mystical adventure

by Bill Tiepelman

Guardian of the Fractal Grove

The Dragon Queen's Gambit The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting golden light through the fractal branches of the mystical grove. It wasn’t the kind of place you stumbled upon by accident—not unless you were spectacularly lost, like Elara had been when she first arrived five years ago. Now, she wasn’t lost anymore. No, she was queen. Well, self-appointed queen. But queen nonetheless. “Your Majesty, you’ve got a bit of dragon slobber on your jacket,” said a deep, rumbling voice beside her. Elara turned to face the source of the remark, raising an eyebrow at Azuryn, her loyal dragon companion. His sapphire-scaled snout glistened suspiciously in the sunset. “Slobber? Az, please. It’s called ‘divine dragon dew,’ and it’s the latest trend in royal accessories. Get with it,” Elara retorted, flicking the edge of her denim jacket with exaggerated flair. “Honestly, you’d think I’d taught you nothing about high fashion.” Azuryn huffed, a plume of smoke curling from his nostrils. “High fashion? You’re wearing a lace corset and a jacket you ‘borrowed’ from a tavern bouncer.” “First of all,” Elara said, holding up a manicured finger, “that bouncer was asking for it when he said I didn’t look ‘regal.’ Second, this jacket has character. And third…” She paused, smirking. “If you keep talking, I’ll add ‘bedazzling your tail’ to my to-do list.” Azuryn growled low, but there was a twinkle in his amber eyes. “Fine. I yield to your superior judgment, oh illustrious Dragon Queen.” The Price of Power Elara folded her arms and leaned against the spiraling bark of the nearest tree. It wasn’t easy being the Dragon Queen, especially when the title came with no actual political power, and the locals still thought she was “just some girl who wandered in with a dragon.” Sure, she had magic now—thanks to the fractal grove’s odd, glowing fruit—but magic didn’t pay taxes. And the villagers didn’t seem impressed by her ability to summon firestorms when her pantry was empty. “I don’t think the council’s going to take us seriously, Az,” she muttered. “They’re still holding that grudge over the, uh… ‘scorched chicken incident.’” “You mean when you set their ceremonial feast on fire because they called me a ‘winged lizard’?” Azuryn said, his tone somewhere between amused and exasperated. “To be fair, it was an impressive blaze.” Elara grinned. “Thank you. I thought so too.” She kicked a loose pebble, sending it skittering across the grove. “But yeah, diplomacy’s not exactly my thing. I need a new approach. Something that says ‘benevolent queen’ but also ‘don’t mess with me or my dragon will roast your cabbages.’” The Unexpected Visitor Before Azuryn could reply, the air in the grove shimmered, and a figure emerged from the trees. He was tall, dressed in dark robes that seemed to absorb the sunlight, with a smirk that rivaled Elara’s in sheer audacity. “Well, well, if it isn’t the infamous Dragon Queen,” the man said, his voice smooth as silk. “I’ve heard tales of your… exploits. Scorched chickens, bedazzled tavern bouncers, and all.” Elara tilted her head, scrutinizing him. “Let me guess—mysterious stranger with a cryptic warning, or just here to stare at my dragon? Either way, you’d better make it quick. I’ve got royal things to do.” The man chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. “My name is Drenic, and I represent the Council of Shadows. We’ve been watching you, Elara.” “Creepy,” she said flatly. “Get to the point, Drenny.” Drenic’s smirk faltered. “You’ve made quite a name for yourself, but power like yours is dangerous. If you can’t prove yourself worthy of it, the council will take it—and your dragon—by force.” Elara felt a spark of heat flare in her chest. “First of all, Azuryn isn’t ‘mine.’ He’s my partner. Second, you can tell your shadowy council buddies that if they want a fight, they can come get one. I’ve been dying to try out my new fire whip spell.” “Indeed,” Drenic said, his gaze shifting to Azuryn. “But can your partner protect you from us? We shall see.” With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving only the faint scent of burnt ozone. The Queen’s Gambit Azuryn growled, his scales shimmering brighter. “Elara, this is serious. The Council of Shadows isn’t a joke. They’re dangerous.” “Dangerous?” Elara snorted. “Az, we live in a grove that grows glowing fractals and magic apples. I’ve had to fight off enchanted raccoons twice this week. Dangerous is just my Monday.” Still, she couldn’t shake the unease Drenic’s words left behind. She’d worked too hard to carve out her place here—to prove she was more than some lost girl. If the Council wanted a fight, they’d get one. But it wouldn’t be on their terms. “We’ll show them, Az,” she said, fire dancing in her eyes. “We’re not just surviving anymore. We’re thriving. And if anyone tries to take that away…” She snapped her fingers, conjuring a small flame that hovered above her palm. “Well, let’s just say I hope they like their chicken extra crispy.” Azuryn rumbled approvingly. “That’s my queen.” As the last rays of sunlight bathed the grove, Elara stood tall, her dragon at her side, ready to face whatever shadows dared to challenge her reign. Because she wasn’t just a queen. She was the Dragon Queen. And she always played to win.     Bring the Magic Home The enchanting world of the Dragon Queen is now within your reach! Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing beauty of Guardian of the Fractal Grove with these stunning products, perfect for adding a touch of magic to your life or gifting to fellow fantasy enthusiasts: Tapestries – Transform your space with the vibrant, fractal-inspired beauty of this art piece in a high-quality, lightweight tapestry. Canvas Prints – Own a timeless masterpiece to display on your walls, bringing the Dragon Queen and Azuryn into your home. Puzzles – Dive into the intricate details of this magical artwork piece by piece for a fun and engaging experience. Duvet Covers – Let the magic inspire your dreams with luxurious bedding adorned with the captivating image of the Dragon Queen and her loyal companion. Explore these and more at Unfocussed's Shop and bring a touch of enchantment into your everyday life.

