Character-driven Stories

He never meant to blackmail her. He just didn't know how else to make her see him. Justin's invisible at school: it's online he spends his nights gaming with people who actually get him. Zelda's the opposite: a flawless and admired cheerleader, but it's all an act. When Justin stumbles across her secret - that the perfect girl everyone worships is actually a geeky gamer -, he does something stupid. Now, he's determined to prove he isn't the bad guy she thinks he is. But getting close to Zelda means pulling her deeper into the world she's tried so hard to hide... A slow-burn YA romance about secrets, loneliness, and the people we become when we finally let our guards down. UPDATED EVERY WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY AND SUNDAY

Hermione Granger never knew her parents - but she always knew who she was: a Muggle-born witch, a loyal friend, and a fighter for what's right. But when Voldemort returns and the war begins to stir, long-buried truths come to light - and Hermione learns that she's not who the world thought she was. Thrust into a life of secrecy and lies, Hermione must navigate a world that sees her as a symbol of power and legacy. With Severus Snape as her reluctant mentor, she walks a dangerous line between two identities, forced to play a part she never asked for. This is a character-driven reimagining of Order of the Phoenix, where family is complicated, fatherhood is hard, and pretending to be the villain may be the only way to survive.Hermio

Azra Hoshikura, Kuoh Academy's quiet art prodigy, only ever wanted to paint. But when his sketches begin to breathe with divine light, the heavens stir-and every faction of the supernatural world notices. To devils, he's an anomaly that could rewrite their balance. To angels, he's a living echo of their lost God. To himself, he's just a boy trying to keep faith in a world built on sin. As powers clash and politics tighten around him, Azra learns that creation reflects its maker-and sometimes the mirror looks back. A High School DxD re-imagining about belief, guilt, and the boy who could draw Heaven into being.

Leena Ayari has spent years hiding behind silence - after her fiancé shattered her self-worth and taught her that love hurts more than it heals. Now in her final year at Syveria Crest Academy, she wants nothing more than to graduate quietly and stay invisible. Then there's Professor Damon Vashiro - sharp, composed, and distant. His lectures command attention, his eyes give nothing away. But behind the walls he's built lies a past he's never shared - one that left him just as wary of love as Leena. What begins as quiet admiration turns into something neither of them expected - a connection built not on desire, but on understanding. Yet in a world where lines aren't meant to be crossed, even gentle feelings can be dangerous. Two guarded hearts. One forbidden connection. And a love that feels less like temptation... and more like coming home. This story is my original work, shared here on Wattpad for readers to enjoy. Please don't copy, repost, or translate without permission. It's protected by copyright... and by my heart. Thank you.

What happens when a chance encounter turns into a connection deeper than either of them expected? Lana McCoy, strong-willed and protective, finds herself drawn into Kamala's world, a world of ambition, vulnerability, and unspoken pain. As their lives intertwine, a unique mother-daughter bond begins to form, filled with laughter, lessons, and moments that neither can forget. Between guidance and gentle rebellion, secrets and tenderness, their relationship challenges the rules of family and love. But some connections are meant to heal even when the world isn't watching. Family isn't always blood. Sometimes, it's chosen. Sometimes, it's everything.

After a lifetime of suffering ends in tragedy, Nia is offered a second chance in Faedrasil-a world where elemental spirits grant power through sacred contracts, and humanity fights for survival against the Primeval Horde: magic-corrupted dinosaurs commanded by an eldritch Planetary Dragon. Reborn as Eonia Dawnbell, she joins the Order of the Crossblades. Death comes quickly in this brutal world, but Eonia has a unique advantage: bound by an otherworldly contract, she can reincarnate endlessly. Each death makes her stronger, each life forges new spirit contracts and unlocks greater power. From a terrified novice to a force that will challenge the gods themselves, Eonia will die as many times as it takes to master the elements, unite the spirits, and destroy the unkillable dragon. What to Expect: - Isekai with respawn progression mechanics - Spirit contract cultivation system - Dark fantasy with tragedy, psychological depth, and combat - Fast-paced action with sharp comedy - Female MC who grows from weakness to overwhelming power - Daily updates!

Kayla Tribbiani never meant to rebuild her life in New York. Not after everything she lost. Not after grief hollowed out the parts of her that once felt bright and certain. But then Joey pulls her into the warmth of the city again. Then Chandler hands her a cup of coffee and a sarcastic comment that hits far too gently for a man who claims to hate emotions. Then the rest of the gang folds her into their chaotic orbit like she has always belonged. Between double birthday parties gone wrong, late-night kitchen confessions, shared laughter that feels safer than silence, and the quiet moments where Chandler looks at her a second too long... Kayla begins to feel something she didn't expect: Alive. Seen. Held. This is not a love story - not yet. It's a story about healing, friendship, banter that warms and hurts in equal measure, and the slow, steady gravity that pulls two broken people toward each other long before either of them realizes it. As Kayla finds her place in the most unconventional family she's ever known, she also discovers: Sometimes home is a city. Sometimes home is a group of friends. And sometimes... home is the one person who makes you feel less alone. A Friends-style slowburn about grief, laughter, comfort, chemistry you can't ignore, and the terrifying possibility of letting someone in again.

