Fiction

A Poisoning at the Palace - Prologue. Content Warning.
Laughter echoed off the orange-tiled walls of the hallway as Filip Isayev walked out of the dining room, arm in arm with Princess Yelene and Princess Kasha. The princesses’ guards and ladies-in-waiting trailed exactly ten feet behind them, not uttering a sound.
By Sabine Roseabout 5 hours ago in Chapters
The Last Heir of the Van Declaoria Bloodline - Chapter 11. AI-Generated.
Morning came quietly over the Van Declaoria estate. The sky above Arlein was pale and clean, the storm clouds of previous nights finally gone. Sunlight slipped across the polished stones of the eastern courtyard, touching the surface of a long koi pond built at the heart of the family residence.
By Luke Dreayryabout 13 hours ago in Chapters
World War 3 Current Affairs (2026)
World on Edge: The US‑Iran Conflict and the Looming Threat of Global War Middle East Tensions, Pakistan Diplomacy, and the Geopolitical Chessboard That Could Trigger World War 3
By Wings of Time about 18 hours ago in Chapters
Brainstorming Plan of US Ground Invasion of Iran
Brainstorming Plan of US Ground Invasion of Iran The possibility of a United States ground invasion of Iran has once again become a topic of global strategic debate. With rising military tensions, economic disruptions, and diplomatic maneuvering, the Middle East is entering a critical phase. Reports suggest increasing troop deployments, rising threats, and parallel diplomatic efforts — including potential negotiations through Pakistan. These developments indicate that the conflict is no longer limited to airstrikes or naval pressure, but could evolve into a broader geopolitical confrontation.
By Wings of Time about 18 hours ago in Chapters
Run with the Pack: Chapter 13
It was a long walk back to where the family continued to head into the icy wind. A long walk during which Elha had to stop more than once to bark back at the white wolf.
By Raymond G. Taylorabout 23 hours ago in Chapters
Hue and The Discovery of Manipo (Chapter 3). AI-Generated.
Some details are necessary. Others are better left unsaid — especially now. I know where Eden lies. No one else should. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed how carefully I’ve chosen my words.
By Lorenzo Blanda day ago in Chapters
This Is How I Rebuilt My Life
This Is How I Rebuilt My Life ‎BY: Khan I didn’t lose everything in a single moment. It happened slowly. Like a quiet storm that no one notices until the damage is already done. First, it was my confidence. Then my motivation. Then the version of myself I used to be proud of. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already standing in the ruins of a life I no longer recognized. Every morning felt heavy. Not dramatic, not loud—just… empty. I would wake up, stare at the ceiling, and wonder how I ended up here. I had plans once. Big ones. Dreams that used to keep me awake at night with excitement. Now, I could barely get out of bed. The worst part wasn’t failure. It was feeling like I had lost myself. One night, I sat alone in my room, scrolling mindlessly through my phone, comparing my life to everyone else’s highlight reels. Everyone seemed to be moving forward, achieving something, becoming someone. And me? I was stuck. That night, something shifted. Not in a dramatic, movie-like way. There was no sudden motivation, no instant clarity. Just a quiet thought that refused to go away: “If nothing changes, nothing changes.” It was simple. Almost too simple. But it hit me harder than anything else had. I realized I had been waiting. Waiting to feel ready. Waiting for the right moment. Waiting for motivation to magically appear. But nothing was coming. So I made a decision—not a big one, not a life-changing plan. Just a small one. The next morning, I would do one thing differently. That’s it. No pressure. No overwhelming goals. Just one small step. The next day, I woke up and made my bed. It sounds ridiculous, I know. But for me, it was a win. A tiny one, but real. The day after that, I added something else. I went for a short walk. Then I started writing my thoughts down. Not perfectly. Not like a professional. Just honestly. Day by day, I kept adding small changes. Some days were easy. Most days weren’t. There were moments when I slipped back into old habits, when I felt like nothing was working, when the voice in my head told me to give up. But this time, I didn’t. Because I wasn’t trying to fix my whole life anymore. I was just trying to win the day. That changed everything. Weeks turned into months. And slowly, without even realizing it, I started to feel different. Stronger. Clearer. More… alive. I stopped comparing myself to others because I was too focused on becoming better than who I was yesterday. I stopped chasing perfection because I realized progress was enough. And for the first time in a long time, I started to trust myself again. Rebuilding my life didn’t happen in one big breakthrough. It happened in quiet, consistent steps that no one else could see. It was choosing discipline over comfort. Showing up even when I didn’t feel like it. Forgiving myself for my past instead of being trapped by it. There was no applause. No recognition. Just me, slowly becoming someone I could respect again. One day, I looked in the mirror and noticed something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Not success. Not perfection. But peace. I wasn’t where I wanted to be yet. But I wasn’t lost anymore. And that mattered more than anything. Looking back, I understand something now: Losing yourself isn’t the end. Sometimes, it’s the beginning. Because when everything falls apart, you get a chance to rebuild—not the life you had, but the life you actually need. Stronger. Smarter. More real. And if you’re in that place right now—feeling stuck, lost, or broken—just know this: You don’t need to fix everything today. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need one small step. Then another. Then another. That’s how I rebuilt my life. And you can too.