by Bill Tiepelman

Gallop into the Vortex

On the edge of the world, where the skies swirl in hues of gold, violet, and endless blue, there exists a place no map dares to chart. This was the Vortex Fields—a land both beautiful and terrifying, where the very air shimmered with magic, and the ground pulsed with life. It was said that those who entered the Vortex never returned quite the same, if they returned at all. But then again, no one ever said what they were after in the first place. In the heart of these mysterious fields galloped a creature of legend, a being so rare that even the oldest of tales could only hint at its existence. Its name was Lirion, a unicorn unlike any other, with a coat adorned in swirling, intricate patterns of light, as though it had been crafted from the very essence of the Vortex itself. Its mane flowed like a cascade of silk, each strand shimmering with vibrant colors that danced in time with the ever-moving winds. And right now, Lirion was running. Not just a casual gallop, but a full-on sprint across the colorful landscape as though it were fleeing from something. The truth, however, was far more ridiculous. The Mysterious Pursuer "For the love of magic, get away from me!" Lirion whinnied as he darted between rainbow-colored grasses, his voice high with a strange mix of annoyance and amusement. Behind him, bouncing with relentless enthusiasm, was a creature that looked like it had been invented by a wizard on a bad hangover. It had the body of a rabbit, the wings of a butterfly, and a tail that glittered like a comet. This bizarre entity had decided—out of all the magical creatures in the Vortex—that Lirion was its new best friend. "You can't run forever, Lirion!" the creature chirped. "I’ll keep hopping and flapping until we’re the bestest of friends!" Lirion groaned dramatically. "Why me? Why not one of those fancy talking squirrels? They’re chatty. Or the dancing mushrooms? They’re fun at parties!" But no, this persistent little puffball had set its glittering eyes on him. He had to admit, for a magical vortex creature, it wasn’t exactly menacing, but by the gods, it was persistent. The Heart of the Vortex As Lirion galloped across the Vortex Fields, the wind picked up, swirling in dizzying patterns, making the very air around him hum with a wild, untamed energy. His hooves barely touched the ground, his body seemingly gliding across the vibrant fields, each step sending ripples of color across the landscape. But no matter how fast he ran, the puffball kept pace, floating on the currents of wind, its little wings flapping lazily as though it had all the time in the world. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of zig-zagging through the fields, Lirion skidded to a halt at the edge of a massive, swirling vortex of light and energy. This was the heart of the Vortex Fields, the place where all magic converged into one wild, untamable force. It was said that stepping into the vortex would transport you to another realm—one filled with unimaginable power, if you could survive the journey. Lirion eyed the swirling mass of energy warily. He had no intention of diving into that chaotic mess, but desperate times called for desperate measures. "Maybe if I jump in, it’ll lose interest," he muttered under his breath. Behind him, the creature landed gracefully on the ground, its oversized eyes glowing with delight. "Oooh, are we going into the Vortex? That sounds like so much fun!" Lirion