Irwin quickly looked around for Daubutim, hoping his friend was alright.
He saw him immediately, together with Hutch and a dozen others. They were fighting with more of the uncommon Frozir. Behind those stood a dozen smaller common ones, moving their arms in weird patterns. Blueish glyphs hung in the air before them, and a dim glow expande...
2023-02-26 21:22:42 +0000 UTC View PostThe loud crunching of booted feet on snow echoed down the slope of the hill. It was the only sound, as Basil had ordered them to remain quiet. Nobody seemed to dare ignore his order. There were some whispers now and again, but most of those were sightings that were being relayed across the line.
Irwin raised his head, trying to ignore the...
Irwin couldn't help but let out a snorted laugh as he followed Basil around the corner, only to freeze mid-step.
So many people, he thought, staring at the middling mass of movement.
Guards and Rangers filled the square, more than he had ever seen in one spot. Basil just stomped towards them, and they split to let him pass w...
2023-02-24 20:15:13 +0000 UTC View PostIrwin followed Basil into Trimdir's office. There was a look of reluctant acceptance on the muscled smith's face.
As soon as the door closed, Basil turned to Irwin.
"You are coming with me. I need you to join the group that will close one of the uncommon portals," he said. "Too many died, and I need everyone!"
He raised his han...
2023-02-19 21:10:53 +0000 UTC View PostIt was quiet for a moment as Lamia and Daubutim stared at him. Irwin could completely understand how they must feel. He must have grown more than the hand-length Lamia said, as he was taller than her now and nearly the size of Daubutim. That meant he had finally caught up to the others of his age!
If this keeps up, mum might not even r...
2023-02-18 23:40:12 +0000 UTC View Post"Azurill isn't the biggest of the cities, but because Lauruna is sleeping below it, there are more dragons here than in any other city," Emma said as she swam ahead of Jake.
Jake didn't reply, his eyes taking in the immense city around them. He just couldn't stop looking. There was something happening everywhere, from Kobolds that moved th...
2023-02-18 13:55:29 +0000 UTC View PostHey guys! So, after reading through some of your comments on chapter 62, and agreeing with them, I've gone and redone... well, most of the chapter.
For those who aren't interested in re-reading (though I would really suggest you do) the short of it is that Irwin has also re-forged his Coperion Body. Also, instead of Ambraz helping h...
The first thing Irwin heard was rustling at the door and soft talking.
"-been quiet for a while."
Daubutim? Jake thought as he wondered why he was feeling so hot.
Especially his back.
Not painfully so, just slightly hotter than was comfortable. He felt incredibly relaxed and, except for the discomfort on his ...
The next day was one of grief and wailing. From waking in a tower full of tired and depressed guards to walking through a destroyed town, Irwin was glad when he finally finished at Trimdir's. It was probably the first time since the start of the winter that he would be happy to leave the heat of the furnaces for his quiet room.
Trimdir had...
2023-02-12 20:43:01 +0000 UTC View PostMason woke from a prod. He heard a warning hiss from the side as he turned to stretch and froze. Warning bells began going off in his mind.
Now what?
His eyes shot open, and he saw Baudron close to him and crouched low on the ground. The brown dragon was staring up in fear.
Following his gaze, Mason saw the swirling ma...
2023-02-12 11:33:30 +0000 UTC View PostIrwin rushed down the stairs, still tightening the straps of his new armor, his grappling gauntlets under an arm. As he finished the last bit, he ran into the hall together with dozens of sleepy guards and rangers. A full-armored guard stood by the entrance to the mess, shouting and pointing at the door leading to the square.
"Outside and ...
2023-02-11 20:41:51 +0000 UTC View PostSweat poured from Irwin's head as he continued striking the metal. His shoulders and arms were cramped, the muscles building while his back was burning. As hard as it was, at the same time, he felt better than he had in his entire, short life. The pile of purified metal beside the anvil was rapidly growing, and at some point, he realized he was ...
2023-02-10 19:49:26 +0000 UTC View PostMason belched loudly, feeling a tiny piece of goat try and wiggle its way back up his throat. He swallowed it down with a contented smile, then grinned at Baudron.
The brown dragon looked almost intoxicated after having eaten half a dozen goats. A jagged pile of cleaned and cracked bones lay next to him.
"I think we wiped out the ent...
2023-02-07 20:04:25 +0000 UTC View Post"Thank you, but-" Irwin said as he stared at the older woman beaming at him and holding forward a small parcel.
"No! Don't you dare," she said. "You saved mine and my grandson's life! I brought these raisins just for a festive occasion, and what could be more festive than living another day!"
Irwin reluctantly took the package, looki...
2023-02-05 20:49:11 +0000 UTC View Post"Is he one of Bron's hidden guards?"
"I don't know. I've never seen him before."
"I have! He is one of Trimdir's smiths- isn't he the one that is always dashing through town when it's snowing?"
"No, smith I know fights like that!"
Irwin swayed on his feet as he walked away from another dead demon frog. His armor was tarni...
2023-02-04 21:24:34 +0000 UTC View PostIrwin dully gazed at the trickle of smoke running from between Ambraz's lips.
