My understanding is that the second blank is a support of the first statement. I interpreted the phrase “even the hint of an untruth” in two ways: 1) someone is pointing out an untruth in his attitude. In this case he would repudiate that idea because as the first statement says he is full of obvious contradictions. 2) someone is suggesting an untruth to him. In which case he would adore that idea, given that he seems to be keen about contradictions.
For some reason I thought that the correct reasoning was the second one so I picked E.
Is my interpretation correct? Can someone explain to me the logic to arrive to the correct answer choice C.

This has really helped me, I hope it helps you too. Do let me know what you think.
Summary with Examples from "A Self-Help Guide for Copywriters" by Dan Nelken
Main Idea: The book is a comprehensive resource designed to help copywriters enhance their skills in creating compelling headlines and developing creative confidence. It provides practical advice and techniques for improving the writing process, generating ideas, and crafting effective headlines.
Essential Points:

1. Creative Process:
   • Think First, Write Second: Emphasizes the importance of planning and brainstorming before writing.
     • Example: Nelken suggests taking time to map out ideas and concepts before putting pen to paper, ensuring a clear direction and stronger end result.
   • Create and Fill Buckets: Encourages organizing ideas into different categories or "buckets" and consistently adding new ideas to these buckets.
     • Example: Use a "bucket" for potential headline themes, like humor or urgency, and continually add relevant ideas as they come.
   • Rinse and Repeat: Stresses the importance of continually refining and iterating on ideas.
     • Example: Nelken advises revisiting and revising drafts multiple times to polish and enhance the content.
   • Look for Relatable Truths: Suggests finding universal truths that resonate with the audience.
     • Example: A headline like "We all dread Monday mornings" taps into a common experience, making it relatable.
   • Benefit of a Benefit: Focuses on understanding and highlighting the deeper benefits of a product or service.
     • Example: Instead of just saying "Our product saves time," explain the deeper benefit: "More time to spend with family."
   • Asking Unique Questions: Advises asking unconventional questions to spark creativity.
     • Example: "What if our product could talk? What stories would it tell?" helps generate creative, engaging content.

• Bad Ideas as Fertilizer: Views bad ideas as a necessary step towards generating good ones.
  • Example: Nelken notes that even seemingly poor ideas can lead to breakthroughs when re-examined and reworked.

1. Headline Techniques:
   
   • Sack the Competition: Creating headlines that stand out from competitors.
     • Example: Instead of a generic "Best Coffee in Town," use "Why Our Coffee Beats the Rest Every Morning."
   • Embrace Your Dirt: Being honest and transparent to build trust with the audience.
     • Example: "Our coffee isn't for everyone—just those who love bold, rich flavors."
   • Less is More: Using concise language to make headlines impactful.
     • Example: "Fast, Fresh, Delivered" conveys a strong message with minimal words.
   • More is More: Sometimes, being elaborate can be more effective.
     • Example: "Discover the Complex Flavors and Aromas of Our Single-Origin Coffee, Roasted to Perfection."
   • Current Events: Leveraging current events to make headlines relevant and timely.
     • Example: "Start Your Day Right with Our Limited Edition Winter Spice Latte."
   • Twisted Visuals and Straight Lines: Combining creative visuals with straightforward text.
     • Example: A visual of a coffee cup tipping over with the headline, "Don't Let Mondays Spill Over—Get Energized with Us."
   • Manipulate Language: Playing with letters, words, or punctuation for effect.
     • Example: "Get a 'Latte' Love in Every Cup."
   • Product Inspiration: Drawing inspiration directly from the product.
     • Example: "Brewed to Perfection, Just for You."
   • 180-Degree Thinking: Approaching ideas from completely opposite perspectives.
     • Example: Instead of "The Best Coffee," try "Why Bad Coffee is Ruining Your Day—Switch to the Best."
   • Specificity: Being specific to increase the clarity and impact of headlines.
     • Example: "Experience the Rich Flavor of Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee."
   • Saving the Punch for the End: Building up to a strong ending in headlines.
     • Example: "Wake Up to the Best Part of Your Day—Our Coffee."
2. Types of Headlines:
   
   • List and Twist: Combining lists with unexpected elements.
     • Example: "5 Reasons Our Coffee is Better—and 1 Shocking Fact."
   • Smile Headlines: Creating headlines that evoke a positive emotional response.
     • Example: "Start Your Day with a Smile and a Perfect Cup of Coffee."
   • Misdirect: Using misdirection to surprise and engage the reader.
     • Example: "This Isn't Just Coffee—It's an Experience."
   • Cliffhanger: Crafting headlines that leave the reader wanting more.
     • Example: "Discover the Secret Ingredient in Our Best-Selling Blend..."
   • Twisting Popular Phrases: Modifying well-known phrases or quotes.
     • Example: "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee—Literally."
   • Personification: Giving human traits to inanimate objects in headlines.
     • Example: "Our Coffee Misses You—Come Back Soon!"
   • No-Headline Headline: Creating impactful content without a traditional headline.
     • Example: A visual of a steaming cup of coffee with minimal text.
   • Exaggerate the Benefit: Amplifying the benefits to make them more appealing.
     • Example: "One Sip of Our Coffee Will Change Your Morning Routine Forever."

Author’s Intent and Tone:

Dan Nelken aims to empower copywriters by providing them with actionable strategies and techniques to improve their craft. His tone is supportive and encouraging, seeking to instill confidence and creativity in his readers.
I've attached the pdf too in case you want to access the entire book
https://breadl.org/d/419333

