Taeleeran Stories

Paragwuid

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It was nighttime. Clouds loomed between the skies and the earth, dimming whatever light was left for the troops stationed at Joul Stronghold. A crescent moon left us just enough light to see but remain unseen.

A shadow walked in front of the stone wall. It was a patrol.

I drew my bow, executing the motion as practiced, stretching the string to my ear. No wind disrupted my flow. Not that it mattered anyway. The bow string was like a tether to his soul, and with a release—his soul shall leave his body.

A New Beginning

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Duara didn’t know how to feel about the tiny cabin. The wooden frame bowed from the forest debris. When her father pulled the door handle, the wood holding the hinges cracked, then eventually caved from the metal.

His shoulders popped and it settled after he shuddered. “At least it doesn’t creak.”

Duara hid a smile. “At least our death will be silent.”

“Don’t be like that, Dua.” He shuffled in the cabin, at his first step, the floor board sucked in his foot. Her father pretended a competent expression. “I’m just stomping this down, setting up for stronger foundation.”

Prologue

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Trees rose above a fog, holding the midnight sky on coniferous pillars. Within the forest maze, Varith collected fallen twigs for the campfire.

He took his time, finding damp twigs, not too wet, but not completely dry. The perfect amount of moisture for the perfect amount of irritation. A smile grew on his face as he thought of it, warming him unlike any fire. Plucking a few more off the ground, he composed himself and walked back to camp.

A Cabin In The Woods

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A path cut through the forest. Under canopied trees walked Duara and her father. Ahead of them lay Drethen, a town they’d decided to settle in after months of travel and running.

They had walked and talked, picking out small details to fill in the silence, but their conversation had now been reduced to slight groans and deliberate breaths.

Duara’s father, Gaul, was the first to break the silence. “Thoughts?” he asked.

Chapter 1

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lani sat in the front row of the classroom, surrounded by thirty of her peers. Minus one. Brevan stood in front of them, atop a stage and podium with parchments and a prepared speech. No matter how many times Lani sat with Brevan to build up his confidence, no matter how many times she proofread his work, he continued with his uneasy voice—his sweat building up like a dammed stream, and rolling down his cheeks, as he squeezed out his final lines, “… and that is the current state of the Bramphians—A major contributor, weakened by its religion and spirituality.”

Stolen Valor

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

They were late returning to the camp. I thought for a few minutes after waking—they would show up soon, pack their tents and ride. I woke to a sunset, and I followed it back to the Stronghold.

Absolute silence as I walked. We were all trained to travel under the trees, and use the wind to hide our footsteps, but this was different. When the breeze came, the undercurrent of bristling leaves didn’t follow.

The Ironrite

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Before, Lysandra loved the Ironrite. The way the sunset painted the trees. In the fields, the way the grass swayed with child-like excitement. Now the breeze whispered like a dying wish, and the grass shriveled under its weight.

When they traveled to the Ironrite festival, they passed through echoes of Neoreus’ evergreen nature. This year, a blackness stained its trees. It crawled through towns and crops before harvest. Grass that once danced had been reduced to thin roots.

The Path to the Water

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The morning bloomed through the window, pressing against Duara’s eyelids. She tried to stave off her morning rising, but her father’s murmuring echoed from across the cabin, keeping her awake.

The night prior, they had made makeshift beds from their bags and clothes. The items were placed specifically for their comfort; the softest clothes tended towards the head, and the rest needed to be as even as possible. Over the past few weeks of traveling, they had both perfected the position of their makeshift beds.

Chapter 2

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lani slammed the folder down on the table in front of Bravan. He moved his sandwich away, almost instinctively when she stormed up to him.

Still chewing, he said, “Did you get a B?” Then he swallowed. “That must mean… that—that—I must’ve failed. Oh, man, what am I going to tell my mother. I can’t go back.” He dropped his sandwich and searched for an exit. Presumably to run away and never be found.

