
by G.W. Heart
He's running from the crushing weight of responsibilities. She's running from the crushing weight of responsibilities. They run into each other. David's family threw him out. He's a free courier now, a select group of people who risk their lives for a fair bit of coin. It's a dangerous job, and he's one of the best, but his best is failing him. He has to find a rare anti-venom or his nephew is going to die, and time is running out. Niala ran away from her family. On the road and estranged, she's looking for a place to belong. Far away, alone, and penny-less, She has the skills to succeed, but not the luck. Life feels about as rough as it can get. Their paths intersect in a small town at the edge of the world, and they'll quickly find out that when two desperate people join forces, big problems don't seem so scary anymore. The world isn't always perfect, but they'll make it work, together. What to expect: An adventure-fantasy-romance-slice of life story, in an old world with modern sensibilities, steeped in traditions of the past, where magic and technology mean the same thing. -A slice of life that covers varied situations, from everyday struggles to dangerous or mysterious ones. -Characters that discover themselves and each other. People hold secrets, even from themselves. -Big and small plots and stories that won't reveal themselves right away. Seeds are being sown all the time. -Magic fuels technological advancement. -A mix of medieval and modern societies. -A happy romance between two people who have a lot more in common than they realize. -MCs that hold powerful abilities but kept them hidden to avoid dangerous consequences. The need for secrecy often falls apart when what you love is threatened, however. New chapters Monday-Wednesday-Friday Cover art by 狼 Wølf Wolf's Artstation Shout out to my beta reader who helps me stay sane: Grimnir For Google / legal notice: This story should only appear on Royal Road or Patreon under G.W. Heart. Anywhere else should be considered theft.
| # | Title | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prologue and Chapter 1: Last chances | 0 |
| 2 | Chapter 2: The alchemist at the end of the road | 0 |
| 3 | Chapter 3: The magical courier | 0 |
| 4 | Chapter 4.1: The night is over | 0 |
| 5 | Chapter 5: The mistress's teasing | 0 |
| 6 | Chapter 6: David's secret | 0 |
| 7 | Chapter 7: The absent owner | 0 |
| 8 | Chapter 8: Birth of the Bitter Old Woman | 0 |
| 9 | Chapter 9: Mr. Bear | 0 |
| 10 | Chapter 10: Sorting Skeletons | 0 |
| 11 | Chapter 11: The Landretti Distiller | 0 |
| 12 | Chapter 12: The bats and the morning butterfly | 0 |
| 13 | Chapter 13: Squeaky fluffy flying puffballs | 0 |
| 14 | Chapter 14: The Riverwall Job | 0 |
| 15 | Chapter 15: The fun-sized genius | 0 |
| 16 | Chapter 16: Wild skeletons | 0 |
| 17 | Chapter 17: The path of bones | 0 |
| 18 | Chapter 18: The old man with the moons | 0 |
| 19 | Chapter 19: For a game of Panjo | 0 |
| 20 | Chapter 20: A roasted nut | 0 |
| 21 | Chapter 21: In his arms, at the chapel | 0 |
| 22 | Chapter 22: Magic and the winds, magic in the bones | 0 |
| 23 | Chapter 23: The piles' den, where deals are made | 0 |
