Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXQ0D4MCTBJF9ET54QYFGAC

Run Details

Duration:
1m 3s
Cost:
$0.007339
Provider:
Mistral

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 burned against Aurora’s collarbone before she even saw the door. She skidded to a halt on the slick cobblestones of Covent Garden’s back alleys, her breath ragged from sprinting. The Heartstone’s crimson glow pulsed through her shirt like a second heartbeat, casting jagged shadows across the brick walls. Behind her, Nyx materialised from the darkness, their violet eyes flickering with something between amusement and irritation. “You feel it too, then?” Nyx’s voice was a whisper that slithered through the damp London air. Aurora didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. The pendant’s heat was answer enough. Ahead, where the alley should have dead-ended into a graffitied wall, the air shimmered. Not like heat haze—this was sharper, like the surface of a soap bubble catching the light. The distortion rippled, revealing a fissure in the world itself. A tear. A wound. The Veil, thinning. Nyx stepped forward, their shadowy form stretching unnaturally as they reached toward the anomaly. “Dymas,” they murmured. “I haven’t seen one of these in centuries.” Aurora’s fingers tightened around the pendant. “You’ve been to Hel before?” “Once.” Nyx’s voice was distant, almost wistful. “Aldric was still alive then. We thought we could bargain with Belphegor for more power.” A pause. “We were wrong.” Aurora didn’t press. She knew better than to dig into Nyx’s past when they were already on the edge of something dangerous. Instead, she focused on the tear. It wasn’t just a gap—it was a doorway, framed by jagged edges of amber light that pulsed like a slow, steady breath. Beyond it, the world shifted. The familiar grey of London’s sky bled into something warmer, richer. The scent of roasting meat and spiced wine curled through the air, thick enough to taste. “Someone’s holding it open,” Aurora said. “That doesn’t just happen.” Nyx’s form solidified slightly, their features sharpening as they studied the tear. “No. It doesn’t.” Aurora didn’t wait for them to elaborate. She stepped forward, her boot crossing the threshold before she could second-guess herself. The moment her foot touched the other side, the world tilted. The cobblestones beneath her dissolved into something softer, warmer—dirt, rich and dark, threaded with golden roots that pulsed faintly, as if alive. The air was thicker here, humid with the scent of earth and something sweeter, like overripe fruit left too long in the sun. She turned back. Nyx was still on the London side, their silhouette wavering as if the tear itself was reluctant to let them pass. “You coming?” Nyx hesitated, then stepped through. The moment they crossed, their form flickered, solidifying into something almost human—tall, lean, with a face that was all sharp angles and hollows. Their violet eyes burned brighter here, as if feeding on the strange light. “This place,” Nyx murmured, “it remembers me.” Aurora didn’t have time to unpack that. The world around them was too alive, too *present*. They stood at the edge of a vast orchard, rows of trees stretching into the distance, their branches heavy with fruit that glowed faintly in the amber light. Not just apples or pears—these were things she’d never seen before. One tree bore fruit that looked like clusters of tiny, glowing lanterns, their skins translucent and pulsing with an inner light. Another had leaves that shimmered like liquid silver, rustling without wind. “What *is* this place?” Aurora breathed. “Dymas,” Nyx said again, their voice hushed. “The realm of Gluttony. Belphegor’s domain.” Aurora had heard the name before—whispers in the dark corners of Silas’ bar, stories traded over pints by those who’d seen too much. Belphegor, one of the Seven Princes of Hel. A demon of excess, of indulgence. A collector of souls who traded in pleasure and pain. She swallowed. “And we just walked into his backyard.” Nyx didn’t answer. They were staring at something beyond the orchard, their expression unreadable. Aurora followed their gaze. A path wound through the trees, leading toward a distant hill. At its peak stood a structure that defied logic—a sprawling estate that seemed to be made entirely of food. Walls of golden honeycomb dripped with amber syrup. Towers of stacked pastries rose like spires, their icing glistening under the strange sky. The roof was a mosaic of overlapping leaves, their