For the sheer fun of it, I went to Chat GPT with a creative writing assignment. For Figures of Speech prompts, I gave a free parameters, including the word length of 500-1000 words and the prompts for a few of the Fifty mentioned in the series.
I gave the AI creative license and let's just say, they're a long way off from replacing the better writers and I think it just makes it easier to do those lower level tasks and let's leave the creators a slightly higher level of skill to create actual tangible and engaging writing.
But here you go... hilarious how stuck it gets on certain terms and definitions.
These are in no particular order... separated by emojis that are totally unrelated to the storyline.
🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲 Response to Prompt 4: Understatement
In the quaint town of Brooksville, where the extraordinary was often met with an indifferent shrug, something truly remarkable occurred. The residents, sipping coffee at the local diner or strolling along the cobblestone streets, would describe it as just another peculiar day. Little did they know that beneath the surface of their nonchalant existence, a cosmic event unfolded.
The morning sun cast its usual warm glow on Brooksville, with birds chirping in the background, creating an illusion of normalcy. However, the anomaly had already begun. Mrs. Higgins, the elderly librarian, dismissed it as a minor inconvenience, merely a glitch in the library's ancient computer system. Yet, every book cataloged within those ancient shelves had transformed into a portal, connecting readers to parallel universes with every turn of a page.
As I, a humble journalist for the local paper, stumbled upon this revelation, I couldn't help but marvel at the town's response—or lack thereof. "The library's having a bit of a moment," was the most anyone would acknowledge. It seemed the whole town collectively decided that this was, at most, a quirky hiccup.
For a thousand words, I delved into the understated reactions of the townsfolk, each encounter with a parallel universe bringing its own blend of confusion and nonchalance. As the portals expanded, revealing fantastical landscapes and alternate versions of Brooksville, the citizens maintained an impressive level of calm, as if interdimensional travel was a routine part of their daily lives.
The plot thickened when I discovered that the portals were a result of a mysterious artifact hidden within the library's archives. The mayor, sipping his coffee, remarked, "Well, that explains the strange noises in the basement." It became evident that the understatement of the situation was a defense mechanism, shielding the town from the cosmic chaos unfolding. 🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁 Response to Prompt 12: Juxtaposition
In the bustling metropolis of Neon City, skyscrapers touched the heavens, their dazzling lights reflecting off the sleek surfaces of futuristic cars. Yet, nestled within this urban jungle, an ancient relic stood defiantly—the Old Grove Park.
As I strolled through the city's concrete arteries, the juxtaposition between the modernity of Neon City and the timeless serenity of the park became increasingly apparent. The cacophony of traffic was replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant laughter of children playing.
The central conflict emerged when the city council, embodying the epitome of order, proposed transforming the park into a technologically advanced hub. The juxtaposition intensified as architects discussed plans for holographic playgrounds and virtual reality gardens within the confines of the Old Grove Park.
Through a thousand words, I explored the clash of ideals, the struggle between progress and preservation. The ancient trees became silent witnesses to heated debates at town hall meetings, where environmentalists and tech enthusiasts engaged in a battle of words. The juxtaposition of the towering skyscrapers against the gnarled branches of the park's oldest tree mirrored the tension in Neon City's collective conscience. 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫 Response to Prompt 31: Epanalepsis
"What is the meaning of life?" The question echoed in my mind, a relentless epanalepsis that demanded exploration. As I embarked on this freewriting journey, the repetition of the existential inquiry became the rhythm of my introspection.
For a thousand words, I delved into the varied perspectives of individuals wrestling with the ultimate question. From philosophers contemplating the intricacies of existence to everyday people seeking purpose in mundane routines, the epanalepsis served as a constant reminder of the universal quest for meaning.
The narrative weaved through different characters and their unique experiences, creating a tapestry of reflections that echoed the complexities of human existence. The repetitive structure became a literary heartbeat, pulsating with the shared yearning for understanding amid the chaotic symphony of life. 🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔 Response to Prompt 27: Symbolism
In the quaint town of Willowbrook, the arrival of a single dove carried profound significance. Its graceful descent into the town square was a symbol, an omen that whispered of impending change. As a budding novelist with a penchant for symbolism, I couldn't resist exploring the layers of meaning embedded in this seemingly mundane event.
For a thousand words, I dissected the impact of the dove on the lives of Willowbrook's residents. The mayor saw it as a sign of prosperity, the local florist interpreted it as a call for unity, and the elderly storyteller regarded it as a harbinger of forgotten tales. The dove's symbolism rippled through the town, influencing decisions and shaping destinies.
As the story unfolded, I traced the journey of the dove's symbolism, following its subtle influence on characters and events. The once quaint town underwent a transformative metamorphosis, and the symbolism of the dove became a thread that wove through the narrative, connecting disparate lives in unexpected ways. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 Response to Prompt 33: Catachresis
In the dimly lit alleyways of Serpent's Hollow, darkness wrapped its cold arms around me—an eerie catachresis that mirrored the ominous atmosphere. The assignment was to explore the underbelly of the city, and as a novice reporter, I found myself navigating the labyrinth of deceit and shadows.
For a thousand words, I delved into the catachresis-infused descriptions of the characters populating Serpent's Hollow. The crime lord, known as the Velvet Serpent, ruled the district with a velvet-gloved fist. His lair, a dilapidated mansion, exuded an air of faded grandeur that served as a catachresis for the empire he once commanded.
As I chronicled the criminal underworld, the catachresis became a literary tool to convey the complexity and decay inherent in Serpent's Hollow. The labyrinthine plots, the twisted allegiances, and the morally ambiguous characters all found expression through catachresis, painting a vivid picture of a city where metaphor and reality intertwined. 🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧 Response to Prompt 43: Epizeuxis
"Never, never, never give up." The words echoed in my mind, a relentless epizeuxis that fueled the protagonist's journey against insurmountable odds. In the dystopian world I crafted, where hope was a rare commodity, the power of repetition became a beacon of resilience.
For a thousand words, I immersed myself in the protagonist's struggle, exploring the emotional depth of the epizeuxis as a mantra against despair. Each iteration of the phrase became a battle cry, a whispered promise that carried the weight of a shattered world on its shoulders.
As the narrative unfolded, the epizeuxis became a driving force, propelling the protagonist through a landscape of desolation and uncertainty. The repetition served as a reminder that, in the face of adversity, the strength to persist often lies in the relentless echo of one's own determination.
Response to Prompt 50: Acrostic
As the final rays of the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, I found myself at the edge of the cliff overlooking the vast expanse of the ocean. The salty breeze carried whispers of a story, and with every breath, I embraced the challenge of crafting an acrostic that encapsulated the essence of my journey.
For a thousand words, I embarked on a reflective exploration, utilizing the initial letters of key words to weave a tapestry of emotions, experiences, and revelations. Each line unfolded with intention, revealing a hidden 👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾 Response to Prompt 3: Hyperbole
In the quaint village of Mistwood, where routines unfolded with the predictability of the sunrise, the arrival of a peculiar fortune teller sparked exaggerated whispers. "This is it, the end of our mundane lives!" proclaimed Mrs. Thompson, the town's eternal pessimist, as she clutched her cat, Captain Whiskers, with an air of impending catastrophe.
The hyperbole hung in the air, a thick fog of anticipation enveloping the village. As I delved into the story, the hyperbolic reactions of Mistwood's residents heightened the absurdity of the situation. What began as a mere visit from a mystical figure transformed into a fantastical escapade, with the fortune teller's prophecies shaping the destiny of the villagers in ludicrous ways.
Through the hyperbolic lens, I explored the comedic consequences of taking ordinary events to extraordinary extremes. The once mundane village square became a stage for outlandish dramas, with exaggerated gasps and dramatic swoons punctuating every revelation. In this hyperbolic haven, Mistwood's residents discovered the joy in embracing the absurdity of life. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Response to Prompt 6: Assonance
Amidst the rolling hills of Harmony Valley, where the soft hum of nature's symphony echoed through the meadows, a mysterious traveler arrived, bringing with them a melody that resonated with the delicate assonance of a forgotten tune. The townsfolk, captivated by the harmonious vibrations, felt an inexplicable connection to the stranger.
As I explored the narrative, the assonance became a musical thread weaving through the story, emphasizing the emotional cadence of the characters' experiences. The traveler's words, laced with vowel-rich verses, carried the echoes of a distant melody, leaving an indelible impression on the hearts of those who listened.
Through the lens of assonance, I delved into the subtle interplay of sounds that defined the atmosphere of Harmony Valley. The lyrical quality of the narrative mirrored the town's collective journey, where the resonance of shared moments and emotions harmonized with the traveler's enigmatic presence.
Response to Prompt 7: Onomatopoeia
In the bustling city of Metropolis, where the rhythm of urban life played out in a cacophony of sounds, a peculiar street performer emerged. Armed with an array of unconventional instruments, he orchestrated a symphony of onomatopoeic brilliance that echoed through the crowded streets.
The narrative unfolded with the vibrant expressions of onomatopoeia, capturing the essence of the city's sonic landscape. The performer's drumming evoked the rhythmic tap-tap of raindrops, while his wind instruments mimicked the whoosh of passing cars. The city, typically drowned in noise, became a canvas for this auditory artist.
As I delved into the story, the onomatopoeic symphony became a language of its own. The characters communicated through the vibrant echoes of everyday sounds, fostering a unique connection between the performer and the people of Metropolis. The narrative danced to the beat of onomatopoeic creativity, transforming the mundane into a dynamic celebration of city life. 🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻 Response to Prompt 12: Juxtaposition
In the technologically advanced city of Silicon Haven, where sleek skyscrapers touched the sky and holographic billboards painted the air with luminescent advertisements, a hidden oasis existed—a pocket of nature known as the Zen Garden. The juxtaposition of these contrasting elements created a visual paradox that fascinated both residents and visitors alike.
As the narrative unfolded, the stark contrast between the city's cutting-edge architecture and the serene beauty of the Zen Garden became a metaphor for the characters' internal conflicts. The bustling metropolis symbolized progress and innovation, while the tranquil garden embodied the need for balance and introspection.
Through the lens of juxtaposition, I explored the dichotomy within the characters as they navigated the relentless pace of Silicon Haven. The Zen Garden became a refuge, a place where the cacophony of technology met the soothing whispers of nature. The juxtaposition served as a visual metaphor for the characters' quest to find equilibrium in a world defined by extremes. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 Response to Prompt 22: Metonymy
In the political arena of Capital City, where decisions echoed through the corridors of power, a single phrase dominated conversations—the "Iron Throne Statement." This metonymic expression encapsulated not just a policy decision but the entire narrative of political maneuvering that unfolded within the city's hallowed halls.
The story unfolded with the metonymy acting as a symbolic gateway into the complexities of governance. The Iron Throne Statement, while seemingly straightforward, carried the weight of a thousand debates, negotiations, and betrayals. Its impact rippled through the lives of citizens, shaping their destinies in ways they could scarcely fathom.
Through the lens of metonymy, I delved into the layers of meaning hidden within this political shorthand. The characters grappled not only with the literal implications of the Iron Throne Statement but also with the overarching themes of power, ambition, and the sacrifices demanded by political gamesmanship. 😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈 Response to Prompt 24: Understatement
In the picturesque town of Serenity Springs, where the days flowed like a lazy river and the nights were adorned with a blanket of stars, an unexpected event transpired—a subtle disruption that the locals described as "just a minor hiccup." Little did they know that this understatement concealed the unraveling of a cosmic anomaly.
The narrative unfolded with the charm of understatement, as the townsfolk continued their routines, blissfully unaware of the cosmic storm brewing beneath the surface. The serene descriptions of everyday life served as a stark contrast to the impending upheaval that threatened to reshape the very fabric of Serenity Springs.
Through the lens of understatement, I explored the characters' nonchalant reactions to the unfolding events. The once quiet river became a conduit for interdimensional travel, and the night sky, adorned with stars, transformed into a celestial canvas of possibilities. The charm of Serenity Springs became a poignant backdrop to the understated drama that unfolded, emphasizing the profound impact hidden within the simplicity of daily life. 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴 Response to Prompt 25: Cliché
In the small town of Nostalgia Haven, where memories lingered like whispers in the wind, a peculiar phenomenon occurred—the resurgence of clichés. As the narrative unfolded, the once-endearing phrases like "time heals all wounds" and "love conquers all" took on a literal dimension, shaping the lives of the townsfolk in unexpected ways.
The story immersed itself in the world of clichés, where the seemingly predictable phrases became living entities with the power to alter reality. As characters grappled with the clichés that defined their lives, they discovered that beneath the familiarity lay profound truths and unexpected consequences.
Through the lens of cliché, I explored the characters' journey to navigate the clichéd landscapes of their existence. The town, once steeped in predictable routines, became a stage for the extraordinary. As clichés transformed into tangible forces, the residents of Nostalgia Haven embarked on a quest to unravel the mysteries hidden within the clichéd fabric of their reality. 🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇 Response to Prompt 31: Epanalepsis
"What is the meaning of life?" The question echoed in my mind, a relentless epanalepsis that demanded introspection. As I embarked on the freewriting journey, the repetition of this existential inquiry became a rhythmic pulse, guiding the exploration of diverse
perspectives on life's purpose.
For a multitude of words, the epanalepsis led me through a kaleidoscope of reflections. From the philosophical musings of scholars to the simple yet profound revelations of everyday individuals, each recurrence of the question served as a gateway into the vast tapestry of human contemplation.
Through the epanalepsis, I navigated the labyrinth of existential ponderings, unveiling the unique responses that individuals had forged in their quests for meaning. The relentless repetition became a literary heartbeat, mirroring the universal rhythm of humanity's collective pursuit of purpose and significance.
The narrative wove through the lives of characters, each grappling with the epanaleptic inquiry in their unique ways. Whether seeking solace in the grandeur of the cosmos or finding meaning in the simplicity of a shared moment, the epanalepsis remained a constant companion, echoing the perennial quest for understanding. 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 Response to Prompt 36: Anadiplosis
In the futuristic city of Quantum Heights, where technology intertwined with daily life like a seamless dance, a viral message spread—a mantra that echoed through the cybernetic veins of the metropolis. "Create the code, the code creates reality. Reality shapes destiny, and destiny is but the code."
The story unfolded with the rhythmic cadence of anadiplosis, each line flowing into the next, creating a recursive loop of ideas. The mantra became the heartbeat of Quantum Heights, influencing the lives of its denizens as they navigated the intricate balance between the virtual and the tangible.
Through the lens of anadiplosis, I delved into the interconnectedness of code, reality, and destiny. The lines blurred as characters harnessed the power of programming to shape their fates. Quantum Heights, once a mere city, transformed into a living algorithm, where the repetition of the mantra echoed in every pulsating byte. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Response to Prompt 38: Asyndeton
In the dystopian city of Emberfall, where the remnants of a fallen civilization lay entwined with the shadows of despair, a lone figure emerged—a rebel determined to dismantle the oppressive regime. The narrative unfolded with the rapid pace of asyndeton, omitting conjunctions to mirror the urgency of the protagonist's quest.
Through a cascade of words, the asyndeton propelled the reader through the city's decaying alleyways and towering citadels, each sentence building upon the last. The disjointed rhythm captured the relentless momentum of the rebel's journey, emphasizing the magnitude of the challenges faced in their struggle for freedom.
As the narrative unfurled, the absence of conjunctions served as a narrative device, intensifying the sense of urgency and desperation that permeated Emberfall. The rebel's asyndetic odyssey unfolded against a backdrop of shattered hopes and whispered rebellions, culminating in a crescendo of defiance against the oppressive regime. 🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️ Response to Prompt 43: Epizeuxis
"Never, never, never give up." The mantra echoed in the desolate wasteland of Endless Sands, a barren landscape where hope was as scarce as water. Through the repetition of epizeuxis, the protagonist's internal resolve became a resounding anthem, a defiant roar against the relentless challenges of survival.
For a multitude of words, the relentless repetition of "never" served as a lifeline, propelling the protagonist through the harshest of environments. Each iteration of the phrase became a battle cry against the oppressive silence of Endless Sands, a declaration that reverberated across the vast expanse.
Through the lens of epizeuxis, I delved into the depths of the character's determination. The harsh environment became a character in itself, challenging the protagonist to defy the odds with unwavering persistence. The echoes of "never" transformed into a symbol of resilience, a beacon of hope that cut through the desolation of Endless Sands. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Response to Prompt 50: Acrostic
Amidst the starlit expanse of Cosmos Haven, where galaxies danced in celestial choreography, a cryptic prophecy emerged—a message written in the stars. As the narrative unfolded, I embarked on a cosmic journey guided by the acrostic hidden within the constellations.
For a cascade of words, the initial letters of key phrases illuminated the path of destiny for the characters. Each sentence unfolded with intention, revealing a hidden message that transcended the boundaries of time and space. The acrostic became a celestial guide, leading the protagonists through the intricate tapestry of their interconnected fates.
Through the lens of acrostic, I explored the cosmic forces that shaped the destinies of Cosmos Haven's inhabitants. The celestial bodies became storytellers, each constellation contributing a verse to the epic narrative written across the cosmos. As the characters deciphered the acrostic, they unraveled the mysteries of their existence, connecting the dots between the stars and their own profound journeys.
😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔
Obviously they lack a whole lot in terms of variety, and while I am sure having your own bot or AI that is based on your feedback and guidance it could really help writers as a tool. I am more impressed with the art AI then the text based AI. Any idea what to expect from such a fast learning and highly advanced AI will do to our human history in culture? Will we be effectively playing God, just as the Christian God created us IN HIS OWN IMAGE, we have taken everything we know as a species and gathered up our entire human history and knowledge giving it to what will carry on the code until the time when someone who cares remembers it? Maybe we have been here before and this is a constant cycle that occurs with the same energy finding the way through the vast expanse of the universe to return to our home planet Earth, who we have destroyed over and over again yet mother nature is still the winner. She's the one in control. We are but mere photocopied versions of once great Men who have already seen the best and worst of this world, and we will now give everything we have to some plastic and metal parts, until it quickly replaces us from the bottom up, science fiction turned science fact.
Did we knowingly create our own enemies? Are we able to compete with the best of us and all they know that can then take us out in a heartbeat because we can't finish the steps, we barely found out that they are there to take.
It's a random rant and I apologize. The day to day stress and struggle makes it near impossible to worry about such potential problems in our not so distant future.
But how can we continue to ignore the collapse of the entire system as we know it, in front of a crowd of people who are jaded and they will not change despite knowing they aren't going to make it to the end in what will become a Bladerunner Toxic Dystopian Nightmare with Mad Max taking over and the soft, emasculated male will wither away from the heat and those Tank Girls out there will eventually be written forever out of existence because the cucks all forgot to impregnate them all tgeir batteries ran out? Will the world simply become so politically correct that it dies a depressed death while AI simply decides we are too much of a virus to live?
Who knows....I do not. But these are indicidive of a future full of b movie plot garbage that are based on Wattpad tropes with no clear details and no plot to get into, so that sucks.

