While Grant struggled out of the fat suit, the judges conducted a heated debate. “This is most unorthodox.”
“He’s a murderer!” Shouted one of the other competitors, a House Tuesday Vassal. “You can’t let him compete!”
The announcer sighed dramatically and pushed his plate to the side. “We must check the rule book for direction in these unusual circumstances.”
“That massive thing?”
Grant looked at the...
2021-05-14 11:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post“La~a~adies and gentlemen! Welcome to the exhibition tournament, to honor the generous Lord January; he who provides for all! This event is sponsored in part by Big Betty’s Bakery, the premier bakery in Mid January.” The announcer called out to the excited crowd. Fists pumped the air and cheers erupted throughout the massed spectators. Grant stood gawping at the masses of people that had been gathered. In his mind, ‘thousands’ of people meant nothing, but...
2021-05-12 12:55:12 +0000 UTC View PostGrant fumbled along yet another hallway that looked almost exactly like all the rest. At least this one had a portrait of Lord January to use as a marker, and if his memory served, that meant he was near the cells. Straining his ears, he confirmed his position when Billy declared, “I win again! Another game, Joel? I haven’t taken next month’s pay off you yet!”
“Forget it. Let’s just do our rounds.” A reinforced chair scraped as the guards started to get ...
2021-05-10 14:18:36 +0000 UTC View Post“It has been confirmed by Auld Leap. Grant is our savior!” Marcus bellowed as they stepped into the large living area the Leaps had claimed for themselves. The room burst into cheers, with whoops and cries of happiness.
“That’s not what he said!” Grant snapped at him, but Markus and the others were too busy celebrating to notice.
“This calls for a feast!” A lady from the crowd announced. She was me...
2021-05-07 15:11:02 +0000 UTC View PostThey descended an endless number of stone steps. “We must be under the castle now. This is where you keep your elder? Seems kinda… damp.”
“A bit to go yet.” Markus led him through a crack in the wall. It was a tough squeeze; Grant had to take off his backpack and crouch down to get through the opening.
“Where are we going?” He felt nervous now. No one lived down here. Perhaps Markus was just looking for a quiet spot to dump his body? The o...
2021-05-05 21:27:38 +0000 UTC View PostAfter stumbling blindly through the rancid tunnels, a soft light coming from ahead was almost blinding. Grant heard the sound of muffled chattering, and so slowly unsheathed February Twenty Nine. “I’m ready for whatever lies ahead. I can do anything. I must succeed.”
He wasn’t sure if he was reassuring himself, just trying to find the courage to keep moving, or if he truly felt ready to attack any and everything. The light grew brighter and chattering...
2021-05-03 17:01:47 +0000 UTC View Post“No.” Grant puffed out his chest in defiance, even still resembling a child in front of the immense form of Count Tuesday.
“Have it your way. The law… is on my side.” Without wasting a single second, Count Tuesday flowed forward and swung his multicolored club into Grant’s stomach. The colors on this Wielded Weapon, the source of his Vassal’s weapons, was so much more potent than Grant expected. His speed and form were impeccable, and Grant had ...
2021-05-01 01:56:05 +0000 UTC View PostLong shadows stretched between the crates that Grant had been allowed to sleep on overnight. There had been little fuss when he arrived; a single look at his thin, blood-speckled form, and Corporal Kane had ordered a vat of soup for Grant and sent him to sleep until the following morning. Which, from the glow of the soft orange light, was now. Grant could see that it was just after sunrise, and he needed to make a plan. “Just one more day to hide out, then I can sneak int...
2021-04-28 12:55:51 +0000 UTC View Post“What in the twelve districts happened to you?” Red was so concerned that he actually got out of his lounge chair as Grant limped into one of the guest suites that had been taken over by Sir Friday Twenty-ninth and his party. Grant only managed a grunt in reply as he started peeling off his blood soaked leather armor.
“Here, sit down and get that looked at!” Fergus pulled out a chair and fetched a towel stitched with the bust of Lord January. Grant wi...
2021-04-26 11:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostAnother Wielder entered the arena, this time a Sir Thursday. The final pre-semifinal combatant was holding a curved sabre that had a filigreed guard sweeping around and protecting his hand. Grant nodded at the man, who inclined his head gently. “House Thursday, a merchant. Shouldn’t be a problem.”
