Lupus

By the way, I added an opening paragraph to the prologue afterwards. I had forgotten it was supposed to be there:

Adenolei Dimalos, Andiol Empire The street in front of the Laughing Doorman was quiet as Adenolei Tikienkuu closed the front door behind him. After a quick glance to both sides, he stepped out into the dimming evening. Ade quickened his pace and reached the last rail‑carriage of the night just in time. He jumped onto the rear platform and let out a sigh of relief. No one had followed. He found a seat and allowed himself to relax. A few passengers looked at him — one with surpris

A very promising start to the story. There’s a lot of tension here, and it really makes you hope something might happen between the boys. I think Cooper will soon be the hottest topic on Harrington Now.😁

Thanks, this was a pleasure to read. Your story is entertaining and well written. I liked the characters and the plot. I think it ended in exactly the right way: Elias found peace, and on the other hand Asher met Rhett. It was also good that you left the future of Asher and Rhett’s relationship open — the readers can imagine it however they like.😊

@drsawzall @chrstphrl Thank you! I’m glad you found this useful.😊

Key People Andiol Empire Josel Sandkan ("Goldy", "Josi"): 16-year-old boy from Paidos Andreuz Sandkan: Josel's father, an author Bartos Rigailon ("Bars"): 16-year-old boy from Paidos Berron Rigailon: the chancellor, Bartos' father Danae Dannkas: the 16-year-old heiress of the Malkanian ducal family Anibella Dannkas: a duchess, Danae's aunt Offus: the chief chamberlain of the Dannkas family Darren Temjanion: 17-year-old boy from Paidos Franz Landez: 17-year-

You are correct. The Ksingis are introduced in Book 3, in chapters 17 (from Rezak’s POV) and 32 (from Soek’s POV). And yes, the Dimalis have indeed provoked them.💥

@Seraph28 I’m glad you enjoyed this chapter. Prince Otello is interesting to write because, as a disabled character, his perspective on the world is a bit different. He constantly has to prove to others that he is more than what his appearance suggests. In the case of Dareis and Elyssa, power has corrupted them and they might have been nicer people if they had grown up poor. Or Dareis would probably be an asshole no matter the circumstances. In any case, writing their characters is a lot of fun. Andiol has very biased and racist ideas about what the Ksingi people are like. With that background, it’s easy to understand why everyone in the room was horrified by the news. Your comparison to Genghis Khan is quite fitting, since the Mongols also came from the east. His armies were genuinely brutal conquerors, but as for the Ksingis, we still don’t know much about them.

Otello Dimalos, Andiol Empire Governor Dareis Monteilon was a name Otello recognized. He couldn't quite recall what the Senate reports had said about the former governor of Paidos — likely not much. The province of Paidos was far away, and in Dimalos few cared about the fringes of the vast empire. Monteilon himself made no particular impression. The man was undeniably handsome, but he carried himself with an irritated, unfriendly air. His beautiful wife didn't seem any more cheerful.

@Seraph28 @chrstphrl @drsawzall Thanks for your comments! Zal really does try his best, but it isn’t easy when there are so many enemies and they’re stronger than he is. A great deal of responsibility has been placed on the shoulders of one old man. But surely the villains’ luck can’t last forever… or can it?😶

Zaltarim The Misty Isles, Grand Duchy of Malkania Dusk had already settled by the time they reached the main harbor of Great Shoal. Anden had insisted it was essential to set sail as soon as possible. The Misty Isles were not safe; they had to leave at once. "The wind is rising," Taihan said, having been wary of the idea of a nighttime crossing from the start. But Anden had been adamant, pleading with the others to come with him. The danger, he claimed, was too great — every extra ho

Yeah. These long‑lived creatures need hibernation just as we need sleep.

At least one thing is clear: this world needs heroes.🦸‍♂️

Thank you.😊 Darren is one of my own favorites among the characters.

Thank you for the comment. Things do indeed seem to be looking better now between Danae and Darren.😘 But of course, Melgy’s arrival will change their situation in many ways. In the next chapter, we move on to Zal, Taihan and Ragart.

Danae Aunt Anibella had been so thrilled about Danae's return that she immediately began arranging a welcome celebration. It was scheduled for the very next evening. She said the celebration would make up for the Naming Day festivities Danae had missed. "We'll talk later, darling," her aunt had chirped before bustling off to instruct the servants. Danae's objections — about the necessity of the party or inviting guests — were brushed aside. According to Aunt Anibella, all the nearest n

@akascrubber Time will tell. It definitely won’t be easy.😟 @RainbowPhoenixWI Yes, the appearance is pretty close to those Mogwai creatures, or maybe a miniature Yoda😄

I also felt that this kind of alternation between Darren’s and Danae’s POVs worked quite nicely in this chapter. In fact, they’ll both be narrators again in the next one. I wanted to start the book in a way that isn’t too dark, and without giving the villains the spotlight right away — even though they’ll show up later on. I deliberately saved Darren as a POV character until this late in the story. Deep down he’s quite a different person from the one he tries to present to others. He’s hard to read, and even his friends — maybe with the exception of Bartos — don’t really know how to interpret him.

@Seraph28 @chrstphrl @RainbowPhoenixWI Thank you for the comments. The side of light indeed needs helpers so that the Darkness can be defeated. This was a slightly different beginning for the book, since we didn’t meet familiar characters right away. But I’m glad you still liked it.😊 I can definitely see the parallel with the Ents heading to war, though the nocturnal being and his kind look about as un‑Ent-like as it gets 😄

The prologue and the first chapter of the fourth book are now out. Welcome back to continue reading.☺️

"War is the pinnacle of mankind's refinement, and the spirit of sacrifice is its fuel. When you go to war, spare no blood, for without sacrifice an army cannot crush its enemy. A victory won without wounds is a disgrace." - Maendrym Cors, 'On Warfare and Its Principles', printed in Dimalos in the year 1520 of the New Era "War is a horror. It is the praise of the cruelest and the death of the weak. Whoever bears the sword of the spirit hates war and finds in mercy the bloom of purple gr

Darren Somewhere in the Grand Duchy of Malkania The rails clattered steadily, the train whistle let out a lazy wail every now and then, and the Malkanian countryside streamed past. It made him drowsy — not in a bad way, though. When he stretched his neck, he could see through the window how the horizon was filling with downy clouds. Darren glanced at Danae, who was dozing beside him. You're like one of those clouds: pale and lovely on the outside, but when a bad day comes, nothing

The Andiol Empire is torn apart by a merciless civil war. In the capital of Dimalos, old allies and unexpected companions navigate danger, betrayal, and brief moments of hope as blood runs through the streets. Choosing the wrong side can be fatal — especially when the enemy serves the Darkness. "Everything important happens in Dimalos," Ikarr Knobnose once said. So it is on a certain evening, when a mismatched group gathers in an abandoned industrial district, though not all will see dawn. Far in the north, Franz Landez gazes into the Mirror of Dreams, where a black tower rises beneath a blood red sky. Humanity is running out of time.

Thank you very much for your help. I was quite silly not to realize that myself.😳 Adding a new story has always been a rather difficult for me, probably because I do it so rarely.

I tried to start adding a new story, but I can’t get past step 1. I can’t figure out what the issue is. Is there something wrong with the story title that prevents me from proceeding? Attached is a screenshot.