Hey all! As per the title, it’s release day for book five!
If you’d like to snag a copy, you can find the book here.
As we’re on Patreon, most people reading this have already supported the book more than I could ask for, and it’s hard to express how much I really appreciate that, as it’s the only reason I’m able to continue to write. Please feel free to ignore the rest of this post if...
2025-11-22 14:03:35 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi all! As per the title, book 5, titled Patchwork Endings, is out for preorder! It will be released on the 22nd (this Saturday), and if you’d like to snag a copy, you can find it here.
There weren’t any retcons or overarching book-wide edits, although I did swap a few chapters around in the demon arc to clean that entire section up. I also worked to tighten up the ending fight a bit ...
2025-11-15 13:15:18 +0000 UTC View PostHi all. Book five is now finished!
As advertised back here, I’ll be taking a longer break from Protagonist, first to edit and publish book five, and then to switch to a new series for a bit.
I’ll likely be making a few more posts over the coming months, some about the book five release, an...
2025-07-31 12:02:01 +0000 UTC View PostSix Months Later…
Hidden within a seemingly endless expanse of dry and barren earth, a lone settlement sat under the light of the moon.
That, in and of itself, was quite the feat. Only a few years back, the land had been permanently shrouded by a thick layer of darkness, both sun and moon alike not permitted to show their faces. Now, few signs of that ordeal remained.
In sharp contrast to the surrounding environment, a lush forest enveloped nearly...
2025-07-31 12:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostAs she flew through the gaping ritual portal, there were about a dozen reasons for Verin to curse. Some of them, it had to be said, were far
AN: Not the final chapter. One more to go.
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As she flew through the gaping ritual portal, there were about a dozen reasons for Verin to curse. Some of them, it had to be said, were far more important than others.
Even so, she first cursed herself for not tying her recall gem ...
2025-07-28 12:00:19 +0000 UTC View PostHaving fought beside Cal and Verin for years now, I knew their fighting styles almost as well as my own, which meant I knew that Verin wouldn’t be all that hard to take out of the fight.
At least, that’s what I thought. As I dashed forth to deal with her first, an explosion of frost took me by surprise. Shielding my face from the unexpected wave of hail and slush, I had a second shock waiting for me as soon as I dropped my arms.
There, where once Verin had been, was now a fami...
2025-07-26 12:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostAN: Shorter chapter today. Hope to fold it into the next chapter in edits, but it felt right as it is for now. Hope you all enjoy!
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Reactive Armor activated!
Right before Cal’s blade could lop my leg off, my plate armor materialized. While I didn’t have time to send much mana into the armor, the class trial bonus from Overload Armor came to the rescue, passively empowering my defenses for free...
2025-07-24 12:00:16 +0000 UTC View PostTwo weeks later, I carefully traced my stylus across a massive slab of stone, letting it carve out an intricate pattern that would soon serve as a spatial ritual.
When I’d initially informed the others of my plan, we’d eventually agreed to go through with it. After all, when faced with an opportunity to leave the dungeon behind, what was there to possibly say?
As it turned out: a lot. Case in point, even as I worked, Cal swooped in from behind, peering over my shoulder.
...
2025-07-21 12:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostThe hydra’s reception was largely positive, even if Verin eyed it a bit warily after I warned her about the mosses’ poisonous natures. Spurred on by daily casts of Vivify, the moss finally began to look how I’d envisioned it, giving the brand new statue a sort of ageless, weathered charm.
Ultimately, I decided I was mostly happy with how it had turned out, though it was undeniably a bit rough around the edges. With my Stonemasonry having started at level ten, I h...
2025-07-19 12:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostI left Sett with a pep in my step feeling lighter than I had in ages. For one, my talk with him had gone far better than I’d expected. I was glad that Cal and Verin hadn’t joined me, as that gave me some time before I broke the news. I would, but I wanted a bit more dungeon normalcy before we had that discussion.
And as the cherry on top, I had a new spell!
If the previous ranks had come with a lot of options, then the Adept rank offered even more. A few genuine attack options...
2025-07-17 12:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostCooking has reached level 25! As advertised, the very first thing we did on returning to the prairie was celebrate. With how long I’d been g
Cooking has reached level 25!
As advertised, the very first thing we did on returning to the prairie was celebrate. With how long I’d been gone, it had been well over a month since anyone had visited Arbor, and a quick visit replenished our grossly depleted larder.
