Kaelen Vance traced his thumb along the raised edge of the silver lettering.
The Obsidian Earth-Fire hissed softly beneath the basalt grate, casting dark violet ripples across the opened pages.
Under the continuous wash of primordial heat, the hidden celestial ink developed like writing on hot silk.
Tiny silver veins spiderwebbed across the calfskin, illuminating characters that had rested in silence for fifteen years.
Beside him, Mina leaned in so close her dark hair brushed against his linen collar.
Her breath came in soft, uneven rhythms as her eyes scanned every developing stroke.
“Brother, the ink is still spreading,” Mina whispered, pointing a slender finger at the margins.
“The heat is pulling the star-essence to the surface,” Kaelen replied gently. “Give it a moment to settle.”
