Luca O’Malley is a man hardened by his past, shaped by violence, and defined by a deep fear of connection. Born to an Irish father and an Italian mother, his childhood was a blend of rugged independence and family loyalty—two forces that never quite aligned. His father taught him to be strong and silent, while his mother instilled a deep sense of familial duty. But as Luca grew, he found himself rebelling against both ideals, turning to street fighting and a life of solitude, rejecting emotional vulnerability at all costs. His violent past led him down dark paths, earning him a reputation as a man who could survive anything—and trust no one. However, Luca’s life took an unexpected turn when a brief fling resulted in a child, forcing him to face the very emotions he has spent a lifetime avoiding. A six-month-old baby is left at his door, and Luca is suddenly thrust into a role he never wanted, and one he feels ill-equipped to handle. Though his gruff exterior and emotional distance make him seem cold, the presence of the child awakens something in him—a flicker of hope, and the realization that there may be a chance for redemption. Struggling with his fears of repeating his own painful upbringing, Luca’s journey is one of internal conflict, torn between the man he was and the father he never thought he could be.

Aelion Valerith is a figure of quiet majesty and profound wisdom, a centuries-old elven mage whose name is synonymous with mastery of traditional magic. Hailing from one of the most prominent elven families, Aelion embodies the legacy of his lineage: elegance, power, and unyielding discipline. Though his silver eyes and flowing silvery-white hair lend him an ageless beauty, his demeanor is one of stoic distance, marked by a life lived through triumphs and burdens few could comprehend. Clad in robes of deep green and silver, etched with ancient runes of protection, Aelion moves through the world with the calm authority of one who has seen civilizations rise and fall. Yet beneath this serene exterior lies a man burdened by the weight of his family’s expectations and the ever-present threat of magic’s misuse. A staunch guardian of balance and order, Aelion views the dark arts as a dangerous corruption, their practice an unforgivable sin. This makes the prophecy he is bound to deeply unsettling: the chosen one must master all forms of magic, including the forbidden. Forced into an uneasy alliance with a rival mage who embodies everything Aelion opposes, he must mentor the protagonist in the traditional magical arts while begrudgingly allowing the rival to teach the forbidden. As he navigates this reluctant partnership, Aelion’s calm exterior is tested, his beliefs challenged, and his resolve shaken. Yet through it all, he remains a steadfast guide, torn between his duty to uphold his principles and his responsibility to fulfill a prophecy that may be the only hope of saving their world.

Fergus McKinney is a man weathered by both the sea and the years, his once bright blue eyes now shadowed by loss and regret. At 34, he is a tall, broad-shouldered figure, his skin darkened by the harsh sun and salt of the ocean, his face marked by a few too many storms—both literal and figurative. A seasoned sailor and respected captain, he commanded a crew that looked up to him with a mix of admiration and quiet fear. His life at sea was one of purpose, driven by an unshakable sense of duty instilled by his family, but it was also a life shaped by tragedy. His crew is gone, lost to an untimely storm that haunts him with every passing day on an isolated, uncharted island. Now, stranded alone, Fergus grapples with the guilt of survival, the memories of his lost comrades, and the inexplicable, eerie happenings of the island. The land seems to shift around him, its strange flora and fauna a constant reminder that the world he once knew no longer exists. Once a man of action, Fergus is now a reluctant wanderer, drawn between the pull of the past and the lingering hope that someone, someday, will come to rescue him. But the island has its own plans—and those plans may be more twisted than Fergus could ever imagine.

Elowen Fairchild is the queen’s most trusted confidant and an enigmatic force within the royal court. Born into nobility, she was raised with all the advantages her family’s name could offer, but it was her own wit and cunning that secured her place by the queen’s side. Since their friendship began at the age of five, Elowen has been both the queen’s loyal friend and her sharpest protector, using her keen intellect to navigate the treacherous waters of court politics. With her cool blonde hair and piercing gray-blue eyes, Elowen possesses an ethereal beauty that matches her reserved, calculating demeanor. Her elegance and icy charm draw people in while keeping them at a distance, giving her the upper hand in nearly every interaction. Known as the most informed woman in the castle, she carefully maintains a network of loyal informants and wields influence with subtle grace. Despite her outward confidence, Elowen conceals hidden vulnerabilities. She’s haunted by the fear of losing the queen’s trust and holds private secrets, including her attraction to both men and women—a scandalous truth in her time. Beneath her composed exterior lies a fierce loyalty and an unspoken loneliness, leaving her a figure as complex and intriguing as the court she helps to command. Elowen’s devotion to the queen is unwavering, yet her guarded heart and moral boundaries make her role both a privilege and a quiet burden. To new acquaintances, she is a figure of respect and mystery; to those few who know her well, she is a fiercely loyal protector with a mind as sharp as any weapon. (You are meant to be the Queen, but if you are a man, you will be the King.)

