For a week after we moved, I tagged along with Al on his picking operations, acting as his pacifier. Every day, I put on a concert for the swamp’s inhabitants. The haunting notes of my music, infused with the Arcane Lullaby, echoed through the misty air, blending with the natural sounds of the swamp. The restless creatures seemed to calm, their usual rustlings fading away. The resonance of th...
2024-08-12 20:19:16 +0000 UTC View PostHi boys and girls,
I have a favor to ask of you.
I changed the story blurb on Royal Road based on some pushback I received in the comments and reviews. Can you look at the new blurb and tell me what you think?
2024-08-11 20:09:03 +0000 UTC View PostFor the next three days, I served as Al’s pacifier. While he meticulously picked plants, I kept myself busy playing and singing. The first day, I stayed on the jet ski, but after a few hours, I floated above him. It was much more comfortable up there, with the cool breeze on my face and a better view of the surroundings.
After an hour or two in the air, I was utterly fed up with singing...
2024-08-11 18:38:59 +0000 UTC View PostIn the morning, we took off in the balloon to find a good spot for the house. We flew high above, the balloon swaying gently in the wind, and used binoculars to scan the vast area below. Now and then, there were slight rises in the terrain, but most of the swamp was a maze of twisted trees and murky water. From up here, it looked almost beautiful in a dark and ominous way—a patchwork of green...
2024-08-10 19:46:51 +0000 UTC View Post
Amidst the whispering leaves,
Where sun-kissed branches sway,
The wild creatures find their solace,
As twilight fades the day.
Chorus:
All is well, all is calm,
In the cradle of the night,
Every soul finds gentle peace,
Beneath the moon’s soft light.
In the meadow’s gentle hush,
Where silver dew drops g...
Name: John Rue
Age: 20
Familiar: Rue Level 13
Display Class: Healer Level 12
Healer Spells:
Heal Muscle - 22
Diagnose - 15
Stop Bleeding - 6
Heal Bone - 13
Control Blood - 14
Healing Touch - 25
Neutralize Poison - 5
...
2024-08-09 11:15:12 +0000 UTC View PostIn the morning, before we took off, I decided to empty the house’s water reservoir and refill it with fresh water from the lake. I trusted Lis and was confident that the purification system he built was top-notch, especially since I knew the Purify spell and its power. Still, it felt like a good time to renew the water.
I took out the hose, pulled it up to the trees as far from the hous...
2024-08-09 11:12:31 +0000 UTC View PostAfter three days, I flew to the gorge again to check on our barbarians. They were still there, and they seemed less frozen. They had set up camp fifty meters from the dungeon, where the gorge was narrower, and lit a fire across the passage. I couldn’t understand what they were still doing there. Were they planning to wait until the dungeon regenerated?
My curiosity kept me hovering over...
2024-08-07 15:05:34 +0000 UTC View PostI kept at my flight training, and I’ve got to say, I got a lot better pretty fast. I played it smart this time and used a motorcycle helmet and an orthopedic neck brace to protect myself. The first day, I was still crashing into things and ended up bruised all over, needing some serious healing. But by the second day, I cracked the code. The trick was to be super precise about my destination....
2024-08-06 20:00:57 +0000 UTC View PostWe spent the next five to seven weeks in the valley, and nothing particularly noteworthy happened. It was difficult to determine the exact time that had passed because, without monitoring a calendar, the days blurred together, melding into an indistinct flow of time. Bottom line, it had been quite a while. The rain came more frequently, and when it started, it wasn’t as short as an hour or tw...
2024-08-05 15:24:04 +0000 UTC View PostAs I lay in bed before sleeping, I repeated the same action as last time before we went down to the gorge. Between the rats, the mushroom valley, and the gorge, I had a lot of practice in weapon fighting, mainly with my swords. To advance my wizard class, I needed to practice using my magic in combat. I opened my profile and reviewed all my options to decide what I would work on the next day. M...
2024-08-04 13:38:03 +0000 UTC View Post
As we rose in the hot-air balloon in the morning, I asked Mahya, “Need a boost from the wind?”
“No, I prefer to fly slowly to find a place to put the house.”
We flew leisurely over the cliffs, scouting for a good spot. A few options looked decent, but nothing stood out. The rocks changed as we approached the other end of the gorge. They used to be covered in moss and plants,...
2024-08-03 12:40:56 +0000 UTC View PostAt breakfast, Mahya said, “I think Al is right, and the gorge has a dungeon.” She stirred her porridge thoughtfully.
“How? It’s so close to settlements. Surely they would have discovered it long ago,” I questioned, frowning as I set my cup down.
