It was just after noon. Fritz's team had settled into their respective rooms and had now taken to exploring the manor further. He himself was avoiding his own. He now regretted having foolishly flaunted his status as the head of his house and claiming the master bedroom as his due right.
Cursing under his breath, he paced the halls of his estate. It wasn't the room itself that filled him with dread, but the one across from it. The burned room, where he had watched his mother be murdered...
2025-09-28 03:47:23 +0000 UTC
View Post
Fritz felt the urge to run, but he didn't heed such a cowardly impulse. Not under the eyes of his team and tutor. That, and he saw no ill intent or bloodlust in the woman's light brown eyes.
She strode over on long legs. Her step and stance were those of a hunting beast. Therima looked as though she would lunge and strike at any moment. Fritz didn't flinch. His Danger Sense had remained silent. She stopped two feet in front of him, then narrowed her gaze as she glanced over him.
"...
2025-09-25 05:27:22 +0000 UTC
View Post
---Author's note--- Still a bit sick but feeling much better and was able to get this one out on time. Thanks for all the well wishes! Hope you enjoy this chapter. :)
---
When Fritz and George arrived in the lounge, it was to find themselves amongst the whole household. From the looks on the gathered faces, which varied from the idly intrigued to excitedly expectant, they had interrupted an eager conversation.
"Did you tell absolutely everyone of your achievement, George?" F...
2025-09-21 03:00:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
--- Author's note --- Sorry for the late chapter, I'm sick at the moment and had trouble getting it in an acceptable state. Hope you enjoy it and thanks for your patience! :)
---
Fritz held up the intricately carved key of gold and silver and looked through the circular hole at its base. Through that opening, which would usually be used to attach it to a key ring, he peered at the bland stone bricks before him. They were as normal as any wall, yet now, he could see small, dimly gl...
2025-09-18 04:18:02 +0000 UTC
View Post
"We'll leave for Hightide Manor once I have collected Elliot and Thea," Fritz announced to the lounge at large. "It shouldn't take more than half an hour."
Those of his team who had stood at his arrival returned to their seats and resumed what they had been doing previously, mostly chatting and bickering. Fritz left them, accompanied only by Bert, who strode by his side.
"Perhaps it's best you stay. Elliot finds you an eyesore," Fritz mentioned as they walked.
Bert shrugged....
2025-09-14 03:00:07 +0000 UTC
View Post
Fritz awoke, it was a pleasant enough way to wake. It had been two weeks since his duels and his near-death. Most, if not all, of his weakness and fogginess had faded.
He rose from his bed, dressed then made his way down to the dining room.
The dawn had yet to come, but like Fritz, the others of his team were also heading down the stairs with varying degrees of haste and wakefulness. Bert bounded, Rosie dragged her feet, George walked carefully, Lauren stepped lightly, and Jess tr...
2025-09-11 03:00:06 +0000 UTC
View Post
The black was cold. Freezing. Everything was still, and nothing was all there was. Faintly. There, in the empty dark, were the notes of a song. Words, incomprehensible, ancient, rhyming, skirted the edges of hearing. They spoke of a death, they spoke of a regret, they spoke of a refusal.
Mortal man soon to die,
hearken now to twilight's cry.
Cease to listen to death's call,
Do not abide the final fall.
Waken, wounded, half ...
2025-09-07 03:00:07 +0000 UTC
View Post
The crowd murmured and cheered at the declaration, though there were also a fair few boos and jeers amongst them.
"You wish to enact the flooding?" the judge asked, sparing only a small glance at Fritz. "Will House Gresper bear the price?"
"As this is a courtly affair, it is only right that the crown bears the expense," Lord Gresper stated smoothly.
The judge turned his gaze to the King, who nodded once.
"Very well, the field shall be prepared as you request. And what ...
2025-09-04 03:00:08 +0000 UTC
View Post
Swift as a cat, Fritz reached for the gate's handle, twisted, then pushed against the iron bars. It resisted. Locked or stuck.
"You can't enter!" one drizzler yelled, pulling his baton free from its belt loop.
"Stop!" the other ordered, pushing Fritz back.
"Unlock this gate at once!" Fritz commanded, his voice echoing with the power of Dusksong.
The two guards froze for only a moment before continuing to oppose him.
The pusher made to grab and wrestle, planting h...
2025-08-31 03:00:09 +0000 UTC
View Post
"The Captain?" Fritz repeated dispassionately. "I think not. I will not be delayed nor take such a detour."
The lieutenant and his men behind him could barely contain the smirks spurred by his refusal. The joy they derived from their thinly veiled coercion was barely any better than that of the gang bosses and their thugs. Seemingly, only the uniform and a layer of grime separated them.
"It's on the way," the lieutenant attempted to assuage. "And it won't take more than a minute."...
