All The Lonely People

nasonjelson | psychological | Complete

When our narrator's wife dies, he struggles to be a good parent to his daughter, Eleanor. He wants to be, but he is stuck in a whirlwind of depression; seeing all of his mistakes past and present and how they would negatively impact Eleanor. When he starts having visions of his wife, he starts to question his sanity, but also the makeup of the known universe. Is it a ghost? Is he seeing a mirage from the past? Is he seeing beyond the veil of space and time? It's a journey of self-discovery, but more than that, it's a journey of love, towards love.

49.87 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-21 18:54

Instrumental

FooBarTrixieBell | drama | Complete

Anne was happily ignorant of boys, and girls, until a comment from her sister got under her skin. Now she's just confused. - a lesbian love story, a bit fluffy This novel is complete.

33.85 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 11:43

Black Wolf Howl

Laser Crows | mystery | Complete

Lucas Chambers is a 34-year-old police detective, competent but burnt out from dispensing justice for the shareholders and not the people. He forces himself to continue doing things by the book, believing it to be the only truth & until he and his team are assigned to a security detail that goes sideways. To make matters worse, his team is set up to take the fall. Now a fugitive on the run, Chambers is forced to navigate the underbelly of the Novonachalsk metroplex as he attempts to uncover the truth. Should he resume to do things by the bookthat is, to roll over and accept the gears of the institution grinding him down, like he has all these years? Or is it time for him to pick himself back up and bare his fangs against the system? Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge. Additional note from Laser Crows, posted on January 28th, 2023: This version is the completed first draft of Black Wolf Howl, and is currently undergoing revision for a novel release sometime in the near future. Thank you to all the readers, and to the reviewers for the kind words! Watch this space for updates!

31.46 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:36

Post-Mortem

_Feanor_ | psychological | Complete

Kurou has always been a lazy, insubordinate, foul-mouthed slob. He hates working and talking to others, and more often than not gets involved in some kind of scuffle due to his short temper and constant bad mood. After miraculously surviving an airplane crash, he finds himself in the middle of the Egyptian desert, unaware of his location or why he wasn't among the unfortunate passengers who tragically died that day. Stunned by the whirlwind of events occurring all at once, he is forced to embark on a quest to discover why he cannot die and what is preventing it. Surrounded by unanswered questions, our main character will meet important people, battle zealous followers, monsters, and even gods in his journey into...the unknown. Join Kurou as he walks the path of uncertainty, where even the most certain aspect of his life has been taken away: his mortality. Note from the author: this book is based on Egyptian Mythology.

33.28 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 17:25

Field of Stars

Sway | mystery | Complete

Field of Stars is a beautiful slice of life, romantic drama in which the protagonist, Kaito, and his sister moved in with their aunt after a tragic night they'd both rather forget. It is in the mountainous town of Hakone that he experiences the love found in the bonds of friendship, the unrelenting support of family, and the allure of love between two people meant to be together.

30.72 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 18:40

The Last Utopia: A Fantasy Dystopia Story

Sociable Hermit | sci_fi | Complete

On his 18th birthday, Brayden is tested for his magic powers, like all young adults in the utopian city of Astralis. Yet his dreams of a glorious future are crushed once he turns out to be normal... ordinary. However, his hidden talents manifest only days later. As he explores his newfound powers and the city itself, he pulls away the curtain to uncover the city's true, horrific nature, as well as his own future. Buy the full novel here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082RC6G9W You can also support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hermitscave

39.03 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 09:58

What Crawls Below

somenightsi | horror | Complete

Deep in a cult's mission to bring about the end of the world and under the careful supervision of a twisted spirit, Cyrus - by all outward appearances a teenage boy but harboring the power to cause natural disasters across the world - is kind of busy. Then a girl from his past, dreams of which have been plaguing him for years, re-enters his life. Tuesday is the yin to Cyrus's yang, full of life and a reminder of the innate goodness humanity has to offer. Inexplicably the two are drawn to each other; every moment she spends near him, however, her soul loses some of its brightness. Tuesday doesn't seem to mind and one by one the dominos begin to fall. The world is in danger of ending, and she is only growing closer to helping him set it ablaze.

45.34 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:38

Hyperstitious

Doctor Zero | mystery | Complete

Xan is the world's most dangerous criminal mastermind. He's also in hiding and completely broke. That's fine. He's between master plans. It's normal to be at rock bottom between master plans. He also forgets stuff and may be trapped in a dream. Because at night, Xan thinks he's an old lady, trapped in a dingy apartment, by an angry fellow who wants to kill her. Not her idea of a good time, but she's keeping an open mind. It is excitingly visceral. Could turn out awesome. Hyperstitiousis a sci-fi, progression, comedy. Guaranteed to cause more mental problems than it solves.

