��������

It started out like any other day. How was I to know it was my last day on Earth? You see, on that day, my boss sold me to Doran, the King of Shadows, ally of Chaos, and ruler of one of the three faery courts. Sounds crazy, right? After all, I'm a geneticist, not a slave. Before I knew it, I was transported to another world - a world where the very landscape killed most humans. Somehow, against the odds, I survived. But how? And why was I here? I soon found out that the faeries were barren and facing extinction. The King of Shadows set before me the daunting challenge of finding out why. The consequence for failure? Facing an unbearable fate. But someone or something was out to stop me.... My search for a solution would lead me to secrets about my own origin and to unexpected feelings for this cruel land and its harsh ruler. Oh, Chaos! What a wild ride!

Lyra's life hasn't been ideal. A powerful spellcaster, she's been on the run from her past. Until she is recruited into the legendary Guardians, the age-old protectors of the kingdom of Veloce and thrown into the middle of a civil war. Aiden considers the Guardians his family. Born and raised among them, it was natural for him to join their ranks. But he never expected his world to be turned upside down and a secret he's closely guarded threatened to be revealed. When the assassination of the entire royal family leaves the kingdom in a civil war with the late king's sister and uncle battling for the throne, the two find themselves facing incredible odds after a vicious battle leaves them being the last of the Guardians. But when the sorceress Alora makes her move to create even more chaos, Aiden and Lyra must find a way to stop her. But will their own secrets and pasts destroy them?

In a kingdom veiled in magic and shadows, a young scholar's discovery of an ancient, forbidden rune could change the fate of the world. Lyra, a bright and ambitious student at the Royal Academy, stumbles upon a centuries-old manuscript that reveals a mysterious rune, said to possess immense power. Unknowingly, she activates the Rune of Shadows, unleashing a force that threatens to unravel the very fabric of reality. As dark forces rise and the line between friend and foe blurs, Lyra finds herself at the heart of a dangerous game of power, magic, and destiny. With the enigmatic warrior Kaelen by her side, she embarks on a perilous journey to unlock the Rune's secrets before it falls into the wrong hands. But the Rune is not just an artifact of destruction-its power could also be the key to saving the kingdom, or plunging it into eternal darkness. Lyra must decide who to trust and what sacrifices are worth making, as the ancient magic begins to awaken in ways she never imagined. In this tale of forbidden magic, perilous choices, and an uncertain future, the fate of the kingdom lies in the hands of one reluctant hero. This description provides a glimpse of the central conflict, the stakes, and the characters, while leaving enough mystery to draw readers in. It hints at the dark fantasy atmosphere, the sense of adventure, and the high-stakes journey Lyra is about to embark on.

In the mystical land of Elysium, where magic weaves through every leaf and whispers secrets to the wind, a darkness begins to stir. For centuries, the balance between light and shadow has been maintained by the guardians of Elysium, a group of powerful sorcerers sworn to protect the realm from evil. But when a long-forgotten prophecy resurfaces, foretelling the rise of a malevolent force known only as the shadow, the fate of Elysium hangs in the balance. As whispers of dark omens spread like wildfire, a young orphan named Lyra finds herself thrust into a world of magic and danger. With nothing but a mysterious amulet and her wits to guide her, Lyra embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind the prophecy and stop the shadow from consuming the realm. Along the way, she allies herself with a ragtag group of misfits: a brooding warrior with a haunted past, a cunning thief with a heart of gold, and a wise old sage with secrets of his own. Together, they must navigate treacherous forests, ancient ruins, and deadly creatures as they race against time to thwart the shadow's sinister plans. But as the darkness closes in around them, Lyra discovers that the true power to save Elysium lies within herself - if only she can unlock it in time. Filled with breathtaking magic, epic battles, and unforgettable characters, "The Chronicles of Elysium: The Shadow's Embrace" is a spellbinding tale of courage, friendship, and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of darkness.

FORMER TITLE: Élan: A Youngblood World "Beware that you become not the very monster you ought to slay." Five friends embark on a quest to thwart an all-out cryptid-human war ... while the human-clothed creature among them resists the urging hunger to ravage his companions. When the Cardinal Empire and Nyrhaea's time-forsaken creatures declare war on the human world, an immortal dark entity in the guise of a human, a broken swordsman, a spoiled electric-manipulating technocrat, an unhinged fire-breathing boy, and a magic-less girl whose very existence defies the Laws of Mahika, venture to stop the apocalyptic war. All the while dealing with the complications of entering adulthood. With the grotesque inside him growing hungrier by the day, threatening him of the looming hour he'll fulfill destiny's bidding to be the key to the end of the world, the entity resorts to a mysterious girl who could only be his last hope to free him from the shackles of fate--an antidote given not without an undefined price. But how long can he endure to bury the roots of the calling past? And what are they willing to risk to liberate a world beyond saving where trust, sanity, and long-term camaraderie are put to the test? And where the purpose of life is questioned? *~* Contains a few depictions of blood, violence, and dark psychological elements. Any material from this book is prohibited from being used or republished in any form or other platform without the writer's permission. If you see this story published on sites other than ��������, Webnovel, and Inkitt without the writers' awareness and rightful permission, please report any case as such. Thank you! #12 in yafantasy #22 in high fantasy #12 in epic fantasy #25 in sword and sorcery

