Into the Storywell

Greetings and salutations, Lightbringers! I thought it was about time I started talking about my current writing projects. Instead of boring you with a lengthy book summary, how about I show you my new invention? If you look on that wall over yonder, you’ll notice a vast, Stargate-looking contraption sitting in the middle of my mad scientist laboratory-cave. I’m not entirely sure how it works; it’s half portal, half wormhole, and (in theory) it can bridge the gap between here and the other Worlds. What is it called, you ask? I was thinking something like The Storywell.

If you promise not to tell anyone, I can show you how it works. With a few tugs on these levers, a few specifications for where I want to go, and the power of SCIENCE, I can venture into any story world that I want. What power I now have within my grasp! It may be going to my head a little. You’ll have to forgive me.

Today we will be going to Reimira, the world of one of my books. This is the revelation of a dream I have had for many years. Since I’m the author, I know everything there is to know about the world. I know what and who to avoid, so we should be completely safe.

Are you ready to jump in?

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The Storywell powers to life, its portal a rippling spiral of blue light, almost fluid in consistency. Through the gate is forest of tall trees. Shafts of sunlight filter through the canopy of leaves, dappling the forest floor. The Author, having stepped through the portal, is wringing her hands and pacing back and forth. “This isn’t the right time to jump into the story! I specifically programmed the Storywell to take me to the main character after all the danger had passed. This is not good!”

“I thought you said we would be completely safe!” the Reader yells.

The Author grimaces. “I…er…may have forgotten to mention this was the test run. I’ll figure out how to get back! We need to get away from here.”

“Can’t we just go back through the—”

“PORTAL!” The Author runs at the glowing portal, which is gradually fading out of existence. Behind it is nothing but the same peaceful forest.

“This place seems safe enough,” the Reader observes, gazing up at the sky.

“It’s NOT safe! Very soon this entire forest will be reduced to ASHES!” The Author begins to hyperventilate.

With hands spread in a beseeching gesture, the Reader seeks to reason with the Author. “Why would you write that?! Did you ever put yourself in the shoes of your characters and consider what they would go through?!”

“I never thought I would be living it!”

A soul-chilling, inhuman shriek rips through the air and causes the Author and Reader to shiver violently. “What was that?” the Reader whispers fearfully.

“That would be the dragons.”

The Reader gulps. “I wish I could turn the page to make sure we survive.”

“Wait, you do that?!”

“Sometimes it’s just too tempting. I like to be mentally prepared if things go south. You authors put your characters into such insane predicaments.”

The Author gapes at the Reader. “But that’s what makes it fun!”

“Torturing characters is fun?!”

“Yeah! It’s my favorite hobby!”

Another dragon scream, nearer this time, cuts off the Reader’s retort.

“Uhhh…we need a weapon!” Suddenly the Author remembers the sword at her belt. “Aha! Fortunately, I brought my two-handed longsword with the leather-bound hilt, amethyst pommel, and blade that glows when monsters are nearby!”

“Forget the rest of it. What on earth is a pommel?”

The Author rolls her eyes, clumsily drawing the sword. The weapon was heavier than she had expected. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Exactly why you should explain it to me!”

The Author’s weapon suddenly blazes like a lightsaber. “AHH! It’s not supposed to do that!”

Arms crossed, the Reader glowers darkly. “Great idea! Attract every monster with that fancy glowing sword, why don’t you?”

The Author’s mind races at lightning speed to find a solution to the problem. Time was running out. “Hold on, I just remembered! I think I can use the sword to skip ahead in time!”

“You just remembered?! How did that slip your mind?”

“It did, OKAY? Get ready to move fast!”

As a dragon with glittering red scales swoops down toward the unfortunate travelers, the Author presses a button on the bottom of the sword’s pommel and swipes at empty air. A miniature portal appears in the rift created in the world. The Author and the Reader run through, making it just in the nick of time.

The Author heaves a sigh of relief. “That was close. Good thing my idea worked.”

The Reader is still bent over double, breathing hard. “Would it have eaten us?!”

“Of course not.” The Author looks indignant. “Someone would have appeared out of nowhere and saved us, or I would have magically received the ability to swordfight.”

