Braided Sky posts
PftA Book 2 - Chapter 6
A/N: I'm not sure if this chapter is too exposition heavy. I'd love some feedback.Chapter 6 – A Hard ConversationAfter reviewing the newest contract – the Alliance really liked their contracts, it seemed – I signed it with a pulse of mana and set the tablet down. While I was excited to get a new piece of manatech, I was leery about being with the Mind Mage for too long.As soon as I left, I’d focus on learning Sense Motive, the evo...
PftA Book 2 - Chapter 5
Chapter 5 – A Quick Orientation“Are you crashing at my place tonight?” my brother asked as I followed him to the nursery to pick up Amie.“If I can’t move in a day early,” I nodded. “I haven’t asked yet, though.”“Why bother?” he asked curiously. “Just come hang out for the night. I’m sure Amie would like to spend some time with Aunt Emie. There’s a limit on how familiar you can get with a toddler when you only see them ...
PftA Book 2 - Chapter 4
Chapter 4 – The Return of a FriendWhile waiting for the rift to reset, Robert and I shared a meal and discussed my latest weapon idea. After describing the weapon I wanted to create, I watched as the small twig in Robert’s hand grew and shifted into a meter-long scepter that almost perfectly mirrored my imagination.“Like this?” he asked, holding up the finished product.“Yes! Can you add a groove to slot something this size?” I held up...
PftA Book 2 - Chapter 3
Chapter 3 – Delving NashvilleWe stepped out of the rift portal and onto a narrow platform on the side of a cliff. Below was nothing but clouds, making me curious about what would happen if one fell. Would they die, or get ejected from the rift? I certainly was not going to test it to find out.The only route away from the arrival platform headed up the cliffside. The path was only a few feet wide, plenty large enough for a single person to walk ...
PftA Book 2 - Prologue - Chapter 2
Just to get everything all caught up :) I'll be posting the next chapter here before it goes to RR.PrologueThe brunette stood separate from those she would have preferred to share the event with. Instead of being part of the crowd, Rhona was forced to stand next to several of her fellow Alliance members who’d played a role in the day’s events. They were not teachers or school administrators like those arrayed on the other side of the stag...
PftA (Revised) - Chapters 42&43
These are the last two chapters of Book One. I'll be doing light revisions to align the first few chapters of Book Two with the changes I've made, and they will be posted here as well (likely sometime later today).Chapter 42 – PreliminariesThe Brakenburg tournament was held the following weekend. Deni and Blaze had both signed up weeks before; however, Blaze promptly dropped out after the list of competitors, along with their tiers and ...
PftA (Revised) - Chapters 40&41
Chapter 40 – Tools of the Past and Future“Hey, Emie! I have another package for you!” Mom called out as she entered the craft room. “Oh, what are you working on?”“I’m just making a charm necklace. It looks a little weird—” I held up the multi-strand necklace incorporating several small talismans “—but I kinda like it.”That was a lie. At best, it was ‘meh.’ But it was functional.At least, I thought it would be.Had I mad...
PftA (Revised) - Chapter 39
A/N: Only one chapter today since this is BRAND NEW CONTENT that I just wrote...today. So, limited revisions were done. I'd love feedback if anything stands out. Enjoy!Chapter 39 – The AcademiesThe following week marked the beginning of October and the start of my beta testing as a dual Academy student. If I was considering my high school as an academy, it would probably be more accurate to say tri-academy, but I didn’t see them the same ...
Some Story Art
Emie's in-game character, Duality. I used this image as the new book cover.An obviously younger version of Duality - this is closer to what Emie looks like in person.Getting consistency is rough...Playing with magic in the woods.
PftA (Revised) - Chapters 37 & 38
A/N: I know I said I'd only be posting one chapter at a time until I finished, but have an extra!Chapter 37 – Delving St. Louis“Spear or staff?” I asked, wanting my guardian’s opinion since he’d already delved the rift.“You’re a spear user, right?” he asked, confused by the question.I shrugged. “I’m actually more proficient with the staff, but I’m trying to get used to using different weapons.”“Sometimes it’s bette...
PftA (Revised) - Chapters 32-36
Author's Note: This will be the last set of fi
PftA (Revised) - Chapters 27-31
Chapter 27 – A New Reality“What took y
PftA (Revised) - Chapters 23-26 + Interlude
Chapter 23 – Getting SettledUnlike storybook returner protagonists, I did not have an eidetic memory about everything I’d ever experienced, nor could I breeze through rifts I may have challenged as part of a game more than a decade before. Needless to say, though the rift seemed vaguely familiar, that familiarity did not give me any kind of edge.We’d chosen the Nature-based rift with plant mobs, thinking that the Fire wands I had in my bag ...
PftA (Revised): Chapters 18-22
Chapter 18 – Sharing the DecisionThough his mood had noticeably improved since our arrival, Justin still excused himself and hid in the room he shared with Melony several times during the first day. His eyes were always red when he returned, so there was little question what he was doing. It would likely take a long time for him to get over the betrayal, and I doubted it was something he would be able to make significant progress on while we we...
PftA (Revised) - Chapters 14-17 + Interlude
Chapter 14 – Magic TrainsThe elevated
PftA (Revised): Chapters 10-13 + Interlude
Chapter 10 - Gains“Bell just messaged me,” Deni said, interrupting the discussion I’d been having with Mesmer about the differences in our healing spells. “She has another in-game hour before she can log in. She’s in her VPS right now.”“Should we eat while we wait? It’s been a while since our last meal, and I’d rather not get the hunger debuff,” Ger said as he rubbed his stomach.After some discussion, we headed to the cafeteri...
PftA (Revised): Chapters 5-9
Chapter 5 – Beginner QuestI had a mess
PftA (Revised): Prologue - Chapter 4
PrologueI examined the dirty cell arou