<<<< Author's Note: First, I wanted to say thank you all for keeping with the story this long. Note that I do intend to end book 5 here, as this seems to be the logical stopping point for a lot of reasons. But don't worry Book 6 will still come as there is a LOT more that I want to get out and accomplish with this series.
With that said, thank you all and let me know what you think about the stopping point and about the projection of the series in general. ...
2024-03-17 17:38:55 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 208
Bracket Buster (Part 2)
Some say evil wins, when a good person goes against their morals. I never claimed to be a good person, though I tried. I really really tried.
That said, I say the only time evil truly wins is when you see an injustice and let it fester. Opting to treat the symptoms rather than the cause of the condition.
Swoosh!
BOOM!
FWOOM!
Spells burst over and around me. Spells cast by ...
2024-03-17 15:02:16 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 27
“All right, I have found her pulse, now what?” Frank asked.
Hearing that Dr. Evans just stared at Frank with dumbfound confusion. This was meant to be a test to show the student that this beast, this monster wasn’t alive, but here he was saying words that seemed to contradict everything that she had known up until this point.
“Are you certain?” Dr. Evans asked.
Pausing, Frank looked down, but then after a second answered confidently, “yeah.”
2024-03-16 16:47:42 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 26
Frank felt no less than five sets of eyes turn to him and truly take in his measure. One set of eyes belonged to Dr. Evans who watched to ensure he understood the current task being provided. Then there were the eyes of Constance, the patient. A patient that seemed oddly calm all things considered.
In addition to those two were the eyes of the assistant who managed to get Constance into this vulnerable position on the operating table.
After those immediate three, ...
2024-03-16 13:56:03 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 207
Bracket Buster (Part 1)
I don’t know if it is me being paranoid, or if my paranoia is just alerting me to future potential problems, but I had one of those moments.
No, not a creating a new school of magic moment. Nor one of those, oh look I finally figured out how Qi exists and works. No, this was a far more existential moment, but one that I think might have helped me prevent myself from doing something stupid.
At least, that is what I interpre...
2024-03-16 10:01:21 +0000 UTC
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Thank you all for your support.
As always, you get the inside scoop here first, with the cover reveal for book 2 of Alexa Thyme: Suiting Up.
2024-03-16 00:32:14 +0000 UTC
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Good afternoon everyone,
First I wanted to thank you all for continuing to stay with me for at least another month. In April I plan to once again enter the Royal Road Writathon, which as usual will mean I also plan to turn off auto payments for the month of April (collected on 01 July), while I focus on writing.
That said, this time I plan on doing things a little differently.
This time you get to say which story I will enter into the Writathon to rece...
2024-03-14 15:49:43 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 53
The Turn
(Shaman Bruce Jacobs)
Later that night, a restless Bruce feverishly comb through old tomes, trying to find the manual he was looking for. A manual that was half diary and half instruction manual for how to truly evolve as a Shaman.
The thing about being a Tier 4 Shaman was the fact that Bruce could see and feel power. He could feel the way the world could and should be, he could feel the raw natural untapped power of the world and he could tell when...
2024-03-14 09:03:08 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 52
Camaraderie
(Darcy Renolds)
Darcy practically vibrated with excitement as the muscle car purred its way down the road. Honestly, before today, Darcy had no clue about basketball, why so many people watched it, or even how it could be entertaining.
But after tonight, of watching Misha, no, not just Misha but the whole team physically push and impose themselves on a taller and stronger team was impressive.
The most impressive person of course was Misha, ...
2024-03-13 19:54:27 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 51
A Team Game, With Team Blame
(Misha Tulley)
There was a faint hint of electricity and the scent of an autumn breeze that filled the gymnasium, swirling around the basketball fans that were in attendance for the day’s game and finally made their way to her. These were the winds that hinted that the seasons would soon change, going from a crisp autumn to a cold winter.
The winds also hinted at something deeper, something that Misha was unable to fully compre...
2024-03-12 23:56:10 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 206
If Laziness Was a Verified Skill
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone work as hard as you do, to all but scream that you are trying to get out of doing work.” Mallory states, a note of awe in her voice as she speaks, while holding one of my new Outsourcer 5000s.