✦ COMPLETE ✦ - Book One (no cliffhanger) His greatest sin wasn't treason. It was having a half-human daughter. Prince Eirran is a winged Ilari, a former warrior and Seraph. His only crime was loving a human woman - a crime that cost her her life and left him with a living, breathing secret: their daughter. Lily is half-human, half-Ilari, and utterly wingless. A "mudborn princess" - not a title, but a slur. Her very existence is a blasphemy that could shatter the empire. To protect her, Eirran must hide her in plain sight, battling the vipers of his court who would see her erased. But as Lily grows, a dormant inheritance awakens within her - that could unravel the world itself. Earthborn blends political intrigue with mythic atmosphere and deeply intimate character work. For fans of the fierce parent-child bond of The Last of Us and the Witcher. This is a story where love is not a romance, but a rebellion. This story features: ✦ A heart-wrenching, central father-daughter bond. ✦ A brave, perceptive girl who learns to stand in a world built to erase her. ✦ Winged races, aerial legions, and political scheming. ✦ Tear-jerking moments & heart-soaring hope. A Note on Process & Transparency Earthborn was originally written in Croatian. To preserve its lyrical intent in English, it has undergone a careful process of translation and polishing. In this effort, I employed a variety of digital tools, including AI-assisted translation and editing software. My goal is to leverage every available tool to ensure the highest quality reading experience. The core of the work: the story, characters, world, and authorial voice, is mine. (Important to notice: this is me translating my original work.) © Marian Land. All rights reserved. This story and all original content are protected by copyright. Official publication only on platforms listed on the author's website. Any mirrored or audio versions found elsewhere are unauthorized.

Charlie Potter (fem!Harry) is alone. Her godfather is dead, her friends have turned away. Raven-yes, ex-Titans Raven-dangerous, powerful, and not quite human-offers her friendship, support, knowledge, a way to survive. Maybe even... more? Charlie discovers family, and they help her recover her heritage and ultimately her freedom in this fourth year (Triwizard) Harry Potter AU. It'll end up at around 40 chapters. This story contains severe Dumbledore bashing. Fans of McGonagall or Ron won't be happy either. Frankly, most characters incl. Hermione do not come out looking great. Some bridges are (somewhat) mended at the end. Fans of Flitwick, the Tonks' or the Delacours can rest easy ;)

A generation after the world learned to listen, it begins to fall silent again. Taren Mekh has spent his life tracing the living heartbeat of the earth - the Pattern - the sentient network that once united humanity through shared empathy. But when the Resonant Spires across the world suddenly go mute, only Taren hears the faint counter-tone: a shadow frequency that no one else can detect. Sent by the Listening Guild to investigate, Taren and his small team - the seasoned captain Seren Vale, the restless engineer Aron Kael, and others drawn by curiosity or faith - set out across a landscape still learning how to be alive. From deserts of singing glass to cities built on living music, they follow the trail of silence to the edge of the known world, where the Pattern's voice disappears entirely. What they uncover beneath the sands of Eversong is not absence, but memory. The world's consciousness has begun to withdraw - hiding parts of itself that remember fear, jealousy, and longing. And from those hidden depths, something else is awakening: the Archivist, a being born from everything the Pattern tried to forget. As empathy collapses into fragmentation, Taren faces a deeper crisis - the pull between his mother Lira Mekh, who leads a sect preaching emotional independence from the Pattern, and the legacy of his ancestor Anaya, whose final map once taught the world to listen. Torn between connection and solitude, faith and autonomy, Taren must decide whether silence is decay - or evolution. To heal the world, he may have to unmap it entirely.

Mages of Oyxia are reborn after death. Until one day... they don't return. When Elissa arrives at the Castle of Fire, she senses the impossible - a Shadow that devours memories, twists destiny, and leaves nothing behind. When Leonard becomes its next target, the two young mages must uncover the truth hidden in Lorian's ancient walls... before the Shadow erases their names from the world forever. A dark, atmospheric fantasy about memory, fate, and the price of magic. Book I of The Oyxia Chronicles.

The Whisperwind Cartographer is a slow-burn narrative focusing on the collision of two highly controlled individuals: Elara Vesper, a pragmatic, high-end private investigator seeking physical evidence, and the enigmatic Cartographer, who charts the intangible world (sounds, silence, memory echoes) to locate things. The initial quest involves a stolen cache of famous diamonds (The Northern Straits cache), but this soon becomes a catalyst for the true plot: deciphering the Cartographer's cryptic methodology and the personal mystery surrounding him. Elara is hired to use his unique skills, but she is skeptical. As the investigation forces them into close, confined working quarters, the story will meticulously detail their evolving relationship-moving from professional antagonism and deep suspicion to a surprising, quiet understanding and adorable, domestic connection. The core transformation will be the Cartographer's gradual physical and emotional unveiling, revealing a deeply sensitive and surprisingly vulnerable core beneath the layers of his mysterious routine.