By Khan a day ago in Chapters
I Walked Away and Found My Worth
I Walked Away and Found My Worth BY: Ubaid I didn’t leave because I stopped caring. I left because I finally started caring about myself. For the longest time, I believed love meant staying—no matter how much it hurt, no matter how small it made me feel. I thought loyalty was about endurance, about proving that I could withstand anything for the people I loved. So I stayed… even when I knew deep down that something wasn’t right. At first, it wasn’t obvious. The signs were quiet, almost invisible. A dismissive comment here, a forgotten promise there. I told myself it was normal. Nobody’s perfect, right? Relationships take effort. Compromise. Patience. So I adjusted. I silenced my opinions when they caused tension. I laughed off jokes that cut a little too deep. I made excuses for behavior that didn’t sit well with me. Slowly, without even realizing it, I began to shrink. The person I used to be—the one who spoke freely, laughed loudly, and believed in their own worth—started to fade. In their place was someone quieter, someone unsure, someone constantly questioning if they were “too much” or “not enough.” And the hardest part? I blamed myself. Maybe I wasn’t understanding enough. Maybe I expected too much. Maybe if I tried harder, loved better, fixed myself… things would change. But they didn’t. Instead, I felt lonelier than ever—even when I wasn’t alone. Conversations became exhausting. Silence became heavy. And my heart… it felt tired all the time. There was one moment I’ll never forget. I was sitting alone, staring at my reflection. I didn’t recognize the person looking back at me. There was no spark in their eyes, no confidence, no peace. Just exhaustion… and quiet sadness. And that’s when it hit me. This isn’t love. This isn’t what I deserve. For the first time, I didn’t think about fixing things. I didn’t think about staying strong for someone else. I thought about myself. And it scared me. Because walking away meant uncertainty. It meant letting go of something familiar, even if it was hurting me. It meant facing the possibility of being alone. But staying meant losing myself completely. So I chose the harder path. I chose to walk away. It wasn’t dramatic. There were no loud arguments or final speeches. Just a quiet decision—a moment where I realized I couldn’t keep betraying myself to keep someone else comfortable. The days after were the hardest. I questioned everything. Did I make a mistake? Was I overreacting? Should I go back? There were nights I wanted to undo it all, to return to what I knew, even if it hurt. Because at least it was familiar. But deep down, there was a small voice—soft but steady—that kept reminding me why I left. So I stayed away. Little by little, things began to change. I started spending time with myself again. At first, it felt strange—like meeting a stranger I used to know. But slowly, I began to remember who I was. I rediscovered the things I loved. I spoke without fear of being dismissed. I laughed without holding back. And something beautiful happened. I started to feel… whole again. Not because someone else completed me—but because I stopped abandoning myself. I learned that my worth isn’t something others get to decide. It doesn’t depend on how much I’m loved by someone else, or how much I can tolerate. My worth is mine—steady, unchanging, and enough. Walking away didn’t make me weak. It made me brave. It meant choosing respect over comfort. Peace over chaos. Self-love over self-sacrifice. Now, when I look in the mirror, I see someone different. Someone stronger. Someone wiser. Someone who knows they deserve better—and won’t settle for less. And maybe the most important thing I’ve learned is this: Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is leave. Not because you don’t care… But because you finally understand that you deserve to be in a place where you don’t have to fight for your own worth. Walking away didn’t break me. It saved me.
By Ubaid a day ago in Chapters
Iran’s Next Move: Nuclear Bomb?
Iran’s Next Move: Nuclear Bomb? Rising Fears as Iran Moves Closer to Nuclear Threshold As tensions escalate in the Middle East, one major question is now dominating global security discussions: Is Iran preparing for a nuclear bomb?
By Wings of Time a day ago in Chapters
Dragon Horse. Content Warning.
“They called the serpent Anguis. The steeds stole his wings from him, so he grew strong enough to swim without them. However, his scales still remembered what the feathers felt like. He would not sleep until he turned the tides and took them back.”
By Wen Xiaosheng2 days ago in Chapters
I'll Be Back
Introduction This is inspired by this amazing picture by Harry Clarke that I found on The Enchanted Booklet here: The music is "I'll Be Back" by Arnie and the Terminators
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 3 days ago in Chapters
The Proust Effect
*Doot doot doo do* “Ugh,” came out muffled from under a white and pink blanket. *Doot doot doo do* “Stop!” the muffled voice said. But the chiming didn’t stop and the blanket flew off in a swift motion of the arm. Wren Alden sat up in a little bed, in the attic of the renamed Leona’s Yellow Bird Bed and Breakfast. Felix Thurman, one of the most successful Authors and Wren’s mentor had bought it, selling all he owned in the U.S. and naming it in honor of his late wife. The former owner and murderer Darcia Blackwood was in prison for murdering her sister Lucia. Lucia was resting in peace; ashes scattered at the shipwreck that had brought her and so many others to the island. Carmine, Wren’s partner in literal crime thanks to a break in, was off traveling the world researching for his next book. Or that was what he was supposed to be doing, but instead he was calling Wren in the middle of the night. For the fourth time this month.
By Raine Fielder4 days ago in Chapters