| 24 | Chapter 24: Secrets, rewards, and secret rewards | 0 |
| 25 | Chapter 25: A spark, disturbed, distant. | 0 |
| 26 | Chapter 26: The distillers' legacy | 0 |
| 27 | Chapter 27: Compound Alchemy | 0 |
| 28 | Chapter 28: The last week before the rain | 0 |
| 29 | Chapter 29: Please, stay home | 0 |
| 30 | Chapter 30: Poison and curses | 0 |
| 31 | Chapter 31: A proof of intent | 0 |
| 32 | Chapter 32: Fresh meat | 0 |
| 33 | Chapter 33: The cult | 0 |
| 34 | Chapter 34: The land down under | 0 |
| 35 | Chapter 35: Why are you like this? | 0 |
| 36 | Chapter 36: The source of a name | 0 |
| 37 | Chapter 37: Overdose | 0 |
| 38 | Chapter 38: Rub all over him | 0 |
| 39 | Chapter 4.2: And the sun rises | 0 |
| 40 | Chapter 39: Proving her dedication | 0 |
| 41 | Chapter 40: A letter before its time | 0 |
| 42 | Chapter 41: Determined | 0 |
| 43 | Chapter 42: It found you | 0 |
| 44 | Chapter 43: A promise, everyday, for the rest of his life | 0 |
| 45 | Chapter 44: A bit of a biter | 0 |
| 46 | Volume 1: Epilogue | 0 |
| 47 | Volume 1: Author's notes | 0 |
| 48 | Volume 2: Prologue | 0 |
| 49 | Vol 2 - Chapter 45: Hello, welcome to Niala's shop. | 0 |
| 50 | Vol 2 - Chapter 46: Pushing everyone's limits | 0 |
| 51 | Vol 2 - Chapter 47: A story a long time coming | 0 |
| 52 | Vol 2 - Chapter 48: You cannot escape from them | 0 |
| 53 | Vol 2 - Chapter 49: They ate them all | 0 |
| 54 | Vol 2 - Chapter 50: It's only fair | 0 |
| 55 | Vol 2 - Chapter 51: Cataclysm | 0 |
| 56 | Vol 2 - Chapter 52: Does she like goblins? | 0 |
| 57 | Vol 2 - Chapter 53: Solid Irony | 0 |
| 58 | Vol 2 - Chapter 54 - Ethically sourced, guaranteed! | 0 |
| 59 | Vol 2 - Chapter 55: It is such a pleasure to be at your service! | 0 |
| 60 | Vol 2 - Chapter 56: My equal in all things | 0 |
| 61 | Vol 2 - Chapter 57: Ripples #1 | 0 |
| 62 | Vol 2 - Chapter 58: It stirs | 0 |
| 63 | Vol 2 - Chapter 59: Poisoning for love | 0 |
| 64 | Vol 2 - Chapter 60: Things you should forget, things you should remember | 0 |
| 65 | Vol 2 - Chapter 61: Writing on flesh | 0 |
| 66 | Vol 2 - Chapter 62: We need better names | 0 |
| 67 | Vol 2 - Chapter 63: Arsenal | 0 |
| 68 | Vol 2 - Chapter 64: Strong enough for the Hungerwoods | 0 |
| 69 | Vol 2 - Chapter 65: No deal | 0 |
| 70 | Vol 2 - Chapter 66: The luce and its throne | 0 |
| 71 | Vol 2 - Chapter 67: My love trumpet | 0 |
| 72 | Vol 2 - Chapter 68: The saint who became a monster | 0 |
| 73 | Vol 2 - Chapter 69: A cruel goddess | 0 |
| 74 | Vol 2 - Chapter 70: Revealing secrets, enjoying the results | 0 |
| 75 | Vol 2 - Chapter 71: The super rich | 0 |
| 76 | Vol 2 - Chapter 72: Experiments | 0 |
| 77 | Vol 2 - Chapter 73: Kevin, The sleeper | 0 |
| 78 | Vol 2 - Chapter 74: Securing a source of weeds | 0 |
| 79 | Vol 2 - Chapter 75: The adopted immortal rat | 0 |
| 80 | Vol 2 - Chapter 76: Leviathan | 0 |
| 81 | Vol 2 - Chapter 77: Them | 0 |
| 82 | Vol 2 - Chapter 78: The brute's way | 0 |
| 83 | Vol 2 - Chapter 79: How to incarnate | 0 |
| 84 | Vol 2 - Chapter 80: History Lesson | 0 |
| 85 | Vol 2 - Chapter 81: In search of the missing | 0 |
| 86 | Vol 2 - Chapter 82: The Beast | 0 |
| 87 | Vol 2 - Chapter 83: The song of two hearts | 0 |
