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One minute, you were sitting at your computer, quietly surfing the Internet, passing time. Then you clicked a link, seemingly innocuous, to enter a previously unknown website. That's when things... changed. A mist swirled out of the screen, enveloping you in white luminosity, lifting you from your seat into a floating cloud of mystery....

The next thing you know, the mist clears. You look around, getting your bearings. You seem to have been transported to a library. Shelves line the high, dark oak paneled walls, laden with book of all shapes and sizes. Several chairs and couches stand about; all look comfortable and inviting. One group clusters on front of an enourmous fireplace, the blaze within casting a warm, flickering light over the room. Windows reveal a view of a sunny, well-kept estate.

"A visitor! Good day to you!"

You follow the voice to see rounding the corner a girl, most likely in her early twenties, with red hair fastened back into a high ponytail with a green scarf ribbon, wearing a green and dark blue kimono. You try not to stare at the katana thrust through her wide obi sash.

The girl smiles wider, spreading her hands. "Welcome to my library!" she says. "Oh, forgive me- you may call me Guendolen Sama. That means 'Lady Guendolen,' see. As I said, this is my library. Specifically, it's the record of my own personal writings and creations."

"You've found me at a special time. I have decided to embark on a special project- writing an ongoing story of adventure, accompanied by illustrations, also done by me. It's basically a serial graphic novel, made available here for everyone who wants to read it. It's the story of four everyday girls- or so they think they are, anyway. These four, who've been friends all their lives despite markedly different personalities, find themselves one day unexpectedly drawn by Fate into a strange and unknown world, and all sorts of adventures result." She chuckles. "Yeah, I know- it's a premise that's been used before. But I hope my own variation proves to be a unique approach."

"The illustrations, as I said, are also drawn by me; I color them in the computer program Photoshop. So please forgive their size. You can click on the small size image of each illustration to see the full-sized original. If the style rings a bell, well, it was strongly influenced by the art of Japanese animation, or anime. I'm not trying to 'be' anime or anything like that; it's just the way I chose to draw the story. At least it's unique! If enough people like it, I might later add a gallery of all the non-illustration character art I've done, and maybe some character profiles too. One more thing: after the first couple chapters, do NOT go looking at the illustrations before you read it. After all, I mean to illustrate highlights, high moments and important points, so there WILL be spoilers. So unless you really don't like surprises, look at the pictures as you read."

"But I've jabbered away long enough, here. I'll let you get on you way. There's not much here at present, and updates will probably be slow- you can't rush the creative process, after all! But I'll do more as often as I can. If I get enough interest, I'l make a mailing list to announce the updates. I'll just end by saying that all the work here, writing and art alike, is copyright to me; please do not take it and try to call it your own. You don't want to incur my wrath, I assure you." Just for a second, her expression grows noticeably darker. "Also, if this resembles anything or anyone you've seen before, whether fictional or in real life, it's all coincidence. I didn't steal any ideas from anybody. Okay? Now, I'll be off- c'mon, and I'll show you where to start reading." Hand on the hilt of her sword, she sets off down a corridor. "Oh, stick close to me. You never know what might be hiding among all these shelves of fantasy, after all...."