Chapter 17
Hands-On Training
“Well, what did you get?” Griff’s voice wasn’t quite as hoarse as last we spoke, but it still sounded like he was talking over sandpaper. His eyes though were bright and eager, like ...
2024-07-10 03:23:27 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 16
The Cost of a Card
Seeing my father smiling down at us like the world’s smuggest asshole while my head was still full of finally meeting my mother made me feel like I had a headache inside my heart. I’d ...
2024-07-07 02:40:42 +0000 UTC View PostUpdated ability list! Part 1 & part 2.
Chapter 15
Second Tries Are Better Tries 2024-07-02 23:48:56 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter 14
The Trouble With Trust
I stared at the shadowed woman in a moment of total shock, and then the old familiar anger sparked inside me. “Bullshit,” I said. “I may not remember much from my kid years, but ...
2024-06-29 21:50:07 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 13
Admission
“It’s nice to finally spend some time together again.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I said, using the arm I had looped through Esmi’s to pull her closer as we walked. Dinner had tur...
2024-06-26 02:58:10 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 12
In or Out
“You’re missing an Order?” I asked. “People can’t take them, can they?”
“For the duration of a duel, under certain circumstances, yes,” Basil said, looking a little panicked. ...
2024-06-23 01:27:35 +0000 UTC View PostAuthor note: Thanks for waiting! It's a long one!
Chapter 11
Chaotic Intentions
“Excuse me?” I said, thinking I had misheard yet again. “Did you say Chaos?” I glanced at the nearby guard...
2024-06-19 03:54:36 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 10
Preparation
“Battle readiness,” Edaine said, eyeing us all. Her gaze lingered the longest on the empty seat that Hull should have occupied in the Lecture Hall, and even though I was not the one in troubl...
2024-06-15 20:06:54 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 9
Walking the Walk
I was sweaty, footsore, and cranky by the time I got to the Lows. It had to be near on to midnight. I didn’t know where I’d find Harker or what I needed to do; I just knew I had to show m...
2024-06-11 23:26:10 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 8
Sneak
I’d meant to go straight to my little metal hut, pretend to bunk down for the night, and then climb my way out as soon as possible, but I realized once I got there there was still far too much light for good sn...
2024-06-08 22:14:20 +0000 UTC View PostAuthor note: The pages regarding Source archetypes will be updated to show Life as being part of the Enhancement group.
Chapter 7
Life
After the field demonstration we were marched around camp and shown the various facilities. They included a large open-air training area with a series of raised seats on two sides for viewing; the Lecture Hall where our sit-down classes would be held; a line of...
2024-06-04 23:00:52 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 6
Field Maneuvers
“Why aren’t we on top of the tower?” I asked, pointing to the flat expanse on top of the central tower rising behind us. “Seems like the better view.” All of us students were standing with High Paladin Edaine on the walkway ...
2024-06-01 23:24:36 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 5
Coward
I was only able to listen to the Grand Marshal’s speech with half an ear, standing as I was a few feet from Gale, our own conversation hardly begun. The Marshal was not a nuanced orator, but I appreciated his blunt honesty about what to expe...
2024-05-29 00:52:45 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 4
Conscription
The chariot driver had refused to go any faster than a plodding clop through the streets of the city no matter how I pleaded – the little toad of a man had said it wouldn’t be “proper” for the low folk to see their heroes rushing...
2024-05-25 23:44:12 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 3
The Champion’s Parade
“You bought a new suit,” Esmi said, favoring me with a warm smile.
I blushed as I looked up at her. She was standing in one of the five chariots lined up for today’s procession. The vehicle was richly inlaid in gol...
2024-05-21 23:13:53 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 2
Asking or Telling
I tucked the top edge of the coarse cotton sheet up under my pillow, flipped the blanket into place, and stepped back to consider my handiwork. Make your bed, Basil had said, and you’ll cultivate a little Order in no ...
