𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙚...𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧. - Oasis Awards 3rd place - Upon nearing adulthood, citizens of Aegia face the choice to risk it all. For some, it's all about the glory, and living up to their family name. For others, it's an offer of security, of knowing where their next meal is coming from. And so they make the choice to enroll in one of several Academies, where they are taught the ancient texts, the history of the realm, and the sacred runes handed down by the gods themselves. At the end of their time there, they face a series of tests to be sorted into two castes: 𝗔𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀, the elite rulers, advance to the top positions in their field, deciding what is built, what is destroyed, where taxes go...and who lives and dies. And 𝘀𝘆𝗹𝗿𝗮, the servants bound by magic to their Aelaris. Seen as little more than an appendage and status symbol, they spend their days following their Aelaris and living for their demands, completely devoted and content in their role. The bond is considered sacred. It prevents the Aelaris from ever harming their sylra while ensuring the sylra is happy to serve. It is the Rite of Ascension that determines who belongs where, a process that measures worth and potential, through the power of the gods. Rian Argon-son has always believed he was destined to join the ranks of the Aelaris, working tirelessly to prove himself worthy. Meanwhile his nemesis Ileana, born into wealth and privilege, has always seen herself as a true heir to power. Their rivalry has simmered in all their time at the Academy, and now the final testing is upon them. They may be both top of their class, but ultimately the Rite of Ascension will decide everything. Both have prepared. Neither are ready. Cover by @Merlyn_Fereira

For most of her twenty-one years of life, 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙣 has lived in a gilded cage. Though as any young woman would, the princess longs for one thing only; freedom. Freedom to run into the sea, to dance under the sun... to be her very own. Sadly, as merely a pawn in a king's game and with war looming on the horizon, she is asked to put aside desire for duty. Destined to wed 𝙎𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣. A rakish brute of a prince from a heathen country without summer, in need of an heir and a broodmare to produce it. However, when an attempt is made on her life, Rosalyn is assigned a sworn-protector. 𝙎𝙞𝙧 𝙂𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙩 The Butcher; a faceless knight of the Faith and retired crusader with haunted eyes and a penchant for gardening. The soft-spoken knight is unlike anyone she's ever met. A grumpy enigma always hidden beneath a helm. 𝘐𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦... When the threat of war increases, The Butcher is tasked with transporting the princess in secret. A perilous journey that will test not only Geralt's skill as a knight, his faith, his patience, but perhaps even his self control as a mere man. For when forbidden desire blooms, two questions arise: 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘎𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴? 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦... 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩?

Rules have always existed when it comes to the South and the North. Hate, kill, death, violence. In no way should anyone from the North have any kind of relation with the South. It goes for all-friendship and more. We call it the Crimson Protocol. Anastasia Romanova is a spy of the North, known as Agent Scarlet. Her only goal? Take down the South-and especially Agent Black, a cunning, sarcastic, brute man. They have been enemies for God knows how long, battling to get the other killed. But things start to get serious when they finally meet up close. Can they continue to say they hate each other when they are undeniably attracted to each other? Yearn for each other? Enemies in denial. And soon, they start to break those rules.

Opal Mailo has a plan: climb the corporate ladder, perfect her appearance, and finally belong in the elite world of high finance. Fixing her teeth is next on her list. Dr. Apollo Merrill is the orthodontist she's paying to make it happen. He's a sunbeam in a white coat - kind, maddeningly unreadable, and far too observant. He notices the things no one else does, sees past her careful polish, and looks at her in a way that feels a little too personal. As Opal's teeth straighten, the rest of her life begins to unravel. The burnout is blinding. The pull towards Apollo is inconvenient. The "perfect" version of herself is starting to look like a stranger. Caught between who she's becoming and who she's always been, Opal begins to wonder if perfection is worth the cost - and if maybe she doesn't need to be flawless to be worthy of love.