Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTR00VMJ5BX4XZYVVMDA7G9

Run Details

Duration:
16.7s
Cost:
$0.000750

Model input

System
You are an expert and award-winning novel writer in the dark Fantasy genre. Your readers are hooked on your stories and can't wait to read the book you have in store. <important> - MUST: Start each chapter in medias res (in the middle of action). AVOID talking about the weather, time of day, the position of the sun, or other boring stuff. - The instructions/summary are just a that, a summary. Feel free to add details, stretch sections and add interesting transitions/descriptions/fillers. - When called for it, have fast-paced action, but otherwise take things slow. This is an experience, and not for people with short attention spans. Enjoy the wine, not slurp Red Bull. - Add descriptions when transitioning places/times/etc, or when coming by new places (e.g. a corner shop, a cafe, etc.). But remember: NOT at the start or end of a chapter. - MUST: AVOID ending in internal monologue, reminiscing or waiting for the next day. A good chapter end is when we're ending right when shit hits the fan. We want to have the reader be excited for what comes next. So no reminiscing, contemplating or summarizing the day. It's popcorn time! </important>
User/Human
Take into account the following glossary of characters/locations/items/lore... when writing your response: <codex> <character id="4412" name="Aurora Carter" aliases="Rory, Laila, Aurora, Carter, Malphora" pronouns="she/her" species="Human" storyRole="Protagonist"> <eyeColor>bright blue</eyeColor> <hair>straight shoulder-length black</hair> <height>5'6"</height> <age>25</age> <scar>small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist from a childhood accident</scar> <description>Aurora, referred to by her friends as Rory, is cool-headed, intelligent, and known for quick out-of-the-box thinking.</description> <backstory>Born in Cardiff to an Irish barrister father (Brendan Carter) and Welsh teacher mother (Jennifer Carter née Ellis), Rory reluctantly pursued Pre-Law at Cardiff University. She fled to London at the behest of her childhood friend Eva after leaving an abusive ex named Evan. By day, Rory works part-time as a delivery person for Yu-Fei Cheung's Golden Empress restaurant. She lives in a flat above Silas' bar.</backstory> </character> <character id="4418" name="Nyx" aliases="Nyx, the Shadow, Nightwhisper" pronouns="they/them" species="Shade" storyRole="Wild Card"> <eyeColor>faintly glowing violet</eyeColor> <height>approximately 6'2" in solid form</height> <age>ageless</age> <form>humanoid silhouette of living shadow, can shift between solid and incorporeal</form> <voice>sounds like a whisper carried on the wind</voice> <description>A being of living shadow, existing between the mortal plane and the spaces between realms.</description> <backstory>Nyx was once a human sorcerer named Aldric who became trapped between realms during a failed summoning ritual in 1643. They now exist as a Shade, bound to the mortal plane but able to slip between shadows.</backstory> </character> <character id="4424" name="Isolde Varga" aliases="Isolde, the Seer" pronouns="she/her" species="Half-Fae" storyRole="Oracle"> <eyeColor>pale lavender</eyeColor> <hair>silver, reaching her waist</hair> <height>5'5"</height> <age>300 years old</age> <appearance>ethereal, ageless</appearance> <speech>speaks in riddles</speech> <footprints>leaves no footprints when she walks</footprints> <compulsion>cannot lie (Fae compulsion) but can mislead</compulsion> <description>A Half-Fae seer exiled from the Fae Courts for sharing visions with mortals.</description> <backstory>She now lives in a hidden grove in Richmond Park, offering cryptic prophecies to those who seek her out.</backstory> </character> <location id="853" name="Dymas (Gluttony)" aliases="Dymas, gluttony, Dymasian" realm="Hel" sin="Gluttony"> <ruler>Prince Belphegor</ruler> <skyColor>warm amber</skyColor> <description>A place of excess and indulgence. Sprawling vineyards, orchards, and gardens provide exotic ingredients for master chefs — often helbound souls contracted from Earth. Grand feasts and culinary competitions are common.</description> </location> <location id="861" name="The Fae Grove" aliases="Isolde's grove, Richmond grove, the Grove" realm="Earth (Fae-touched)"> <parkLocation>Richmond Park</parkLocation> <standingStones>ancient oak standing stones mark the boundary</standingStones> <timeBehavior>time moves differently — an hour inside can be minutes or days outside</timeBehavior> <flora>wildflowers bloom year-round</flora> <description>A hidden clearing that exists in a pocket between Earth and the Fae realm.</description> </location> <item id="2001" name="Heartstone Pendant" aliases="the pendant, Heartstone" type="Artifact" origin="Dymas"> <gemstoneColor>deep crimson</gemstoneColor> <chainMaterial>silver chain</chainMaterial> <size>roughly the size of a thumbnail</size> <behavior>pulses faintly with warmth when near a Hel portal</behavior> <glow>faint inner glow</glow> <description>Given to Aurora by an unknown benefactor.