History Writer
Prologue: The Whispers of the Banyan Tree
The ancient banyan tree, its aerial roots draping like spectral fingers, stood sentinel over the crumbling brick ruins of Trowulan. Wind whispered through its leaves, carrying the echoes of a grander time, a time of golden parasols and clashing krises, a time when Majapahit ruled the archipelago. Dewi Saraswati, a young dhukuh (village healer), knelt at the tree's base, her fingers tracing the worn carvings on a fallen brick. She felt a tremor, not of the earth, but of something deeper, a resonance with the past.
"They say the spirits of the patih still walk here," her grandmother, Mbok Sri, rasped, her voice like dry leaves rustling. "They say the glory of Majapahit is not truly gone, only sleeping."
Dewi scoffed, though a shiver ran down her spine. "Glory is dust, Mbok. The Sultan of Demak holds sway now. Majapahit is a memory."
But the memory, she would soon learn, was far from dormant.
Chapter 1: The Messenger and the Missing Amulet
Raden Arya, a young, ambitious messenger in the service of the Sultan of Demak, arrived in Trowulan with a simple task: deliver a decree to the local bekel (village head). But the air in the old capital was thick with unease. Whispers of stolen artifacts, of strange lights flickering in the ruins, and of a growing unrest among the villagers reached his ears.
His curiosity piqued, Arya found himself drawn to Dewi. She possessed an uncanny knowledge of the ruins and a quiet strength that belied her gentle demeanor. He learned that a sacred amulet, a relic believed to hold a fragment of Majapahit's power, had been stolen from the village temple.
"It is not just a trinket," Dewi explained, her eyes dark with worry. "It is a symbol, a focus. If it falls into the wrong hands..."
Arya, initially dismissive of such superstitions, began to see the fear in the villagers' eyes. He realized that the stolen amulet was more than just a local concern; it was a spark that could ignite a rebellion against Demak's rule.
Chapter 2: The Shadow of Gajah Mada
As Arya and Dewi delved deeper into the mystery, they encountered a shadowy figure, a man known only as "Bayu," who moved with the stealth of a seasoned warrior. He spoke of a hidden society, the "Guardians of the Mandala," who sought to preserve the legacy of Majapahit.
Bayu revealed that the stolen amulet was part of a larger prophecy, a prophecy that spoke of a descendant of the Majapahit kings rising to reclaim the lost glory. He believed the amulet was stolen by those who sought to manipulate the prophecy for their own ends.
Arya, torn between his loyalty to Demak and his growing respect for Dewi and Bayu, found himself questioning everything he knew. He began to see the shadow of Gajah Mada, the legendary patih of Majapahit, looming over the ruins, a reminder of the empire's past power and the potential for its resurgence.
Chapter 3: The Serpent's Coil
Their investigation led them to the court of a local noble, Raden Kusuma, a man known for his ambition and his fascination with the old ways. Kusuma, they discovered, was secretly gathering support among the disgruntled remnants of the Majapahit nobility, promising them a return to power.
He had the amulet, and he was using it to rally the people, twisting the prophecy to serve his own agenda. He was the serpent coiled around the heart of Trowulan, ready to strike.
Chapter 4: The Clash of Krises
Arya, Dewi, and Bayu found themselves caught in a web of intrigue and betrayal. They faced Kusuma's warriors, the whispers of the Guardians of the Mandala, and the growing unrest among the villagers. Arya had to choose: remain loyal to Demak and crush the rebellion, or embrace the spirit of Majapahit and fight for the people.
The climax saw a clash of krises in the heart of the ruins, the ancient stones echoing with the sounds of battle. Dewi, using her knowledge of the ruins and her skills as a healer, played a crucial role, guiding the villagers and tending to the wounded. Bayu, a master of martial arts, fought with the ferocity of a tiger.
Epilogue: The Dawn of a New Era
Kusuma's rebellion was quelled, but the spirit of Majapahit remained. Arya, forever changed by his experiences, returned to Demak, carrying with him a deeper understanding of the archipelago's history and the complexities of power. Dewi remained in Trowulan, a guardian of the ruins, a keeper of the flame.
The banyan tree stood tall, its roots reaching deep into the earth, a silent witness to the ebb and flow of empires. The whispers of the past continued, a reminder that the legacy of Majapahit, like the roots of the banyan, was deeply intertwined with the soul of the land, waiting for the right moment to bloom again. The future of the archipelago was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the shadow of Trowulan would continue to shape its destiny.
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Savannah was an adorable college student. To revenge her ex-boyfriend, Savannah was boldly intended to kiss a "handsome enough" man and take a video to piss her ex off. However, she chose Callan, the most eligible bachelor in the world. Out of Savannah's prediction, she was teased that she had no idea what a real kiss was. Then the man even taught her in person. In a great panic, Savannah ran away. Savannah left a deep impression on Callan. However, he never thought he would meet Savannah so soon, especially, at the... male toilet!
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.