In the sprawling world of Ascendia, guidance rarely comes in the form of a booming voice or a dusty map. Instead, it often begins with a flicker—a tiny, pulsing golden orb. You may have noticed these Orbs scattered throughout my content without realising the significance. Golden Orbs appear in almost all of my stories, including several of the flash fiction tales. These are free stories I release each week, you can read my Flash Fiction Collection here.
These orbs are the first incarnation of the spirit guides, subtle manifestations of the land’s own intent. They don’t offer easy answers; they offer a trail. To a weaver like Yolena, seeing one of these sparks among the threads of her loom is a sign that the stakes have shifted. It is a moment of pure, quiet magic in a world that often feels heavy with the scent of wood smoke and the weight of duty.
What do they represent? Perhaps they are hope, or perhaps they are a warning of the “physical flare” that magic requires. As with most entities in life thye are no necessarily all good…
There is a creation myth on Ascendia around the origin of these guides golden orbs. As with any tale from this world it is layered and driven by morally grey gods, rather than mortals. Maybe I will share this with you in the future. For now it is enough to know there are billions of orbs waiting to become the spark on someone’s unique story.
If an individual decides to dedicate themselves to the diety of their choice they are re-forged in the deity’s image and inherit powers and a link to release their Golden Orb into a new mythical creature form. More on this tomorrow.
What guides your characters?
Is it a literal spark, a nagging intuition, or a mentor with a secret agenda? Every great lead needs a North Star to follow when the path gets dark.
If you’re ready to define the forces—magical or otherwise—that drive your protagonist forward, my Master Architect Character Creation digital workbook has a dedicated section on “Internal Psychology.” It’s the perfect tool to help you find the “spark” in your own story.
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