I Love How I Wrote Too Many Scenes, But Now I Need To Edit Them Down And Organize Them Into Other Chapters.

the sands of time is a fantasy interactive fiction where you play as the mage of a small provincial town who, in the process of investigating into strange magical phenomena, finds themselves embroiled in a far-reaching political intrigue with potentially deadly consequences. and ghosts.

themes/tags : intrigue, fantasy, effects of time, power, magic, ghosts

You are a mage who, after being forced to flee from the capital for a crime you may or may not have committed, has taken refuge in Kemorlen, a small, unremarkable town ideal for keeping out of the political reaches of the Illyosian Empire. But when an apparently straightforward investigation into bizarre magical phenomena forces you into conflict with figures from your past and powerful forces that care little for you, how will you navigate through the oncoming storm that shatters your fragile calm ?

The continent of Aiolos has been dominated by the Illyosian Empire, with its back-stabbing nobles and complex court politics, for generations. Yet their hold is beginning to fray, and its rulers will do anything to take back their former power, sparking events that quickly spiral far out of their control.

Aiolos is a land at the crossroads of the mortal and spirit realms, where the effects of the underworld are felt keenly, and the delicate balance between mortal and spirit realms is ever on the verge of tipping over.

Decide whether the accusations of treason that forced you to leave the capital have a basis in truth.

Meet five characters (one male, two female, one nb and one selectable: either male or nb) and choose to pursue romance, friendship, or rivalry.

Navigate a world of complicated politics, spirits that frequently won't stay dead and magic that permeates everyday existence.

Choose your name, pronouns, gender and place of origin.

Pick which area of magic you are strongest in, out of four (warding, enchantment, healing and transmutation).

Try not to get assassinated, arrested or possessed.

[ROs]

Jasper (m) :

A familiar face from your past, and not one that you expected to see again. He's a snarky, obsessive researcher into spirits and, during your time in the capital, your closest companion. After getting caught up in the incident that provoked your rather abrupt exit, you presumed him to be dead, and he you.

Leonora (f) :

The owner of the alchemists shop next door to you in Kemorlen. Despite her saving your life (numerous times) and helping you to create a new life for yourself there, she remains a figure that you know surprisingly little about. She's blunt, impulsive, skilled with a sword, and definitely hiding something. All in all, you don't quite know what to make of her.

Augustine (nb) :

A quiet, unassuming healer who arrived in town shortly after you did. Surprisingly squeamish and possessing a dry sense of humour, they have quickly become indispensable in helping you deal with the everyday magical difficulties of Kemorlen. Their past remains a mystery to you, and you suspect there may be more to them than first appears.

Mira (f) :

A charismatic bard who wanders the roads of Aiolos collecting stories, gold, and animal companions after being exiled from her home kingdom. She seems to attract trouble, but as long as the resulting chaos makes for a good tale she doesn't appear to mind much.

Theodorus (m/nb) :

A spirit with patchy memories and a thirst for revenge after being accidentally brought back from the underworld. They're awkward, restless and struggling to reconstruct a life for themselves in a world where they are supposed to be dead.

demo : in progress. prologue is being written.

release medium : twine & itch.io

just an advice never drink four cups of coffee a day--

Okay so this is a BIT angst I hope you don't mind as I was wondering that if the RO's were to confess to mc and mc says like "Really? I'm sorry it's just that...it's hard to believe you I'm mean I'm not saying I don't love you it's just that...I'm afraid of you lying to me" how would the RO's react to that? And how would they convince mc they love them really?

Here we go! Angst time! Btw, this might be a bit long sorry, I got excited. 😈 Aurelian:

King Aurelian stood before you, his heart heavy with regret. He knew he had to be honest.

"I love you," he said, his voice shaking with emotion. "I know I've hurt you, but I swear to you, I'm being honest now. I love you with all my heart, and I would do anything to make things right between us." You looked at him with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "How can you say that?" you said, you voice laced with pain. "You took away everything from me, my freedom, my life. You left me alone in that dark cell for a century Aurelian. A century! And now you come here and say you love me?"

