On the dust-choked moon of Lysandra, cartographer Elara spends her life mapping geothermal vents-until she uncovers an artifact that shatters her small world: an obsidian slate etched with non-human script. This isn't a star map; it's a terrifying sequence for the deliberate destruction of entire solar systems, a terrifying blueprint the ancient Starforged call "The Song." When Elara realizes the next target is the heart of the civilized galaxy, the Core Systems, she has to choose between her safe, quiet life and becoming the most wanted fugitive in the void.Driven by a crushing mix of fear, guilt, and fierce longing, Elara steals a ship and plunges into the lawless deep, racing against a cosmic clock she accidentally accelerates. Her journey is a desperate hunt for an ally who will believe her impossible truth-but her interference only draws the attention of the Starforged themselves. She finds herself on a lonely, ancient hub world, where she must interrupt the deadly cadence of the universe. In a final, explosive act of defiance, Elara learns the terrifying truth: the Song is not about destruction, but the necessary, painful balance of creation. She finds herself facing an unexpected and complete ending, realizing she has not stopped the cosmic cycle, but has horrifyingly become its new, living, and unwilling engine. This is a five-chapter, intense space opera (Approx. 7,918 words) about sacrifice, unintended consequences, and the immense burden of cosmic truth.
