Soulless Prince - Tumblr Posts
*Two reincarnations and an isekai walk into a bar--
The only one happy to be there is the isekai because he's ready to quit this whole world-saving thing. One reincarnation doesn't like alcohol and the other is trying to get them OUT of the bar because the world need saving.
*not a real situation from the book, but whatever. got your attention, right? ;)
Join Solace, Reed, and Gwenivar on their journey to save Mythiric from the demon god!
What happened to the miasma?
He looked left and was greeted by more flowers and bushes he’d only seen in books. He could see more trees in the distance. They were so far away they looked tiny. He’d never been able to see that far before; the miasma was always too thick. "Where's—" He stopped as the name escaped his memory. Someone who should've been beside him was not. Now that he thought about it, there wasn't much he remembered besides the fight with those wraiths.
Swaying with fatigue, sweat on his brow, he turned his face to the light. The wind shook the leaves of the trees and turned the grass on the hill in waves. Destination chosen, he started toward them. He just needed to cross through the flowerbed of large clovers. He didn't recognize this specific plant from any book.
He stepped into the clover.
No solid ground met him.
Plunging shin-deep into the shockingly cold water, he lost balance and toppled to his knees into the pond. The splash shook the water clovers. Water lapped around his waist, quickly soaking into the fancy coat he wore.
Water? There's water just lying around?
Initially startled by his abrupt entrance, large, multicolored creatures came close and circled him. "Fish," he identified in awe. Their calico lips nibbled at his clothes and silver hair as it floated on the surface around him, crowding each other eagerly. Chuckling softly, he sat back and looked up at the sky again. He'd never seen that color blue before. He only remembered an endless pitch night and air that tasted like suffering. There had been no free-standing water in the world he remembered. All of it was created by magic and stored in buckets. It grew scummy within hours, collecting dust from the wind and a sulfur scent from the miasma.
Is this what comes after?
“She would’ve loved this…” he said sadly. He knew he missed her even if he couldn’t quite remember her.
"Oh no!" a woman said behind him, breaking his thoughts. She continued in exasperation as she hurried over, "Who put you out here? You're filthy now! I'll have the hide of whoever did this!" The woman’s voice made him flinch. He was about to turn around when hands hooked under his arms.
find out what happens next on Tapas!
Chapter 16 and Reed STILL hasn't learned not to ask "Can anything else go wrong today?"
sweaty, it can be a minute before midnight and there's still plenty of time for shit to hit the fan.
"What did it look like before you cleaned?" he asked.
Reed went to the windows. They were dusty and undisturbed.
"Well… His Highness's hairpin was on the floor. But that's it," Marigold said. She pulled her apron between her hands, starting to get nervous with Patrick and Reed’s serious tone.
"Hard to make a mess when he's the only thing in here," Patrick admitted as he turned slowly, looking around the room as well. “Has anyone else been to see him this morning?”
“No. Everyone’s busy getting ready for dinner tonight,” Marigold said.
“How long was he alone in here?” Patrick asked, pulling out a notebook to start writing her answers.
“Eh…” she shifted nervously. “We’ve left him alone before. Why is it suddenly a problem?”
Reed knelt to look at the floor. Patrick was a good investigator, but some things he just wasn’t going to think to look for. Although Reed wasn't sure what he was looking for either. Circles of salt? Candle wax? Mythiric was a world that had a rich history of magic and swords that could cut stone, but all that was in the past. They’d lost the knowledge about two thousand years prior when the first queen of Durshand had purged the corrupt priests of some demon religion. His history lessons had been over five years ago and his disappointment that he couldn’t sling fireballs or summon monsters as pets had caused him to lose interest.
“It’s not a problem,” Patrick assured. “We’re just… looking into something.”
Marigold fidgeted. "Reed? What are you doing?"
"I'd say it was witchcraft, but y'all ain't got that here." He got up, dusting his hands and pants. Ten years he'd been in this world, and all that time he'd thought soullessness was just this low-technology world's way of describing birth defects. Boy, was I wrong… Apparently, inert lumps of flesh can spontaneously become complete assholes.
"What?"
"Never mind," Reed said in English, then waved it off. Correcting to Durrish, he asked, “Can you answer the question, Marigold?”
Find out what's happening on Tapas!
I'm trying to write Arc 2 of Soulless Prince (ch31-60). I just want to have it done before the tapas contest even gets the first round of judging. I will finish this story no matter what happens.
But I'm... rewriting 3 chapters because I'm being too nice to my protagonists.
I really need to fall in love with my antagonists the way I did with my protagonists. Because strawmen arguments aren't compelling. They're not attention-grabbing. There's no tension or risk of failure.
Suffer and become one with Me
The world was on the brink of ending. A thick, sulfurous miasma covered the land, leaving only small settlements clinging desperately to life in a never-ending war against the demons.
One woman, heart shattered by her beloved's death, loosed a cry of despair that pierced the heavens. Her impassioned plea stirred a passing goddess to action. In a selfless act of love, the goddess donned the Saintess' body and burned away the miasma to restore light and life to the world.
