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Stray Magic #1
Runescribe
A story I wrote for my roommate. A runescribe meets with disaster on his way to a job interview.
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Near-blind without his glasses, regarded as a burden to his family, Tyri left his clan to attempt a career as a runescribe in the city. But finding a job proves more difficult than anticipated, and his last hope to avoid being thrown out on the streets depends on the interview he has that morning. A morning immediately ruined by way of a storm and a stranger who accidentally breaks his glasses.
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Near-blind without his glasses, regarded as a burden to his family, Tyri left his clan to attempt a career as a runescribe in the city. But finding a job proves more difficult than anticipated, and his last hope to avoid being thrown out on the streets depends on the interview he has that morning. A morning immediately ruined by way of a storm and a stranger who accidentally breaks his glasses.
39 pages, ebook
First published December 5, 2018
66 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Megan Derr
283 books2,936 followersMegan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.
meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr
meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
April 18, 2025
Stunning! ❤️❤️❤️
I was sitting in this puddle, soaked to the bone and half blind. I was simultaneously annoyed, amused and enraptured by the actions and the talking of the stranger, who simply took me with him and cared so touchingly. And when I could finally see again, I was blown away.
Wow, that was just incredible. I could easily read 500 or even 800 pages about Tyri and Rathte. Such a bummer that it was so short. 😕
„I think I'm more than capable of handling a man who is merely loud and imperious."
"Merely," Rathte repeated with a warm smile. "I believe that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my personality." 💞💞💞
"Stop trying to behave. It won't last, and it fits you like a badly measured jacket." 😂😂😂
I was sitting in this puddle, soaked to the bone and half blind. I was simultaneously annoyed, amused and enraptured by the actions and the talking of the stranger, who simply took me with him and cared so touchingly. And when I could finally see again, I was blown away.
Wow, that was just incredible. I could easily read 500 or even 800 pages about Tyri and Rathte. Such a bummer that it was so short. 😕
„I think I'm more than capable of handling a man who is merely loud and imperious."
"Merely," Rathte repeated with a warm smile. "I believe that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my personality." 💞💞💞
"Stop trying to behave. It won't last, and it fits you like a badly measured jacket." 😂😂😂
January 20, 2019
Nice little novella with some very cute characters. Who knows, maybe one day Megan Derr decide to turn it into a full novel. Those characters are worth it.
November 8, 2023
Ah, such a beautiful little story 😍 Very short but extremely cute.
November 7, 2023
Runescribe is such a charming short story. Following Tyri as his journey to a Runescribe job interview gets waylaid by a stranger, who ends up accidently breaking his glasses.
The flow of the story was so good. There wasn't a wasted moment, everything was used to breath life into this whimsical world. As soon as I finished I just wanted to reread it right away.
It gave Ghibli vibes, specifically Howls Moving Castle. It was a winner for me!
Thank you for the gift, Elfvana Smells Like Yule Spirit! <3
The flow of the story was so good. There wasn't a wasted moment, everything was used to breath life into this whimsical world. As soon as I finished I just wanted to reread it right away.
It gave Ghibli vibes, specifically Howls Moving Castle. It was a winner for me!
Thank you for the gift, Elfvana Smells Like Yule Spirit! <3
November 14, 2023
4 stars.
Sweet and lovely, very short fantasy novella.
I enjoyed it a lot.
Thanks Nicole for bringing it to my attention!
Sweet and lovely, very short fantasy novella.
I enjoyed it a lot.
Thanks Nicole for bringing it to my attention!
October 7, 2019
This was the sweetest cutest story ever! I loved the sheer positivity vibe I got while reading it. I would have loved to read more about this magical world and the characters of Vess, Tyri and Raithte! They were so engaging! Lovely albeit too short a read!
November 21, 2025
Playful and full of feel good vibe. I wish there’s more.
August 22, 2019
Sweet
Heartbreaking and sweet and charming. I fell for Rathte immediately and Ty is adorable and awesome. Wish it was a novel instead of a a short story.
Heartbreaking and sweet and charming. I fell for Rathte immediately and Ty is adorable and awesome. Wish it was a novel instead of a a short story.
September 6, 2022
Omg this was the cutest little story. I ADORE Rathte, he reminds me of Lucien Vaudrey, only louder :))
March 11, 2019
3.5/5 - Really cute story, very short and sweet. Didn’t find anything in particular wrong with it, this was just ok for me. I enjoy Megan Derr’s writing, but unfortunately I wasn’t wowed by this one, I think her writing style is more well suited towards full length novels.
January 2, 2019
So cute ! I would have loved a full length version of this book ... it felt like a nice prologue into what could be a sweet fantasy series 😊
July 17, 2022
3.5 stars
December 26, 2018
Personally, I think this is the kind of story Megan Derr does best. Tyri is such a sweetheart and the whole thing is ADORABLE. Short stuff that managed to put a smile on my face when I finished
December 12, 2018
Great
4 ⭐️
I enjoyed this one. Ms Derr has a great ability of writing a good short story that gives us enough information about the characters to work the story and keep the reader entertained and being able to complete the story yet still wanting more from the world created.
