A side story for The Heart Grows, in which romance and intimacy within the dungeon is explored. The main story is to be considered required reading to follow this. When Ludmiller gets outplayed by a dungeon and becomes one of its minions, she thinks the man she loved is lost to her forever. Now living as a kobold within the dungeon, she tries to reconcile her feelingsand she's not alone. Others living within the dark chambers underground find emotional holes in their lives. This is a short side story for The Heart Grows starting around chapter 25 and ending around chapter 60. All my works come with a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. This means you are free to download, publish, and even make derivative works of my writing so long as you include this license, attribution, and don't sell the works. Keep it free!
5.59 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:25
Speaking heresy on my deathbed led me to meet god. Maybe it was a curse, or a blessing, but he decided I would work itoff--as one of many gods on another world of magic and sorcery. It wasn't something I intended or was prepared for, but I am willing to work to make the world a better place. Isn't that what a god SHOULDdo? Part of the Demonsword Project universe (First Age). This project has not been published on Amazon.
132.14 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:36
Reborn to Rescue a Video Game World! After dying during a worldwide pandemic, ordinary college student Asteria was given a fresh start in the world of a popular video game. Her mission: to protect mankind from a forgotten danger. However, shouldn't the original main character of "Tales of Vesterland" be given his chance to shine? Now, armed with ALL the cheats, she's decided to let the hero do his thing while she saves the last boss and gets rid of the real villain who's been hiding behind the scenes. Join this OP adventurer in her hilarious candy-fueled quest to befriend the hero, save the villains, and have fun! It's a slightly risque slice-of-life comedy set in a world of technology and magic. Also starring: Sariel. He thinks he's hot stuff because he has it all - looks, superhuman abilities, and a great fashion sense. Too bad that the process that gave him superpowers has a secret side effect... Note: Multiple POV characters (male and female) Cover: Warm Tail Volume One is now available on Amazon as "I Will Save the Villain." Volume Two is now available for pre-orders on Amazon as "Villain Rescue Scheme." ㎜in Meili 2021. All Rights Reserved. For business inquiries contact me at [email protected]
84.29 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:51
rkgoff | contemporary | Complete
Even in a world with witches, sorcerers, and alchemists, psychics are rare. There are normally fewer than a hundred in a centurywhich is why the Torr is so confounded when they get a letter from the headmaster of an English boarding school who claims that there are over a hundred psychics studying at his school. When all their investigations turn up nothing, they call on the head of all Torrs, Jack Noctis, the embodiment of death. But Big Jacky doesn't know what to do about it either, and he's skeptical about his ability to do anything. He asks Darius Vasil, Conrad Bauer, and Emerra Cole to go in his stead. Between the vampire's super-hearing, the wolfman's amazing sense of smell, and Emerra's legendary Eyes of the Sphinx, he's hoping they'll be able to find what everyone else has missed. When they arrive, what they find is that the psychic powers are appearing more frequently and becoming more powerful every day. They need to figure out what's going on before the situation spirals out of control.
59.74 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:53
Brandon Dee | contemporary | Complete
Nico Moretti was a young man with no direction in his life. But that all changes when his mob boss grandfather gives him access to a System that seems tailor-made to transform him into the perfect mafioso. Will Nico be able to hold onto his values, or will this lifestyle and system bring out a darkness that he didn't know he had? Join him as he levels up and walks this dangerous new path. New chapters every Friday
24.43 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:01
Summary: Being summoned to another world is supposed to be fun. Or at least exciting. Either you find yourself in a Church being given a divine mission, or you wake up in a forest and have to survive off of the land. And if you're lucky, you get some sort of System as well, or at least a handy Cheat/Power-Up. Waking up in a prison cell with nothing but a pair of pants to your name is NOT the way things usually go. Unfortunately, nothing about Mikael's adventure in another world is going to be 'normal'. An attempt at taking a bunch of well-trodden tropes and ideas and putting my own special twist on them that will hopefully be engaging and exciting! Warning: This story has erotic scenes sprinkled throughout it. Based on feedback I received, each lewd chapter will be marked as such going forward. Update Schedule will be every weekday MONDAY-FRIDAY, with Saturdays and Sundays off!