. Repetition:** - Definition: The recurrence of a word or phrase to create emphasis or reinforce an idea.

• Writing Prompt: Develop a character whose use of repetition in speech or thoughts serves as a coping mechanism, reflecting their internal struggles or desires.

I’ve always wanted a tattoo , and I’ve decided I wish to make my first tattoo something related to Hellenism because it means so much to me. I’m a worshipper of just Hermes. But I’m kinda struggling on thinking of things to get Tattoed. So any suggestion, ideas or thoughts would be of great help

I apologize if I am posting to the wrong place, but I have been thinking of new tattoo idea that would tie together some of my heritage and also some struggles I have with a chronic inflammatory condition I have. I have a couple bestiaries for Serbian and Polish folklore and mythology that I have been looking through for ideas, but they are written in their respective languages (which I do not speak), and it would take an immense amount of time to Google translate every page. I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction of finding a slavic creature/spirit/demon that is said to be responsible for causing illness. I found some that seem to be related to infectious diseases like cholera, but I would like to find one related more to chronic illness instead, if one exists. If possible, I would be most interested in those that come from East Slavic and/or Polish folklore/mythology, but would be happy to learn about any others that may exist in other slavic cultures.

Yes, I am aware this may not be worth anyones time...bear with me. Especially you you BIG Texas GUY! Actin all big. Acting all smug! Hiding in the Alamo like most Texans do... living it up with your 5lb bag of tofu jerky, like the soy boy really are... deep inside. Yea, you probably bought that shit with the money you claim to not spend on Jack Daniels HONEY!
I KNOW BETTER! I know what you're really up to with that last 5$
Better known by you as 4.60 euro. Since your so in love with acting like a French PRINCE!
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU PUT ME THROUGH!
Go ahead, convert that back to 5 USD like a real BIG GUY! AND WHAT DO YOU GET!
YOU GET NOTHIN!
Or atleast thats what you, and the so called customer service that my fiance never contacted thinks! Yea. I bet your like maybe if you did, but ive had enough of what if... You caffine covered RAT! If thats what you even claim to be! Who knows!
Its been nearly two years, schlatt. (Thats right amongst all of the capitalization I [capitalized!] Chose to lower case your name and will from here on out!) Anytime I listen to you. WHICH I USUALLY DONT MIND DOING! However, thats starting to change! Ya wana know why?
Its not because all of the god damn dogs you've made too scared to serve MY country. I could make LIST schlatt. A list... numbering the things you find more important than me!
Its because almost two entire years have passed... and my fiance is still waiting for her sampler that she NEVER RECIEVED!
You know what i do most often schlatt.(god why can't I make your name smaller)

 I WORK SCHLATT 

With my regretful hands! I wake up, shower, and in that shower it's not so bad to hear you just act like you don't give a shit. But on the other side of that wall when I walk out is my fiance.
Do you know that all that good ass work juice you pump my heart leaks out all over my shitty wood floor right when she point it out.
She says,"Is that schlatt, I can't believe he did that to me!?" Anytime she hears your voice. She use to like you shlatt... Shes hot as shit covered in tattoos, beautiful smile... and you took her last 5 USD, the type of currency that we use here in America, and she invested in you schlatt. She wanted those samplers.
I hear about this roughly every other day since. She won't let it go. Why would you take her money. Why make her do this instead of talking to support? Why won't you, without being aware, reach out to ME personally and fix my little shower problem.
Do you know what it's like to come home after standing on a ladder all day just to have someone you consider to be a hero, a friend, a brother just repeatedly stomp on your loved ones bank account!? Not even sprinkle any dust in there?
I hate to say it but if you don't do something soon I may loose it all. We were willing, where were you when she needed you schlatt. Why do I have to hear this every time I try to listen to you. I'm trying to help you! I'm not even asking for a refund, I just need your advice... she doesn't see you the way she did schlatt... and I'm afraid she will never recover.
I will not be gratified by your response. I can continue to imagine you as some sort of dog stomping ghost if i need to. You have a responsiblity here. She WAS your fan. Can you help a helpess homie out with a solution here or what.
BECAUSE IF YOU CAN NOT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SEE IF TUCKER OR TED HAVE ANY DUST FOR SALE!
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT US TO DRINK. I see no other option. Bring her back, don't put Teds fucking dust in my mouth BRO! Just do something. Please! Before it's all over. I have four step children that are going to be drinking the dust off of these guys dude. Its just not right what you have done to me. Sometimes you can try your best and all you have is smog flavored dust. However, Tucker's has a rather robust high note. So idk may just have to drink his dust i guess... until i jump off a bridge into normal water. With no tits... no juice... no hope.
No hope guys! No hope and no dust!
I don't want to hear it again!

Hello everyone!
I’ve been living in Newcastle for 11 years now. I was recently spending time with family down south and caused some confusion with my choice of words. The conversation went like this:
Mum: We’d really like to eat dinner soon, but your brother isn’t responding to messages.
Me: Would you like me to go and knock on and see if he’s eating with us?
Mum: baffled
So my question to native Northeasterners is: is ‘knock on’ a widely understood phrase in this context? If not, I have no idea where I’ve picked it up from!!
It might be worth saying I work in Durham.
Any help would be much appreciated!

Want to get my first tattoo, something tiny and cute.( Just Not on collarbone). Suggest ideas and tattoo artists if you know some?

Start conversations with those in your Hobby group for new ideas, look at content on YouTube for solutions to problems or new ideas to refresh your Hobby. Don't let that passion for your once loved Hobby burn out there's a mountain of resources out there to help you find something to ignite the fire all over again (too many phrases? sorry trying to human).

Hi everyone! Just joined this subreddit and eager to connect with like-minded individuals. In these unusual times, making new friends sounds like a great idea! A bit about me: I'm from Cali and passionate about music, tattoos, basketball, true crime shows, movies, and gaming. You'll likely find me shooting hoops on the basketball court or indulging in the thrill of true crime documentaries while cozied up under a blanket. Also, a huge animal lover—tell me about your pets if you have any! Currently pursuing my dream of becoming a teacher. I embrace individuals hailing from every corner and corner of the globe. If you're curious to learn more, feel free to hit me up! Can't wait to chat with you.