36.21 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:50

The Errant Otherworlder

The Cabbage Preacher | historical | Complete

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and trucks whom transport men to other worlds." Meet our titular protagonist Haruto Watanabe, a man who has all the markings of a good protagonist for a generic portal fantasy story. As an overworked office worker, to escape from the grips of crippling capitalist alienation, he had taken up to reading many stories where young men like him were transported to other worlds and enjoyed their lives at a most leisurely pace. Armed with genre-awareness and (what he believes to be) a marketable personality which would make him an easy audience self-insert, he longed for the day the isekai express would take him to his long-awaited adventure to another world. When the fateful day came, where the fair yet harsh mistress that is the fabled truck took Watanabe on one last date to the other side, he was most ready to escape his previous life, ready to embark on an errant so great he'd be most overpowered, his heroics so exceptional and his harem so vast that they would barely fit ten or twenty volumes of an overly long novel made by a desperate author looking for quick cash. Lo and behold however, Watanabe instead found himself in a low fantasy world which lacked severely in the department of any game-like systems, cheat skills or easily charmed damsels in distress. In a setting so antithetical to his established genre savviness or any attempts at power fantasy, how will a man like Watanabe, lacking in strength, wits and courage, manage to survive in a land most foreign to him? The Errant Otherworlder is on indefinite hiatus until the John Brown Isekai is finished.

36.12 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:39

Diary of a Mining Dragon

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

The Living Dragon

IcedFairy | adventure | Complete

The Immigrant Realm. A crossroads between magical domains. A place where heroes from the Greek legends, fairies from Avalon, and youkai from the Realms of Illusion, can meet, trade, and hide from people who want them dead. Exiled witch Helena Aoede falls in the last group, having fled her home in Thebes after angering Apollo. Now she lives in the ghetto, trying to scrape together rent money. So when she's called on to help solve a supernatural murder case, she leaps at the chance. But what was supposed to be a simple consultation rapidly escalates into a blood feud with the 'Living Dragon,' a magician backed by an unstoppable undead monster. Now she's caught in a magical gang war, with only a clueless undead martial artist as backup. Life was so much easier when she could just turn people into pigs.

44.05 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:42

Second Life: Prelude

GrinNoCat | psychological | Complete

You know you're going to die, what's your plan? When John dies and his plan get's enacted, he finds that his second life isn't what he thought it would be. After character generation and a name change it's time to meet the afterlife - and there's something deeply wrong in Nirvana. She has secrets, and punishments to make sure they stay secret. Nirvana isn't living up to her namesake, so what's really going on? Follow Jebediah Walker's oblique path as he navigates his Second Life. This is a hobby for me, so I won't be asking for money or other support. I'm sharing my enjoyment of writing in a community of writers I admire. Generally, chapters will be between 1-2K words, published on Tuesdays and Fridays. If I get more than 8 chapters in drafts I'll release some as bonuses. If you can suffer without all the nice things RoyalRoad does for readers, then you may find content on my website that hasn't been published here. Content there may be going through revision before being posted here, but I know that won't stop you if I left a horrible cliff hanger. Please review my work (here) and share your opinon with me. Your feedback can improve my skill, and my enthusasim can only do so much!

37.39 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 18:54

Radical-9 - 7th Anniversary Edition

Ryan Geever | psychological | Complete

The American Government had collapsed. Life became so much harder for people without someone to guide them. Some cities are completely destroyed. it isn't until a mysterious company named ADATA partners with longstanding technological giant TECHNODOME INC. to create an escape for those still surviving--an escape from reality through virtual reality. This escape is known only as ELYSIUM, an interactable online world where the wearer's imagination comes to life inside the world of Elysium, a medieval land recreated with ancient arts of swords and sorcery. In Aurora, Colorado, one of the better-off cities in America, high school senior, ANDREW CRESS begins his escape into the magical world of Elysium, but he soon finds out that his escape might not be much better than the reality he was trying to escape from as death threatens to take him in its loving grace. Trigger Warnings: Implied Sexual Assault, Violence, Murder

49.69 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:50

Into the Hulk

Necrontyr525 | sci_fi | Complete

Space Hulks : vast amagations of wrecked ships, stray astroids, and precious lost technology. Casth through the hell-scape of the Warp for uncountable yeras, Infested with the Damned and the Alien, and hazardous beyond reason, they are incomparable prizes to anyone who can take them over. Ships that would take hundreds of years to build can be pried from their sides in only decades, relics of bygone eras fetch fortunes large and small, and every data-vault could contain secrets to shake the foundations of reality.Part 3 of the Aegisverse Saga. Second Person is used throughout. If that isn't kosher with you, best to back out now. A Warhammer 40,000Dark Heresy / DeathwatchfanfictionComplete, with a total of53chapters. On the series - This series was first written as a Choose Your own Adventure (CYoA) on the /r/HFY forum. The between chapter votes have been omitted, as they are not part of the story, despite their influence on it. On the the Author's notes - These were included in the original document, and are included here for the purpose of completeness. Spelling, grammatical, and formatting changes have been made in the process of archiving this story and re-formatting it for publication on Royal Road. None of the contents of the story has been substantially affected. Cover by gej302!

