Before he became a Knight of Gryphon's Glenn, Marcus Chambers was a commoner with a difficult childhood. Born to a mother who could never love him, he has always believed that he is destined for more. If there is one thing Marcus values above all else, it's power. At sixteen years old, Marcus discovers a hidden temple. Inside, he meets someone who is ready to guide him in his quest for glory. And so, this story begins. Meanwhile, Robin Ellis has been raised in the non-magical realm for most of her life, but when destiny calls, she returns home and finds herself on an epic journey with Pirates, sorcerers, and new allies she never saw coming. If you're curious how Marcus began coming into his powers and want to understand him better, you will enjoy this novella. If you want an introduction to the world of Gryphon's Glenn before you dive into book one, you may also enjoy this story. This novella is a prequel to Gryphon's Glenn. It is a standalone story that is being written for ONC 2026 and was inspired by Prompt #63: A forgotten temple appears overnight in the middle of town, but its doors will only open for those who tell lies. AWARDS: ONC Round 3 Qualifier

Eleven-year-old Ligero Hernandez is swept into a whirlwind adventure when he discovers something by accident. Or was it? How did the writer know so much about him? Together with his friends, he must put the pieces together before it's too late, and he has only seven days to do it.

She wakes with missing hours, a burning imprint carved into her shoulder, and no memory of who put it there. Nyxara Blackvein is an assassin who survives by control. Control over her body. Her blades. Her choices. But the mark beneath her skin has a will of its own, pulling her toward Stillreach-a city protected by an impossible shield and a power no one dares to name. Torin Cross was never part of the plan. A half-elf bard with a charming smile and secrets of his own, he's headed in the same direction for reasons that don't quite add up. When violence forces them to fight side by side, trust forms before either of them is ready for it. Whatever waits in Stillreach is already watching. ONC 2026 Prompts used. 32. Two assassins from rival organizations are sent on the same secret mission, only to realize the assignment holds a much bigger truth. 86. A wasteland hides pockets of thriving communities protected by mysterious shields. 99. You wake up with a strange mark on your skin after a late-night encounter you can barely remember, and its meaning grows more unsettling by the hour. If this is posted on any other site, please let me know. I have not given anyone the right to use it.

❝ DON'T GET LOST IN THE WOODS FOR THEY ARE HUNGRY ❞ Vesnyana died a long time ago. As a rusalka, she is now bound to haunt the waters that took her life-and drown hapless folks in their cold depths to sate her endless hunger. However, her greatest desire remains unfulfilled: to become human again. That is, until the summer solstice, which drives young lovers into the trees in search of the magical fern flower. But only one of them is truly determined to find it. Which is but a game for other youths in the village of Lasow, to Yara seems like the only way to free herself from her sorrows. Little does she know there are far greater ones to come: A new priest arrives, eager to fight the old beliefs and driven by his own dangerous desires. Prophecies and dark omens plaguing Yara and her friend Levik speak of fire on the horizon. And the shadows on the wall start speaking. When death comes riding into Lasow, Yara has to decide whom to trust-and what wishes might be dangerous enough they could cost all of their lives. _______ ONC 2026 ENTRY: PROMPTS 16, 104, 114

The stars whispered to amateur astronomer Levi, and to his alarm, one by one they disappeared within the abyss. But when he witnessed one such disappearance, the star fell to him and took a human form. Explaining Celesta's sudden appearance to suspicious townspeople became an insignificant problem when a Darkness threatened to consume the universe, one star at a time, including the one that warmed his world. A fantasy story written for the 2026 Open Novella Contest, utilizing prompt #69: The stars are disappearing one by one, and only you can hear their whispers.

For Centuries Grim has been collecting souls. It's what he does, it's his purpose. One day, while collecting a soul in the park, he comes across a lost puppy. For reasons he can't explain, the urge to return the small dog to his owner is overwhelming. He soon finds the animal's owner, a woman in her mid-twenties named Maria. He is struck down by her beauty and realizes that he had once claimed the soul of someone she loved. He becomes even more conflicted when he realizes he has just one year to claim her soul.

*This story is written for participation in Open Novella Contest and no earlier draft exist before 1st Feb. The story is based on prompts provided by the event . The Hollowridge Inn has one rule. No humans. Tucked deep within a forest that refuses to appear on any map, the Inn has sheltered witches, vampires, shapeshifters, and beings far older than language for over a century. It is neutral ground. Sanctuary. A carefully balanced refuge for the unseen world. And it has never made a mistake. Until Ethan Carter checks in. Stranded after a mysterious car failure, Ethan is impossibly human-and somehow allowed past wards that have never failed. As the Inn begins to react to him in ways no one understands, one terrifying truth becomes clear: He wasn't invited by accident. When an ancient entity known only as a Collector arrives to claim what it calls "a key," the dysfunctional family that runs the Inn must make a choice-hand Ethan over to protect their fragile peace, or defy powers older than the house itself. But the Inn has already chosen. And it may be willing to burn the worlds down to keep him.