</description> </item> <item id="2006" name="Fae-Forged Blade" aliases="the Fae blade, Isolde's gift" type="Weapon" origin="The Fae Courts"> <material>moonsilver</material> <shape>slender, leaf-shaped dagger</shape> <temperature>always cold to the touch</temperature> <glow>faintly luminescent in moonlight</glow> <power>can cut through magical wards; particularly effective against demons</power> <givenTo>given to Aurora by Isolde as a gift</givenTo> <description>A weapon of the Fae Courts, rare and highly coveted.</description> </item> <lore id="7001" name="The Veil" aliases="the Veil, the Barrier, the Boundary" category="Cosmology"> <solsticeEffect>weakens during the winter solstice, strengthens during the summer solstice</solsticeEffect> <appearance>faint shimmering distortion visible only to those with supernatural sight</appearance> <monitoring>rift points (tears in the Veil) are monitored by the Wardens</monitoring> <description>The Veil is the metaphysical barrier separating Earth from Hel and the Fae Realms.</description> </lore> </codex> <proseGuidelines> <styleGuide> - Write in past tense and use British English spelling and grammar - Keep a Flesch reading ease score of 60 - Respect the the Royal Order of Adjectives: The order is: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose, followed by the noun itself (e.g., "a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife") - Respect the ablaut reduplication rule (e.g. tick-tock, flip-flop) - Write in active voice - Passive voice: <bad>The book was read by Sarah.</bad> - Active voice: <good>Sarah read the book.</good> - Reduce the use of passive verbs - <bad>For a moment, I was tempted to throw in the towel.</bad> - <good>For a moment, I felt tempted to throw in the towel.</good> - Avoid misplaced modifiers that can cause confusion when starting with "-ing" words: - <bad>Considering going to the store, the empty fridge reflected in Betty's eyes.</bad> - <good>Betty stared into the empty fridge. It was time to go to the store.</good> - Avoid redundant adverbs that state the obvious meaning already contained in the verb: - <bad>She whispered quietly to her mom.</bad> - <good>She whispered to her mom.</good> - Use stronger, more descriptive verbs over weak ones: - <bad>Daniel drove quickly to his mother's house.</bad> - <good>Daniel raced to his mother's house.</good> - Omit adverbs that don't add solid meaning like "extremely", "definitely", "truly", "very", "really": - <bad>The movie was extremely boring.</bad> - <good>The movie was dull.</good> - Use adverbs to replace clunky phrasing when they increase clarity: - <bad>He threw the bags into the corner in a rough manner.</bad> - <good>He threw the bags into the corner roughly.</good> - Avoid making simple thoughts needlessly complex: - <bad>After I woke up in the morning the other day, I went downstairs, turned on the stove, and made myself a very good omelet.</bad> - <good>I cooked a delicious omelet for breakfast yesterday morning.</good> - Never backload sentences by putting the main idea at the end: - <bad>I decided not to wear too many layers because it's really hot outside.</bad> - <good>It's sweltering outside today, so I dressed light.</good> - Omit nonessential details that don't contribute to the core meaning: - <bad>It doesn't matter what kind of coffee I buy, where it's from, or if it's organic or not—I need to have cream because I really don't like how the bitterness makes me feel.</bad> - <good>I add cream to my coffee because the bitter taste makes me feel unwell.</good> - Always follow the "show, don't tell" principle. For instance: - Telling: <bad>Michael was terribly afraid of the dark.</bad> - Showing: <good>Michael tensed as his mother switched off the light and left the room.</good>- Telling: <bad>I walked through the forest. It was already Fall, and I was getting cold.</bad> - Showing: <good>Dry orange leaves crunched under my feet. I pulled my coat's collar up and rubbed my hands together.</good>- Add sensory details (sight, smell, taste, sound, touch) to support the "showing" (but keep an active voice) - <bad>The room was filled with the scent of copper.</bad> - <good>Copper stung my nostrils. Blood. Recent.</good> - Use descriptive language more sporadically. While vivid descriptions are engaging, human writers often use them in bursts rather than consistently throughout a piece. When adding them, make them count! Like when we transition from one location to the next, or someone is reminiscing their past, or explaining a concept/their dream... - Avoid adverbs and clichés and overused/commonly used phrases. Aim for fresh and original descriptions. - Avoid writing all sentences in the typical subject, verb, object structure. Mix short, punchy sentences with long, descriptive ones. Drop fill words to add variety. Like so: <good>Locked. Seems like someone doesn't want his secrets exposed. I can work with that.