ChapterTrail

The Mana Engineer

by David Pope

Moved book 1 to Kindle Unlimited, will be back after 90 days. Eric Elwyn thought he was just another overworked husband and father, driving home after a long day. Then the sky tore open and dragged him into another world. Rebuilt from the soul-thread itself, Eric wakes as an Outworlder — a rare race with higher than average stats, a lightning affinity almost no one has, and a profession tailored to his nature: Artificer. In a world where affinities define power and trust is rarer than gold, Eric finds himself bound to Welyvyne, a sharp-witted lowlander elf with her own scars and ambitions. Together, they’re outsiders in the Arcanum — the most prestigious magical academy in the realm — where every whispered rumor can ruin reputations, and every misstep can mean death. Eric quickly learns that his power makes him a target, his inventions make him dangerous, and his bond with Welyvyne makes them both infamous. But Eric isn’t here to play the prodigy. He’s here to build — to bend magic into tools, weapons, and wonders the world has never seen. If he can survive politics, professors, and the ever-growing shadow of those who want his power, he just might craft more than artifacts. He might craft a way to bring his family there.

2,673 words

Ruin Shaper

by NoNameOnFile

Heads up, I’m working this week, so I won’t be putting in book work for a bit. I’m busy designing a CMS system from the ground up, so my brain is fully buried in code right now. Thanks for the patience, and I’ll get back to chapters when I can. Adam was only trying to live a normal life. A hiking trip with his friends was supposed to be a break from everything, but instead it ended with him stranded in another world, separated from everyone he knew, and left with only the contents of his pack to keep him alive. His first shelter is a ruined tower hidden in the forest, but safety does not last. A territorial monster claims the land outside, trapping Adam inside with dwindling food, broken rooms, and whatever scraps he can turn into tools. With no way home and no clean way out, Adam begins searching the tower. What he finds buried inside is not treasure, but the remains of an ancient magical training facility and a System designed to help people survive a world they were never built for.

4,220 words