Mornings at Greytower started bright and early. Or rather, dark and early as the tower’s many automated subroutines roused themselves well before sunrise. Quiet things to begin, revising logs, transmitting updates, and receiving downloads in return. Nothing moved, save the tiny bots that scurried about maintaining systems, from the thinnest wires in the walls to … Continue reading The Sisters of the Woods Ch.1 →

Another peculiar feeling gripped Nic as he exited the Library. Part of it was the wards again, their presence having grown no weaker since the last time he’d crossed over them. As they exited the airlock, Nic glimpsed sunlight for the first time in a full day. He winced at the glare, eyes taking a … Continue reading Archive Ch.16 →

It was a chaotic thing charging the bot. A delicate balance of moving, dodging, weaving, ducking, and swerving around the many objects filling the air. Stopping for any length of time was a mistake that many things were ready and eager to punish. One book to the face might not be so bad but a … Continue reading Archive Ch.15 →

Nic’s stomach lurched sharply as he went over the edge, mind rushing as many thoughts collided at once. Blind panic chief among them, mixed with no shortage of fear and worry, mostly for himself but also for Jordi. Some part of him thought to try and reach out for the shelf, arrest his fall before … Continue reading Archive Ch.14 →

“We’re here.” Nic looked up at Jordi where he stood several paces ahead. He’d stopped short at the end of a passageway, standing next to a small metal cylinder bolted upright to the floor. It obviously didn’t belong, far too modern compared to its surroundings and positioned to be obvious rather than melding in with … Continue reading Archive Ch.13 →

Nic couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t for lack of trying, certainly not for lack of wanting. His exhaustion had only increased since he first sat down, limbs growing downright leaden and useless as the evening wore on. It had taken everything he had left just to crawl into his bedroll, and he doubted that much could … Continue reading Archive Ch.12 →

Forty minutes later, at least as Nic perceived it, they arrived at Jordi’s chosen campsite. A simple alcove cutting into the side of a bookcase, shallow but for three nooks cut into the wall. Though made of the same wood, they would serve well as makeshift bunks once lined with their bedrolls. Making camp mostly … Continue reading Archive Ch.11 →

Nic and Jordi wasted no time clearing the area. Though it was unlikely the books would attack again according to Jordi, he also suggested it might be better not to tempt fate. Nic couldn’t have agreed more, not even bothering to take his harness off until a solid ten minutes stood behind them. Only then … Continue reading Archive Ch.10 →

Several things happened in rapid succession. The first of them was Nic giving a sharp yelp of surprise, trying to at once see the threat, get away from said threat and help Jordi do the same. None of these attempts worked, all three actions crashing into one another and leaving Nic doing nothing but looking … Continue reading Archive Ch.9 →