:root{
  --bg:#0a0d12;
  --ink:#e8edf6;
  --muted:#a9b4c6;
  --line:rgba(232,237,246,0.12);

  /* Glass layers */
  --panel:rgba(10,13,18,0.55);
  --panel-soft:rgba(10,13,18,0.42);
  --card:rgba(10,13,18,0.36);

  --radius:18px;
  --max:900px;
  --shadow:0 16px 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.45);
}

/* Base */
*{ box-sizing:border-box; }
html,body{ height:100%; }

body{
  margin:0;
  font-family: ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;
  color:var(--ink);
  line-height:1.7;
  background:var(--bg);
}

/* GLOBAL CANDLE BACKDROP */
body::before{
  content:"";
  position:fixed;
  inset:0;
  z-index:-2;
  background:
    linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(10,13,18,0.72), rgba(10,13,18,0.94)),
    url("./assets/candle.jpg") center / cover no-repeat;
  filter: contrast(1.08) brightness(0.90) saturate(1.02);
}

/* Vignette */
body::after{
  content:"";
  position:fixed;
  inset:0;
  z-index:-1;
  pointer-events:none;
  background:
    radial-gradient(900px 600px at 50% 18%, transparent 35%, rgba(0,0,0,0.62) 100%);
}

/* Links */
a{ color:#d7e6ff; text-decoration:none; }
a:hover{ text-decoration:underline; }

/* Layout */
.container{
  max-width:var(--max);
  margin:0 auto;
  padding:28px 18px 64px;
}

/* Header */
.topbar{
  display:flex;
  justify-content:space-between;
  align-items:flex-end;
  gap:16px;
  padding:12px 0 18px;
  border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);
}

.brand{
  display:flex;
  flex-direction:column;
  gap:6px;
  min-width:220px;
}

.brand .sigil{
  font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Arial;
  letter-spacing:0.22em;
  text-transform:uppercase;
  font-weight:700;
  font-size:12px;
  color:rgba(232,237,246,0.85);
}

.brand .motto{
  font-size:14px;
  color:var(--muted);
  max-width:56ch;
}

/* Nav pills */
.nav{
  display:flex;
  gap:10px;
  flex-wrap:wrap;
  justify-content:flex-end;
  font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Arial;
  font-size:13px;
}

.nav a{
  padding:8px 12px;
  border:1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius:999px;
  background:rgba(255,255,255,0.02);
  text-decoration:none;
  line-height:1;
}

.nav a:hover{
  background:rgba(255,255,255,0.06);
  text-decoration:none;
}

/* Headings & text */
h1,h2,h3{ margin:0 0 10px; }
h1{
  font-size:34px;
  line-height:1.15;
  letter-spacing:-0.02em;
}
h2{ font-size:18px; }

p{
  margin:0 0 14px;
  color:rgba(232,237,246,0.86);
}

.muted{ color:var(--muted); }

.small{
  font-size:13px;
  color:rgba(232,237,246,0.62);
  font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Arial;
}

/* Lists */
ul{ margin:10px 0 0 18px; padding:0; }
li{ margin:6px 0; color:rgba(232,237,246,0.82); }

/* Panels (used for big blocks on non-home pages) */
.panel{
  margin-top:20px;
  padding:22px;
  border:1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius:var(--radius);
  background:var(--panel);
  backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
  box-shadow:var(--shadow);
}
.panel.soft{
  background:var(--panel-soft);
  box-shadow:none;
}

/* HOMEPAGE: altar card layout */
.home-layout{
  display:grid;
  grid-template-columns: 0.95fr 1.25fr 0.85fr;
  gap:18px;

  max-width:760px;
  margin:34px auto 0;
  align-items:start;
}

/* Home cards (glass slabs) */
.home-card{
  padding:16px 18px;
  border:1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius:16px;
  background:var(--card);
  backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
  box-shadow: 0 10px 26px rgba(0,0,0,0.42);
}

