by Hash Blink, Thomas Sheriff
In
this novel, Roland is an enigmatic sculptor who is known as the
forbidden idol in his village. He becomes obsessed with creating a
statue of a woman from obsidian, which catches the attention of the
villagers. Roland meets a young woman named Elsie who admires his work,
and they form a connection. However, the villagers grow suspicious of
Roland and confront him, leading to his banishment from the village.
Roland wanders and meets a group of travelers who encourage him to
continue his art. He stumbles upon an ancient temple and is drawn to a
cursed idol, which drives him to create a new masterpiece at the cost of
a sacrificed life. Consumed by guilt, Roland isolates himself in the
temple until he hears whispers leading him to another time and place. In
this new world, he enjoys wealth and privilege but is haunted by his
past. One day, a young woman commissions him to sculpt her, revealing
her terminal illness and desire to leave something beautiful behind.
Roland realizes the importance of using his art to help others and
invites her into his home.
Roland,
a skilled sculptor, dedicates himself to creating a sculpture of a
young woman, pouring his skill and passion into capturing her essence.
As he works, the nightmares of a forbidden idol that once plagued him
begin to fade. When the sculpture is complete, the woman is moved to
tears, grateful for the masterpiece that immortalizes her. Roland feels a
sense of satisfaction and redemption, realizing the true purpose of
art. However, temptation returns when a hooded man asks him to create
another forbidden idol. Roland succumbs to the temptation, only to
discover that the statue curses him, turning him to stone. He remains
trapped until a group of travelers breaks the curse, freeing him. Roland
continues to use his art to help others, but the curse still lingers,
tempting him with darkness. He encounters a figure that haunts him, and
the curse takes hold once again. Determined to break free, Roland finds
an ancient scroll with a ritual to break the curse. He successfully
performs the ritual on the night of a full moon, freeing himself once
and for all. Roland embraces his newfound freedom and uses his art to
bring happiness and joy to others, finally finding his purpose in life.
Roland's
reputation as a talented sculptor and magician grows, and people from
all over seek his help. Despite his fame, Roland remains humble and
focused on his work, creating beautiful sculptures and water mills for
villages in need. However, a commission to create a sculpture of a queen
leads to a shocking discovery - the sculpture is a perfect likeness of
Roland himself. This leads to a belief that Roland has a magical ability
to capture spirits in stone, and he becomes inundated with commissions.
Roland's fame continues to grow, but so does the envy and jealousy of
other artists. They spread rumors and lies about his work, leading to
attacks on his workshop. To prove his innocence, Roland performs a
ritual and creates a sculpture that captures the spirit of his village.
His reputation is restored, but he faces new challenges when he is
tempted to create a sculpture of a forbidden idol. The idol's curse
takes hold, and Roland realizes his mistake. He breaks the curse by
smashing the idol and creates a new sculpture that brings healing and
hope to those who see it. Roland discovers the power of art to transform
and heal, and he embraces his true calling. However, he is approached
by a wealthy noblewoman who asks him to create a sculpture of a goddess,
which turns out to be a portal to another world.
