#Must read

[jungkooksmytype]

So good and so well written! A must read!!

Jungkook:

𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Intro

Every year, he joins the old tradition of traveling, where his ancestors have once ruled the skies. Every year, he meets familiar faces and new ones he's never seen before. Every year, he watches how his brothers find their mates, build their families, and introduce new generations to stories as old as time. But this year, something might be different. This year, there's you - a treasure worth more than he could ever offer.

Tags/Warnings: Dragon!Jungkook, strangers to lovers/mates, mentions of folklore and traditions, modern fantasy, romance, human?Reader, Fluff, Courting, MC kinda wary of kook at first, but he's cute give him a chance pls

Length: ~2k

-> Masterlist

"Look at you! All the new color suits you well!" Seokjin laughs, commenting on Jungkook's tattoos which had been changing over the course of the year since he's seen his friends last festival. The younger dragon simply shrugs, though he can't help but stand a bit more proudly at the comment, considering that his body ink is a visual representation of his identity within the Clan up to this point.

It's all part of the tradition after all; as soon as a dragonkin turns 21 years old, they're considered an adult, officially on their own and ready to build their own families and futures, and while not all do it, he likes to wear his identity openly like this.

Even though in the modern world, his dragon blood isn't seen as something to be proud of anymore. In fact, it's treated as nothing more than a simple remnant of lost times, outdated and no longer of any importance.

It's why most members of the dragon bloodlines tend to stay amongst each other, most of their social circles consisting of other dragons, just like he himself tends to do. A lot of his friends have been finding their mates recently, and while Jungkook is happy about that, he himself isn't really interested in that- at least not right now. He's doing good all by himself at the moment, so he doesn't really see the need to settle down right now. He's also not yet found anybody he'd really honestly see himself wanting to settle down with- so for now, he just attends the traditional festivals every year to reconnect with his friends and family, let himself go for a little while and leave all those expectations of the modern world behind for at least a small amount of time.

"Are the rest here too?" Jungkook asks Jin as they both walk into the Hotel close to the festival spaces, many already setting up their tents and booths for tonight.

"Taehyung is coming a bit later, he said the whole trip is taking a bit longer now that his mate's pregnant." He says, making Jungkook nod next to him, greeting some elders along the way. "she's not even properly showing, yet he's already all scrambled up in the head." He jokes.

"I've heard about that! Yoongi owes me a hundred bucks now." He laughs, remembering the bet he'd made with the older dragon last year when Taehyung had announced his engagement to his mate. He'd always dreamed of a big family- so it wasn't surprising to Jungkook that his friend already had the first child on the way.

Maybe one day he'll have his own, too.

"I remember when Yoongi of all people attended the hunt and actually caught his mate too!" Seokjin laughs. "Remember that? It was honestly hilarious to see him so desperate. The old slow guy all out on the fields." He teases, as the man in question walks into view.

"At least I've caught something. Not like mister forever virgin over here." He teases, laughing when Jungkook growls offended, mumbling something about that 'not being true at all hyung.!' Under his breath as the older one walks alongside them.

It's when a giggle catches him off guard, the sound accompanied by what he can only describe as a small bell faintly in the background.

When he looks for the source of the sound, he finds your eyes pretty quickly- gaze hauntingly beautiful as he doesn't even realize he'd just stopped walking for no reason, one of his friends bumping into him the only cause of distraction for him. And for a second, he looks away, only a small but of time - and suddenly you're no longer there, disappearing as quickly as you've appeared in the first place. "Who was that?" He asks no one in particular, Yoongi shrugging as he tries to find what his friend seems to be looking for.

"Who was who?" He asks, before everyone walks away with him to greet Taehyung and his partner who'd just arrived.

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

He spots you again as you tie your hair up, elastic in between your lips where you hold it while your hands collect all your hair. It's a normal thing he's seen a lot of people do- himself included, considering the length of his hair these days- and yet when you do it, it looks like Aphrodite captured in marble, details enchanting and intricate.

He almost feels like he shouldn't watch.

And yet he does, even continues to look your way with his hand around his glass of water, small leftovers of his meal completely uninteresting compared to the sight of you walking closer to the older women to help with washing clothes and other things in the riverbed. He can spot Jimin and other male dragons between them as well, and he wonders if you enjoy those tasks.