Silence.
“That and I have to ask, do you have a skill that levels up when you give things a bad name? I mean I know you are bad at naming things, we’ve had n...
2024-03-10 21:33:56 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 205
Monday Grind-Day!
Slink-slink, slash.
The weekend ended quickly, not as quickly as I had expected them to end, but quickly all the same. I did manage to perform most of the primary and a few of the secondary actions on my lists for the weekend.
Primary Actions:
Oversee the first two rounds of the Hungry Competitor Tournament: Check.
Ensure everyone had three rounds, if needed: Check.
Identify cool tr...
2024-03-10 15:04:47 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 25
Honestly, Frank didn’t know what to expect when he heard that he would be going to facility number three. In his mind he pictured what had to be the third best healing facility on campus, which in a way would be correct in that assessment. For nothing about Facility three denoted that healing would be a priority for this facility.
The moment he entered, there were walls upon walls of guards wearing top tier combat equipment, each person seemingly ready to fight at a m...
2024-03-10 02:57:48 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 24
By the time Frank was cleaned up and ready for class, it was already past noon. At which point he was sent immediately to the mess hall, and while all the main servings of food were already removed to be cleaned and stored for later use, there were a few pieces of bread and serving fountains.
That was enough for Frank as he managed to eat a sandwich that didn’t use dried or moldy bread as its base and then the water he drank didn’t taste of dirt and limestone. Compa...
2024-03-09 16:02:36 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 204
Cassiopeia’s Curse
You ever have one of those days? You know, where you just feel that everything is going to go wrong, but you don’t know why?
Little things seem to call to you.
The way people talk, seems distorted through a vacuum. You have a hard time focusing, well a harder time focusing.
Even things that normally captivate you, like the ebb and flow of magic and the use of Qi by two different combatants going all out to see who can be the bes...
2024-03-09 02:29:31 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 50
Visitation Dreams
(Andrea Tulley)
The mind is a truly remarkable organ, capable of inspiring people to new and greater heights. It is also capable of helping to mask the pain that people feel by the death of a loved one by simply pretending that the loved one is still there, still talking to you.
For days after the death of her mother, Andrea was numb. She felt nothing, just hollow and empty where the image of her mother should be.
During that time, sh...
2024-03-08 10:29:44 +0000 UTC
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<<<<Author's Note: Sorry about not posting for two days. Yesterday was my birthday and things were a bit hectic. Don't worry I should be caught up by Friday. Thank you all for your understanding and I hope you all have been having a great day and a better week. >>>>
Chapter 49
Driving Arrangements
(Frank Grimes)
Honestly, Frank couldn’t tell if it was a good thing or not to be asked to drive Misha, his girlfr...
2024-03-06 11:55:23 +0000 UTC
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Interlude XII
What Is Magic?
“Today we are on the scene with real live practitioners of Magic. That’s right, you heard it here. Whether you believe in the practices of magic or not, people are feeling a deeper connection to the world around them more so now than ever before. And the number one reason why there is so much attention on this archaic phenomenon is BiPrism, at least that is what has caused the greatest surge in the revival of everything from pagan rituals ...
2024-03-04 02:55:53 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 203
Going Too Far
(Mallory)
Everything was stressful with running a guild. Everything from the paperwork, to making sure investors are happy, to making sure supplies are available, and that resources are available to every one of the eccentric yet highly capable members of the Guild was taxing.
Not to mention the fact that she had supply lines that were hundreds of miles northwest of all habitable lands, they were a veritable oasis surrounded by corroding deser...
2024-03-03 14:51:38 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 23
“I don’t know if I like this.” Dr. Evans spoke out, the last words of wisdom before it was too late.
Having done as instructed, Frank walked forward into the dark tunnelway filled with moving miasma.
“Hey, aren’t these corpses…” Frank asked, but before he could fully finish his thought, he heard it.
SCREEEK!
The slow grinding sound of old metal grinding against metal as the door used to seal away the passage that Frank had been a...
2024-03-02 21:36:25 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 22
“No, that’s not it. He simply stated with a cold glare, ‘are you done creep?’” A tall slender male student with an ‘A-Rank’ tab on his uniform stated.