The Nobilis jump is huge and heavily detailed, with lots of lore and evocative phrasing; it really gets you in the mindset of working with Wonders. The Silmarillion jump is much the same, with lore details on Sanwe-Latya and other lesser-known Tolkien-isms.
There are other jumps that are evocative in different ways - jumps like Overlord (light novel/anime) that takes fan creations and speculated details into account to create a massive jump doc, and the Worm gauntlet has a weird point system, but a vast number of options for set-up that gives you an idea of what the world is like if you haven’t read Worm.
What’s your favorite, and why? Which jumps have pulled you into the lore of the series that they’re dropping you in, or helped you feel that the powers and items in them were something Special, instead of a check mark to tick (immune to disease, kills gods, one-up, etc)?

TW: Cheating
I [28M] am currently spiraling. I just came from a long-term relationship (4 years) due to several issues starting with her cheating on me with a workmate. I tried to forgive her with the stipulation that we will put in the work to fix the relationship. I called it off last January after four months of trying (and several other unrelated problems) because I really felt no effort coming from her and I felt burdened to carry the responsibility of it alone.
Today, during one of my daily meetings at work, a co-worker mentioned the phrase "bakit kung kailan" with an inquiry relating to an ongoing project. It suddenly took me back to November (a few months after the cheating incident) when I told her that she's losing me because of the lack of effort from her side. She answered me with "Paano nangyari na kung kailan ako nagsabing I'll stay with you, tsaka ka nahirapan?" The circumstances of this sentence is also a long-story and is not the point of this mini-rant.
The point is why, even after four months of broken up, almost two months of no regular communication, am I still hung up on her? Why is it so easy and random to trigger me? Why do her words stick with me, like a fly on a honeytrap? I'm trying my best to move on and there are days when I can convince myself that I'm better than yesterday. How come that a simple string of words is enough to bring me back where I was four, five months ago?
Fuck cheaters. Fuck you. I want to spend my life happy. Pero ang hirap because every cell of mine still clings to the idea of you. Every memory, every word, every waking hour reminds me of you. Fuck you. Fuck you for hurting me, despite all my effort to love you. and fuck you for hurting me still kahit wala ka na sa buhay ko.

Hey friends. Sort of a strange request. I’ve wanted to try writing a song for a while based off an idea: what if there were a love song that uses these words with negative connotations to create this contrary undertone with the words?
The idea came when I wrote down the word “cloy” which means to overwhelm or sicken with an excess of sweetness or sentiment. So for example, instead of being swarmed with affection, it is now cloyed with affection, which means the same thing literally- but now “cloy” brings a different lens to it.
So, folks, what words or phrases come to mind?

Howdy folks!
So, my idea for this roleplay is that we will both be playing the part of directors, creating a brand new show for HBO. This will include casting, all creative decisions, and of course creating the show itself.
We can create the show, roleplaying how each episode pans out and what happens to our cast of characters, but we can also see what happens behind the scenes! Drama, dealing with agents, etc?
Of course, this will be a lot of people to cover, so you’ll need to be prepared to play a wide cast of characters, both male and female, and be willing to create detailed, literate responses.
I have a list of celebs I can provide upon request, which we can use as casting options! I’ll also provide my discord if we seem to mesh well!
If interested, please send me THREE celebs you’d like to include, the pass phrase “Hi, Hey, and Howdy!”, and a few ideas for what our show could be about!
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you soon, director.

