SmilinKujo

Chapter 11: A Quill to Hold

Though the group celebrated Dorian’s progress, the display deepened unspoken tensions among his friends. Lucas smiled outwardly but looked away quickly, his shoulders tensing. “Not bad, lightning boy. Don’t electrocute your audience.”

Ryssa’s tail flicked restlessly as her smile tightened. “Careful—it’s easy to lose control of lightning if you’re not careful. Not that you would, but…” Her voice trailed off, and she turned back to practicing a quiet flame in her pal...

Chapter 10: Seeds of Doubt

The morning began like so many others for the group. Beneath the familiar oak tree, Dorian practiced his magic while Ryssa provided tips, Lucas lounged in the grass with a stick in hand, and Bogo quietly carved a new project nearby. Around them, the village hummed with life as the day carried on.

Lucas tossed his stick up and caught it absentmindedly. “So, fire today? Or are we moving to something less exciting—like summoning chickens?”

Dorian laughed. “One thing at a time...

Chapter 9 – The Spark of Experimentation

The Emberfall residence stood at the edge of Suntails Hollow, its tidy garden dotted with flame-hued flowers that swayed in the breeze. Inside, Ryssa heard voices drifting from the study as she entered. Her mother, Meryth, and her grandfather, Vaerin, were mid-conversation, their tones low and serious.

“…and the squad moved past the Hollow just days ago,” Meryth said, pacing slowly as she gestured. “If they’ve requisitioned supplies here, they’re likely preparing for a push ...

Chapter 8 – Threads of Change

The days that followed the village hearth gathering were marked by resilience and warmth, the fabric of Suntails Hollow slowly weaving itself back together. In the early mornings, Gorlan Highspire worked alongside other farmers in the fields, exchanging gruff but encouraging words as they replanted crops.

At home, Elira hummed softly as she hung linens to dry, the melody blending with the chirping of birds. Dorian sat nearby, repairing a small crate. "Mama," he said suddenly, his expres...

Chapter 7 – The First Song

Three years had passed since Dorian first received the pendant from the green-cloaked bard. Every morning without fail, he made his way to the old oak tree behind his house, the cool dawn air brushing against his skin as he sat cross-legged with the pendant cradled in his hands. The hollow circle within the wing-shaped design remained empty, showing no sign of the red gemstone he'd been promised.

Despite this, Dorian persisted, closing his eyes and steadying his breath each day. Meditat...

Chapter 6 – The Fire’s Glow

The next days in Suntails Hollow turned into a flurry of imagination and melodies as Dorian began mimicking the bard wherever he went. The pendant on its leather cord rested securely around his neck, its weight a reminder of his newfound purpose. Every task became an excuse to hum a tune or spin a tale, much to the villagers' amusement.

While delivering eggs to Mistress Hearthcrown at the bakery, he leaned against the counter and began his performance. "Oh baker's hands, so deft, so tru...

Chapter 5 – The Green-Cloaked Bard

For days after seeing the green-cloaked bard, Dorian couldn't stop talking about him. Every conversation led back to the mysterious performer, his magical illusions, and his incredible harp. The stories spilled out during meals, while delivering goods in Silverhill, and even while doing chores at home.

"He used magic! Do you know how rare that is?" Dorian said one afternoon as he handed a potato pot pie to Old Master Gresham, the jack-of-all trait gnome next door

Gresham ...

Chapter 4 – The Spark of a Dream

Dorian took a hesitant step forward, his gaze locked on the green-cloaked bard. He wanted—no, needed—to talk to him, to ask how he could perform stories that way, weaving magic into words. The harp's golden shimmer seemed to still glint in the late-afternoon sun.

"Excuse me—" he began to call out, breaking into a run.

But as suddenly as the bard had appeared, he was gone. The illusions and the man himself vanished into thin air, leaving behind only murmurs of amazem...

Chapter 3 – The Call of Inspiration

The road from Suntails Hollow opened to the bustling gates of Silverhill, the town's stout walls bristling with banners that fluttered in the midday breeze. The large wooden doors stood open, allowing the flow of carts, merchants, and townsfolk to move in and out. As Dorian's wagon approached, he caught sight of two familiar figures at the gate.

"Lo and behold! It's the Hollow's pride and joy," boomed Leonis, the burly human guard with his signature gray-streaked beard.

Standing b...

Chapter 2 – Dreaming Big

The morning sunlight spilled over the rolling hills surrounding the Highspire farm, casting a golden hue across the fields of ripening wheat and rows of vegetables. At the modest wooden barn near the house, seven-year-old Dorian Highspire was busily loading the family's creaky wagon with burlap sacks of potatoes, crates of carrots, and wooden baskets brimming with ripe tomatoes, his small frame moving with the kind of energy only excitement could bring.

His mother, Elira Highspire, lean...

Chapter 1 – Weaver of Stories

The village square of Silverhill unfolded like a tapestry in the morning sun. It was a modest crossroads at heart, no larger than a well-aimed stone's throw, yet it brimmed with color and movement. Cobblestones, worn smooth by decades of wagon wheels and wandering feet, gleamed faintly beneath a film of dust.

Around the square, an assortment of vendors shouted their wares. A dwarven blacksmith, his bristling beard tucked behind a soot-streaked apron, pounded rhythmically at his forge. T...

Aloha...👋

So, I’ve set up a Patreon page now. I’ll be posting my advance chapters of my novel here, and I’ll also be sharing some drawings and silly animations from time to time. My main goal here is to support my dream of pursuing my artistic passions.
-🧣