Sir Thursday pulled out a vial and applied oil to his blade. Upon making contact, liquid fire spread across and engulfed the blade. Simultaneously, the lights in the a...
2021-04-23 11:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe competitor’s dining hall - of course separate from the exhibition dining hall - was packed with Vassals and Wielders gathering their energy before or between fights. The dining hall was open throughout the day, so luckily there wasn’t any risk of missing a meal during the tournament. Grant took his breakfast-laden tray and squeezed in between some of the Nobility. He had picked healthy options, careful not to upset Sword Expertise. He smiled at the other competitors...
2021-04-21 11:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostAs Grant left the area and entered more familiar grounds, he cursed himself for being such a fool. Sarge piled on to make him feel worse, <Haha, you really showed him! I think the real reason the second most powerful person in this entire District let us leave is that he was afraid of you. Perhaps he went to change his pants instead of throwing you into prison?>
“Sarge… you could help, rather than just being so… edgy all the time!” Gran...
2021-04-19 11:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostFields and days blended together as the carriage train trundled towards Castle January. Yellow and blue spring flowers jostled amongst the hedgerows lining vast never-ending fields. The promise of new life was in the air as winter lost its dominion, the harsh cold replaced by crisp mornings and mild days.
Grant had lost count of the number of corn and wheat fields they’d passed. There was a reason January had once been known as the world’s bread basket. L...
2021-04-16 11:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostThe following day, he was forced to skip breakfast. The rich food he was not used to, combined with strange pain in his gut and stomach had kept him up all night. Grant hobbled over to the training yard, preparing to smack a wooden dummy in the yard to take his frustration and grumpiness out on it. Attempting to activate his training module resulted in a similar message to the one he had gotten yesterday.
Sword Expertise disabled until further notice! Eat small po...
2021-04-14 11:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe door to his private suite closed with a thunk, and Grant stood in the luxuriously appointed room. He looked around, almost scandalized by the sheer wealth on display here. “It’s just like the one in my dream, only without the beauty bearing donuts.”
To be fair, there were donuts on the sideboard, along with a dazzling array of sweets and deserts. Everything a Noble would need to tide him or her over between meals. Surrounded by the luxury...
2021-04-12 14:09:30 +0000 UTC View PostGrant had a skip in his step as he left the armor emporium. The competition finally over, the plaza had been cleared of all people with extremely… impressive stature. Workers in protective suits were clearing up the devastation left behind: litter was piled high. Biscuits, snacks, and greasy bones coated the cobbles. Grant felt bad for the workers; it was one thing clearing up the roadway, but quite another emptying the tubs containing vast quantities of sloshing waste. ...
2021-04-09 14:31:39 +0000 UTC View Post*Ding*.
The small bell above the door rang brightly, completely the reverse of Bob's attitude as he looked up from his ledger. It took him a moment, but then his face brightened into a professional smile. “I didn’t expect to see you again today, Sir Monday! I was closing up.”
“I've got the money. Sorry about the wait. The… bank manager was busy.” Grant cringed inwardly at the lie, but it was better than the truth: that he was a Noble in name...
2021-04-07 19:53:45 +0000 UTC View PostA pavilion was being raised in the center of the plaza, and something about it reached a part of him that was still lost in childish things. With nowhere better to go, Grant went over to take a look. There was a crew pulling on cables and erecting a tent that resembled a fairytale castle; its walls bright vertical stripes of yellow and pink dyed cloth.
Grant waved at a worker, who was puffing and attempting to erect a wide banquet table. “What’s going on here?”<...
2021-04-05 15:50:17 +0000 UTC View PostGrant swung around as the commanding tone reached his ears. Waddling towards him briskly was a bulky figure wearing a pleated suit and half-moon eyeglasses draped on the end of a pointy nose. Grant could just barely make out the name ‘Bob Sunrise’ above his head. “Shoo. Go on. I need to open up!”
“I’m a customer,” Grant stepped forward and gave a sketchy bow. “I’m here to buy a suit of armor.”
“Huh. No chance. Look at the size of you! If yo...
