Fungal Halo

The witch returned home from her trip, head buzzing with exciting new ideas she picked up from everyone she met at the Witch Conference.

Her many dolls gathered around while she explained to them that she was going to start practicing Chaos Magic to improve things.

It’s a strange party you find yourself in the middle of. You had no idea your friends knew so many different creatures from every plane you’ve heard of—and a few you haven’t.

You don’t see anyone you recognize right now, but everyone is chill, and you lower your guard.

She wraps her arms around me just like always, tilting her head to one side, offering me her delicate neck.

We’ve done this countless times, but she still gives a tiny shiver of anticipation as my lips touch my favorite place and my fangs pierce deep into my thrall.

The Whisper picked its way through the grassy field with slow steps, careful not to disturb what rested in this place.

The sheer fabric of its black dress caught the breeze, and for a moment it tasted what it was searching for on the wind.

It angled its path left.

When Divine Ones war with one another, most people tremble in fear of what is to come.

Now, it’s certainly rare for mortals to get caught up in the battles directly. Those clashes between the angelic hosts almost invariably take place far up above in their heavens.

The knight drags her sword behind her as she ascends the stairway up to the throne room.

Her muscles ache with the exhaustion of a long journey that now comes mercifully to its end.

Dangling at her chest is the Amulet with the power to seal the Demon Queen away forever.

It’s fun working in a facility that does research and development on exciting new mutagens.

Someday we’re going to design the formula that elevates humanity to the next stage of evolution! Until then, the slow, steady work of experimentation continues.

What a lovely afternoon to relax with an old friend and reminisce over tea.

We laugh over stories of our adventures together, and for a moment, it’s like we were never apart.

She reaches across the table and takes my hand, and I smile like I haven’t in years.

I must be careful. It is frighteningly easy to forget what sleeps in my blood, but as long as I take sufficient care, we will all stay safe. I will not need to be caged.

I’ll find the cure for myself, and nobody will need to learn about my lapse of judgment.

“That was a waste,” they admonished. “How much of your Light did it take to rescue those people?”

“It wasn’t a lot…” the angel demurred.

“Nevertheless.” The archangel scowled. “You knew they were nonbelievers. You knew you would not be getting that Light back.”

I’m just slightly disconnected from the flow of time everyone else experiences. Like a gear whose teeth are worn, which slips and skips every now and then.

It’s frustrating to just wake up in the morning and find I’ve lost a day—skipped over the preceding 24 hours entirely.

There she is, my equal and opposite.

Fell creature of The Deep, the Piercing Tooth of the Great Maw That Devours, She Whose Steps Blight The Land approaches with wicked blade drawn and wild eyes staring.

I grip my own sword. Our great conflict ends today. It must.