The Heart System - Chapter 336

A conversation with a handsome stranger leaves Ariane chained in a cellar with a strange affliction. She soon discovers that the darkness of the nineteenth century’s Deep South hides many dangers. Mages, wolf shifters and the humans who hunt them play a risky game where to stumble is to die, all under the amused gaze of the apex predators of the supernatural world: vampires.

It is never healthy to attract the gaze of the aristocracy of the night. It takes much to survive in this merciless world, but Ariane will not let that deter her. The southern belle has a bite, and she is willing to learn and to grow in this hostile new world. She will use whatever means necessary to reclaim her freedom, be it guile, charm, or those intriguing new instincts that make blood so delectable.

This is a story of vampires as I believe they should be, with their strengths and weaknesses, with their remnants of humanity and the beast inside. Updates every Friday. Mind the tags.

Cover by Antti Hakosaari: https://www.artstation.com/haco

Special thanks to Svensonsen for getting me started, as well as Omi Nya, Hesketh, Rhaegar, Yaksher, Selkie and Raven for proofreading my stuff. Thanks to my patrons and you dear readers, for the support. I could not do it without you.

Journey is on Amazon, both in ebooks and audio. here is a link to the first one:

https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B08DK6G8Y8

The story probably exists in your local marketplace as well of I can tempt you.

Dumped by his girlfriend for being broke, killed in an accident by a truck, only to get transmigrated into a fantasy world as Lucien Goldveil, noble heir of a rich nobility in the kingdom of Edoria.He should be content since he was now filthy rich, but he couldn't, as this world was a world of magic where money without power was only a curse.What he would face next would only be endless conflict and the hounds looking at his wealth with those hungry gazes.---Ding[Debt Collector System has been successfully bound.][Detected failure to collect debt from target: Alchemist Devan.][Automatically extracting compensation of equivalent value…][Congratulations! You gained: Minor Mana Sensitivity (Passive), +1 Intelligence.]---Fortunately, his system came on time, giving him that glimmer of hope. Now, it all depends on his ability to exchange his vast wealth for power by playing his cards right.With the kingdom teetering on the brink of war and the Godveil family surrounded by hungry wolves, Lucien had no choice but to grow stronger and fast.Not to mention finding those behind the shadows hellbent on killing him, or those trying to kidnap him for his wealth. Wealth without power was a curse, and it was on Lucien to change it into a blessing instead.And those dungeons… Wait a minute—why the heck does this world have so many dungeons?

After crossing over into a world of magic, Dean Bruce was mistaken for a powerful sorcerer. Though he initially intended to sternly refuse the beautiful woman’s request to become her mentor, she offered him far too much to say no!Completely clueless about magic, Dean Bruce had no choice but to make up spells on the spot. However, when he saw the astonishing power unleashed by the beautiful woman after chanting his random incantations, he was stunned.The spells he had carelessly invented… could they really comprehend magic and even forbidden spells?As Dean Bruce ascended to the pinnacle of magical prowess and became the Archmage, he candidly answered a reporter's question during an interview with the Alliance: “ never understood magic. I just made up a few incantations, that's all.”People were in awe of him—this, they believed, was the true humility of a Grand Archmage!

How long I’d been here, I couldn’t quite recall. From this sorry situation, I as always raised my eyes to the sky; a sky in which the great, massive sun was clad in levity. Sunlight poured gently upon all. What a blessing it would have been for the world if only the skies could remain clear. For tomorrow too, and for all days to come, I was to continue to pray for calm. To endure for those who cried, with desperation I remained in prayer.

And then, one freezing, forlorn, soulless, stagnant, drizzly day we died. Or so I thought…