In a realm hidden beyond the stars — a sanctuary detached from time, isolated from space — a lone figure sat within a grand pavilion carved of celestial stone. The walls shimmered faintly with runes, while paper lanterns hung from curved beams, casting warm light across endless scrolls and bound tomes.
At the heart of the palace, seated on a raised platform before a massive desk, was a man who looked almost human. Almost.
He wore flowing robes of ink-black silk embroidered with shifting patterns — patterns that rearranged themselves like thoughts written and rewritten. His long white hair fell freely down his back, and a silver circlet sat above his brow. His expression was distant, thoughtful, as if he were always mid-sentence with something unseen.
With a brush carved from crystal bone, he scribbled symbols into a book that glowed with faint golden light.
The soft sound of approaching footsteps broke the stillness.
A woman entered the chamber, dressed in muted armor that seemed more ceremonial than practical. Her grey hair was bound into a high braid, and her sharp silver eyes reflected focus without cruelty. She bowed slightly.
"My lord," she said, "what became of the books?"
The man didn't stop writing. "Five have chosen."
Liora arched a brow. "And the sixth?"
He paused then, placing the brush gently in an ink dish.
"Still waiting," he murmured. "But not for long."
"Shall I assist? If the candidate is unsuitable—"
He raised a hand lightly. "No. Someone will find it. They always do."
With a gesture, he conjured a smooth pane of light into the air. The void shimmered, then focused, revealing a swirl of stars and nebulae — the Milky Way Galaxy. The image zoomed in rapidly, past solar systems and planetary debris, until it rested on a blue planet bathed in clouds.
"Earth," he said softly. "A strange little world."
Liora stepped closer. "The sixth book is there?"
He nodded once. "It waits for them still. But not for long."
_______
"Pretty sure she keeps a list of late returners. Not for fines — for natural selection."
Theo Hale squinted toward the front desk as he nudged Arkin Zel inside the college library. It wasn't a particularly fancy place — just tall shelves, some decent lighting, and the comforting smell of aging paper. But Theo was already distracted.
"She probably shushes people in her sleep" he muttered.
Arkin, carrying a half-zipped bag and looking like he hadn't slept properly in a week, sighed. "Just get the reference books. The professor's already sent me two passive-aggressive emails."
But Theo wasn't done. He straightened his jacket and approached the librarian — a neat, spectacled girl around their age, reading a fantasy novel behind the desk.
Theo leaned casually on the desk.
"Hey there. We're after a few books on electromagnetic propulsion... and maybe a charming librarian to explain them."
She glanced at him over her glasses.
"Great. One's in Physics. The other's a fantasy — try the fiction section."
Arkin snorted.
"Smooth. She almost looked impressed… for half a second."
After Theo's failed attempt in life, they made their way deeper into the shelves, eventually reaching the Physics section. Theo began scanning titles lazily.
"Okay, we need something on electromagnetic propulsion, right?"
Arkin nodded and started browsing. His fingers paused on a thick technical manual, but as he pulled it from the shelf, another book slipped and fell behind it. Curious, he crouched down and reached for it.
The book looked... odd. Black cover. No title on the spine. Slightly dusty, as if it hadn't been touched in years. He opened the front page.
"By Lord Tempestuous of the Inkstorm."
He blinked.
"The f*ck? " Theo asked, leaning over his shoulder. "Is that a name or a cry for help?"
Arkin tilted the book to show him. "Apparently both."
Theo scratched his chin. "Lord Tempestuous. That sounds like a villain who got kicked out of Dungeons & Dragons for being too dramatic."
"Pretty sure he leads a band called The Inkstorm in his free time," Arkin replied. "Probably uses all his spell slots on mood lighting."
Arkin glanced back at the title page. This time, he noticed the novel's name.
Stormbound: A Chronicle of Lightning and Ash.
He flipped through the pages. Surprisingly neat. A story, clearly — first-person narration, poetic descriptions, maybe fantasy?
But... it drew him in. A strange, magnetic pull.
"Feels like I've read this before," Arkin muttered.
"Don't tell me you're buying into it."
"It's not that. Just... I feel like I'm supposed to read this."
"That sounds like the beginning of a very avoidable problem."
Arkin tucked the book under his arm. "Guess we'll see."
"We still need the actual books we came for."
They headed back toward the front desk. The librarian raised an eyebrow as she spotted the extra addition in Arkin's hand.
"That one doesn't have a barcode," she said flatly.
"I found it near Physics," Arkin replied. "Might be misplaced."
She took it, flipped through it briefly, then shrugged. "It's not in the system. Could be a donation or just misfiled. Either way, you can take it. I'll mark it as temporary checkout."
"Thanks," Arkin said.
She slid the other two textbooks through the scanner and handed them back.
"Just don't start glowing or levitating or anything."
Theo flashed a grin. "I only levitate on weekends."
With the books in hand — and Arkin still eyeing the strange black one — they stepped out of the library and into the fading afternoon light.
_______
In the far-off realm of memory and stars, the Story Seeker watched.
He said nothing. But the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his lips as Liora watched the scene unfold beside him.
"That's the one?" she asked.
The man simply nodded.
The final book had been found.
And soon... a new story would begin.