
by Naro97
His grove burned. His people died. The sword should have killed him too, instead it did something far worse. Bound to the cursed blade Nemain, the very weapon that destroyed his people, he wanders a world where monsters roam the roads, kingdoms struggle to survive, and ancient powers stir beneath forgotten ruins. The sword whispers. It hungers and every life he takes strengthens something far older than himself. When fate hands him a handful of refugees struggling to survive as the village of Blackthorn burns, Kaelen is given a choice: Remain a wandering survivor or plant new roots. What begins as a refuge in the wilderness slowly becomes a grove, a community, and perhaps the first home he has known since the night everything burned. But monsters gather in the forests, politics threaten from within the city, and the darkness bound to Nemain waits patiently for its chance. A slow-burn, Grimdark, progression fantasy featuring: Druid magic and nature powers A cursed sentient weapon Settlement and community building Found Family Meaningful character relationships Politics and leadership Monsters, ancient ruins, and exploration Gradual progression and earned power A hopeful story in a dark world Nature answers. Nemain whispers. He endures.
| # | Title | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHAPTER 1 — ASHES OF BLACKTHORN- Part I | 0 |
| 2 | Chapter 5: The Echo of what was lost- Part I | 0 |
| 3 | Chapter 6- The Decision That Wasn’t Mine | 0 |
| 4 | Chapter 1- Ashes of Blackthorn- Part II | 0 |
| 5 | Chapter 2: Through the Forest- Part I | 0 |
| 6 | Chapter 2 Through the Forest- II | 0 |
| 7 | Chapter 3- Towards Fallowspire- Part I | 0 |
| 8 | Chapter 3- Towards Fallowspire- Part II | 0 |
| 9 | Chapter 4- Whispers Beneath the Pines- Part I | 0 |
| 10 | Chapter 4- Whispers Beneath the Pines- Part II | 0 |
| 11 | Chapter 5- The Echo of What Was Lost- Part II | 0 |
| 12 | Chapter 5- The Echo of What Was Lost- Part III | 0 |
| 13 | Chapter 7: What Still Grows- Part I | 0 |
| 14 | Chapter 7: What Still Grows- Part II | 0 |
| 15 | Chapter 7: What Still Grows- Part III | 0 |
| 16 | Chapter 8: The Heartwood Awakens- Part I | 0 |
| 17 | Chapter 8: The Heartwood Awakens- Part II | 0 |
| 18 | Chapter 9 Lord Havlar- Part I | 0 |
| 19 | Chapter 9- Lord Havlar- Part II | 0 |
| 20 | Chapter 10: Where the River Learns Your Name- Part- II | 0 |
| 21 | Chapter 10: Where the River Learns Your Name- Part- I | 0 |
| 22 | Chapter 11: The Water Beneath the City-Part I | 0 |
| 23 | Chapter 11- The Water Beneath the City- Part II | 0 |
| 24 | Chapter 12: The River Unbound- Part I | 0 |
| 25 | Chapter 12: The River Unbound- Part II | 0 |
| 26 | Chapter 13: The Thing Beneath the River — Part I | 0 |
| 27 | Chapter 13: The Thing Beneath the River — Part II | 0 |
| 28 | Chapter 14: The Heart Beneath the River - Part I | 0 |
| 29 | Chapter 14- The Heart Beneath the River- Part II | 0 |
| 30 | Chapter 15: The Weight of Quiet - Part I | 0 |
| 31 | Chapter 15: The Weight of Quiet - Part II | 0 |
