Clear your mind and think happy thoughts, a favorite day or event that brought you no end of joy. Use any ink, make it your favorite color and use any type of pen you like. This series of loops will form a circle. It must have 1,440 identical loops and fit inside three-square inches. Hurry as this step should take less than 30 minutes, allow ink to dry while reminiscing about a pleasant experience.

Selkie can’t think of a moment other than last night when he confessed his feelings to Ljubica and she reciprocated those feelings. It was the single biggest risk he’d ever taken and when it paid off, he could not believe the joy he felt. He didn’t have to try hard to relive that day old moment. The tiny curly motion of his pen felt natural as he etched 153 circles per inch.

He’s only human and that artistic variability had him closing the circle with exactly 1,440 loops.

Selkie sits back and admires his progress and compares it to the example on the page, seeing no difference he flips to the next page.

Use a fine felt tip pen with a folium-based ink. Fill your spirit with sadness. Scribe these lines inside the circle of spirals. You’ve been hurt, recall every moment; nothing less will suffice. Tears are necessary, be sure they fall outside the spiral and space them evenly. Dot each tear with your pen to create a blue corona around the seal. Your lines must be perfectly straight, though they will look curved when complete.

When finished, pull yourself together and inspect your work. Use washed nonvolcanic beach sand to absorb excess ink and tears.

Selkie has been sad more times than he can count. But the biggest two moments are enough for this exercise. The barely remembered abandonment by his parents hurts and confuses. If things were so bad, why was he not born a lost child? Did he do something when he was young or did something tragic happen to them? Then there’s the betrayal by Alfie and Felix to the Hag; all those children escorted to her front door, thinking this is the only way to save the others. Yet, knowing something was wrong. Knowing they’d never return. They must have all been so scared.

He’s spent the better part of his life feeling afraid, that something bad is coming. He’s always thought there was something wrong with him. Being abandoned by his parents was proof of that. Then there’s the guilt of surviving all those lotteries held by Alfie, when he learned they were fixed, his guilt over surviving doubled. Before Luscin, there were times when he only continued to live because death would take more effort than continuing as he is. Now, everything is great, he married the woman of his dreams last night. Yet, he may never see her again. Once more life is out of his control, it feels like he’s back in the broke down warehouse picking out targets for the older kids to rob.

Thinking about those times and how they ended, a five-year-old girl named Luscin stormed into their lives, everyone was in awe of her. She fearlessly faced the hag, then returned and declared the hag to be dead and Alfie and Felix were gone. It was liberating and terrifying at the same time. Now she’s in danger and a nobody, do-nothing like him is being asked to save her.

Unbelieving and feeling empty inside Selkie mutters to himself as he draws each line, “I… I’m strong. I can do this. I will do this.”

In his mind, he keeps repeating, “I don’t want to die.”

He’s a dozen azure lines into this layer when the tears begin to blur his vision. He’s careful to let his tears rain upon the paper, keeping them out of the pattern. A light dot of ink and the corona begins to take shape.

When completed the pattern made of all straight lines does indeed appear to be warped. Partially covering it with a hand breaks the illusion. The strangeness of this project briefly obscures its ending.

Feling a wave of relief at being done with this layer, he wipes his eyes one last time and advances to the next page of directions.

You’ve been wronged more times than you can remember, remember those times! This layer looks simple enough but there is a danger of damaging the paper. You need to pour your rage into every stroke of a broad-edged pen dipped in an ink made of red ochre. These jagged lines should be drawn with the names of everyone who has hurt you on your lips. Say out loud what they did to you, tell the seal what you’d do to them. Spittle that lands outside the seal must receive a touch of red ochre and will serve to accent the blue corona. Release your rage, let it all out.

Switching to a broad-edged pen as directed he checks the red ochre. It’s a little stiff, a few drops of water and a good shake and it’s ready to go. He’s been looking forward to this layer since he read the directions in Fathers office yesterday.

