NTR: Choice Based System

Dan Ya stepped into the shimmering formation, and a blinding white light engulfed her. When she emerged, she found herself in the heart of the city, utterly deserted.

An eerie silence hung in the air. The streets, usually teeming with life, were now eerily vacant.

Her heart pounded against her ribs as she raced towards the Escort agency. Her steps were frantic, her milky sacks shaking uncontrollably. Panting heavily, she pushed forward, determined to confront her fear.

As she feared, the escort agency was eerily deserted. No sign of life, no sound, just an oppressive silence. Breathing heavily, she pushed open the office door, calling out, "Barad!" But the office was empty.

Racing towards the living room, she frantically searched for Barad, her voice echoing through the empty space, "Barad! Where are you?" Fear and a chilling loneliness washed over her.

This was her deepest fear realized: the illusion, this puzzle-like formation, had materialized her worst nightmare. The fear of solitude, the terror of losing those she cherished – the illusion had brought it all to life.

Dan Ya stumbled back, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. The silence was deafening, the emptiness absolute.

It wasn't just the absence of people that chilled her to the bone, it was the absence of life itself. The city, once a vibrant tapestry of human activity, now felt like a tomb, a monument to a civilization that had vanished without a trace.

She remembered the bustling markets, the cacophony of sounds – the vendors' calls, the laughter of children, the distant rumble of carts. Now, only an eerie stillness reigned.

The streets, once paved with the hurried footsteps of countless souls, lay deserted, shimmering under the harsh glare of the midday sun. Even the air seemed to hold its breath, heavy and oppressive.

Panic clawed at her throat. Where was everyone? Had some unseen force wiped them all out? A plague? A sudden, catastrophic event? The thought sent shivers down her spine. She clutched her satchel tighter, her knuckles white.

She had to find Barad. He was her anchor, her connection, her love of life. If he was gone… the thought was unbearable.

She pushed open the door to the nearest building, a small shop with a faded sign that read "Silk and Spice." Dust motes danced in the single shaft of sunlight piercing the gloom.

Shelves, once overflowing with colourful fabrics and fragrant spices, were now bare. A single, tarnished silver bell hung motionless from the ceiling, a silent testament to the life that once pulsed through this space.

Disheartened, she stumbled back onto the street. She had to find Barad. She had to find someone, anyone. She ran down the street, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

She scanned the deserted buildings, the empty squares, the silent fountains, but there was no sign of life, no movement, no sound.

"No, this can't be," she whispered, despair creeping into her voice. Hope dwindled, but her determination to find answers refused to surrender.

Driven by this resolve, she raced towards the only other person she knew in this city, a lifeline in this terrifying isolation – her closest friend.

Her clothes felt loose and uncomfortable, her cleavage threatening to spill out, but she ignored the discomfort and raced towards the Ye clan.

Finally, she reached the Ye clan, but the eerie silence that had enveloped the city extended to their doorstep.

No sign of life, no sound, just an oppressive stillness. With a flicker of hope, she raced towards Yu Mei's quarters, calling out, "Yu Mei! Yu Mei!" But there was no answer, only the echoing silence of the empty estate.

Dan Ya stumbled back, despair washing over her. The silence was deafening, the emptiness absolute. Panic clawed at her throat. Had everyone vanished? A plague? A sudden, catastrophic event? Fear choked her.

Desperation fuelled her. She had to find answers, to understand what had happened. She raced towards the centre of the city, towards the tallest spire, hoping for a vantage point, a glimpse of something, anything.

As she climbed the spiralling staircase, her breath catching in her throat, a chilling realization dawned on her. This wasn't just a city deserted. It was a world emptied. A world devoid of life.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Just as she exited the Ye clan, the scenery dissolved around her. One moment she was standing in the eerie silence, the next she was jolted awake by a furious banging on her door.

Still gasping, she lay in her bed, she can hear her fast heart beast, the memory of the desolate city clinging to her like a shroud. "Was it all a dream?" she whispered, fear and confusion swirling within her.

"THUD"

"THUD"

"THUD"

"THUD"

"THUD"

The insistent pounding on the door shattered Dan Ya's trance. Fear gripped her, but she had to answer. "Barad?" she called out, her voice trembling as she swung open the door.