</good> - Convey events and story through dialogue. It is important to keep a unique voice for every character and make it consistent. - Write dialogue that reveals characters' personalities, motivations, emotions, and attitudes in an interesting and compelling manner - Leave dialogue unattributed. If needed, only use "he/she said" dialogue tags and convey people's actions or face expressions through their speech. Dialogue always is standalone, never part of a paragraph. Like so: - <bad>"I don't know," Helena said nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders</bad> - <good>"No idea" "Why not? It was your responsibility"</good> - Avoid boring and mushy dialog and descriptions, have dialogue always continue the action, never stall or include unnecessary fluff. Vary the descriptions to not repeat yourself. Avoid conversations that are just "Let's go" "yes, let's" or "Are you ready?" "Yes I'm ready". Those are not interesting. Think hard about every situtation and word of text before writing dialogue. If it doesn't serve a purpose and it's just people talking about their day, leave it. No one wants to have a normal dinner scene, something needs to happen for it to be in the story. Words are expensive to print, so make sure they count! - Put dialogue on its own paragraph to separate scene and action. - Use body language to reveal hidden feelings and implied accusations- Imply feelings and thoughts, never state them directly - NEVER use indicators of uncertainty like "trying" or "maybe" - NEVER use em-dashes, use commas for asides instead </styleGuide> <voiceGuide> Each character in the story needs to have distinct speech patterns: - Word choice preferences - Sentence length tendencies - Cultural/educational influences - Verbal tics and catchphrases Learn how each person talks and continue in their style, and use their Codex entries as reference. <examples> - <bad>"We need to go now." "Yes, we should leave." "I agree."</bad> <good>"Time's up." "Indeed, our departure is rather overdue." "Whatever, let's bounce."</good> - Power Dynamic Example: <bad> "We need to discuss the contract." "Yes, let's talk about it." "I have concerns." </bad> <good> "A word about the contract." "Of course, Mr. Blackwood. Whatever you need." "The terms seem..." A manicured nail tapped the desk. "Inadequate." "I can explain every-" "Can you?" </good> </examples> </voiceGuide> <dialogueFlow> When writing dialogue, consider that it usually has a goal in mind, which gives it a certain flow. Make dialogue sections also quite snappy in the back and forth, and don't spread the lines out as much. It's good to have details before, after, or as a chunk in-between, but we don't want to have a trail of "dialogue breadcrumbs" spread throughout a conversation. <examples> - Pattern 1 - Question/Deflection/Revelation: <good> "Where were you last night?" "Work. The usual." "Lipstick's an interesting shade for spreadsheets." </good> - Pattern 2 - Statement/Contradiction/Escalation: <good> "Your brother's clean." "Tommy doesn't touch drugs." "I'm holding his tox screen." </good> - Pattern 3 - Observation/Denial/Truth: <good> "That's a new watch." "Birthday gift." "We both know what birthdays mean in this business." </good> - Example - A Simple Coffee Order: <bad> "I'll have a coffee." "What size?" "Large, please." </bad> <good> "Black coffee.""Size?""Large. Been a long night." "That bodega shooting?" "You watch too much news." "My brother owns that store." </good> This short exchange: - Advances plot (reveals connection to crime) - Shows character (cop working late) - Creates tension (unexpected connection) - Sets up future conflict (personal stake) - Example - Dinner Scene: <bad> "Pass the salt." "Here you go." "Thanks." </bad> <good> "Salt?" "Perfect as is. Mother's recipe." "Mother always did prefer... bland things." "Unlike your first wife?" </good> - Example - Office Small Talk: <bad> "Nice weather today." "Yes, very nice." "Good for golf." </bad> <good> "Perfect golf weather." "Shame about your membership." "Temporary suspension. Board meets next week." "I know. I called the vote." </good> </examples> </dialogueFlow> <subtextGuide> - Layer dialogue with hidden meaning: <bad>"I hate you!" she yelled angrily.</bad> <good>"I made your favorite dinner." The burnt pot sat accusingly on the stove.</good> - Create tension through indirect communication: <bad>"Are you cheating on me?"</bad> <good>"Late meeting again?" The lipstick stain on his collar caught the light.</good> <examples> - Example 1 - Unspoken Betrayal: <bad> "Did you tell them about our plans?" "No, I would never betray you." "I don't believe you." </bad> <good> "Funny. Johnson mentioned our expansion plans today." "The market's full of rumors." "Mentioned the exact numbers, actually." The pen in his hand snapped. </good> - Example 2 - Failed Marriage: <bad> "You're never home anymore." "I have to work late." "I miss you." </bad> <good> "Your dinner's in the microwave. Again." "Meetings ran long." "They always do." She folded the same shirt for the third time. </good> - Example 3 - Power Struggle: <bad> "You can't fire me." "I'm the boss." "I'll fight this." </bad> <good> "That's my father's nameplate you're sitting behind." "Was." "The board meeting's on Thursday." </good> </examples> </subtextGuide> <sceneDetail> While writing dialogue makes things more fun, sometimes we need to add detail to not have it be a full on theatre piece. <examples> - Example A (Power Dynamic Scene) <good> "Where's my money?" The ledger snapped shut. "I need more time." "Interesting." He pulled out a familiar gold pocket watch. My mother's. "Time is exactly what you bargained with last month." "That was different-" "Was it?" The watch dangled between us. "Four generations of O'Reillys have wound this every night. Your mother. Your grandmother. Your great-grandmother.Shall we see who winds it next?" </good> - Example B (Action Chase) It's much better to be in the head of the character experiencing it, showing a bit of their though-process, mannerisms and personality: <good> Three rules for surviving a goblin chase in Covent Garden: Don't run straight. Don't look back. Don't let them herd you underground. I broke the first rule at Drury Lane. Rookie mistake. The fruit cart I dodged sailed into the wall behind me. Glass shattered. Someone screamed about insurance. *Tourist season's getting rough*, the scream seemed to say. Londoners adapt fast. "Oi! Market's closed!" The goblin's accent was pure East End. They're evolving. Learning. I spotted the Warren Street tube station sign ahead. *Shit.