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Chapter Twelve - A Heart Hidden in Shadows

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        A World without Misery (Interitus 1: Book 0) Chapter Twelve – A Heart Hidden in Shadows   “Vaida, have you ever gone boating out here before? It’s so beautiful.”              Hatasuko rowed both oars at the same time with his powerful arms, propelling the sail-rana over the top of a small wave. Their boat fell a short distance and slammed down onto the ocean’s surface with a small splash, but then they both resumed rowing toward the southwest. The ocean was so warm that steam lifted from its surface and sailed gently in the wind. Sweat and steam had drenched both of their bodies. Vaida’s long black hair was plastered to her body as her strong arms rowed through the weak waves. Vaida said with a mystified voice, “I’ve traveled to the first three Isles of Aether before, but I guess I forgot how nice it is. I really feel like we’re boating past the edge of the world.” A cloud of faint gray steam concealed the stars in the sky, but it absorbed the starlight and broadcast

Fons Vitae (Nebulous Cascade)

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    The Fons Vitae (sometimes called the Nebulous Cascade) is a peculiar oasis near the center of Agrideī. While the water is illuminated only by the same stars which light all of Agrideī, the rosy water glows with a pinkish color. Many people consider it to be the most important place on the continent because the water can heal wounds and kill infections. People will often embark on weeklong journeys to rush injured victims to its healing waters. If the Fons Vitae were not surrounded on all sides by barren desert for as far as the eye could see, then cities would have formed around its edge. People do not settle by the heavenly pond only because they would never find food.       It should be noted that the name Fons Vitae translates literally (from Latin) to the Fountain of Life. It appears as a waterfall that pours down from the sky, except there is no physical landform from which the water could flow. Many people believe that the water flows directly from the heavens, while others i

Chapter Eleven - Echoes and Consequences

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       A World without Misery (Interitus 1: Book 0) Chapter Eleven – Echoes and Consequences   “A cacophony of anguish now overwhelms my senses. Have I fallen into the tempest? Or have I become a part of it? I always hoped that death would be more fulfilling than this,” Hatasuko whispered, but he could not hear his own voice over the endless cries and shouts all around him. “You are not dead, Hatasuko. You were nearly killed by the Interfectus, but you escaped at the very last moment,” said an unfamiliar voice from within the storm of screams. Hatasuko could feel the presence of someone else inside the abyss of his own mind. There was no light in any direction, so he could not see the face of the newcomer.               “Forgive me, but I don’t think I remember your voice. Have we met?” Hatasuko asked. “We have not. My name is Kurt, and I put myself back together while you were healing. But I am not important. What is important is that this world still needs you alive. You have to wake