Oxylus posts
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Mana & Mayhem - Interlude
InterludeA Day with the Mane Character“M-m-my… Nahhhm… Mo-kuh,” she tried working the sounds out slowly, using muscles and a smaller tongue that she wasn’t used to for the one-hundredth time.She let out a very exasperated groan. It was so frustrating learning to talk like an elf. Her mind and body simply did ...
Chapter 4 - Sloane
A Desire to LearnSloane stared at the elf woman in front of her. She was shorter than her, closer to Maud’s height, and seemed extremely weary. The brunette with pink eyes looked at her with a hint of desperation. She wasn’t sure what the woman had been through, but Sloane figured it wouldn’t hurt to listen to he...
Bonus Story - Corporate Mage - Prologue
AN: Here is the first installment of a bonus story that I've worked as a slight experiment with some perspective and tense. It's going to come out slowly for Artificers until complete. This is an extremely early draft and look at it. Final version may have massive changes. Chapters may get edits randomly as wel...
Chapter 3 - Sloane
Just Some Errands“Baroness…”“Sloane, please. After all, we went through some shit together to get here, Toren,” Sloane replied with a smile.She looked around at the man's office within Nornport's Banking Guild. While he wasn't the branch's Guildmaster, he clearly had a lot of authority being a...
Mana & Mayhem - Chapter 31
Quest CompletionNestled within the inn, the main room was awash with the glow of firelight. A hearth crackled nearby, its flames dancing energetically. Around a sturdy, worn table, a mismatched group gathered. The walls, lined with old wooden beams, absorbed the echoes of their voices while the rustic atmosphere and sc...
Chapter 2 - Gwyn
First ImpressionsEarlierNestled amidst the fragments of its egg, a white, glittering form started to unfurl. As the shell fell away, a small, scaled creature was revealed that shimmered with a breathtaking radiant brilliance. Gwyn stared in wide-eyed astonishment as the creature moved clumsily within the remnants of it...
Chapter 1 - Sloane
ResilienceIn the early days of the Great Change, the potential that lay within each of us was little known. What is now a commonplace fact of life due to the efforts of the Church, was then a mystery to many outside of that same organization–the significance of Core Quality and the advantages it provided.In our prese...
Mana & Mayhem - Chapter 30
A Bright Return‘Hang on!’ Mocha warned with a neigh that reverberated around the area.Iris instantly clung tightly to the saddle–after all, Mocha didn’t wear reins, her knuckles white as she braced herself.“Hurry!” Iris cried out, pure terror filling her.Then with a powerful surge of strength, Mocha leapt f...
August Author Updates & Epubs
Hey everyone!It's been a minute since I had something outside of Author's Notes. So, I wanted to take the opportunity to not only drop the book 1 and book 2 epubs, but to give you guys some updates.First, book 2 has officially been sent to the publisher. Woo!And book 1 has been copyedited by the publisher. I wi...
Book 5 - Resilience - Prologue
AN: I just submitted book 2 to the publisher. Woo! Expect an epub soon of the final pre-publishing edits. All told, there's roughly 45k words worth of additional content.Book 1 will be taken down from here, RoyalRoad, and Scribblehub on 16 December. (So we have some time.) It goes on sale for epub, paperback, and a...
Mana & Mayhem - Chapter 29
AN: Didn't forget about this week's Mayhem!The Marauder Prince“You,” the Marauder Prince seethed, his breath crystallizing in the chill. His gaze met Iris’s and she froze, a shiver coursing through her that had nothing to do with his frosty magic.Recognition flared in his icy glowing eyes, a mirror reflec...
Chapter 34 - Epilogue
AN: I am on break! I will be back 7 Aug (So three release days). Taking this time to finish the book 2 edits (23/40 done as of this post) and to get started on book 5.Lots of work, so little time to do it.Wish me luck!Uncertain FuturesAmari materialized in a flash of white and blue amidst a sea of paladins, perched ato...
Chapter 33 - Gwyn
AN: Monday is the last chapter of book 4. I will be going on my break a bit early (3 release days instead of 2) after that to finish my book 2 edits and to get things prepped and started for book 5. We will be back 7 AugThe First MageFew examples better capture the essence of the trailblazers that contributed to the wo...
Mana & Mayhem - Chapter 28
Storm Under a Clear SkyIris found herself sitting next to a fire with the guide harpy and the harpy queen who wore a persistent scowl. The queen bore Iris's presence with thinly veiled disdain while their guide filled the air with an incessant stream of chatter. In a moment of quiet, Iris saw her chance to steer th...
Chapter 32 - Gwyn
A Meeting of ThornsThe echo of footsteps and distant laughter filled the dorm hallway as Gwyn and Lorrena stood before the recently posted room assignments for Year Two. The list of assignments had the names of everyone in their hall, and Gwyn’s eyes scanned over it as she searched. Quickly, a frown pulled at the cor...