Weight of Water

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

As Duara made her way back home, her father stood in front of the cabin, scratching his head.

In front of him lay a barrel, lightly filled with sandy loam, and beside it four buckets and two yokes. Behind him, a bowl filled with white ash from the last night’s fire.

When Duara approached, she asked, “Is everything alright?”

“Yes, everything is fine. I wanted to fix up the house and make it a home,” replied Gaul. He studied Duara’s face, her demeanor, and the upright stance she held, as if a string had pulled her by the chest and kept her freely suspended. “I figured that you’d be tired of walking.”

Abandoned

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cadden’s arrow missed. It struck a wooden box beside the man.

The sound of the thunk caught the man off guard, and he scrounged around until he picked up a blade and searched for his attackers.

“You’re a little off,” I said to Cadden, and readied an arrow.

“It was the wind,” Cadden replied readily. “I was aiming for his hands of course. I wanted it to *hurt,*or main. Much worse than instant death.”

Dunmouth

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Taliesin had been awake before the other two. He let the fire simmer down to an ember until Leiren woke.

“Dunmouth, hm?” he asked. His voice was coarse, as it always was on rough mornings.

She stared blankly at him for the first few seconds, and then inhaled sharply. Pulling herself quickly out of her bed, she scanned around, taking her time between the shadows beyond the tree, and above for any movement in the branches. Eventually, she stopped, and looked back at Taliesin. “Sorry? I didn’t hear what you said.”

Family Matters

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ashke walked through the woods. Every tree, shrub, and settled path welcomed her familiar gait. She scratched her hair relentlessly. “I wish I didn’t ask,” she said. “I can’t imagine what she’s going through.”

A path forked away from Drethen. Old footsteps padded down the roots, but infant roots curled around them. As a young child, she had frequented the fork during careless times. “Why’d you have to leave me, Raylin?” She continued down the main Drethen road.

Observations

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The cabin where Duara and Gaul inhabited, if not mentioned before, sat on the hill side surrounded by a thin row of trees. While this gave ample shade and an enclosure against an intense summer sun, one could see through the veil of branches and leaves if one wanted to.

And one wanted to. Not maliciously, or with malignant intent. A boy. He sat beyond a few rows of trees, glancing upwards towards the cabin and promptly scribbling something down after taking in a mental image.

A Creature In The Woods

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Wiko never enjoyed the room that was picked out for him. The monotonous concrete walls cast a determined darkness, where dust and random debris collected without being noticed. It helped that the room only housed him, his bed, and a small wardrobe for his kaftans. A deep clean would steal only mere minutes of his day.

Nevertheless, that never bothered him. It was the window that bothered him.

No matter how much Wiko wiped the window, it only teased the sunlight whenever the morning arrived. Just a handful of dim light managed to filter through the nearby tree foliage.

The Contract

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cold air stirred Lysandra. She woke near the crackling embers of last night’s fire, and underneath her head, Rex slept. His heart thumped a steady rhythm and his breath blended in the breeze. She kept still, hoping he’d stay asleep for a few hours more. A few hours more of selfish comfort.

Dawn took its time rising, but unfortunately, it still came. In the horizon, hints of orange dyed the sky—lifting the night blanket.

Well Journeyed

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Gaul woke with a knock on the door. He stumbled out of bed and put a hand up to Duara, telling her to stay put.

He strode to the door, grabbing a pan as he did. The person knocking spoke before Gaul reached for the handle. “Halo friends,” A familiar voice said, “I see you fixed the door… kind of.”

Gaul relaxed, placed the pan down, and opened the door. A bramphian waited outside, smiling with a crooked grin. He wore a tattered overcoat with a bag slung on his back, and he had accumulated miles worth of dirt on his gray-ish fur. It was Sy, one of the bramphians that smuggled them out of Haford.

Lost & Found

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Duara switched between a light jog and a brisk walking pace to keep up with Wiko.

