Shocker's Stories

Chapter 17 - The Weight of Training

When the weekend came about, two days in which there were no classes and the cadets were given a measure of freedom, Luna decided it was in her best interest to at least hear Calvert out on his offer.

Yet when she arrived at the expansive platform, the sky blanketed with thick grey clouds, she did not find the old man waiting for her. Instead, perched atop a large black box and reading a weathered tome, sat a boy who was perhaps a year Luna’s senior. He was tall and willowy, his pale ...

EA Chapter 16 - Days of an Academic

When it came to classes, Luna considered herself to be astute and well-read. But that still led to her having notions that raised concerned eyebrows.

Proctor Castor, the lecturer on military theory, posed a hypothetical to the class on one verdant morning. "How would you, as a field commander, deal with a rebellion within your ranks? For the sake of the scenario you and your squadron are far from the Bulwark, supplies are low, and your loyalists have successfully quelled the rebels. The...

EA Chapter 15 - Asserting Dominance

Luna led the way toward the middle of the arena, where Gallow Cade was standing to attention with her hands behind her back. She watched the girls with a sharp gaze. "I expect punctuality, cadets. An extra minute of waiting, and I would have had to start deducting points from you all."

"Apologies, Sergeant," Syri said, bowing. The rest of the Red Hawks echoed her motion.

"We will strive to avoid such delays in the future," Luna replied. Tempting though it was to pin the blame on t...

EA Chapter 14 - Last Place Squad

In the first few days that followed, Luna found herself immersed in a whirlwind of classes and drills that served as a basic introduction to life at the Citadel. The classes were simple affairs, where the students were usually broken up into lectures that best reflected their strengths and affinities. For Luna this entailed lessons on Arcane History and Arcane Theory. The former, as the name implied, discussed the history of magic in Elthreme, as well as the major figures in the history of ma...

EA Chapter 13 - Welcome to the Academy

The various students enrolled at the Citadel were lodged at the myriad towers that dotted the structure. Luna would later come to find that the more accomplished and tenured students, those on the verge of graduation, were moved to the upper towers near the peak of the Citadel to reflect their station. But the youngsters and newcomers were generally mixed together in the lower towers.

Luna entered Klein Tower to find it bustling with cadets who were around her age, male and female alike...

EA Chapter 12 - First Test

The path from the airship docks, at the base of the Citadel, was flanked on either side by flapping flags that all bore the flag of Elthreme. Everywhere she looked, Luna could see patrolling guards and security emplacements. They scarcely paid any mind to her, or any other soldiers coming from the docked airships. But any man who passed by Old Scratch stood to attention and saluted, as if a demigod was walking among them.

Luna had seen the look of reverence many times in the early days ...

Chapter 11 - Flight to the Citadel

Luna had flown plenty of times in the past. Usually under her own power, via a levitation spell. Occasionally astride a tamed griffon. And, once or twice, on the back of a drake. The latter was the worst. It certainly looked imposing, flying around on a giant fire-breathing reptile But the smell of sulphur and burning gasses the drakes often exuded, coupled with the boiling heat under the saddle, rather detracted from the romanticism of it all.

Yet, despite being a veteran of flight, ri...

Chapter 10 - Farewell to Home

The next day, a group of men from the docked airship arrived to give Luna a cadet's uniform. It was a rather striking thing, a formal white jacket coupled with black trousers and leather boots that glinted whenever the light struck them. The jacket sported gold embroidery that shone like starlight. The kit came with a pair of sheepskin gloves, the soft texture lovingly caressing her hands when she wore them.

Upon the breast there was a small bar of tin, the same size as the ruby Old Scr...

EA Chapter 9 -War With the Gods

After being given time to dress, and drinking a concoction of fruit juices that her mother insisted on, Luna ventured outside with the stranger, who was flanked by a pair of guards toting halberd rifles. She'd been out cold for an entire day, apparently, and it was already dark by the time she'd come to.

But the old man wanted to see some of her potential with his own eyes. And she, in turn, wanted to see what strength her body had unlocked from her prior exertion.

And so she foll...

EA Chapter 8 - Freshly Recruited

Luna opened her eyes to find herself not in her alcove, but rather in the semi-familiar surroundings of Tulpa's office. She sighed, annoyed, as she scanned the area.

As before, a rush of embers converged to recreate Tulpa's visage, the woman floating a few paces away from her. "Heeeeey!" she greeted, giving Luna a cheery wave.

Luna glared up at her. "No contact for over a decade, and now you're pestering me in my dreams?"

The floating figure chuckled, floating on her side pe...

EA Chapter 7 - Old Scratch

Helsen's home was as humble as the man himself, a bungalow that sat squat on the outer edge of the village. The building looked out over the sea. And, on a clear day, his home gave him a good enough view to make out the distant highlands to the north. The interior was sparsely decorated: just a bed, some cabinets, several wicker chairs, and a single table. A clay fireplace burned in the rear of the house, casting a flickering light into the main room.

After everything that had happened,...

EA Chapter 6 - Dire Crayfish

The sea monster was elephantine in size, scuttling about on his angular legs and swaying with the unease common in all undead. And, slowly, the slobbering monster turned his full attention to Luna. The young arcanist stared, growing tense, and could recognise the faint hints of intelligence stirring inside the crayfish's glowing eyes. It raced toward her, ignoring Helsen entirely, his claws snapping together with a sound like thunder.

With a sudden shout, Luna spun away, only barely avo...

EA Chapter 5 - Creatures of the Mire

More undead were emerging from the water, retching and gargling as they trod upon the sands. The militia men pulled back, too dumbstruck with fear to attack. One or two drowned men wouldn't have been too daunting. Now there was more than ten.

Luna was unconcerned. She jumped back as a pair of the corpses loped toward her, leaving sodden trails in their wake. She twisted and weaved her hand, unleashing a hail of finger-sized ice darts that shredded chunks from the incoming drowned men. 2025-04-09 22:49:19 +0000 UTC View Post

A New Story!

Hey all.

Just yesterday I launched another story on Royal Road, Empress Ascendant. An isekai progression fantasy focused around an evil overlord reincarnated into a xianxia-esque setting. Blurb and link below.

I'll be altering Patron rewards to that paying members will be given three chapters in advance of the main release.

Viisa Hauron's empire spanned the entirety of the world, held together by his iron will and seemingly boundless magical power. Death...