| 32 | Chapter 16: Echoes Beneath the Roots - Part I | 0 |
| 33 | Chapter 16: Echoes Beneath the Roots — Part II | 0 |
| 34 | Chapter 16: Echoes Beneath the Roots- Part III | 0 |
| 35 | Chapter 17: The Heartwood Grove- Part I | 0 |
| 36 | Chapter 17: The Heartwood Grove - Part II | 0 |
| 37 | Chapter 18: Beneath the Silverwood — Part I | 0 |
| 38 | Chapter 18: Beneath the Silverwood- Part II | 0 |
| 39 | Chapter 19: Roots Beneath the City — Part I | 0 |
| 40 | Chapter 19: Roots Beneath the City — Part II | 0 |
| 41 | Chapter 20: Beneath Stone and Root | 0 |
| 42 | Chapter 21: Stone Above, Roots Below — Part I | 0 |
| 43 | Chapter 21: Stone Above, Roots Below — Part II | 0 |
| 44 | Chapter 22: Roots Beneath the City — Part I | 0 |
| 45 | Chapter 22: Roots Beneath the City — Part II | 0 |
| 46 | Chapter 23: Roots and Responsibility — Part I | 0 |
| 47 | Chapter 23: Roots and Responsibilities- Part II | 0 |
| 48 | Chapter 24: Grovekeeper — Part I | 0 |
| 49 | Chapter 24: Grovekeeper- Part II | 0 |
| 50 | Chapter 25: Dreams Beneath Silver Leaves | 0 |
| 51 | Chapter 26: What the City Lord Witnessed- Part I | 0 |
| 52 | Chapter 26: What the City Lord Witnessed - Part II | 0 |
| 53 | Chapter 27: Between Decisions and Departure- Part I | 0 |
| 54 | Chapter 27: Between Decisions and Departure- Part II | 0 |
| 55 | Chapter 28: Adventurer's Guild - Part I | 0 |
| 56 | Chapter 28: Adventurer's Guild – Part II | 0 |
| 57 | Chapter 29: The Druid of Fallowspire – Part I | 0 |
| 58 | Chapter 29: The Druid of Fallowspire – Part II | 0 |
| 59 | Chapter 30: The Keeper's Path - Part I | 0 |
| 60 | Chapter 30: The Keeper's Path – Part II | 0 |
| 61 | Chapter 31: The Offer - Part I | 0 |
| 62 | Chapter 31: The Offer – Part II | 0 |
| 63 | Chapter 32: The Choice - Part I | 0 |
| 64 | Chapter 32: The Choice- Part II | 0 |
| 65 | Chapter 33: Money Matters - Part I | 0 |
| 66 | Chapter 33- Money Matters- Part II | 0 |
| 67 | Chapter 34: Finding Purpose - Part I | 0 |
| 68 | Chapter 34: Finding Purpose - Part II | 0 |
| 69 | Chapter 34: Finding Purpose - Part III | 0 |
| 70 | Chapter 35: Another Contract – Part I | 0 |
| 71 | Chapter 35: Another Contract - II | 0 |
| 72 | Chapter 36: Into the Wild - Part I | 0 |
| 73 | Chapter 36: Into the Wild - Part II | 0 |
| 74 | Chapter 37: Greenhollow - Part I | 0 |
| 75 | Chapter 37: Greenhollow- Part II | 0 |
| 76 | Chapter 38: The Trail North - Part I | 0 |
| 77 | Chapter 39: The Nest - Part I | 0 |
| 78 | Chapter 39: The Nest- Part II | 0 |
| 79 | Chapter 40: The Last Hunt - Part I | 0 |
| 80 | Chapter 40: The Last Hunt - Part II | 0 |
| 81 | Chapter 41: The Last Survivor | 0 |
| 82 | Chapter 42: The Road Home - Part I | 0 |
| 83 | Chapter 42: The Road Home - Part II | 0 |
| 84 | Chapter 43: Home – Part I | 0 |
| 85 | Chapter 43: Home – Part II | 0 |
| 86 | Epilogue - Part I | 0 |
| 87 | Epilogue - Part II | 0 |
| 88 | Epilogue - Part III | 0 |
| 89 | Epilogue - Part IV | 0 |
| 90 | Prologue | 0 |
| 91 | Chapter 1: An Unexpected Visitor | 0 |