Duara caught her breath and asked, “Do you know where you’re going?”

“I have an idea,” he said, his pace quickening.

“How would you know?”

He stopped at the fork where Ash had run through, turning while rubbing his neck. “It’s not my place to say.”

“What does that mean?”

His eyes shifted to the woods before he closed them. “It’s not a secret here, just… be easy with her.” He shook his head. “Nevermind, I don’t think she would want that. Just—don’t worry about it.”

Viewpoint

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The morning came with a sharp pain; the bed’s headboard dug itself into Taliesin’s back. Last night he gave up finding a comfortable position in the chair, and decided to move to the edge of the bed. But while he stayed upright in his slumber, Leiren had shifted over and laid her head on his thigh. She faced the footboard and curled herself into the blanket.

He scooted more into the bed, being meticulous with his shifting, careful not to disturb her.

Shaded

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Duara found herself near the springs that looked towards her cabin. Atop a hill of dirt, she sat. Not really doing much. She did this in Haford too. High branches, hill tops, and balconies pondered she. Seldomly, when she met with her mother, it was usually in the upper altitudes—where her mind lulled, and where she could disappear in the breeze until her mother shouted for presence.

The grass kneeled with her touch, and once she’d pull up her hand, it’d glisten with morning dew.

Chaos Converged

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dunmouth’s forest leaves fell like unfletched arrows; a cascade of erratic specks of brown and orange lulled Taliesin into a daydream. Just in the past few days, the air had become crisp. Back in Dunmouth, the inn’s fire called for him.

Leiren tapped his foot with hers, giving a faint smile when he turned.

He reciprocated with a tap.“ Sorry, I know. It’s not glorious work, but… ” he said, bending to pluck an herb. The edges of its leaves were spiked. Both the edge and its midrib were a subtle pink, forming an outline of an oval. “At least we can breathe now,” he said, showing Leiren the aetherleaf.

Cozy Nights

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Duara led Ash along the route home. Ash smirked whenever Duara took a wrong turn. The gentle rain filtered through some of the coniferous trees, creating a heavy mist.

“I can just show you.” Ash said.

“No, no. It’s okay.” Her head swiveled, looking for a landmark. “Alright, fine. It’s just— I should know my own way home, right?”

Unmarked Graves

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A dawning sun burned its presence into the cave entrance. Songbirds and morning calls found their way in too. Karevets and passing deerling interrupted the gleaming beams, casting shadows that mocked the corpses below.

He had woken moments after killing the other Steelbrites, only to endure the night. And now, the morning continued—only to scorn Taliesin.

With frozen ears and weathered eyes, he kept still on his lifeless lover. The warmth of her corpse quickly withered through the night. Even the copper stench of her blood diminished over time, and its chilling stains on his tunic remained.

Washed

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rex woke up to a faint sizzle followed by the scent of seared meat. A sharp pain smothered the rest of his senses. His arms stayed limp regardless of the desperate attempts to stop the burning sensation.

“Oh, he’s awake.” The voice was gruff. “Keep the knife on there, hopefully the bleeding stops,” the voice continued.

Another voice started singing near him. “Burn the skin, burn the skin. Trying to rescue him.”

Frozen Dream

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lysandra’s hands cramped. She stopped polishing the bracelet to inspect her work. It shone against the sunlight. The resin curing emphasized the L&R—a fresh seal on the once grainy wood.

It was barely three days since he left. No word.

She lost track of the daylight. When she glanced at the window, clouds followed the sun as it stretched towards the horizon. Thin streaks of white tore through the sky, and grass bowed to the whimsical demands of the wind.

Stay

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The sun hid into the horizon, and a gray sheet of clouds blanketed the stars. Dunmouth’s homes slept in the silence, and the inn remained as the single dying light.

Taliesin limped over to the inn. His wounds were healed, but it still felt as if the sword kept itself impaled in his ribs. A night of rest could soothe his superficial wounds. He could curl up in the mess of blankets they left—and pray that Leiren’s scent remained.