This layer will overlap the straight lines and ruin the illusion of the previous, Selkie briefly wonders about the point of it. Then he remembers he’s supposed to be angry and gets to work.

“Alfie you smooth talking, lying piece of garbage. I hope your body was found by stray inu and they pissed on it.”

Dipping his pen in the ochre he stabs the parchment and drags out the first ragged line, “Felix, you were a sadistic child molester. The beating you got wasn’t enough. After hearing what you did from the others, I wanted to stab out your eyes.”

Another slash of his pen, leaves his second mark, “I could have stabbed you with this pen into each socket and spit in the holes.”

Another two jagged movements complete the first segment, “Father, you’re the real monster. You tortured your daughter until she ran away. You say you want to save your daughter, yet somehow, it’s me, it’s me who will pay and not you. I hate you, Father; I hate you!”

Several more stabbing motions and the layer is starting to take shape. The illusion is gone but now there’s rage. The lines behind the rage are a cage, a cage that can’t hold back the anger.

“Mom, dad? You left me. I was alone, only three years old and living in Downwind by myself for weeks. Maybe you were killed, that doesn’t matter, you were supposed to be there for me. You are weak, and I hate you for that.”

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

Another slash, “I hate you,” slash, “hate you,” slash, “hate you!”

There are tiny wet spots all over the parchment, as directed he pokes the corner of his pen into each shiny splash of spittle.

He feels calm now, peaceful even. Taking the moment to add the red dots allowed him to transition away from the rage and now he only feels empty.

Selkie takes a break there’s an icebox in the corner with water, sipping from the pitcher he shuffles through the drawers of an adjacent cabinet and turns up a half empty bowl of nuts and dried fruit.

The folder with the stolen writ is drawing his interest. The blotted seal, should he peek at it, they say the finished seal when viewed will sap your strength, make you ill, or even kill you. This one has been mostly destroyed; how dangerous can it be?

Opening the folder, he allows his eyes to fall on the blotted seal at the top of the page. The center is completely covered in layers of black ink. What is not blotted is the corona. Whoever drew this had only a few tears, but they were angry beyond belief. Hundreds of red smudges circle the seal, and only the faintest trace of the blue corona can be seen through them.

Tracing his fingers over the red dots, he can imagine the scribe angrily cursing his empire the whole time.

Slipping the writ back into its folder he turns to the next page of directions.

Lust. Dry the seal thoroughly before continuing. Use blotting paper to remove any excess moisture or ink. Think of the times you were the most aroused; imagine indulging your every desire and dwell on those thoughts as you continue. This layer is made by tracing over the indicated portions of rage and sorrow, imagine tracing them onto the body of your most desired partners. There is no ink, wet the nib of a brush pen by placing it under your tongue.

Last night was the most erotic and incredible time of his life. It was his first time with a woman, and it was with Ljubica. She knew things he never imagined; she did things he can never forget.

Selkie almost forgets he was supposed to do something with the pen in his mouth. He looks at the paper and sees the first set of lines he’s to trace.

The first series reminds him of the nape of her neck as he sensually draws the first line. The second reminds him of her bosom, he grins lustily as he lightly traces them.

There are nine forms to trace and each one reminds him of her, each stroke of his pen brings Selkie to a new height of arousal. His mouth is watering from repeated invasion be the stylus in his hand. He makes the last form with his eyes closed, trusting in his skill, to complete it. He shudders as his body reaches an echo of last night’s climax.

Gasping for breath, he can’t believe what just happened. After that finish Selkie feels clear headed and ready to proceed.

Protection, this layer is made of 3 segments. The light of lamps has provided more protection than all the armor ever made. Using an ink of lamp black and your favorite pen, think of the three things you hold most important to you. Consider what you would do to protect them. As you ink each segment, you’ll be dividing the seal into three distinct, yet unequal areas, the largest being two thirds, then segment the lone third the same way. Do not miss the fine details decorating the lines, every bud has purpose, make that purpose the protection you wish to apply to the things you find most precious.