"I ruined another one," he muttered, thinking about the simple utility card that had just shattered—the third of the nine Daubutim had brought.
"Don't act so surprised," Ambraz grunted. The Anvil flashed dimly and returned to its smaller shape, floating s...
2023-02-03 19:09:06 +0000 UTC View PostMason flew at a steady pace, looking around at the purple bushes dotting the landscape. He hadn't seen the goats from below, which made sense due to the angle, but it also caused him to worry.
What else could be here? It was rocky again, so did they have to worry about more giant stone snakes like those near the continent's edge?
A s...
2023-01-31 21:08:13 +0000 UTC View PostIrwin sat in front of Daubutim, quietly waiting for the noble boy to continue.
"After we closed the second portal, we were down to four guards," Daubutim said, staring at his hand. "The rangers found another common portal, so we went there to get the common-handed group there safely. When we got to the place they called the Grinning Man's ...
2023-01-29 20:41:34 +0000 UTC View Post"Did you really run into Basil?"
Irwin jerked from the sudden question and looked up to see Lamia almost skip towards him. She had a look of reference, awe, and longing.
"What did it feel like?"
What?
Irwin blinked, not sure he'd heard her right. As she continued staring at him, he looked around, seeing more than...
2023-01-28 21:29:37 +0000 UTC View PostIrwin stared quietly at the beautiful patterns and lights, colors mingling to create pallets he had never seen before.
"What is that black stuff?" he asked, curious but also slightly disgusted.
"It's the potential of the card," Ambraz said. "The more of it there is, the better you can make the card. This one only has a little, so bey...
2023-01-27 20:37:50 +0000 UTC View PostMason soared through the cloudy, murky air, reveling in the fact that he wasn't growing calluses on his feet anymore. A sound like sales cracking in the wind came from beside him, and he looked to see Baudron, his wings spread out and a look of rapture on his dragon face as he flew beside him. The dark grey sand of the wasteland flew below them ...
2023-01-25 20:47:57 +0000 UTC View PostIrwin stood in the center of his room and focused on his Coperion Body skill. To his surprise, it activated with a soft crooning sound. Before he could wonder where it came from, he felt himself grow more compact. Within moments his weight pressed heavily on his soles, reminding me of the first time he'd gotten the card. A look at his arm showed...
2023-01-22 20:23:56 +0000 UTC View PostWhen Irwin woke the next morning, Daubutim had already left. Staring at his friend's empty bed, Irwin fell back, staring at the rugged stone ceiling. He'd already lost Greldo. Was he going to lose Daubutim too?
Greldo isn't dead, he thoughts, angry at his own mind for implying it.
Forcing himself out of his warm bed, he rush...
2023-01-21 21:23:09 +0000 UTC View Post"Feel the metal as you strike it!"
Irwin grunted as he held the tonsils with his left hand, bringing the hammer down on the chunk of Degnin Iron. It flattened at the top as the reverberations ran from his wrist through his arm.
Keeping his eye on the metal, he struck it again, forcing his weary arm to comply. He knew that Trimdir sto...
2023-01-20 21:33:35 +0000 UTC View PostA fuzzy warmth surrounded Jake as he woke up, and a distant roaring slowly came closer until it turned into voices.
"You are sure it's him?" a deep, feminine voice asked with evident curiosity.
"Yes, it's Jake. I know it is! See, Tir is nodding! I told you I was speaking the truth!" a girl screamed in a high-pitched voice, a strangel...
2023-01-20 08:43:04 +0000 UTC View PostMason stared at the amber stones in his taloned hands as he trudged through the sand. They gleamed and glistened like dangerous but pretty marbles. Most were the size of his thumb, and he had four in each hand. According to Baudron, there were hundreds, perhaps thousands, more inside the hill. It didn't matter. They couldn't bring more than they...
2023-01-16 21:05:37 +0000 UTC View PostIrwin almost stumbled as he registered what Hutch had said.
A muted shout of joy came from the side, and he looked up to see the much sturdier Sebastian grin at him. Because of his afternoon smithing, he'd not really mingled a lot with the other youths, but he'd heard that Sebastian was always hitting harder than he should. Most of the oth...
2023-01-15 20:24:10 +0000 UTC View PostIrwin woke to shouting, and the first thing he felt was pain. His lower arms and legs were cramping up, while his back felt like he'd had a beating the day before. He groaned and rolled over, hearing the shouting intensify.
I should have drank before sleeping, he thought. His mouth was dry as sand, and his lips cracked.
"-ge...
2023-01-14 17:35:35 +0000 UTC View Post"Keep your bloody arms raised!"
Irwin clenched his teeth as he held the hammer before his body. He looked out of the corners of his eyes and saw the two other hammers shiver and shake but remain aloft. Focusing on the one in his hands, he squeezed the handle and willed his arms to remain up.
Why does it feel like this thing is ge...
2023-01-13 20:40:43 +0000 UTC View PostStupid bird, Mason growled as he watched the spec grow smaller in the distance. It had seen him come within seconds, then turned and ran.
He pondered for a moment if he should follow them, then decided against it. Baudron was down there without help. Taking a last look at the tiny spec, he growled and turned back down.
S...
2023-01-12 19:37:59 +0000 UTC View Post