Aurelian felt a lump from his throat. He knew he didn't deserve your forgiveness, but he couldn't help hoping for it. "I know what I've done is unforgivable," his voice barely above a whisper. "But please, give me a chance to make it up to you. Let me show you how much I love you, and how deeply I regret what I've done."

You hesitated for a long time, your gaze locked with Aurelian's. You have never seen him this sincere, his eyes burning with plead for your forgiveness and regret. Tears streamed down your face, your heart is aching with pain. "You don't understand," you voice trembling. "I loved you, Aurelian. I trusted you with my life, and you threw it away like it was nothing. How can I ever trust you again?"

"I'm sorry," his voice filled with remorse. "I know saying this won't take away your pain, but I'm so sorry for what I've done. Please, give me a chance to make it up to you. I'll do anything, anything at all, to make things right between us."

You looked at him for a very long time, finally you gave a small node. "Fine," your voice barely above a whisper. "But don't think this means I forgive you. I'll give you a chance to prove yourself, but I don't know if I can ever trust you again, Aurelian."

He stepped closer to you, his hand reaching out to touch your cheek, but he stopped mid air. "Thank you," his voice filled with hope. "I promise, I won't let you down again."

Elara:

Elara stood before you, her heart pounding with nervousness. She had rehearsed what she wanted to say, but now that she is facing you, her words seemed inadequate. "I...I Iove you," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please believe me when I say that my feelings are genuine. I want to be with you, with all my heart."

You looked at her, your expression guarded. "I want to believe you," your voice shaky. "But I've been hurt before. I trusted someone so much, and he broke my trust into a million pieces. I don't know if I can go through that pain again."

Elara felt a ping of sympathy in her chest. She knew who you were talking about it. "I understand how you feel," her voice gentle. "But please, don't give up on love. It's scary to trust again, but sometimes the risk is worth it."

You looked at her for a long moment, your expression softening. "How do you know?" you voice filled with vulnerability. "How do you know that your love won't hurt me?"

Elara took a deep breath, summoning the courage to be honest. "I don't know," her voice raw. "Love is unpredictable, and it can be messy and painful. But it can also be beautiful. I can't promise you that I'll never hurt you, but I can promise you that I'll always be honest and true to my feelings."

You looked at her conflicted, "I want to believe you," you closed you eyes for a moment. "But I'm scared."

Elara took a step closer to you, signaling for a permission to hold your hands, you nodded. "I know," her voice filled with compassion. "But you don't have to be alone in your fear. I'm here for you, and I'll support you in whatever way you need. We can take things slow, and we can build trust between us, one step at a time."

"Thank you," your eyes shining in emotion. "It's nice to know that you're here for me."

Elara smiled at you, "I'll be here for you, always."

Kazuo:

Kazuo stood before you, his heart bounding with nervousness. He had never been good at expressing his emotions, but he knew he had to tell you how he felt.

"MC," he said, his voice shaking. "I have to tell you something. I...I love you."

You looked at him, your expression guarded. "I...how can I trust you?" your tone bitter and hurt. "I've been hurt before, Kazuo. I can't go through that again."

Kazuo closed his eyes, he knew that this is what you would say. He knew the pain you suffered all these years, he was there when it happened. But he also knew that you saved him, in more ways than one.

"MC..., you saved me. You saved me from a life of pain and loneliness. When I was lost and alone, you showed me kindness and compassion. You helped me find my way back to the light." His voice filled with emotions, tears started to fall from his eyes.

You looked at him, your expression softening, "How did I help you?" your voice filled with tenderness.

"You showed me there was still hope," he wiped his tears and covered his face with his hands. "You showed me there was still goodness in this chaotic world, that there was still people worth fighting for. You saved me, MC. You saved me from the darkness that had consumed for so long."

Tears started streaming down your face, "I had no idea," you voice shaky. "I'm sorry, Kazuo. I had no idea how much you were also hurting."

Kazuo moved closer, asking for you permission to hold you, you nodded. "It's okay. I want you know to know that, I'm here for you, to stand by your side, no matter what. I promise to love you with all my heart and protect you from any harm or pain. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

You leaned on him, "I trust you, Kazuo. I know you'll keep me safe."