I liked and felt for Tyri in his attempts to create a life for both himself and his sister. Rathe was a good character and a bit scattered but that made him entertaining.
I love to see more from these guys
4 ⭐️
I enjoyed this one. Ms Derr has a great ability of writing a good short story that gives us enough information about the characters to work the story and keep the reader entertained and being able to complete the story yet still wanting more from the world created.
I liked and felt for Tyri in his attempts to create a life for both himself and his sister. Rathe was a good character and a bit scattered but that made him entertaining.
I love to see more from these guys
May 12, 2023
"No one should be repaid for treating a person like a person," — Rathtelon Rediburgh
Warnings: ableism
I enjoyed Runescribe much more than expected, it is a gorgeous mix of humour and heart. It follows the meet-cute of Tyri Morsca and Wizard Rathtelon "Rathte" Rediburgh and the first maybe 36 hours of their acquaintance. It doesn't engage in ablism between the main characters, with his severe eyesight issues Tyri is treated with the utmost respect. The treatment he gets from Rathte is not because of his visual impediment or socioeconomic status it is about his humanity and love for Vess. Ditto mute Vess is treated with the utmost respect, spoken to as an equal, she is given a way to communicate and pretty things, all things that she has never had before. But prior to the events of the novella Tyri and Vess have both been subjected to ablism.
I like Rathte he is written in such a way that makes me smile. He is loud, boisterous and cares deeply for those around him. His relationship with Liste is fun. It's been a long time since I've read a relationship like that. He is the kind of lord that is so popular in low fantasy, he is generous even if his employees decide they need to use Liste as a buffer between them and Rathte. Tyri is desperate to be a provider and to care for Vessie as she deserves, he wants to prove his clan wrong. They are a good match if a slightly unexpected one. I recommend this if the blurb appeals to you.
Some quotes and comments
• Runescribe has a gorgeous cover. The smashed glasses are central to the cover as they are central to the plot. The rainclouds provide colour and honestly, I'm wondering if they are supposed to represent runes too. I don't know if Derr created her own cover for this one (I know she didn't for Talisman) and I wish I could give proper credit but I can't. It is a lovely cover that should be recognised. I would guess it was Stefanie Fontecha of Beetiful Designs who has done others for Derr.
• The descriptive language Megan uses for Tyri is fantastic. He can visualise sound and smell, it fits him as a character.
• "Vess, but I call her Vessie. She's six. She's also mute. People think she's deaf, but she can hear just fine. She was just born with vocal cords that don't work."
"And the two of you moved to the city alone? That is remarkably brave of you. I can barely get by in this city some days, and I have all my senses."
"I would argue the hearing," Liste drawled. — Here we have a moment where you can see the respect shown to Tyri and the relationship between Rathte and Liste. (Tyri, Rathte and Liste)
• I think I'm more than capable of handling a man who is merely loud and imperious."
"Merely," Rathte repeated with a warm smile. "I believe that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my personality." — This made me laugh. I can hear Rathte saying this line. And in all fairness, it probably is too. (Tyri and Rathte)
• "Stop trying to behave. It won't last, and it fits you like a badly measured jacket." — Again I can hear Tyri saying this. It is a perfect line to throw was Rathte it plays to his personality. (Tyri)
"Stay!" Rathte burst out, and for a moment all his anxiety and hope showed in his face, and then he sighed and closed up again. "Well that was rather inelegant of me." — Rathtelon Rediburgh
A representative gif:
December 10, 2022
Very quick read but still a nice story
October 22, 2015
It was but a first chapter and the story ended before it even began.
It's a pity, I like it when characters have some kind of disability and have to work around it in order to survive.
It's a pity, I like it when characters have some kind of disability and have to work around it in order to survive.
February 11, 2019
I would LOVE for this to be expanded to a full length story.
July 25, 2019
Rep: main character is queer and equivalent to legally blind, and has a mute younger sister; m/m romance
This was an extremely cute story of a young guy having a meet-cute. Tyri is rushing to a job interview for a runescribe position (basically secretary to a wizard) in the rain, when he crashes into Rathte and breaks his glasses; the latter, on realizing Tyri is helpless at the moment, takes him to his home and helps him while also taking care of him and insisting on replacing his glasses and clothes. As Tyri gets to know him further through their awkward conversation, he senses Rathte is well-loved by his staff, while also surprised at how they all behave like a family. He is also floored by his kindness, as he brings his little sister, too, so that she can stay until Tyri's new glasses are made. As characters, they are both written quite well (for a short story), and so are the other minor characters. The world-building is rudimentary but it fills in enough blanks to continue the story. The only thing was, this was too short and too quick - I wish it would have been a longer novel, so that the romance could have been given space to grow. But otherwise, even as a novella, it is a quick and adorable read.
