonder for a moment if I'm in trouble, but Scarlett nods and smiles. "Ok, Gavin." She leans in to kiss me. Ok, that's what the smirk was for.

"I have to say, son, I never thought I could trust another human after what happened 400 years ago... but you're seeming more and more genuine."

I smile shyly at Drain. "Thank you, sir, I- wait, 400 years?"

"Yes" he states firmly. "I was once amongst your kind, believe it or not. I remind Scarlett about her mum as something she can relate to regarding humans, but I never trusted them again after being betrayed by one of you... 400 years ago..."

I just blink at him. "400 years… that’s a long time to hate someone... what on earth happened?"

Drain screws his eyes shut, sighs heavily, then nods and opens his eyes, fixing his gaze on me. "Very well, I'll tell you, but it's not pretty..."

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

This story is a part of my series, My Roommate is a Vampire. Please check it out!

Little boy

Nori looked out of his cave. He didn't see anyone outside, so he hurried back inside. He was allowed to look outside of the enclave, but he must never set foot outside, for there were many dangers outside.

He stared at a little puddle, noticing his reflection. He was about a foot tall, wooden in nature with beads for eyes. He was, in fact, a figurine.

He didn't know how he was born. One day, there was nothingness. The next there was consciousness.

The cave was filled with scars of nature, whittling away at the walls - trying to tear the cave down. But no matter how much water tried to seep into the cracks and tear the cave apart, it refused to be broken but instead stood solid.

Nori hoped to one day be tall and solid like the enclave. He even talked to it as a friend. For the cave was his friend because he had no one else.

Nori talked to the cave now, "How are you doing ? I'm doing well, thank you very much. I managed to find the exit again after wandering through your tunnels. But I'm sure you haven't revealed all of your secrets to me. Why don't you tell me, instead of keeping it hidden. " He waited but as usual, there was no reply.

He realized that he wouldn't want the cave to tell him its secrets even if it did talk. He liked an air of mystery.

"I'm going back in", He said to the cave. He wanted to see if there was another exit out of the cave. Some nice place that the cave wasn't telling him. He would find it and they'd both have fun in that place together.

With a pep in his step, he stepped back into the maze of tunnels that made up the cave.

WC:283

I did it!

I made the world breaker!

From a young age, I knew that I was different than the rest. My parents, good people, but devout people, believed in a kind, benevolent God. I saw no evidence of any such thing. If God existed, why was the world such a effed-up place?

My atheism made me ambivalent towards God: how can you have feelings towards something that does not exist? But when that disease took my parents, and I saw the loving, caring people I once knew reduced to a slobbering mass, I felt a burning hatred in my heart. If God exists, I will find him, and I will make him pay.

Today, as I finished building the World breaker, I can peel the veil across dimensions. If there is a God, I will find him.

It took me multiple days, but I think I finally have the right settings. As the world before me vanishes, I see an unending horizon of white light. And in front of me, a massive Golden throne. And a being slumped in it.

Is it dead?

“No, not dead”, a voice inside my head: “But close to breaking”

“Good.” I voice out aloud: “Maybe you should have broken and died a long time ago. Perhaps that would have stopped giving false hopes to people “

The voice was silent for a second. “Look” it said.

And I saw a blackness, blacker than black, that was slowly eating away reality. And this being, if it was God, was holding this thing to a standstill. But it was fighting a losing battle, for it could only hold this thing back, not push it back.

Side note: If you wondered why aliens never found us, you know now. This thing ate them.

“What is it?” I asked.

“The devoured. The end of all things. The heat death of the universes.”

“Shouldn’t you be able to defeat it easily?” I sneered: “You are the OG God afterall “

“You misunderstand, child. I am the God of this Universe, while that thing is the end of all Universes that exists and all reality as you know it.”

“It has consumed an infinite number of Gods from other universes and added their power to its own. It’s more powerful than any God in any universe.”

“Eventually I will lose, and it will consume all of this Universe and me and move on to the next one. But till that moment I will hold the line so that this universe can thrive.”