101.30 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:32
HAXX0RZ | historical | Complete
All three of the great Greek Tragedians have written plays about the bloody chain of murder and revenge within the royal family of Argos. Yet theirs is in fact not a story of tragedy, but rather one of redemption. As they move from darkness to light, from rage to self-governance, from primitive ritual to civilized institution, their spirit of struggle and regeneration becomes an everlasting song of celebration to be heard throughout the ages. Forming a discourse set against the emergence of Athenian democracy out of a period of chaos and destruction, the Orestian plays are compelling stories of the tensions between our obligations to our families and the laws that bind us together as a society. In the beginning, we witness how a king's decision to sacrifice his daughter and turn the tide of war inflicts lasting damage on his family, culminating in a terrible act of retribution. In the aftermath of regicide, we behold how a son must set out to avenge his father's death by committing a most egregious sin. In the end, the sinner is tormented by supernatural powers that can never be appeased, but ultimately finds redemption and ends the curse on his house once and for all. Woven through all of this is the story of a friendship so close that it elevates itself to brotherhood - Where the blood of the covenant is shown to be indeed thicker than the water of the womb. In this very brief twelve-chapter modern rendition of the Orestian plays, I have chosen to place my focus mainly on the lives of the characters Orestes and his best friend Pylades. The chapters, each around 2000-2500 words, are split up evenly between them in first-person narrative. I hope that you will come to enjoy reading this heartwarming story, but more importantly, that you see how the conflicts portrayed in the story, whether human or institutional, are still much very relevant to our societies today. Note on Sources: The details of this story is very loosely based on The Oresteia by Aeschylus. And I mean very loosely. Other sources that I referenced for detail and inspiration are Mythology by Edith Hamilton, Electra by Sophocles, and Iphigenia in Tauris by Euripides. You may also find that I have quoted some of these works, and others (such as Shelley's Ozymondaeus), without citations (average of 1-2 such quotes per chapter). I did this because I do not have the ability to describe certain scenes nearly as well as some of those writers. If you read a particularly beautiful piece of prose here, chances are it's probably stolen lol. Also, I wrote this during the summer between my high school senior year and my college freshmen year. It was the summer of 2020, and being quarantined apparently gets my creative side out lol.
15.05 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:30
Dr_Nemo | historical | Complete
Pride & Prejudice & Superpowers! In this England the gifted have ruled since the Norman's invaded. How will a series of unexpected attacks in Meryton shortly after the Assembly impact Elizabeth and Darcy? This is a different look at canon with the addition of powers, politics, adventure, and espionage. But the heart of our story is still the rough road to romance for our dear couple. The story is complete.
55.73 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:40
Starsail Nightmare | horror | Complete
Alexandra Bedford is a weapon, a young woman with telekinetic powers capable of leveling entire cities, born to fight in the desolate remains of post-apocalyptic North America. There is only one problem: she may be losing control of her abilities. Sixteen years after a global pandemic devastated the earth's population, the lines in the old United States have been drawn between the Cheyenne Directorate in Colorado and the New England Alliance on the East Coast. The Directorate, of which Alexandra is a part, is a small but powerful organization dedicated to returning the country to its former glory. However, when a diplomatic mission to the New England Alliance goes wrong, Alexandra finds herself at the center of a bloody civil war. Battles are fought on the old highways and in dilapidated towns and once-great cities. And as the conflict escalates, all of North America faces the threat of being burnt away by nuclear fire. Against this backdrop of war, Alexandra tries to uncover the long-hidden secrets behind the plague, her abilities, and the two men fighting to decide the fate of the United States - Henry Bedford, Alexandra's father and leader of the Directorate, and John Martin, the mysterious figure at the heart of the New England Alliance who may hold the key to everything she seeks. None of this will matter, however, unless Alexandra can prevent the power growing inside her from taking over and consuming the very world she is fighting to save. Author's Notes: I appreciate you taking a look at my novel, The Girl from the Mountain. If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, military thrillers, and/or cosmic horror, I think you'll enjoy this story. I completed the novel's first draft back in 2011 and made significant changes in 2016. Since then, I've more-or-less sat on the manuscript while working on other projects. Thanks to a bit of prodding, I've decided to send this story out into the wild with some touch-ups and additional revisions. I welcome any comments or criticisms, and I hope you enjoy The Girl from the Mountain!