During this time of the year, everyone is pulled back to the old ways of living. From using almost no electricity to trading things instead of buying it with money, things work simply differently during these next few days, and he personally enjoys this more simpler way of living to the fullest. There's no space for boredom or anything like that- always something to do for him, never an empty second.

Even now, as he watches you.

For a while, you seem to not notice him until one of the women taps your shoulder, talking to you for a few words before you turn your head to meet his eyes. Surprise is written over your features, especially when he boldly pats the spot next to him at the table, silently inviting you to sit with him, maybe even share a meal.

You wonder a little. Does he know that offering a meal is one part of courting a fellow dragon?

He probably does, considering his appearance. He does look like you'd expect a modern dragon to carry himself; from the wyvern tooth necklace around his neck, the colored tattoos under his skin, even the challenging fire behind his eyes. He surely knows his heritage, which makes it even more odd to you.

Though you wouldn't ever pass the chance of getting to know someone like him.

He's well known in the community of female dragons- mostly for his lack of interest in anybody when it comes to actually finding a mate. For a long time, there's been a rumor going around that he wasn't simply interested in females in general- but that was quickly debunked after it got known that he does, in fact, seek out pleasure without any long-term relationship in mind. It makes you wary of his intentions right now though-

Because that's not what you're seeking here, or at all.

You sit down across from him at the table, having dried your hands before joining him, his eyes friendly as they watch you, someone already next to you asking what you'd like to eat. As soon as that person leaves, it's Jungkook's turn to talk to you. "I've never seen you around here before." He tells you, arms now on the table as he's got them crossed in front of him. "I'm Jungkook."

"I know." You nod. "Both of those things." You shrug, looking around for a moment before you spare him another look. "I'm not interested."

"I haven't even proposed anything." He counters, head tilted a bit as he's internally confused as to what you might've heard about him that could make you so wary of his intentions. In his world, he's not done anything questionable, ever- he doesn't fuck around, never broke somebody's heart, is always pretty clear and honest with whomever he crosses paths.

"But I know what guys like you want." You simply say, thanking the young dragon who puts your plate down in front of you. "And I'm not offering that." You tell him without looking, simply starting to eat instead.

"What do I want then?" He asks, moving one of his arms so his chin can rest on his palm. "You got me curious."

"Sex." You bluntly tell him, reaching for the large water pitcher standing somewhat closer to Jungkook than to you- something he instantly notices, lifting it for you instead to fill your cup. "Thanks." You offer quietly, and he nods at that, putting it back down.

"Interesting." He just shrugs after he sits back down in front of you. "That's not what I want though. I mean- you're attractive, don't get me wrong- but I'd like to get to know you first, if anything." He proposes, and you narrow your eyes at him.

"That sounds like you're aiming for my heart." You accuse, pointing your steak-knife at him. "And that's even worse." You say, making him laugh.

"No, I promise. I really just.. think you're really pretty, and from what I can tell, you're also exactly my type- but if you want me to leave you alone, I can totally do that too." He offers politely, and you chew on your food in thought before you rest your cheek on your palm, poking at some vegetables.

"How am I your type?" You ask him, curious to know what makes you stand out to him. It must be something at least- because if he's never wanted a relationship with anybody before why pursue someone as boring as you for that role of all things? You know you're a good friend, but a girlfriend? No, you're lame, and you've come to accept that after all those failed relationships.

Your question makes him light up visually, as he sits up straighter with a bit of a smile on his lips. "It's hard to explain. You're cute, but I like people who have their own mind." He shrugs, explaining his view on you while you don't look at him. "Visually, you check all my boxes. If your character does the same thing, I guess we just have to find out." He tells you, and you look at him now.

"What if you don't check any of my boxes?" You ask him, looking for how he's going to react. "You're too tall for me, for example. And your muscles scare me a little." You jab at him, cutting your food as if you're talking about the weather. "You seem like someone obsessed with working out. I'm not. In fact, I don't ever really work out. I don't really look at what I eat in general, to be honest."

"That's fine by me." He simply answers when you stop talking. "I don't really watch it that much either- only if I have a shooting or something alike." He explains, making you nod quietly. "But if I don't check any of your boxes, like you say, why come over and sit with me then?" He teases, leaning in over the table a little bit.

You shrug. "Your tattoos." You simply tell him. "They're pretty good. Who made these?" You ask, and he looks at them for a second, before he moves his gaze back to you.

