Young Adult
The Selfish Giant
Every afternoon, after school ended, a group of children loved to play in a beautiful garden. It belonged to a giant who had been away visiting a friend for many years. The garden was full of soft green grass, bright flowers, and peach trees that blossomed in spring and bore fruit in autumn. Birds sang sweetly in the branches, and the children laughed happily while playing there. To them it felt like the most wonderful place in the world.
By Malak Faisal11 days ago in Fiction
The Lumber Room
Nicholas lived with his strict aunt and two cousins in a large country house. His aunt believed children must always behave properly and follow rules without question. Nicholas, however, was curious and imaginative, and the constant discipline often made him feel trapped. One morning the aunt announced a special treat: the cousins and another child would be taken to the seaside. Nicholas would stay home as punishment for secretly putting a frog into his breakfast bowl earlier that day.
By Malak Faisal12 days ago in Fiction
The Cairn Beside the Lake. Top Story - February 2026.
And so it came to pass that King Ertharion, Tenth King of Lombaia, stood beside the still lake below unrelenting and unassailable cliffs with the remainder of his harried host. In what was the tenth year of his reign and his forty-fourth upon this great green earth, Menigo the Betrayer, cousin of King Ertharion, pressed home his false claim.
By Matthew J. Fromm14 days ago in Fiction
There's A Hole in My Bucket. Top Story - February 2026.
It’s a well-known fact that Liza Dufresne was always the brains in the family. She was the one who always came up with the brilliant schemes the Dufresne kids carried out when they were younger. Like when they tricked Mrs. Claybourn into paying for a trip to Disney World. Liza convinced her that their parents had been kidnapped and were being held for ransom for the total price of three tickets. In reality, they were away on a weekend getaway for their anniversary. When they returned, Liza told the Claybourns that they did not like to talk about the ordeal. Their parents never found out how they got the money. Mrs. Claybourn never found out that the Dufresne parents were never really in any danger.
By David E. Perry16 days ago in Fiction
The Chronicles of Availian. Content Warning.
A wrathful blizzard scoured the surface of the Earth in nature's call for retaliation. Not a single inch was spared from nature's wrath. There was too much corruption and darkness roaming in a world meant for balance and life. The humans who dwelt there refused to take notice of the warnings as they vied for power and dominance. They sucked the planet dry of its resources to empower themselves, and then they focused on war. Turning their cruelty onto their own kind. Soaking the world in innocent blood. It was the poor who suffered the onslaught of the rich and powerful. There was no compassion or remorse for those who called themselves the world powers. They only thought of themselves and their comforts as they ravaged their own lands and then forged on to ravage the lands of others. Their greed and lust for power made them want what others had, and they forced their way into the ranks of neighbors. Bending the people to their will so that they could call themselves superior in their domination over life. Soon, rights were revoked, medical care denied, starvation took root, and the homeless outnumbered those who could afford homes.
By Valdeara Wallberg16 days ago in Fiction
The Road to a Successful Life
1. The Boy Who Thought Success Was Luck In a small town surrounded by dusty roads and quiet evenings lived a boy named Arman. He was ordinary in every way—or at least that’s what everyone believed. He watched successful people on television, listened to stories about rich businessmen, famous athletes, and brilliant students, and silently thought, They were lucky. I am not. Arman dreamed of a better life, but dreams alone never changed anything. He spent his days wishing instead of working. When friends studied, he delayed. When opportunities appeared, he doubted himself. One day, his teacher wrote something on the board: “Success is not a gift. It is a habit.” Those words stayed in Arman’s mind, but he did not yet understand them. 2. The First Failure Life has a strange way of teaching lessons. Arman’s first big test results arrived, and he failed badly. While others celebrated, he sat alone, embarrassed and angry. He blamed the system, the questions, even the weather that morning—but deep inside, he knew the truth. He had not prepared. That night he couldn’t sleep. He realized something painful: success wasn’t avoiding failure; it was facing it honestly. For the first time, he asked himself a hard question: “What if my future depends on what I do today?” 3. Meeting the Old Carpenter Near Arman’s house lived an old carpenter named Baba Kareem. Every day, the old man worked patiently, shaping wood into beautiful furniture. No hurry. No complaints. Arman asked him one day, “How did you become so skilled?” The carpenter smiled and replied, “One small cut at a time.” He explained that no one becomes successful overnight. Every chair he built began as rough wood. Mistakes were common, but each mistake taught him control, patience, and precision. “People see the finished table,” Baba Kareem said, “but they never see the thousands of small efforts behind it.” That sentence changed Arman’s thinking. 4. The Power of Small Steps Arman decided to start small. Instead of trying to change his whole life in one day, he made tiny promises: Study one extra hour daily Wake up earlier Write goals on paper Reduce distractions At first, it felt useless. Progress was slow. No dramatic success appeared. But after a few weeks, something surprising happened—discipline became easier. His mind felt clearer. He started understanding lessons better. He learned a powerful truth: Small habits create big results. 