This was an extremely cute story of a young guy having a meet-cute. Tyri is rushing to a job interview for a runescribe position (basically secretary to a wizard) in the rain, when he crashes into Rathte and breaks his glasses; the latter, on realizing Tyri is helpless at the moment, takes him to his home and helps him while also taking care of him and insisting on replacing his glasses and clothes. As Tyri gets to know him further through their awkward conversation, he senses Rathte is well-loved by his staff, while also surprised at how they all behave like a family. He is also floored by his kindness, as he brings his little sister, too, so that she can stay until Tyri's new glasses are made. As characters, they are both written quite well (for a short story), and so are the other minor characters. The world-building is rudimentary but it fills in enough blanks to continue the story. The only thing was, this was too short and too quick - I wish it would have been a longer novel, so that the romance could have been given space to grow. But otherwise, even as a novella, it is a quick and adorable read.
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January 29, 2023Cinderella speed run!
♫cheery infomercial music plays♫
Are you a poor, destitute scribe on his last dime, trying to care for a little sister, beaten down by the bitter scourge of capitalism? Have we got the solution for you! Introducing: the Cinderella Speed Run! Simply dash down the street as heedlessly as possible until you careen headlong into your wealthy, dashing, Prince* Charming. Never fear, he will take it from here, literally sweeping you off your feet, providing you with every comfort, and solving all of your worries and problems one after another! Did we mention that he’s handsome? And he finds you attractive as well? Try the Cinderella Speedrun, and find your Happily Ever After… today!
*due to high demand, maynotactuallybeaprince
♫cheery infomercial music plays♫
Are you a poor, destitute scribe on his last dime, trying to care for a little sister, beaten down by the bitter scourge of capitalism? Have we got the solution for you! Introducing: the Cinderella Speed Run! Simply dash down the street as heedlessly as possible until you careen headlong into your wealthy, dashing, Prince* Charming. Never fear, he will take it from here, literally sweeping you off your feet, providing you with every comfort, and solving all of your worries and problems one after another! Did we mention that he’s handsome? And he finds you attractive as well? Try the Cinderella Speedrun, and find your Happily Ever After… today!
*due to high demand, maynotactuallybeaprince
January 3, 2019
I read the first iteration of Runescribe on Ms. Derr's website as a free ficlet. I loved it then and I loved this more fleshed out version as well.
They were, more or less, the same story. Same events, same plots, same frame of the story, with more details and more fleshed out world buildings, background history, and details.
I felt that this one was benefited from Ms. Derr's experience with writing the Tales of the High Court series. With the added details on Tyri's background and more exposition on Rathe.
It would be nice to read the sequel on how will their work/love lives together be like. After all, there is no denying that Tyri will still be in the inferior position in the relationship, as the employee. Even though, it was establish from the start, that Rathe is the bossy one. Tyri will still be in the position where he cannot say no. His internal monologues, for me, said that he would feel too indebted to Rathe to voiced his concerns, unless it's really important. But it was all depends on Rathe's behaviors really... It would be an interesting things to explore.
They were, more or less, the same story. Same events, same plots, same frame of the story, with more details and more fleshed out world buildings, background history, and details.
I felt that this one was benefited from Ms. Derr's experience with writing the Tales of the High Court series. With the added details on Tyri's background and more exposition on Rathe.
It would be nice to read the sequel on how will their work/love lives together be like. After all, there is no denying that Tyri will still be in the inferior position in the relationship, as the employee. Even though, it was establish from the start, that Rathe is the bossy one. Tyri will still be in the position where he cannot say no. His internal monologues, for me, said that he would feel too indebted to Rathe to voiced his concerns, unless it's really important. But it was all depends on Rathe's behaviors really... It would be an interesting things to explore.
April 24, 2024
There will be no stealing of glasses, my lord."
"Ah, there's the sarcastic tone I know so well," Rathte said with a laugh.
I enjoyed this short from Megan Derr - I wish it was longer! Their meet-cute was cute and it was fun being swept away with them! It was almost like a wee fairy tale wrapped with a perfect HEA-bow at 30 pages. I'll definitely pick up Talismaker next time I need a quick in-between dose of dopamine.
February 27, 2019
Lovely
I find it really amazing when people can write good short works! There's so little time to make good characterisation happen, but Megan Derr does a wonderful job. A highly recommended half-hour read.
I find it really amazing when people can write good short works! There's so little time to make good characterisation happen, but Megan Derr does a wonderful job. A highly recommended half-hour read.
December 18, 2018
Sweet little story. I knew this was a short story going on but man the ending killed me... I just wanted more... more... more... sigh...
As much as Tyri would love to get used to being served hot toddies by wealthy lords with lovely voices and sexy cologne, such things didn't happen in even his wildest dreams.
As much as Tyri would love to get used to being served hot toddies by wealthy lords with lovely voices and sexy cologne, such things didn't happen in even his wildest dreams.
December 26, 2018
Silly, short, and the attraction thing really works like that?
January 10, 2019
Liked the story but it was way too short. I think this story would benefit from a vastly expanded version.
January 11, 2021
Short and sweet. Wished it was longer tbh.
March 20, 2021
Cute novella. The beginning was paced well but the ending felt rushed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews