The Inkwarden's Trial

In the kingdom of Verathen, books are not just repositories of knowledge—they are prisons for powerful spirits, elemental forces, and ancient beings. The Order of Inkscribes, a secretive group of magical scribes, serves as the guardians of these books, using enchanted ink and binding rituals to keep the contained entities from wreaking havoc. Each scribe undergoes a grueling trial to prove their worth: trapping a dangerous spirit into a magical tome without succumbing to its temptations. Failure often means death—or worse.



Isara, a quiet but determined apprentice, has spent years training under Master Corvel, a grizzled and cynical Inkwarden who believes her empathy makes her unfit for the Order. Isara is skilled at the technical aspects of scribing but struggles to suppress her curiosity and compassion, qualities that are considered dangerous when dealing with manipulative spirits.



Isara’s final trial arrives: she is tasked with binding Maroth, a cunning and ancient spirit of decay, who has escaped its previous prison. Maroth has been wreaking havoc in the southern provinces, reducing fertile lands to barren wastelands with its touch. Isara is given a single enchanted tome, an inkstone filled with blood-infused ink, and a warning: do not listen to the spirit’s words, no matter what it offers.