| 92 | Chapter 2: Language of the Trees | 0 |
| 93 | Chapter 3: Echoes of Fallen Groves | 0 |
| 94 | Chapter 4: A Shared Burden - Part I | 0 |
| 95 | Chapter 4: A Shared Burden - Part II | 0 |
| 96 | Chapter 5: The First Grove Knight - Part I | 0 |
| 97 | Chapter 5: The First Grove Knight- Part II | 0 |
| 98 | Chapter 6: The Grove Remembers- Part I | 0 |
| 99 | Chapter 6: The Grove Remembers- Part II | 0 |
| 100 | Chapter 7: Unwelcome Eyes- Part I | 0 |
| 101 | Chapter 7: Unwelcome Eyes - Part II | 0 |
| 102 | Chapter 8: Gathering Storm - Part I | 0 |
| 103 | Chapter 8: Gathering Storm - Part II | 0 |
| 104 | Chapter 9: New Paths - Part I | 0 |
| 105 | Chapter 9: New Paths – Part II | 0 |
| 106 | Chapter 10: Into the Wild- Part I | 0 |
| 107 | Chapter 10: Into the Wild - Part II | 0 |
| 108 | Chapter 11: Instincts of the Wild - Part I | 0 |
| 109 | Chapter 11: Instincts of the Wild - Part II | 0 |
| 110 | Chapter 12: The Weight of Mana - Part I | 0 |
| 111 | Chapter 13: What the Beasts Remember | 0 |
| 112 | Chapter 14: A Measure of Strength - Part I | 0 |
| 113 | Chapter 14: A Measure of Strength - Part II | 0 |
| 114 | Chapter 15: A Name Among Us - Part I | — |
| 115 | Chapter 15: A Name Among Us - Part II | — |
| 116 | Chapter 16: Aurablade | — |
| 117 | Chapter 17: The King's Seal - Part I | — |
| 118 | Chapter 17: The King's Seal - Part II | — |
| 119 | Chapter 17: The King's Seal - Part III | — |
| 120 | Chapter 18: A Royal Visit | — |
| 121 | Chapter 19: Roots of the Grove - Part I | — |
| 122 | Chapter 19: Roots of the Grove - Part II | — |
| 123 | Chapter 20: The Ghost in the Grove - Part II | — |
| 124 | Chapter 20: The Ghost in the Grove - Part III | — |
| 125 | Chapter 20: The Ghost in the Grove - Part IV | — |
| 126 | Chapter 20: The Ghost in the Grove - Part I | — |
| 127 | CHAPTER 21 - A Mentor Beyond Death- Part I | — |
| 128 | CHAPTER 21: A Mentor Beyond Death- Part II | — |
| 129 | CHAPTER 22: The Distant Roots- Part I | — |
| 130 | CHAPTER 22: The Distant Roots- Part II | — |
| 131 | Chapter 23: Storm Within- Part I | — |
| 132 | Chapter 23: Storm Within - Part II | — |
| 133 | Chapter 24: Iron and Mana - Part I | — |
| 134 | Chapter 24: Iron and Mana -Part II | — |
| 135 | Chapter 24: Iron and Mana - Part III | — |
| 136 | Chapter 25: The Druid and the Knight- Part I | — |
| 137 | Chapter 25: The Druid and the Knight- Part II | — |
| 138 | Chapter 25: The Druid and the Knight- Part III | — |
| 139 | Chapter 26: Preparing for a King- Part I | — |
| 140 | Chapter 26: Preparing for a King- Part II | — |
| 141 | Chapter 27: Under Royal Banners | — |
| 142 | Chapter 28: A King in Fallowspire- Part I | — |
| 143 | Chapter 28: A King in Fallowspire- Part II | — |
| 144 | Chapter 28: A King in Fallowspire- Part III | — |
| 145 | Chapter 28: A King in Fallowspire- Part IV | — |
| 146 | Chapter 29: The King's Request- Part I | — |
| 147 | BOOK 2 IS NOW LIVE! | 0 |
| 148 | Book 2 Poll. | 0 |
| 149 | Chapter 7: Unwelcome Eyes - Part II 2 minutes ago | 0 |