Tag: found family
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Earthborn – Chapter 43: Sense of Sky
The dawn tiptoed silent as a thief. Pale sunlight spread through the thin layer of clouds, and sprinkled a faint glittery dust over the water of the sleeping bay. Mirna, awake since the first signs of light had crept over the horizon, was making her way towards Lily’s room, walking in that swift and deliberate…
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Earthborn – Chapter 42: Ashes
“I could find nothing solid,” said Keth later that afternoon. “Guards claim they saw nothing that warranted suspicion… Servants didn’t want to speak at first, in the end they repeated Evan’s words. I have confirmed the man with the box was indeed one of Venna Fariah’s servants. However no one has seen him in days.”…
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Earthborn – Chapter 41: The Black Box
The sun had just begun to set, draping long shadows along the southern courtyard. Mirna had just finished watering her garden and the smell of damp earth mixed with faint sting of salt carried by the gentle southern wind. Evan sat hunched beneath the low wall, his back against cold stone, carving a seagull out…
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Earthborn – Chapter 40: Fever
Author’s note: Before we begin, I must warn you that this chapter depicts life-threatening childhood illness with visceral intensity. It’s also quite long, so settle in. ‘Fever’ is the story’s darkest hour. But true light can only be found in the deepest darkness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The first sound broke the silence of Eirran’s study like the…
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Earthborn – Chapter 39: Veiled Sight
Lily lay on her back suspended, as warm water of the hot spring held her safe in its gentle embrace. Above her, the last leaves had fallen from the branches, which now spread like dark veins against the white sky. “Make room! Here comes a big one!” Evan’s voice came from above. She rose with…
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Earthborn – Chapter 34: Memory in Water
The leaves on the cherry trees in the palace gardens drifted on the breath of cool autumn breeze, covering the ground like yellow and brown whispers. The fresh scent of citrus had thickened into harsher scents of wood burning in the hearths. The air smelled faintly of rain – though the sky was still clear…
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Earthborn – Chapter 32: Keeper of Sound
Lanterns hung low in the Sixth’ Palace inner courtyard. The breeze swayed them gently, their soft, trickery light casting trembling shadows upon the white stone. Lioran sat beneath the arcade surrounded by four of his peers, whose pristine feathers rasped against silken lliaths like a mockery. “They say he’s been seen more than once,” murmured…
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Earthborn – Chapter 27: The Fall
Pre-chapter author’s note: This chapter is one of the pivotal turning points of the story. It contains violence against a child and scenes of systemic injustice. Please proceed with care. My intent is not to shock, but to be honest about this world. Here is where I fully lean into the use of fantasy genre…
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Earthborn – Chapter 24: Ink in Water
The southern-wing courtyard gleamed in the morning light.Water in shallow bowls caught splinters of sky, and thyme shoots in Mirna’s garden pushed timidly through moist soil. Eirran and Lily stood by the low wall, leaning on opposite sides of the same stone slab.In his hands lay a wooden map etched with fine lines tracing wind…
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Earthborn – Chapter 23: The Weight of a Feather
Four days later, by accident, Mirna saw the feather. She had entered Lily’s room and found her asleep; a serene smile softened her face. The feather, too large and pearlescent to belong to a bird, trembled lightly as the night breeze passed over the soft down. She said nothing to Lily, but her throat tightened.…