Prologue(kinda), a bunch of updates

Aloha Symphonians,

The prologue will follow after this little write-up. It's a different kind of story, with a different kind of writing style, something I'm testing out that has so far received positive reviews.

So, here we are. Monday (tomorrow) I'll put a poll in the RR field to see which of the one-liners people like the most. I'll give that a few days to get some votes, then, give each winner an upgrade or access to Patreon, and quickly go on Hiatus.

Edits for Book 3 are going quite fast. I ran into some trouble around the Administrator/Kwaya arc, arguably the worst-written portion of the book, but got through it without any heartache.

My goal is to have all of book 3 edited in the next week and a half, then start writing TBatS quickly. Due to TBatS's length, it'll be done rather quickly, and I am likely to release the novella in large batches rather than twice a week. It means posts to Patreon will seem random, but, there'll be much more content at once. That's summertime for you (when I have lots of free time)

Following that, I'm going to spend some time, on and off, writing PP, planning PP, updating my very long-term notes, and editing book 4. My plan is to bounce back and forth between everything until I get both PP book 1 and edited book 4 done. Once PP book 1 is done, and editing book 4 is done, I'm starting up I Am A Bastard Sword.

So, lots of plans in the works, and since you're here, you get to see it all WAY before anyone else, including my publisher.

Symphony book 1, that old thang, will be up on Amazon July 29th, including the Audible version (supposedly). Obviously, you don't need to purchase it, but if you want to, I definitely wouldn't say no.

Anyways, aside from that huge update, here's the prologue to the Boy and the Stick, live on RR tomorrow.

The Boy and the Stick

Chapter 12: The End of One Story

A scream further darkened the night as dust gathered within a grass-filled glade. In the finality following the sharp absence of sound, a silence settled in the evening with a yawning stretch.

From the stillness entered two shadows of the forest. Each was shaped similarly, though with key differences, as one stood tall and thin, while the other was relatively short and stocky. Both had long beards, loose robes, and held staffs that seemed bound and fit to their hands. 

They carried an innate darkness that seemed untouched by the green-touched moon overhead, their colors only lightened to gray at the best of times. Both looked down at the pile of dust before them, speckles of it drifting away in a light breeze that seemed to drift through the area unaware. 

“Another one gone,” said the tall man, almost seeming to lean on the long staff held before him.

“Yes,” replied the shorter of the two, “But at least this one made it much further, better than the three from before”.

The tall man sighed, “I don’t like doing this. It’s not right.”

“Right,” The short man laughed, a deep, phlegm-filled thing. “Since when has the option of being right presented itself to us. No, it’s not right. It’s necessary. For the good of the village and beyond, the challenge must be completed.”

He reached down, uncaring of what the dust had once been, and seemed to pluck something from within. Holding it up to the light of the moon, he inspected it with great interest before placing it in a pocket within his robe. “That will help.”

“You know it will not work.”

“Yes, it will. I have to believe that, otherwise, these sacrifices are for nothing.”

The tall man looked down at the disturbed pile, further pieces of it blowing away in a wind that seemed to touch the forest not at all. “I’d really hoped she could make it through. Such a kind girl.”

The short man let the words trail away in the air before clearing his throat. “Who’s next?”

Shaking his head as the last pieces of the former Challenger of the Forest finally faded away, the tall man looked up, “The Boy, you know the one.” He paused, then spoke slowly, “There’s something strange about him. I can’t place my finger on it.”

“Maybe that’s for the better.” As one, they both turned and walked away, leaving the thoughts and memories of the evening behind them. “We could use a bit of strangeness right now. Things are only getting worse out there. Soon enough, we’ll have more trouble than we can handle.”

“Yeah…yeah. Maybe you’re right.”

As the two men left the glade, a presence filled the area. It had watched, always watched, tracking each breath and movement of the Girl who had thought she could make it through. But she was mistaken, as were the many in the last ten attempts.

But one day, a challenger would get through. Then, and only then, would the village change.

Only then would the new wizard gain their mastery.

And the Boy would be the next to try…