Chapter 28 – Quiet Stars

Torn from his own world and stuffed into the body of a villainess, facing the end of a doomed route he himself wrote, "Amelia" must navigate a world she really should know - too bad she was never great at worldbuilding.

Stuck in a world she (maybe) created, Amelia quickly finds that reality has filled in the details she failed to describe. The characters who were so flat when she wrote them now have nuance, and motives. The kingdom she wrote into existence is experiencing internal strife she never even thought about. And let's not even get into the complexities of the magic system, or the demon that forced her into this situation to begin with...

Oh, and then there's the fact that she's about to be arrested and executed... but surely she can come up with a way to write herself out of that, right?

...Right?

Torn from his own world and stuffed into the body of a villainess, facing the end of a doomed route he himself wrote, "Amelia" must navigate a world she really should know - too bad she was never great at worldbuilding.

Stuck in a world she (maybe) created, Amelia quickly finds that reality has filled in the details she failed to describe. The characters who were so flat when she wrote them now have nuance, and motives. The kingdom she wrote into existence is experiencing internal strife she never even thought about. And let's not even get into the complexities of the magic system, or the demon that forced her into this situation to begin with...

Oh, and then there's the fact that she's about to be arrested and executed... but surely she can come up with a way to write herself out of that, right?

...Right?

Chapter 17: A Moment Between Queens

After a man is stabbed in the back and dies, he wakes up in the Labyrinth with a new body, new power, and another chance.

This story takes place in the same universe as my story Invoker.

Chapter 27 – Wings of the Queen

Part Twelve

"I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you," said Melody, when she called Aaron a few days later. "Well, I assume I'm first."

"I assume this is in regard to my winning the Nobel Peace Prize," said Aaron.

"Yes. We got an early notice over the wire. It's for Aaron LaBelle, not Malak, I notice."

"Regardless, this will infuriate some people," said Aaron, wryly.

"Well, at least you found Molly's project to make a power phage."

"Thanks in large part to Blackpool's work. Though Molly's bragging provided significant clues."

Part Ten

"I checked with Insight," said Aaron, when Melody called from her office the next morning. She was at work, while he was still at home, enjoying a post-breakfast second cup of coffee. A rare luxury, even with his reduced schedule these days. "It agrees with my analysis. However, it can't find her."

"That's... surprising," said Melody. "As well as worrying. I suppose it's not because she's dead?"

"No. Somehow she's actively hiding. I guess it makes sense that someone with superhuman senses would be good at concealing herself."

Part Nine

Aaron decided that he needed to speak with Abner Throne as quickly as possible. If nothing else, he wanted to correct whatever impression Mannequin had left him with. Therefore, instead of trying to make an appointment, he simply arrived in the man's office early the next day. Throne, busy poring over some documents, didn't even notice him until Aaron noisily cleared his throat. Throne's reaction then was one of annoyance.

"Who are you!? How did you get in here?!"

"I'm Aaron Labelle. I understand you've been trying to talk to me."

Part Eight

"You don't seem very worried about the President denying some elements of modern science," said Melody, still on the phone with Aaron. "Aren't you afraid he'll influence researchers to post the wrong results?"

Part Five

"I don't understand," said Carmel. "What could IRA possibly get from being a mobile unit that it doesn't already have?! It has input from the entire world."

"Immediacy of presence," said Sharon.

* * *

Short part, this time.

Part Three

Chapter 55: New Balance in Life

The rest of the week in the cabin passed like a quiet dream. Each day began with the gentle crackle of the fire and the smell of pine drifting in from the woods. Yuqi would wake to the sound of her parents humming softly in the kitchen, the sun filtered through frost-laced windows, casting golden patterns on the worn wooden floor. Outside, icicles glittered from the porch roof, and the snow piled so high that it muffled even the sound of footsteps.

Chapter 56: Return of the Queen

Chapter 11: Fire and Fertility

The livestream build-up was a masterclass in suspense. Before a single face appeared, the feed flickered to life with jittery, disjointed shots: the moon caught in the lens, a boot crunching over brittle grass, the distant echo of voices just out of range. The narrator’s breaths quickened, and every shaky pan of the camera suggested something forbidden waited just beyond view. Then, as the tension peaked, an ominous caption stamped across the screen:

"WITCHES CAUGHT IN THE ACT — DARK RITUAL EXPOSED LIVE!"

Chapter 26 – Official Debrief and Relaxation

Morning cycle aboard the Queen’s Rage came painfully early. The aftereffects of last night's celebration clung to the air—dry mouths, pounding temples, and the unmistakable weight of regret shared by half the crew.