But this was only a short stay of execution. The dark god planned to return and consume the world he had left to marinate. Only the reborn Saintess, her Beloved, and the unexpected element of a hillbilly transmigrator have the skills to save the world.
“Think about it. The Soulless Prince wakes up on Blessing Day, just before the crown competition announcement. Nyltia herself said Gwain was to be king. She’s been insisting Solace not be composted for seventeen years. Y’all’s goddess has been all over this mess from the start. Yet you’re denying that maybe she knew this shit was about to explode and gave us a weapon?”
Turning to look back at Reed, Captain Raccoon lifted both his brows to his hairline. “A Han lecturing a Dur on Nyltia’s faith? Now I’ve seen it all.”
Reed shook his head, lifting his hands out. Figuring he’d gotten as far as he was going to get on this, he stood. “Just tell everyone to stay indoors at night, no wild parties.”
Raccoon lifted his brows again, this time sarcastically. “You tell the Hans that.”
“Yeah. I know. They’re loud.” He waved his hand dismissively.
"What did it look like before you cleaned?" he asked.
Reed went to the windows. They were dusty and undisturbed.
"Well… His Highness's hairpin was on the floor. But that's it," Marigold said. She pulled her apron between her hands, starting to get nervous with Patrick and Reed’s serious tone.
"Hard to make a mess when he's the only thing in here," Patrick admitted as he turned slowly, looking around the room as well. “Has anyone else been to see him this morning?”
“No. Everyone’s busy getting ready for dinner tonight,” Marigold said.
“How long was he alone in here?” Patrick asked, pulling out a notebook to start writing her answers.
“Eh…” she shifted nervously. “We’ve left him alone before. Why is it suddenly a problem?”
Reed knelt to look at the floor. Patrick was a good investigator, but some things he just wasn’t going to think to look for. Although Reed wasn't sure what he was looking for either. Circles of salt? Candle wax? Mythiric was a world that had a rich history of magic and swords that could cut stone, but all that was in the past. They’d lost the knowledge about two thousand years prior when the first queen of Durshand had purged the corrupt priests of some demon religion. His history lessons had been over five years ago and his disappointment that he couldn’t sling fireballs or summon monsters as pets had caused him to lose interest.
“It’s not a problem,” Patrick assured. “We’re just… looking into something.”
Marigold fidgeted. "Reed? What are you doing?"
"I'd say it was witchcraft, but y'all ain't got that here." He got up, dusting his hands and pants. Ten years he'd been in this world, and all that time he'd thought soullessness was just this low-technology world's way of describing birth defects. Boy, was I wrong… Apparently, inert lumps of flesh can spontaneously become complete assholes.
"What?"
"Never mind," Reed said in English, then waved it off. Correcting to Durrish, he asked, “Can you answer the question, Marigold?”
Find out what's happening on Tapas!
Chapter 15 of Soulless Prince has posted!
~~~~ Floritan burst to his feet. "You will not be considering that thing equally!" he shouted, stabbing a finger at Solace.
Slightly irritated at being called 'that thing' Solace considered throwing something at him.
Charlotte slapped the table hard enough to bounce their dishes. "Solace is the rightfully born prince of this kingdom."
"He's soulless!" another woman shouted.
“He’s an imposter!” someone else accused.
"Soulless. I keep getting called that, but I don’t particularly agree with that assessment,” Solace said, though his voice was drowned out by the cacophony of shouting now filling the room. Gwain heard, though, and looked at Solace with a hint of sympathy as if getting drowned out by other people was a common occurrence for him.
The blonde at the other end of the table bent forward and slowly sank back into her seat. She was laughing so hard that her face had turned bright red. The dark-haired young man next to her turned with an admonishment, but she wasn't listening.
"I'm not lying, Reed," Lorrie said firmly. "I saw his lips move. He spoke."
"Then let's see if he'll do it again?" Reed, the redheaded man, said jovially. Leaning down, he grasped Dunn beneath his arms and hoisted him out of the water.
Steadying Dunn on his feet, Reed grabbed his sleeves and waved unresisting arms at the woman as he said in a weird voice. "I'm coming to get you, Lorrie!"
Dunn snatched one arm free of the swordsman. "Do you mind?" He may have been weak and shaky, but this was too much. He scowled at the man over his shoulder.
Reed withdrew with an abruptness that left Dunn unbalanced.
Stumbling backward, Dunn landed on the pavers. That would probably bruise as well. Looking up at the three, he scowled. "Is this how people act here? Screaming and being rude?" Reed had backed away some distance, hand on his sword. The dark-haired man had partially drawn his, Lorrie hiding behind him.
Dunn shivered, teeth chattering and ruining what little dignity he had left.
The door to the building abruptly banged open. "What are you three doing to my son?" a woman shouted.
"Your Majesty." Reed hastily bowed, slapping his fist to his chest. "He spoke!"
