Yello and welcome again to the two people who read my first chapter. I'd also like to say a hi to the new people who have made their way to the far side of . I am sorry for my 1 year + hiatus with my excuse being absolutely nothing. I just kind of lost interest in it even though I spent my days thinking about returning and maybe writing a chapter 2, and I will. So I want to apologise to the 2 people who were expecting an update sooner. I'll probably also have another long hiatus due to me being a slouch and spending all my time lazing about. So no come in expecting this to be updating within a week, at best maybe 6 months or maybe not who knows certainly not me. Also I'm mostly directionless and wouldn't mind being nudged in the right direction by my readers to help my brain juices flow. So hope you enjoy this new instalment of "Paper Boy".
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As the first rays of dawn peeked through the window of his chambers, Louncent was roused from his slumber and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. With tipsy steps, he donned a fluffy dark blue dressing gown, accented with silver, and made his way towards the window sill. Pulling aside the silky teal curtains, he was greeted by a breathtaking sight that never failed to captivate him. The towering three-story window frame was expertly crafted with intricate carvings of dragons swirling about the precious Wapol Metal. Mary Geoise, the holy grounds of the Celestial Dragons, glimmered in the sun's early light, casting reflections off the rooftops, creating a dazzling sea of colours.
Despite the beauty surrounding him, Louncent knew the dark and cruel reality that hid beneath the surface of the Celestial Dragons deceitful grandeur. As he peered down upon the slave roaming the streets, bound in shackles and chains like dogs on a leash, their eyes hollow and lifeless, his heart filled with an endless fury. The suffering and torment inflicted upon these people by the World Nobles sickened him. They had become nothing more than mere possessions, stripped of their freedom and dignity. As his gaze settled on the Nobles of the city, a storm raged beneath the surface of his eyes, before subsiding.
The boy heaved a sigh as he pulled back the exquisite high-end chair which sat proudly under his Adam Woods desk. Crafted with great care from the bark of the great tree hailing from the legendary land of Elbaf. The morning sun's rays rained down upon his desk, illuminating an assortment of trinkets and devices that adorned its surface. Each object held a special significance, gifted to him by his Grandfather Ginson, who had journeyed across the vast expanses of the Blues and Paradise.
As Louncent gazed upon the array of trinkets before him, he could not help but feel a sense of adoration and gratitude towards his Grandfather. The many tokens, each rooted with a unique history and story, served as a testament to the elderly man's countless adventures and the wisdom he had gained by travelling the Blues. Even though they may never see eye to eye in their ideals, Louncent still held somewhat of respect for Ginson. In spite of the countless known and unknown sins that were placed upon his Grandpa, the man still managed to spend time with him after the tragedy they both were forced to undertake.
At the forefront of the desk, lay a silver amulet with scorch marks marring the edges of the otherwise pristine trinket. The lid lay closed as the black ash etched itself into the design breaking up the simple pattern with the simple initials of 'L.P' engraved in them. Louncent grabbed it by the chains before briefly holding it in his palm before putting it around his neck. At that moment, as he sat at his desk, surrounded by the treasures of his Grandfather's travels, the boy felt a sense of pride. He knew that the legacy of his Grandfather's journeys would live on through him and that he too would one day embark on his own adventures. Even if the atrocities of his Grandfather may bear down on his shoulders in the future, Louncent will keep on seeking the knowledge and freedom that his forefathers never had the chance to gain.
The boy was awoken from his stupor by a knock at the door. The boy quickly straightened his posture and ran a hand through his messy black hair. He opened the door to find one of the many 'unpaid free interns' dressed in fancy clothes, far out ranking the clothes a one of their social stature should be wearing. It was to no surprise, Louncent thought as he looked upon the frail and ghastly boy. 'Only the best of the best inside the walls of Pangaea' the cynical thought quickly left his mind. The boy was visibly scared, with the slave not looking Louncent directly in the eyes. 'He must be new.' With a tinge of sympathy, Louncent could only reflect on the events of the past couple of years.
Three years prior, a well-known fishman slave going by the name of Fisher Tiger escaped from the World Governments clutches. From the accessible records found in the archives, Louncent managed to string together that Tiger was previously a decently wealthy adventurer before his capture. A year after Fisher's escape he came back again to Mary Geoise. A testament to his will power and faith, but even more surprisingly the fishman managed to scale the Red Line which is by no means an easy task. In his revolution against the Celestial Dragons, Tiger freed all the slaves in a blaze of glory and it marked one of the few known losses of the World Government. Louncent's face darkened as he thought back on the day as his hand unknowingly moved towards his amulet. The slaves may have been freed but thousands more took their place. So many more clueless people roped into the government's schemes like moths to a flame. The rebellion only led to an endless cycle of suffering with no stoppage in sight. A trembling hand reached out to touch his shoulder to shake Louncent out of his dark thoughts.
After gaining his attention the slave was staring at his feet as he quickly muttered a spew of words that Louncent understood to be a call for breakfast in the dining room. 'I must have scared him.' Louncent thought. A small smile etched across his face at the idea of a belly full of food. There was no better way to lighten his mood than a filling feast. "Lead the way." Louncent proclaimed, barely hiding his eagerness. 'The problems of the future shall be for future me to solve.' Louncent reasoned as he strode away down the winding corridors of Pangaea Castle with breakfast being his lone thought.
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Wow. You reached the end, it seems my story was somewhat engaging. I'll once again say that I'm happy to take any advice and criticism on how to improve and any ideas that you think will help me make my story more interesting. Certainly hope that I didn't waste 10 minutes of your life and if I did, my bad. I'll probably still have this story on hiatus as I doubt that I'll upload a new chapter in a few weeks maybe I will, maybe I won't. I hope you keep on having a great day or start to have one.
Bye Bye!