Instant Story

Challenge #04296-K278: Essential Parts

They turned off their machines, crawled into bed after turning off the light and slept. And Dreamed. The wizard in their dream introduced themselves as Wraithvine, and smiled. "So, what is your time like?" "A time of peace, I guess, lots of hard work, but, meh, not so bad." -- Anon Guest

[AN: Are you trying to tie my universes together, Nonny? It doesn't work like that. Alfarell has a history incongruent with Amalgam Universe. That glue won't stick]

So many machines invented with the good intention of saving time and labour often end up doing neither. The cotton gin ended up extending slavery rather than rending it obsolete. The spinning jenny ended cottage industry, true, but it also ended childhoods, lives, and the dexterity of more than enough limbs[1]. Printers saved the labor of the typesetters, but it also allowed less effort spent in creating the written word. And as for code made to save the effort of creation itself... the less said about the results, the better.

Most of that has not happened here in Alfarell. Not yet. It could, with different names, but the potential and the need have to meet in just the right way.

Mass production is very different in a world where the right spell and components can just copy something. Nevertheless, machines rise where magic simply cannot suffice. Something is needed to turn the crank, unclog the gears, grease the wheels, or otherwise keep it running. And in that, there's always someone necessary but also looked down upon.

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Challenge #04295-K277: Kindness Comes in Handy

The adult giant was nearly 10 ft tall, kinda short for their kind. Their parentals, humans, lived near the massive cottage where the giant lived. When asked by other giants why "bugs were allowed here", the giant angrily would state "Don't you dare insult my parents!" -- Anon Guest

Others of hir kind called hir 'Shrimp' because ze was only twice the height of the average Human. Small for Giantkind. Hir real name was Elianto, and her parents loved and cherished hir.

Challenge #04294-K276: A Different Destiny

A: sometimes you fit perfectly, but it’s not the right place.

B: …what?

C: you’re a half empty bottle of coke screwed into a lightbulb socket

B: Oh I get it.

A:??? How the f- -- Anon Guest

[AN: There are so many ways this metaphor could be altered, but you chose a meme]

There were three jigsaw puzzles, and it was possible to put them together by feel. However, one needed vision to put them together properly. Each puzzle,

Challenge #04293-K275: A Child Could Understand...

[Solid water] Compound composed of hydrogen and oxygen, essential to support carbon-based life. Keeping it in the solid state makes it easy to carry.

"...isn't it ice?"

"no, no, no. Ice is ice, this is water, just in the solid state."

"...isn't that the definition of Ice?" -- Anon Guest

Galthax took a deep breath, twining hir tentacles in a thoughtful manner. "Ice is frozen water. This is solid water. There is a difference."

Human Iz scrunched their face up, attempting to

Challenge #04292-K274: Lending a Hand

The cave-in was pretty severe. The worst part was, magic was risky in this region. Lilbit had managed to squeeze out through cracks. Surprisingly, tail in the air all smug, Cat returned, with the sound of anxious diggers to be heard outside the cave. -- Anon Guest

Wudzgaad are the oddities of Faekindred. They can walk between worlds with but a thought. They never ask for names because they don't see the need for them. They go about their business and remain

Challenge #04291-K273: A Chance at Mortal Redemption

A very old angel, and an ancient demon, both sat together talking, watching the peoples. Seeing how the humans treat the children born to them simply for looking like their ancient ancestors, saddened them.

"Even we demons know this is wrong."

They are human and have free will.

"Doesn't mean it's not wrong."

In that, at least, we very much agree. -- Anon Guest

[AN: Reminder that I am trying my soul to whispers in keeping my stories OUTSIDE of fandom spaces.

Challenge #04290-K272: There's a Moral Somewhere

The sacrificial one was shoved into the chamber, the door behind them sealed. The gods demanded this, if they disobeyed, the city would be destroyed. The youngster, shakingly, put their hand on the door. "Shhhh, what the elders don't know won't hurt the rest of us. Let's go." -- Anon Guest

For centuries, it had maintained peace. In the town, there was a temple dedicated to the Established Order. The temple, partially carved into a mountain, had a portal that people only

Challenge #04289-K271: The Wanderer's Guide

An immortal elf meets the much better known immortal elf. Wariness, tenseness, then laughter and talks of old times at a table with drinks and introductions of friends. -- Anon Guest

The problem with being immortal and ageless is having to move to a new country every five to eight hundred years. Well. It is if you're an Elf. Humans have it worse, having to shift residences every decade or so. Some just surrender and live a life on the road.

