light vs. dark

Once back at her house, Ashlyn had Damien lay down on her mother's sofa. His head rested back as Ashlyn knelt down beside him. "Perhaps you should open your shirt," she said, resisting the redness creeping into her cheeks. Giving a pensive stare, Damien undid the buttons on his shirt and let...

Ashlyn reveled in the sound of the rushing stream, the pure light glinting off the water. She had missed this: standing in the cool riverbed as the current gently pushed against her ankles. The pebbles and stones beneath her feet were smooth, softened by moss. Bending down, she picked up a...

10 May Ashlyn walked in front of Damien within the woods. The forest was thick around them. The air was more humid toward the center of Gumber. Here, every living thing was old and wild. The trees poked the sky, the birds' songs laid a blanket over the area. Despite the cooing of birds and the...

22 September "Kallus." Lanara's voice echoed along the walls of the forge. Her husband was occupied with a smithing project, and he was having Damien assist him. Lanara drew Kallus' attention by coming over. "I would like to take the children out to the river." Now that Lanara was in his...

15 September Kallus went up to Calda’s door and knocked. When she opened, she knew instantly the reason he was there. With a sullen face she said, “I can go get him for you.” Kallus waited on her well-kept porch. A few minutes later, Calda appeared again with Ashlyn and Damien both gathering...

12 September "Your mentor didn't seem happy to let you go," Damien said as he trotted along beside Ashlyn. He never had the privilege of riding his own horse before, and he was still getting used to staying in the saddle. The day was ideal for travel. The air was cool without being chilly...

"Absolutely not," Annael said upon hearing Ashlyn's preposterous idea. "We are not going to take him back with us to the Academy." She and Ashlyn now stood on an ornate stone balcony with the city streets of Tauros several layers below them. The day was still young, a beautiful, crisp morning...

Part I The Ruins of Githal – Year 1464 27 August Dust and brick. All around, destruction stretched as far as the eye could see. Three weeks ago, Githal was a glorious citadel that took up a third of the western region, now it was laid to ruin. Buildings lay torn upon the ground, the dark...

The Heart of Gumber - Year 1451 2 April A baby's cry rang about the glistening trees. The sky was lit with dawn that broke through the canopy of leaves. In the heart of Gumber was a meadow that danced with blossoming flowers. The music of frogs, bugs, and birds came together as a chorus...