Rep and Zalan made their way through Nightfall, often staring at the sky or the horizon.
“What time of day do you think it is?” Zalan asked.
“Penelope told us it was morning,” Rep said.
“Yeah, but like, crack of dawn? Is the sun over the horizon? How far into the morning?” Zalan gazed upward.
“I do not have the slightest idea,” Rep said, equal...
2024-12-09 17:03:01 +0000 UTC View PostZalan stared at Rep, his head shaking slightly in disbelief. Rep’s face was shrouded in guilt, his usually affable nature completely torn away. Zalan scrunched his face, unamused.
“You said you’re the reason I’m here? That doesn’t make any sense, how would that even be possible? Nothing in this realm has access to other worlds, and your Elemental Power can’t do anything ...
2024-12-06 17:03:02 +0000 UTC View PostThe space before them was darkness except for the silhouette of the Mind of Madness drifting their way. Zalan could hear his heartbeat in his ears. He grabbed Rep by the shoulders.
“Did it see us? Do you think it saw us? Maybe it’s just drifting around randomly, right?” Zalan asked in a panic.
“There is not much else to see out here. The fire has likely drawn it right ...
2024-12-04 17:03:02 +0000 UTC View PostRep and Zalan sat across from one another at a fire Rep started with his Elemental Power. They were eating their evening meal as they remained in its warmth. Zalan listened to it crack with a mild jealousy. There was a time in which he could be useful with his own Elemental Lightning. At his Wisdom, he could probably set wood on fire, too. He used to be able to bring people back from the brink ...
2024-12-02 17:03:00 +0000 UTC View Post“Fortunately for us, the journey between Oriton and Nightfall will mostly be along premade paths,” Rep said as they left the city.
Pep pointed ahead of them. The ground was well-trodden, a slight discoloration and indentation of earth from several travelers having taken the road. Zalan wondered what other reasons people had to travel between Oriton and Nightfall.
“What d...
2024-11-29 17:03:01 +0000 UTC View Post“So, how far is this Depths of Despair place from us?” Zalan asked.
“At least a few days worth of travel,” Rep said.
“Then we should get going,” Zalan said, eager to get his next Elemental Power as soon as possible.
“After we gather supplies,” Rep added.
“Supplies like what?”
“Food.”
“Oh… right, yeah, let’s get ...
2024-11-27 17:03:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe next day Rep and Zalan made their way toward Madam Hikma’s building to ask for her advice on finding Zalan another Elemental. Restless, frowning sleep had done Zalan no favors. If anything, it exacerbated his worries.
As Zalan walked through the city, a looming dread fell over his heart. He wondered how fast Morloch would travel and kill off Elementals. Would he try to destroy...
2024-11-25 17:03:00 +0000 UTC View Post“Morloch?” Zalan acknowledged in shock and anger.
“Is that the true name of the Magnanimous One?” a crowd member asked.
“Yeah, that’s Morloch,” Zalan said, somewhat confirming the information to himself.
“Morloch is the name of our savior!” a crowd member called out, the others cheering in delight at the new information.
Morloch looked...
2024-11-22 17:03:00 +0000 UTC View PostRep and Zalan bolted through miles upon miles of distance with help from their Artifacts. They may have passed a few monsters on the way, but Zalan was going at too high a speed to tell between neutral landscape shapes and roaming creatures. The world began sprouting more plants as they passed through the arid climates to more lush environments. Each town they passed by, they asked about whethe...
2024-11-20 17:03:00 +0000 UTC View PostZalan slid until the earth leveled out into a plane before him. He caught himself as he shifted from a slide to a jog, remaining upright and turning to see Rep end his slide beside him. Once they reached the base of the volcano, they looked in the direction they came. Zalan could just make out the silhouette of a human on the horizon. It was warm enough that Zalan wondered if it was a mirage br...
2024-11-18 17:03:00 +0000 UTC View PostRep and Zalan approached the inert body of the Flame Elemental cautiously. It lay face up, its red, glowing eyes glazed over. Its robes danced and looked like they were slight, dying embers. It didn’t rustle in the breeze atop the volcano, as though it existed on a different plane than the world. Its smoldering face had a stillness reserved only for the dead. It looked uncanny and out of a ni...
2024-11-15 17:03:01 +0000 UTC View PostRep guided Zalan to a rocky path that led up the side of the volcano. He seemed to be familiar with the path he walked, confidently making his way forward as the path seemed to lead to nowhere. It wasn’t the easiest hike up, but it was significantly better than going for a sheer climb up a rock wall.
“This is the route I took to scale the volcano. Fran went up the other side, wh...
2024-11-13 17:03:01 +0000 UTC View PostRep and Zalan did not barter when it came to purchasing Zalan a new tunic. Zalan could tell they were severely overcharged by the way the salesman’s eyes widened when they accepted the first price. Between their substantial fortunes gathered from the Castle Docrun, a completely new outfit free of bloodstains didn’t even make a dent in their remaining funds. Zalan didn’t have enough greed ...
2024-11-11 17:03:00 +0000 UTC View PostZalan held up his hand and tried to throw Elemental Lightning out of instinct. He barely had time to register the fact that his Elemental Power wasn’t working. The Thorncharger smashed into his hands, cutting them open in a bloody mess. It continued charging forward, all of Zalan’s Strength was nothing in comparison to its force. He was going to be crushed under its spiked feet.
Rep strapped the Belt of Bolt to his waist, going slowly so Zalan could follow his lead. Zalan was surprised by how light the belt felt on him, despite it being full of so much power. He had seen it used once before by someone that stole his money. Zalan was very light with his movements, worried that he would accidentally activate the Artifact and be sent warping straight into the stone wall s...