2025-08-28 03:00:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
Changed a bit, won't affect the story much, but a Patreon, Peekaboo, found the not checking the red gem very silly. And on reflection, I agree. This bit replaces Fritz's initial dismissal.
---
While Fritz was happy for it to be finished, he hadn't the time to study it or what was within the red gem, not yet. Still, they could take a small peek, just a few minutes.
"George, my good man, let's have a look at what is written within this stone."
He nodded stoically, thoug...
2025-08-26 03:34:25 +0000 UTC
View Post
His heart beating rapidly, Fritz breathlessly sat, then fell into his Sanctum.
Excitement, relief and curiosity washed over him as he called up his Spire Sheet and discovered that the Technique glyphs of the Inevitable Blade had indeed changed from Novice to Journeyman.
He inspected further, focusing on the grey-silver words hovering before him.
---------
---
The Inevitable Blade (Journeyman)
Fencing, caging, a razored gaol, the thrust ...
2025-08-24 03:00:07 +0000 UTC
View Post
To say Fritz's spar against Mathew went poorly would be an understatement.
It wasn't just that his cursed state made every parry painful and every strike a struggle; it was that the lordling would weave in Water Strikes as he cut and sliced. Fritz complained, protesting that the use of Abilities was too much.
Adam disagreed. "Lord Whiteship is following a water swordman's Path. You'll have to watch for the telltale signs of its casting."
"There's hardly a need for that, with...
2025-08-21 03:00:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
Fritz and his team were halfway through running their laps when Adam arrived in the Tallmast training hall. It was somewhat surprising to have him arrive late, but more surprising that he had brought along Elliot. Judging from the state of their clothes and their slight panting they had run there.
His brother's chest rose and fell in steady, well-practised breaths, showing that he was used to such strenuous exercise. Clad in training gear, including a rapier buckled to his belt, he star...
2025-08-17 03:00:06 +0000 UTC
View Post
Fritz opened the door to behold the scowling face of his tutor.
"Lord Hightide! I need to speak with you," Adam barked.
"Why are you shouting, good man!?" Fritz barked back with all the feigned noble affront he could muster.
"My apologies, Lord," Adam said, lowering his tone to a growl. Somehow, that was more intimidating, but Fritz refused to be badgered in such a way, not after his long, dreadful day.
Anyway, he wasn't afraid of his tutor; the pretence of immediate w...
2025-08-14 03:00:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
Despite giving the order to head to the Vault, Fritz was the last to arrive there. He had to collect a few Treasures, scavenged from various thugs, from his closet-armoury first.
A few of the items he had stashed away were ones he was familiar with, as they were spoils from the bloodbath that was the first defence of the Refuge. The more numerous others were collected from the bodies of villains such as the Rat Cleaver or other thugs too stubborn to surrender. And then there were those ...
2025-08-10 03:00:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
"Starting tomorrow, we will spar every day," Fritz told his brother as the carriage rolled along. "I'll see if Sir Needle will agree to let you join our training. If not, we'll just have to refine our skill without his help."
"Sir Needle..." Elliot said. "Isn't he amongst the best blades in the city? Have you actually managed to retain him as your tutor? Was that not just a falsehood to scare those Lords?"
"Oh, my sweet, mistrusting brother, do you think I would lie about such a t...
2025-08-07 06:19:52 +0000 UTC
View Post
The whole Court turned to face Fritz, whose declaration shouldn't have been a surprise, yet somehow was.
"A duel?" The King repeated, raising one hand to his chin and stroking his more subtle scales. "And why should I deign to grant you such?"
"It's a bit of old, well-established law," the familiar Minister mused. She smiled, her red lips parted just enough to reveal the points of needle-sharp fangs. "We have not seen one of the peerage elect to defend his claims with his blade in...
2025-08-03 03:00:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
Fritz grasped the hilt of Quicksilver. The cool touch of moonsilver calmed him and stilled the slight tremor of his hand. He straightened his back, squared his shoulders and tilted his chin to force the appearance of pride, then strode through the misty barrier.
Passing through was easy, painless and short. Oddly, it felt both damp and dry, like a cool breeze rather than a fog in truth.
The throne room wasn't the sprawling hall Fritz had expected it would be, though it wasn't smal...
2025-07-31 03:00:04 +0000 UTC
View Post
The carriage rolled through the Upper Ring unimpeded, the royal crest did much to clear the streets for Fritz and his party's passage. Crowds parted, making way for their betters with hurried steps. The ride was smooth and quiet, the talk and rain from outside were hushed to a whisper while the cabin's door was closed.
Fritz suspected runes were the cause of this oddness, though he couldn't see them. They were likely hidden within the wooded panelling, the rainsteel banding or the silve...
