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ArtistIMPORTANT: Use the supplied reference image for Mara and Liora and keep their faces, hairstyles, age, height, body proportions and clothing EXACTLY identical to every previous illustration. They are wearing their cottage clothing and are NOT carrying backpacks. IMPORTANT CHARACTER REFERENCE – BIBLIOR: Biblior is a recurring character and must always look exactly the same in every future illustration. He is a small elderly magical librarian, about 110 cm (3 ft 7 in) tall, with the proportions of an elderly gnome, never a child. He has shoulder-length neatly combed silver-white hair, bushy white eyebrows, warm amber eyes, a long friendly nose, small round brass spectacles, a neatly trimmed white moustache and short beard. He always wears the same long dark forest-green librarian's coat with antique brass buttons, a brown leather belt carrying tiny books and little keys, dark brown trousers, sturdy brown leather boots and fingerless gloves. He always carries the same enormous antique feather quill, nearly as tall as himself. His expression is intelligent, warm, patient and quietly humorous. Scene: Deep inside the impossible magical library, Mara and Liora stand before a floating pure white book hovering above a circular stone pedestal. Liquid silver letters magically write their names across its blank pages. Endless bookshelves stretch into infinity. Living books walk on tiny leather feet, enchanted bookmarks float through the air, magical paper airplanes carry sealed messages, floating candles illuminate the chamber, and a dignified living wooden ladder stands beside the girls. Across the circular chamber stands Biblior, exactly matching his established appearance, smiling kindly as he welcomes Mara and Liora for the first time while holding his giant feather quill. Bright magical atmosphere, warm golden light, wonder, mystery, breathtaking fantasy realism, ultra-detailed environment, cinematic composition. Style: Brian Froud × Alan Lee × James Gurney × John Howe
The Cottage of the Vanished Wizard Chapter 3 – The Library of Lost Paths Part 2 – The Books That Read Their Readers
The ladder cleared its throat once more, as though it had grown accustomed to visitors who never seemed to understand proper library etiquette. "Very well," it said with dignified composure. "Please follow me. And whatever you do, do not touch anything that speaks to you first." Mara blinked. "There are books that actually speak to people?" "Naturally," the ladder replied. "At least the polite ones do." Before anyone could say another word, the thick book that had been peeking from behind the shelf waddled toward them on its tiny leather feet. It bowed so deeply that its pages brushed softly across the floor. "Registry of Extraordinary Visitors," it introduced itself proudly. "Forty-Seventh Revised and Entirely Improved Edition." With a satisfied rustle, it opened itself. Instead of ordinary printed pages, shimmering images slowly appeared. Mara saw herself as a little girl laughing while running through a warm summer rain. Liora recognized a snow-covered hill where she had searched for the first evening star as a child. Both of them held their breath in surprise. "How do you know these things?" Mara asked quietly. The book closed itself a little. "I do not know them," it answered kindly. "I merely read the first chapter of your memories. Everything beyond that belongs only to you." Liora instinctively stepped back. "That feels rather strange." "It should," the ladder replied. "Anyone who never feels amazed in a library usually reads only the titles." Meanwhile, Klemmi had already discovered something far more interesting. She was hanging upside down from a floating bookmark that fluttered wildly through the air. "Let go of me immediately!" squeaked the bookmark. "I am a guide, not a curtain!" "But you flutter so beautifully," Klemmi giggled. "Enough!" the ladder called sternly. "No wrestling with the library inventory." Reluctantly, Klemmi let go and landed with a cheerful little pling on Mara's shoulder. "Everyone down here seems awfully sensitive." "It is called dignity," muttered the bookmark before fluttering away in annoyance. As they continued deeper into the endless rows of shelves, Mara and Liora noticed that none of the books carried ordinary titles. Instead, their spines displayed names such as The Smile of a Forgotten King, The Color of the First Snow, Things Only the Wind Knows, and Every Story That Was Never Told. Some books even changed their titles whenever someone stared at them for too long. Others slowly turned themselves around as though they wished to keep their names secret. Above them, tiny paper airplanes rushed through the vast library carrying sealed messages marked with shimmering wax seals. One of them landed gently in front of the ladder.