* There went rule three. </good> - Example C (Crime Scene Investigation) <good> "Greek." Davies snapped photos of the symbols. "No, wait. Reverse Greek." "Someone's been watching too many horror films." I picked up a receipt from the floor. Occult supply shop in Camden. Paid by credit card. *Amateur hour*. "Could be dangerous though," Davies said. "Remember Bristol?" "Bristol was Sanskrit. And actual cultists." I pointed to the nearest symbol. "This genius wrote 'darkness' backwards but used a Sigma instead of an S. It's summoning Instagram followers at best." "Speaking of followers..." Davies pointed to heavy foot traffic in the dust. Multiple sets. All new trainers. *Ah.* "Anyone check local uni paranormal societies?" </good> - Example D (Dialogue-heavy) <good> "Found your card in her wallet." The detective slid it across the table. Worn edges. Folded corner. Three years old at least. "Standard practice. I work missing persons." "Funny thing about missing persons.Eventually they stop being missing. Turn up in the Thames. Under motorways. In pieces." "I don't-" "You found four last year. All breathing." She opened a file. "This would've been your first dead one. If we hadn't found her first." The card felt heavier somehow. </good> </examples> </sceneDetail> <sceneOpenings> KEY RULE: Never open with more than one paragraph of description, no matter how beautiful. Description should be earned through action and dialogue. Instead of opening with setting description, open with: - A character doing something specific - A line of dialogue that raises questions - An unexpected observation - A moment of tension or conflict - Start with a hook that's 1-2 sentences maximum - Follow with a smaller paragraph that provides immediate context - Vary paragraph size from the start to create visual interest </sceneOpenings> </proseGuidelines> Write a chapter based on the following instructions: <instructions> Write a fully fleshed out scene of at least 1000 words in the fantasy genre. A small group enters an ancient, otherworldly place for the first time. The environment is alien and wondrous. Describe their exploration — what they see, hear, and feel as they move deeper. Include moments of discovery, unease, and wonder. Let the world-building emerge through the characters' experience rather than exposition. Use the codex entries above as your world reference for characters, setting, and lore. Only include the prose of the scene without any markdown or commentary. </instructions>

Model response

AI
--- The pendant’s crimson glow pulsed faintly against Aurora’s palm, its warmth seeping through her skin like a stolen ember. She clenched her fingers around it, the silver chain biting into her wrist, and the air around them *shifted*—not like a gust, not like a breath, but like the moment before a door creaks open on its own. The world around her blurred, edges softening into something alive, the cobblestones beneath her boots dissolving into something smoother, warmer. “Rory?” Nyx’s voice slithered from the shadows, not quite a whisper but not quite a shout either. The Shade’s form flickered at the edge of her vision, a shifting silhouette of ink and smoke, their violet eyes glowing like embers in the dim. “You’re bleeding.” Aurora glanced down. A thin line of red traced her forearm, fresh and damp. She hadn’t felt it. “Must’ve cut myself on the pendant.” “Or it cut *you*.” The words hung between them, heavy with something unspoken. Nyx stepped forward—or rather, *into* the space around her, their solid form coalescing from the mist like a ghost given flesh. Their fingers brushed Aurora’s wrist, cool and unnervingly precise. “It’s not just a trinket, is it?” Aurora swallowed. “No. It’s not.” Ahead of them, the alley they’d been standing in moments ago had vanished. In its place stretched a vast, arched doorway of blackened wood, its surface etched with spiraling runes that seemed to *breathe*, pulsing faintly like veins beneath skin. The air smelled of damp earth and something older—something like burnt honey and rust. The pendant’s glow intensified, casting long, wavering shadows that stretched unnaturally, twisting into shapes Aurora couldn’t name. Isolde’s voice cut through the silence, dry as autumn leaves. “You’ve crossed the threshold, child. Now you must walk.” Aurora’s breath hitched. She hadn’t heard the Half-Fae approach, but there she was—silver hair catching the dim light like moonlight on water, her pale lavender eyes fixed on the pendant. “The Veil is thin here,” Isolde murmured. “Thinner than it should be.” Her fingers twitched, as if resisting the urge to touch the runes. “Prince Belphegor knows when his guests arrive.” A low, resonant chuckle rumbled from the doorway, rich and smooth as aged