AN OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2026 ENTRY A misfit painter who gets drafted to the front lines has to investigate his brother's death, find an ancient artifact in the heart of war, and buy his way to freedom. ⋯⋯⋯ Alistair Wyckholm, a student of the prestigious Lyllan University of Magic, is a painter, not a soldier, but after his brother's death, their father sends the next best thing―him. When news of an ancient but cursed artifact found in the front lines broke out, Alistair may just go to war, just not to fight. Juggling adventure and the trenches is never easy, especially with the mysterious circumstances surrounding his brother's death. Now, with a case at hand, a treasure to seek, and a war to survive, Alistair must fight for his future that may never come. From the author of the award-winning novella, 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, comes a story of privilege, wealth, and the divide between the elite and the common. Ideals are a salvation for many, but in the quest for freedom and power, sometimes, they are the first to go. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2026 (First Edition) Sporadic updates until complete. [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby]

AN OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2026 ENTRY A misfit businessman must find an escaped beast before it wreaks havoc in the last place it should: inside the campus. ⋯⋯⋯ For Alexi Jansen, a third-year student and a full-time arms dealer and exotic animal breeder, security is his currency. So when a shape-shifting beast escapes his menagerie, the last thing he expects is to find its traces in the Lyllan University of Magic where absolutely no one should know of his...extracurricular activities. Now, he has to capture the beast, scrub clean its prints, and find out who released it―all before it leaves a clue he can never cover up. From the author of the award-winning novella, 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, comes a story of privilege, wealth, and the divide between the elite and the common. Ideals are a salvation for many, but in the quest for freedom and power, sometimes, they are the first to go. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2026 (First Edition) Sporadic updates until complete. [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby]

AN OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2026 ENTRY To assume her mother's title as the forest's guardian, a young elf-witch works with a common thief to unravel the truth behind a life-devouring blight-and the ancient dragon at its heart. ⋯⋯⋯ Princess Adalese has two problems: a life-eating Blight is devouring the forest, and her soulmate is destined to kill her. Mikal, a jaded thief from the Wastelands, has two options: steal a dragon's heart for coin or starve. His only obstacle? An eccentric princess and her overbearing witch-mother who seem determined to end him. As the Blight sweeps into Terrelis, Adalese and Mikal band together to uncover the truth to the ancient dragon's magic and the wasteland's past. But in a world where magic and defying fate require hefty prices, saving the forest may mean losing each other. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2026 (First Edition) Sporadic updates until complete. [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby]

AN OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2026 ENTRY To revive the fallen God of Spring, the God of Winter must journey to the sky's end with the God of Death, only to realize that bringing back Spring may cost him his own soul. ⋯⋯⋯ ❝ɴᴏᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɢᴏᴅꜱ ᴄᴀɴ ꜱᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ.❞ Muli, the God of Winter, is a threat. His touch brings death, and Xua, the God of Spring, learned this too late. With the Star of Spring gone, the mortal realm is trapped in an endless winter. To bring Xua back to life, Muli must reach the Edge of the Stars, and he cannot do it alone. With the help of Ansa, the elusive God of Death, Muli's journey through the seven kingdoms forces him to face his past, present, and future. As they approach the Edge of the Stars, the cost of their mission becomes clearer. To save a life, Muli must choose what he is willing to give up: his soul or the god he loves. The gates are open. The stars are watching. And Muli is about to discover the ultimate truth. ❝ɴᴏᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɢᴏᴅꜱ ᴄᴀɴ ꜱᴀᴠᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ.❞ ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2026 (First Edition) UPDATES WEEKLY ON MONDAYS, 8:00 AM (GMT+8, SGT) [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby]

A princess bent on fighting crime falls into disgrace after a failed mission. A disillusioned noble turns to outlaws to bring about change. A blacksmith chases renown in the form of a legendary blade, and a soldier betrayed by the regime plots a rebellion. A prodigy avails criminal help to rise in military ranks, and a sheltered boy discovers a wide, magical world beyond his prison. When the outlaws grow restless against imperial rule and an unknown syndicate pulling the strings surfaces, these paths will converge, giving way into a battle between lost souls, cornered prey, and crafty crooks in the shadows of Osa Elore. War is an easy choice to take towards one's goals, but with a strong will and clever schemes, it can surely become the only one. In a continuation of the cherished high fantasy series, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢, delve into the region of Osa Elore where power is not an end but a means to it, and fate is nothing but a pawn in a larger game of adventure, desire, and betrayal. Together, unveil what awaits us beyond the borders. AN INSTALLMENT OF BEYOND BORDERS ALTERNATES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• UPDATES WEEKLY ON SATURDAYS, 10:00 PM (GMT+8, SGT)/3:00 PM (GMT+1, CET) © 2025 (First Edition) [130,000 - 140,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] NOTE: Knowledge of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 main series is not important for this series. However, all the books are completed and available in my profile, @Exequinne.