As the horror of this inevitability became clear to me, I sank to my knees. Then for the first time ever, I wept.

##Shoes and Figurines

It's scaries out there. Nice and safes here. Homes. Comes in, strangerses.

I am one of a few nagas. We are nots the bad sorts, no. We no steals, we no kills. We makes shoes and figurines. Would you likes to buy ones, dear customerses?

No? I understands. Right nows, is dangerous out theres. No monies for buying shoes or figurines.

Oh, yous come for whats? A warnings? The other humans, they wishes to exterminates us?

We understands. But this is our sacred enclaves. We cannot leaves behind our histories, our cultures.

...Yes, we knows. We will not wins against the humans. Our magics is not strong, not like the humans with their guns and their bombs.

We appreciates you, humanses. For comings to warns us. Here. I will repays you. One pairs of shoes, and one figurines. This figurines will bring you luck. It is engraved with the symbols of our founders, Sylvesters.

...You do not wants? You wants us to come withs you? You are very persistent, humanses. I tells you whats. Takes our youngling eggs with you, humanses. You may be a strangerses, but it is betters than certain deaths when the other humans arrives.

...Thanks you, humanses. You have given us hopes for our legacies to continues. We did not thinks we would makes it out of a humans attacks.

I hopes, one day, you can brings our childrens backs to this enclaves. It would be appreciateds.

Nows go, kind humanses. You musts not be heres when the other humans attacks. They will nots take kindly to your warnings us, no?

...

...

Nows, there is only times for fightings. Watches over us, Sylvesters. For this shall be our final fights.

WC: 283

r/EnigmaofMaishulLothli

LoL their in my Other comment.

Thank you 😌

Reminds me of this.

"Well, how are you enjoying heaven?" God asks casually. Not bothering to turn around, to acknowledge me, or anything of the sort.

"Heaven isn't the problem. The problem is why you haven't done anything. Even now you don't look at me, or heaven, or anything!" I respond.

"I am looking at something. Something important. Come here." God states and waits for me to approach. When I do, God motions out to the abyss beyond. With a wave creation occurs. Reaching out into the abyss new creation occurs. Life, rock, stars, space. Everything.

Only to be taken. To be consumed. The creation that God made is gone. More and more God creates, and more and more is vanishes into the void.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"It's a creation of mine. I had made it to want more. So it would seem out new solutions, create, and build. Instead, all it does is consume, take, and destroy. You may have heard of it."

"How would I have heard of it?" I ask.

"My early creations are recorded aren't they? And passed down." God stated. "I described it's creation in great detail."

"I don't follow." I respond.

"Adam"

Thank you! It took maybe 30-45 minutes to go from reading the prompt to posting it.

What sort of gloomy ideas?

With more time, i think you can make it better

“Uh, like, I didn’t hate him for four hundred years.” I said.

“Oh, yeah,” Justin said, looking up from my boobs. “I just meant, like, it’s been a long time.”

“Well, yeah, he existed a long time ago, but I haven’t hated him all four hundred years. At most I could hate him for, like, nineteen years.” I said.

“Right, right, my bad.” This time Justin lingered on my boobs an extra few seconds.

“Anyway,” I said. “It makes me sad to learn about, the way women were treated in the past.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He said, practically drooling. “Forsure, super upsetting. I agree.”

“It’s just so frustrating, knowing how many people still agree with this shit.” I said.

“Yeah,” He said. “Gross.”

Silence passed for a time.

“So, uh,” He said, eyes glued to my boobs. “You maybe wanna see a movie later tonight?”

“I’m okay, busy tonight, I’d be down to another night, though.” I said.

“Oh, no worries.” He said.

After another bout of silence he began getting up.

“Well,” He said. “I don’t wanna keep you… see you in class.”

He put on his jacket and left.

Ahh, yay!! I was hoping someone would notice :)

Haha, perhaps so!

Oh yes. If only they existed... :') such a game would be a gem of a find

I know it is rather incomplete but I wrote this at like 11pm (23:00 for non Americans) so I didn't really consider any endings lol. When I get home later I will work on a part 2