by Neong
Alaric is a Gleaner: a pariah who scours the dust in search of “Shards.” These fragments of shattered constellations are the last remaining source of magic. But magic has a price: to be used, it must be set directly into the flesh, through sacred scars. While the powerful rely on brute force, Alaric accidentally discovers a forgotten fragment: the “Calcite Anchor.” It is not a weapon, but an interface, a complex grid that allows Shards to be linked together. By manipulating the position of these fragments within his own body, Alaric uncovers forbidden combinations. Where others see a simple fire stone, he sees the potential to create a living inferno, provided he can find the right support Shard to bind it. Hunted by mercenaries and by entities awakened by his growing power, Alaric must begin a journey toward the center of the shattered world. His goal: to reassemble the constellations. But the more divine powers he grafts onto himself, the more his humanity begins to fade.
