First-Time Glory
The door lets out a squeak of protest as it slowly swings open, pulled by a hesitant hand. Felix steps inside the stall, clearly nervous, trembling over what he intends to do... while a sharp tingling of anticipation plays through his body at the same...
Knight (w/ Epilogue)
I'm sure every child entertains the fantasy. To be a knight, to defend the realm from whatever darkness or evils that threaten it, defending the weak and helpless with flashing blades of honor and duty. Faithfully following your lord, serving him as he...
A Special Lesson
An armful of priceless books, papers, and scrolls clatter to the floor. Leather-bound tomes thump and bump, sheaves of paper crinkle and tear, the entire collection spilling into a messy, scattered pile. Kurre, alarmed, turns towards the sound to find...
Prologue: Friendship and Love
I hold my sword in front of me with a single hand, point of the blade angled towards the ground. I shift my feet slightly, keeping my stance loose. My opponent, a rough-looking ruby dragon, holds his sword above his head, his free hand extending...
Chapter 10: Seizing Opportunities
The next morning comes, it seems, after an eternity of dreamless sleep. My eyes open slowly, lazily, sluggishly taking in my surroundings. Memories of the previous night filter in, my feelings mixed and uncertain towards each foggy recollection. The...
Chapter 1: Tensions
The council sits gathered in the meeting room. All four of the prefects are present, their advisors standing proudly next to them. A pair of seats and a desk are placed in each of the four cardinal directions, all facing the golden seat of the emperor...
Intermission 2: Intersecting Paths
I see him as he walks. The shadows wrap around me, like a cloak. A cloak of darkness through which no eye can pierce. He does not see me. I step from shadow to shadow as easily as one would stroll along an open road. My brothers accompany me, fellow...
Finale: A Life Never Lived
I stand before a scene of pure carnage. The choking smell of blood and charred flesh fills the air, masked only slightly by the cascading rain that soaks the field. Bodies of dragonkin litter the ground, some still clinging to life, but most of them...
Intermission 1: Loyalty
"Come at me. Don't hold back now, Tor'ko." The large ruby dragonkin nods before rushing at me from his position a few feet away, his right arm pulled back, aiming a punch directly at me. I see through his obvious feint, noticing the way his footing...
Getting Familiar
The river sweeps across the canvas in a twisting, winding path of sparking cerulean. Tiny shadows dot the water, marking the little fish that swim under the surface all along its length. A few strokes of a brush adds the finishing touches to the forest...
Chapter 9: Potential Allies
The two of us stride onwards, the sun setting behind us as we journey further east. Rays of crimson streak through the sky, painting the violet clouds with hues of fiery orange. The gaze of my silent companion is ever directed forward, though he...
Master and Student
"Teleportation is... tricky." Saro begins. "It is best to only attempt it at short ranges. The farther you go the more of a chance you'll... lose a part or two in the traversal." Closing his eyes tightly, as if afraid of that very result, the...