“How can you swordfight with a dragon? They don’t have—”

“It doesn’t matter! Wait, do you hear that? Someone’s crying.” In the near-darkness, the only thing they can see is a dungeon cell.

The Reader hesitantly approaches the cell, trying to distinguish who is trapped beyond the thick iron bars.

“Oh wait, I know where we are!” The Author laughs nervously. “This is a spoilers section for the next book. I think it’s time we left.” Grabbing the Reader’s arm, the Author slices another portal in the fabric of the world and dives through.

The Reader and the Author tumble out onto a hard wooden floor, groaning as they try to disentangle themselves. “Where are we?” the Reader mumbles.

The Author recognizes the attic room instantly. “Ah! We’re in Ariella’s room. This is who I wanted to talk to originally. We must have tumbled out of her dream. I remember writing a section where she had a dream about—” She stops suddenly and smiles mysteriously. “Well, you’ll find out in the second book.”

Staggering upright, the Reader looks around curiously. “If we tumbled out of her dream, where is the dreamer?”

“Oh, she’s right there.” The Author points at a bed. A blue quilt surrounds a sleeping form.

“She’s a sound sleeper,” the Reader observes.

“Well, she’s been through a lot. I thought she would have woken up by now, though.” Frowning, the Author fiddles with something on the sword. “I wonder if I have my settings wrong on here. She should be able to see and hear us. Oh, hold on! It’s stuck on omniscient point of view.”

“Maybe that’s best. We literally just invaded her bedroom.”

“Let’s go outside and wait for her to wake up. If I have my story straight, this is just after she’s been crying all night and just before she awakens before the sun.”

The Reader’s mouth drops open. “How can someone possibly cry all night?! What horrors have you put her through?”

The Author lets out an evil cackle. “You’ll have to read my book to find out!”

“I’m not sure I want to…”

“Just wait until you actually meet Ariella, my dear Reader.”

“Won’t that ruin the story or something?”

The thought hadn’t occurred to the Author. “I think I can wipe her memory of the exchange after it takes place. Actually, perhaps we should take precautions to disguise ourselves. I don’t want to freak her out too much.”

The Reader frowns incredulously. “Where are we going to get disguises?”

A sly smile slips across the Author’s face. “Fortunately, my Storysword has the power to create an illusion around us.” Swiping up the sword, the Author presses another button. A flash of light bursts forth, nearly blinding the travelers. When they open their eyes, they are wearing very different apparel.

“What is this?” the Reader demands.

“The garb of the Metelan-folk. They like bright, bold colors and intricate embroidery.”

“Very…vibrant.”

The lump on the bed moves slightly. Frozen with fear, the Author speaks in barely a whisper. “Let’s go! I think she’s waking up!”

“What? I can’t hear you. You’re whispering.”

The Author rolls her eyes and uses the Storysword to slice a hole in the air. She and the Reader disappear through it, emerging into a dark forest.

“Why didn’t we just go through the door?” the Reader asks.

“Because, obviously, she would have noticed a door opening.”

The Reader isn’t buying it. “I spy a plot hole!”

Spluttering indignantly, the Author tries to think of an explanation. “I didn’t think anyone would notice!”

“Well, I just did.” The Reader smirks and looks around. “Hey, why is it night?”

“It’s not night. It’s just before dawn. See the glow on the horizon?”

The Reader squints. “You mean the part of the sky that is a slightly lighter shade of black than the rest of it? Yeah, I see it.”

“Shhh! She’s coming! Let me turn off omniscient point of view.” With a click of the pommel, the Author deactivates the POV and crouches in the bushes.

“Are we just going to walk up to her?” the Reader asks, peeking through a hole in the bushes.

“We need to think of some questions first.”

“You didn’t plan what questions you wanted to ask?!”

“No, I need your help for that.”

The Reader sighs. “Fine, I’ll help.”

“This is going to be SO EXCITING!”

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There you have it, folks! We’re about to meet the main character of my fantasy book series, Ariella. (I named my online persona after her, actually.) Comment down below with some questions for her and I will continue the story very soon!

See you in the next post, Lightbringers!