"Min Yoongi back in Seoul did most of them. He specializes in dragon tattoos." He explains, and you nod at that.

"I thought I remembered the artstyle." You say. "He's always been very neat with his work." You mumble more or less, before you sigh, putting your cutlery onto your empty plate, pulling your glass of water closer. "Alright- do you want my number now, or.?" You ask, suspecting that he would maybe ask you on a date or something after the whole festival is over. But he genuinely surprises you, when his eyes narrow in a challenging manner, the dragon peeking through in a way as he leans forward over the table, standing up.

You're wary- and he assumes it might be because you've never truly experienced anything good when it comes to finding partners. He can relate to this; and he can also gain power from that simple fact, simply because now more than ever, he wants to prove himself to you. He wants to show you that he truly is different from what you might believe.

"I'll just win you over, easy." He tells you, promises almost, as he pulls the wyvern tooth from around his neck, and leaves it close to your hand- an offering of sorts, a first step at trying to impress you, even if small. "The traditional way." He finishes up, leaving you alone at the table, simply watching as he walks away and merges with the crowd.

Maybe you've underestimated him.

Maybe he's not who you think he is.

Maybe you've finally found your match.

[minbon]

🐻🐯 KTH FICS 🐯🐻

My taehyung reads revolve mainly around brother's best friend, best friend and arranged marriage AUs and those with angsty themes.

°°°°°•°

● hush, yeah? - @kithtaehyung [brother’s best friend au, music festival au ; smut]

I'm at the corner, waiting for the next part for this series 🥲

● The Island - @taestefully-in-luv [strangers to lovers, enemies to lovers, soulmates au, roommate au, slow burn, fluff, smut, angst, slight crack, and drama.]

This is one of the first kth fics I've read. I was sooo into finding out if there would be a happy ending that I binged-read all the chapters within a day. This one's a good read ♡

● The Fun Day - I , II - @hoseoksluna [fluff, a bit angsty]

Thought Tae was a ghost here hehe (or was he really? read and find out lol). Also love the pjm in here. (AND, Luna , the one who wrote this, is a fave of mine ☆)

● Baggage - @back2bluesidex [angst, exes AU]

A hand-written letter... and some angst. I cried. 🥺

● Rainy days - @back2bluesidex [angst, exes AU, follow up drabble to Baggage]

I want to tell Tae that expressing his guilt and regret will not be able to make things go back the way they were before. (We gotta keep the angst going lol)

● loving you is all i know - @jiminrings [heavy angst, unrequited love (at first)]

By far my fave fic with a non-human character. The angst in here broke my heart. tears won't stop falling since the mid part up to the ending. 🥺

~ arranged marriage × angst for the next 5 fics* (why do I love this combination??? 🤔🥴*) ~

● One Night Stand - @sodoyouknowbts [angst, romace, arranged marriage

● Love Me or We Both Go Down - @gukyi [fluff, angst, smut, arranged marriage]

● Dichotomy - @kpopfanfictrash [arranged marriage]

● Maybe i do - @chateautae [arranged marriage!au, ceo!tae, s2l!au, eventual smut, fluff, angst ]

● All this stigma - @army-author [heavy angst, arranged marriage au, smut]

**

~ a friend / a friend's brother / a brother's friend ~

● Backstreet serenade @jungkxook [band au / brother’s best friend au, smut]

● Crazy for You - @oddinary4bts [best friend’s older brother, a little bit of fake dating trope, idol!au, angst, smut, fluff]

● On the 6AM Train - @bangtan-madi [best friend to lovers, unrequited love/one-sided pining, a realistically happy ending]

● Talk slow - @writtenwhalien [brother’s best friend, exes to lovers AU]

● One of the Boys - @littlemisskookie [childhood friends/bestfriend au, fluff, angst, smut]

•••••°•

Happy Reading (or Re-Reading) ‼ ♡

(c)

[padawan-historian]

Dreaming of Black bookstores tucked safely in the corners and growing places of our communities 🍉

https://www.mic.com/impact/black-owned-bookstores-have-always-been-at-the-center-of-the-resistance-21738486

[kitsune024]

