[LitF] Lost in the Future (Patreon)

TL;DR: New novel to help me not get stressed. Won't affect Modern Awakening's release schedule. Prologue today, new chapters next week.

Tags: GameLit/LitRPG, Adventure, Drama, Action, Character-Driven, Slow-Paced, Power Progression, Overpowered Main Character (eventually), Magic, Slice of Life-ish (at times)

Blurb:

Arthur didn't like being crown prince very much. It meant couldn't become what he had always wanted to be, a knight. It also required him to sit in long classes where people talked about useless magic and boring math.

His life changed the day he awakened.

His father needed him; his country needed him. They were at war, and he would be the key to bring them victory. He only needed to learn how to do that.

Being trained as a squire, he learned, was not what he thought it would be. It took focus, drive, and facing his shortcomings. It also required dealing with embarrassing conversations.

By the end, he learned well. He grew. He became a better person.

Yet, his training wasn't over yet. That had been only the start. One didn't win a war at level 1, much less with mere peak natural stats. Having no skills also didn't inspire much confidence.

So, Arthur was thrown into a dungeon with three other people. His goal: not leave until he reached level 100. Fortunately, time ran over a hundred times faster inside. To those outside, he would come out in no time and bring a glorious end to the war.

Nine years later, he accomplished the goal set for him—as a mage, of all things—and learned he had been lied to.

There was no war waiting for him outside. No kingdom either. No parents, familiar faces, or even the society he knew. Time actually ran over a hundred times slower in the dungeon.

Arthur found himself lost in a very strange future.

The world's mana levels were low, and mana-effective magitech replaced awakeners and magic. Dungeons were few and far between. The Fated Races were splintered just like before the Great War from fifteen hundred years ago. And prophecy foretold of a shadow to come.

Now, he had to navigate an unknown world in search of his place and purpose in life—all the while surviving conspiracies from old enemies and allies alike.

Ps:

As you can see, a different take from Modern Awakening on someone from the past in a strange new future.

Warnings: 

- A lot more show than tell, which affects the pacing

- So, slow-paced

- Character-driven

- 3D characters who make mistakes, too

- The main character takes 9 chapters to enter the dungeon, then at least another 3~6 to leave it (not written yet)

- The main character will be overpowered when he leaves. Not invulnerable or unkillable but close enough, at least for a while

- I'll try to balance character growth, mystery unveiling, learning about a new world (sense of adventure), overall plot, and action—but I might fail

- 5 to 6k words long chapters

- 1 chapter a week (well, a lot more next week [read below], but then, 1/week)

Long explanation:

Good patrons of mine, I bring news! (First shared to B-ranks on Discord, btw)

I have concluded that one of the reasons I got burned out with writing was that I was focusing on a single story and depending on it to feed my family (and I'm grateful for you all for helping me keep the dream alive!).

I still greatly enjoy writing, but sometimes, it becomes too much pressure.

So I decided to write something else. I started a more brain-dead story; I would just throw words on a paper and call it a day. However, it quickly turned too complex. I just couldn't leave things too shallow.

That made me realize what I truly needed: a me time. I needed to pour myself into paper, explore characters and situations no matter how much that put the plot on hold. I needed to do what I want without caring so much about entertainment value and fast-paced plot, which I struggle with in Modern Awakening at times.

So I'm writing something new. It's very slow-paced and character-driven. I won't care about feedback at all (except positive, I guess; sorry!) because it's about giving me an outlet.

Yet, I like it and want to share it with anyone who might also enjoy it.

I'll post the prologue on Patreon today, then up to two chapters per weekday next week, then one chapter (of 5k to 6k words) every week.

B-ranks will get it first and it'll cascade to the other ranks as usual.

B-ranks will be 10 chapters ahead of public releases. C-ranks will be 4. D-ranks 2.

It won't take me away from the current release schedule of Modern Awakening, which I plan to increase to 4 chapters per week on February. Maybe January, depending on how tiring the festivities will be until mid-January.

So yeah, that's it. I already saw improvements on my Modern Awakening ideas and writing thanks to de-stressing somewhere else. B-ranks can notice that in the latest chapters.

I believe there's only positive results of having a second story to relax on and I hope you'll take it well ^^

That's it. Have a nice day and a great weekend! ❤️