Death’s Journey

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sunlight beamed into Rex’s eyes. When he tried to cover his face, his wounds screamed at him to stop. Instead, he just groaned, grabbed his side and turned onto his shoulder. Hay poked into his face and mouth as he did, and wooden wheels creaked as they bumped over soft ground.

“How was the nap, Steelbrite?” A stern voice outside the wooden cart.

Rex searched in the bundle of hay, looking for a weapon.

The Fire

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lysandra’s stomach pulled with hunger. The jerky had run out, and the stale bread she nibbled on wasn’t enough. The last waypointer gave her a few sea-biscuits, but without water, the chewing on rocks seemed more appealing.

Dunmouth waited five miles away, but she trailed a bit off the road and kept an ear out for a wagon, in case the Durlesian prince rode down the road in his wagon.

The Stranger

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Midday sun peered through a frosted windowpane. Distant blacksmith clinking and townsfolk chatter seeped through the walls.

Taliesin found himself in suffocating sheets. He shoved them off himself, then searched for a bearing.

A cup of water waited near the bed, and Taliesin sucked it down, easing his dry throat.

Bryndall cracked the door open. “You’ve slept most of the day,” he said, “not sure if you were still with us.”

Soul Harvesting

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The scent of burning meat crackled nearby, and its smoke poisoned Seren’s lungs. It fed a growing headache. A blindfold pressing into her eyes worsened the headache, and the walking made it unbearable. Eventually, uneven ground grabbed her feet and yanked her down. Sharp leaves and twigs pierced into her cheeks. With her hands bound, she wormed forward until a hand jerked her head back, and lifted her onto her feet. Her blindfold loosened from the attempted escape.

The Prince

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Night quickly fell once the harvesters fled, and darkness flooded around Lysandra. The prince tripped over high roots and large branches. A pathetic attempt at feigning clumsiness. His eyes should’ve adjusted by now.

His foot tripped over a rock this time, causing him to fall face-first into the dirt. The ground pushed the blade out of his chest. He groaned, a weak excuse for a groan.

Lysandra pushed her hilt deeper into the prince’s back. “Get up,” Lysandra said.

To Soneley

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reve pointed. “Soneley’s beyond the croplands.” Dried grain-crops spread out in all directions, until disappearing into the sun-kissed horizon.

“We’re not gonna make it before sundown,” Rex said.

It’d been only a day since leaving the healmaster. The pain had subsided since, but the bramphians insisted that he’d travel in the cart.

After some time, they slowed near a small hill. It rose out of the ground around standing height.

Sunset

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Her dad stumbled into his bed, grunting to hide away his pain as he did. “Water, please,” he whispered.

Seren scrambled to the clay water jug. The sun had set before they made it home, and the night settled. She wove through the home, letting her memory guide her. Once she bumped the table, she patted it down until finding the clay jug and her dad’s mug. Her hands trembled as she poured it into his mug. Once the mug overfilled with water, the jug slipped out of her fingers and shattered on the floor. She yelped.

Absence

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

As Taliesin and Lysandra approached Dunmouth, the autumnal wind warmed with the rising sun.

Townsfolk today slogged at the morning chores, some of them dozing off, and some homes never woke.

Laying ahead like before, Gryfalcon’s Perch marked the center of the town. The home still waking, while Borus waited.

“There.” Taliesin pointed.

Lysandra inhaled sharply. The bird tilted its head and studied her as she walked. “Amazing,” she muttered.

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Get lost reading through Taeleeran stories. Whether Taliesin will ever find inner peace, or if Craine will confront the nightmare that resides within.

Will Duara ever find the space to be a child, and will Lani ever get over her intellectualized ego?

These stories tend not to decide the fate of the world, but the fate of the ones around them.

The stories you’ll read in a fantastical realm like Taeleera, where all the stories are made up, they were all written to be true.