In New Beginnings, a science fiction fantasy short story, Jarvis and Fenton enter a dwarven celebration hoping to learn what happened to Tarian’s lost expedition. But an offered tankard quickly becomes a test of respect, and questions about the past uncover an old accusation that has shaped how the dwarves remember humanity.

As Ferrek tries to bridge two cultures, Jarvis discovers that the history preserved in Tarian’s logs may only tell one side of an old conflict...

In Planetfall, a political science fiction short story, Escort One circles a promising world that could become Aurora’s first settlement. But incomplete mineral scans force Isaac and Jasmine to request permission for planetfall, turning a routine survey into a struggle over who has the authority to move colonization forward.

The mission sounds simple: verify the ridge, test the landing site, and learn whether the planet can support a colony. But Britt recognizes the precedent one landing could establish, while Olyver sees another opportunity to challenge the triumvirate...

The moment I finished The Final Farewell, I turned my attention to the next story for my patrons, a piece of science fiction. However, instead of delving into one of my standard sci-fi worlds, I turned to AI to get a prompt to work with. The resulting central idea dealt with a world where memories are a type of currency. With some thought, a handful of threads gave me an idea for weaving a mystery into this piece of sci-fi.

Memories have always been important. They are how people relive cherished moments, remember those they lost, revisit moments they regret, and hold onto lessons they cannot forget. In this world, their value has become more tangible...

Life can sometimes get in the way. Over the past month, I have had several pillars flare, stealing my time. As a result, I had to pull back and focus only on the stories for my patrons. In fact, I think I forgot to post the results of the genre poll. Sometimes there are far too many things to do and never enough time to complete them. Let me sum it up real quick. The genres that topped the poll were drama, science fiction, and suspense. As always, I’ll start at the top of the list. So let’s delve into this month’s drama.

Some places collect more than dust as the years tick past. Every scuffed floorboard, faded curtain, and weathered seat carries traces of those who once filled the structure with life...

In Through the Woods, an epic fantasy short story, Jarvis and his companions become the first outsiders ever invited into a hidden dwarven hold after surviving the relentless horde’s latest assault. The invitation marks an important step for the fledgling alliance between Humans and Dwarves, but one innocent question inside the hold quickly reminds both races that trust takes far longer to build than a shared victory.

The Discovery series continues to expand beyond defending the settlement as Jarvis begins learning more about the people fighting beside him. This installment shifts the focus from battle to diplomacy, showing that understanding an ally can be just as important as defeating a common enemy...

In Uncovered Truths, a sci-fi fantasy short story, Jarvis investigates a discovery that reshapes everything his expedition thought it knew about the horde threatening their settlement. As multiple studies confirm the impossible, records recovered from the original expedition reveal a shared history that forces Jarvis to decide how much of the truth the settlement should learn.

The battle may have ended, but the answers prove more dangerous than the fighting. While Myriam verifies Diana’s research and Tarian’s logs begin to align with modern evidence, Jarvis discovers that the expedition uncovered far more than anyone realized. The answers explain the horde’s origins, raise unexpected questions about the dwarves, and leave Jarvis with a decision that could shape the settlement’s future...

In Memory’s Weight, Calen follows a whispered rumor into a mist-covered forest and finds a path that should have remained hidden. This original fantasy short story blends ancient forest magic, reflective fantasy, magical mystery, and emotional storytelling as one scholar learns that some places do not guard their secrets with locks, but with remembrance.

Calen has studied magic for decades, but the forest offers something no spellbook, archive, or high mage could prepare him to face. The deeper he follows the mist, the harder it becomes to tell whether he is discovering the truth or being claimed by it...

In Direction, a political science fiction short story, the colony ship moves ahead of schedule, but that progress creates an unexpected dilemma. As workers must be reassigned to complete vital infrastructure, Caitlin and Olyver face a decision that will shape their first colonies and determine how the new Federation expands among the stars.

As construction advances, a disagreement over labor evolves into something far greater than scheduling. Surveying nearby worlds, protecting future settlements, and balancing political promises against practical realities force the triumvirate to reconsider everything they assumed about humanity’s next steps into space...

In Replenished, a sci-fi fantasy short story, Jarvis and Fenton brace the settlement wall for the horde’s third assault while Cecile races to replenish their cannon supply. With only one altered prototype ready and new abominations emerging from the treeline, every shot must be measured before the charge reaches the defenders.

Jarvis manages the gunners while Fenton holds the line, but this assault becomes more than another test of the wall. The horde cut negotiations short, leaving the settlement with one chance to show what its defenders can do when promises are no longer enough...