5. The Storm of Doubt Just when things improved, life tested him again. His friends laughed at his seriousness. Some said, “Why work so hard? Enjoy life.” Others told him he would fail anyway. Doubt grew inside him like dark clouds before a storm. One evening, Arman almost gave up. He stared at his notebook and thought, Maybe I am not meant for success. But then he remembered the carpenter’s words: One small cut at a time. He decided to continue—not because he felt confident, but because quitting guaranteed failure. 6. Learning to Manage Time As months passed, Arman discovered that successful people treated time differently. They respected it. He created a simple routine: Morning learning Afternoon practice Evening reflection He began writing what he learned each day and what he wasted time on. Slowly, his wasted hours decreased. He realized that success wasn’t about having more time; it was about using time wisely. 7. The Secret of Consistency Another exam arrived. Arman wasn’t perfect, but he was prepared. This time he passed—and not just passed, he performed well. People congratulated him. They said, “You’re lucky!” Arman smiled, knowing the truth. Behind that result were hundreds of quiet mornings and lonely evenings. He finally understood: Consistency beats talent when talent quits. 8. Failure Returns — But Differently Success didn’t make life easier. Later, Arman tried for a scholarship and failed again. The rejection hurt more than before. But something was different this time. He didn’t collapse. Instead, he asked: What did I do wrong? What can I improve? How can I try again smarter? Failure had become his teacher instead of his enemy. 9. Helping Others As Arman grew, younger students began asking him for advice. At first, he felt unqualified, but he shared his journey honestly. He told them: Start before you feel ready Work when no one is watching Learn from every mistake Teaching others made him stronger. He realized true success includes lifting others up. 10. The Real Meaning of Success Years later, Arman stood in front of a group of students, giving a speech. He was no longer the boy who believed success was luck. He had learned that success was not just money, fame, or awards. Real success was: Becoming better than yesterday Staying disciplined during hard times Keeping good character when no one is watching Finding purpose in helping others He looked at the audience and said: “Success is not a destination you reach one day. It is a way you live every day.” 11. Lessons from the Journey Arman’s story teaches several truths: Failure is the beginning, not the end. Small daily habits change your future. Discipline matters more than motivation. Time is your greatest resource. Success grows when shared with others. 12. The Endless Road Even after achieving many goals, Arman kept learning. He understood that life is a journey without a final finish line. Every stage brings new challenges, new lessons, and new opportunities. Success, he realized, wasn’t about becoming perfect. It was about never stopping growth. And as he walked forward, he smiled, knowing that the boy who once waited for luck had become someone who created his own future—one small step at a time. The Moral A successful life does not start with talent or luck. It starts with a decision—a quiet, honest choice to improve daily. If you keep moving, even slowly, you will be surprised how far you can go.
By AFTAB KHAN16 days ago in Fiction
Made for Love. Content Warning.
2086 — Tokiton, Eurasia. I open my eyes for the very first time. I take a look around. I can assume I am at a laboratory — pale white walls, big screens emitting blue light while displaying codes all over, at least five holo-boards with calculations written on them. And many, many silvery robot arms like a spider queen hovering above my face. What's a spider?
By Carolina Drouven17 days ago in Fiction
Berganashio - Chapter 33
The darkness of night commenced as a blanket. In a tumultuous panic, the fairies flew from the giant's lumbering form. Obediently, the giant followed Whisper's command to go into the cave entrance. It was bedtime for the giant, so he began to lay down on the leather conveyer belt that was near the front part of the cave entrance. The three totters jumped down from the giant's shoulder who had already fallen asleep; he was oblivious to the world.
By Rowan Finley 18 days ago in Fiction
Berganashio - Chapter 32
Keenwai and Kunya had consoled Larkin and Villi to the best of their ability. They knew that that the time had come for them to leave though. Grinyella and Podder agreed that the best course of action was for them to return home to the burrowlands. They were concerned that there could be another raid from the vengeful sea-wolfs who had already attacked them once before. With the merfarie king and queen gone now, they especially did not feel any obligation to remain at the merfarie gardens. Before they left to return home, the merfaries sang several songs. The splendor of the vines and plants that sprang forth from the singing was mesmerizing to the meerbirds. There was a melancholy tilt to some of the singing because they were mourning the destruction of the throne room and the abduction of the merfarie king and queen. The meerbirds were most grateful to eat the luscious vines and colorful flowers that were produced by the singing of the merfaries in the courtyard. The song started with one merfarie warrior who was clearly grieving the loss of the merfarie king and queen. These were some of the words that he sang before the rest of the merfaries joined his solemn solo.
By Rowan Finley 18 days ago in Fiction