Chapter 31 - Gwyn
Never Stop Learning“Happy Birthday, Your Highness!”The chorus of voices made Gwyn jump in fright, her heart pounding in her chest as she walked into the dining hall of her House’s residence. The room was filled with friends and members of the House who all stood excitedly while beaming at her with delight while t...
Mana & Mayhem - Chapter 27
A Cursed War“She’s going to be fine,” Bree declared. The sun elf medic ran a tired hand across her forehead, smearing away the streaks of sweat that had accumulated in the furrowed lines of stress.Iris nodded. “That’s good.”On the makeshift cot they'd fashioned inside a tent, the harpy woman slumbered, ...
Chapter 30 - Gwyn
Suspect InvitationsTaking a deep breath, Gwyn turned from the view of the royal gardens and moved to reenter the ballroom. As she passed Amari, the paladin reached out, a comforting pat landing on her back.Gwyn paused, her gaze rising to meet Amari's orange eyes. The woman's scar, a deep line slicing through he...
Mana & Mayhem - Chapter 26
Birds of a FeatherIris turned around and looked at the kitsune who was watching her warily with her mismatched eyes.She had to remember, Akane was not human–or elf or all the other races on Eona. Even Mocha was closer to Iris in a way as her entire time during her growing sapience was spent with the adventurer.The ki...
Chapter 29 - Gwyn
Having a BallGwyn took a deep breath as she looked in the mirror, Aleanora was behind her working on her hair with the guidance of one of the House Tiloral servants. She was only permitted to have one lady-in-waiting attend with her to the ball, which she just knew was a slight from the twin jerks. It was the first tim...
Chapter 28 - Gwyn
AN: Hey there! We're back. I managed to meet my goal, now the next one is to work on book 2's edits! Artificers should start seeing updated chapters in discord tomorrow. Hopefully.Expanding AmbitionsEarly SummerCount Siveril Norric exuded an air of calculated composure as he entered the dining hall of the Reinh...
Chapter 27 - Sloane
AN: I am on break! Be back on 3 July with Gwyn and the last arc of the book.The plan this admin week is to write all of July's Mayhem chapters. We're getting close-ish to Mayhem book 1's completion. After that, I have a fun short side story for Manabound planned.In addition to writing current Manabound--abo...
Mana & Mayhem - Chapter 25
A Shelter in the StormThe disagreement with Captain Morek went on for a solid fifteen minutes as Kaira forcefully defended Gryff. Iris suspected that the only reason Morek had eventually dropped the subject was due to Laken's owlbear companion. The creature radiated an aura of menacing protectiveness, emphasized by...
Chapter 26 - Sloane
Time To GoIt took two bells.Two long, agonizing hours until the chaos outside finally subsided, leaving Sloane and Mariel in a tense silence. Sloane found herself repeatedly checking her grenades, seeking some form of reassurance. Her caster was back in its holster, and she had no idea who had won, but she definitely h...
Chapter 25 - Sloane
A Brief RespiteSloane sat in the workshop, meticulously inspecting her new golem for any potential issues with her runework or any mechanical discrepancies, and so far, everything appeared to be in perfect order.Which made her extremely happy.Vesper emitted her eerie purring sound as Sloane closed the panel that housed...
Mana & Mayhem - Chapter 24
AN: Man, I'm still trying to figure out a workable schedule here. We'll get onto a set thing for Mayhem hopefully by next week. See you tomorrow for Manabound.Leaving the Past Behind“Iris Stuart,” Helda, the telv innkeeper, said in an incredulous tone. Her stern gaze bore into Iris as she leaned over the co...
Chapter 24 - Sloane
AN: This may be thereabouts the time I post for the next few months. We'll see! Either way, hope you guys enjoy this one!Let me know whatcha think :)Artificer’s InsightThe gentle prodding of a metallic beak against her cheek roused Sloane from her sleep much too soon. She groaned, her eyes fluttering open to find...
Chapter 23 - Sloane
AN: I am currently getting ready to head to the airport and hop on a plane. There *shouldn't* be any issues, but if there is, I'll be up-and-running ASAP!Taking ShapeAs Sloane followed Stefan into the Guildmaster's office, she was immediately taken aback by the stark contrast in decor. In contrast to the ut...
Chapter 22 - Sloane
AN: And we're back! And with Sloane's last arc of the book!Not So Safe House“Sloane, watch out!”Heeding Stefan’s yell, Sloane dove to the side, and in the act, narrowly evaded two crossbow bolts that flew through where she had stood. She shot to her feet, casting two [Mana Bolts] in the direction of her a...
Mana & Mayhem - Chapter 23
Fury of the StormMocha roared as she witnessed her human, her Iris, seized by a monstrosity of earth and slammed into the ground.Mocha's eyes darted to the side as a flicker of movement caught her attention. There, the other mage had begun conjuring a sphere of intense fire, its heat radiating in all directions.Wit...
