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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of fantasy short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

15120+ Fantasy Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Though fantasy is well known for its epically long sagas, fantasy short stories can deliver all the genre’s best attractions with one punch — or, shall we say, in one fiery dragon breath?

Fantasy Short Stories – Page 10 of 1009

The Kindergarten Conqueror

Submitted to Contest #302

The week had started normally enough—well, as normal as it could be with Zeus' latest decree that all young gods attend mortal elementary school to "build character."Ares slouched in the plastic chair outside Principal Martinez's office, his tiny combat boots dangling well above the linoleum floor.The secretary kept glancing nervously in his direction, particularly at the plastic sword confiscated from the playground that now lay across her desk like evidence in a war crimes tribunal.This was his third visit this week, and he'd only started ...

11 likes 2 comments 2
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The Mirror Pact

Submitted to Contest #301

The first time Sara saw the mirror, it was nestled among the peddler’s other wares in the cart, it seemed far too fine for its surroundings, gleaming like a secret.The mage behind the cart didn’t look like much. A hunched woman in a patched cloak, her hair black hair straggling down her back and eyes so dark they seemed empty and endless. In her cart she had charms that whispered, vials that glowed, and trinkets that pulsed with magic. But it was the mirror that called to Sara.She wasn’t sure why she stopped. She’d been late to her shift at ...

19 likes 3 comments 3
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Ocean Tsunami Surge Carries Away the Ship Destiny's Dreams

Submitted to Contest #301

White sails glided through the marine layer and into the bay.The promise of a peaceful anchorage beckoned. The 1800s wooden ship under square canvas sails waltzed over the waves like a sleek, beautiful woman.She was the mythical vessel known as the Destiny's Dreams on her world voyages.The sea reflected the sun's sparkle. The air caressed the skin with a light, warm touch. The ship settled at anchor with sounds of happy ripples on the water.But unseen rhythms of the sea were bringing changes.Soon the day turned into chaos.Earlier that mornin...

40 likes 20 comments 20
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Divine Delivery Debacle

Submitted to Contest #302

Hermes sat at his celestial desk, drowning in a mountain of messages.The Olympian Postal Service was understaffed—again—and he'd been pulling double shifts all week. His caduceus, usually pristine, had coffee stains on it, and his winged sandals were desperately in need of a polish.He grabbed the next scroll in his "Ultra-Priority Divine Dispatches" pile, barely registering the addressee before stamping it with his signature lightning bolt and tossing it into the outgoing portal.The scroll, marked "To Mars, God of War, Roman Pantheon," spira...

14 likes 4 comments 4
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Love, War, and Customer Service

Submitted to Contest #302

Ares slouched in his ergonomic office chair, staring at the dual monitors that displayed an endless queue of complaint tickets.After the latest divine restructuring, Zeus had decided that all Olympian departments needed proper documentation and customer service protocols. Which is how the God of War found himself manning the "Conflict Resolution Desk" every Tuesday and Thursday.Zeus also thought upgrading the whole system from Windows to Apple would be a great idea. Everything connected... Mac, iPad, iPhones, etc.The transition meeting had b...

12 likes 2 comments 2
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The Great Celestial Mix-Up, or Why Ares Now Hates Smoothies

Submitted to Contest #302

Ares, God of War, stood in line at "Nectar & Ambrosia Smoothies," stabbing at his phone screen with enough force to crack a mortal device.The café, nestled in a strip mall on Mount Olympus Boulevard, was his latest attempt at anger management—Hera's idea, naturally. According to his therapist (also Hera's idea), smoothies were supposed to be "cooling" and "soothing."The warrior god wore tactical pants and a black t-shirt that read "I'd Rather Be Smiting." His celestial bronze sword had been reluctantly transformed into a less conspicuous...

9 likes 0 comments 0
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Ares is from Mars, Aphrodite is from Venus

Submitted to Contest #302

Ares stormed into Mount Olympus' newly renovated break room, his armor clanking against the marble countertop as he slammed down his phone. Apollo, who had been peacefully sipping nectar while composing haikus about his own reflection, looked up with mild irritation."Brother, you're interrupting my creative process. And you know how I feel about creative interruptions after that incident with the lyre-playing satyr who thought death metal covers of my hymns were 'paying homage.'""Save it, sunshine," Ares growled."I need your help. You're goo...