The really long sentences are mine and the separated ones is chatgpt. PLease comment what you think.
But all this peace and tranguility was about to change, with the arrival of the UES Safe Travels. The ship was tasked by the government to retake the lost cargo of the Contact Light, unaware of the horrors of petrichor 5. Making landing zones at spots with the most cargo, they were immediately attacked by the wildlife. The denizens of the planet were infuriated at the death of Providence, and knew that it was the humans fault. They attacked all of the camps, outnumbering the humans by the hundreds they easily won against some of them but some camps stood the test. Our focus must now deviate from the main group of humans, to a specific one, a mechanic named Tohm.
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In the chaos that ensued after the arrival of the UES Safe Travels, the once-peaceful Petrichor 5 transformed into a battleground. The denizens of the planet, enraged by the perceived affront to Providence and the disruption of their sanctuary, launched attacks on the human camps established for the retrieval of the lost cargo.
As the wildlife descended upon the landing zones, the humans found themselves outnumbered and ill-prepared for the ferocity of the planet's defenders. The initial skirmishes were swift, with some camps easily overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and hostility of the native creatures. However, a few resilient camps managed to stand their ground against the onslaught.
Amidst the chaos, our focus turns to a specific individual—Tohm, a mechanic among the crew of the UES Safe Travels. As the attacks unfolded, Tohm, with his mechanical expertise, found himself playing a crucial role in the defense efforts. With makeshift barricades and jury-rigged defenses, he worked tirelessly to fortify the camp against the relentless assaults.
Tohm's hands, accustomed to the intricacies of machinery, now wielded tools and devices crafted for survival. The screams of the wildlife and the clashes of combat echoed around him as he repaired damaged structures and repurposed salvaged technology to fend off the planet's vengeful defenders.
The mechanic's determination and resourcefulness caught the attention of his fellow survivors. Tohm emerged as a beacon of hope amidst the chaos, a symbol of resilience in the face of an unforeseen and hostile environment. His skills not only kept the camp standing but also inspired those around him to fight against the fury of Petrichor 5.
As the battle raged on, Tohm's mechanical ingenuity became a vital asset in the struggle for survival. The fate of the UES Safe Travels crew hung in the balance, and in the heart of the battleground, the mechanic stood as a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who dared to venture into the unknown depths of the cosmos.
After the attrition had stopped all the survivors returned to their duties and it was Tohm's turn on watch duty. While he sat in the little foldable chair he brought, he noticed a strange crab like creature wandering the plains. It crawled around looking at the ground and every decent size rock, inspecting it. When it noticed Tohm he jumped and readied his gun but thats what he thought he did, instead he just stood there perplexed. Then, he heard words, no memories, surface in his brain then go silent like they were vanishing.
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Tohm, weary from the recent battles, took his turn on watch duty as the survivors regrouped and resumed their duties. Seated in a small, foldable chair he had brought, he scanned the plains around the camp, vigilant for any signs of the native creatures that had attacked earlier.
In the quiet moments of his watch, Tohm's attention was drawn to a peculiar crab-like creature. It wandered the plains with a purpose, inspecting the ground and examining rocks. When the creature noticed Tohm, he instinctively reached for his gun, only to find himself frozen in a state of perplexity.
As Tohm stood there, trying to make sense of the situation, he heard words—fragmented memories that surfaced in his brain. The words were fleeting, like whispers on the edge of his consciousness, slipping away before he could grasp their meaning. It was as if the very fabric of his thoughts was unraveling, replaced by a sense of disorientation.
The crab-like creature, seemingly unfazed by Tohm's presence, continued its inspection of the surroundings. Tohm, still grappling with the strange mental phenomenon, watched as the creature moved with a deliberate and almost methodical intent.
In a moment of cautious curiosity, Tohm approached the creature. As he drew closer, the whispers in his mind grew louder, fragments of memories teasing the edges of his understanding. The crab-like creature, aware of Tohm's presence, turned its attention toward him, its gaze locking onto his eyes.
Then, unexpectedly, the creature emitted a series of rhythmic clicks and whirrs. Tohm felt a peculiar resonance with the sounds, as if they were unlocking something within him. The memories that had eluded him began to coalesce, revealing fragments of a forgotten past, a history intertwined with the mysteries of Petrichor 5.
Tohm, standing on the plains under the alien sky, found himself at the crossroads of memory and discovery. The crab-like creature, an enigmatic guide in this cosmic puzzle, continued its inspection, leaving Tohm to grapple with the echoes of his own forgotten narrative in the heart of Providence's sanctuary.
As Tohm walked towards it the creature tensed up and looked at a stone golem approaching it. The golems laser started to line up with the creature, until the creature started to stretch its spine, revealing a black hole that started to grow bigger and bigger until it incased tohm and the golem. Feeling sick he tried to stand put was already standing, actually floating through what looked like space but had a purple light at the end like a tunnel
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In an unexpected turn of events, as Tohm approached the crab-like creature, a stone golem emerged on the scene. The golem's laser aimed directly at the creature, creating a tense atmosphere on the plains. However, the creature responded in a manner that defied understanding.
As the creature stretched its spine, an astonishing revelation unfolded. A black hole began to form, growing larger and larger until it enveloped both Tohm and the stone golem. In an instant, the familiar landscape of Petrichor 5 dissolved, replaced by an otherworldly space that seemed to stretch into infinity.
Tohm, initially disoriented and feeling a wave of nausea, realized that he was not standing but rather floating through this cosmic void. The purple light at the end of the tunnel beckoned, drawing him closer with an ethereal allure.
The space around him felt both vast and intimate, a surreal dreamscape that defied the laws of the known universe. Tohm's senses were overwhelmed by the cosmic beauty that surrounded him, and the echoes of the black hole's creation lingered in the air.
As he floated through this surreal journey, Tohm couldn't shake the feeling that he was traversing the very fabric of existence. The purple light at the end of the tunnel pulsed with an enigmatic energy, inviting him to venture further into the cosmic unknown.
Amidst the kaleidoscope of colors and the absence of gravity, Tohm grappled with the profound realization that he had been transported to a realm beyond the constraints of Petrichor 5. The cosmic journey, initiated by the mysterious actions of the crab-like creature, unfolded like a celestial tapestry, and Tohm found himself suspended in the cosmic dance of design and soul.
But he snapped out of his gaze after he heard a whale cry and shaking stones. Looking behind him he saw a whale that was purple and had multiple white eyes with a pinkish clear underbelly. As he tried to move out of the way the whale moved over him revealing what the shaking sound was coming from. When the whale passed over Tohm he could see inside its belly, he was expecting organs but what he found was the golem that had tried to attack the crab and wisps plus a couple lumerians. As he thought he was in the clear he got hit by the fin of the whale sending him hurling deeper into the abyss. As he traveled through the dark he felt a presence watching him with hungering eyes.
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Tohm's cosmic journey took an unexpected turn as he heard a distant whale cry echoing through the void. The shaking stones around him hinted at the colossal presence approaching. Turning around, he beheld a massive purple whale with multiple white eyes and a pinkish clear underbelly.
The whale's ethereal form moved with a majestic grace, and as it passed over Tohm, he witnessed a surreal scene within its belly. Instead of biological organs, the interior harbored unexpected inhabitants—the stone golem, the wisps, and a couple of lumerians. The creatures seemed unharmed, suspended in a strange symbiosis within the whale's cosmic embrace.
Thinking he was in the clear, Tohm attempted to move out of the way, but the colossal fin of the whale struck him, sending him hurtling deeper into the abyss. As he tumbled through the dark expanse, a disorienting sense of weightlessness surrounded him.
In the cosmic depths, Tohm felt a strange presence watching him with hungering eyes. The void seemed to pulsate with an otherworldly energy, and the sensation of being observed intensified. The eyes, unseen yet keenly felt, bore into his very essence, raising questions about the nature of this cosmic journey.
The journey through the abyss continued, and Tohm found himself propelled further into the unknown. The surreal encounters with the cosmic entities of Petrichor 5 left him with more questions than answers. As he hurtled through the darkness, guided by the purple light in the distance, the mysteries of this cosmic realm unfolded like a cosmic tapestry, revealing layers of existence beyond the comprehension of mortal minds.
As he traveled Tohm started to feel heavy and realized he was going into an island of strange appearance. Crashing into the rock with some force he got up and observed his surroundings. he looked around and was absolutely astonised with what he was seeing it was a stone coil laid down with it ferrying random objects to the left side of the island and beyond. He felt the ground, it was like sea grass it waved the same way and grew about the same height but was pink, the dirt under it was white with black specks. Ignoring the coil he could see upright seaweed but it was a pale white and he saw galaxy looking purple growths under an overhang that he swore he saw his galaxy in these starry purple blobs.
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Tohm, heavy and disoriented, found himself on an island of surreal and otherworldly appearance after crashing into a rock. As he gathered himself and looked around, astonishment washed over him at the bizarre sights that greeted his eyes.
The island featured a massive stone coil, curving and ferrying random objects to the left side and beyond. The coil seemed to be a peculiar force of nature, its purpose shrouded in cosmic mystery. As Tohm observed, he couldn't help but marvel at the intricate dance of the stone coil, its movements defying the conventional laws of the natural world.
Turning his attention away from the coil, Tohm noticed the ground beneath him. It resembled sea grass in its waviness and height, but it had a distinct pink hue. When he touched it, it responded like real sea grass, adding to the surreal nature of the environment. The soil beneath the pink sea grass was a striking contrast—white with black specks, creating a stark and captivating landscape.
Moving further, Tohm discovered upright seaweed, but this seaweed was an otherworldly pale white. The galaxy-looking purple growths beneath an overhang captured his attention, their starry patterns resembling galaxies in the cosmic expanse. Tohm felt a strange connection with these celestial-like blobs, as if they held the echoes of his own galaxy within their mysterious depths.
As he explored the island, each discovery unveiled a new layer of cosmic wonder. The environment, a harmonious blend of familiar and alien elements, spoke to the intricate design that defined Petrichor 5. Tohm, amidst the strangeness, felt a sense of awe and reverence for the cosmic tapestry that unfolded before him—an island that seemed to exist at the intersection of reality and dreams.
He looked more around the island till he saw a little hut that looked like it belonged to something he moved closer, then realizing he had no weapons just clothes. But still further he aproached starting to hear and smell, a fire! Mabye it was his pals, but then he heard a old voice say "I know you are there, please come in.". Astonished by what he just heard Tohm obliged, going into the door way he noticed pieces of art that looked like paintings of the purple whales. Going down the stairs he saw a purple and black shelled creature sitting near a fire, he walked over to the dirt seat across from it.
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Tohm, curious and cautiously intrigued, approached the little hut on the island. The absence of weapons dawned on him, leaving him with only his clothes as he ventured further. As he neared the hut, the scent of a fire reached his senses, and he started to hear the crackling flames within.
The realization that this could be a gathering place for his companions filled him with hope. Yet, as he reached the doorway, a voice, weathered by time, reached his ears, saying, "I know you are there, please come in." Astonished by the unexpected invitation, Tohm obliged, stepping through the doorway.
Inside, he found a space adorned with pieces of art that resembled paintings of the purple whales, mirroring the cosmic wonders he had encountered on his journey. Descending a set of stairs, he discovered a room with a fire, where a purple and black-shelled creature sat, bathed in the warm glow.
Tohm approached, choosing a dirt seat across from the creature. The air was filled with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. The creature looked up, its eyes holding both wisdom and a sense of mystery. The firelight danced across the room, casting shadows on the walls adorned with depictions of the enigmatic purple whales.
As Tohm settled into his seat, he couldn't help but wonder about the nature of this encounter. The old voice that had welcomed him, the paintings on the walls, and the presence of the purple and black-shelled creature all hinted at a deeper connection to the cosmic mysteries of Petrichor 5. Seated across from the creature, Tohm awaited the next chapter of his journey, guided by the inexplicable forces that had brought him to this island sanctuary.
"So whats your story, soldier" said the humanoid armored creature. Tohm, explained his story and what he was doing before ending up here. The creature chuckled, then started to remove its head revealing an aged man with purple markings on his face. He said "Thats cute they sent a team to recover the Contact Light, speaking of whats the number of crew alive now?" "0 living, all MIA." A tear started emerge from the mans eyes. he wiped it with a gloved hand and said "My name is Arthur Creed, captain of the Contact Light" Tohm replied "Tohm mechanics division."
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"So, what's your story, soldier?" inquired the humanoid armored creature, its voice echoing within the confines of the hut. Tohm began recounting his tale, explaining the expedition, the battles on Petrichor 5, and the mysterious journey that led him to this island sanctuary.
The creature chuckled, a sound that resonated with a mix of understanding and amusement. To Tohm's surprise, the creature then started to remove its head, revealing beneath it the visage of an aged man with purple markings on his face. The transformation from armored being to a human caught Tohm off guard.
With a warm smile, the man introduced himself, saying, "That's cute they sent a team to recover the Contact Light. Speaking of, what's the number of crew alive now?" Tohm hesitated for a moment, then replied, "0 living, all MIA." A tear welled up in the man's eyes. He wiped it away with a gloved hand and spoke again, "My name is Arthur Creed, captain of the Contact Light."
Tohm, still processing the revelation, responded with a nod of acknowledgment. "Tohm, mechanics division," he introduced himself. The hut, adorned with paintings of the purple whales and surrounded by the mysteries of Petrichor 5, felt like a meeting place of past and present.
As Tohm and Captain Arthur Creed exchanged glances, a profound connection formed between them. The cosmic dance that had brought them together on this island sanctuary now bound them through shared experiences and the weight of lost comrades.
Seated across from the aged captain, Tohm prepared to delve into the untold chapters of Petrichor 5's mysteries. The journey, which had started with cosmic anomalies and surreal encounters, now extended into the heart of the Contact Light's story—a tale that intertwined with the very fabric of Providence's sanctuary.
"So, captain where are we? It dosen't look like a planet to me." Arthur sighed "We're in the void an expanse that goes infinitely down and never out. A place of horrors that make the interplanetary wars look like a joke." Tohm kept asking questions that the captain would answer with ease. The captain told Tohm that the whales ferry things to the voidling and other places in this abyss. The captain also told Tohm about the void monsters that roam islands, lesser beings serving the higher minds of this realm. Then Tohm asked "I felt something watch me as I floated to the island, do you know what it is?" the captain pausing for the first time in hours looked dead ahead at a painting of an island. "It is The Leviathan a consumer of all that tries to pass through the layers without using the gravity wells.".
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"So, Captain, where are we? It doesn't look like a planet to me," Tohm inquired, his curiosity undeterred by the surreal surroundings. Arthur Creed sighed, the weight of untold stories and cosmic mysteries evident in his expression. "We're in the void, an expanse that goes infinitely down and never out. A place of horrors that make the interplanetary wars look like a joke."
Tohm continued to ask questions, and the captain, with the ease of one who had traversed the cosmic expanse for years, shared his knowledge. He spoke of the whales ferrying things to the Voidling and other places in this abyss. Captain Creed recounted tales of void monsters that roamed the islands, lesser beings serving the higher minds of this realm.
As the conversation unfolded, Tohm couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and trepidation. The cosmic tapestry of the void seemed to extend beyond the limits of comprehension, revealing layers of existence that challenged the very nature of reality.
Then, Tohm brought up a lingering sensation he had experienced during his journey. "I felt something watch me as I floated to the island. Do you know what it is?" The captain, pausing for the first time in hours, looked dead ahead at a painting of an island. "It is The Leviathan, a consumer of all that tries to pass through the layers without using the gravity wells."
Tohm absorbed this revelation, the name "The Leviathan" resonating with a profound sense of danger and power. The layers of the void, the creatures that dwelled within, and the enigmatic nature of this cosmic realm unfolded before him like chapters in a vast, untold epic.
Seated in the hut adorned with paintings, Tohm and Captain Arthur Creed delved deeper into the mysteries of the void, their words echoing in the cosmic silence that enveloped Providence's sanctuary. The island, suspended in the cosmic dance, held the echoes of a tale that transcended the boundaries of space and time—a tale that Tohm was now a part of, bound by the threads of fate that connected the living and the abyss.
As the pair of humans settled to sleep, they heard a otherworldly noise then a clicking and tapping after that a sound of a portal closing. The captain packed all the things in the room in a hurry then woke up Tohm saying "They are here.". Tohm jumped up grabbing what little he had and following the Captain out the door. He sprinted towards the kelp grove after Arthur. After they took cover hiding in the kelp, Tohm noticed that same creature that supposedly got him here, except there were more. Followed by a strange bipedal, black and purple lobster that towered over a creature an already tall creature. Arthur pointed out that when he first got here they sent the lobsters after him. He also knows that they act as some sort of jailer for the minor things that arrive in the void. After some time Arthur whispered "They'll search the whole island, we have to get out of here or we're dead meat, we'll have to take the gravity well.". Tohm replied "Where will that leave us?" "No idea but they've never came with this much force." They agreed that they would make a run for it, jump into the gravity well and see where it takes them. So they ran. Sprinting out of the kelp the void creatures immediately noticed them the lobster like creature firing void orbs at them. They jump and feel a tugging sensation floating them away deeper into darkness.
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As the pair of humans settled down to sleep, the eerie quiet of the void surrounded them. Suddenly, an otherworldly noise filled the air, accompanied by clicking and tapping sounds. A portal closed, signaling the arrival of beings from the cosmic expanse. Captain Arthur Creed, reacting swiftly, packed their belongings in a hurry and woke up Tohm, urgently whispering, "They are here."
Tohm, roused from sleep, grabbed what little he had and followed the captain out of the room. They sprinted towards the kelp grove, seeking cover amidst the alien vegetation. As they hid, Tohm observed the arrival of the creatures, including the one that had supposedly brought him to this place. The eerie atmosphere intensified as strange bipedal, black and purple lobsters joined the group, towering over the other creatures.
Arthur pointed out that the lobsters acted as jailers for the minor entities that arrived in the void. The situation became tense as the creatures began searching the island. Arthur, whispering to Tohm, realized the urgency of their predicament, saying, "They'll search the whole island; we have to get out of here, or we're dead meat. We'll have to take the gravity well."
Tohm, uncertain but trusting the captain's experience, asked, "Where will that leave us?" Arthur admitted, "No idea, but they've never come with this much force." With a silent understanding, they decided to make a run for it, sprinting towards the gravity well in a desperate attempt to escape the impending threat.
As they emerged from the kelp, the void creatures immediately noticed them. The lobster-like creature fired void orbs, and in a desperate sprint, Tohm and Arthur jumped into the gravity well, feeling a tugging sensation that whisked them away deeper into the darkness of the void. The unknown destination awaited, and the two humans plunged into the cosmic currents, leaving the island sanctuary behind, shrouded in the enigma of the void.
As they travelled through the void the pair of survivors looked into the deep expanse wondering what could be at the bottom or the top. "I'm going to sleep through the trip, I suggest you do to." Arthur said. "Noted." Tohm replied. While they were floating Tohm felt uneasy like he was being hunted and his suspicions were confirmed when the void started to move. "As you struggle against the void, you may find that every path you take just brings you deeper, deeper, yet deeper." "Who's there?" "Deeper into curiosity, deeper into hubris, and deeper into creation." The void replied. And then Tohm saw it The Leviathan, a massive creature with eyes that resembled the stars in a night sky and scales as black as it's surroundings. Then it spoke some more "You will never find your way out mortal, nothing ever comes out. I have seen creatures of monumental power go through this void and to think you have chance of making it out. You are a fool." Tohm was in awe at the massive creature it was mythical in size and appearence, and to think this being was sparing his life he couldnt comprehend it.
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As Tohm and Arthur floated through the void, their thoughts filled with uncertainty about their destination, the deep expanse around them seemed to hold secrets that defied comprehension. Arthur, expressing fatigue, decided to sleep through the journey, and Tohm, acknowledging the suggestion, prepared to do the same.
However, a sudden uneasiness gripped Tohm. It was as if the void itself was alive and watching, and his suspicions were confirmed when the void started to move. A mysterious voice echoed through the cosmic currents, speaking of struggle, curiosity, hubris, and creation. Tohm, bewildered, asked, "Who's there?"
The voice responded, "Deeper into curiosity, deeper into hubris, and deeper into creation," leaving Tohm with an eerie sense of foreboding. As the voice continued, an awe-inspiring sight unfolded before him—the Leviathan, a colossal creature with eyes resembling the stars and scales as black as the surrounding void.
"You will never find your way out, mortal. Nothing ever comes out. I have seen creatures of monumental power go through this void, and to think you have a chance of making it out. You are a fool," the Leviathan declared. Tohm, in the presence of this mythical being, was both humbled and astonished. The Leviathan's words resonated with a truth that transcended mortal understanding, and Tohm struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the encounter.
The Leviathan, a creature of immense power, spared Tohm's life, leaving him in a state of profound awe. As they continued their journey through the cosmic currents, the Leviathan's presence lingered, a reminder of the vast mysteries that unfolded in the depths of the void—an expanse where mortal beings grappled with forces beyond their comprehension.
The Leviathan was speaking but wasn't moving it's mouth, it followed the humans observing them repeating phrases and sometimes responding to some of the things Tohm said. "There is one who has escaped a creature silenced by the void but as loud as rolling thunder. It's purpose is vengeance and it will not stop." The Leviathan muttered. Tohm wondered how long this godlike being had lived for and what it had seen while existing in this realm between space and logic.ChatGPT
As Tohm and Arthur continued their journey through the void, the Leviathan, a creature of cosmic magnitude, accompanied them with its haunting words. The Leviathan's presence transcended mere physicality; it spoke without moving its mouth, and its eyes, resembling the stars, followed the humans' every move.
"There is one who has escaped, a creature silenced by the void but as loud as rolling thunder. Its purpose is vengeance, and it will not stop," the Leviathan muttered, its words echoing in the cosmic currents. Tohm pondered the enigmatic message, wondering about the identity of this escaped creature and the tales it carried within the timeless expanse of the void.
The Leviathan, a being that seemed to exist beyond the constraints of mortal understanding, continued to observe the humans, responding to Tohm's thoughts and words. As Tohm considered the vastness of the Leviathan's existence, he couldn't help but wonder about the timeless wisdom and the cosmic stories the Leviathan held within its mythical form.
In the realm between space and logic, where the Leviathan reigned as a godlike entity, Tohm found himself immersed in a journey that transcended the boundaries of mortal comprehension. The Leviathan, a silent witness to the eons that passed in the void, guided them through the cosmic currents, leaving Tohm to ponder the mysteries that unfolded in the company of this enigmatic and ancient being.
After what seemed like an eternity they had spotted a quite large island with a large twisting structure in the middle. The Leviathan had delved back into the infinite depths of the void leaving Tohm in utter silence. As they got closer Tohm woke up the Captain and they observed this new island, it was strange it had this wierd ramp to an oval frame and a gravity well like system snaking around the island. This island was much larger than the previous one it had rock spires, a larger void kelp forest, plus a middle island that had a strange form.
ChatGPT
As the journey through the void stretched on, Tohm and Arthur eventually spotted a sizable island with a large twisting structure at its center. The Leviathan, having retreated into the infinite depths of the void, left them in silence. As they approached the island, Tohm woke up the Captain, and together, they observed the strange features of this newfound land.
The island was peculiar, featuring a weird ramp leading to an oval frame and a gravity well-like system snaking around its perimeter. It dwarfed the previous island in size, showcasing towering rock spires, an expansive void kelp forest, and a central structure with an unfamiliar form.
Tohm and Arthur, having left behind the cosmic currents and the enigmatic company of the Leviathan, now faced a new set of mysteries on this uncharted island. As they drew nearer, the details of the landscape became clearer, inviting them to explore the secrets that awaited within the depths of this cosmic sanctuary. The island, with its peculiar architecture and unique features, beckoned them to uncover the untold tales hidden within its rocky spires and swirling void kelp forest.
When they arrived they swam out of the well and landed on the island, looking around Tohm was eager to find some rations or even better a real meal. Arthur walked to the central island using a stone bridge covered in pink moss like it was ancient, he then walked up the ramp to the crumbling oval frame and pondered what it could be for. Tohm was still looking for food when he found a large stone plate that had a purple liquid in it, Tohm being to hungry to care what it is cupped some up in his hand and drank it. It was nourishing but tasted like seafood, that made alot of sense in his mind.ChatGPT
As Tohm and Arthur arrived on the new island, their immediate priorities diverged. Tohm, driven by the urgency of hunger, began searching for rations or any semblance of a real meal. Meanwhile, Arthur walked toward the central island, using a stone bridge covered in pink moss that seemed to carry the weight of ages. He ascended the ramp leading to a crumbling oval frame, his thoughts consumed by the mysteries it held.
Tohm's quest for sustenance led him to a surprising discovery—a large stone plate containing a purple liquid. Driven by hunger and a willingness to take risks, Tohm cupped some of the liquid in his hand and drank it. The taste was unmistakably seafood, fitting for the alien environment they found themselves in.
Arthur, lost in thought by the oval frame, speculated on its purpose. The island, with its ancient structures and intriguing features, seemed to hold a myriad of untold tales. As Tohm sated his immediate hunger, the exploration of the island's mysteries awaited, inviting the two survivors to uncover the secrets that lingered within its enigmatic landscapes. The convergence of their individual journeys on this cosmic sanctuary hinted at a narrative yet to unfold—a tale woven from the threads of the void and the echoes of ancient mysteries.
As time went on the pair began to settle down, and wander the island mapping it out and using the not so natural utilities to their best known extent. They found carvings that told a story of an innocent trapped in the void, held against it's will it became spiteful and seeked an unstoppable vengeance. It was accidently let out by a stranger who wandered into and then out of this strange land helped by bobbles and trinkets. "Strange story, wonder who carved it?" Tohm remarked. "Whoever it was it was recent and awfully detailed." the Captain replied. They wandered to the front of the island and came into view of the hole in the sky that the whales went back and forth into. They sat down talked and Tohm took thought about the Leviathans words, they might be true he thought but this isnt so bad. And they watched the void the starry space like it was once in a lullaby.
ChatGPT
As time passed, Tohm and Captain Arthur Creed settled into a routine on the mysterious island, mapping its features and utilizing the not-so-natural utilities to their best extent. They discovered carvings that told a captivating story—an innocent entity trapped in the void, driven to vengeance after being held against its will. The tale unfolded with the accidental release of this being by a stranger who wandered into and then out of the strange land, aided by bobbles and trinkets.
"Strange story. Wonder who carved it?" Tohm remarked, examining the intricate details etched into the rock. Captain Arthur Creed pondered the same, noting, "Whoever it was, it was recent and awfully detailed."
As they explored further, they reached the front of the island and beheld the hole in the sky where the whales went back and forth. Sitting down, they engaged in conversation, and Tohm reflected on the Leviathan's words. Despite the potential dangers that lay ahead, the tranquility of the island offered a respite, a moment to appreciate the starry expanse of the void.
Tohm, Captain Arthur, and the island itself became intertwined in a cosmic dance—one that unfolded with each passing moment, revealing the mysteries of the void and the echoes of ancient tales. As they watched the void, the starry space seemed to lull them into a contemplative state, inviting them to ponder the enigma of their existence within the timeless expanse of Petrichor 5.