edges dusted with powdered sugar. Smoke curled from chimneys made of breadsticks, carrying the scent of roasting meat and caramelised onions. Aurora’s stomach growled. Loudly. Nyx shot her a look. “Don’t.” “Don’t what?” “Don’t eat anything.” Aurora rolled her eyes. “I’m not an idiot. I know the stories.” “Do you?” Nyx’s voice was sharp. “Because the stories don’t tell you what it’s *like*. The way the food *sings* to you. The way your mouth waters until you can’t think of anything else. The way the first bite feels like coming home.” Aurora’s fingers twitched at her sides. She could *smell* it—the buttery crust of a pie, the tang of citrus glaze, the rich, dark scent of chocolate so thick it was almost a taste. Her throat tightened. “It’s just food,” she said, but her voice lacked conviction. Nyx’s laugh was a dry, brittle thing. “Keep telling yourself that.” They started down the path, their boots sinking slightly into the soft earth. Aurora followed, her own steps quieter, more cautious. The orchard seemed to watch them. The trees leaned in, their branches creaking softly, as if whispering secrets to one another. The fruit pulsed with light, their colours shifting—deep reds bleeding into purples, golds melting into oranges. Then she heard it. Music. Not the kind played by instruments—this was something deeper, richer. A melody that vibrated in her bones, that hummed along her skin. It came from the estate, winding through the orchard like a living thing. It was beautiful. Intoxicating. Aurora’s steps faltered. “Nyx—” “I hear it.” “What is it?” Nyx didn’t answer right away. Their form flickered, shadows pooling at their feet. “A siren song,” they said finally. “Belphegor’s signature. It lures you in, makes you forget why you came. Makes you forget *everything*.” Aurora’s fingers curled into fists. “We’re not here for a feast.” “No,” Nyx agreed. “But that won’t stop it from trying to make us stay.” The path widened as they neared the estate, the trees thinning to reveal a grand courtyard. The ground here was paved with something that looked like polished bone, smooth and white, veined with gold. At its centre stood a fountain, its basin carved from a single piece of dark stone. Water—no, not water, something thicker, like melted caramel—bubbled from the mouths of stone cherubs, pooling in the basin before spilling over the edges in slow, syrupy waves. And the people. Dozens of them, maybe more, moving through the courtyard like ghosts. Some lounged on cushions of spun sugar, their fingers sticky with honey. Others danced in slow, languid circles, their movements synchronised with the music. Their clothes were fine—silks and velvets, embroidered with threads of gold and silver—but their faces were slack, their eyes glassy. Empty. Aurora’s skin prickled. “Are they—” “Helbound,” Nyx said. “Souls who traded their freedom for a taste of Belphegor’s bounty. They’re not dead. Not alive. Just... existing.” One of the dancers turned toward them, her dress swirling around her ankles. Her face was beautiful, but wrong—too smooth, too perfect, like a doll’s. Her lips parted, and she smiled, slow and inviting. “Join us,” she murmured, her voice like warm syrup. “Stay awhile.” Aurora’s breath hitched. The pendant at her throat flared hotter, as if in warning. Nyx’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist. “Don’t listen.” The dancer’s smile widened. “But you’re *hungry*.” She gestured to the feast laid out on tables that groaned under the weight of food—whole roasted pigs with apples in their mouths, towers of fruit that dripped with nectar, cakes layered with cream so thick it looked like snow. “Eat. Drink. *Forget*.” Aurora’s mouth watered. The scent of the food was overwhelming, rich and heady, like the best meal she’d ever had multiplied by a thousand. Her stomach twisted with hunger, with *need*. Nyx’s grip tightened. “Aurora.” She blinked, the spell breaking just enough for her to shake her head. “I’m fine.” The dancer’s smile faltered. “You’re no fun.” She turned away, her dress swirling as she rejoined the dance. Aurora exhaled sharply. “That was—” “A taste,” Nyx said grimly. “And nothing compared to what’s inside.” They moved forward, sticking to the edges of the courtyard. The music grew louder as they approached the estate’s grand entrance—a set of double doors carved from what looked like a single slab of dark chocolate, their surfaces etched with scenes of feasting and revelry. The scent of food was stronger here, almost suffocating. Aurora’s head