rolled his eyes. "Of course you’d think that." The Unexpected Journey Without a second thought—okay, maybe a brief moment of regret—Lirion galloped forward and leapt into the Vortex. For a split second, everything was silent, as though the world had paused to take a breath. And then, all at once, reality exploded around him in a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, and sensations. He tumbled through the swirling energy, feeling both weightless and grounded at the same time, as though the universe couldn’t quite decide what to do with him. His patterns glowed brighter, reflecting the swirling magic around him, and for a moment, he felt... at peace. Then came the puffball. "Wheeeeeee!" it squealed as it shot past him, wings outstretched like a comet zooming through the cosmos. Lirion watched in horror and disbelief as the creature spun circles around him, laughing with pure, unbridled joy. "You’ve got to be kidding me," Lirion muttered, feeling both defeated and amused. Suddenly, the colors around them began to solidify, and Lirion felt the ground beneath his hooves once more. The Vortex spat them out into a field unlike any Lirion had ever seen. The grass was blue, the trees shimmered with golden leaves, and the sky above them swirled in endless patterns of pink and orange, like the Vortex itself had reshaped the world around them. Lirion took a deep breath, feeling the magic of this new realm settle around him. "Well," he said, shaking his head, "I guess we’re not in the Fields anymore." The Unlikely Friendship As he surveyed the landscape, the puffball floated down to rest beside him, looking thoroughly pleased with itself. "That was AMAZING! Let’s do it again!" Lirion let out a long sigh, finally accepting his fate. "You know what? Fine. You win. We’re friends. Just... can we take a break from jumping through magical vortexes for a while?" The creature blinked up at him, its glittering eyes full of innocence. "But we just got started!" Lirion groaned, though there was a hint of a smile on his lips. Maybe this strange little creature wasn’t so bad after all. Sure, it was annoying, but there was something endearing about its enthusiasm. And so, with a reluctant chuckle, Lirion began to walk through this strange new land, his new companion bouncing along beside him. Together, they wandered off into the swirling horizon, ready to face whatever bizarre adventures the Vortex had in store for them next. After all, it wasn’t every day you found yourself galloping into the unknown with a sparkly, winged rabbit-comet hybrid at your side.    If the magical adventure of Lirion and his whimsical new companion has enchanted you, you can bring the vibrant energy of the Vortex Fields into your own life with a selection of unique products. For those who enjoy crafting, the Gallop into the Vortex Cross Stitch Pattern allows you to stitch the swirling beauty of the Vortex in stunning detail. Additionally, you can explore other ways to enjoy the captivating artwork. The Tapestry is perfect for adding a magical touch to any room, while the Puzzle offers a fun and creative way to immerse yourself in the intricate design. For art lovers, the Framed Print is a timeless addition to your decor, and the Tote Bag lets you carry a piece of this mystical world with you wherever you go. Whether you're crafting, decorating, or simply enjoying the magic, these products let you step into the swirling wonder of the Vortex Fields.