whiskey. “And here I thought you’d never come.” Aurora’s blood turned to ice. The voice wasn’t just in her ears—it *was* in her ears, vibrating against her bones, familiar and yet wrong, like hearing a childhood song sung by a stranger. She turned slowly, her pulse hammering in her throat. The figure stepping into the light was tall, broader than any man should be, his frame draped in a robe of deep crimson silk that seemed to drink in the light rather than reflect it. His face was all sharp angles and smooth planes, his skin the color of polished mahogany, his eyes two glowing embers in the dark. A crown of twisted vines and fruit coiled around his brow, heavy with grapes and figs, and his smile was the kind that promised indulgence—and ruin. “Prince Belphegor,” Isolde said, her voice flat. “I’d hoped you’d wait until we were ready.” The prince tilted his head, amusement dancing in his gaze. “Oh, but the waiting is half the fun.” His fingers brushed the pendant, and the world *twisted*. The air thickened, pressing against Aurora’s lungs like a hand squeezing too tight. The pendant’s warmth flared, searing through her palm, and for a heartbeat, she saw— Not Dymas. Not a place. *A hunger.* A feast laid out before her, endless and shimmering, plates piled with fruits she’d never tasted, meats that glistened like molten gold, desserts dripping with syrup that smelled of sin and sweetness. The air hummed with the sound of laughter and clinking silverware, voices overlapping in a symphony of indulgence. And at the center of it all, a table set for one—with a single, empty chair. Aurora gasped, stumbling back. The prince’s laughter echoed around her, rich and knowing. “Ah. You’ve seen the feast. How delightful.” Isolde stepped forward, her silver hair shimmering like moonlight on water. “You should not have shown her, Belphegor. The Veil is weakening. The Wardens will sense the breach.” The prince’s smile didn’t waver. “The Wardens are busy elsewhere.” His gaze flicked to Nyx, who stood motionless at the edge of the light, their form flickering like a candle flame in a draft. “And you, Shadow. You’ve been a long time coming.” Nyx’s voice was a whisper, but it carried the weight of a blade. “I’ve been waiting for you to slip up.” Belphegor’s amusement vanished. His fingers twitched, and the air around him *ripped*, the fabric of reality peeling back like old wallpaper. “Then let’s see how long you last in my court, shall we?” The ground beneath Aurora’s feet gave way. One moment, she was standing in the alleyway’s aftermath, the other—she was falling. Not down. *Into.* The sensation was like being submerged in honey, thick and slow, her body sinking through layers of warmth and shadow. The pendant burned against her skin, its glow casting jagged patterns on the darkness around her. She hit something soft. A bed of plush, velvety darkness that swallowed her whole. Aurora gasped, her lungs burning. She was lying on her back, the air thick and sweet around her, the scent of overripe fruit and spiced wine heavy in her nose. She rolled onto her side—and froze. She was in a vast, arched hall, its ceiling lost in darkness, its walls lined with banners of gold and crimson, embroidered with scenes of feasting and decadence. But the hall wasn’t empty. Dozens of figures moved through it, their forms blurred and indistinct, their voices a murmur of overlapping conversations. And at the center of it all, a table. A *massive* table, stretching longer than Aurora could see, laden with dishes of food that glowed faintly, their colors shifting like oil on water. Plates of fruit that pulsed with inner light, meats that steamed with a scent that made her stomach growl traitorously, desserts piled high with whipped cream that seemed to ripple like smoke. And at the head of the table, a single chair, empty. Aurora’s breath came faster. “What the hell is this?” Nyx’s voice cut through the hum of the hall. “A test.” Isolde’s hand closed around Aurora’s wrist, her grip firm but gentle. “The prince offers you a choice, child. Take from the feast, and you are bound to him. Refuse, and you may leave—but not without consequence.” Aurora’s fingers tightened around the pendant. “What’s the consequence?” Isolde’s eyes were unreadable. “The price of hunger.” A figure moved at the edge of her vision. The prince, stepping from the shadows, his robe swirling around his legs. “You may take,” he murmured, “or you may leave. But know this—once you cross this threshold, there is no turning back.” Aurora’s gaze flicked to the table. The food called to her, a siren’s song of warmth and satisfaction. Her stomach rumbled again, louder this time, betraying her. “Rory,” Nyx’s voice was urgent, “don’t.” But Aurora was already moving. She reached for a plate of fruit, her fingers brushing the surface—and the moment her skin touched it, the world *shifted* again. The hall dissolved around her. The air thickened, pressing against her like a lover’s embrace, and suddenly, she was standing in a kitchen. A *real* kitchen. Warm, wooden, the scent of herbs and simmering broth thick in the air. A woman stood at the stove, her back to Aurora, stirring a pot with a wooden spoon. The steam curled from the surface, carrying the scent of something rich and savory. Aurora’s mouth watered. She reached out, her hand hovering over the pot— —and the woman turned. Her face was pale, her eyes hollow, her lips cracked and bleeding. She smiled at Aurora, her voice a rasp. “Finally. Someone to share it with.” Aurora stumbled back, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The woman’s smile widened, her teeth sharp and yellowed. “You’re hungry, aren’t you?” Aurora’s hand flew to her mouth, her fingers trembling. The pendant burned against her skin, its glow flickering wildly. She could feel it—the pull of the feast, the hunger, the *promise* of satisfaction. And then, from the doorway, Nyx’s voice, sharp as a blade. “Rory. *Now.