Novels by Anneth Annie

The night settled over the deserted village like a suffocating shroud, its silence almost as oppressive as the lingering destruction. Shadows danced on the crumbled walls as the faint glow of a makeshift fire flickered in the shelter. Viana, Tharion, and Lyra sat in a loose circle, their voices hushed but tense, as if afraid the ruins themselves might overhear their words.“People lived here,” Viana murmured, her gaze scanning the broken remnants of homes. Her voice carried a sadness that made the silence heavier.“Not anymore,” Tharion replied, leaning back against the wall. His tone was deep and heavy and sounded exhausted and a little hopeless, as if he had witnessed this kind of devastation countless times before.Lyra gazed into the flames, which reflected the confusion in her own head.She whispered, as if afraid of the sound, “Where are they?”Viana shook her head and waved her hands as if to say she didn't know."Who knows?" she replied.At that moment, the only noise was th

The plains eventually gave way to a small village—or what was left of one. What had once been a thriving community, a vibrant setting of homes, lay transformed into nothing more than a scorched expanse of rubble and decay. Roofs bobbed like wilted flowers, doorway entrances gaped like dark mouths, and the ghost of charred wood mingled with the faint hint of lingering odorless smoke. Lyra gradually tempered her pace, her fingers coolly squeezing her bow instinctively as she took in the scene.“What… what happened here?” Her voice was soft, almost lost in the stillness.Tharion came up beside her, his expression unusually somber. “It just keeps getting worse,” he muttered, his usual humor absent.Viana moved ahead of them, her curved knives drawn. She walked cautiously, scanning the remains of the village. “Not even a soul left,” she said grimly, her tone carrying a weight that silenced them all.Zarekth paused at the edge of the ruins, his silver eyes focused on the devastation a

The plains stretched endlessly, beneath a pale and dull sky. The air was eerily still, as if the land itself was holding its breath. Far behind them, Emberfall was a distant memory, its warmth and safety now replaced by the vast, silent openness.Zarekth led the group, his steps purposeful but his silence heavier than usual. The sword of equilibrium rested on his back, his grip on its hilt tight. The muscles in his jaw flexed, a sure sign of unease.Lyra trailed close behind him, her gaze flickering to Zarekth’s rigid stance. His unease was contagious.Lyra’s hand unconsciously brushed against the quiver of arrows strapped to her back.Tharion froze mid-step, his eyes narrowing. Something large moved in the corner of his vision, a ripple through the shadows of the grasslands. Slowly, he turned his head, and there it was—wolf-like, massive, and made of writhing darkness. Its crimson eyes burned like embers, locked on him. He blinked, his throat dry.The creature was gone.“Uh… guy

The first light of dawn crept over the horizon, painting the city of flames in hues of gold and crimson. The embers of countless fires still smoldered from the night before, their heat lingering in the air as if Emberfall itself refused to let go of the celebration. Lyra stood at the edge of the central courtyard, the weight of her pack resting on her shoulders. Her eyes drifted across the scene—Viana adjusting the strap of her bag, Tharion muttering about his sword, and Zarekth standing tall, his presence as unshakable as the mountains beyond.The dwellers of Emberfall had gathered in clusters, their somber faces marked by both pride and farewell. Warriors lined up beside Ignir, their weapons glinting under the rising sun. Ignir stood at the forefront, a pillar of fire-forged strength, but it was Zarekth who naturally drew the eye. Even here, surrounded by flame and iron, Zarekth’s presence was unmatched, as if the dawn itself bent to acknowledge him.Ignir turned his head and s

The city of Emberfall had transformed into a spectacle of light and shadow. As twilight deepened and bled into full night, flames roared to life in every corner of the city—pyres that reached for the skies, torches that lined every walkway, and bonfires that bathed the streets in gold and orange. Emberfall glowed like a city born of fire itself, and as the first notes of distant drums rang out, the celebration began.Lyra stood with Tharion and Viana at the edge of the central plaza, taking in the scene. The heat shimmered in the air, a visible wave that made the flames dance twice over, their golden glow mirrored across the stone streets. Long wooden tables groaned under the weight of feasts fit for warriors: roasted meats glistening with juices, steaming bowls of spiced stews, baskets of bread still hot from the oven, and mugs of firewine that caught the firelight like molten rubies.“Now this,” Tharion said, eyes gleaming as he surveyed the spread, “is the kind of celebration I

The air in Emberfall carried a heat that clung to the skin, a heavy warmth that never truly dissipated. Flames burned endlessly in braziers scattered across the training grounds, illuminating the dark edges of the volcanic city. The crack of wooden swords clashing echoed in sharp, rhythmic bursts as Lyra, Viana, and Tharion sparred alongside Emberfall’s warriors.Lyra gripped the wooden hilt of her practice sword tightly, her muscles burning with effort as she parried the strikes of her opponent—one of Ignir’s people, tall and lean, with a sharpness to his movements that forced her to stay focused. She ducked under an arc, swung back, and caught him just barely in the ribs. The warrior stumbled back, grinning.“Nice,” he said, nodding at her with approval.Lyra stepped back, chest heaving. She couldn’t remember the last time she had fought so hard—or at all, for that matter. But something about this time, this place, demanded strength.A few feet away, the sound of a sharp thud t