spun. Nyx reached for the door handle. It was warm to the touch, sticky with something that might have been syrup. The moment their fingers brushed it, the doors swung open on their own, revealing a cavernous hall beyond. Aurora’s breath caught. The grand hall was a cathedral of indulgence. Chandeliers made of crystalised sugar hung from the ceiling, their facets catching the amber light and scattering it across the room in rainbow prisms. The walls were lined with shelves of wine bottles, their labels written in looping script she didn’t recognise. At the far end of the hall, a long table stretched the length of the room, laden with more food than Aurora had ever seen in one place. Whole roasted beasts turned on spits, their skins crackling. Platters of fruit that glowed like embers. Towers of pastries that defied gravity, their layers stacked impossibly high. And at the head of the table sat a figure. Belphegor. Aurora knew it instantly. There was no mistaking him. He was massive, his form shifting between something almost human and something far larger, far more monstrous. His skin was the colour of burnt caramel, his eyes two pits of smouldering gold. A crown of twisted antlers sat atop his head, their points dripping with something dark and viscous. He lounged in a throne made of intertwined bones, his fingers drumming against the armrests as he watched them enter. His lips curled into a smile. “Welcome,” he rumbled, his voice like distant thunder. “I’ve been expecting you.” Aurora’s blood turned to ice. Nyx’s form flickered, their shadows pooling at their feet. “Belphegor.” The demon’s smile widened. “Aldric.” His gaze shifted to Aurora, and she felt the weight of it like a physical touch. “And who is this? A new plaything? A snack?” Aurora’s hand went to the Fae blade at her hip. The metal was cold, reassuring. “We’re not here for your games.” Belphegor laughed, the sound echoing through the hall like a chorus of bells. “Everything in Dymas is my game, little mortal.” His gaze flicked to Nyx. “And you, Aldric. Still clinging to the past, I see. Still playing at being human.” Nyx’s voice was a growl. “I go by Nyx now.” “Do you?” Belphegor leaned forward, his golden eyes gleaming. “How quaint. Tell me, do you still dream of the sun? Do you still *ache* for it?” Aurora’s fingers tightened around the blade’s hilt. “We didn’t come here to reminisce.” Belphegor’s gaze snapped back to her, his smile never wavering. “No. You came here for *answers*.” He gestured to the table. “Sit. Eat. *Talk*.” The scent of the food was overwhelming. Aurora’s stomach growled again, louder this time. She gritted her teeth. “We’re not hungry.” Belphegor’s laugh was a low, rumbling thing. “Liar.” He snapped his fingers. The doors at the far end of the hall swung open, and a procession of figures entered. They were dressed in finery—silks and velvets, jewels that caught the light like stars—but their faces were wrong. Too smooth. Too perfect. Their eyes were empty. Helbound. They carried trays laden with food, their movements eerily synchronised. One approached Aurora, holding out a platter of fruit that glowed faintly, their skins translucent and pulsing with light. “Eat,” the Helbound murmured, their voice hollow. “It’s been so long since you’ve *tasted* anything.” Aurora’s mouth watered. The fruit looked perfect. Juicy. Sweet. *Irresistible*. Nyx’s hand shot out, knocking the platter from the Helbound’s hands. It shattered against the floor, the fruit bursting into a puddle of glowing syrup. The Helbound didn’t react. They simply turned and walked away, their movements mechanical. Belphegor’s smile faded. “You always were a spoilsport, Aldric.” Nyx’s form flickered, their shadows writhing. “We’re not here for your hospitality.” “No?” Belphegor leaned back in his throne, his fingers steepled. “Then why *are* you here?” Aurora stepped forward, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. “We’re looking for someone. A human. They came through here recently.” Belphegor’s gaze flicked to her, amused. “And why would I know—or care—about some lost little mortal?” “Because they had something that belongs to us,” Aurora said. “And we want it back.” Belphegor’s laughter echoed through the hall. “Oh, little mortal. You have *no idea* what you’ve walked into.” He stood, his form shifting, growing larger, his antlers scraping against the ceiling. “But by all means. *Search*.” The Helbound at the table turned as one, their empty eyes fixing on Aurora and Nyx. And then they smiled.