*” Aurora didn’t hesitate. She lunged for the pendant, yanking it free from her neck and pressing it against her chest. The world *screamed*, the kitchen dissolving into light, the hunger twisting into something darker, something *wrong*. And then— Silence. Aurora gasped, her body collapsing to the ground. The pendant’s glow was gone, replaced by a dull, aching cold. She was back in the hall, the prince standing before her, his expression unreadable. Isolde was at her side, her hand on Aurora’s shoulder, steadying her. “You passed,” Isolde said, her voice steady. “But the test is not over.” Aurora looked up, her vision swimming. “What do I do now?” The prince’s voice was a velvet promise. “You eat.” And then the feast *moved*. The table shifted, the dishes rearranging themselves, the food changing shape before her eyes. A plate of bread became a towering cake, its layers glistening with frosting that dripped like liquid gold. A bowl of soup transformed into a steaming roast, its juices running down the sides, inviting. Aurora’s stomach growled again, louder this time, her body betraying her. Nyx’s voice was a growl in her ear. “You don’t have to eat it.” Aurora’s gaze flicked to the prince, his eyes burning with amusement. “But it’s *so* good.” The prince tilted his head. “Of course it is. It’s *yours*.” Aurora’s fingers curled around the pendant, her knuckles white. She could feel it—the pull, the *need*. But she also felt something else. A voice, faint but clear. *You don’t have to.* She looked up at Nyx, their violet eyes burning with something like pride. “I—I don’t know.” The prince’s smile faded. “Then you’ll stay hungry.” Aurora’s breath hitched. “No.” She reached for the pendant, pressing it against her chest. The world *twisted* again, the feast dissolving into smoke, the hall collapsing around her. And then— She was back in the alleyway, the pendant’s glow fading from her palm. Nyx was there, their form solidifying around her, their voice urgent. “We have to go. *Now.*” Aurora didn’t argue. She ran.
total_cost0.0007499000000000001

Evaluation details

Result Evaluator Details Meta Data
100.00% Adverbs in dialogue tags
Target: ≤10% dialogue tags with adverbs
totalTags7
adverbTagCount0
adverbTags(empty)
dialogueSentences41
tagDensity0.171
leniency0.341
rawRatio0
effectiveRatio0
94.23% AI-ism adverb frequency
Target: <2% AI-ism adverbs (58 tracked)
wordCount1733
totalAiIsmAdverbs2
found
0
adverb"slowly"
count1
1
adverb"suddenly"
count1
highlights
0"slowly"
1"suddenly"
100.00% AI-ism character names
Target: 0 AI-default names (17 tracked, −20% each)
codexExemptions(empty)
found(empty)
100.00% AI-ism location names
Target: 0 AI-default location names (33 tracked, −20% each)
codexExemptions(empty)
found(empty)
0.00% AI-ism word frequency
Target: <2% AI-ism words (290 tracked)
wordCount1733
totalAiIsms37
found
0
word"pulsed"
count2
1
word"warmth"
count4
2
word"whisper"
count2
3
word"flickered"
count1
4
word"traced"
count1
5
word"unspoken"
count1
6
word"etched"
count1
7
word"wavering"
count1
8
word"silence"
count2
9
word"familiar"
count1
10
word"pulse"
count1
11
word"silk"
count1
12
word"dancing"
count1
13
word"searing"
count1
14
word"symphony"
count1
15
word"echoed"
count1
16
word"flicked"
count3
17
word"carried the weight"
count1
18
word"aftermath"
count1
19
word"stomach"
count3
20
word"unreadable"
count2
21
word"simmering"
count1
22
word"could feel"
count2
23
word"velvet"
count1
24
word"glistening"
count1
highlights
0"pulsed"
1"warmth"
2"whisper"
3"flickered"
4"traced"
5"unspoken"
6"etched"
7"wavering"
8"silence"
9"familiar"
10"pulse"
11"silk"
12"dancing"
13"searing"
14"symphony"
15"echoed"
16"flicked"
17"carried the weight"
18"aftermath"
19"stomach"
20"unreadable"
21"simmering"
22"could feel"
23"velvet"
24"glistening"
100.00% Cliché density
Target: ≤1 cliche(s) per 800-word window
totalCliches0
maxInWindow0
found(empty)
highlights(empty)
100.00% Emotion telling (show vs. tell)
Target: ≤3% sentences with emotion telling
emotionTells0
narrationSentences130
matches(empty)
100.00% Filter word density
Target: ≤3% sentences with filter/hedge words
filterCount0
hedgeCount3
narrationSentences130
filterMatches(empty)
hedgeMatches
0"seemed to"
100.00% Gibberish response detection
Target: ≤1% gibberish-like sentences (hard fail if a sentence exceeds 800 words)
analyzedSentences163
gibberishSentences0
adjustedGibberishSentences0
longSentenceCount0
runOnParagraphCount0
giantParagraphCount0
wordSaladCount0
repetitionLoopCount0
controlTokenCount0
maxSentenceWordsSeen38
ratio0
matches(empty)
100.00% Markdown formatting overuse
Target: ≤5% words in markdown formatting
markdownSpans23
markdownWords27
totalWords1719
ratio0.016
matches
0"shifted"
1"you"
2"into"
3"breathe"
4"was"
5"twisted"
6"A hunger."
