Different Topics
by Alfred Sterling Cross
Max’s team hunts two relics and finds a family sealed in ivory and copper statues worldwide. Each relic sharpens the truth—and someone wants it buried as the benefactor’s agents close in fast.
A “simple” retrieval mission becomes a rescue. Max and the Forgotten Paths Alliance hunt two ancient relics and uncover a family—father, mother, child—sealed inside ivory and copper sculptures, scattered from North America to India, Egypt, and Morocco. Each recovery awakens a living hum and pushes their abilities into a sharper, riskier phase. With a ruthless benefactor moving to destroy them, Seraphina arrives to lead the team into protective sleep—an ending that might be a doorway.
The title means change never pauses—power, consequences, and destiny keep moving whether the Alliance is ready or not. In Vol11, each relic they recover awakens new “hums,” expands their abilities, and reshapes the mission into something bigger than retrieval: protection, legacy, and a next-stage awakening they can’t undo.
I am a writer driven by a passion for storytelling, discovery, and the deeper meaning behind human experience. My work blends mystery, adventure, and symbolism, inviting readers to explore worlds where every detail matters and every path leads to transformation. Through my books, I aim to inspire curiosity, reflection, and the courage to look beyond what is seen and into what is possible.
My bookstore brings together stories and resources designed to inspire readers and learners of all ages. It features the Maximillian Reader series, along with self-improvement books, children’s stories, and interactive games created to spark imagination and personal growth. I believe that learning and discovery have no age limit, which is why this collection is thoughtfully curated for everyone from 14 to 99 years young. My goal is to offer meaningful experiences that encourage curiosity, strengthen confidence, and remind every visitor that their journey of growth is ongoing.
Max forms the Forgotten Paths Alliance when a humming orb and stone obelisk awaken a hidden network. A strange black cat returns as signals “ping,” warning the heir is not who they think.
Max, Johanna, and Zakya confront the Echoes of the Forgotten—memory traps bound to symbols, coins, and wind. As the Forgotten Paths Alliance, they follow hidden routes where each choice reveals truth or rewrites fate.
Returning to the Alliance, a woman who “sees” hidden selves reunites with Max, Johanna, Zakya and crew. Echoes of past quests surface; secrets and a living symbol test their bond as they choose what to carry home—and what to release.
Max and the Forgotten Paths Alliance hit a storm-lit city where a speaking map points to the Door of Seven Trials. Each test—warning, doubt, language, loyalty, mercy—forces hard choices as Daniel’s distrust rises and only the worthy pass.
At a rune-marked nexus, the Alliance must master an heirloom that could heal or break the world as Catherina and Sebastis close in—forcing Daniel’s leadership and the team’s unity through their hardest test.