DP Fics ||Fics I love||Pt5

Harvest by @wastefulreverie I Chapters: 2/2 I

Something’s Wrong With Danny Fenton by @ghostly-cabbage I Part 1 - 2 I

The Gravity Of Time by @punchspeedchunk I Part 1- 3 I

The Ultimate Saga by Firefury_Amahira I Part 1 - 5 I

dp x dc

If You Give a Bat a Burger by Cielle_Noire I Chapters: 11/22 I

Dig Three Graves in Apartment 31c by @faeriekit I Chapter's 6/6 I

Vertical Limit by hppjmxrgosg I Chapters: 27/? I

@halfagone

Off With [the Demon's] Head by I Chapters 15 / ? I lex luthor's ascent from supervillainy to fatherhood by I Chapters: 91/150 I

[kradncsmj]

James "In the back of my mind" Potter

Regulus "In the back of my mind" Black

James "You died" Potter

Regulus "I killed you" Black

James "And I didn't even cry" Potter

Regulus "I didn't even regret it" Black

James "Not a single tear" Potter

Regulus "I can't believe i said it" Black

James "And I'm sick of waiting patiently for someone that won't even arrive" Potter

Regulus "I hate you" Black

James ''I hate you" Potter

Jegulus but its Anti-hero jegulus (could be canon complaint jegulus too)

[missjojolie]

The Living Obelisk

In which the wielder of Ancient Magic ended in 1995.

"Your was a name etched in history, The Living Obelisk-the most powerful witch of her era, perhaps of any era. Your mastery of Ancient Magic shaped the world, your exploits were woven into legend. But legends never tell the whole story."

More parts on Wattpad.

~Proogue~

I.

II

III

IV

[buckyalpine]

Talking about important matters, obviously.

[spn-fanfic-reblog-writes]

@doctorprofessorsong wrote this amazing destiel story everyone needs to read.

It’s even based on a true story!

Rated: Explicit

Summary: When Cas' wife, Kelly, confesses she's a lesbian and she wants a divorce, he ends up moving into his friend Dean's house while he gets his life together. Somewhere along the way, he realizes he doesn't want to leave. In fact, he's in love.

@spnfanficpond

[inkaoatmilk]

And so the son of the fortune-teller does not find his way to the Starless Sea.

Not yet.

[weirdlookindog]

Arthur Machen - The Great God Pan (Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., 1916).

[zi-vian]

OMNISCIENT READER'S VIEWPOINT ⸝⸝

. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ [ 전지적 독자 시점 ]

❛ tell me, you fool. if i continue to regress, will i get to ever get to meet you again? ❜

download the ORV epub file in from this drive (illustrations included) &. open the file using an epub reader. ⇢ i personally recommend aquile reader. enjoy!

this story is for just one reader

[minbon]

🐰 JJK Fics 🐰

a.k.a. the fics that introduced me to a whole new obsession.

or in other words... i thought i was never into jjk, but these fics proved me wrong 😩😩😩

°°°°°°•

One Night Stand by @buryhny (ceo!jk, a,f,s, pregnancy, slowburn) ["wanna go upstairs?"]

Sweet & Spicy by @ktownshizzle (fluff, idol!au, strangers to ?) [“Are you also on the menu?”] (this is a drabble to K's T&C)

Play pretend ! by @frmisnow (smut, angst , fwb) ["Fuck, I think I like you"]

Just a Veil by @jjungkookislife (430 words BUT the angst in here???) ["You would never be Jungkook’s bride."]

Navigating Tides by @jjungkookislife (exes to lovers, a, f, s) [“Let’s make up for lost time.”]

RUN [ I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII] by @neonlights92 (arranged marriage, gang au) [“I suppose I should welcome you to the family, ...Mrs Jeon.”]

Colour Me In by @taegularities (fwb, fake dating, college!au; f, a, s) ["I need you to be my boyfriend. Please.”]

Ruin you (ft. kth) by @taegularities (established relationship, fwb; f, a, s) [“Do you really want that so bad?”]

Mature by @jiminrings (angst, fluff, f2l) ["What I'm not okay with is that you didn't even give me the chance.” ]

fifth wish by @jiminrings (a,f, unrequited love (at first)) [“For us to never see each other again.” ]

how long will we fall by @jiminrings (soulmate au, unrequited love (at first), a, f) [“What happens if your soulmate doesn’t want you?” ]

Chasing Cars by @oddinary4bts (brother's best friend, s, a, f) [“You fucking touch her, you’re dead.”]

tolerate it by @back2bluesidex (angst, breakup) [Yes. Yes you are not her. ]

Poison by @back2bluesidex (s, a, unrequited love) [“I pick my poison and it’s you.” ]

and they were roommates (ft. kth) by @hoseok666 (college au, sloooooowburn) [“Hi, new roommate!”]