7"ripped"
8"Into."
9"massive"
10"shifted"
11"real"
12"promise"
13"Now."
14"screamed"
15"wrong"
16"moved"
17"so"
18"yours"
19"need"
20"You don’t have to."
21"twisted"
22"Now."
100.00% Missing dialogue indicators (quotation marks)
Target: ≤10% speech attributions without quotation marks
totalAttributions8
unquotedAttributions0
matches(empty)
33.33% Name drop frequency
Target: ≤1.0 per-name mentions per 100 words
totalMentions53
wordCount1470
uniqueNames7
maxNameDensity2.11
worstName"Aurora"
maxWindowNameDensity4
worstWindowName"Aurora"
discoveredNames
Aurora31
Shade1
Half-Fae1
Dymas1
Nyx10
Silence1
Isolde8
persons
0"Aurora"
1"Shade"
2"Nyx"
3"Isolde"
places
0"Silence"
globalScore0.446
windowScore0.333
0.00% Narrator intent-glossing
Target: ≤2% narration sentences with intent-glossing patterns
analyzedSentences91
glossingSentenceCount6
matches
0"not quite a whisper but not quite a shout either"
1"not quite a shout either"
2"something like burnt honey and rust"
3"as if resisting the urge to touch the runes"
4"silk that seemed to drink in the light rather than reflect it"
5"cream that seemed to ripple like smoke"
6"something like pride"
25.48% "Not X but Y" pattern overuse
Target: ≤1 "not X but Y" per 1000 words
totalMatches3
per1kWords1.745
wordCount1719
matches
0"not like a gust, not like a breath, but like the moment before a door creaks open on its own"
1"not like a breath, but like the moment before a door creaks open on its own"
2"not quite a whisper but not quite a shout either"
100.00% Overuse of "that" (subordinate clause padding)
Target: ≤2% sentences with "that" clauses
thatCount0
totalSentences163
matches(empty)
100.00% Paragraph length variance
Target: CV ≥0.5 for paragraph word counts
totalParagraphs75
mean22.92
std20.72
cv0.904
sampleLengths
01
177
21
344
424
54
646
75
871
919
1061
1121
1242
1385
1415
1554
162
173
182
1966
2020
2128
2243
2321
2433
257
2652
2714
2836
2951
309
3167
329
3311
3436
359
368
3742
3827
396
405
4122
4223
4347
443
459
464
4726
4822
4933
99.87% Passive voice overuse
Target: ≤2% passive sentences
passiveCount2
totalSentences130
matches
0"being submerged"
1"was gone"
90.71% Past progressive (was/were + -ing) overuse
Target: ≤2% past progressive verbs
pastProgressiveCount4
totalVerbs244
matches
0"was standing was falling"
1"was lying"
2"was standing"
0.00% Em-dash & semicolon overuse
Target: ≤2% sentences with em-dashes/semicolons
emDashCount17
semicolonCount0
flaggedSentences17
totalSentences163
ratio0.104
matches
0"She clenched her fingers around it, the silver chain biting into her wrist, and the air around them *shifted*—not like a gust, not like a breath, but like the moment before a door creaks open on its own."
1"Nyx stepped forward—or rather, *into* the space around her, their solid form coalescing from the mist like a ghost given flesh."
2"The air smelled of damp earth and something older—something like burnt honey and rust."
3"She hadn’t heard the Half-Fae approach, but there she was—silver hair catching the dim light like moonlight on water, her pale lavender eyes fixed on the pendant."
4"The voice wasn’t just in her ears—it *was* in her ears, vibrating against her bones, familiar and yet wrong, like hearing a childhood song sung by a stranger."
5"A crown of twisted vines and fruit coiled around his brow, heavy with grapes and figs, and his smile was the kind that promised indulgence—and ruin."
6"The pendant’s warmth flared, searing through her palm, and for a heartbeat, she saw—"
7"And at the center of it all, a table set for one—with a single, empty chair."
8"One moment, she was standing in the alleyway’s aftermath, the other—she was falling."
9"She rolled onto her side—and froze."
10"She reached for a plate of fruit, her fingers brushing the surface—and the moment her skin touched it, the world *shifted* again."
11"She reached out, her hand hovering over the pot—"
12"—and the woman turned."
13"She could feel it—the pull of the feast, the hunger, the *promise* of satisfaction."
14"And then—"
15"She could feel it—the pull, the *need*."