137.87 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-19 15:30
The water level of Ystets Lake is rising without explanation. Maxie the hydrologist and her thrill-seeking companion are out to investigate; they've come prepared for the man-eating aliens in the surrounding forest, but what they aren't ready for is the lake itself. Also in the AUU-16 universe: Soulless (Apparently) The Departure Night Game Ystets Lake
7.83 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:53
Nefarious | mystery | Complete
Orion Zakari is an Ice Sorcerer, the last of his lineage. He's got no clue where he is or how he got there, but he knows one thing for certain: he is being hunted. His home and family are gone: razed and massacred. He will be next when the hunters find him. But if he can put enough pieces together, maybe he won’t have to follow his family down to eternal damnation. Maybe he can avenge them. And maybe, just maybe, he’s got a destiny waiting past that. Monsters and men, merchants and mages, hunters and the hunted. This is the story of the abandoned Sorcerer. What is the Pledge? Release schedule: Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 16:00 UTC. I created the cover using Adobe Illustrator.
44.52 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-21 16:04
Oliver Laws | mystery | Complete
Now available on Amazon! Now available on Audible! The Warped Scorch is known as the most dangerous area on the continent of Lux for good reason. Ever since a strange meteor hit the land and transformed it into a crystal hellscape, all four bordering nations have been trying to establish a foothold in the extremely dangerous new territory and lay claim to its many treasures. Cyrus is a crystal gunslinger, one of the individuals that face the horrors of the Scorch on a daily basis in order to make a living. With his trusty ruby repeater and plenty of experience, he is prepared to deal with whatever challenges the strange creatures and deadly environment can throw at him. But Cyrus will soon learn that the true horrors of the Scorch are much more human in nature, and no matter how hard he tries, escaping his past will be nearly impossible.
52.22 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:02
Kirrelevent | psychological | Complete
Vildra is a simple dragon. All she wants to do is to dig out a nice little den where she can sleep through the winters. A home fit for someone like herself! So what if the mountain she chose just so happens to hold riches unseen before. She'll ignore it as she always does, like with that city next door, or those "suitors" who graciously feed her, or that voice that whispers to her in her sleep. The only things she won't ignore are those centipedes that always seem to find a way in. If only they weren't so cute! Contrary to popular belief, the "richest" Dragon Lord Vildra does not care for material wealth. She seems uninterested in having mates, family, tribe, worshipers, friends, or any other social connection other than servants. She also appears heavily isolated from current events. It is for these reasons, as well as her personality, that she has been designated the True Neutral among Dragon Lords. -Dragon Lord Council
48.80 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:07
Biako | psychological | Complete
An Everlasting. A title given to those who have reached a state closest togodhood. Be it through might and power or through love and compassion. These beings hold great influence over the realms. This story is about Asura, a young orphaned child, who was taught the way of the blade and has mastered the Warrior Arts at a very young age. Given a recommendation by his master, Asura ventures out to broaden his horizons and to learn magic. Follow Asura’s journey and his quest to reach Everlastinghood. Comment by the author: Looking at the chapter list, you might have noticed Volume 1 is not there. The reason is that it’s in the process of being published so I’m somewhat restricted in where and how I can post it. Edit. 18/04/2017 The first volume is now officially on sale. It is no longer possible to get the first volume for free. I am sorry but it was free for a long time and it was time for it. However if you like to support me you can find th first volume here on Amazon (getBook.at/TheEverlasting) Compared to other stories on Royal Road this one is faster paced. No artificial extensions of the story by spending forever in generic constructs, like random ranking tournaments, that don’t really matter for the overall plot. That’s the plan anyway. Volumes consist roughly of 30-35k words. Additionally: I am not a native speaker, nor have I had any formal education in the English language. I am trying very hard to improve myself. If you want to help me by proofreading my story, shoot me a PM and we’ll see if we can arrange something. Other than my thanks and fake internet points I can’t offer anything, though. Yeah, poor student here… Edit 22/06/2017 Hey the story is officially ended if i ever decide to continue it will be on another date. The ending is open for anyone to use their imagination. Thank you all for the support. I hope we could meet later in the Everlasting II. Respectfully Biako
128.26 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:13
fsarbolaez | satire | Complete
A new island rises off the coast after a major earthquake. Soon, small valuable gems are discovered, while the civilians and government begin coming into conflict with one another. However, something primordial stirs deep within the land and under the waves. (Content Warning: Contains foul language, violence, gore, xenophobia, traumatic experience, and moments of allusions to assault, self-harm, and harm ideation)
9.55 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:15
TealiciousTea | satire | Complete
The first chapter is based on a short story originally written by Robert Walzer in 1914, and translated by Christopher Middleton. It is a retelling for 2021 or the "long 2020" by me. The following chapters are originals by myself.