11 likes 4 comments 4
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Hunting Gypsies

Submitted to Contest #301

It was raining hard when Ivan’s car crashed into a small pasture just before the forest. When he came to, the engine was still running and the radio was skipping around, playing a gibberish blend of song and static. His head throbbed and he felt with shaky hands an impressive gash on his forehead. With bloody fingers, Ivan unbuckled his seatbelt and felt around his body for any other injuries; his shoulder was sore and difficult to move, his ribs ached when he breathed deep, but thankfully both legs and feet seemed to have come out unscathed...

8 likes 3 comments 3
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Ashes and Thorns

Submitted to Contest #302

The woods beyond Embermere were ancient—older than the kingdom, older than the church bells that tolled on festival days. They whispered with the breath of things not seen and not meant to be disturbed. Which made it all the more foolish when Jorah ran straight into them with a bloodied shirt and two royal guards hot on his heels. The theft had gone wrong. He’d meant only to take a jeweled dagger from Lord Helric’s private display—quick in, quick out, sell it to a collector in Crossport, and vanish into a new life. But the lord had returned ...

13 likes 1 comment 1
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"Peinaó" (A Scene from My Current Project)

Submitted to Contest #302

God, it was freezing tonight.I hugged my cardigan tightly, hoping to keep any warmth I had left from escaping. My teeth chattered as I stood next to Rayn in a line that should definitely not be this long. Sure, it’s a party, but it’s a party in an old, abandoned warehouse. How fun could it possibly be?!Rayn was next to me, practically bouncing on her heels, her excitement radiating off of her. Her hair was pinned out of her face with little brown pins, which matched her brown short-sleeved dress that reached her ankles. The collar was a crea...

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While you weren't looking

Submitted to Contest #301

“Kella, stop.”Jaxon grabbed his sister’s arm, breaking her from her spell.“You have to stop, Kella.”Glaring at her brother, Kella wrenched her arm free and raised her hand back towards the door. The pounding outside was incessant, growing to a thunderous roar as Kella’s spell guttered. Hiding in this half rotten warehouse had been a fool’s hope. The beasts would breach the door soon. She could not falter.“I have to keep the barrier up, Jaxon. There is no choice here. They get in and we die.”“It’s killing you.” His pleading was falling on dea...

6 likes 9 comments 9
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Fire catchers

Submitted to Contest #301

In a Fire Overseers’ tower, full of nothing but stairs, there was an attic room for recess, right under the rooftop. It was just a lazy hour before noon, streets of the capital already sweltering under the uncharacteristically insistent April sun. Currently the shift of the firefighters consisted of two differently blond men employing their skills in avoiding the anxiety build-up that was inevitable during the recess-time in their line of work.“Gonna make coffee,” the whiter blond stood to take a briki. He shuffled towards the other man who ...

7 likes 3 comments 3
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The Summoner's Fear

Submitted to Contest #301

Professor Brafta sat at his desk reviewing his students’ essays on the geometry of summoning. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. A knock sounded from his door. He stood, relieved to have an excuse to step away from the essays.“This came for you, sir,” said a messenger as the professor opened the door. She held out a letter.“Thank you.” He took the letter and returned to his desk. It read, University of Dema Department of Summoning Regarding an issue of binding To whom it may concern,We have recently had trouble binding one of ...

5 likes 2 comments 2
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Night Watch

Submitted to Contest #301

Clarence accepted the assignment from Campus Security. Thom, his supervisor, patted him on the back and handed him the keys. “You’re the man,” he said. All Clarence wanted, was a couple of nights’ work on the weekend to help pay for tuition, and extra time to study when he was making the rounds. “Simple enough,” he said, but he couldn’t help but wonder why the other guy had quit. He wondered about all the talk he heard on campus. “It should be a quiet night,” Thom said, but handed him a card with his number, just in case. “I’m going home to ...

6 likes 2 comments 2
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A Disturbing Case Regarding Fish Oil

Submitted to Contest #301

WARNING: Includes themes of kidnapping, nonconsensual experimenting, and mentions of dismembering and deaths. Xander wipes imaginary wrinkles off his shirt for the millionth time; it’s going to happen at the usual spot where he, the guys, and Mira, have their secret picnics underneath the Weeping Willow Tree. So, it’s place she’ll be comfortable there. She won’t suspect anything. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Xander mumbles to himself as he leaves his room. At this rate, Mira could take a long nap from stress; call her and her ...

4 likes 1 comment 1
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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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