The Last Ember of Elyndor
The air in Kael’s workshop reeked of iron and burnt oak, the scent clinging to his skin like a second layer. His hammer struck the anvil with a rhythm that had not faltered in twenty years, each blow shaping molten…
Redemption
Read MoreThe Last Ember of Elyndor
The Gilded Veil
The sun hung low over the Sierra Nevada, casting long shadows across the dirt streets of Redding Creek. Clara Voss tightened her grip on the rusted revolver at her hip, her boots crunching over gravel as she approached the saloon.…
The Dust of Yesterday
Eliza’s wagon creaked like a wounded animal as she guided it through the jagged silhouette of the Sierra Nevada. The air reeked of pine and dust, a dry, acrid scent that clung to her throat. Her hands, calloused from weeks…
The Last Light of Willow Creek
The air in the bakery smelled like cinnamon and regret. Mira kneaded dough beneath her palms, the flour dusting her wrists as she pressed it into shape. Outside, the sun dipped low over the hills, casting long shadows across the…
Salt and Storm
The first time Leo saw Clara, she was kneading dough in the dim light of The Crust, her sleeves rolled to her elbows, flour dusting her forearms like snow. The bell above the door jingled as he stepped inside, and…
The Architect of Echoes
## The Architect of Echoes Rain lashed against the panoramic window, blurring the neon smear of Neo-Manhattan. Elias Thorne traced a finger across the condensation, the chill mirroring the tremor in his hand. His studio wasn’t opulent – functional steel…
Echo Bloom
## Echo Bloom The chipped Formica of the diner booth stuck to Leo Maxwell’s elbows. Rain smeared the neon glow of “Rosie’s” across the windshield. He hadn’t touched his coffee, just stirred it, watching the steam curl like a phantom…
The Weight of Lilacs
## The Weight of Lilacs The desert wind tasted like sand and regret. Elias traced the lines on his calloused hand, watching dust devils dance across the cracked earth of Redemption Gulch. It was a town clinging to existence, its…
The Static Bloom
## The Static Bloom The dust tasted like old pennies and regret. Kaelen spat, the grit clinging to his tongue. Below, the turquoise swirl of Xylos pulsed, a living ocean contained within a geodesic skin. Not *real* ocean, not anymore.…
The Scent of Absent Things
## The Scent of Absent Things The chipped ceramic mug warmed Leo Maxwell’s hands. Rain lashed against the diner window, mirroring the storm inside him. Black coffee didn’t cut it this morning; nothing did. Five years. Five years since the…
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…
Static in the Air
Act 1: The Discovery & Isolation The rain in Seattle was a constant, grey companion. Elias Thorne found a certain comfort in it, a mirroring of the relentless data streams that consumed his life. He’d spent the last five years…
Seeds of Renewal Chapter 5
The Void’s Embrace (Kaelen Vorath & Lyra Sola) 5.1 “The Gatekeeper’s Fortress” Kaelen and Lyra’s ships approached the asteroid, but were immediately intercepted by a squadron of heavily armed drones and fighter craft. Thorne’s fortress, carved into the asteroid’s surface,…
Seeds of Renewal Chapter 4
Echoes of a Dying Star (Kaelen Vorath – Stoneweaver/Crystal Sage) 4.1 “The Obsidian Network” The stench of sulfur and desperation clung to the air as Kaelen Vorath navigated the labyrinthine underbelly of Pyrehaven. He’d spent the last few days tracking…
Seeds of Renewal Chapter 3
Seeds of a Dying Star (Lyra Sola – Gardener/Crystal Sage) 3.1 “Arrival at the Shifting Coast” The Bloom descended through the swirling mists, the bioluminescent wood of its hull casting an ethereal glow upon the turbulent ocean below. Lyra Sola,…