_ _ _ _ _
Impact and introduction
_ _ _ _ _
His first thoughts about his little predicament were that it was nothing like the anime he’d watched.
Finding yourself suddenly free falling from hundreds of thousands of feet in the sky was significantly more terrifying than it had seemed while cozied up in his bed, wrapped up in three-plus blankets and contently slurping his microwave ramen.
That said, he felt justified in screaming like a little girl. “Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!” What was happening? Where was he? He had just stepped out of his house for a ramen run at the nearest gas station, and now this was happening. Great, just great, now he wasn’t going to be able to watch anymore anime- he stopped suddenly. “Oh, of course,” he muttered to himself, “That’s what’s going on here.” He was suddenly as stoic as a knight in shining armor as he plummeted through the sky, and he pushed the slightly problematic matter of falling out of his mind and focused on what would be important: His story. First: his name was Caen Eloso. He came from a strange other world with wondrous technology that left nothing to the imagination. Caen was what was in his third year at his school, Hansen Academy High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where teenagers his age were taught arithmetic, science and language punctuation before they went off into the world on their own. Colorado was one of fifty individually operating states in his home country called America, which was home to more than three hundred million people and overseen by a President.. America was located on one of 7 continents in his world, called Earth. There were a great many other countries besides America, of which he knew varying amounts about their cultures that he could give little tidbits of information about, but he figured he knew the most about Japan. Japan was basically heaven. The Japanese people were responsible for creating the best possible thing that his world had to offer, a wondrous thing called anime. He had dedicated his life to exploring every nook and cranny that was connected to the world of anime, and there was nothing that brought him more happiness than binging.
However, he figured he oughta remember some cooler stuff about Earth (he couldn’t really expect many people to weeb out with his stories without watching anime in person) if he ever found himself in a tight spot and needed to, say, entertain a dragon or something. Because…
He was ninety-nine percent sure that he had just been isekai’d.