2024-05-18 19:55:02 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 1
Research
I sat in the Library of Istraago, the largest in Treledyne aside from the King’s own. The cooing and chirps of birds could be heard up and down the aisles due to the countless kestrel who called the building home; they lived here and worke...
2024-05-14 16:53:15 +0000 UTC View PostNote: Okay, folks, we're diving in on Book 2. Let's go!
Prologue
Countess Felstrife walked through the remnants of what had once been a sizable human town. She had heard that the place was now called Burlon, but on her library’s most recent maps –...
2024-05-11 16:44:40 +0000 UTC View PostAuthor note: I'll rarely be able to post this early, but I hope you enjoy having it now!
Epilogue
Harker glared at the others as they bickered. Merrun kept pounding the table and telling slender Kernona at the next seat over that Ticosi had been captu...
2024-05-07 10:33:14 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 62
Tending to Unfinished Business
Penkmun leaned back on his stool, his dumbfounded look magnified by the ocular Artifact he had strapped over one eye. “Twins take me and make me anew, you weren’t lying!”
I sat up on the bench he’d had me...
2024-05-04 19:19:55 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter 61
Promises
I spent another moment in companionable silence with Hull. I hadn’t planned to forgive him so soon or so easily, but after watching Lustra try to murder the king… It was a stark reminder of who our true enemies were, and seeing Hull try to stop her, even though I knew how desperately he wanted his father punished, made it clear to me that he wasn’t among them.
Despite these th...
2024-04-30 17:42:34 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 60
What Is Deserved
My back itched with the Assassin walking behind me, but every time I glanced back he just pointed me forward. I couldn’t see his face, but I could tell the bastard was enjoying this. When I’d faced him in Basil’s room he’d w...
2024-04-27 23:13:55 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 59
Grand Finals
Esmi played her first match beautifully, deftly countering the prince each time he tried an avenue of attack. First, she used her Rare kobold to steal a magnificent shield Relic the turn after it was summoned.
2024-04-23 20:26:09 +0000 UTC
View Post
Chapter 58
The Wants of a Street Boy
Ticosi’s body was already stiffening. He looked sightlessly at the ceiling, his mouth gaping just a little, his throat gaping far wider. Crouching next to him got the bottoms of my shoes sticky with congealing blood, but ...
2024-04-21 00:26:21 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 57
Decisions
Despite Esmi’s potion having mended me, I felt lightheaded and awkward being upright, making use of my limbs. So, I walked at a slow, measured pace down the hallway, hand held protectively to my stomach as if it might start gushing blood...
2024-04-17 02:05:45 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 56
On the Brink
The chuckling huffs of my Marauders flanked me as I walked slowly toward Ticosi and Basil. I absent-mindedly pulled and summoned my final source and a card from my Mind Home, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away long enough to see what it...
2024-04-13 22:42:54 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 55
Battleground
Before this tournament began I would have hesitated, but not now. That single Chaos Source had been a declaration of war more serious to me than any threat that the slumlord might spout.
I sent the Headsman swinging at the bald fe...
2024-04-09 22:58:49 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 54
Reckoning
This is where it turns around. The Vampiric Blade sang in my hand as I ran at Basil. No matter which of his bullshit Souls blocked, they’d feed me fresh cards from discard, and with my Mind Home empty that was exactly what I nee...
2024-04-07 00:31:18 +0000 UTC View PostUpdated ability list! https://imgur.com/mi54ONz
Chapter 53
Rematch
Instead of letting the Colosseum's runner take me directly to my match, the young girl followed after me as I stopped at a booth I knew specialized in Water cards. Against Hull, I would need some Relic removal, and the Water Spell Rust was the most affordable option I was aware...
2024-04-02 20:00:39 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 52
Bound
I was halfway through my third bowl of stew in the Mess Hall when I looked up and saw Ticosi sitting directly across from me. His patchwork leather coat hung still behind the bench and he had a toothpick in his mouth; his shaven head gleamed i...
2024-03-30 20:07:12 +0000 UTC View Post
