Dr Aacek believed the enigmatic electromagnetic entity called LITSS (lady in the scarlet scarf), with whom he used to communicate through his dreams initially and later through a Holo-machine, had died tragically defending humanity.

The dreams and LITSS are back! Only, this time around, he finds himself in 'The Realm,' a hidden reality that feels eerily like the role-playing games he used to play back when the world still had electricity, before the Fall. Aacek reluctantly agrees to participate in his newfound reality, not realising there is much more at stake than it appears.

What you can expect:

* Multiple points of view

* Story happens in both the real world and theRealm;which is the realrealworld? ;)

* The events that happen in the Realm influence and are indeed important to the happenings in the real world

* Hidden references and homage to some of the best RPGs I have played

* Post-apocalypse world

* Elements of panpsychism

* Multiple character arcs converge at one point

* Character classes, skills, levelling up, items, loot drops, stats, mythic items, upgrading items

* Chronoschist: unique, powerful class with access to the time archives, manipulation of rate of flow of time and so on. The class description reads:Master time, bend it to your will, fracture it and wield it to your advantage, walk time yourself or send your foes hurtling through the maze of time, or you may choose to just loop them.

* No smut

* I almost forgot—there is a prophecy too

Author's note: Many characters in this story first appear in my first self-published novel. Although it is not mandatory reading, the characters will appear more familiar if the novel is read first. That said, this work, The Kings Without Crowns, is going to be written to be read and understood irrespective of whether the first novel has been read or not.

EDIT(17/04/25): I have decided to make the first book available here on Royal Road, too. I feel it is only right to do so, as you will be reading the second book of this series(this one you are reading now, The Kings Without Crowns) first on RR. The catch is that the first book is enrolled on Kindle Select for now, and the enrollment expires on 24th May. Afterwards, I will post a chapter a day here on RR.

EDIT (25/05/2025): The first novel, Lady in the Scarlet Scarf, is now available righthereon Royal Road!