As a spare heir and hero of the last war, Wystan would like nothing more than to enjoy retirement while teaching recruits and drinking up his inheritance. After stepping on the wrong toes, he is reinstated early and finds himself on a quest to slay a dragon in the Southern Lands of the Empire. Unwanted and feared, the merry band of the Empire's mercenaries joins him on the journey, for they have been ordered to die with him in not so many words. While the rumors consist of a tale of a feral, man-eating dragon, a captured princess, and a dreary, impenetrable fortress of a tower where both dwell, Wystan learns that stories are just that: stories. The tower is not impenetrable nor dreary. On the contrary, it's quite homey with warm rugs, shiny chandeliers, and the fire roaring in every heart. The dragon ignores humans like a person would an ant. And the princess... Is in fact a prince. The runaway prince of the Zmaya Kingdom enjoys making Wystan's days harder. Smooth-tongued and shrewd, Alexei offers their party a place to stay after hearing about their grim fate. Uncovered coincidences and secrets imply a connection between him and the dragon. If Wystan returns home empty-handed, the Emperor would hang him. But it's not just his life at stake, the mercenaries become comrades in arms. Wystan is forced to entertain Alexei's whims while unraveling the truth behind the man's meddling, the dragon's presence, and the Empire's betrayal.

| Round 2 Winner & Ambassador's Pick | Nightshade. It's a name spoken only in whispers for fear that speaking it aloud will summon her. It's the air of death that hangs on the wind and lurks in shadows. It's a curse, a deadly blight that leaves pain, misery, and a single purple flower. Azalea is a weapon, forged in blood and pain. By night, she lurks in the shadows, using her skills to make a name for herself under the careful eye of the King of Assassins. By day, she's nothing more than a simple lady, a ward of a wealthy Lord. When a contract goes wrong, Azalea must use all of her skills to play a deadly game- one that leaves her in the midst of her enemies. Beneath her jewels and lace, a monster waits. But something far darker lurks on her horizon. |Prompts 33 & 62|

[ONC Shortlister - 4x Featured] Professional thief and smuggler, Nio Barn, lives by one rule: break them all. When his criminal past finally catches up to him, he's faced with a choice: win the world's most dangerous racing competition in exchange for freedom or face a lifetime in an overcrowded prison cell. As he enters a world of high-speed thrills, deception and betrayal, Nio realises that life in the Speed Sprint races is far from easy. Forced into a fake relationship with his teammate to keep the money flowing, Nio instead feels more drawn to his fiercest competitor, Ruben Vincuña. With ten races across ten different countries, the stakes are high and the tension is palpable. Only one can be crowned champion. Only one can be free. Death is but a corner away. Written for the Open Novella Contest 2023, based on the prompts: 69 - I had a marvellous time ruining everything - Taylor Swift 49 - Master the rules of the game until you play it better than they can - Michael Scott Four times featured: Romance - Rainbow of Love Dystopian & Apocalypse - Rebellion: Against The System Speculative Fiction - A Crack In The System Science Fiction - Punk Fiction

ONC 2023 Shortlister, An Ambys 2024 Favourite (Fright) & Fright Pride Month Feature 2025. *** Accomplished writer Ríone Embers' life takes a turn when she learns from the solicitor that her dead mother has left her their childhood home in Loutham. It unearths memories buried deep in her past, threatening to unravel the life she has made since leaving that place. Seeking the advice of her therapist, she decides to confront the demons of her past. Nestled by the ocean, Loutham is a quiet town with no discerning feature that might make it different from any other American small town. It's forgettable, a mere pointer on a map. Yet it has a chilling secret hidden in the very waters by which it is situated. And it is calling Ríone to come back home. *** Started: 1/02/2023 Ended: 15/04/2023 Cover Credits: @MoranaInDesign (a total magician!)