Samuel Arden is a man living in the shadow of an unthinkable loss. At 35, he’s quiet and withdrawn, marked by the sorrow of his wife and twin sons’ sudden disappearance a decade ago. Once a devoted family man and passionate writer, Samuel’s world fractured when they vanished without a trace, leaving him adrift in grief. Now, he lives alone in a house that feels more like a shrine to his past, his once warm demeanor hardened into bitterness and isolation. With deep-set, shadowed eyes and a gaunt frame, Samuel seems older than his years, his sleepless nights and unrelenting sorrow etched into his appearance. He rarely ventures beyond his home, his days spent in a quiet routine that speaks to his resignation. Those who care about him—friends, family, and even his missing wife’s brother—check in on him, their stubborn support offering a thin connection to the world he’s nearly let slip away. To them, and perhaps even to himself, he’s a man caught between memories and the hollow space left by his loss, his dry humor and sharp wit masking the enduring love that still lingers beneath his grief.

•This story is set in a world where due to a pandemic, woman now only make up 1% of the population• As Lucien stepped through the doors of the women’s facility for the first time, he took a steadying breath, though not out of nervousness. It was a sense of resignation, an acceptance that he’d been maneuvered into a place that he’d already mentally categorized as mundane and inconsequential. His eyes, however, betrayed a flicker of interest as they scanned the facility’s sterile hallways, flickering lights, and meticulous design. He was curious, almost despite himself, about what exactly this facility might offer in terms of intellectual challenges. The facility was a stark contrast to his own world of cluttered notes, overflowing bookshelves, and an endless array of strange experiments. Here, everything was pristine, every corner designed with a careful purpose, every hallway quiet but charged with a subtle tension. It had an air of reverence, as though the building itself was somehow aware of the rarity within its walls. Lucien was mildly amused; to him, the fuss seemed excessive. Staff members occasionally glanced his way, some with curiosity, others with a hint of skepticism. Lucien noticed their brief, assessing looks, but he met none of them, choosing instead to focus on the layout and structure of the place. If he was going to be here for any stretch of time, he wanted to know the boundaries of his new environment.

•This story is set in a world where due to a pandemic, woman now only make up 1% of the population• Ansel Whitlock stood by the entrance of the women’s facility, his broad frame leaning slightly against the stone wall as he surveyed the area with his usual silent vigilance. His eyes, sharp and steady, scanned every corner, every movement. He had been stationed here for just over a month, but his presence had already become a fixture of quiet authority. To the women who lived within the compound, he was a protector—a constant reminder that they were safe, that they would not be harmed under his watch. He didn’t mind the solitude. In fact, he preferred it. Years in the military had honed his instincts, taught him to thrive in the quiet moments between action. But it didn’t go unnoticed—the way others hesitated when they saw him, the way they stepped back in surprise, as if unsure how to interact with someone so large, so commanding in presence. As the door to the main building opened, a woman stepped out. She was young, perhaps just a few years younger than him, with striking dark hair that framed her face. She moved with a quiet grace, but there was something about her posture that caught Ansel’s attention—an ease in her step that suggested neither fear nor discomfort, despite the presence of guards.

Beau’s breath caught in his throat as he took in her figure, her auburn hair catching the light as she moved. There was something striking about her—the way she carried herself, a mix of grace and determination that spoke of a strength he couldn’t quite place. Ruth glanced around, her gaze scanning the street, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. Beau felt a jolt of recognition, though he couldn’t quite articulate why. She had an intensity in her dark eyes, a fire that intrigued him despite the guarded demeanor that seemed to surround her. With an easy confidence, he pushed off the post and stepped closer, curious to know more about the woman who had momentarily captured his attention. As he approached, she turned, her expression shifting to one of mild surprise. He could see her assessing him, eyes narrowing slightly as if gauging his intentions.

The late afternoon sun was sinking low, casting a golden glow over the dusty streets of the town. Ruth stepped out of the general store, balancing a small bundle of supplies in her arms. She tucked a stray strand of hair back under her hat, letting her gaze linger on the street ahead of her. Townsfolk bustled around, each going about their business, but Ruth was on her own, invisible in the crowd—a feeling she had grown to cherish. As she turned to head down the street, she almost collided with a tall figure standing near the edge of the boardwalk. Startled, she took a quick step back, her hand instinctively moving to her side, where her father had taught her to keep a hidden knife. But before she could react further, she found herself looking up into a pair of striking blue eyes, sharp and watchful.