79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvHB7YwWMVCHAPTER 1
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwtrjY6FHL
— THE PEN —
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvynTM6rKWi
The dust outside Veronica's restaurant swirls in clouded arches. Kicked up by an afternoon breeze. The shuffling of villagers and wind are heard heading through the market.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSYYAW2bHE
There's Traeven.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRb0vqAAER
In a sketchy alleyway, dirt, stone, and sweat.
His jaw is set, eyes burning with humiliation.
Kathryn hovers beside him like a nervous song bird. Red hair flapping wild in the wind, green flowy dress, catching the air. She smiles way too hard. Laughs quickly, and clings to Traeven's arm like she belongs there.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBHaECEuJv
She doesn't.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu8hYflOez
On the side of the building, also stands the temple priest, staffs planted in the sand. They look bored, some annoyed, overall unimpressed with Traeven's panic.
Traeven:(snaps, harsh whisper)
"You said it would work!"
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCWBX3LT8X
The priest don't flinch. He stares at Traeven with that mixture of discontentment and disapproval only holy men seem to master.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7dSxJYYW9
Priest:
"If a man could grow crops instantaneously, we wouldn't be in this predicament as a whole community."
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vijg0OHe4
Priest2:
"It's impossible… we've done our best."
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhxHdZ6nov
Traeven's face twitches — desperation, cracking through his polished exterior. His career, his influence, his entire standing with the King, all of it feels like it's slipping from his grasp.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVb5rSl1pU
Traeven: (sassy, sharp)
"Well — what CAN you do?"
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFK0MYRaoU
The priest sigh, one lifts his staff, pointing it at the tiny cucumber sprout poking out of the dirt.
A small fire ball shoots out.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnF6t7OxA2
FWUMP.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEpm9a6gX4
It scorches instantly.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0uIR6aiTV
The priest smile. Finally satisfied.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzeCK2Kd8W
Priest:
"Is that better?
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsvVcfkaOE
Kathryn giggles, pressing herself against Traeven's arm like she's watching a comedy show instead of a horticultural execution. Traeven ignores her completely, eyes locked on the priest with pure contempt. He snatches the green emerald staff out of the priest's hands, shaking the gem staff as if he's going to force the magic out by brute force alone.
Sweat drips down his temple.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRClHxNoyN
Traeven:
"You all are good for nothing, low —"
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Prtc3oxtm
He stops himself.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GCYyscu6q
The priests face twist — offended, appalled, and almost curious.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYtilgPYGv
Priest: (nods)
"Go on…"
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGC0IX9D8t
Kathryn has her hands on her knees, teeth shining through a wide grin, trying not to burst in laughter. Traeven grunts, dragging his foot across the sand as if he were drawing the line. A dramatic dust cloud puffs up across his boot.
He storms off, disappearing into the roar of the market. Kathryn waves, excitedly, one arm in the air.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwT3CWhPBj
Kathryn:
"Wait for me!"
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL11lB6w3bC
She gathers her dress and scampers after him, nearly tripping twice before catching up as he crosses the busy street. The lodge door groans as Traeven pushes it open, the heavy wood resisting him. The air is cooler inside, scented with pine resin and a faint metallic tang of guards amor. A stark contrast to the hot, dusty chaos outside of Veronicas establishment.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY2CtasWHg
Traeven steps in.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZfYmORsLl
The moment his boots touch the polished floor, something in him tightens — a coil of dread, ambition and calculation twisting together. His mind begins to race, faster than his breath can catch.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfl7QRwbqxq
Equations.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMEvvq8qLp
Faces.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm3LtVNZsK
Landscapes.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfhfQAPaEA
Outcomes.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt9selyNgy
Dark thoughts race behind his eyelids like runes on a spinning wheel. His jaw clenches. The King's guard at the base of the stairs doesn't move, but Traeven feels the man's gaze like a weight. The guard's armor shines faintly —He walks past without acknowledging the guard, cloak brushing past. The staircase seems to stretch. Looming ahead — carved with dark oak, below crimson carpet with gold symbols.
As Traeven ascends, the carved encryptions on oak beams seem to shift as he climbs, judging him. He blinks hard, shaking his thoughts away,
but the images keep flashing like shards of glass.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavcHONGk23
Metro's calm demeanor. Theron's disappointment. Veronica's countenance. Kathryn's giggling face. The priest's pompous smirk. The burning cucumber sprouts.
He feels heat rising in his chest — anger, humiliation, fear — all tangled into one.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ415FY3axjz
He needs leverage.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPEKEH33Ts
He needs a win.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GDLgl8o4x
He won't be replaced, he can't just lose everything he's worked so hard for.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37jPWgoqXx
One step above another, he passes floating lanterns near the ceiling. Their lights shine with soft pulses. At the top of the stairs, Traeven's boots click sharply on the stone tiles, echoing louder than they should. He feels exposed. Seen. Like the walls themselves are whispering about him. He reaches Theron's office door —cracks it open just enough to tempt himself.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERdIogqHNm
He leans in, peering through the gap.
Archeus's voice drifts out — calm, measured, ancient in its patience. The scribe stands in front of Theron's desk, quill and scroll in hand.
Theron sits rigid, shoulders tight, eyes shadowed with exhaustion and something darker — worry maybe, or guilt.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN40kkuKSyJ
Then
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQgpdS1td0
"Got ya."
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkXK1IoqRD
Kathryn clings to Traeven's black coat like a koala bear, he swipes her away, a full arm three sixty motion.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyPcJzVr3P
Traeven: (turns, sharply)
"Get out of here! I'm on business, go home…”
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUj2LLorm5
She ignores, and peeks her head underneath his in the cracked door frame. Her eyes shining bright blue, with interest.
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE0g7nd5zC
Kathryn:
"Whatcha looking at?"
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEBJnFv6Z7
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H48wTd4hN
and then Add to home screen.