The sigils were etched into the floor, carved deep into the highly polished wood with adze and awl and knife.
Shavi renjuzu
This story contains potential triggers.
In the distant past, when all creatures spoke the same language and magic flowed through the air as water flowed over the riverbed, there was a cave. In more modern times it would be called the cave of Chinhoyi, for the brave leader who sheltered his people from adversaries in its labyrinthine depths, but in those far-off days it had another name.
Happy Birthday
Frank glanced nervously around the room, once, twice, not taking in any of the furniture. His eyes darted to the window. It was sunny outside, a glorious day filled with light and laughter.
Dreaming in the Deep
Their imperfect processing of thoughts and memories made it impossible to know what they were thinking. Ideas flashed and flickered erratically between neurons, sparking in the dark fluid of their minds like a shoal of fish in deep waters.
Take Two
Around her, her cubicle-mates stared blearily into space, focussed on their own visu-screens with varying degrees of attention. Sometimes someone smiled. She wondered what they had to smile about.
Wink Wink
The girl slipped out of the room like a ghost, vanishing as soon as the door closed. The boy wondered if she just evaporated as soon as she was out of sight; or maybe she just carefully missed the creaky stair as she went down.
You better watch out
The digital readout on the clock read 12:01, and even as she watched it ticked over to read 12:02. The microwave timer must be fast, she thinks, because surely Santa should have come by midnight.
...And other conversations
The mist drew back momentarily, revealing the looming mass of the Museum of Old and New Art, clinging limpet-like to the mist-slicked cliffside.
Sound of Silence
After all, you wouldn’t throw a chicken into a pond and expect it to swim, for all it bore certain similarities to a duck. Unless you were playing ‘The Legend of Zelda’; everyone knew Cuccos were indestructible.
The Dead of Knight
Far above, the moon was barely half full, waning, much like the King's power. At least it would give them some light. And they would need it tonight.