37.57 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 11:08

The Bear - First chronicle of the Children of the Bear

Ladylibrary | fantasy | Complete

Bryn Grey-bear is a monster of a man who always gets what he wants. In the midst of changing times in the nation of Valhym, Bryn's influence grows from a bandit to be feared to a legacy that has the potential to change the entire world of En. In this first chronicle of his family and legacy, the Bear builds his home and wicked roots dig deep into Valhym's icy soil. The world shivers in anticipation as Lyra Bryndottr and Fenrin Brynson are born. After all ill begets ill and the children of the Bear are destined to clash. See last part for a map of the World of En. Please note the content warnings. Marked for graphic violence, sexual content, abuse, and torture. Story can also be found on Wattpad.

31.66 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:29

OMEGA

Lyrecius Pytronx (LP) | horror | Complete

Emma Stone: The Protagonist of OMEGAEmma Stone stands as the central figure in OMEGA, and her lineage traces back to the great immortal Dracula, the sole supernatural to attain the coveted status of an OMEGA. Endowed with the comprehensive abilities of various supernaturals, Emma bears the weighty responsibility of a singular mission  to forge peace among the diverse colonies and clans.In her pursuit of peace, Emma encounters formidable adversaries seeking to seize what she uniquely possesses, even as she endeavors to champion the greater good for all. Synopsis: A World in TurmoilFor centuries, supernaturals and mortals coexisted, forming an alliance to combat the looming threat known as the IMPERISHABLES. Dracula, patriarch of all vampires and the immortal realm, made the ultimate sacrifice, ushering in an era of peace that endured for five centuries. Yet, the echoes of conflict reverberated anew among the supernaturals, leading to a war that fractured their unity and power. Amidst this discord, factions emerged, dividing the supernaturals into colonies and clans, where the insidious allure of absolute power continued to sow corruption. Content Warning: A Tale of StrifeReaders delving into OMEGA should be prepared for chapters that vividly depict violence, touch upon themes of sexism, and include elements of LGBTQ representation. These facets, while integral to the narrative, may be unsettling for some readers.

35.11 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 17:29

The Untitled: Paradise Beginnings - I

Basiyr | romance | Complete

Denarrow B. Ace comes from the rural mountainous country to the modernistic concrete jungle of Midcity in search of a purpose in life. To begin this ambiguous journey, he enters a fighting tournament where his opponents can level whole city-wide blocks with little to no effort. Without any powers alike, Ace has to work with his mastery in the art of combat in order to best his god-like foes. Meanwhile, a terrorist known to everyone as Hate has infiltrated the Midcity setting off the national alarm. With the efforts of the Hero Association, Midcity's Police Department, the government, and a certain vigilante, the priority is high to kill the most dangerous man in recorded history.

45.13 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 14:57

The Spell Struck Convenience Store.

Spleen23 | contemporary | Complete

Modern day world were magic is hidden, not out of fear, but because it's a limited resource. Mage who was kicked out of his family because his spells go wrong ends up sending the convenience store he works in to a ever changing fantasy landscape after being shot during a robbery. His shooter ends up in a copy in hell, and a Magical Incident Bureau agent is trying to figure out what just what exactly happened and why. Finished work

34.85 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:05

The Official Douche Bag Travel Guide of Chad Barrington

PJ_Lowry | satire | Complete

After having a tantrum in court that lands him in contempt, Chad Barrington is forced to seek counseling and take two months off. Unable to work, this top notch lawyer decides to go on vacation and sooth his battered ego. Chad quickly learns that it's possible to be a total Douche in paradise as well...

30.43 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:20

Dice Cultivation: Brotherhood

Ihdob Laprok | tragedy | Complete

Roll for power! Enril and Zelek, cousins who's bond knows no bounds, are about to come of age - a pivotal moment which will change their lives forever. In Heaven's Vale, power reigns supreme. Under the guidance of their clan, they form the one-hundred-sided object which will shape their future: the riken Filter. Not all Filters are created equal, though. Can these boys overcome their clan's lowly status and grow into power? Will their bond persevere through trial and tribulation, or force them apart in disgust and jealousy? Join these boys on their journey in growth, understanding, and self-discovery in this tale of cultivation where dice determine destiny!

30.45 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:26