created_at"2026-02-20T14:24:37.04Z" 2/20/2026, 2:24:37 PM
model"mistralai/mistral-large-2512" 1/1/2512, 12:00:00 AM
app_id182717
external_user(null)
streamedtrue
cancelledfalse
latency582
moderation_latency(null)
generation_time63175
tokens_prompt5338
tokens_completion3708
native_tokens_prompt5043
native_tokens_completion3212
native_tokens_completion_images(null)
native_tokens_reasoning0
native_tokens_cached0
num_media_prompt(null)
num_input_audio_prompt(null)
num_media_completion0
num_search_results(null)
origin"https://ncbench.com/"
is_byokfalse
finish_reason"stop"
native_finish_reason"stop"
usage0.0073395
router(null)
provider_responses
0
endpoint_id"fa718841-07ea-4b7e-b8a3-6069545c7e6a"
id"e7230b84ee5f4b11b282391aab0bb118"
is_byokfalse
latency582
model_permaslug"mistralai/mistral-large-2512" 1/1/2512, 12:00:00 AM
provider_name"Mistral"
status200
api_type"completions"
id"gen-1771597477-JmGJVnA0fRy9mTnKPXZL"
upstream_id"e7230b84ee5f4b11b282391aab0bb118"
total_cost0.0073395
cache_discount(null)
upstream_inference_cost0
provider_name"Mistral"

Evaluation details

Result Evaluator Details Meta Data
64.86% Adverbs in dialogue tags
Target: ≤10% dialogue tags with adverbs
totalTags24
adverbTagCount5
adverbTags
0"Nyx said again [again]"
1"they said finally [finally]"
2"She turned away [away]"
3"Nyx said grimly [grimly]"
4"Belphegor leaned back [back]"
dialogueSentences74
tagDensity0.324
leniency0.649
rawRatio0.208
effectiveRatio0.135
90.97% AI-ism adverb frequency
Target: <2% AI-ism adverbs (58 tracked)
wordCount2216
totalAiIsmAdverbs4
found
0
adverb"slightly"
count2
1
adverb"softly"
count1
2
adverb"sharply"
count1
highlights
0"slightly"
1"softly"
2"sharply"
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)
16.52% AI-ism word frequency
Target: <2% AI-ism words (290 tracked)
wordCount2216
totalAiIsms37
found
0
word"pulsed"
count4
1
word"whisper"
count1
2
word"shimmered"
count2
3
word"familiar"
count1
4
word"wavering"
count2
5
word"flickered"
count4
6
word"unreadable"
count1
7
word"structure"
count1
8
word"glistening"
count1
9
word"mosaic"
count1
10
word"stomach"
count3
11
word"vibrated"
count1
12
word"perfect"
count3
13
word"weight"
count2
14
word"dance"
count1
15
word"etched"
count1
16
word"echoing"
count1
17
word"flicked"
count2
18
word"gleaming"
count1
19
word"shattered"
count1
20
word"mechanical"
count1
21
word"pounding"
count1
22
word"echoed"
count1
highlights
0"pulsed"
1"whisper"
2"shimmered"
3"familiar"
4"wavering"
5"flickered"
6"unreadable"
7"structure"
8"glistening"
9"mosaic"
10"stomach"
11"vibrated"
12"perfect"
13"weight"
14"dance"
15"etched"
16"echoing"
17"flicked"
18"gleaming"
19"shattered"
20"mechanical"
21"pounding"
22"echoed"
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
narrationSentences190
matches(empty)
100.00% Filter word density
Target: ≤3% sentences with filter/hedge words
filterCount0
hedgeCount2
narrationSentences190
filterMatches(empty)
hedgeMatches
0"seemed to"
