Chapter Five: The Empty Shelves of Heaven
Swallowed. Silenced. Forgotten.
But deep within the dragon's belly, something flickered—
a faint glow...
like pages turning in the dark.
Meera's death was expected.
Her survival?
That was never part of the plan.
When Meera regained consciousness, she didn't open her eyes—because she couldn't tell if they were even closed.
Everything around her was dark.
Not nighttime dark—but a crushing, soulless void, like she was floating in the space between worlds.
She sat up slowly. The silence felt heavy.
"Am I… dead?"
Her voice echoed strangely, like it bounced off invisible walls, warped and distant.
"No pain. No body. Just... this nothing."
She hugged herself tightly.
"Is this the end? Oblivar's version of hell?"
Then, from the emptiness, something appeared.
A soft flicker.
A book.
It hovered in the air before her, glowing faintly, its cover shifting between runes and languages she didn't understand. Its pages turned slowly—on their own.
"The Heaven Library…" Meera whispered.
"It's real."
She reached out to touch it.
But just before her fingers made contact, the book stopped.
Then, silently, it began to circle around her—slow, deliberate, as if it were examining her.
The glowing patterns on its surface changed color, flickering from violet to gold, then back again.
Is it scanning me? Judging me?
Then, suddenly, the book fell.
It hit the ground with a soft thud, then melted like liquid light—seeping into the floor beneath her, as if returning to its source.
Meera took a step back, startled.
What the hell is going on?
Before she could think, the darkness around her began to shift. Slowly, the void peeled away, like curtains parting before a grand stage.
And what stood behind it took her breath away.
A massive ancient mansion emerged from the mist—towers made of stone and light, walls carved with golden veins and floating runes. It looked like it had stood for thousands of years, untouched by time.
Above its massive, arched wooden doors, two glowing words burned into her vision:
HEAVEN LIBRARY
Her heart skipped a beat.
It's real. It actually exists...
She took a hesitant step toward the doors. They were enormous—thick wood bound in dark iron, towering above her like a fortress wall.
She didn't know why, but her hand reached out.
The moment her fingers touched the surface, a faint purple light bloomed beneath her palm. It spread—wrapping around her wrist, then her shoulders, then her whole body—until she was glowing like a star swallowed by twilight.
Before she could even react, the world spun.
Everything dissolved.
And when the glow faded—
She was inside.
Meera looked around, stunned.
She stood in a massive hall with endless rows of towering bookshelves stretching beyond sight. The air smelled like ancient paper, stardust, and something divine. Overhead, instead of a ceiling, was a swirling cosmos—stars and constellations slowly turning in a night sky that didn't belong to any world.
This place... it's infinite.
She stepped forward, heart racing.
The silence was total. Her footsteps didn't echo. The floor was smooth marble, marked with glowing patterns that pulsed beneath her feet.
She moved to the nearest bookshelf—then froze.
Something was wrong.
She looked closely.
It was empty.
No books.
No scrolls.
Not even a scrap of parchment.
Just a clean, polished shelf—like it had been waiting for something… or someone.
She walked faster—moving down row after row.
Still empty.
Where are the books?
Panic began to creep in.
She rushed to another aisle. Then another. She jogged, then ran—searching for anything.
But everywhere she looked…
there was nothing.
Just silence.
And emptiness.
This can't be right. The God said this was my power. My key to survival. So where is it?
She stopped in the center of the vast space, turning slowly, staring at the void of knowledge all around her.
Did I fail? Was this all just a trick? Am I not worthy?
Her hands trembled. Her heart pounded.
The air felt colder now. Heavier. Lonelier.
This was not the victory she expected.
It was a hollow throne.
A silent kingdom with no crown.
Only rows of empty shelves.
And somewhere, in the stillness—
the Library waited.
✨ End of Chapter Five: The Empty Shelves of Heaven
Is Meera truly unworthy of the Heaven Library?
Or is this all an illusion crafted from death itself?
Has she survived… or has she already been claimed by Oblivar?
The answers lie beyond the silence—
in the next chapter.
📚 Author's Note from SoulRifter 🌌
Thank you so much for reading Arcana: The Chosen One – Volume 1: Awakening in Oblivar.
Your time, emotions, and imagination mean the world to me. 🙏
If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider adding this book to your Collection and voting with a Power Stone. Every single vote tells me that Meera's journey means something—that her survival, her fear, her fight to live… matters to you too.
This story is a deep blend of suspense, fantasy, and mystery. I'm pouring my heart into each twist, every emotion, and every cliffhanger. Your support helps this world grow—and keeps Meera's story alive.
So if you believe in Oblivar…
If you want to uncover the truth behind the Heaven Library…
If you want to see how far Meera can go—
🔮 Collect it. Vote for it. Stand with her.
Thank you for being part of this adventure.
— SoulRifter
📊 [Reader Poll] What do YOU think is happening in the Heaven Library?
1️⃣ Meera is being tested. The books will appear when she proves herself.2️⃣ Meera is already dead—this is an illusion of the afterlife.3️⃣ The library is alive and choosing what to reveal.4️⃣ She's not alone—something (or someone) is watching her from the shadows.5️⃣ It's all a trap. She's in more danger than she realizes.
💬 Comment Prompt:
What do you think the first book to appear will reveal? A weakness of a monster? A forgotten truth? Or a memory Meera never knew she had?