“What should we do?” Piper whispered as she stared down at the Crimson Guard, who were now setting up tents near the barn. She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “Is there another way around?”
“Not that a horse can navigat...
2025-10-03 14:36:22 +0000 UTC View PostPiper stood in front of the longhouse ruins, a few tendrils of smoke rising from the charred wooden beams. The structure had burned down to the ground, and little remained of what had been her home for over a year.
Glancing over at Alfred, s...
2025-10-02 13:58:38 +0000 UTC View PostJustina rubbed a hand down her face as she listened to Ransford’s tale, a dull throbbing in her temples heralding an oncoming headache. When she had been selected to become a vampire many years ago, she thought she was leaving all the weaknesses...
2025-10-01 13:14:15 +0000 UTC View PostThe sound of clattering metal wrenched Piper from a deep slumber, and she surged to her feet, the blanket falling from her shoulders. Without thinking, she curled up her tail to attack, searching for a target. But all she saw was one of the healer...
2025-09-30 20:32:47 +0000 UTC View PostPiper expected chaos inside of the healer’s hut when she entered—almost like her last day in the hospital—but instead she found the wizened old man standing in the corner talking nonchalantly to his three sons. None of them were paying atten...
2025-09-29 14:26:21 +0000 UTC View PostPiper took nearly a minute to regain her feet, and even once standing, her legs were barely strong enough to hold her weight. She’d probably lost a lot of blood from Ransford biting her neck, and her low mana hadn’t allowed her to heal complet...
2025-09-28 14:12:22 +0000 UTC View PostPiper watched the events of the battle through a red haze, while a raspy voice in the back of her mind urged her to slaughter every mortal. She watched as one of the men turned and fled, dropping his cudgel as he ran. But she didn’t care about h...
2025-09-27 15:57:08 +0000 UTC View PostPiper ran until her lungs ached and it felt like her legs were made of lead. But still, Alfred didn’t slow down. He ran like a man possessed, tearing through bushes and smashing branches in a mad dash to reach his home.
Ding! Your ...
2025-09-26 13:58:15 +0000 UTC View PostPiper raised her face toward the morning sun, its warm golden rays bathing her skin. Behind her, she could hear the steady drip of the icicles melting on the side of the longhouse, while birds flitted from tree to tree, filling the air with their ...
2025-09-25 13:47:55 +0000 UTC View PostThe wind howled past the longhouse, making the wooden beams creak, and snow drift down from the smoke hole in the roof. Inside, Piper huddled under a blanket and cursed the winter weather. Even with a roaring fire, it was still freezing indoors. 2025-09-24 14:04:15 +0000 UTC View Post
The lion’s roar made Piper freeze, her eyes widening at the sheer size of the creature. The power emanating from the beast nearly made her knees buckle, and the air felt thick with menace. This was no normal lion. Something was terribly wrong he...
2025-09-23 13:37:30 +0000 UTC View PostThe door to the longhouse banged open, and the huge form of Alfred appeared in the entryway. He stomped inside, a blast of frigid air following him. As he shook the snow off his cloak, he pointed a finger at Piper. “Grab your bow and follow me....
2025-09-22 21:13:47 +0000 UTC View PostThe two moons had risen high into the night sky by the time Piper had the strength to make her way over to the kitchen table. A couple of rushlights lit the room—something rarely used due to the expense—and the main fire had been stoked. Aroun...
2025-09-21 23:56:08 +0000 UTC View Post“I see now why you wish to pursue a path of magic,” Astaroth said from directly behind Piper, nearly making her jump out of her skin.
She spun around and scowled at him. “Would you put a bell around your neck or something?”
At ...
2025-09-20 13:38:48 +0000 UTC View PostAs Piper’s demonic guide Astaroth started to float away, she held up her hand to stop him. There was no way she was fighting another demon. A single imp had nearly taken her out. If she had to fight another one to gain her class, she was almost ...
2025-09-19 19:51:51 +0000 UTC View PostThe sounds of pursuit had faded long ago, but Piper continued limping along in the direction of the slumbering dragon with a castle perched on its back.
It felt like she’d been fleeing for at least half an hour. However, there was no way t...
2025-09-19 18:52:37 +0000 UTC View PostPiper hurtled through the darkness for what felt like an eternity before a glowing blue portal split open directly in her path. Raising her arms to protect her face, she shot through the opening and slammed into the hard-packed ground. The impact ...
2025-09-18 23:37:47 +0000 UTC View PostThe gentle lowing of cows awakened Piper from a deep slumber, and when she opened her eyes, she saw sunlight pouring in through the smoke hole in the roof. A surge of excitement shot through her veins as she realized today was the day.
She w...
2025-09-18 22:50:52 +0000 UTC View PostPiper tensed up, preparing to run, as her tail swished back and forth nervously under her dress. With the mounting tension in the air, she wasn’t even worried about her secret being discovered. All she cared about was not being sucked dry by a v...
2025-09-18 00:28:51 +0000 UTC View PostPiper waved goodbye to Beatrice as Ethel’s sister climbed out of the wagon in front of her home. As soon as the woman was inside, Ethel snapped the reins and the wagon trundled deeper into the village. They passed merchants hawking their wares, ...
2025-09-18 00:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostPiper stood in the middle of the courtyard, her hands clenching nervously, while Ethel, Alfred, and Ophelia looked on. In front of her stood Beatrice, looking almost like a clone of her sister Ethel. The woman was a tiny bit taller but had the sam...
2025-09-17 23:30:55 +0000 UTC View PostPiper didn’t know how long she was out, but as she began to regain consciousness, she was almost overwhelmed by searing jolts of pain. Agony worse than any she’d ever experienced in the hospital washed over her, and she screamed until her thro...
2025-09-17 22:22:11 +0000 UTC View PostPiper blinked her eyes several times, still trying to process what Ophelia had just said. While she’d never seen a real monster before—called aspect beasts in this world—Alfred had made it clear she should run for her life if she ever stumbl...
2025-09-17 15:43:23 +0000 UTC View PostThe sensation of something sharp poking Piper in the ribs tore her from a peaceful slumber, and she was greeted by the sound of giggling. Groaning, she rolled over to see Ophelia with a stick in had standing beside her bed. When the girl tried to ...
2025-09-17 14:23:01 +0000 UTC View PostPiper told Ethel her tale about falling ill, spending time in the hospital, and finally dying. The woman nodded along politely, but she could tell from her expression that she didn’t understand everything. As Piper told her about waking up in th...
2025-09-17 13:49:57 +0000 UTC View PostPiper wanted to lie in the sunlight forever—it had been so many months since she’d felt its warm caress on her skin—but she couldn’t ignore her thirst any longer. After a few more minutes, she heaved herself to her feet with a sigh and loo...
2025-09-16 21:10:47 +0000 UTC View PostPiper had grown used to the rhythm of the hospital, with nurses showing up at regular intervals to give her medicine, and groups of doctors stopping by to murmur about her condition in concerned tones. Meanwhile, in the background was the ever-pre...
2025-09-16 20:12:40 +0000 UTC View Post