A fantasy short novel by Joseph Mazzola (also known as the troper Jeroic) published through and available on Libboo as an e-book.
In the desert kingdom of Markasia, a guardsman named Garth finds himself branded a traitor by an oppressive regime for allowing the prisoners under his watch to escape. With no other options, he flees into the heart of the desert with the three prisoners who would not or could not try to escape him: Puzi, a boy who was imprisoned for murder, Marduk, in for stealing, and Seshafi, in for being a witch. However, it does not take Garth long to learn that a mysterious violet scar, earned in a childhood accident that nearly cost him his life, will grant him sorcerous powers of his own in this land where magic is a crime punishable by death whether he wants it or not.
Provides examples of:
- Aerith and Bob - There are names like Marduk, Puzi, and Seshafi, but there is also Garth.
- Blood Magic - All magic exacts a price. This is "usually" blood and pain.
- Character Title - The nameless King of the Water Roads never appears on the page, has no name and is only even noticed by the general populace when he dies.
- Glamour - "Seeming" is the easiest kind of magic to learn, and one of the only scraps of magical talent usually still found in Markasia.
- Our Dragons Are Different - Ajakara are long, thin creatures that are essentially stone dragons.
- Psychic Nosebleed - Often the first physical toll a spell takes on a spellcaster's body.
- The Great Offscreen War - There is a war of succession going on in the backdrop of the last few chapters, but the main characters have no involvement.
- Witch Doctor - In the opening sequence.
- Your Mind Makes It Real - Despite Seeming being entirely illusion-based, if done powerfully enough it can still kill a victim.
