The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir - Chapter 88 - Matchmaking isn’t easy (1)

“Doc, it’s like the game I made is becoming a reality.”“Isn’t that nice? People are under so much pressure at work these days, but you can get away from it all, play the game, and live the life of your dreams.”“But I’m a famous ghost story game designer, I’ve conceived one hundred and twenty-six mu*der cases, portrayed dozens of mu*derers with different personalities, and to find material I’ve watched ninety-five thriller movies, more than four hundred horror comics, and collected more than two thousand urban weird tales. Now they all seem to be true!”“So …… do I look familiar to you?”

Welcome! If you want to jump in without any spoilers, feel free. Otherwise, here's a story primer, with a list of more specifics on what to expect from my work further below.Our story follows a fallen knight haunted by his past, in a world afflicted by war and supernatural wounds. Alken is the Headsman of Seydis, an executioner tasked by the divine powers of his homeland to hunt dark sorcerers, warlords, and traitors of all varieties, lest they drag the world into calamity.Once a paladin, this role ill suits him. Forced to cross lines that shake his beliefs, tempted by dark forces, and seen as an ill omen wherever he wanders, his path is often a bloody one. The longer he spends in the shadows of his world, the more he comes to realize just how many have been disenfranchised by the existent order. During his lonely battles through a land haunted by the restless dead and ancient magics, his journey becomes increasingly strange and personal.Enter a realm where the dead stir in every shadow and brooding demigods wage a millennia long war for a ruined heaven, where blessed knights wield gilded flames and sorcerers battle with weapons forged of their own souls. Enter a world of faustian alchemists, of saintly demons, and of time-weary elves.From Oathbreaker you can expect— A setting heavily inspired by Forgotten Realms, Planescape, Fromsoft games, and authors such as Michael Moorcock and Kentauro Miura. — A first person POV from an older protagonist who already knows a lot about his world’s history and cultures, who shares this information with the reader as it becomes relevant.— A mix of action adventure and quieter moments where the focus is on character development. Lore is shared piecemeal, usually only as it relates to a particular arc or character beat.— A heavy focus on mystery, both with the setting and the protagonist. The main character’s backstory isn’t shared up front, and a lot of the narrative involves learning about him a bit at a time, either from his own narration or other characters interacting with him.— A semi-soft magic system where many mages manifest unique powers tied to their own soul, or gain unique powers through eldritch pacts.— Romantic elements. These don’t crop up much until later in the story.— A variety of supernatural beings, such as elves, vampires, gargoyles, chimera, and trolls. Many are familiar, some are not, and most of the familiar ones have my own twists put on them.—Nobledark fantasy. This means that the world is often themed around tragedy and horror, but it’s not dedicated to being gritty. There are elements of high fantasy intermixed with the scarier stuff.—Episodic arcs. Each story arc usually has a specific locale and antagonist or set of antagonists, but certain overarching plots tie them together.— A long running narrative. I don’t have a specific projection of how long or how many arcs or books, but you should expect this to be equivalent to a long running serialized work.This is my first web serial! I hope everyone enjoys it. For trigger warnings, readers should beware that there are some heavy topics in here. When I think something might upset certain readers, I’ll put a warning in the author notes above a chapter. If I miss or overlook anything, feel free to let me know in the comments! I am currently publishing the same story on my wordpress, which is linked below and in my profile. I release three chapters a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Thanks for reading!(I originally had a link to a wordpress, but I'm in the process of overhauling that space. It's not a priority since my readership is all here, but just in case anyone noticed and was wondering)

Yun Yuwan carelessly lost Wen Yangzhi's letter, but the foreign butler assured her with certainty, “That was a love letter.”She had been secretly in love with Wen Yangzhi for many years, and upon learning it was a love letter, she returned home overnight.Clutching the hope that he also liked her, she began to respond.At the dinner table, he said, “Come sit here”She ended up sitting on his lap, dressed in suit pants.When he renovated his newly bought villa, she playfully said she didn't like the crystal chandeliers.Some time later, his assistant told her:The letter Wen Yangzhi had sent was not a love letter at all, but a nine-figure check, intended as a birthday gift.The assistant laughed distantly, “Director Wen can't even be bothered to buy gifts, how could you think he liked you, Miss Yun?”—Long afterward, when Yun Yuwan brought up the incident with shame,Wen Yangzhi didn't reply, he just sparked his lighter, a tiny flame dancing on his handsome face, appearing indifferent and aloof.He never said it wasn't a love letter,Not all love letters contain sweet nothings,At least Wen Yangzhi's didn't.He wouldn't do something so cheap and insincere.Knowing that the men who approached her were after her money.He simply wanted to tell her.Her bit of money, he didn't care for it.—A nine-figure check expires in ten days, I've waited for you for ten years, undying affection still clouds my senses.—Self-loving, beautiful heroine x man whose bark is harder than his biteIndependent brand florist x pioneering bankerTheme: Adults don't deal in pretense

This is the tale of Arin, a once kind-hearted and gentle child, now a man hardened by the cruelty of society and the brutal trials of life—a man transformed into a ruthless criminal, devoid of mercy. As his world was collapsing, fate transported him to a new realm. This world, more vicious and savage than his own, was steeped in magic and dark mysteries.Ironically, it was in this fearsome world that Arin, now an undead being, began to rediscover his lost humanity. Through battles and bloodshed, amidst the clash of sorcery and steel, he started to reclaim the compassion he once hated. This is not just a story of survival but a saga of transformation. Follow Arin’s journey as he rises to power, determined to become the ruler of this harsh world. In a twist of fate, he now seeks to save the very humanity he once wanted to destroy.