WINE Series by @hoseoksluna (smut) [“If I were to have a glass of wine with you.. Then, there would be no party to go to.”]

Little Juice (WINE drabble) by @hoseoksluna (smuuuuut) [“You must be thirsty after all that dancing”]

Mutual help by @personasintro (fakedating au, slow burn, a, s, f) ["Can you pretend to be my girlfriend?" ]

Pour up (ft. kth) by @jungkxook (smuuuut) ["Pour up, baby girl.”]

Maid for you (ft kth) by @forgottenpasta (smuuuut, dvp) ["Will you let me clean you up, doll?”]

Just Friends by @kinktae (bf2l , s, f, a) ["You just love to run your mouth, don't you, baby girl?"]

Clandestine by @junghelioseok (f,s, brother's bestfriend) [“I knew you were into me.”]

••••••°

H A P P Y R E A D I N G (~°○°~)

[damedechance]

𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲

so I compiled a list of 26 of my favorite fics (some all time faves, some more recent). If you want to give me a present, please read one (or all!) of these and then come back so we can scream about them together. Drop an emoji in my inbox if you want to know more about a particular fic. The numbers are chapter counts!

*✧𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑

Azris:

🐦‍⬛what hath night to do with sleep by @iftheshoef1tz (14/14) 🐮Howl by @iftheshoef1tz (12/12) 🧠tell them i'm the worst by @witch-and-her-witcher (1/1)

Elucien:

💾You Look Like Bad News by @the-lonelybarricade (2/2) 😈Bow Down by @shadowisles-writes (1/2) 💘all is for love, is for mind by @shardminds (1/1) 🌕full moon, white honey by @shardminds (1/1)

Feysand:

👑The Thief and the Rake by @popjunkie42 (3/18) 🤍Down Bad by @shadowisles-writes (1/1) 🍀Good Luck Charm by @whatishowedyouinthedark (4/4) 🖋️A Tight Little Skirt by @separatist-apologist (1/1) 📺and they were roommates by @whatishowedyouinthedark (1/1) 🪈whistles far and wee by @foundress0fnothing (1/1)

Gwynriel:

🗡️the gods grow tired by @shardminds (1/1) 🪩Little Thief by @bibliophiliaxvignette (2/2) 🔥hotter than hell by @lalunaoscura (1/1)

Elriel:

🪢Glitch by @thesistersarcheron (4/5) 🫀listen through the wall by @shardminds (1/1)

Emorie:

🦇Why Do My Gods Look Just Like You? by @asnowfern (1/1)

Nessian:

🥀A Woman So Heartless by @velidewrites (1/1)

Rare ships:

🍽️Everybody Knows by @melonsfantasyworld (1/1) 🌞Embers by @ultadverb (4/4)

*✧𝐋&𝐃𝐒

☄️It must have been a mistake by heidini (1/1) (Caleb) 🌟Cool Off by Rei_Lemon (1/1) (Zayne) 🪐Trichotomy by kirotaan (1/1) (Caleb/Zayne/MC) 🌊Siren's Call by mostsincere (1/1) (Rafayel)

🩷Last year's fic recs

[hatefulbread]

9 BOOKS I PLAN TO READ IN 2025 📚

tagged by @stormsouls <3

these are a few i've been saving for the new year and i can't wait to dig into them.

tagging @f0llowyourheart , still building my community of follows to share with ':)

[ivoris-just-smile-and-laugh]

Black Magic (44440 words) by DragonflyxParodies Chapters: 3/3 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling, Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010), Red Hood: Lost Days, Red Hood and the Outlaws (Comics), Batman - All Media Types, Batman (Comics), DCU Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Ducra & Jason Todd, Essence (DCU) & Jason Todd, Harry Potter & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Kreacher, Tim Drake & Jason Todd, Bart Allen & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Narcissa Malfoy Characters: Jason Todd, Ducra (DCU), Essence (DCU), Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Kreacher (Harry Potter), Regulus Black, Sirius Black, Tim Drake, Kon-El | Conner Kent, Cassie Sandsmark, Bart Allen, Narcissa Black Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, Molly Weasley Additional Tags: Crossover, Crack Treated Seriously, ? - Freeform, Jason Todd is a Black, Wizarding Politics (Harry Potter), Magical Worldbuilding, Regulus Black is Jason Todd's Father, Inheritance, Death Magic, Protective Jason Todd, Custody Arrangements, All Caste (DCU), All Caste Jason Todd, Albus Dumbledore Bashing, BAMF Molly Weasley Summary:

Jason Todd is the unlucky recipient of one letter from Gringotts, concerning a will reading. Things spiral.