2024-11-06 17:03:00 +0000 UTC View PostZalan picked himself up and dusted himself off, glaring at Gorb. Rep looked at him hopefully. Zalan could see the relief in Rep’s face just for him to finally be out of bed. Zalan looked away, not wanting to make eye contact after being dragged outside from his cot.
“You are ready to go see Madam Hikma now?” Rep asked optimistically.
“No,” Gorb answered for Zalan. ...
2024-11-04 17:03:03 +0000 UTC View PostRep stared at Zalan for a few seconds. Zalan lay back down on the cot, an uncaring attitude over his pale face.
“What do you mean? Do you not want to leave the realm anymore?” Rep asked.
“I don’t care about it. It’s not gonna happen,” Zalan said. “The more we try, the worse the outcome. It’s just gonna get more dangerous and both of us are going to end up...
2024-11-01 16:03:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Zalan lay wide awake on the cot in the guild of Journey House. His mind was racing with thoughts of loss and despair. Laying almost entirely still, he wiggled his fingers several times, feeling naked. Power should have been tingling through his arms, begging to be thrown. But it was gone. Taken. He h...
Hello. Hi. Hello. Ah, wait, I said hello twice. I’m checking in for another afterword.
Thanks for reading The Homeseeker Book 3: A Bargain With Fate. I’m really happy with it, and hope the sea-faring wasn’t too long-winded for you (pun partially intended). Three books with no delays, I’m pretty confident I can do the next two with no delays as well! As a...
Zalan lay on the cot for much longer than he anticipated. He thought he would fall asleep as soon as he tried to rest, but the feelings of unease made him insomniac. Paradoxically, he was too tired to sleep. He shifted positions, trying to be more comfortable, but every movement caused his body to cry out in pain. Pain made him feel more awake. Despair made him refuse to sleep. He shivered, ham...
2024-10-21 16:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“Rep!” Zalan said, hovering his hands over Rep in a panic. “You’re… you’re hit bad!”
Rep’s breathing was faint, his eyes listless and his arms grabbing automatically around his chest, as though searching for the missing piece of his body. He didn’t seem like he was hearing Zalan at all. Zalan realized he must have been in some form of shock. He wanted to add pressure to ...
2024-10-18 16:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostZalan twitched on the floor, overwhelmed in physical and psychological pain. The Transfer Table cracked and split in two, collapsing on itself. The Artifact had degraded and slowly began to turn to dust. Zalan looked at it as he convulsed involuntarily. He couldn’t even steal his power back if he wanted to. It was truly gone.
“This is incredible!” Morloch said, amazed by his newfoun...
2024-10-16 16:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostRep groaned in agony. Morloch had no patience for Zalan’s hesitations and pressed down harder on Rep’s neck. Rep’s eyes were shut with pain, but he said nothing. He didn’t want Zalan to do anything on his behalf.
“Either I kill him now and take your power, regardless, or you give it to me willingly and he lives!” Morloch snapped.
Zalan breathed erratically. H...
2024-10-14 15:21:01 +0000 UTC View PostZalan looked around the room for items he could use to conduct electricity toward Morloch as he approached. The golden table would be a great target. Gold was highly conductive, and the lightning’s charge would flow through with minimal resistance. But he was afraid that trying to use it as a weapon would count the same as consenting to give away his power. He had no idea how the Artifact wor...
2024-10-11 16:01:10 +0000 UTC View Post“Nold, let him go!” Zalan raised his arms, threatening to blast him with lightning.
He was worried he would run out of air under the mound of sand.
“No! You will be silent and listen to me!” Nold ordered. “You are a fan of negotiation, yes? I will give you a generous offer!”
Zalan could barely believe his eyes. Nold was shaking with adrenaline, wind whipping ...
2024-10-09 16:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostZalan was brought out of the dark abyss and onto solid ground next to Nold. They were still somewhere deep within the heart of the mountain. Zalan was kind of hoping he would see the sun once he got out of the dark chamber. All he had was Nold’s dim fire to light the area. Nold looked him up and down and nodded to himself, satisfied.
“Just a few cuts and bruises? Are you still a...
2024-10-07 16:02:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe Bright Elemental floated above Zalan for a few tense seconds. Zalan almost wanted to rescind his acceptance in the time it took for it to tell him what the challenge was. He wondered if it was even possible to rescind an Elemental’s challenge once accepted. It felt like the creature was taking extra time thinking about how to make the challenge more difficult. It would be Zalan’s second...
2024-10-04 15:50:51 +0000 UTC View PostZalan stood frozen, rigidity taking over his bones as he waited for another sound. He was certain he heard something in the blind darkness. He felt like a monster was circling him, hunting him down without need of light. Zalan’s breathing quickened considerably, and he kept his eyes wide open as though it would help him see better. Zalan fumbled at his waist and realized he had no sword to us...
2024-10-02 16:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe walls shook violently, throwing both Nold and Zalan off balance. With a deep echoing sound, the walls on the narrow path around Nold and Zalan began to twist. Zalan dropped the pouch of coins, hoping he would deactivate the trap by returning the object from where it came. But he was far too late. The world around Zalan became a blur as he was suddenly thrown spinning in a direction. 2024-09-30 16:02:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Nold slid his way into the hole in the mountain, Zalan close behind. Zalan had never been spelunking before and he was glad he never tried. It was cold and moist. Zalan breathed slowly, needing to exhale to fit through some of the tighter pieces of the cave. He felt claustrophobic and immediately knew that if he ever got back to his world, he would have absolutely no interest in being a caver. ...
2024-09-27 16:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post