Ghostwriterr

"They say power corrupts... but what if corruption was the price of power?"

Lucian never sought power—he only wanted to save his grandfather. But when he inherits the Book of Envy, a cursed tome that grants desires at a terrible cost, he is thrown into a world where the strong devour the weak.

To master the book, he must train under Veyren, the twisted holder of the Book of Lost. Along the way, he meets Kael, a skilled swordsman with the Book of Blades—a boy whose abilities Lucian secretly covets.

Betrayal, obsession, and an unstoppable hunger for strength drive Lucian down a path of no return.

But what happens when he faces a power too great to steal?

A dark fantasy tale of ambition, sacrifice, and the descent into power.

Hollow Crown: The Book of Envy

The world twisted as Lucian followed the Spirit of the Lost through the void. The air felt thick, suffocating. His feet touched the ground, yet he felt like he was falling endlessly.

Lucian staggered forward, blinking against the dim glow of flickering lanterns. He stood inside an ancient study, its walls lined with crumbling tomes, scrolls, and ink-stained manuscripts. The scent of aged paper and something metallic—like blood—lingered in the air.

And at the center of it all, he sat.

A tall, skeletal man, draped in robes stitched from pages of forgotten texts. His silver hair, long and unkempt, draped over his face, but Lucian could still see his eyes—hollow, yet piercing, like they saw everything he had ever lost.

Veyren, the Holder of the Book of the Lost.

His fingers twitched, writing invisible symbols in the air. He did not look up. He did not acknowledge Lucian. But the Spirit of the Lost giggled beside him.

"Ohhh, he is HERE, my master! Another little fool seeking meaning in the void! Hehehe! Shall we welcome him? Shall we TEACH him?"

Veyren finally stirred. A slow, deliberate movement, like a corpse waking from sleep. He lifted his chin, offering Lucian a smile that was too knowing, too wide.

"Tell me, child... how much of yourself are you willing to lose?"

Lucian stiffened. He had expected riddles, cryptic lessons. Not this.

"I just want to save my grandfather." His voice was firm.

Veyren exhaled through his nose—amused.

"Ah, a noble goal. A foolish one. And yet, here you stand, holding the Book of Envy. Do you know what that means?"

Lucian clenched his fists. "That I have a chance."

Veyren laughed. A slow, broken sound, like pages tearing apart.

"No, boy. It means you will learn the meaning of loss."

Lucian's breath caught. The room seemed darker. The shadows on the walls stretched unnaturally.

Veyren leaned forward, his ink-stained fingers steepling together. "Tell me, Lucian… do you truly believe power is gained without sacrifice?"

Lucian swallowed. He didn't have an answer.

The Man Who Teaches Loss