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 road back to the city was quiet.

Elara walked a few steps ahead, her posture relaxed, her staff swinging lightly with each step. She hummed a tune—calm, unbothered.

She hadn't spoken about the symbol since they left the farm. Hadn't even looked at him after the battle.

But he had seen the way her eyes lingered on the creature's corpse. The way her fingers had traced that mark just a little too long.

The city gates came into view just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the streets. The familiar scent of baked bread, burning oil, and damp stone filled the air, a sharp contrast to the battlefield they had left behind.

Elara stretched, sighing dramatically. "First job as adventurers? I'd say that went well."

Lucian gave her a look. "We nearly died."

Lucian exhaled, rubbing his temple.

She was acting normal. Too normal.

They entered the guild, pushing past the evening crowd of adventurers drinking and exchanging stories. The clerk at the front desk barely glanced up as they dropped their quest slip onto the counter.

She skimmed it, then the two of them. "No injuries?"

Elara grinned. "None that matter."

The clerk raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. With a lazy motion, she scribbled something down and slid a small pouch of coins across the counter.

Lucian caught it before Elara could.

Lucian ignored her, pocketing the reward.

That night, as Lucian lay in the inn bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts drifted.

Something about it gnawed at him, pulling at the edges of his mind.

He turned onto his side, exhaling slowly.

Others were already being searched for.

Elara sat by the inn window, resting her chin against her palm, staring out at the city.

Then, without a word, she stood, threw on her cloak, and stepped out into the night.

Shadows Beneath the Surface