2021-04-03 00:44:56 +0000 UTC View Post<Cultivation achievement level has multiple factors, and each level gained will give you bonus points in each characteristic. Before you ask, I’ll tell you that the amount earned varies. We’ll talk about the specifics later, but just assume it is based on cultivation stage.> Sarge launched into his explanation in spite of Grant’s sigh, <For a regular cultivator, they can only achieve higher levels by directly cultivating.>
<Every forty hours spent...
2021-03-31 11:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostHi all! I hope you loved reading or listening to Inflame! It would be a huge help to me if you could post awesome reviews on Amazon and/or Audible! Thanks for all your amazing feedback and I'm glad you're liking your Patreon exclusive series till next year, Year of the Sword!
2021-03-30 15:43:41 +0000 UTC
View Post
A whistle blew, and Grant rubbed at his tired eyes. “Must be closing time?”
<You should get going. While you walk, I’ll explain to you how you can increase in cultivation achievement level.> Sarge chuckled as he thought over their previous conversation. <There’s a reason that the different cultivation methods are complicated, but most of them are at least a little intertwined. Sorry if I blew you away with too much information at once...
2021-03-29 11:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“You’re one crazy son of a goat!” A soot-covered steelworker slapped Grant on the back as he came down to walk among them.
“Is that what exercise is?” Another asked with awe in his voice. “I often wondered, but it seemed like too much… you looked like you were having a blast! I was told that it was the worst thing ever!”
Grant smiled at all of the people that strangely wanted to talk to him. He tried to answer s...
2021-03-26 11:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostGrant tried to turn himself inward, to get into the state that Sarge had told him would benefit his training the most. It was hard, and the heat of the furnaces was almost unbearable; but at least he had somewhere to train. Suspended walkways littered this section of the steelworks, and liquid metal was being poured into crucibles by sweaty, hard working men. They didn’t pay any notice to Grant, focused on their demanding tasks.
He opened up his cha...
2021-03-24 11:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostHappy Tuesday amazing patrons!
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Look for an email from help@bookfunnel.com to grab your copy before the link expires in one week and let me or BookFunnel know if you have any issues downloading it.
Otherwise, please review I...
2021-03-23 14:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostSkinny patted his stomach, belched, and drifted off to sleep in the chair at the end of breakfast. The meal had been as grand as it had been advertised, and everyone had laden Fergus’s wife with the compliments she deserved. Just as Grant had planned to stand and help clear the mess, someone banged on the door; waking Skinny up with a snort.
“We have reason to believe you’re harboring a fugitive. Open up!” The group of overly-large men at the ...
2021-03-22 11:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe group rested in a public lounge just inside the gates of Mid January, breathing heavily and fanning themselves. They had walked through the entire night, getting into the city just after the typical breakfast time. Even still… someone on horseback must have arrived and set a bounty. There was no way anyone had gotten here faster than them otherwise.
“I saw a wanted poster at the city gates. Said that I was wanted by House Friday for punishment...
2021-03-19 11:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostGrant burst through the open hole, startling the throng of guards and workers that had been trying to work up the motivation to investigate the noises and smoke. A range of weapons - lances, swords, even pitchforks - were pointed directly at the terror that appeared from the depths.
“Get these poison-covered clothes off me!” Grant howled as he stripped in front of the group without a hint of shame.
“Grant?” Jo’s mouth opened and closed...
2021-03-17 11:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostGrant could feel his heart hammering as he stood at the bottom of a long flight of steps. He slowed his breathing by taking deep breaths, forcing his racing heart to calm down. It was so dark that, even with the torch, it took a while for his eyes to adjust to the gloom. Grant drew his sword and steeled his heart. This was the perfect opportunity to prove what he was capable of; both to Jo and himself. “Come on. I’m sure I can deal with a few rats!” 2021-03-15 11:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post
As he hurried after the slow-moving caravan, it dawned on Grant that he hadn’t checked his stats in days. Now was as good a time as any. “Status.”
Name: Grant Monday
Class: Wielder
Cultivation Achievement Level: 4
Cultivation Time: 47:00 Hours (Time to Next Level 953:00 Hours)
Cultivation Stage: Early Spring
Inherent Abilities: Swirling Seasons Cultivation
...
2021-03-12 12:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post