A Record of Ash & Ruin: The Grieving Lands - Chapter 1Book : : Strands of Fate

The Card Creator is a very ordinary profession. Simply put, the incumbent seals various kinds of abilities, illusions, images and so on in blank cards for convenience of use.

They say opposite attracts, that's a lie. Opposites kill each other!When a hot blood meets another hot blood, things are bound to get burnt.That is exactly what happens when the pompous and prideful elven princess, Neriah of the Avelah Kingdom is forced to marry the brash dragon Prince, Barak of the Trago Kingdom.Neriah's goal is to someday break away from her marriage and run away with the love of her life, Lyle of the Niles. While Barak will do everything to keep her as a wife.Neriah is certain she's in love with another, but she's also certain that no one can ignite the kind of passion her husband brings. Her husband who she hates more than anything.Can the flames of passion be drawn from hate? Can that same passion burn down the walls of lies, betrayal, and hurt? Can its ashes transcend into love?Excerpt“I am a rose, a beautiful flower, delicate and precious! But you my dear sir are nothing but the thorny stem! Prickly, dangerous and very harmful!” ranted Neriah while poking his chest with her index finger.“Well you seem to forget one important detail, my love.” He calmly grabbed her poking hand.“And what would that be, my fine sir?”“That the thorny stem and the rose grow together. The delicate rose and the prickly thorn, they belong together my dear.”“You—”“And no amount of ranting and raging will change that. You think I want to keep a witch like you? You are a pain in the neck. If I am a thorn then you are a piece of fish bone stuck inside my neck. I cannot swallow and I can not spit it out! I just have to bear it!”“You insolent bastard! Do you mean to say I am a burden!”“Well you are no precious prize, are you?”And that was it, she threw herself at him with her claws ready to mar his face, but he was quicker and he caught both her hands with one of his own and pressed her heaving chest upon his. Golden eyes stared deep into hers. They were as green as the fresh leaves on an orange tree.His fingers caressed her face, “You might not be a precious prize, but by the heavens, you are mine.” And his lips fell on hers, and once again, another argument was drowned.

This story is set during the end of the Sui Dynasty, a time where multiple powers struggled for supremacy and power.

Into the fray enters two orphans Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling; these two youths by many chances and luck obtain ‘The Secret to Long Life’ allowing the two to obtain profound martial abilities and a chance to rise to the top in this age of turmoil.

[Fast Wear + Group Pampering + Gentle Female Lead + Crushing Scum]Su Zhiruan had died unexpectedly and was bound to the Childbirth System. Completing tasks would earn her eternal life and inexhaustible wealth.This sounds great!In her last life, she had no children. After binding with the system, she became blessed with many children and was pampered to the heavens by the male lead!All her children were obedient, sensible, and easy to raise, making her a true bringer of fortune![Scenario One]: Five years into the Emperor's reign, the harem had produced no offspring. After a night of passion with Su Zhiruan, the harem became filled with princes and princesses. The Emperor would dote on them even during court sessions, setting aside his imperial deportment to play with the children and personally teach the princes. His gaze towards Su Zhiruan grew increasingly fervent.“My dear, would you like to be my Empress, and together take care of our children, becoming my wife above all others?”[Scenario Two]: The most mysterious gentleman in the Capital City was rumored to be disabled. Approaching middle age without any descendants, his relatives eyed his fortune and wished him dead daily. Su Zhiruan's arrival utterly dispelled their schemes, as she bore this handsome man a brood of children. When she thought to leave, he held onto her, his normally cold and proud eyes filled with pleading. His voice was deep and low.“Wife, please don't leave me and our children. I beg you.”