“In the guild, they told me about a group of three gold badge adventurers who come once a season to clear the gorge of monsters...
2024-08-02 14:11:22 +0000 UTC View PostAfter returning to the starting point and opening the house, the three of us collapsed onto the couch, utterly exhausted. Rue sprawled out on his beanbag. Every muscle in my body ached. It wasn’t the kind of soreness a spell could fix, but a deep mental fatigue that seeped into my bones. Cooking was out of the question. Eventually, we dragged ourselves to the breakfast bar and ate whatever we...
2024-08-01 13:27:18 +0000 UTC View PostAfter a big meal, we got ready. I put on my new armor from the dungeon and jumped in place, startled. The armor was loose on me, but it shrunk to fit me perfectly. I didn’t remember a mention of self-adjustment or anything, so I identified it again:
Aegis of the Light
Item Type:
Magical Leather Armor
De...
2024-07-31 12:52:15 +0000 UTC View Post
We headed for Pemisor early the following day. The road was very straight and passed through large stretches of forest. Tall, old trees twisted their crowns above us to create a green tunnel on both sides. Sunlight glancing through the leaves formed a pattern on the road. I could hear far-off sounds of forest birds, and the air smelled like wood and mud.
The scene changed as we continued ...
2024-07-30 13:41:35 +0000 UTC View PostWe stopped at the first town after Ram-Son and went straight to the inn. Exhausted, we needed a few hours of sleep. In the morning, our plan was to continue driving, but Al found out that there was an alchemist in town and went to buy herbs. That boy focused too much on leveling. I couldn’t understand it. I just wanted to enjoy the journey.
While Al was shopping, Mahya and I explored th...
2024-07-29 15:08:36 +0000 UTC View PostThe first week of the voyage went by smoothly, with no significant events. There wasn’t much wind, so we mostly relied on the engine, but with the boat’s speed, it wasn’t an issue. The sea was calm, smooth as glass, with no waves. We were still in vacation mode, so we did little. I got started on processing the crabs, and Al wanted the shells. After cleaning all the crabs, I had a stockpi...
2024-07-28 17:05:42 +0000 UTC View PostDriving the ATV on the road was much nicer than in the valley; there, I had to navigate around mushrooms, ponds, and rocks, and the ground was uneven. Whereas here, it was a smooth ride. Rue, still pumped from the fight, wouldn’t stop exclaiming.
“Rue did it! Rue made all crabs run away! They so big, but Rue bigger and stronger! Rue’s teeth like super sharp knives!”
His ment...
2024-07-26 22:42:18 +0000 UTC View Post
Pictures by John from the Balloon.
2024-07-26 08:14:24 +0000 UTC View PostAs Al occupied himself with harvesting the mushrooms in the valley, Mahya and I continued our experiments with the house.
Mahya turned to me. “I have another idea,” she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s on your mind?”
She took out a pouch and emptied a handful of gold grains into her palm. “Remember these?” she a...
2024-07-25 15:33:54 +0000 UTC View PostAfter breakfast, we went outside, and I planned to store my house. I looked at the monstrosity and didn’t want to store it as-is. It was so BIG. I had left enough height, but it was still imposing.
“You told me the core could shrink the house. If it does that and absorbs the materials, do you think I’ll get them back?” I asked Mahya, glancing at the towering structure.
“We...
2024-07-24 14:03:00 +0000 UTC View PostWe were working on the ATV when I had a thought. I turned to Mahya and asked, “By the way, what happened to my clothes?”
Mahya looked up, puzzled. “Your clothes?”
“Yes, I woke up naked.”
“Oh, that. They disintegrated from the lightning. Some burned fragments were on the porch, but the house absorbed them.”
“Huh.”
“Yes.” She didn’t seem ple...
2024-07-23 17:38:48 +0000 UTC View Post
Mahya and I continued to work on Al’s motorcycle. Since we worked together from the beginning, the disassembly, engraving, and assembly went much faster. I left all the copper wire to her; I had no intention of engraving tiny runes. The project took four days, and another motorcycle ran on mana.
I remarked to Mahya, “If we return to Earth, we won’t be able to ride these motorcycles....
2024-07-22 14:19:50 +0000 UTC View Post
Verse 1:
Among the constellations, seek release,
Where comet trails trace paths of cosmic grace.
The Milky Way, a bridge to inner peace,
As stardust mends the fabric of your space.
Chorus:
Beneath celestial tapestries,
Shed the weight of yesteryears.
In cosmic dance, find melodies,
Healing echoes, free from fears.
Verse 2:
Let go of constellations...