Aiden/Ava:

A took a deep breath, their heart pounding as they prepare to confess their feelings. They knew you don't trust people easily anymore, but they couldn't keep these feelings bottled any longer or they would go crazy.

"I have something to tell you," they said softly, their eyes shining and locked onto yours. "I know this might sound like a joke, but...I've started to feel something more for you. Something deeper."

You looked at them, your expression guarded. "A,I...I don't know if I can do this," your voice filled with uncertainty. "I don't know if I can trust this much again."

A nodded trying to keep their emotions in check, " I understand that you've been hurt," their eyes filled with warmth. "But I want you to know that I would never do anything to hurt you. I care about you too much to ever do that."

You looked at them, your expression softening slightly. "I know you mean well, A."

A stepped closer to you, their eyes locked onto yours for permission, you nodded. "I know it's hard," they said softly. "But I want you to know that I love you. I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't mean it. I know it might take time for you to trust me, but I'm willing to wait. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to show you that you can trust me." they gave you the most pupped eyed look and you chuckled.

"I don't know what to say," you voice hesitated. "I never thought anyone could love me, after everything that happened. But...maybe I can learn to trust you. Maybe we can try."

A reached out and held your hands. "I would like that," a smile spreading across their face. "I would like nothing more than to try, to see where this takes us."

Me rn:

omg, these memes just made me laugh so hard, i almost fell out of my chair

I’m glad it made your day. It certainly made mine! I guess I have to thank my friend for that. 😂

But take care of yourself, dear anon!

Fallen Angel by daylyte04

I feel shy asking this but how would the RO's react when mc is like very close to the RO's face and like there's like a tension as the RO's maybe expecting a kiss but the mc kiss them in the forehead and mc smile cheeky "Mhmm? We're you expecting a kiss?" Mc is like teasing them(It's alright if you don't wanna answer this :3 )

this ask made me giggle and kick my feet in cuteness. 🥺💗💗

Aurelian:

Aurelian's face brightened with a gentle smile as he leaned in towards MC, never breaking eye contact. There was an undeniable connection between them, a spark that seemed to fill the air.

Drawing closer, their noses almost touching, Aurelian's smile widened as he closed his eyes, anticipating what would happen next. The anticipation hung in the air, thick with a mixture of excitement and curiosity.

But what came next was something different, something unexpected. Instead of a lingering kiss on the lips, MC planted a soft, delicate kiss on Aurelian's forehead.

His eyes fluttered open in surprise, a mix of confusion and delight crossing his features. The touch was tender and affectionate, but not what he had anticipated.

"Wait, were you expecting something else?" teased MC, mischief twinkling in their eyes. Aurelian felt his heart skip a beat, caught off guard by the playful twist.

Blushing, he looked away, a hand instinctively rising to cover his mouth, his ears turning a deeper shade of red with each passing second. The unexpected gesture had left him momentarily speechless, his mind racing to find a response.

"You and your tricks..." Aurelian finally managed to utter, his voice carrying a mix of surprise and fondness. The room filled with the sweet sound of MC's laughter, their joy infectious.

Aurelian couldn't help but join in, his embarrassment fading into a warm, lighthearted moment between them.

Elara:

Elara had been eagerly waiting for this moment. She had meticulously planned a date with MC, taking them to her cherished spot in the forest by the river. The setting was perfect, with sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting a soft, ethereal glow on the surroundings. Every detail had been carefully noted to ensure perfection, from the picnic blanket adorned with wildflowers to the basket filled with their favorite treats.

As MC leaned their head on Elara's shoulder, her heart fluttered with excitement. The gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying a sense of serenity and anticipation.

Suddenly, she heard MC's voice calling her name, and she turned to see their face drawing nearer, adorned with a beaming smile. A wave of warmth enveloped her as she instinctively moved closer, her lips parting ever so slightly, ready for a tender kiss.

However, instead of their lips meeting hers, she felt a feather-light brush of their lips against her forehead. Surprise washed over her, and she couldn't help but hold her forehead, her mouth agape.

"What? Were you expecting something else, silly?" MC playfully tilted their head, their smile radiating affection.

