Rep and Zalan made their way through Nightfall, often staring at the sky or the horizon.
“What time of day do you think it is?” Zalan asked.
“Penelope told us it was morning,” Rep said.
“Yeah, but like, crack of dawn? Is the sun over the horizon? How far into the morning?” Zalan gazed upward.
“I do not have the slightest idea,” Rep said, equally curious.
They couldn’t see a moon or sun anywhere in the sky. Zalan wondered how th...
2024-12-09 17:03:01 +0000 UTC
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Zalan stared at Rep, his head shaking slightly in disbelief. Rep’s face was shrouded in guilt, his usually affable nature completely torn away. Zalan scrunched his face, unamused.
“You said you’re the reason I’m here? That doesn’t make any sense, how would that even be possible? Nothing in this realm has access to other worlds, and your Elemental Power can’t do anything that big,” Zalan said, already in denial.
“That is true. My Elemental Power would no...
2024-12-06 17:03:02 +0000 UTC
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The space before them was darkness except for the silhouette of the Mind of Madness drifting their way. Zalan could hear his heartbeat in his ears. He grabbed Rep by the shoulders.
“Did it see us? Do you think it saw us? Maybe it’s just drifting around randomly, right?” Zalan asked in a panic.
“There is not much else to see out here. The fire has likely drawn it right to us,” Rep said gravely. “We have to leave our campsite and hide ourselves.”
“Hide wh...
2024-12-04 17:03:02 +0000 UTC
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Rep and Zalan sat across from one another at a fire Rep started with his Elemental Power. They were eating their evening meal as they remained in its warmth. Zalan listened to it crack with a mild jealousy. There was a time in which he could be useful with his own Elemental Lightning. At his Wisdom, he could probably set wood on fire, too. He used to be able to bring people back from the brink of death with an electric shock. Rep could still do amazing things like light up dark places and sta...
2024-12-02 17:03:00 +0000 UTC
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“Fortunately for us, the journey between Oriton and Nightfall will mostly be along premade paths,” Rep said as they left the city.
Pep pointed ahead of them. The ground was well-trodden, a slight discoloration and indentation of earth from several travelers having taken the road. Zalan wondered what other reasons people had to travel between Oriton and Nightfall.
“What does it mean if we’re on premade paths?” Zalan asked.
“It means the journey is well-trave...
2024-11-29 17:03:01 +0000 UTC
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“So, how far is this Depths of Despair place from us?” Zalan asked.
“At least a few days worth of travel,” Rep said.
“Then we should get going,” Zalan said, eager to get his next Elemental Power as soon as possible.
“After we gather supplies,” Rep added.
“Supplies like what?”
“Food.”
“Oh… right, yeah, let’s get some food and then get out of here.”
“Have you given any more thought about what Mad...
2024-11-27 17:03:01 +0000 UTC
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The next day Rep and Zalan made their way toward Madam Hikma’s building to ask for her advice on finding Zalan another Elemental. Restless, frowning sleep had done Zalan no favors. If anything, it exacerbated his worries.
As Zalan walked through the city, a looming dread fell over his heart. He wondered how fast Morloch would travel and kill off Elementals. Would he try to destroy Oriton in search of Rep and Zalan? Zalan witnessed how fast he could move when he used his Elementa...
2024-11-25 17:03:00 +0000 UTC
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“Morloch?” Zalan acknowledged in shock and anger.
“Is that the true name of the Magnanimous One?” a crowd member asked.
“Yeah, that’s Morloch,” Zalan said, somewhat confirming the information to himself.
“Morloch is the name of our savior!” a crowd member called out, the others cheering in delight at the new information.
Morloch looked enraged at the revelation of his name. His eyes narrowed on Rep and Zalan.
“Zalan, we...
2024-11-22 17:03:00 +0000 UTC
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Rep and Zalan bolted through miles upon miles of distance with help from their Artifacts. They may have passed a few monsters on the way, but Zalan was going at too high a speed to tell between neutral landscape shapes and roaming creatures. The world began sprouting more plants as they passed through the arid climates to more lush environments. Each town they passed by, they asked about whether there was an Elemental in the area, but were directed further east.
Zalan was able to ...
2024-11-20 17:03:00 +0000 UTC
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Zalan slid until the earth leveled out into a plane before him. He caught himself as he shifted from a slide to a jog, remaining upright and turning to see Rep end his slide beside him. Once they reached the base of the volcano, they looked in the direction they came. Zalan could just make out the silhouette of a human on the horizon. It was warm enough that Zalan wondered if it was a mirage brought on by heat haze.
“You think that’s Jade?” Zalan asked, making sure he wasn...