| 88 | Vol 2 - Chapter 84: Our home | 0 |
| 89 | Volume 2: Epilogue | 0 |
| 90 | Volume 2: Author's rambling | 0 |
| 91 | Volume 3: Prologue | 0 |
| 92 | Vol 3 - Chapter 85: A crisis and a revelation | 0 |
| 93 | Vol 3 - Chapter 86: Critical supplies | 0 |
| 94 | Vol 3 - Chapter 87: Return to the vault | 0 |
| 95 | Vol 3 - Chapter 88: The death under our feet | 0 |
| 96 | Vol 3 - Chapter 89: More than a few | 0 |
| 97 | Vol 3 - Chapter 90: The graveyard of ash | 0 |
| 98 | Vol 3 - Chapter 91: Air Support | 0 |
| 99 | Vol 3 - Chapter 92: Stupid rules | 0 |
| 100 | Vol 3 - Chapter 93: His lot in life | 0 |
| 101 | Vol 3 - Chapter 94: Planning for a trip and a miracle | 0 |
| 102 | Vol 3 - Chapter 95: The day of Renewal | 0 |
| 103 | Vol 3 - Chapter 96: A trip, a story, a misconception | 0 |
| 104 | Vol 3 - Chapter 97: Face to Face | 0 |
| 105 | Vol 3 - Chapter 98: Peculiar Mr. All Brew | 0 |
| 106 | Vol 3 - Chapter 99: Trying to fit in | 0 |
| 107 | Vol 3 - Chapter 100: Dating a monster | 0 |
| 108 | Vol 3 - Chapter 101: Saints' grade lunacy | 0 |
| 109 | Vol 3 - Chapter 102: The blue demon | 0 |
| 110 | Vol 3 - Chapter 103: A new way to travel | 0 |
| 111 | Vol 3 - Chapter 104: Interlude | 0 |
| 112 | Vol 3 - Chapter 105: Tourists and schemers | 0 |
| 113 | Vol 3 - Chapter 106: Who are you, and what are you doing here? | 0 |
| 114 | Vol 3 - Chapter 107: A deal worth making | 0 |
| 115 | Vol 3 - Chapter 108: Weighting the scale | 0 |
| 116 | Vol 3 - Chapter 109: A broken smile | 0 |
| 117 | Vol 3 - Chapter 110: Begining the thaw | 0 |
| 118 | Vol 3 - Chapter 111: The Cat and the Patriarch | 0 |
| 119 | Vol 3 - Chapter 112: Enter left, exit right | 0 |
| 120 | Vol 3 - Chapter 113: The door | 0 |
| 121 | Vol 3 - Chapter 114: Stupidly Incredible | 0 |
| 122 | Vol 3 - Chapter 115: Breaking all the things | 0 |
| 123 | Vol 3 - Chapter 116: These look so tasty | 0 |
| 124 | Vol 3 - Chapter 117: Muscle Brain | 0 |
| 125 | Vol 3 - Chapter 118: The betrayal | 0 |
| 126 | Vol 3 - Chapter 119: A guiltless show | 0 |
| 127 | Vol 3 - Chapter 120: Waking up | 0 |
| 128 | Vol 3 - Chapter 121: Closing the door | 0 |
| 129 | Vol 3 - Chapter 122: The Scourers | 0 |
| 130 | Vol 3 - chapter 123: Would your dad adopt an orphan? | 0 |
| 131 | Vol 3 - Chapter 124: Coming back home | 0 |
| 132 | Vol 3 - Chapter 125: Old buddies | 0 |
| 133 | Vol 3 - Chapter 126: The Old Woman spreads | 0 |
| 134 | Vol 3 - chapter 127: Niala's greatest creation | 0 |
| 135 | Addressing the Old Woman in the room | 0 |
| 136 | Vol 3 - chapter 128: Not a simple mayor | 0 |
| 137 | Vol 3 - Chapter 129: Princess Kitten | 0 |
| 138 | Vol 3 - Chapter 130: Invitations, preparations, dresses | 0 |
| 139 | Vol 3 - Chapter 131: Getting used to it | 0 |
| 140 | Vol 3 - chapter 132: He lied to you | 0 |
| 141 | Vol 3 - chapter 133: The bad guy | 0 |
| 142 | Vol 3 - Chapter 134: Against orders | 0 |
| 143 | Vol 3 - chapter 135: The last few days | 0 |
| 144 | Vol 3 - Chapter 136: Calm down | 0 |
| 145 | Vol 3 - chapter 137: The secret weapon | 0 |
| 146 | Volume 3: Epilogue | 0 |
| 147 | Volume 3: Author's musings & announcements & changes | 0 |
| 148 | Side story #1: How we used to look at each other. | 0 |
| 149 | Volume 4: Prologue | 0 |
