Before the Epic: Meeting Ryann
Every hero has a beginning, but harder fires forge some beginnings more than others. Before the upcoming three-book series takes us across the sprawling landscapes of my high fantasy world, I want to introduce you to a character who has lived in my imagination for a long time: Ryann.
A Life in the Shadows
When we first meet Ryann in this introductory novella, she isn't a legendary warrior or a powerful mage. She is a young woman surviving day-to-day behind the cold stone walls of a kitchen, enduring a life of service and the harsh whims of those in power. She is small, others overlook her, and they underestimate her. But beneath the soot and the silence, there is a spark of something ancient—and a determination that cannot be broken.
The Quest for Blood and Kin
What drives a person to leave the only world they’ve ever known? The memory of a brother and a heritage that someone has kept from her drives Ryann. This novella isn't just a fantasy adventure; it’s a deeply personal mystery. It’s about that pivotal moment when a "simple soul" realizes they were born for something much, much larger.
Why an Introductory Novella?
I wanted to give you a "keyhole" view into the world before we open the heavy gates of the main trilogy. In these pages, you’ll get a sense of the "Ethereal & Epic" tone I love to write—misty landscapes, whispered legends, and the tactile reality of a world where magic is rare, dangerous, and often misunderstood. By the time you reach the final page of this introduction, you won’t just be reading about Ryann. You’ll be ready to follow her into the wild. The journey to find her brother—and her true self—begins here. Are you ready to step out of the kitchens and into the unknown?
The Mystery of Ryann’s Brother
In the novella, Ryann, we meet a young woman who has spent her life being told she is nothing more than a servant. She is a girl who exists in the background, scrubbing floors and staying out of the way of the whip.
But Ryann carries a secret. Or rather, a memory.
She remembers a brother.
He is the reason she doesn't just give up. He is the reason she saves every silver coin and listens to every whispered rumor in the castle. While the rest of the world sees a kitchen maid, Ryann is actually a seeker. She is a sister on a mission, and she’s beginning to realize that her brother wasn't just taken—he was hidden.
In this story, the search for a sibling becomes a search for identity. Why were they separated? What truth was so dangerous that it had to be buried under years of service and silence?
I’ve always loved the bond between siblings in literature—it’s a powerful, primal motivation. For Ryann, finding her brother isn't just about a happy reunion; it’s about reclaiming her name and discovering a heritage that someone went to great lengths to erase.
The kitchens were just the beginning. The proper story starts when she decides that the memory of her brother is worth more than the safety of her cage.
