1468. Mainz. The clang of Gutenberg's press heralds a new era, a river of ink carrying knowledge to all. But beneath the promise of enlightenment, a hidden power lies dormant within the printing press itself—the ability to manipulate time. Born into this world on the cusp of transformation, Elara Helvig, a printer’s apprentice with an insatiable curiosity, stumbles upon this secret. A forgotten manuscript and discarded type become her unwitting guides, leading her to a power as intoxicating as it is terrifying.

A seemingly insignificant shift – a festival date altered – unleashes a cascade of unsettling changes. The past, once immutable, now trembles beneath her fingertips. Driven by a mixture of wonder and dread, Elara delves into ancient texts and alchemical treatises, seeking to understand the mechanics of temporal typography. But she is not alone in her discovery. Dietrich Kohl, Gutenberg's embittered former apprentice, leads a clandestine network that sees history as a tool to be manipulated for their own gain.

As Kohl’s cabal subtly rewrites events, enriching themselves and sowing discord, Elara vows to stop them. She must master this dangerous art, not to rewrite history, but to protect it. Her printing press becomes her fortress, her ink-stained fingers her weapons in a secret war against those who would reshape the past for their own twisted desires.

Into this maelstrom steps Rhys Vaughan, a Welsh bard inexplicably flung from the 16th century. Drawn to the intoxicating scent of ink and the promise of stories captured on the page, he is a living paradox, a ripple in time caused by Kohl's manipulations. His presence is both a comfort and a stark reminder of the fragility of history. Elara finds herself drawn to his lyrical pronouncements and uncanny wisdom, their connection a flicker of light in the gathering darkness.

Kohl, seeing Elara as a threat, targets her, twisting her past and attempting to erase her from existence. The very words that empower her become weapons turned against her. She must fight a shadow war across timelines, protecting not only history but her very being.

The conflict culminates within Gutenberg’s workshop, the birthplace of print transformed into a battleground for time itself. Words become weapons, each carefully chosen character a potential turning point. Aided by Rhys’s unexpected knowledge of arcane arts, Elara confronts Kohl, wielding a meticulously crafted document, a linguistic key designed to lock his manipulations and restore the timeline.

In the heart-stopping climax, as Kohl attempts to rewrite his victory, Elara unleashes the power of the linguistic key. The temporal energy backfires, erasing Kohl and his manipulations. But victory comes at a cost. Rhys, a man out of time, begins to fade. Their bittersweet farewell echoes the profound consequences of tampering with time.

Elara dedicates her life to safeguarding the secret of temporal typography, becoming a silent guardian of history. Years later, an elderly Elara trains a new generation, her printing press a testament to the enduring power of words—not to rewrite the past, but to preserve its truth, however flawed, and to ensure that the stories of yesterday resonate in the tomorrows yet to be written.

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Data wydania

eBook: 14 listopada 2024