100.00% Gibberish response detection
Target: ≤1% gibberish-like sentences (hard fail if a sentence exceeds 800 words)
analyzedSentences237
gibberishSentences0
adjustedGibberishSentences0
longSentenceCount0
runOnParagraphCount0
giantParagraphCount0
wordSaladCount0
repetitionLoopCount0
controlTokenCount0
maxSentenceWordsSeen44
ratio0
matches(empty)
100.00% Markdown formatting overuse
Target: ≤5% words in markdown formatting
markdownSpans17
markdownWords18
totalWords2193
ratio0.008
matches
0"present"
1"is"
2"like"
3"sings"
4"smell"
5"everything"
6"hungry"
7"Forget"
8"need"
9"ache"
10"answers"
11"Talk"
12"tasted"
13"Irresistible"
14"are"
15"no idea"
16"Search"
100.00% Missing dialogue indicators (quotation marks)
Target: ≤10% speech attributions without quotation marks
totalAttributions30
unquotedAttributions0
matches(empty)
54.97% Name drop frequency
Target: ≤1.0 per-name mentions per 100 words
totalMentions90
wordCount1789
uniqueNames14
maxNameDensity1.9
worstName"Aurora"
maxWindowNameDensity3
worstWindowName"Aurora"
discoveredNames
Aurora34
Covent1
Garden1
Heartstone1
Nyx27
London3
Veil1
Belphegor10
Seven1
Princes1
Hel1
One3
Fae1
Helbound5
persons
0"Aurora"
1"Heartstone"
2"Nyx"
3"Veil"
4"Belphegor"
5"Helbound"
places
0"Covent"
1"Garden"
2"London"
3"One"
4"Fae"
globalScore0.55
windowScore0.667
0.00% Narrator intent-glossing
Target: ≤2% narration sentences with intent-glossing patterns
analyzedSentences121
glossingSentenceCount8
matches
0"something between amusement and irritation"
1"as if feeding on the strange light"
2"looked like clusters of tiny, glowing lan"
3"estate that seemed to be made entirely of food"
4"as if whispering secrets to one another"
5"looked like polished bone, smooth and whi"
6"looked like snow"
7"looked like a single slab of dark chocola"
100.00% "Not X but Y" pattern overuse
Target: ≤1 "not X but Y" per 1000 words
totalMatches0
per1kWords0
wordCount2193
matches(empty)
100.00% Overuse of "that" (subordinate clause padding)
Target: ≤2% sentences with "that" clauses
thatCount0
totalSentences237
matches(empty)
100.00% Paragraph length variance
Target: CV ≥0.5 for paragraph word counts
totalParagraphs91
mean24.1
std22.73
cv0.943
sampleLengths
012
155
217
313
447
525
611
727
882
910
1015
1176
1226
1341
147
1587
166
1713
1847
199
2018
2182
224
236
242
253
2612
2743
2836
2910
3011
3158
324
331
3439
354
363
373
3835
3911
4014
4177
423
4356
445
4521
4634
4711
4814
499
99.72% Passive voice overuse
Target: ≤2% passive sentences
passiveCount3
totalSentences190
matches
0"was paved"
1"were lined"
2"were dressed"
100.00% Past progressive (was/were + -ing) overuse
Target: ≤2% past progressive verbs
pastProgressiveCount1
totalVerbs330
matches
0"were staring"
0.00% Em-dash & semicolon overuse
Target: ≤2% sentences with em-dashes/semicolons
emDashCount19
semicolonCount0
flaggedSentences16
totalSentences237
ratio0.068
matches
0"Not like heat haze—this was sharper, like the surface of a soap bubble catching the light."