Bookmarker's Tags: AU

[missjojolie]

The Living Obelisk

History remembers you as The Living Obelisk—the most powerful witch of any generation, a master of Ancient Magic who shaped the wizarding world forever. But when you are pulled through the mysterious veil in the Department of Mysteries, you awaken in a time that has immortalized your deeds but forgotten the person behind the legend. Trapped in your younger self, you must navigate a world that sees you as a myth while uncovering the truth of why you were brought here. As whispers of a rising dark power reach your ears, you face an impossible question: will you reclaim your place in history, or will you forge a new legacy?

More parts on Wattpad.

Masterlist.

~Prologue~

The Ministry of Magic's archives were maddeningly vague—

All that remained were scraps of testimony about witches and wizards who had ventured through an ancient archway and never returned, leaving behind only unanswered questions. Officially, the stone portal was classified as an artefact of death, its function steeped in mystery. Yet whispered rumours spoke of something deeper—an undercurrent of primaeval magic, older than wands, older even than recorded time.

That is why you were here.

At the heart of a sunken amphitheatre, you found it: a towering stone arch draped in a tattered, shimmering black curtain that fluttered as if stirred by a breeze no one else could feel. The stone itself was worn and weathered, edges smoothed by centuries of silent witness, yet still etched with faint, indecipherable symbols—symbols that defied the logic of modern magical runes. Some lines curved with delicate precision, while others jaggedly intersected as if drawn by an unsteady hand. From the top of the descending steps, you could almost hear a soft, persistent murmur rising from beneath that undulating veil—a voice both alien and strangely familiar.

Reaching the amphitheatre's floor, you circled the archway, your gaze sweeping over every angle of the structure. The runes pulsed faintly now, their glow reminiscent of the blue shimmer of Ancient Magic. You knelt near the base, drawn to a particular symbol—a spiral of interlocking lines.

"This predates every record I've studied," you muttered, your voice echoing in the hushed chamber.

A wave of resonance rolled through you, as though the archway had become aware of your presence. The stone felt cold beneath your fingertips, but almost immediately, a pulse of warmth stirred within it, glowing with a subtle blue radiance.

You hesitated—your instincts warned you to step away—but curiosity won out. Ancient Magic was your domain, after all; you had spent a lifetime mastering it. Who else could unlock its secrets? Emboldened, you let your hand roam over the carvings, feeling the raw magic beneath the surface.

The reaction was immediate. A spark of light shot up your arm, sharp as a dagger, and you hissed, jerking your hand away.

Blood seeped from a tiny gash along your fingertip, a single ruby droplet falling onto the rune. The instant it touched stone, the black curtain quivered, as though it had suddenly drawn breath. The entire archway blazed with blinding brilliance, its runes igniting in cascading waves of blue and gold. The veil fluttered violently now, as if caught in a gale, and a low hum built into a deafening roar.

"What in the..." you gasped, stumbling back.

An unseen force latched onto you, inexorable as a riptide. You dug in your heels, wand gripped tight in your hand, but your body lurched forward. Magic churned wildly in the air, its momentum building around the archway, and the whispers intensified—a chorus of overlapping voices, chanting your name in an unsettling refrain.

Then, with a thunderous roar, a whirl of blue-white light surged from the arch, enveloping you in unbridled magic. You fought to pull free, adrenaline spiking as you summoned every ounce of magic you could muster. Blue light crackled in your palm, raw and untamed, but the force was unyielding. The current was too strong, dragging you inescapably toward the veil.

Your last conscious sensations blurred into a storm of chaos: the hot, metallic tang of your own blood in your mouth, the searing warmth of magic coursing through your veins, and the echo of countless voices cascading through your mind.

With one final surge of light and sound, the world fractured.

And then, everything went black.

Next.