| 150 | Vol 4 - Chapter 138: From Honeymoon to Expedition | 0 |
| 151 | Side story #2: Smiles are the best | 0 |
| 152 | Vol 4 - Chapter 139: Journey to the Library | 0 |
| 153 | Vol 4 - Chapter 140: You know nothing | 0 |
| 154 | Vol 4 - Chapter 141: Scream or Cry | 0 |
| 155 | Vol 4 - Chapter 142: Lizard and egg problem | 0 |
| 156 | Vol 4 - Chapter 143: The world left behind | 0 |
| 157 | Vol 4 - Chapter 144: A pretty good apple | 0 |
| 158 | Vol 4 - Chapter 145: A brand new name for a very old mind | 0 |
| 159 | Side Story Suggestions #1 - March 2026 | 0 |
| 160 | Vol 4 - chapter 146: Non-measurable equivalent exchanges | 0 |
| 161 | Vol 4 - Chapter 147: Back from the past | 0 |
| 162 | Vol 4 - Chapter 148: Two brothers, two sisters, and eggs | 0 |
| 163 | Poll: More of what? | 0 |
| 164 | Vol 4 - Chapter 149: Maximum speed | 0 |
| 165 | Vol 4 - Chapter 150: Mysterious lineage | 0 |
| 166 | Vol 4 - Chapter 151: The tithe of grandparents | 0 |
| 167 | Vol 4 - Chapter 152: Prescience of a younger sister | 0 |
| 168 | Vol 4 - Chapter 153: Sales pitch | 0 |
| 169 | Vol 4 - Chapter 154: Pulling strings and wielding half-truths | 0 |
| 170 | Vol 4 - Chapter 155: Only play when you've already won | 0 |
| 171 | Vol 4 - Chapter 156: A king's insight | 0 |
| 172 | Vol 4 - Chapter 157: Starting the race at the finishing line | 0 |
| 173 | Vol 4 - Chapter 158: The soup is an excuse | 0 |
| 174 | Vol 4 - Chapter 159: Change of pace | 0 |
| 175 | Vol 4 - Chapter 160: We brew | 0 |
| 176 | Vol 4 - Chapter 161: Better Alchemy | 0 |
| 177 | Side story #3: Hops of justice, sighs of the damned | 0 |
| 178 | Vol 4 - Chapter 162: Ripples #2 | 0 |
| 179 | Side story #3 – Hops of justice, sighs of the damned, part 2 | 0 |
| 180 | Side Story Suggestions #2 - April 2026 + Favourite characters poll! | 0 |
| 181 | Vol 4 - Chapter 163: Heating up | 0 |
| 182 | Vol 4 - Chapter 164: Passing of the junk pile | 0 |
| 183 | Vol 4 - chapter 165: Job offer | 0 |
| 184 | Vol 4 - Chapter 166: Staffing the embassy | 0 |
| 185 | Vol 4 - Chapter 167: Flow in, Flow out | 0 |
| 186 | Vol 4 - Chapter 168: The glass golem | 0 |
| 187 | Vol 4 - chapter 169: Engraving a light | 0 |
| 188 | Vol 4 - Chapter 170 : The white freaks | 0 |
| 189 | Vol 4 - Chapter 171: Tentacles | 0 |
| 190 | Vol 4 - Chapter 172: What is wrong with this town? | 0 |
| 191 | Vol 4 - Chapter 173: The kind of eyes you don't want to see | 0 |
| 192 | Side Story #4: Bat Logic | 0 |
| 193 | Side Story Suggestions #5 - May 2026 | 0 |
| 194 | Vol 4 - chapter 174: Drink up | 0 |
| 195 | Vol 4 - Chapter 175: David's answer to life's problems | 0 |
| 196 | Vol 4 - Chapter 176: Something stronger | 0 |
| 197 | Vol 4 - Chapter 177: Serpent grinding | 0 |
| 198 | Vol 4 - chapter 178: That's no good, girl | 0 |
| 199 | Vol 4- Chapter 179: All batteries open fire | 0 |
| 200 | Vol 4 - Chapter 180: Stop this foolishness | 0 |
| 201 | Vol 4 - chapter 181: We test-fired it at rocks, they melted | 0 |
| 202 | Vol 4 - Chapter 182: Eclipsing the day's light | 0 |
| 203 | Vol 4 - Chapter 183: Hope's light | 0 |
| 204 | Vol 4 - chapter 184: It's getting too much | 0 |
| 205 | Vol 4 - Chapter 185: The Stormborn | 0 |
