The Author stares at a blank paper, waiting for inspiration to strike. Suddenly, he bursts into a frenzy of writing, for the muse that appears before him is fickle, and prone to changing her mind. A blast of momentum creates a universe, the scratching of quill on paper echoing throughout the newly created reality. A world is born, and within it, a small town is built. Within that town, a child is born, not one who is destined for greatness, for this is not that kind of story.

The Author's frenzied writing comes to an end, motivation fleeing as fast as it arrived. The world he created is set in motion, and the Author watches with glee as his characters, nay his children wander the world he made for them. From the frost tipped mountains surrounding the central valley of the continent, to the verdant plains in the East. From the flooded swamplands in the South, to the blood-red desert in the North-West. The North of the continent was not written into existence, for none could explore it. Rather, there was no reason to explore it, and so none made an attempt to do so.

The Author paused. Something about his world felt... off. Incomplete, one might say. Besides the North, that is. The Author ran down his mental checklist of things to write into existence.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

The world? Check.

People? Double check.

Basic geography? Triple check.

Aha! The Author nods to himself, remembering a key component that any world worth its salt would have. He summons an ætherial quill, and presses the tip into his chest, dipping into his own magic reserves. He waves the quill in the air, gathering faint traces of elemental mana, wrapping them tightly around the nib before giving the quill a mighty pull, tearing the magic from his reality. Moving quickly, he begins to weave the magic into his written world, suffusing it with wonders never before seen. From elemental rain that dyes your hair all the colors of the rainbow, to giant monsters, wandering the oceans. Humans and non-humans alike are given the ability to wield the magics that bloom in this world. The author smiles and speaks in an old and hoarse voice.

"Most importantly, of all things, is the ability to have fun."