Collin J. Earl & JC Anderson

Chapter 29 Marissa

MARISSA

Marissa Lin was glowing.

Not figuratively—literally. Her mana aura always shimmered when she was excited, and tonight? It sparkled like lantern light...

Chapter 28 - What is wrong with me?

VIVIAN

Vivian excused herself with the kind of soft smile that made noblewomen lean closer and servants step aside without question. She stood with grace, made some polite m...

Chapter 27 - Choices

DANIEL

Daniel had fought assassins in simulations, sparred in dojos across three continents, and once hiked sixteen miles on a torn ankle because the GPS lied. None of it prepared him for wat...

Vivian Li

This is what I picture her looking like - but with purple eyes -

Chapter 26 - Kneeling

Margaret Zhou had always thought herself prepared for anything.

She’d raised four children, survived a marriage that was equal parts war and partnership, and helped build a...

Chapter 25 Family

Daniel

The second carriage had fallen behind somewhere before the outer district gate.

Nothing serious—just a warding fluctuation in one of the axle seals. The steward had offered a ...

Chapter 24- Return

Caleb

The carriage rocked softly beneath him, the wheels humming over stone as the city began to thin behind them. Trees blurred past the window. Low walls rose and fell like breath. The s...

2025-05-26 17:24:41 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 23 - Gifts

Daniel

Daniel wasn’t expecting anyone to be waiting when he stepped into the outer courtyard in the middle of the day.

The sky was pale gold, the stones still cool ...

Chapter 22 - Wife on a Mission

Vivian

Vivian Li had always been a good observer.

It was the first skill her mother had taught her—long before swordplay, long before negotiation, long before the art...

Chapter 21 - Framework

Daniel

The blade cut through morning fog like a line drawn in glass.

Daniel stepped through the final form of the cycle—feet aligned, breath low, wrists steady. The...

Chapter 20 - Regret

Claire Wang

She was standing at the pinnacle again.

Atop the mountain of her own making. The sky burned gold behind her, an empire’s worth of banners stretched bene...

Chapter 19 - Answers

Vivian

The apartment was quiet.

Too quiet.

No distant music from the outer courtyard. No ceremonial drums. The celebration had ended with the sun.

And yet, the silence insid...

Welcome to the Inner Circle 🔥

Hey friends,

After a long break from writing, I’m back—and this time, I’m not holding anything back.

This Patreon is the official home for my two biggest new proje...