Being Samantha Masters

an homage-sequel to Being Christina Chase

Apologia

“Samantha!” Finley called out, ducking between foreign students as they flooded out of the classroom en masse.

Chapter 11: Lawyer Up

On Saturday, Kelly and Yuqi were having a great time at the pool while their parents tended to some yard work. Suddenly, they noticed three sleek, black SUVs pull up in front of their home. The driver emerged and opened the back doors, revealing three sharply dressed individuals: two Asian women and an Asian man. The man held a beautifully adorned wooden box, while each woman carried a briefcase. Their formal attire and confident demeanor exuded a sense of respect as they approached the front door.

Eriana and Tor attempt to decide who is going on the Visund but extras keep appearing. Deliberations are interrupted by a disturbing invasion of the harbor and river. Later, there is a final unexpected addition to the list of travelers.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

96 - Crew Selection

The Lessons of Time

Anthony Michaels was a confident and ambitious 21-year-old college student majoring in Ancient World History at St. Augustine University. Known for his sharp mind and quick wit, Anthony excelled in academics but had a glaring blind spot: his dismissive attitude toward the role of women in history. In class discussions, he often downplayed their contributions, declaring men to be the real architects of civilization.

Chapter 9: Nail in the Coffin

David’s sleep was anything but peaceful. As he lay in bed, his mind raced, consumed by the absence of the medallion that had recently vanished from his life. The empty coffee table loomed ominously in the dim light of the room, serving as a silent reminder of his inner turmoil. Unable to ignore it, he felt an unsettling emptiness, as if a vital piece of his identity was missing, leaving him incomplete and adrift.

Chapter Eight: Unveiling the Truth

David stared at the sneakers in the box, the deep purple color gleaming under the light. “Great,” he muttered, lifting one up for a closer look. “These will match my scales.”

“Your what?” both his mom and Kelly said in unison, their voices sharp with confusion.

David froze, his mind racing. Crap, why did I say that out loud?

“My dragon… oh, umm… these are really pretty.” He trailed off, trying to backtrack, but his mom wasn’t having it. Her expression hardened, and she crossed her arms.

Chapter Seven: Returning Home

The drive home was quiet, the tension in the car palpable. David leaned against the window, watching the familiar streets roll by, but his thoughts were far from comforting. The doctor’s words echoed in his mind, and though his parents tried to keep the conversation light, the weight of the unknown loomed over them.

Fucking brute.

That was the only thing Jim could think as his Dad pontificated on all matters of life and love while he drove them both in his beaten-up white van to the job site.

His dad cleaned septic tanks for a living, and Jim was home on summer break for college, so he had been roped (read: forced) into accompanying him to today’s job, while his Dad’s regular guy, Simon, was out sick with a stomach bug, the product of some bad beef empanadas he had had for dinner the night before.

Akari, driven by her unyielding determination and the dragon’s hearthstone in her possession, was acutely aware that her journey was far from its conclusion. The next phase in her quest to craft the divine artifact was to locate the rare pyresteel, a metal forged in the most scorching of volcanoes. She foresaw this leg of the journey to be as treacherous as the previous ones, but her resolve remained steadfast.

Chapter Five: Back to Normal—Almost

David settled onto the living room couch, the controller fitting comfortably into his hands. The new game his sister, Kelly, had gotten him sat in the console, its startup screen glowing brightly on the TV. He took a deep breath, the familiar sounds and sights of the game pulling him back into a sense of normalcy.

David found himself in a dream once more, but this time, it wasn’t the chaos of war that surrounded him. Instead, he was in a tranquil meadow bathed in soft golden light. The grass beneath him felt cool and soft, and the air was warm, carrying a faint floral scent that was both calming and unfamiliar.

Chapter One: The Sixteenth Birthday

The warm June sun streamed through the windows of the Allen’s home, bathing the living room in golden light. David sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by his two best friends, Eric and Ryan, controllers in hand as they raced each other in the latest Mario Kart game. Laughter and friendly jeers filled the room as their characters collided in-game, sending one kart careening off the track.

"Come on, Eric, you’re supposed to be good at this!" Ryan teased, nudging his friend with an elbow.

On Midsummer's Night Lars is injured but fortunately help is close at hand. His injuries will take time to heal and that causes problems for Eriana, who expected to spend the Rains planning the future structure of the Navy. Of course, Ursula has an idea.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

94 - Embers and Plans

The Queen's Gala

The day of the gala had finally arrived, and I could feel the excitement buzzing in the air. This was not just any event; it was the moment I would be formally introduced to the world's leaders. My heart raced at the thought of meeting such a diverse assembly of beings—humans, Elves, Drow, dwarves, orcs, and fairies—all gathered to witness my emergence as the Queen of the Seas. Despite my anticipation, a wave of nervousness washed over me, reminding me of the enormity of the evening ahead.

Once I felt normal again, I climbed out of the water and went to lunch, still feeling mentally drained from the overexertion of my mana. I settled into my usual seat beside Gwen, who greeted me with a warm smile.

Soon after, we were joined by two other noble girls—Winter and Fawn. I couldn't help but notice how their names perfectly matched the types of magic they wielded. Winter had an air of frostiness, and I could sense her affinity for ice magic. At the same time, Fawn exuded a natural warmth and vibrancy, suggesting a connection to nature or earth magic.