The Monster's Apprentice [Dark Fantasy | Progression | Slice of Life]

FANGS AND CLAWS DON'T MAKE A MONSTER The Queen of the Vampires, evil in its purest form, has lurked in the shadows of Ageria since the dawn of time. None dare speak her name, so who would help when she comes for Emily?  Emily is just a young, inexperienced witch, being raised in the countryside outside the steam-powered capital of Peccatum. All she yearns for is to rise as the realm's mightiest spellcaster, but fate has crueler plans for her. When one of the Queen’s vampiric minions destroys her home, Emily’s life is left in ruins, and she is thrust into a perilous journey, where she finds a protector and mentor in the most unlikely of allies. Mina, a gunslinging vampire turned monster hunter, has been scouring the lands, seeking vengeance against the Queen’s court for slaughtering her family. Taking Emily as an apprentice has opened the path to retribution, but Mina fears the darkness within her own past could corrupt the girl’s untapped, extraordinary gifts. Can Mina guide Emily’s dangerous potential without repeating the mistakes that once turned her into a monster? In a world powered by steam and ruled by firepower, Emily and Mina will come to find that skill and steel alone won’t slay the unslayable. Whatever the Queen’s machinations may be, if they want to survive the nightmare stalking them, both teacher and student must decide what they are willing to become in order to stand against her darkness. Will they rise as heroes, or become the monsters Ageria fears? What to expect: ➤ A slow-burn, character-driven, dark fantasy epic with slice-of-life moments to breathe between battles. Be aware that this story will be brutal, with extreme violence and uncomfortable topics.  ➤ 1,500–4,000 word chapters (2800 average) | 150+ Chapter Backlog (~1200 pages) ➤ A flawed female protagonist who starts weak and gradually becomes overpowered. ➤ Multiple POV’s. Primarily, our two leads, but occasionally another character here and there. ➤ Inspired by works like ‘The Witcher’, ‘Bloodborne’, and ‘Ranger’s Apprentice.’ ➤ Romance Subplot further down the line. ➤ New chapter every Monday and Thursday. For a more in-depth breakdown of what to expect, click here. Note: The first volume of this story is lighter and smaller in scale, but gets progressively darker and more action packed the further we get.  Cover Art by: Youness Elh