What are the three things Selkie would protect above everything else? There’s Ljubica, and of course Luscin goes without saying. This whole ordeal is to protect her. What third thing does Selkie wish to protect?

His mind is a blank, he can’t think of another single thing or person that he would trade his life over. Will the seal be complete if he can only think of two things? This has been an emotional journey; he doesn’t want to mess it up for a lack of caring. What else is here…

He can remember himself, all those years ago. Sleeping in a box near the docks. Slipping out when he hears the ships coming in with their full hulls of the daily catch. Waiting for the opportunity to steal one tiny fish.

That boy, that’s who he would protect along with Ljubica and Luscin.

Holding those three people in his mind he draws the two intricate dividers. His mind devoid of lust, rage, and sorrow allowing him to reproduce each tiny squiggly and swirly stem with perfection.

Nurture, this layer is for yourself, for your garden, for your children, for your home, for your friends, it is for all the things that made you happy, brought you sorrow, triggered rage, inflamed your lust, those are the feelings of life, your life. Using the ink of nettle leaves and the same brush pen used earlier adorn the buds with the final layer of symbols. You’ve grown, you’ve helped others grow. Reflect on the times you’ve helped others as you finish these sigils.

Selkie imagined having a garden once, he saw himself growing watermelons for some reason. Maybe Ljubica will have a garden, it will be practical and feed their child, his son. She agreed to bear him one, and last night she did that. Ljubica will nurture their son and see that he is never alone to fend for himself.

Selkie may not be there to help, but this one act will make him a made man. His wife will be widowed and allowed to retire in comfort with a pension and the protection of the family. This one job will provide for his family. Something nobody was able to do for him.

One by one, while dreaming of the wife and son he’ll leave behind he augments the two lines with tiny green buds. This layer must symbolize growth, life, and nurture.

Now for the hard part. He recalls there is no need for a stylus, pen, or brush. He sets his instrument down and consults the last sheet.

Lastly dust the seal with the sand from the first step, carefully blot the seal dry. There is one last layer to apply. Use no pen, use no ink. Hold the picture of this last emblem three triangles, overlayed to form a nine-pointed star. Stare at the seal and invest your spirit until you can see the final seal complete.

What does that even mean? How is he going to make the three triangles with no ink, no pen? This is crazy, how?

Selkie looks at the disjointed mess of lines, swirls, and slashes. The angry lines in red stand out over the sad blue. The lust he felt is only a memory, but the protection and nurturing is starkly upfront and take precedent over the other layers, the other feelings.

The longer he looks at the seal the harder it is to look away. It pulls at him, draws him. He feels a connection, a shadow of all the feelings he invested in the seal’s creation.

Selkie fixes the image of the nine-pointed star and tries to picture what it would look like if overlaying the incomplete seal.

His eyes are heavy, he’s been at this for hours… if he’s to believe the instructions this should have cost him eleven hours.

Starring at the seal he sees the faintest lines of the star appearing. It’s fascinating to watch as the symbol slowly appears out of nowhere.

Selkie is tired, his eyes are heavier than they’ve ever been. He’d cry if he had any tears left. He’d scream his anger if he had anymore rage within him. Completely empty of emotion, all he can do is gaze at the symbol and wonder why the weaker he feels the more vivid the star.

Outside room number two, Lucy should have gone home hours ago, she’s not worried about Early, he’ll understand. It’s been almost twelve hours since Selkie entered room two and she’s beginning to worry if he’s okay.

The directions and legends agree, to create the seal, you invest your spirit in it and that is a death sentence.

She stands outside the door and knocks. Hearing no response she furtively opens the door and peers inside.

Selkie sits in the room’s loan chair, as if asleep. Sitting upright with his head rolled to the side and eyes open.

On the table before him is a piece of parchment bearing the Emperor’s Seal.