A healer pursues a cure for the plague when her family falls ill. A dethroned princess navigates a coup against her. An operative with a stolen soul escapes a life of slavery. A scholar starts a mission for freedom, and a merchant deals with strange visions in search of her loved ones. A bounty hunter tied by debts takes on a harmless assignment in exchange for a high pay, and a silent outcast travels to ancient ruins to uncover the truth to his soul. When opposing sides, diverging political ideology, and unseen hands pulling strings clash, these paths will intersect in fateful ways, ushering them into conflicts brought about by brittle bonds and twisted fates. The depths call out in turmoil, and if they let it, there may be nothing left of Shehas Serin by dawn. In a continuation of the cherished high fantasy series, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢, delve into the underwater realm of Shehas Serin where power is not an end but a means to it, and fate is nothing but a pawn in a larger game of adventure, desire, and betrayal. Together, unveil what awaits us beyond the borders. AN INSTALLMENT OF BEYOND BORDERS ALTERNATES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• UPDATES WEEKLY ON FRIDAYS, 10:00 PM (GMT+8, SGT)/3:00 PM (GMT+1, CET) © 2025 (First Edition) [145,000 - 155,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] NOTE: Knowledge of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 main series is not important for this series. However, all the books are completed and available in my profile, @Exequinne.

An agent tackles two challenging cases of theft, revealing dangers underneath. A scholar uncovers the soul's secrets to save his city from havoc. An orphan sneaks under the government's senses, nursing a deadly secret. An information broker loses everything and seeks revenge. When a faceless threat steals the spotlight from a recently imprisoned crime tycoon, these paths will weave together, leading into a death-defying race for forgotten mysteries bridging ideals and reality. Truth governs every inch of Olsa Reon, but under the pressure of greed and sin, it may not last long. In a continuation of the cherished high fantasy series, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢, delve into the region of Olsa Reon, where power is not an end but a means to it, and fate is nothing but a pawn in a larger game of adventure, desire, and betrayal. Together, unveil what awaits us beyond the borders. AN INSTALLMENT OF BEYOND BORDERS ALTERNATES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• UPDATES WEEKLY ON THURSDAYS, 10:00 PM (GMT+8, SGT)/3:00 PM (GMT+1, CET) © 2024 (First Edition) [110,000 - 120,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] NOTE: Knowledge of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 main series is not important for this series. However, all the books are completed and available in my profile, @Exequinne.

A war survivor navigates a world born from conquest and prevents empires from falling. An outcast escapes prison and finds death and destruction outside it along with an orphaned child. A detective investigates a series of strange murders near bodies of water, and a soldier searches for a missing monarch with no leads. When a violent conqueror threatens the kingdoms of Esana Talos, these paths will meet, herding them into a ruin they may never recover from. Blood stains the grass of Azora Avia, and if they don't stop the conqueror's plans, it will not be long before it coats the rest of the continent as well. In a continuation of the cherished high fantasy series, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢, delve into the continent, Esana Talos, where power is not an end but a means to it, and fate is nothing but a pawn in a larger game of adventure, desire, and betrayal. Together, unveil what awaits us beyond the borders. AN INSTALLMENT OF BEYOND BORDERS ALTERNATES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• UPDATES WEEKLY ON WEDNESDAYS, 10:00 PM (GMT+8, SGT)/3:00 PM (GMT+1, CET) © 2025 (First Edition) [135,000 - 145,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] NOTE: Knowledge of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 main series is not important for this series. However, all the books are completed and available in my profile, @Exequinne.

A thief betrays his comrades in exchange for treasure. A courtesan in debt enters a desperate deal to save his lover. An adventurer embarks on a journey for a legendary secret. A faceless mercenary tackles a mysterious assignment for a hearty pay. An orphan escapes creatures born from darkness. An ex-convict uncovers forgotten history in a shadow organization. A scholar investigates strange natural phenomena in a quest for acceptance, and a deposed ruler navigates a world of danger on the journey back to power. When signs of history repeating bleed from the darkness, these paths will connect in surprising ways, thrusting them into a trial of blood and fire and the threat of an eternal night echoing from the past. Havoc is the stench of the air in Maeri Maurasi, and if they are not careful, it can stain even their souls. In a continuation of the cherished high fantasy series, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢, delve into the region of Maeri Maurasi where power is not an end but a means to it, and fate is nothing but a pawn in a larger game of adventure, desire, and betrayal. Together, unveil what awaits us beyond the borders. AN INSTALLMENT OF BEYOND BORDERS ALTERNATES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [155,000 - 165,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] NOTE: Knowledge of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 main series is not important for this series. However, all the books are completed and available in my profile, @Exequinne.

A witch runs from poverty by joining an assassin guild. An oppressed inventor pushes for a cause even if it means danger. An alchemist hunts for the famed Elixir of Life, and a struggling academic discovers powerful magic by accident. A warrior escapes chaos after finding a sentient blade, and a mage absolves an ancient guilt by tackling a doomed trail. When political agenda, hidden plans for domination, and warring factions rise from the shadows, these paths will cross in unexpected ways, stringing along a game of power and a war of fate and history. After an era of false peace, destruction may come to Alch Serin, and it may be sooner than expected. In a continuation of the cherished high fantasy series, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢, delve into the elven continent, Alch Serin, where power is not an end but a means to it, and fate is nothing but a pawn in a larger game of adventure, desire, and betrayal. Together, unveil what awaits us beyond the borders. AN INSTALLMENT OF BEYOND BORDERS ALTERNATES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• UPDATES WEEKLY ON SUNDAYS, 10:00 PM (GMT+8, SGT)/3:00 PM (GMT+1, CET) © 2024 (First Edition) [180,000 - 190,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] NOTE: Knowledge of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 main series is not important for this series. However, all the books are completed and available in my profile, @Exequinne.