“That’s not true at all. He didn’t say anything. He just glared at Gallagher, before disappearing like a blur only to reappear a moment later, where he proceeded to backhanded Gallagher like he was owed protection money.” A slightly wider ‘B-Rank’ student corrected.
Two friends spoke ...
2024-03-02 14:05:51 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 202
Three Minute Crime Spree
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Was all I said in three echoing voices before my body moved on reflex.
My use of three different slightly modified version so Voice Amplification magic should be explained here. Imagine three different tubes leading to three different and unique sounding wind instruments being placed right in front of me. I can choose to blow into any one of the three different tubes to come up with a ...
2024-03-01 04:04:08 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 48
Putting the Pieces Together
(Amoni Jacobs)
Exhale.
If Amoni had to describe her current state right now, it would be frustrated. No, that wouldn’t be the word, obsolete? Maybe. Completely replaced? Definitely, though that still didn’t fully express how she felt right now.
For months, no for years, as far back as Amoni could remember, she always excelled at two things, school and basketball. Everything else was just supplementary to those t...
2024-02-29 00:07:38 +0000 UTC
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<<<Author's Note: Warning this may be graphic for some readers. Depictions of simulated violence on a mobile phone. >>>
Chapter 47
Flickering Lights and Sights
(Alishia Stone)
Alishia didn’t know if it was her heightened senses, her lack of heightened senses or the fact that the wolf that had previously been so dominant within her was now silent.
Worse was the fact that things were odd.
Little things, things that indivi...
2024-02-27 13:13:47 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 201
Complications and Disqualifications
(Mallory)
The day had been going relatively well. It had been over twenty hours since Cass broke the world by coming up with a completely unique magical school, one that she created for the sole purpose of healing the world and trying to make the world a better place.
“Of course, that’s what she would do, it was so… Cass.” Mallory muttered to herself, reflecting on the event. While everyone had kind of figured the...
2024-02-26 01:56:20 +0000 UTC
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<<<Author's Note: First I wanted to say thank you all for being with me along this long and magical journey to Chapter 200. A milestone that I am happy to have finally managed to overcome. Thank you all for being with me through this point, and here's to hoping that this story continues to be as engaging and entertaining in the future.
As always, thank you all for reading and supporting me through this journey. I could not have done this without your help, sup...
2024-02-25 16:20:00 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 21
(Three Days Later)
Re-Evaluation
“Two weeks, that is how long has taken place from the day you initially awoke, to now. What does this mean for you? Well even though you have bulked out nicely due to your initial Life affinity, you still are and look young. Which will be a problem for others who wish to test you. At Tier Eight, nearly Tier Nine, you are one of the strongest students in this Academy. Added to that the fact that we have no idea what your strength ...
2024-02-25 04:24:59 +0000 UTC
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Interlude II
Behind the Scenes
Bethany Song
Bethany stared at the control panel in complete fear, as the feed to the delivery drone she had been piloting abruptly cut out.
“Oh, what happened?” Bethany found herself frantically asking, as the drone she had been charged with driving and delivering a meal with, then returning back to base was now floating with its remaining power in a recovery position. The only problem was, there was no way they could recover the dro...
2024-02-24 14:12:45 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 199
Level Setting Expectations
“So what faction will you join the tournament under, the Mages who desperately need food, or the Cultivators who have won the last five tournaments for resources?” Zero asks.
Hearing the question, I can’t help but feel that it is a valid question, as that is what this entire floor seems to be devoted to, choosing one side over the other and then helping them achieve dominance. Yet, I can’t help but see the subtle undercurrents o...
2024-02-23 09:33:11 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 46
Tautology
(Misha Tulley)
Odd.
That was what Misha first thought about when she was asked for her plans after the first game in Parkersburg. Not so much the fact that people would make plans after the game, but the fact that there seemed to be just one plan that everyone had for after the game.
Namely everyone wanted to go spend the weekend in Pittsburg, to see if they can be a Hasty Helper where they would get backstage passes to the concert to see Has...
2024-02-21 12:04:30 +0000 UTC
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