Chapter 35 - Released!

A tree. Lights in a field. This and more in Chapter 35!

Chapter 35 can be read here!

https://talesofthespire.blogspot.com/2025/07/chapter-35.html

Thanks for reading! 

-L.B. James 

Writing Prompt - LO!

 "DEATH!!"

(Some prompts are more a vibe than a story. Let the inner rage embrace.)

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Today's music: Wardruna - Hagal
https://youtu.be/GQA7RQEo-ss

Prompt: LO! (Third-Person, Semi-Omniscient, Viking, Valhalla, Berserker, Descriptive)

Lyrics:
Haglhrið slær,
høgg i aks!
Deyr einn,
spirar einn.

Translation:
Hail strikes
the ears of barley.
Death of one,
life of another.
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The silence was not absence, it was presence. Thick and primal. Not peace, it was a moment before a storm break. Before the howl of steel and fury.

A lone voice shouted upon the misted field. Powerful and strong.

Chapter 34 now out!

"Location, location, location."

Some days, release schedule is determined by where I am, what i'm doing, and when I'm able time to put things online. Whoopsie! (But sometimes things just aren't in our control, much as Owen has discovered!)

Many, many apologies to anyone wondering where it was, but here it is: Chapter 34!
Hope it worth the wait. (More writing prompts to come as I'm able to spool back up.)

Chapter 34 can be read here!
https://talesofthespire.blogspot.com/2025/07/chapter-34.html 

-L.B. James.

 Side note: 4'33" - A musical piece by John Cage. Read about it here!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4%E2%80%B233%E2%80%B3

Chapter 34 Delay

 It's that time again!
Sadly this week is also swamped with issues, and I've been put considerably behind schedule. Currently working on finalizing Chapter 34's release, but it looks like it'll be a Sunday release time. 

 As before, many many apologies for the delay. (I assure you all it was not on purpose!)

-LB James 

Chapter 33 now available!

Chapter 33 can be read here!
https://talesofthespire.blogspot.com/2025/07/chapter-33.html

Apologies for Chapter 33's SUNDAY Release due to delay. 
Thank you all for your patience!

- L.B. James

Writing Prompt - The Arc (Shadowrun because, "Why not?")

Author Note: ugh. I started this with an action scene, and it turned into Shadowrun fanfic because...Shadowrun, Chummer! 

Ooooh man! One of my favorite fictional settings. 80's pseudotech! Metahumans! Magic (multiple flavors!) DRAGONS!!

One could say it was inSPIREing…

Enjoy!
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Today's music: Aaron F. Bianchi Jupiter - Topic - Nailgun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmRZB66sPGE&list=RDEmRZB66sPGE

Prompt: The Arc (First-Person, Heist/Crime, Shadowrun, fanfic)

====================================================== 

"It's on the fifth floor," a tinny voice said from the speaker of a Rigger drone, "at least that's what Mr. Johnson told me."

Writing Prompt - Til This Moment After

A random forum prompt: "How do I make a connection between to characters?"

Prose choice can make even unidentified charactrers connect. Sometimes it's just the scene to be set and the characters are within it. 

A mere glance. A shared smile. A nodded head. 

Connection.

===========================
Today's music: DJ Encore - I See Right Through to You (slowed+reverb)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBwHAGpT36g&list=RDoBwHAGpT36g
Prompt: Til This Moment After (Heartfelt. Mid-scene. Nostalgic. Emotion. Vibes. Third-Person)
=============================

From where he stood, time seemed to slow, just a bit. His vision adjusted as he bore witness to the scene within. Light and darkness melded, a line of sinful pressure against Heaven's illumination. Arms skipped and whisked above a sea of humanity; their attached heartbeats pulsed to the waves of sound as endless bodies pushed and pulled with the current of the penetrating beat.

Their eyes met across the expanse. One look. One glance was all it took to make him realize, at least for the two of them, time would be measured from that moment after.

He tilted his head in invitation as her smile broadened. Her teeth shone pearly white in the brilliant flash of a turned spotlight. Only a tiny quantity of space and time separated them from becoming one. Valence between electrons. Atoms amongst matter as a universe expanded.

He extended his hand. 
She stepped toward it.
Today would be a good day.

Writing Prompt - A clutch of "dragons" (No. Not really. :D)

"We're all just boats sailing through a stream of time. Look for the path. Plot. Make it safely to that far horizon! Whatever the set course." - Someone Probably

===========================

Today's music: Ticking Away" by Grabbitz and bbno$
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdZN8PI3MqM

Prompt: A clutch of "dragons" (Heartfelt. Simple. Nostalgic. Vibes. Third-Person) 

=============================

The food court wakes slowly. A sleeping dragon.

Smoke drifts upward to specially designed air exchangers lining the ceiling within the airy atrium.
Worlds float by. Their doorways open and close. Yaw wide and slam shut to the beats of a composition known only to the universe itself. 

The noodle vendor smiles sadly.

Childhood memories of water, sun, and happiness. Friendships grown together; friendships drifted apart. Happy. Sad. Upset. Glad.

The worlds know no limit.

A warm light surrounds the noodle cart as a group of youths approach.

They are windswept, sun-kissed, and exuberant. Entirely comfortable with each other, like clouds in the sky pushed along by the winds of time.

The noodle man smiles as he readies his baskets. The water is hot. The simmering broth is clear, flavorful, and aromatic.

Today is a good day. 

Chapter 32 Now live!

Many, many apologies for the week delay. Sometimes events in life make planning impossible. (Which coincides with Owen's journey in hindsight...ha!)

This week's chapter is a bit longer, to hopefully make up for it! Thank you all so very much for reading!
(More writing prompts also to come)

 Chapter 32 is now live!

https://talesofthespire.blogspot.com/2025/07/chapter-32.html 

Writing Prompt - By the Seat of Our Pants

Good morning/afternoon/day!

Some things require meticulous planning. Intel. Painsaking research and fine-combing.

Others? "F$#k it! We're doing it live."

 Toujours! 💓

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Music for today:
Alonzo - Determine (District B13 Soundtrack)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YzCV-aDdo&list=RDgW4Cp9iIcJQ&index=2

 Prompt: By the Seat of Our Pants (Action. Drama. French. Inspired by District B13.)
====================

"For this to work we need to go fast. We need to go hard. You ready for this, Luc?"

The compound was sleepy below. Two men patrolled at set intervals and distances, the distinguishable banana-shaped magazines of their rifles a hint of destruction. All capable of being wrought with a simple stroke of a finger. 

Sweat beaded down Luc's forehead as they observed.