| 206 | Side Story #5: The little girl in-between | 0 |
| 207 | Side Story Suggestions #6 - June 2026 | 0 |
| 208 | Vol 4 - Chapter 186: Exploring inner library with her hunk | 0 |
| 209 | Vol 4 - chapter 187: The lonely monster | 0 |
| 210 | Vol 4 - Chapter 188: Your husband feels so good | 0 |
| 211 | Vol 4 - Chapter 189: It's going to be amazing | 0 |
| 212 | Vol 4 - Chapter 190: A terrible name | 0 |
| 213 | vol 4 - chapter 191: They're ridiculous, the both of them | 0 |
| 214 | Vol 4 - chapter 192: Preparations | 0 |
| 215 | Vol 4 - chapter 193: The perfect couple | 0 |
| 216 | Vol 4 - Chapter 194: Give me an order | 0 |
| 217 | Volume 4: Epilogue | 0 |
| 218 | Volume 4: Author's mumblings | 0 |
| 219 | Volume 5: Prologue | 0 |
| 220 | Vol 5 - Chapter 195: Prophets of the light | 0 |
| 221 | Vol 5 - chapter 196: We can still try | 0 |
| 222 | Vol 5 - Chapter 197: Cookie | 0 |
| 223 | Vol 5 - Chapter 198: She can hug anything | 0 |
| 224 | Vol 5 - Chapter 199: A really good kiss | 0 |
| 225 | Vol 5 - Chapter 200: Going airborne | 0 |
| 226 | Side story #6: In all fairness, part 1 | 0 |
| 227 | Vol 5 - Chapter 201: A tall, powerful, evil man | 0 |
| 228 | Side story #6: In all fairness, part 2 | 0 |
| 229 | Side Story Suggestions #7 - July 2026 | 0 |
| 230 | Vol 5 - Chapter 202: Used airship shopping | 0 |
| 231 | Vol 5 - Chapter 203: The curse of the Landretti distiller | 0 |
| 232 | Vol 5 - Chapter 204: An investigation for Justice | 0 |
| 233 | Vol 5 - Chapter 205: For your wife's cooking! | 0 |
| 234 | Vol 5 - chapter 206: The dead man's boring tale | 0 |
| 235 | Vol 5 - chapter 207: Anna the archivist | 0 |
| 236 | Vol 5 - Chapter 208: Mr. Stamina Magic | 0 |
| 237 | Vol 5 - Chapter 209: Everyone's a bad guy | 0 |
| 238 | Vol 5 - Chapter 210: I could hug you | 0 |
| 239 | Vol 5 - Chapter 211: We have a job you'd probably like | 0 |
| 240 | Vol 5 - Chapter 212: I knew it! | 0 |
| 241 | Vol 5 - Chapter 213: The anti-corruption brew | 0 |
| 242 | Vol 5 - Chapter 214: Pulling at strings | 0 |
| 243 | Vol 5 - Chapter 215: The new compound | 0 |
| 244 | Vol 5 - Chapter 216: The octuple | 0 |
| 245 | Vol 5 - Chapter 217: The Sanctified One, now with cat ears | 0 |
| 246 | Vol 5 - Chapter 218: A mind shackled | 0 |
| 247 | Vol 5 - Chapter 219: Panic Attacks | 0 |
| 248 | Vol 5 - Chapter 220: Nobody's comfort zone. | — |
| 249 | Vol 5 - Chapter 221: What are we? | — |
| 250 | Vol 5 - Chapter 222: Taking care of a big baby | — |
| 251 | Vol 5 - Chapter 223: Exploding for science | — |
| 252 | Vol 5 - Chapter 224: Concerning developments | — |
| 253 | Vol 5 - Chapter 225: A weapon to surpass enchantments | — |
| 254 | Vol 5 - Chapter 226: A gift and a burden | — |
| 255 | Vol 5 - Chapter 227: A relaxing date | — |
| 256 | Vol 5 - Chapter 228: The angel of Bellharbor | — |
| 257 | Vol 5 - chapter 229: Saving the Orphans and Promoting Justice | — |
| 258 | Vol 5 - Chapter 230: Fixing the Orphanages | — |
| 259 | Vol 5 - Chapter 231: It's not enough | — |
| 260 | Vol 5 - Chapter 232: Nothing's working! | — |
| 261 | Vol 5 - chapter 233: Is she a fish? | — |
| 262 | Vol 5 - Chapter 234: Manufacturing power | — |
| 263 | Vol 5 - Chapter 235: What real power looks like | — |