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Back The Wishing Game
Chapters (66)
  1. PREFACE
  2. Full Page Image
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. One week ago
  6. THREE
  7. Present day
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. THIRTY-EIGHT
  43. THIRTY-NINE
  44. FORTY
  45. FORTY-ONE
  46. FORTY-TWO
  47. FORTY-THREE
  48. FORTY-FOUR
  49. FORTY-FIVE
  50. FORTY-SIX
  51. FORTY-SEVEN
  52. FORTY-EIGHT
  53. FORTY-NINE
  54. FIFTY
  55. FIFTY-ONE
  56. FIFTY-TWO
  57. FIFTY-THREE
  58. FIFTY-FOUR
  59. FIFTY-FIVE
  60. FIFTY-SIX
  61. FIFTY-SEVEN
  62. FIFTY-EIGHT
  63. FIFTY-NINE
  64. SIXTY
  65. SIXTY-ONE
  66. SIXTY-TWO

If there's something that I've noticed so far about Aperion, it's the fact that it's not that different from my own world—they still rely on power structures. Maybe they're not as concerned with colorism or social class based on the people I've met so far, but they're definitely judging others by their abilities—or lack thereof. Even Thea, who is from a noble family, has encountered this issue, with people constantly putting her down because of her limited powers. In fact, social standing seems to be correlated with the abilities one has.

"Welcome, what can I help you with today?"

I jump back, startled by the sudden voice. Looking left and right, I don't see anyone around.

My brows furrow.

"Who's there?" I ask tentatively.

"I am Nigel, the librarian," the voice replies at the same time as a see-through figure materializes on top of the table.

I scramble back, my eyes wide.

"What?" I squeak in surprise.

A floating torso appears in front of me. His face is somewhat humanoid, but it lacks expressivity. The entire body is a shimmery white, and the only dot of color is his dark eyes.

"What are you?" I whisper.

"I am Nigel. The librarian. I am a wraith in charge of the Duke of Sigmore's library collection."

"Oh," I murmur, blinking rapidly as I take in the information.

Okay, this makes sense. They don't have computers to catalogue everything, so they would need someone—or something—to do it. And from what I remember from the wraiths in the game, they are similar to a programmed algorithm with no mind of their own. Just like Siri.

"What can I help you with today?" Nigel repeats.

"Hm." I take a moment to think. "Do you have any romance novels?" I ask sheepishly.

"I am not familiar with that term. Can you rephrase it?"

"Stories about love?"

"I am not familiar with that term. Can you rephrase it?"

What? Seriously? I can understand them not having romance as a genre, but stories about love?

"Stories where two people fall in love?"

"I am not familiar with that term. Can you rephrase it?"

Not one to give up, I try every combination I can think of. Yet the result is the same. Nigel does not know what I mean, which suggests that likely he wasn't trained with this terminology in the first place.

It's not too surprising that this world wouldn't have romance, but somehow I still hoped there might be something. Damn it, but the more I find out about this place, the more hopeless I become.

If gods have no notion of romance, then how do humans have it? We were modeled after deities. It stands to reason our capacity to love would come from them, too. But maybe these gods have been around for so long they've completely forgotten the meaning of love—after all, their marriages are all about power, nothing more.