2024-11-18 17:03:00 +0000 UTC
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Rep and Zalan approached the inert body of the Flame Elemental cautiously. It lay face up, its red, glowing eyes glazed over. Its robes danced and looked like they were slight, dying embers. It didn’t rustle in the breeze atop the volcano, as though it existed on a different plane than the world. Its smoldering face had a stillness reserved only for the dead. It looked uncanny and out of a nightmare.
“Rep, is it…?” Zalan asked, not believing what he was seeing.
“I...
2024-11-15 17:03:01 +0000 UTC
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Rep guided Zalan to a rocky path that led up the side of the volcano. He seemed to be familiar with the path he walked, confidently making his way forward as the path seemed to lead to nowhere. It wasn’t the easiest hike up, but it was significantly better than going for a sheer climb up a rock wall.
“This is the route I took to scale the volcano. Fran went up the other side, which had far less navigable terrain” Rep informed him.
“I take it she wanted the more diffi...
2024-11-13 17:03:01 +0000 UTC
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Rep and Zalan did not barter when it came to purchasing Zalan a new tunic. Zalan could tell they were severely overcharged by the way the salesman’s eyes widened when they accepted the first price. Between their substantial fortunes gathered from the Castle Docrun, a completely new outfit free of bloodstains didn’t even make a dent in their remaining funds. Zalan didn’t have enough greed in him to care about being overcharged.
They stood at the edge of the city. Zalan could see th...
2024-11-11 17:03:00 +0000 UTC
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Zalan held up his hand and tried to throw Elemental Lightning out of instinct. He barely had time to register the fact that his Elemental Power wasn’t working. The Thorncharger smashed into his hands, cutting them open in a bloody mess. It continued charging forward, all of Zalan’s Strength was nothing in comparison to its force. He was going to be crushed under its spiked feet.
An instant later, the world blurred in a flurry of sickening motion. Zalan was thrown hard out of t...
2024-11-08 17:03:01 +0000 UTC
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Rep strapped the Belt of Bolt to his waist, going slowly so Zalan could follow his lead. Zalan was surprised by how light the belt felt on him, despite it being full of so much power. He had seen it used once before by someone that stole his money. Zalan was very light with his movements, worried that he would accidentally activate the Artifact and be sent warping straight into the stone wall surrounding the town of Oriton. He tightened the apparel and looked up to his friend to judge. Rep lo...
2024-11-06 17:03:00 +0000 UTC
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Zalan picked himself up and dusted himself off, glaring at Gorb. Rep looked at him hopefully. Zalan could see the relief in Rep’s face just for him to finally be out of bed. Zalan looked away, not wanting to make eye contact after being dragged outside from his cot.
“You are ready to go see Madam Hikma now?” Rep asked optimistically.
“No,” Gorb answered for Zalan. “That was not why he emerged. The deal was that he would get to go to an Elemental and get a new Ele...
2024-11-04 17:03:03 +0000 UTC
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Rep stared at Zalan for a few seconds. Zalan lay back down on the cot, an uncaring attitude over his pale face.
“What do you mean? Do you not want to leave the realm anymore?” Rep asked.
“I don’t care about it. It’s not gonna happen,” Zalan said. “The more we try, the worse the outcome. It’s just gonna get more dangerous and both of us are going to end up dead.”
Rep waited for Zalan to say he was kidding. Or at least something to indicate that h...
2024-11-01 16:03:00 +0000 UTC
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Zalan lay wide awake on the cot in the guild of Journey House. His mind was racing with thoughts of loss and despair. Laying almost entirely still, he wiggled his fingers several times, feeling naked. Power should have been tingling through his arms, begging to be thrown. But it was gone. Taken. He had lost his Elemental Lightning Power. Stolen away by Morloch the Manipulator on the Island of Remai...
2024-10-30 16:03:01 +0000 UTC
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Hello. Hi. Hello. Ah, wait, I said hello twice. I’m checking in for another afterword.
Thanks for reading The Homeseeker Book 3: A Bargain With Fate. I’m really happy with it, and hope the sea-faring wasn’t too long-winded for you (pun partially intended). Three books with no delays, I’m pretty confident I can do the next two with no delays as well! As always, thank you for the response to each and every chapter. Comments, reviews, criticisms even as s...
2024-10-23 16:03:01 +0000 UTC
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Zalan lay on the cot for much longer than he anticipated. He thought he would fall asleep as soon as he tried to rest, but the feelings of unease made him insomniac. Paradoxically, he was too tired to sleep. He shifted positions, trying to be more comfortable, but every movement caused his body to cry out in pain. Pain made him feel more awake. Despair made him refuse to sleep. He shivered, hampered by yet another thing that he could not have. He wondered if the healing sleep would heal the p...