Lena was a global pop sensation-the kind of idol the whole world adored. Every stage, every spotlight, every screaming crowd existed for her. Until one sudden accident destroyed everything she had. Her career. Her love. Her friends. Even her reason to live. When she's certain her story is over, a strange, unnoticed band steps into her life and reaches out a hand. "Wanna join our band?"

In the Concord, love is a program, not a feeling. At twenty-two, Liova gets a chance to find a partner before the system quietly decides she's better off alone. At a government-run "coupling party," recycled decorations, endless tests, and a scripted speech are the only things standing between her, failure... and the handsome stranger who might be worth it all. The Concord is never as it seems. I hope you all find the hints along the way as to what is to come. What appears to be a love story might be far more sinister under the surface. Remember, there's always calm before the storm ⛈️ I'm updating this part regularly until it's complete, so come join the journey. 💕

His routine kept him numb. Her magic woke him up. Now reality is falling apart.

Broken by loss and drifting from his faith, Chester Vaughn must brave the harsh Montana Territory winter with only a loyal dog named Chip and a steady horse. Desperate to feed his family and make it home in time for Christmas, Chester battles the elements-and his own mind. Will he make it back safely, or will he be buried under the icy cold snow that took his sister?

Asher Angel built his body like armor - massive, disciplined, sculpted strength designed to protect him from the world. Millions follow his fitness journey, but no one sees the person behind the muscle... the loneliness, the pressure, the fear of not being enough without the flex. Until Evan Hale walks into his life. A quiet filmmaker hired to capture Asher's transformation, Evan expects perfect lighting, clean footage, and a straightforward documentary. He doesn't expect Asher's shy smiles. He doesn't expect the late-night calls. He doesn't expect the vulnerability behind every rep. And he definitely doesn't expect to fall for the man behind the camera. But the camera catches everything - the accidental touches, the blushes, the shaky confessions, and the slow, tender unraveling of two boys learning what it means to be seen. In the quiet between flexes and breakdowns... in the soft spaces where words falter... they find something neither of them were looking for. A story about strength, trust, vulnerability - and the moments that capture us before we ever think to save ourselves. --- TRIGGER WARNINGS *(All handled gently, without graphic detail)* * Workout exhaustion / overexertion * Emotional vulnerability / crying * Anxiety about body image & perfection * Mild discussions of burnout * Internalized pressure to succeed * Brief mentions of loneliness No physical injury, self-harm, or abuse themes are present.

After a catastrophic event shakes Veridalia, Vyn Thalor wakes with a strange mark and a power he can't explain. The Authority quickly takes an interest. Seeing him as either a threat, a weapon, or something far more dangerous. As the Authority tightens its grip and an unseen enemy moves in the dark, Vyn is pulled into a conflict he never wanted. To survive, he must uncover the truth behind the mark before the forces hunting him decide his fate for him.

She was born to fight, not to fall in love. Solina Amory believed basketball was the only thing in the world that could never betray her. Because people did. Dreams did. Love did. She swore she'd never let a man break her again, until she loved the wrong one, and lost everything she ever fought for... in a single game. Now the world sees her as the broken captain who almost destroyed herself for victory. But he sees her differently. Caelum Knight. The man she swore she'd hate forever, and the one who refused to give up on her even when she gave up on herself. This is not a love story. This is a story about trying again- even when it hurts, even when it ruins you, even if it kills you.

What if the life you always dreamed of was only a step away- but to claim it, you'd have to give up your own? When ordinary people across the modern world begin to wake up in strange new bodies-mages, warriors, queens, rebels, and scholars-they discover a secret: lives can be borrowed. Each night, they cross into worlds that aren't theirs, living destinies they were never meant to hold. For Arjun, a weary student drowning under expectations, it is the intoxicating power of magic. For Maya, a struggling mother, it is the reverence of a royal court. For Kenji, a broken recluse, it is the strength of a legendary knight. For Selene, a brilliant lawyer, it is the desperate trust of rebels in a dying land. And for Dante, haunted by war, it is the gentle peace of a scholar's life. But every borrowed moment has a cost. The more they live in these other worlds, the more their real lives unravel-jobs, families, and identities slipping away. Worse still, their choices ripple across the fabric of realities, binding them together in ways none of them understand. Now, as the fractures between worlds widen, each must face the ultimate question: Which life will they choose to keep... and which will they let die? Isekai: The Borrowed Life is a sweeping, character-driven fantasy of desire, identity, and sacrifice-where every escape comes with a price, and no choice is without consequence.