"Sir Owen, do you think me a fool?" The woman was dressed in muted colors, but the fabric was thick and looked soft. For that matter, Dunn realized that his own clothes were made of material he'd never seen before. He fondled the end of his coat.
"Your Majesty," Reed bowed lower, "Please, ask him yourself."
"I will strip you of your commission!" the woman shouted, standing nearly on top of Dunn now. When she moved, he noticed two men had come out of the building behind her. A tall man with shoulder-length silver hair and an older man with a thick, well-trimmed beard. Both were dressed well. The woman was now stabbing her finger in Reed’s face. “I have heard nothing but bad things about you. Now I find you harassing my son? Unacceptable!”
Sighing and more than a little annoyed at the noise, Dunn grabbed her arm, tugging as firmly as he could. She stumbled, choked on her words, and slowly twisted her eyes down toward him.
He stared back at her. "Could you quit shrieking? I did speak to them, though I don't understand why that's such a big deal." Fully expecting more screaming, he released her hand and waited.
Suddenly dropping to her knees as if she'd had them stolen, she stared at him, tears overflowing her eyes. "Solace?" Her hands crept up. Dunn looked between them and her face nervously until she cupped his cheeks. "Solace, my son, did you… what did you just say?"
Concerned, he leaned away slightly. "Why are you crying?" Had he been too abrasive? Who was Solace?
Her fingers tightened. Suddenly, she sprung, landing on top of him. "You did speak! My baby! My son!" She burst into sobs. He stared at the sky, then Reed, as he was closest. Unfortunately, Reed made no move to help. He just looked uncomfortable and pale.
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"Okay. I'm... done. Yeah. Go on without me. I live here now."
"You're embarrassing me."
"Sh. I'm taking a nap."
no. Never. they are Bros.
can these guys quit it.
"What did it look like before you cleaned?" he asked.
Reed went to the windows. They were dusty and undisturbed.
"Well… His Highness's hairpin was on the floor. But that's it," Marigold said. She pulled her apron between her hands, starting to get nervous with Patrick and Reed’s serious tone.
"Hard to make a mess when he's the only thing in here," Patrick admitted as he turned slowly, looking around the room as well. “Has anyone else been to see him this morning?”
“No. Everyone’s busy getting ready for dinner tonight,” Marigold said.
“How long was he alone in here?” Patrick asked, pulling out a notebook to start writing her answers.
“Eh…” she shifted nervously. “We’ve left him alone before. Why is it suddenly a problem?”
Reed knelt to look at the floor. Patrick was a good investigator, but some things he just wasn’t going to think to look for. Although Reed wasn't sure what he was looking for either. Circles of salt? Candle wax? Mythiric was a world that had a rich history of magic and swords that could cut stone, but all that was in the past. They’d lost the knowledge about two thousand years prior when the first queen of Durshand had purged the corrupt priests of some demon religion. His history lessons had been over five years ago and his disappointment that he couldn’t sling fireballs or summon monsters as pets had caused him to lose interest.
“It’s not a problem,” Patrick assured. “We’re just… looking into something.”
Marigold fidgeted. "Reed? What are you doing?"
"I'd say it was witchcraft, but y'all ain't got that here." He got up, dusting his hands and pants. Ten years he'd been in this world, and all that time he'd thought soullessness was just this low-technology world's way of describing birth defects. Boy, was I wrong… Apparently, inert lumps of flesh can spontaneously become complete assholes.
"What?"
"Never mind," Reed said in English, then waved it off. Correcting to Durrish, he asked, “Can you answer the question, Marigold?”
Find out what's happening on Tapas!
Chapter 20 is posted, but don't worry, Soulless Prince will continue to chapter 30 before the entry period ends!
Did Vice-Captain Fisk actually give Reed permission to fight Sir Blanch, or was it a lie to trap him in assault charges? High nobles can't be trusted, after all…
AITA for choosing to continue in a competition that I am wholly unqualified for just to wreck someone else’s chance at winning?
I (M 17? 36? I never really knew my age; I don't think it matters now) got volunteered by my mother for a competition. Winning involves a lot of politics. I ran a clinic for the Temple before, so I am not wholly unfamiliar with being in charge of something, but this position requires being nice to a bunch of greedy assholes who can't comprehend that we're trying to have a society here.
I was going to withdraw, but then one of those jerks killed some of my guards to cover his own theft, and now I'm just angry.
Would I be the asshole if I continue with the competition just to make sure the other guy loses? I'm not sure what I'd do with the country if I won...
Reblogs will get follows.
Chapter 21 drops today! Reed is stuck in the attic, hiding from the Aristocrats, when he discovers an old notebook from his first year on Mythiric. How did it get there? What memories will it dredge up from the bottom of his whisky-soaked brain?
OMG
it's Reed!
Me 24/7
I'll talk to people :D
my favorite topics are in the tags.
Just checking something. Interact with this post if you don't mind ppl dropping by your inbox when you're inactive/on hiatus. Whether it's to check on you, drop some STS, WBW, Blorbo Blursday, and other type of ask. <3