0.83 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:14
Epsilon Twilight | one_shot | Complete
My chimera, my Alta. You were born for greatness. Alta has been trapped for all their life in darkness, a jail warded by demons and other creatures. But as they manage to escape the outside world with a hint of their true lineage, they understand that the outside was far bigger than their prison cell had been. After rescuing a fairy, they shapeshift into one and joins the fairy village, looking to find themselves, rather than their family. Author's synopsis: Gender-fluid, shapeshifting bloodthirsty creature wants to be happy and discover the world. Also fairies. A lot of fairies. WE HAVE ART! [Winner in the Royal Road Writathon challenge April 2023!]
33.36 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:23
Book 1: A Good Man All are to be ordained. All ordained are to be registered. Those who stray from the path become obsolete. These are the tenants the grand Mercian Bureaucracy lives by. None can escape their destined path, lest they become obsolete. The obsolete are hunted down by the ordained assassins, supported by the Mercian government. Follow ordained assassin 2500116, Eli de Winter, as he performs his duties in the grand city of Victoria. Fifteen years ago Eli suddenly found himself in a world unlike his own. Within the maze of the many layered streets of the industrial city he was forced to make a new home, performing acts that would have seen him convicted on Earth. Gangsters, revolutionaries, kings and princes, all are playing a game with the highest stakes. The winds of change are blowing and everybody wants to be on the right side of history. While the powers that might be are making moves in the shadow there is only one question that haunts Eli's mind. Is he a good man, or is he obsolete?
36.80 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:23
TowerCurator | action | Complete
Alyssa Meadows, a worker at a local home improvement store, returns home one evening to her home invaded by burglars. A bad night gets worse when, after accidentally killing one, an angel appears before her and tells her she is destined to die. Alyssa takes exception to that and saves herself, only to find out that angels don't like destiny being messed with. She finds herself shunted off to an alternate world filled with magic and monsters to preserve Earth's future. Story is complete, though you may find a handful of extras at https://www.towercurator.com/vacant-throne/.
556.70 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:57
J P Koenig | action | Complete
When Karson and Ax learn of their father's murder, they are out for blood. But of all the places they expected to wind up in their quest for vengeance, hunting cultists in the Age of Mythology of ancient Greece wasn't one of them. The brothers are in a world of might and magic, and must build up their own strengths if they want to have any chance at survival and revenge. But revenge is a two-edged sword. Will the brothers lose everything? Volume I: Fury (COMPLETE) Karson and Ax are out of their depth. They wanted vengeance for their father's murder. What they got instead was to be thrown into the world the cultists came from. Now they must figure out how to navigate this new world, find allies, and grow strong enough to resume their hunt. But they are in dangerous times, where the Titan's hunt mankind with few gods on their side. Karson and Ax are prepared to vent their fury, but will it cost them their lives?
46.33 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:33