An Escort warrior stood silhouetted in the doorway, his face a mask of exhaustion, his clothes-stained with blood. The sight of him, his weary figure, sent a jolt of dread through Dan Ya.

"Madam," he began, his voice thick with fatigue, "the Leader..." He paused, his voice trailing off, "the Leader is no longer with us." Stay connected via empire

"Thud"

The word hung heavy in the air, a physical blow to Dan Ya. Her body felt paralyzed, her mind struggling to comprehend the news.

"When returning from our escort mission," the guard continued, his voice weak, "our entourage was ambushed.

The Leader... he tried to save us, but..." He couldn't finish the sentence, the weight of grief and loss evident in his eyes.

Dan Ya stumbled back, the weight of the news crushing her. "No," she whispered, the word barely escaping her lips. "No, it can't be true."

The guard, his face etched with grief, stepped inside, his gaze fixed on the floor. "The enemy was fierce, Madam. Outnumbered. The Leader fought valiantly, but..." He shook his head, unable to find the words

.

Dan Ya felt a cold dread creeping into her bones. Barad, her protector, her love, gone. The image of him, strong and fearless, defending his people, flashed through her mind. Now, that image was shattered, replaced by a chilling emptiness.

"Who… who attacked you?" she managed to ask, her voice trembling.

The guard looked up; his eyes filled with a weary sadness. "Rogues. Mercenaries. They came from the north, swift and merciless." He paused, his gaze drifting towards the ornate decorations of the entryway. "The Leader… he held them off, bought us time to escape. But at a terrible cost."

Dan Ya sank to the floor, her knees giving way. The news hit her like it was end of the world. Barad, her anchor, her solace, was gone. The world felt suddenly cold and empty, the vibrant colours of her life fading to shades of grey.

The guard, seeing her distress, offered a hand. "Come, Madam. You need to rest. There are others who need your strength now."

Dan Ya accepted his help, her body feeling heavy and numb. "I'm okay," she looked at the guard, his face drawn and weary. "Tell me," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "tell me about his last moments."

The guard hesitated, then spoke in a low voice. "He fought with the courage of a lion, Madam. He protected us all, even in the face of overwhelming odds. He… he never gave up."

A single tear escaped Dan Ya's eye and traced a path down her cheek. "He was a true hero," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

The guard nodded solemnly. "He was more than that, Madam. He was a friend, a leader, a beacon of hope for us all."

Dan Ya closed her eyes, trying to picture Barad, his face lit by the firelight, his laughter echoing through the halls. The image was quickly replaced by the chilling memory of the empty city, the silence that had consumed everything.

Her tears started falling and soon she started weeping like a child, he was gone, her love, her strength, he left her. Closing her eyes she started having suicidal thoughts of joining her husband in the afterlife.

The guard remained silent; his gaze fixed on the floor. He understood the depth of her loss. Barad was more than just her husband; he was the heart of their community, a symbol of strength and courage. His death would leave a void that would be difficult to fill.

Suddenly, a wave of memories washed over Dan Ya. Memories of laughter, of shared dreams, of whispered secrets under the moonlight. She remembered the warmth of his hand in hers, the comforting rhythm of his heartbeat against her own.

She remembered the day they met, a chance encounter in the bustling marketplace. He had been a young warrior then, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. She, a spirited young woman, had been immediately captivated by his charm and his unwavering loyalty to his people.

Their love had blossomed amidst the chaos of their world, a beacon of light in the face of constant danger. They had faced countless challenges together, their bond growing stronger with each passing day. He had been her rock, her confidante, her love.

And now, he was gone.

Tears streamed down Dan Ya's face, each one a testament to the depth of her love and the crushing weight of her grief. The guard watched her silently, his heart aching for his fallen leader. He knew that Dan Ya would need time to heal, to come to terms with her loss.

He gently pulled the covers over her, ensuring she was comfortable. "Rest, Madam," he said softly. "You need your strength."

Dan Ya closed her eyes, the image of Barad's smiling face lingering in her mind. She clung to those memories, cherishing them as precious treasures. She knew that the pain would linger, that the void in her heart would never truly heal.

As sleep finally claimed her, Dan Ya whispered, "I will never forget you, Barad."