1"It wasn’t just a gap—it was a doorway, framed by jagged edges of amber light that pulsed like a slow, steady breath."
2"The cobblestones beneath her dissolved into something softer, warmer—dirt, rich and dark, threaded with golden roots that pulsed faintly, as if alive."
3"The moment they crossed, their form flickered, solidifying into something almost human—tall, lean, with a face that was all sharp angles and hollows."
4"Not just apples or pears—these were things she’d never seen before."
5"Aurora had heard the name before—whispers in the dark corners of Silas’ bar, stories traded over pints by those who’d seen too much."
6"At its peak stood a structure that defied logic—a sprawling estate that seemed to be made entirely of food."
7"She could *smell* it—the buttery crust of a pie, the tang of citrus glaze, the rich, dark scent of chocolate so thick it was almost a taste."
8"The fruit pulsed with light, their colours shifting—deep reds bleeding into purples, golds melting into oranges."
9"Not the kind played by instruments—this was something deeper, richer."
10"Water—no, not water, something thicker, like melted caramel—bubbled from the mouths of stone cherubs, pooling in the basin before spilling over the edges in slow, syrupy waves."
11"Their clothes were fine—silks and velvets, embroidered with threads of gold and silver—but their faces were slack, their eyes glassy."
12"Her face was beautiful, but wrong—too smooth, too perfect, like a doll’s."
13"“But you’re *hungry*.” She gestured to the feast laid out on tables that groaned under the weight of food—whole roasted pigs with apples in their mouths, towers of fruit that dripped with nectar, cakes layered with cream so thick it looked like snow."
14"The music grew louder as they approached the estate’s grand entrance—a set of double doors carved from what looked like a single slab of dark chocolate, their surfaces etched with scenes of feasting and revelry."
15"They were dressed in finery—silks and velvets, jewels that caught the light like stars—but their faces were wrong."
100.00% Purple prose (modifier overload)
Target: <4% adverbs, <2% -ly adverbs, no adj stacking
wordCount742
adjectiveStacks0
stackExamples(empty)
adverbCount29
adverbRatio0.03908355795148248
lyAdverbCount5
lyAdverbRatio0.006738544474393531
100.00% Repeated phrase echo
Target: ≤20% sentences with echoes (window: 2)
totalSentences237
echoCount0
echoWords(empty)
100.00% Sentence length variance
Target: CV ≥0.4 for sentence word counts
totalSentences237
mean9.25
std7.05
cv0.762
sampleLengths
012
119
219
317
417
53
64
76
814
916
1010
112
122
133
1414
153
168
176
185
197
2017
213
223
2319
246
2522
265
2711
2816
296
304
3112
323
337
3413
3511
3622
3723
383
3921
402
415
4223
4313
447
457
469
4728
4811
4921
44.09% Sentence opener variety
Target: ≥60% unique sentence openers
consecutiveRepeats14
diversityRatio0.2911392405063291
totalSentences237
uniqueOpeners69
39.68% Adverb-first sentence starts
Target: ≥3% sentences starting with an adverb
adverbCount2
totalSentences168
matches
0"Instead, she focused on the"
1"Then she heard it."
ratio0.012
100.00% Pronoun-first sentence starts
Target: ≤30% sentences starting with a pronoun
pronounCount43
totalSentences168
matches
0"She skidded to a halt"
1"She didn’t need to."
2"She knew better than to"
3"It wasn’t just a gap—it"
4"She stepped forward, her boot"
5"She turned back."
6"Their violet eyes burned brighter"
7"They stood at the edge"
8"They were staring at something"
9"She could *smell* it—the buttery"
10"Her throat tightened."
