Update - On Side Story 7 (Patreon)

Turns out writing stand-alone side stories is stupidly more difficult than I imagined. The ones I've done so far were at least related to the ongoing story of TAM, but this one has to be built from scratch. Which is why... I'm doing a couple of things.

• 1) Side Story 7 will come out either tomorrow or Wednesday. I thought I'd be able to do it today, but I've rewritten it so many times already it simply can't be done.
• 2) I'm still writing a fantasy story with TAM characters, but changing the approach to another idea I had. I'll have David, Katherine, Emily and Megan play Dungeons & Dragons with Sophia as the Dungeon Master. Should be more fun.
• 3) Suprise item number 3. I'm posting the last, unfinished draft of what could've been Side Story 7. It's short, but I figured I might as well. Hopefully you'll see how this would not fit for a 2.5K words story and how, in my opinion, it wasn't very good.

I apologize for not meeting my deadline. I want to make excuses, but I won't. I'll make up for it in some way.

Have a good week, everyone.

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Side Story 7: 4th Draft (unfinished)

The bright sunlight hitting his eyes right after exiting the dark, damp cave hurt his eyes and blinded him for a few seconds, making him groan in annoyance.

“Oh goddammit!”

His traveling clothes were muddied from falls, he had a few scratches and sore spots from fighting some of the monsters living in the cave, and his relief at finally getting out after three days was stopped by the brightness of the sun.

The young man took a deep breath to calm down and take in some much needed fresh air.

“Get out there and find glory”

On his 18th birthday, his father sent him out from the comfort of the palace and into the dangers of the world, with that vague goal as his only guide. The Crown Prince, David Caminante, has been traveling the country for six months under the alias “Walker”, his father’s expectations weighing heavily on his shoulders. The insecurities in his heart were quickly overshadowed at the start of his journey by fear and anxiety of the dangers of the world. His only blanket of safety was the sword at his waist, given to him as a parting gift by his older brother, the First Prince.

It is this magical sword that has been his lifeline. The blade, able to cut through anything as if it were butter, had protected him and allowed him to finish a number of adventures in his quest for glory. But even so, his journey has been met with failure after failure.

At first, he could only do odd jobs to get himself enough money to eat. The hard bread, tasteless soups and chewy meats were a shock to his palate, accustomed to the fine dining of royalty. But he could only grin and bear it, for he was not welcomed back at home until he found glory.

His first big chance came four months after the start of his journey, but it was met with a tragic failure. He accepted a request from a certain magician in a small town who wished for a hellhound cub of all things!

“People see them as terrifying monsters, but wouldn’t it be better if we could domesticate them and have them become the faithful companions of man?” The magician had said.

And although the prince was severely skeptical of the safety of this experiment, the magician’s enthusiasm managed to convince him. To make the fearsome, fire breathing beasts into an asset for humanity would certainly bring glory to them both. Prince David could boast of his brave actions and go back home with his head held high.

But after fighting and managing to find a hellhound cub, a tragedy he should’ve foreseen struck only days after. The rest of the hellhound pack tracked the missing cub and burnt the magician’s house with him inside. Guilt weighted heavily in Prince David’s chest, knowing that his actions brought the end of the magician’s life.

He continued to wander aimlessly. Every day he would question his goal even more.

“What is glory, truly?” He asked himself. “At every turn, I find failure. What am I doing wrong!?” The prince had nothing but curses and reprimands for himself. Doubt growing every so steadily in his heart.

Yes, his older brother would be a far better king. But because he was an illegitimate child, it was David who would one day inherit the throne. And it was stupid. His brother, Jonathan, was smarter, more charismatic and far more skilled with the sword.

But no matter how much he wished to be rid of his responsibilities, he was forced to face them head on. To find glory and become a man worthy of ruling over a country, he continued his journey. And his long travels eventually caught him in the capital of a neighboring country, the Kingdom of Hayes.

The big and overwhelming city of finely cut stone had an air of depression to it. The people walked with heavy steps, their faces tired and miserable. Renting a room at an inn revealed a ridiculously high price for a below-average service.

“You won’t find anything cheaper, so take it or leave it.” The inn owner said with a scowl.

“What is with this city? Why is everything so expensive and why does everyone look so tired?” The prince asked.

“Queen Elena raised the taxes again, that’s what’s happening.” The man groaned. “Not only that, but people have been made to work extra. All because of rumors of a possible war with the Kingdom of Caminante.”

“War!?” David’s heart skipped a beat. His country was at the edge of war with the Kingdom of Hayes!?

“You’re foreign, aren’t you? No wonder you don’t know. The queen has been trying to keep it a secret.” The man groaned again, apparently not caring about keeping the secret himself.

Though the kingdoms of Caminante and Hayes were at peace and maintained friendly relationships, it seems it was all just a front. War was brewing in the shadows. And the princes first thought was to leave the city immediately. If people found out he was the crown prince of the enemy country, he would be used as a bargaining chip.

But this was also a prime opportunity. What better way to find glory than to prevent a war between the two countries? Once more, the prince swallowed his fears and decided to stay and look for a way to solve the conflict. But what could he even do? Here he was just a man with a sword. His status as a prince would do more harm than good.

He spent a month in the city, trying to learn more about the situation. He watched the people struggle every day, spoke to miners who had been breaking their backs day in and day out to get the ore needed for weapons, saw soldiers taking nearly 90% of the food grown by farmers, saw the prices of basic need items skyrocketing. And he still had no idea of what to do.

It was one day when he was coming back to his room at the inn when he met the person with the power to do something about all this.