Brakos stared at me with a mixture of disbelief, awe, and something dangerously close to giddy excitement.
"You're insane," he repeated, the grin on his face widening. "You want to become a Primogenitor—create an entire race—and then seal that power away so you can unlock it later, once you feel ready?"
"Yep," I said casually, leaning back in my chair like I'd just asked for an extra scoop of ice cream instead of godlike potential. "Is it doable?"
Brakos sat still for a long moment, then rubbed his face with both hands and let out the slow, tired sigh of a man who knew he was about to say yes to something he probably shouldn't.
"Yes. It's possible. Technically. But Jack… do you know what you're asking for?"
"Roughly 9 out of 10 on the 'I've thought this through but it still might blow up in my face' scale."
Brakos snorted.
"Primogenitors are not normal beings. They're creators. Architects of entire races. Their existence alone shakes the balance of the world. You'd be born with power—real power—stronger than seasoned mages and warriors. Even sealed, your soul will radiate potential. If anyone senses even a hint of what you are..."
He trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.
I nodded. "That's why the seal matters. I want it hidden in a form only I can access. Something subtle. Something that can grow with me."
Brakos tilted his head. "Go on."
I leaned forward, letting my excitement show a little now."A book. A special one—bound to me and me alone. To anyone else, it looks normal. Maybe even blank. But when I write in it, the words stay. And the words define my race. Traits, powers, biology, abilities—whatever I write becomes real… but only after I complete a challenge tied to it."
Brakos stared at me like I'd just invented magic all over again."A book that functions as the container of your sealed power... and also the framework for your race's development."
"Exactly."
He blinked. "You want your evolution... gamified."
"Look, I'm a programmer and a gamer. Systems make sense to me. So yeah, if I write 'can breathe fire,' the book generates a quest. Something to earn it. Slay a dragon, collect rare herbs, whatever fits the scale. If I want my people to fly? Maybe I need to study the anatomy of a bird and harvest certain feathers. Logical input, logical output."
Brakos was quiet for a moment.
Then he laughed. Loud and genuine and just slightly unhinged."Oh stars, you are completely out of your mind—and I love it!"
I grinned. "I figured you'd say that."
"I've been watching souls pass through here for eons. Most of them want second chances. Some want power. A few even try to bargain for revenge. But you? You want to become a creator and turn your new life into a quest system?"
"With adjustable difficulty settings," I added helpfully.
"Of course you do," Brakos muttered, still smiling. "Alright. It's possible. Not easy—but possible. The book you're describing is no ordinary artifact. It'll take time to construct… maybe even months. And I'll need your help designing the framework."
"Naturally. I wouldn't trust anyone else to balance the mechanics."
"Good. Because once it's made, it'll be part of your soul. It'll grow with you, evolve with your mind, and no one else will ever be able to open it. Not even me."
"Perfect."
Brakos stood up and started pacing now, clearly energized. I could almost see the gears turning in his mind.
"You'll need safeguards," he muttered. "Restrictions. Triggers. And a spirit to oversee the book's internal systems—one that can enforce the rules, track quests, and ensure no tampering."
"You can create spirits, right?" I asked.
"Yes. Not sentient ones—not at first. But enough to automate the functions you're asking for. Think of them like... magical programs."
I lit up. "Oh that's perfect. Then I can expand them later, maybe even give them personalities."
Brakos gave me a look that was equal parts impressed and exasperated. "You do realize you're creating what's essentially a sentient operating system inside a magic grimoire, right?"
"With modding potential," I added.
He just shook his head and laughed again.
"And here I thought I was just giving a clever soul a second chance," Brakos said. "But no. You're building a whole damn legacy."
I grinned. "Told you I'm a long-term planner."
We both sat back down, and the excitement settled into something quieter, more meaningful.
"Jack," Brakos said seriously, "this path you've chosen… it will be hard. There will be people who fear you. Hunt you. And the other Primogenitors... they will come for you, eventually."
"I know."
"You'll be tested. In ways I can't predict. Even with the seal, you'll have to be careful—very careful. You'll need to blend in. Learn fast. Build trust. Every move you make could draw attention."
"I'm ready for that."
He stared at me for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright. Then here's what happens next. I'll begin crafting the book. You'll remain here in the Library while we work out the mechanics. It'll take time—maybe a few months—but once it's nearly done, I'll send you to your new world."
I nodded. "Makes sense. I'll need to learn how the world works before I do anything too flashy."
"Exactly. While you wait, you'll have access to certain books here—ones I approve. Reading them will imprint their knowledge directly onto your soul, but you have to be careful. If you overdo it, you'll shatter yourself from the inside."
I flinched. "Okay, definitely not speedrunning that process."
Brakos raised a hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, three books flew off the distant shelves and landed gently on the table between us.
"Books on soul strengthening, spirit behavior, and magic signature suppression," he said. "All essential if you want to survive undetected."
I looked at the thick tomes in front of me and smiled."Homework in the afterlife. Lovely."
Brakos chuckled, then turned toward the shelves, already thinking aloud. "The book's framework… the race bindings… quest scaffolding… oh, this is going to be fun."
As he walked away, I turned back to the books and ran my fingers over the covers.
This was happening. My story wasn't ending—it was just beginning.
I opened the first book, heart pounding, mind racing, and whispered to myself with a grin.
"Let's make something legendary."