2025-07-27 03:00:03 +0000 UTC
View Post
Fritz strode through midday rain, a smile on his face. The streets were more crowded than he'd liked, so he took a boat to the gates of the Upper Ring. The boy who rowed him shared in his joy when he paid thrice the normal rate, blessing Fritz as he stepped back onto solid stone and walked to the guarded gate.
He was through in moments, slipping through the shadows of the arch and crowd of commoners. Though Fritz was not in much of a hurry, he didn't dally in the markets; he also didn't...
2025-07-24 03:00:06 +0000 UTC
View Post
It was a mildly raucous night, the square occasionally echoed with the sound of overeager revellers. Fritz did his best to stay focused, but found his mind wandering when he should have been watching for trouble. He yawned.
It had already been six days since the siege was broken, the dregs and deserters of the now leaderless gangs had either gone into hiding, met a bitter end or had left the desperate district entirely. As such, the danger of these flooded streets had eased considerably...
2025-07-20 03:00:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
Sid rushed out into the pelting rain and howling winds, joining Jerral on the deck. When all were present to his summons, he pointed deep into the storm. It was hard to see in the grey and gloom, but there, in the distance, was a star.
"Lighthouse!" Jerral proclaimed. "The Stairway is there!"
Then he set them to man the ship. None, save the Guide, had experience on such a large vessel, so it was rough going.
"Don't worry, this is a weirdwrought ship!" Jerral explained, makin...
2025-07-17 03:00:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
The bowstring twanged and the arrow soared. The shaft wasn't made of wood or stone, but solid air, nearly invisible against the grey sky. Sid watched as it flew in a steady arc before burying itself into the giant squid sizing up the ship. The arrow burst as it struck, as did the pale eye set into wet orange flesh.
The beast, twice as long as a man, rolled, flailed its tentacles and dived below the waves. A few seconds later, a gout of ink sprayed out from the ocean, aimed right at wher...
2025-07-13 03:00:03 +0000 UTC
View Post
Fritz had really messed up this time. There he was at the centre of another bloodbath.
Bert could see at least twenty unmoving bodies splayed in the Refuge's square. Some bore brown coats, but most were in common clothes. There were some moving amongst the dead or dying, they crawled away from the battlefield or huddled together fearfully in alcoves and alleys. The safely holed up residents of the Refuge peered out of windows, worriedly watching events unfurl.
Bert looked upon the...
2025-07-10 03:00:06 +0000 UTC
View Post
The Browncoats looked on furiously as their boss coughed a mouthful of blood. Todd himself was beside himself with rage as he choked. The veins on his bald head bulged brilliantly. Apparently, they hadn't considered that the Scarlet Shade would bring a crossbow to a knife fight.
More fool them.
Click-click-clack and place the bolt, Fritz almost hummed as he smoothly reloaded the crossbow and took aim again.
He was somewhat surprised that Todd stood there stupidly, he was mor...
2025-07-06 03:00:03 +0000 UTC
View Post
"How do we kill him?" Bull asked, looking up the hallway and the door out nervously.
"Same as any man," Fritz replied, stepping subtly so he blocked the escape route. "We cut his throat."
"I don't have a knife. Also, he took one of my arms," Bull said dejectedly, sagging his shoulders.
"All the more reason to take revenge. As for a blade, the walls of that butcher's room are covered with plenty of wicked weapons," Fritz said, motioning to the doorway behind the man.
Bu...
2025-07-03 03:00:04 +0000 UTC
View Post
The Rat Cleaver strode through the dark street completely unaware he was being shadowed. He was a short, stocky man with thick, scarred arms. His face was small, his eyes cold, cunning and cruel. Urchins sprang away as he passed, and the men and women of the night paled and quickly withdrew when he smiled his sharp, sinister teeth at them.
He laughed as they fled; his voice was entirely too high for someone who looked so grim. On his head was a brown leather cap and his body was clad in...
2025-06-29 03:00:04 +0000 UTC
View Post
Fritz entered the room and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Count," he said, holding himself low. "My thanks for granting me the honour of an audience."
Count Wavereach sat behind a grand desk of rich wood and watched him intently. Eventually, nearly nine seconds later, the nobleman spoke in a raspy baritone.
"Rise, Hightide."
Fritz did, then met the Count's grey-eyed gaze. He didn't need his Awareness to tell that there was hatred there, a deep cold sea of anger, loss and bl...
2025-06-26 03:00:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
Gruelling days passed, followed by sleepless nights. Fritz's rough training and his watching of the Refuge claimed most of his waking hours. Only with his use of the Amulet of Repose and the remedies provided by the alchemist sisters, was he able to keep up his vigour and the constant vigilance his current life required of him.
It was exhausting, but every day he trained he saw some minute improvement, be it in his skill, stamina or strength. And every night spent at the Refuge and in t...
2025-06-22 03:00:03 +0000 UTC
View Post