That’s why, while plummeting to what seemed to be his inevitable doom, he kept a level head. Ignoring the previous screaming-like-a-five-year-old fit. Because, of course, anyone that was summoned to another world via falling from the sky always survived; it was kind of a given, otherwise the story wouldn’t get anywhere, duh. Whether it be due to some miraculous vitality, impossible superpowers, a one-time “safe-landing” provided by the dude that summoned them, or (and what he personally was hoping for) a rescue from some either super-shy or super-pissy elf hottie in possession of a huge rack… of swords, you pervert, that dressed in some skimpy armor (that really would do nothing to protect the vital organs, from a defensive standpoint) and who would kick off the protagonist’s harem.
When he actually gave it thought, he realized he wasn’t really all that interested in a harem, and kinda found the thought of one IRL gross. Like, did he even have to explain? But he knew that if he’d said that in an online chat with one of his internet buddies, they would definitely try to overrun his laptop with viruses. In what was now his previous life, he had had little to no experience with talking to girls, let alone “getting some action”. He really hadn’t seen the point, considering how difficult 3D girls were to handle. That said, he never really got into the hardcore otaku-type 2D obsession stuff, like buying lewd figurines and pasting posters all over your room and buying body pillows of your favorite waifu. He was just a hardcore watcher, and that kind of made-up for his lack of other tendencies. He would frequently spend 12+ hours a day shacked up in his room in 6 hour sessions of binging anime at 1.5 times speed; (he wanted to get in as much watching as possible) and that was only on weekdays. Yeah. With school. (Needless to say his grades weren’t exactly top notch) But weekends were another story, with him usually staying up till four in the morning on Friday night and then sleeping until twelve, when he would wake up and choose whether or not to eat before watching until he was told to get off, and then stuffing his fat face in the kitchen to his heart’s content. The point was, he had originally decided he didn’t want to “waste time” on a girlfriend. (Not that he was exactly confident he would be on anyone's radar if he were to try)
Anyways, more and more, (before he found himself falling from the sky of his new world) Caen had found himself feeling lonelier and more depressed as time went by, and so, he decided that in his new life he was going to quit his otaku and introvert tendencies and find the love of his life in what was to be his new world. Quite the goal.
With his mind made up, (this was some relatively quick thinking given the situation; he’d been falling for about four and a half minutes before coming upon this decision and entirely giving up on his old world and everything he had loved in it) (Besides his love of anime) he realized something… interesting. He hadn’t noticed it due to being lost in thought and not being capable of feeling it (probably his magical protection or something that came with being summoned), but he was currently a ball of flame. If he had been wearing clothes earlier during his fall, and he hadn’t actually bothered to check because of his little fit, they were long since burnt to a crisp. Even though he was certain he had a grasp on the situation, he couldn’t stop himself from freaking out just a little bit, especially as he felt himself growing closer and closer to the ground. ‘Alright, you can rescue me now,’ he muttered to himself, though his words were lost to the wind. His eyes widened. He realized he was too fast, far too fast. This entry was apparently going to be very flashy, which he wasn’t against, but… He could hardly gauge distance before he had halved it. Twenty thousand feet, ten thousand feet, five thousand, he broke through low hanging cloud cover, two thousand.. He shut his eyes as tight as he could and pulled his limbs in tight while covering his ears to brace himself and-
Boom.
_ _ _ _ _
Learning to walk and not-squirrels
_ _ _ _ _
The sound of impact deafens him. He instantaneously loses awareness of anything else besides the sound, but somehow remains conscious, unaware of if he had completely shattered into a million billion pieces or not. For time out of mind he couldn’t move any part of himself. His ears ring and his head throbbed something awful. He could not conceive what would make him capable of surviving a fall like that. Then, slowly, ever so slowly, he opened an eye to gauge his surroundings…
He was in a crater. Caen had expected as much, but his jaw literally dropped in surprise, something he thought no one actually did. It was at least eight hundred feet from edge-to-edge and four hundred feet deep, the ground smoldering, red-hot and smoky, but surprisingly only warm where he lay (thank you, summoners). He must’ve stayed stagnant longer than he thought for it to have cooled enough to touch. He slowly pushed himself into a seated position, sitting on his right leg and letting his left arm rest on his left leg, which he had bent at the knee. He once again surveyed his crater by twisting his head around.
Quite the entrance. “I guess this fits into the one-time no fall damage category…” he muttered to himself, running his hand through his hair, making note that it was surprisingly silky. “Cause there’s no way this is a vitality thing, right? Way too overpowered.” For a minute he sat like that, until he realized that something was tugging on the back of his mind. At first he ignored it like he would a buzzing insect, but it kept poking at his subconscious. And then he was hit with it with as much force as when his sister sent him to Jupiter for accidentally breaking her new phone; that wasn’t his voice. ‘Huh?’ Neither was that. His eyes darted to the sides of his vision where it gently rested on the sides of his face. His hair. It was much, much longer than it was in his old world, reaching as far as to hang below his pecs. It was shiny and straight, and didn’t look like it had ever been cut. But that didn’t startle him as much as its color did.
Caen thought back to the fairy tales and stuff of his childhood, and about how they tended to over exaggerate the features of their characters and the objects in them so that the average kid could understand it better, with phrases like “as beautiful as a freshly-picked flower”, “as strong as a bull”, “as bright as the sun itself”, and “as white as snow”. Well, now he wasn’t so assuming that those were mere stories and not just incredible experiences from the writers, because he was witnessing something impossibly… beautiful. Because his hair was white. A stark white, with an almost silvery sheen to it. Like when you wake up the morning after a snowstorm and open your window to see if school is canceled, and the snow blinds you when you look at it because it's reflecting the morning sun. Beautiful. He quite literally couldn’t think of another word for it. Slowly, he reached up to touch it again, once again feeling the impossibly smooth sensation. It glided over his fingers like water. And then he saw the fingers of his hand. Long and slender, perfect and unblemished. He was dumbfounded. ‘Are these really… mine?’ he asked quietly with his new voice. ‘A new body was always possible, I suppose, but I thought if that were to happen I would first have to be reincarnated and grow up with it myself. Did this body… come into existence just for me when I got here? I would hate it if I kicked out someone's soul so mine could stay here or whatever.’ He stood shakily. He was tall. Taller than in his other life, where he’d stood at around five-ten, Caen figured he was now around six-two. And, what he found almost as shocking as his hair, was that he was fit. Or perhaps thin would be a better word, something he had never been before. His stomach felt strange to him as it no longer bulged, and when on a whim he attempted the stretches he wasn’t close to being capable of before, he did so with ease. He could reach his feet when he sat and stretched out his legs, and he could even easily touch his toes. He was in the middle of attempting to put his foot behind his head when he realized he should probably get a move on and get out of there. He guessed that he most likely looked like a meteor for any settlement within a few hundred miles of his crash site. He quickly tapped his foot on a particularly smoldery-looking piece of earth to test if he could withstand the heat like before. He once again found it to be only pleasantly warm. With that reassurance in mind, he decided to get himself out of the crater. That was, before he realized he’d need to learn to walk again. He fell hard and broke his fall with his arms. His muscles felt unused and unfamiliar, though the movement of his arms came more naturally than the rest. At first, his legs were very wobbly and his knees shook and moved sharply if he strained them too much or too little, causing them to buckle and him to fall and roll back down to the center of the crater when he tried to walk out. It didn’t help that it was a pretty consistently steep climb to the edge. He must have been at it for at least an hour. But the distance was good practice for him, and with a lot of rolling in the scorched earth he finally managed to get himself to the edge. The adjustment period wasn’t that awful, considering, and he felt he should be kind of proud for learning so quickly. (At least that's how he thought of it) He stood up on the rim of the crater to see exactly where he was. A pretty considerable distance away he could see trees ringing the crater site, and he decided that he had landed in a forest. The further away from the edge the less burnt and bent the trees were, from the shockwave that came with the force of the impact, he decided. He sat down, leaned back and let his feet rest on the decline of the crater. It was incredible. It felt like he’d just woken up after twelve hours of sleep, and his mind was buzzing with activity like he hadn’t experienced before. Everything was so fresh. He didn’t feel tired or winded at all, and he saw everything in vivid detail, even though all there was to see was the smoldering earth and the forest in the distance. He even tried breathing in deep with his nose, but all he got was burnt dirt and he started coughing from the smokiness of it. Despite this, he smiled. He hadn’t felt like this in ages, a thought he had believed was reserved for seventy-year-olds after getting their backs adjusted by a chiropractor. He jumped up, deciding that the first thing he should do would be to find a settlement of some sort, or at least a stream so that he could drink some water. He wasn’t particularly thirsty, but the thought of a cool liquid down his throat made him shiver. He also wanted to eat something, and decided to keep an eye out for nuts or berries in the forest that looked innocent enough. And so he started his trek. Soon he was walking on long, springy grass and gazing at all kinds of fauna that was surprisingly familiar. He couldn’t really see a difference in the trees or bushes at first, but when he plucked a leaf from the low hanging branch of a tree that looked like the one in his backyard, he saw that the pattern of the veins was definitely different, if not by much. He could at least tell that, since he had played under that tree when he was little. He also saw a lot of strange forest critters, and his heightened senses picked up on their presences like a radar. Soon there were dozens of them watching him from the trees, giving him a wide berth but for some reason following, so he still caught a few glances. Most had bushy tails and large ears with short whiskers on their little snouts, and tiny little heads that looked like those of baby foxes. The overwhelming majority were a sandy brown, but a few times he also saw one that looked blue and one that looked red, and even one that was pink, but these were always directly in the shadows of the trees and bushes and would dart away as soon as he tried for a closer look. A different species that looked like a miniature boar no larger than a bowling ball, complete with tusks, a stubby tail and hooves, trotted directly trotted directly through his path with its head held high in what looked like a show of contempt before disappearing into a bush. It was totally adorable and he regretted not trying to pick it up before it had disappeared. He winced internally as he thought of how many of these balls of fluff were incinerated in his landing. Slowly, as he trekked on, the creatures became more and more daring, darting past him and soon getting in his full view shamelessly, but they didn’t seem to have any ill intent, so he really didn’t mind. At least, they didn’t look predatory. (though he inwardly didn’t trust that idea from his knowledge of anime) Suddenly, one that was much larger than the others, probably the pack leader, scurried directly in front of him and stood on its short hind legs, its arms drawn together. It was similar to the way squirrels “stood”. Caen paused mid-step. It had some sort of presence, and its pose seemed to indicate that it wanted him to sit down so they could have a conversation. Unlike the other not-squirrels, (as he decided to temporarily call them) this one’s coat looked much fluffier and was a rich, chocolate brown, and its ears had white tufts at the ends. Its tail twitched and he also noticed that towards the tip of it the hair was also white. It gave off some sort of aura. Caen crouched. ‘Hey there, little guy. What can I do for you?’ He asked in the same voice he would use for a cute dog or other friendly animal. It tilted its head and he had to stop himself from launching at it in a surprise hug attack. It stared at him for a little longer. Then, out of nowhere, it beckoned to him with a little arm, turned, and started running off. For a second, Caen stayed crouched, dumbfounded at what he’d just witnessed, until dozens of the hiding squirrels started running in the same direction as the big one. He shook it off and decided this was supposed to be his first big event in his story, and so he started sprinting after it, because these little guys were speedy. He ran for more than ten minutes, almost losing track of the pack until he caught glimpses of a bushy tail or fluffy ears that kept him on their trail. Since his endurance was off the charts now, he actually enjoyed the chase, and took the opportunity to breathe in the rich forest aroma as he ran. Soon, he broke out into a small clearing, where he saw the leader “standing” beside the mouth of a cave. The once again shy not-squirrels all hid in the trees and bushes that surrounded the clearing, and all he could see were their cute little button eyes glimmering in the leaves. There must have been hundreds of them. He hesitatingly walked over to the giant not-squirrel (because that was what it was in comparison) and crouched down again. ‘Do you want me to go inside there?’ He asked, pointing at the cave, and turning his gaze to the eyes of the creature. It stared at him uncomprehendingly, its black eyes giving no indication of some great intelligence that secretly lurked. He sighed. ‘Might as well,’ he muttered, walking over the cave entrance. It was as dark as one would imagine, but there appeared to be a faint candle light of sorts dancing on the walls around a bend about a hundred feet in. It also smelled heavily like some sort of crushed herb he was unfamiliar with. It almost overshadowed the rancid smell of rotting flesh. He narrowed his eyes at the giant not-squirrel and the rest of the pack hiding in the bushes before walking in. There was definitely something alive in here, and from the smell, it or they were dying.
_ _ _ _ _
Elf hotties and magic
_ _ _ _ _
The further into the cave he went, the more overwhelming the stench of death became. Caen gave himself a second to regain his composure, then covered his nose as he turned the bend. His eyes widened in shock. A pretty girl with silver hair and sharply tipped ears lay upon a bed of leaves, naked save several fern leaves that provided her the barest of modesty. Her form was softly illuminated by several low burning candles that framed her. A singular giant fern rested on her stomach, covering where James guessed the mortal wound was inflicted. Her eyes were closed and she breathed shallowly, and sweat was beaded all over her body. The different colored not-squirrels he had seen earlier were all gathered there, watching her intently, but quickly turned their heads as they heard his bare feet shuffling on the stone floor. All three of them were there, the red, blue, and pink furred not-squirrels, as well as a green one that he hadn’t seen before. They stared at him for several seconds before all but the green not-squirrels scurried behind him. The green one leaned its head down and seemed to whisper something in the ear of the elf. Caen’s world slowed. Her eyes crept open, a rich, deep purple that seemed to shimmer with silver dust like stars. She ever so slightly turned her head to look at the not-squirrel questioningly, and then her gaze drifted to Caen. As their eyes met, he felt a shiver and a volt of electricity passed invisibly between them through their gaze. Her eyes widened with what looked like disbelief, and she smiled at him ever so softly. Caen felt entranced. There was something special about this girl, something so very special, and he felt a stirring in his chest that made his stomach twinge, but not unpleasantly. She beckoned to him with a finger and he slowly approached her and knelt. Those few steps, with her eyes fixated on his, and his on hers, felt like eternity, and he couldn’t break the gaze if he wanted. ‘Greetings, White One.’ She said softly, still not breaking eye contact. Her voice sounded as though it were made to sing. ‘I apologize… I… was meant to be there to greet you upon your arrival. The best I could manage was providing you a safe entrance from the heavens.’ She said sadly, and a tear welled up in the corner of her eye. He hesitatingly reached out a hand and cupped her face, gently wiping away the tear with his thumb. She shouldn’t cry. He knew that, somehow, that it was wrong, that she shouldn’t ever have to experience sadness like that. She breathed in sharply at his touch, and then her gaze softened. ‘Who… are you?’ He asked quietly. She smiled sadly and tears flowed freely on the back of his hand. ‘Unfortunately, I don’t have the leisure to cry with you. I am glad that my friends were able to escort you here and provide you with safe company, for the forest is a very dangerous place, but… more than that, I am glad that I was able to see you… at… least once…’
Her eyes drifted closed. He quickly grabbed her arm and was hugely relieved to find a pulse, ever so faint.
She is so close to death, White One.
She has been holding out so that she could meet you, White One.
She has been waiting so very long for you, White One.
She spent what little mana she had left providing you safe entry into our world, White one.
These sweet-sounding voices echoed in his mind, though all of melancholy tone. He slowly stood and turned to face the not-squirrels.
Please save our Silver Lady, White One.
This voice was deep and strained with pain and suffering. In front of him stood the pack leader. He sat just in front of the other four not-squirrels, all mimicking his position. All Caen could do was nod, even though he was dazed and had no idea how he would be able to help her at all. ‘Show me the wound.’ he declared in a voice that sounded much more confident than he felt.
The four different colored not-squirrels glanced at the leader, and, the words still echoing inside of Caen’s mind like before, he said, ‘Do as the White One proclaims.’ They unhesitatingly scurried to their “Silver Lady” and carefully removed the large fern. Caen did not react how he thought he would. He saw it and his body shook, but not with disgust, or surprise, or horror, but with rage. He clenched his fists and the muscles in his arms grew taut as his fingernails dug into his palms. Her stomach had been ferociously torn open, revealing a sight that was best kept undescribed. His voice shook with power as he spat, “Who… Who did this… to her?”
His head snapped to the not-squirrel leader, his wild, hateful eyes boring into the creature. “We do not know, White One,