Given our recent successes on the fo...
2025-07-14 12:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostAs Cal watched Cezerra and her drudges stampede through the temple, time seemed to freeze.
A very small part of her was searching for some half-forgotten ability she could activate to save the day. Some new class skill that would perfectly fix the situation, keeping the boss from getting to Verin. Or, failing that, that Tess would pull something out of her ass, as she so often did.
But deep down, she knew.
There was one way to fix everything. And it was easy....
2025-07-12 12:00:11 +0000 UTC View PostAN: Two chapters today to make up for missing Monday. Make sure you've read chapter 47 before coming here. In other news, while I've been ba
AN: Two chapters today to make up for missing Monday. Make sure you've read chapter 47 before coming here.
In other news, while I've been bad about posting, I've been pretty good about writing lately! Suppose it depends how much I get done today, but it's looking like I'll finish up book 5 by the end of the day. There...
2025-07-03 14:25:45 +0000 UTC View PostDirectly abutting the demonic region sat a wide swath of land entirely forged from sharp and glossy black rocks. The various pathways throug
Directly abutting the demonic region sat a wide swath of land entirely forged from sharp and glossy black rocks. The various pathways through the region were often narrow and treacherous, filled with jagged protrusions that threatened to cut into any unwary travelers. And indeed, if one were to look closely, they might find a trail of blood-coated ...
2025-07-03 14:18:56 +0000 UTC View PostIn some ways, my first successful summoning didn’t change all that much. It wasn’t as if Cezerra suddenly let me go, after all. Whenever I w
In some ways, my first successful summoning didn’t change all that much. It wasn’t as if Cezerra suddenly let me go, after all. Whenever I was awake, I was still at her beck and call, and whenever it was time to sleep, I continued to claim the ritual chamber as my makeshift bedroom.
Still, in smaller ways, the difference was clear. Fo...
2025-06-26 12:00:13 +0000 UTC View Post“Pathetic!” With a roar of disapproval, Cezerra lashed out, her fist closing in on a small tear in space hanging by her head. The moment her
“Pathetic!” With a roar of disapproval, Cezerra lashed out, her fist closing in on a small tear in space hanging by her head. The moment her strike connected, the portal shattered and dissipated, dealing a costly blow to my mana reserves.
What was worse was that she was right. It was pathetic. While I’d chosen Portal 2025-06-23 12:00:16 +0000 UTC View Post
TLDR: We’re back! Book five posting continues mostly normally. After book five is done, I’m going on a temporary hiatus. Billing is paused.
Hi all!
First want to say sorry for going AWOL for the last week. I appreciate those who reached out and want to assure everyone I’m perfectly fine and nothing major has happened. I mostly just bit off a bit more than I could chew this month, non-writing wise. Got a bit overwhelmed and did not take care of my body ...
2025-06-19 13:55:30 +0000 UTC View PostAN: We're back! Sorry for the big delays, all. Update post incoming. More details there, but want to call out that I've paused billing to gi
AN: We're back! Sorry for the big delays, all. Update post incoming. More details there, but want to call out that I've paused billing to give everyone a free month for the missed chapters.
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Joy was the obvious first reaction on seeing Cal alive and well. Fear was the obvious second.
“Shh! She co...
2025-06-19 12:00:16 +0000 UTC View PostAN: Two notes! One, I owe an extra chapter from Thursday -- waaay overbooked until the middle of the month, and it's hitting my writing a bi
AN: Two notes! One, I owe an extra chapter from Thursday -- waaay overbooked until the middle of the month, and it's hitting my writing a bit harder than I hoped. Minus a few formatting bits, the next chapter is already written, and I'll post it tomorrow.
Secondly, I'm doing a minor retcon. I felt wishy-washy in sayin...
2025-06-09 12:00:13 +0000 UTC View PostIf it wasn’t clear already from her class name, then Cezerra’s mad rush confirmed that she was a melee fighter. In that regard, I was at a c
If it wasn’t clear already from her class name, then Cezerra’s mad rush confirmed that she was a melee fighter. In that regard, I was at a c
If it wasn’t clear already from her class name, then Cezerra’s mad rush confirmed that she was a melee fighter. In that regard, I was at a clear advantage.
As the first blow came for my...
