Tasty Tales of Transformation

  Artwork - Ivuki Ryo felt like a moron, having quietly stormed out of the venue his small-time band was about to perform at without letting them even know. Flopping onto his bed at home and steeping himself in what was usually comforting silence did little to convince him it wasn't a colossal mistake. He was struggling financially as twenty-something college dropout and the gig would've paid well, but his damn nerves wouldn't settle. He had little confidence in his bass playing and had too much self respect to make a fool of himself by going on stage. He buried his head into a pillow and mumbled, "I'm just not ready for the real deal." It wasn't simply his skills that deterred him from the stage though. Ryo was a passionate musician and felt his fellow band mates were only in it for the money. They quickly abandoned their individuality and focused on aiming for a more marketable sound. It was too big a step over the line. He'd rather give up music all...

  Artwork -  Dudeunderscore Ellie adjusted her black, rectangular glasses as her amber eyes continued to be transfixed by a painting of a grand mage hung upon the wall of the large library within the Knights of Favonius headquarters. The small woman seemed lost in thought, her nerves written across her slim face. She couldn’t help but compare herself to the woman in the painting, Lisa, who seemed to tower over her as much as the tall, hard-wood bookshelves lining the walls. The morning sunlight shining through the tall, steel-framed windows accented the particles of dust floating about the library, many of the books ancient and extensive in their cataloging of history and fables of old. It all felt far bigger and more important than her, a task ill-fit for a nerdy, bookworm commoner. Clutching a few books close to her chest, Ellie continued to gaze into the eyes of the painting. Lisa’s image bore confidence within a calm, composed demeanor—something Ellie could only dream of h...