**WATTYS 2024 SHORTLISTED** To overthrow the cruel King who brutally slaughtered her foremothers, the last surviving water witch Elara Consuli must team up with novice warrior Juda Vikaris from the Serpent Order and realise an ancient prophecy, before the blood-thirsty ruler discovers her existence and kills her too. Season 1 of The Last Water Witch *** The waters surrounding the Kingdom of Druvaria are deadly. Cursed by the Naiad, the sorceress race wiped out by King Ban-Keren, no one dare step foot into the poisoned waters in fear of certain death. Everyone, that is, apart from Elara Consuli, the last surviving water witch. In Grimefell, the cut-throat slums of the citadel, Elara blends in well with the rest of the accursed thieves and vagabonds lurking in the shadows, but her secret comes with a heavy price. Juda Vikaris, also has a secret of his own. As a skilled novice of the Serpent Order, the brutal assassins loyal to the King, no one escapes his watchful eye or the edge of his blade, and what better way to get revenge for his mother's death at Ban-Keren's hands, than by infiltrating the elite guard itself? But leading a double life is starting to take its toll on Juda as the training of the Order seeks to destroy who he once was and turn him into a cold-blooded, emotionless killer with each passing day. Juda has his own reasons for hating the Naiad and Elara knows all too well that the Serpent Order can never be trusted, but can their mutual hatred of Ban-Keren - and mutual attraction - stop them from betraying one another? In a world of dark secrets and a blood-thirsty King hell-bent on retaining power any way he can, Elara and Juda must decide whether to stand together and fight, or to trust in their natural instincts and remain enemies until the bitter, poisonous end.

As long as people believed that there was a division between the Gifted and the non-Gifted, that one was superior to the other, I wasn't done. As long as there were kings on thrones to reinforce the idea that people like Porter and Briar and everyone else I cared about were unworthy of this world, I wasn't done. "And then," I continued, a resolution forming in my mind. "I'm going to destroy those six thrones." * Wren Heatherfield has been through hell and back, surviving the deadly trials of the Garner and claiming the title of Garner Champion. However, her fight is far from over, with the real challenges only just beginning. Adjusting to her new life in the Ember Court with her insufferable enemy-turned-friend Kesserian Cinis, Wren is forced to face the truth of how close the six courts of Naturian are to a civil war, with Nox and Wren leading the opposing sides. But the fight for allies she can trust might turn out to be just as hard as her internal fight: coming to terms with her true identity. With the loyalties and beliefs of her past and present self at war with each other, Wren must decide who she is and what she stands for if she has any hope of surviving this upcoming war. Plagued by nightmares and trauma from her time in the Garner, Wren must find a way to keep moving forward. With the weight of a crumbling nation on her shoulders, Wren has one chance to fix the injustices that plague Naturian and achieve her dreams of toppling tyranny, but the alluring power of the throne might prove too intoxicating for even her to resist. A fight for her loved ones. A fight for the oppressed. A fight to save the remaining good in Naturian. The chains have been released. Now the real fight begins.

The world is on the brink of annihilation as the Void, an ancient and malevolent force, threatens to consume everything in its path. A prophecy foretells the rise of seven destined kings who must come together to save the realm. Each possesses unique powers, born of light and shadow, yet their union is fraught with tension, mistrust, and the weight of their personal pasts. At the center of the story is Kael, a fiery and determined warrior seeking redemption and purpose. Alongside him are Elysia, a wise and enigmatic mage with a deep connection to the world's hidden truths; Nira, a skilled archer driven by loyalty and fierce independence; Serin, a scholar haunted by the burden of ancient knowledge; Lyra, a rogue whose sharp wit hides a wounded soul; and other allies whose destinies intertwine in unexpected ways. Their journey takes them through perilous trials, from haunted libraries and ancient sanctuaries to crumbling cities torn apart by the Void's corruption. They uncover fragments of the past, learning of an ancient order that once sealed the Void away, and the sacrifices it demanded. Through relentless battles and moments of reflection, they begin to understand the price of wielding their extraordinary powers: the need for balance, unity, and self-awareness. Despite their victories, the world remains scarred. Even after destroying the heart of the Void, cracks remain in the fabric of reality, threatening to fester into something worse. The seven realize their fight is not just against an external darkness but also within themselves, as they grapple with loss, duty, and the temptation of unchecked power. Amidst all this, the story shines with moments of humanity: bonds forged in fire, laughter shared after battles, and the quiet, personal struggles that make each character relatable. These moments of levity and connection serve as a poignant reminder of what they are fighting to protect-a world of fragile beauty and hope.

Step into the unknown, where shadows whisper secrets, and destinies are written in the cosmic fabric. A world where reality is a tapestry of enigma and power awaits those who dare to seek it. Are you ready to unlock the mysteries that lie beyond the veil? In a realm pulsating with otherworldly energy, an amulet holds the key to a destiny yet unwritten. Join Aiden and his team on an extraordinary journey where shifting landscapes, ancient citadels, and guardians converge in a dance of mystery and reckoning. Prepare for a journey where the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Each step unravels a legacy shrouded in shadows, where every choice echoes with the weight of destiny. A crimson glow illuminates the path, hinting at a power that can reshape history and mold the future. Navigate a world that seems to resist intrusion, a sentient entity with its own agenda. Trials and obstacles test the team's wits and resolve as they grapple with the ethical implications of wielding a force that transcends time. "The Legacy of Shadows" unveils chapters of mystery, ethics, and the extraordinary. Are you prepared to venture into a world where every step leads to the unknown? Curiosity Beckons.