11"she said, but her voice"
12"They started down the path,"
13"It came from the estate,"
14"It was beautiful."
15"Their form flickered, shadows pooling"
16"they said finally"
17"Their clothes were fine—silks and"
18"Her face was beautiful, but"
19"Her lips parted, and she"
ratio0.256
16.55% Subject-first sentence starts
Target: ≤72% sentences starting with a subject
subjectCount149
totalSentences168
matches
0"The pendant burned against Aurora’s"
1"She skidded to a halt"
2"The Heartstone’s crimson glow pulsed"
3"Nyx’s voice was a whisper"
4"Aurora didn’t answer."
5"She didn’t need to."
6"The pendant’s heat was answer"
7"The distortion rippled, revealing a"
8"The Veil, thinning."
9"Nyx stepped forward, their shadowy"
10"Aurora’s fingers tightened around the"
11"Nyx’s voice was distant, almost"
12"Aurora didn’t press."
13"She knew better than to"
14"It wasn’t just a gap—it"
15"The familiar grey of London’s"
16"The scent of roasting meat"
17"Nyx’s form solidified slightly, their"
18"Aurora didn’t wait for them"
19"She stepped forward, her boot"
ratio0.887
0.00% Subordinate conjunction sentence starts
Target: ≥2% sentences starting with a subordinating conjunction
subConjCount0
totalSentences168
matches(empty)
ratio0
28.57% Technical jargon density
Target: ≤6% sentences with technical-jargon patterns
analyzedSentences75
technicalSentenceCount12
matches
0"The cobblestones beneath her dissolved into something softer, warmer—dirt, rich and dark, threaded with golden roots that pulsed faintly, as if alive."
1"Nyx was still on the London side, their silhouette wavering as if the tear itself was reluctant to let them pass."
2"The moment they crossed, their form flickered, solidifying into something almost human—tall, lean, with a face that was all sharp angles and hollows."
3"They stood at the edge of a vast orchard, rows of trees stretching into the distance, their branches heavy with fruit that glowed faintly in the amber light."
4"One tree bore fruit that looked like clusters of tiny, glowing lanterns, their skins translucent and pulsing with an inner light."
5"The trees leaned in, their branches creaking softly, as if whispering secrets to one another."
6"The fruit pulsed with light, their colours shifting—deep reds bleeding into purples, golds melting into oranges."
7"The ground here was paved with something that looked like polished bone, smooth and white, veined with gold."
8"Chandeliers made of crystalised sugar hung from the ceiling, their facets catching the amber light and scattering it across the room in rainbow prisms."
9"Towers of pastries that defied gravity, their layers stacked impossibly high."
10"They were dressed in finery—silks and velvets, jewels that caught the light like stars—but their faces were wrong."
11"One approached Aurora, holding out a platter of fruit that glowed faintly, their skins translucent and pulsing with light."
0.00% Useless dialogue additions
Target: ≤5% dialogue tags with trailing filler fragments
totalTags24
uselessAdditionCount6
matches
0"Nyx said again, their voice hushed"
1"she said, but her voice lacked conviction"
2"She turned away, her dress swirling as she rejoined the dance"
3"Belphegor leaned, his golden eyes gleaming"
4"the Helbound murmured, their voice hollow"
5"Belphegor leaned back, his fingers steepled"
41.89% Dialogue tag variety (said vs. fancy)
Target: ≤10% fancy dialogue tags
totalTags15
fancyCount8
fancyTags
0"they murmured (murmur)"
1"Nyx murmured (murmur)"
2"Aurora breathed (breathe)"
3"Nyx agreed (agree)"
4"she murmured (murmur)"
5"She gestured (gesture)"
6"He snapped (snap)"
7"the Helbound murmured (murmur)"
dialogueSentences74
tagDensity0.203
leniency0.405
rawRatio0.533
effectiveRatio0.216
69.9280%