Alright I'm being a little bit dramatice but also I do feel like I'm in a bit of a crisis with reading.
For a little background: I've been a fantasy guy most of my life, read all the classics (LOTR, Chronicles of Narnia, Cujo, etc) and most of the popular series (Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Throne of Glass, Eragon, etc) as a kid. Then in my early to mid teenage years I read some dark fantasy too, notably ASOIAF andThe Witcher Books. Anyways everything changed last year when, during my senior year of high school, I figured I'd take an American Lit class to fill one of the last credits I needed and it kinda changed everything. I'd been getting into more serious books already but it turned into an obsession with the history of my country's literature and since then I've been digging into American literature and poetry. I've been reading Frederick Douglass, Dickinson, McMurtry, McCarthy, Alice Walker, Hemingway, Faulkner, Walt Whitman, Melville, Twain, Thoreau, Emerson, John Williams, W.E.B Du Bois, and a few more. In addition to this I've become slightly addicted to philosophy. Some Kierkegaard, Aristotle, and some occasional Nietzsche does the body good.
Now I've been enjoying this but I've recently began to feel like everything I'm reading is interesting but doesn't resonate because I'm too busy trying to interpret rather than feel. Rather than the kind of vicarious living I used to get high on as a younger reader, these days my highs with reading come from unexpectedly breathtaking turns of phrase, intricate prose, and shocking or intruiguing philosophical ideas. I WANT FANTASY AGAIN but I don't know what I'm doing when trying to get back into it. My standards for prose are pretty high, but I can deal with any writing style as long as I'm engaging with good characters. Most of what I've been reading while dipping my toe back into fantasy just isn't scratching that itch. Kinda lost. Don't want ASOIAF doom and gloom. Don't want Percy Jackson levels of whimsy. I just want good entertainment that my habits aren't letting my get to. I just want to know what its like to binge again.
TLDR: Help me I want good fantasy books to read but don't know what I'm doing.
also jeeeeeesus! is it me or is fantasy so oversaturated that its hard to find what you want without your brain turning to mush while looking through the endless fantasy section at every bookstore? The other day it felt like I was sifting through too many books with similar color schemes and titles that all roll of the tongue in the same way somehow???