Dragons

Challenge #04288-K270: Respected Priorities

Pax Humanis makes a deal with the deadly Lucker. They will not monitor them as they monitor others, and the Lucker only has to wear "the colors" when in Alliance areas. Their life, and travels, are their own.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04188-k170-kill-list -- Anon Guest

What I don't like about Pax Humanis is their insistence on control. The other killers in there tolerate it. They know they're dangerous and they actually care about the health and wellbeing of the innocent.

Challenge #04287-K269: Truly Heroic

Tell me, my student.... what is the difference between a TRUE Hero, and the person many just call a hero?

"I don't know, sir."

It is their heart. For a True Hero does not seek fame or fortune. They do not seek to harm others, no matter what they appear. Their only desire is to aid others whenever possible, and the knowledge they could help be their only reward.

The ones far too many tend to call 'hero'.... are usually far too

Challenge #04286-K268: For the Safety of Others

Those that discriminate against the unwanted races in this nation take a page from the lands of Whitekeep. They are not killed, instead sent to a large school where they are forced to learn about whom it is they hate. And the worst part is? The bracelets they must wear. Until they "graduate", they are no longer capable of telling any lies, especially, not to themselves. Kids are easy to teach lessons of kindness, respect, and diversity, it's the older teens and

Challenge #04285-K267: Mutually Assured Protection

The one I call my friend, no, more like a parental to me, helped me be a better CEO. The people are happy, I've plenty for my family, and they even introduced me to my spouse, we adopted kids, too. I'm so grateful. They're still here for us , them and their friends. They can be scary, but behind their masks, they're really kind.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04030-k012-double-down-defeat -- Anon Guest

I spent a lot of my life being yelled at

Challenge #04284-K266: Worth Working up to

They had been dereggers. Though long since rescued, their bodily systems made it hard for them to eat, well, anything very easily. But seeing all that people here enjoyed, made them long for something more than.. blah. They went to the Gyiik temple where they said the people there had magic that could help them. -- Anon Guest

It was a bizarre food allergy, if it could truly qualify as such. The freed former citizens of a now-extinct Greater Deregulation could not

Challenge #04283-K265: A Start, An End

The burrow of kobolds found a nest of dragon eggs. The nest was still very warm, but the parent was not returning, as a cruel person that other humans were calling a "hero" had killed them. They took in these eggs to care for them, to raise them, those false "heroes" would not get their hands on these children, ever. Not if the borrow had anything to say of it! -- Anon Guest

Heroism is relative. For every victorious vanquisher of an

Challenge #04282-K264: Trust Issues

They wandered the land, traveling mostly at night. When they found those enslaved, or were runaway slaves, they only asked one question. "Will you trust me enough to take you somewhere safe?" They took those willing to follow to a village that shattered the shackles, broke off the collars, and taught those once enslaved how to live free. The first lesson? "Think for yourself, and never let anyone force you to do that which you do not wish to." -- Anon Guest

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Challenge #04296-K278: Essential Parts

Challenge #04295-K277: Kindness Comes in Handy

Challenge #04294-K276: A Different Destiny

Challenge #04293-K275: A Child Could Understand...

Challenge #04292-K274: Lending a Hand

Challenge #04291-K273: A Chance at Mortal Redemption

Challenge #04290-K272: There's a Moral Somewhere

Challenge #04289-K271: The Wanderer's Guide

Challenge #04288-K270: Respected Priorities

Challenge #04287-K269: Truly Heroic

Challenge #04286-K268: For the Safety of Others

Challenge #04285-K267: Mutually Assured Protection

Challenge #04284-K266: Worth Working up to

Challenge #04283-K265: A Start, An End

Challenge #04282-K264: Trust Issues