2024-10-21 16:01:01 +0000 UTC
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“Rep!” Zalan said, hovering his hands over Rep in a panic. “You’re… you’re hit bad!”
Rep’s breathing was faint, his eyes listless and his arms grabbing automatically around his chest, as though searching for the missing piece of his body. He didn’t seem like he was hearing Zalan at all. Zalan realized he must have been in some form of shock. He wanted to add pressure to the wound, but it was too big to cover.
“Rep, listen to me. You’re already on your bed, yo...
2024-10-18 16:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Zalan twitched on the floor, overwhelmed in physical and psychological pain. The Transfer Table cracked and split in two, collapsing on itself. The Artifact had degraded and slowly began to turn to dust. Zalan looked at it as he convulsed involuntarily. He couldn’t even steal his power back if he wanted to. It was truly gone.
“This is incredible!” Morloch said, amazed by his newfound Elemental Power.
Morloch threw several bolts of lightning into the ceiling, doing a ji...
2024-10-16 16:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Rep groaned in agony. Morloch had no patience for Zalan’s hesitations and pressed down harder on Rep’s neck. Rep’s eyes were shut with pain, but he said nothing. He didn’t want Zalan to do anything on his behalf.
“Either I kill him now and take your power, regardless, or you give it to me willingly and he lives!” Morloch snapped.
Zalan breathed erratically. He had no idea what to do other than give up. Talking served no purpose with his former instructor. H...
2024-10-14 15:21:01 +0000 UTC
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Zalan looked around the room for items he could use to conduct electricity toward Morloch as he approached. The golden table would be a great target. Gold was highly conductive, and the lightning’s charge would flow through with minimal resistance. But he was afraid that trying to use it as a weapon would count the same as consenting to give away his power. He had no idea how the Artifact worked. His heart pounded madly in his chest. He felt like he did just before he fought his first bout ...
2024-10-11 16:01:10 +0000 UTC
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“Nold, let him go!” Zalan raised his arms, threatening to blast him with lightning.
He was worried he would run out of air under the mound of sand.
“No! You will be silent and listen to me!” Nold ordered. “You are a fan of negotiation, yes? I will give you a generous offer!”
Zalan could barely believe his eyes. Nold was shaking with adrenaline, wind whipping around him in mixes with Elemental Sand swirling like a tornado. Nold had never spoken to him like t...
2024-10-09 16:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Zalan was brought out of the dark abyss and onto solid ground next to Nold. They were still somewhere deep within the heart of the mountain. Zalan was kind of hoping he would see the sun once he got out of the dark chamber. All he had was Nold’s dim fire to light the area. Nold looked him up and down and nodded to himself, satisfied.
“Just a few cuts and bruises? Are you still able to call upon your power easily enough?” Nold asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Zalan said.&...
2024-10-07 16:02:01 +0000 UTC
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The Bright Elemental floated above Zalan for a few tense seconds. Zalan almost wanted to rescind his acceptance in the time it took for it to tell him what the challenge was. He wondered if it was even possible to rescind an Elemental’s challenge once accepted. It felt like the creature was taking extra time thinking about how to make the challenge more difficult. It would be Zalan’s second Elemental Power, after all. He felt it scrutinizing him, like it searched his soul for weaknesses.&...
2024-10-04 15:50:51 +0000 UTC
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Zalan stood frozen, rigidity taking over his bones as he waited for another sound. He was certain he heard something in the blind darkness. He felt like a monster was circling him, hunting him down without need of light. Zalan’s breathing quickened considerably, and he kept his eyes wide open as though it would help him see better. Zalan fumbled at his waist and realized he had no sword to use. He fell back to raising his hands out in front of him defensively.
“Hey! Get back! ...
2024-10-02 16:01:01 +0000 UTC
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The walls shook violently, throwing both Nold and Zalan off balance. With a deep echoing sound, the walls on the narrow path around Nold and Zalan began to twist. Zalan dropped the pouch of coins, hoping he would deactivate the trap by returning the object from where it came. But he was far too late. The world around Zalan became a blur as he was suddenly thrown spinning in a direction.
“No!” Nold exploded, reaching out and failing to grab Zalan.
They were split ap...
2024-09-30 16:02:01 +0000 UTC
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Nold slid his way into the hole in the mountain, Zalan close behind. Zalan had never been spelunking before and he was glad he never tried. It was cold and moist. Zalan breathed slowly, needing to exhale to fit through some of the tighter pieces of the cave. He felt claustrophobic and immediately knew that if he ever got back to his world, he would have absolutely no interest in being a caver. Nold finally emerged in a large chamber, a pool of water in the center of the room. Zalan stumbled h...
2024-09-27 16:00:01 +0000 UTC
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