2025-06-02 12:21:54 +0000 UTC View PostAN: Been a bit bleh for the past few days. Next chapter still planned for Monday. Slightly smaller chapter today, but mostly because I'm thi
AN: Been a bit bleh for the past few days. Next chapter still planned for Monday. Slightly smaller chapter today, but mostly because I'm thinking of combining this chapter with the first half of 39 to make it a bit more seamless instead of jumping around as much, and then maybe having the Cal reveal come after. In any case, happy reading! 2025-05-31 06:51:08 +0000 UTC View Post
Though her father had only demanded that she read him a single line of her character sheet, Cal continued to look through the rest of her st
Though her father had only demanded that she read him a single line of her character sheet, Cal continued to look through the rest of her status. Though she’d long since memorized it all, she found the information fascinating.
Name: Calilah
Age: 2
Race: Halfling (Hu...
2025-05-26 12:00:15 +0000 UTC View PostBefore I even opened my eyes, two things stood out to me. First, my Transitory Hut of Restful Slumber was already paying off. This was not t
Before I even opened my eyes, two things stood out to me. First, my Transitory Hut of Restful Slumber was already paying off. This was not t
Before I even opened my eyes, two things stood out to me. First, my Transitory Hut of Restful Slumber was already paying off. This was not t
Before I even opened my eyes, two things stood out to me...
2025-05-22 12:00:11 +0000 UTC View PostHi all. As the title says, it's release day for book four! Woohoo!
If you'd like to snag a copy to refer to or just have in your library in general, you can find the book here.
If you're reading this, you're probably a paid patron, which means you're already supporting the series a ton, and it's hard to express how much I appreciate that. Please feel free to completely ignore this post if you'd l...
2025-05-19 12:02:01 +0000 UTC View PostIn one sense, the new region was entirely unalike from the mental region in which we’d found the last collection site. Unfortunately, it was
In one sense, the new region was entirely unalike from the mental region in which we’d found the last collection site. Unfortunately, it was
In one sense, the new region was entirely unalike from the mental region in which we’d found the last collection site. Unfortunately, it wasn’t nearly as small. Even after pushing forward for an ...
2025-05-19 12:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi all. Now that we’re well into book five, it’s time to publish book four to Amazon! Woohoo!
Book four, titled Patchwork Skies, is now available for pre-order. If you’d like to snag a copy, you can find it here. The release date will be this upcoming Monday the 19th.
I’ll be making a longer post on Monday (largely to shill for ratings and reviews), but for now, I just want to say...
2025-05-16 12:00:16 +0000 UTC View PostAs Cal continued to drag us from one region to the next, our humble vacation slowly transformed back into the routine we’d long since grown
As Cal continued to drag us from one region to the next, our humble vacation slowly transformed back into the routine we’d long since grown used to.
Explore a region.
Clear it if we could.
Retreat back to the prairie.
Admittedly, it took a while before we were back in full fighting force. For me and Veri...
2025-05-16 11:59:01 +0000 UTC View Post“Ahhhhhh.” Leaning back against the side of a steaming, scalding pool of water, Cal closed her eyes, letting her body slowly sink deeper in.
“Ahhhhhh.” Leaning back against the side of a steaming, scalding pool of water, Cal closed her eyes, letting her body slowly sink deeper in. “Not going to lie, but this is way better than the baths we have back in the prairie. No offense, Tess.”
“None taken.” After all, how could there be? I fully agreed. Presently, I was only...
2025-05-12 12:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostWith Cal back and Verin able to use her mana again, there was a sizable part of me that was itching to set off and start clearing regions ag
With Cal back and Verin able to use her mana again, there was a sizable part of me that was itching to set off and start clearing regions again. Unfortunately, three things kept us from venturing off immediately.
Firstly, Cal was due a break. Even counting our debacle in the spatial region, none of us had ever been away from the prairie for s...
2025-05-08 12:00:12 +0000 UTC View PostMore than her dramatic entrance, it was the sight of Cal that brought me up short. Theoretically, I’d known that she could return at any mo
More than her dramatic entrance, it was the sight of Cal that brought me up short.
Theoretically, I’d known that she could return at any moment. In fact, as each month passed by, I grew increasingly convinced she’d stop by, if just to give us an update on her progress. While the whole “smashing down our front door” routin...
2025-05-07 08:19:49 +0000 UTC View Post