The Ember of Dusk
The air reeked of ozone and burnt iron as Kael dragged the red-hot blade from the forge, its edge gleaming like a sliver of the setting sun. His hands, calloused from years of shaping steel, trembled despite the heat. The…
Destiny
Read MoreThe Ember of Dusk
The Ember of Elarion
The air reeked of burnt pine as Kaelen stepped over the crumpled body of the scout, his boots crunching through the brittle remains of a shattered campfire. The forest around him pulsed with a low, guttural hum, like the earth…
The Last Ember of Vireth
The air in Tharvyn stank of burnt sage and old iron. Kael crouched beside the riverbank, fingers pressing into the damp earth as he scanned the tangled reeds. Somewhere in the muck, the vial lay hidden—a glass capsule no larger…
The Last Light of Veyra
The air in Veyra stank of damp stone and old smoke, a thick miasma that clung to Kaela’s skin as she slipped through the labyrinth of narrow alleys. Her boots scraped against cracked cobblestones, each step echoing like a whispered…
The Shattered Veil
The air in Elmhollow reeked of burnt pine and iron. Kael stood at the edge of the village square, his fingers curling around the hilt of his dagger as the sky above split open. A jagged tear, wider than a…
The Echo Bloom
## The Echo Bloom The rain tasted like pennies on Leo’s tongue. He hunched deeper into the doorway of Mrs. Petrov’s antique shop, the neon sign buzzing a frantic lullaby above him. It was late October in Portland—that particular damp,…
Echo Bloom
## Echo Bloom The bus rumbled, a mechanical beast chewing gravel as it clawed its way up the Icelandic highlands. Elara traced circles on the fogged window, rain blurring the landscape into an indistinct wash of grey. Iceland. She’d booked…
The Glitch in the System
The chipped Formica of the diner booth felt gritty under Leo’s elbows. He stabbed a french fry with enough force it nearly bounced off the plate. Across from him, Maya traced the rim of her water glass, her knuckles white.…
Echoes of the Lost Dynasties
Elka traced the brittle edge of the parchment. Dust motes danced in the single shaft of light slicing the gloom of the archive. Each fragment felt less like paper, more like sun-warmed bone. She wasn’t *searching* for anything specific, not…
Silencio
Elisa’s shoulders bunched, a tight knot beneath worn leather. Dust motes danced in the single shaft of light slicing through the high, barred window. Years had scraped against her, leaving a residue of mistrust. “Release it.” Forian’s fingers, calloused and…