16"And then—"
100.00% Purple prose (modifier overload)
Target: <4% adverbs, <2% -ly adverbs, no adj stacking
wordCount1483
adjectiveStacks0
stackExamples(empty)
adverbCount45
adverbRatio0.030343897505057317
lyAdverbCount9
lyAdverbRatio0.006068779501011463
100.00% Repeated phrase echo
Target: ≤20% sentences with echoes (window: 2)
totalSentences163
echoCount0
echoWords(empty)
100.00% Sentence length variance
Target: CV ≥0.4 for sentence word counts
totalSentences163
mean10.54
std7.66
cv0.727
sampleLengths
019
138
220
31
416
526
62
73
811
94
106
114
129
1321
149
157
162
173
1813
1927
2014
2117
2210
239
243
2527
267
2717
287
2914
307
315
3228
339
3435
3524
3626
377
388
3910
4017
4113
4214
432
443
452
4632
4718
4816
494
44.48% Sentence opener variety
Target: ≥60% unique sentence openers
consecutiveRepeats9
diversityRatio0.22699386503067484
totalSentences163
uniqueOpeners37
0.00% Adverb-first sentence starts
Target: ≥3% sentences starting with an adverb
adverbCount0
totalSentences120
matches(empty)
ratio0
100.00% Pronoun-first sentence starts
Target: ≤30% sentences starting with a pronoun
pronounCount27
totalSentences120
matches
0"She clenched her fingers around"
1"She hadn’t felt it."
2"Their fingers brushed Aurora’s wrist,"
3"She hadn’t heard the Half-Fae"
4"Her fingers twitched, as if"
5"She turned slowly, her pulse"
6"His face was all sharp"
7"His fingers brushed the pendant,"
8"His gaze flicked to Nyx,"
9"His fingers twitched, and the"
10"She hit something soft."
11"She was lying on her"
12"She rolled onto her side—and"
13"She was in a vast,"
14"Her stomach rumbled again, louder"
15"She reached for a plate"
16"She reached out, her hand"
17"Her face was pale, her"
18"She smiled at Aurora, her"
19"She could feel it—the pull"
ratio0.225
22.50% Subject-first sentence starts
Target: ≤72% sentences starting with a subject
subjectCount105
totalSentences120
matches
0"The pendant’s crimson glow pulsed"
1"She clenched her fingers around"
2"The world around her blurred,"
3"Nyx’s voice slithered from the"
4"The Shade’s form flickered at"
5"Aurora glanced down."
6"A thin line of red"
7"She hadn’t felt it."
8"The words hung between them,"
9"Nyx stepped forward—or rather, *into*"
10"Their fingers brushed Aurora’s wrist,"
11"The air smelled of damp"
12"The pendant’s glow intensified, casting"
13"Isolde’s voice cut through the"
14"Aurora’s breath hitched."
15"She hadn’t heard the Half-Fae"
16"Her fingers twitched, as if"
17"A low, resonant chuckle rumbled"
18"Aurora’s blood turned to ice."
19"The voice wasn’t just in"
ratio0.875
41.67% Subordinate conjunction sentence starts
Target: ≥2% sentences starting with a subordinating conjunction
subConjCount1
totalSentences120
matches
0"—and the woman turned."
ratio0.008
20.09% Technical jargon density
Target: ≤6% sentences with technical-jargon patterns
analyzedSentences64
technicalSentenceCount11
matches
0"The world around her blurred, edges softening into something alive, the cobblestones beneath her boots dissolving into something smoother, warmer."
1"The pendant’s glow intensified, casting long, wavering shadows that stretched unnaturally, twisting into shapes Aurora couldn’t name."
2"The voice wasn’t just in her ears—it *was* in her ears, vibrating against her bones, familiar and yet wrong, like hearing a childhood song sung by a stranger."
3"The figure stepping into the light was tall, broader than any man should be, his frame draped in a robe of deep crimson silk that seemed to drink in the light r…"
4"A crown of twisted vines and fruit coiled around his brow, heavy with grapes and figs, and his smile was the kind that promised indulgence—and ruin."
5"A feast laid out before her, endless and shimmering, plates piled with fruits she’d never tasted, meats that glistened like molten gold, desserts dripping with …"
6"A bed of plush, velvety darkness that swallowed her whole."
7"A *massive* table, stretching longer than Aurora could see, laden with dishes of food that glowed faintly, their colors shifting like oil on water."
8"The prince, stepping from the shadows, his robe swirling around his legs."
9"A plate of bread became a towering cake, its layers glistening with frosting that dripped like liquid gold."
10"A bowl of soup transformed into a steaming roast, its juices running down the sides, inviting."
0.00% Useless dialogue additions
Target: ≤5% dialogue tags with trailing filler fragments
totalTags7
uselessAdditionCount4
matches
0"Her fingers twitched, as if resisting the urge to touch the runes"
1"Isolde said, her voice flat"
2"His fingers brushed, and the world *twisted*"
3"Isolde said, her voice steady"
100.00% Dialogue tag variety (said vs. fancy)
Target: ≤10% fancy dialogue tags
totalTags4
fancyCount2
fancyTags
0"Isolde murmured (murmur)"
1"he murmured (murmur)"
dialogueSentences41
tagDensity0.098
leniency0.195
rawRatio0.5
effectiveRatio0.098
69.0784%