Elara blinked, processing the unexpected gesture, her mind caught between the initial anticipation and the sweetness of the moment. She couldn't help but chuckle, a soft, joyous sound escaping her lips.

"Yes... but it was the sweetest surprise," Elara finally responded, her own smile brimming with warmth and happiness.

Kazuo:

Kazuo perked up at the sound of approaching footsteps. As he turned around, still in the midst of polishing his sword, his eyes lit up with delight. It was MC, and they had come to find him.

The weariness etched to their face didn’t go unnoticed by Kazuo. Setting aside his sword, he noticed MC rubbing their neck while letting out a weary sigh. It was clear they had just completed a difficult mission.

Filled with concern, Kazuo patted the chair in front of him, silently inviting MC to take a seat and rest their body.

"Here, this will help," he said, rising from his own seat and beginning to knead MC's back with skilled hands. As MC winced in pain, they called out to Kazuo, beckoning him to come closer.

Kazuo leaned in, expecting a sweet kiss. To his surprise, MC planted a gentle peck on his forehead, their lips barely grazing his skin. The unexpected gesture caught him off guard, and he blinked in astonishment.

"Haha! You were expecting something else—Ouch!" MC playfully teased, their voice turning into a yelp of surprise as Kazuo tightened his grip on their shoulder.

"Stay still..." Kazuo closed his eyes, continuing the massage, his face showing a subtle blush. MC rolled their eyes in adoration.

Aiden/Ava:

"You better run, or I'm going to gobble you up!" A exclaimed, their hands raised like a playful monster, sprinting towards one of the nearby children who burst into laughter. A began tickling the child, accompanied by silly eating noises as if they had devoured their small friend.

Amidst the cheerful chaos, A heard a familiar chuckle behind them. They paused, turning around swiftly, their face lighting up with joy. MC stood there, a sight that never failed to elicit a beaming smile from A. The distance between them seemed to shrink as MC crouched down, meeting A's gaze.

As MC leaned closer, their lips gently brushed against A's forehead, surprising them with a tender kiss. "You were expecting something else, weren't you?" MC playfully teased, a mischievous grin adorning their face.

However, MC's playful moment abruptly shifted to astonishment as A enveloped them in a warm bear hug, holding them tightly. "I love you! I love you! I love you so much!" A exclaimed, peppering MC's face with affectionate kisses. MC blushed, their face glowing with warmth, not anticipating this burst of adoration.

"Okay! Okay! Stoppp—" MC managed to utter amidst laughter.

SC:

MC had a plan, determined to finally catch SC off guard after all this time of being the one teased and tricked. Nodding to themselves, MC called out for SC, repeating their name several times, but there was no sign of them.

Concern began to creep into MC's mind as they searched every nook and cranny, their anxiety growing. Suddenly, a voice sent a shiver down their spine. "Boo..." SC seductively whispered in MC's ear.

Startled, MC swiftly turned around, their eyebrows furrowing. Standing just inches away was SC, their laughter filling the air as they held their stomach, wiping tears of amusement from their eyes.

"Oh, sweet MC, I'll never tire of teasing you." Frustration welled up within MC, and without hesitation, they grabbed SC, pulling them closer with force.

SC's eyes widened in surprise, but they quickly regained their composure. "A kiss? Hmm..." SC slyly smiled, expecting something more.

However, to their surprise, MC countered with a swift kiss on the forehead. "You were expecting something else? Who's laughing now?" MC smirked, a sense of pride evident in their achievement.

SC chuckled, shaking their head in amusement. “ My dear MC, we’re just getting started. Let the game truly begin.”

Their response left MC slightly sweating in regret.

I'm glad your alright! I hope your day is alright!<3

I hope yours too! 💗💗

Look at this beautiful piece of art by @mooreaux ✨

I’m in love with how it came out. Aurelian looks gorgeous! 🥺

It's here lovelies!

Play Demo

I hope you like it and if you find any errors please send them my way! It's mostly just reviewed by a bunch of friends, so there is no beta specifically looking for mistakes.

The Intro Post

Anyways, hugs and kisses

-Carter