/* Stagger for composition */
.home-layout .home-card:nth-child(1){ transform: translateY(8px); }
.home-layout .home-card:nth-child(2){ transform: translateY(-14px); }
.home-layout .home-card:nth-child(3){ transform: translateY(10px); }

/* Home card typography tweaks */
.home-card h1{ font-size:32px; margin-bottom:8px; }
.home-card h2{ margin-bottom:8px; }
.home-card p{ margin-bottom:12px; }

/* Essay list cards */
.cards{
  display:grid;
  grid-template-columns:1fr;
  gap:12px;
  margin-top:14px;
}

.card{
  padding:14px 16px;
  border:1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius:14px;
  background:var(--card);
  backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
}

.card .title{ margin:0; font-size:16px; font-weight:700; }

.card .meta{
  margin-top:4px;
  font-size:13px;
  color:var(--muted);
  font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Arial;
}

.card .desc{ margin-top:10px; color:rgba(232,237,246,0.78); }

/* Article pages */
.article{
  margin-top:20px;
  padding:26px 24px;
  border:1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius:var(--radius);
  background:var(--panel);
  backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
  box-shadow:var(--shadow);
}

.byline{
  margin:0 0 18px;
  font-size:13px;
  color:var(--muted);
  font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Arial;
}

.article blockquote{
  margin:16px 0;
  padding:12px 14px;
  border-left:3px solid rgba(255,225,160,0.35);
  background:rgba(255,225,160,0.06);
  border-radius:12px;
  color:rgba(232,237,246,0.72);
}

/* Shared grid (Novels + Darkling) */
.grid{
  display:grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));
  gap:12px;
  margin-top:14px;
}

@media (max-width:700px){
  .grid{ grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
}

/* Illustration-backed cards (book cover system) */
.ill-card{
  position:relative;
  overflow:hidden;
  border:1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius:14px;
  min-height:170px;
  background:rgba(10,13,18,0.34);
  backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
}

.ill-card::before{
  content:"";
  position:absolute;
  inset:0;
  background:
    linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(10,13,18,0.30), rgba(10,13,18,0.90)),
    var(--bgimg) center / cover no-repeat;
  filter: contrast(1.06) brightness(0.92);
}

.ill-card > *{ position:relative; z-index:1; }

.ill-card a{
  display:block;
  height:100%;
  padding:14px 16px;
  text-decoration:none;
  color:var(--ink);
}

.ill-title{ margin:0; font-size:16px; font-weight:700; }

.ill-meta{
  margin-top:6px;
  font-size:13px;
  color:rgba(232,237,246,0.72);
  font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Arial;
}

.ill-desc{ margin-top:10px; color:rgba(232,237,246,0.78); }

.ill-card:hover{ border-color: rgba(232,237,246,0.22); }
.ill-card:hover::before{ filter: contrast(1.08) brightness(0.98); }

/* Footer */
.footer{
  margin-top:30px;
  padding-top:16px;
  border-top:1px solid var(--line);
  display:flex;
  justify-content:space-between;
  gap:12px;
  flex-wrap:wrap;
  font-size:13px;
  color:var(--muted);
  font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Arial;
}

/* ===== Essays page: lighter abstract gradient backdrop ===== */
body.page-essays::before{
  background:
    radial-gradient(900px 600px at 50% 18%, rgba(255,255,255,0.08), transparent 60%),
    linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(10,13,18,0.35), rgba(10,13,18,0.80)),
    linear-gradient(135deg,
      rgba(120,140,255,0.14),
      rgba(255,210,180,0.08),
      rgba(120,255,210,0.06)
    );
  filter: contrast(1.02) brightness(1.08) saturate(1.06);
}

/* Section headers used on Essays page */
.section-title{
  margin-top:22px;
  margin-bottom:10px;
  font-size:13px;
  letter-spacing:0.16em;
  text-transform:uppercase;
  font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Arial;
  color:rgba(232,237,246,0.72);
}

/* Essays: section cards + cover grid */
.section-card{
  padding:14px 16px;
  border:1px solid var(--line);
  border-radius:16px;
  background:var(--card);
  backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
  box-shadow: 0 10px 26px rgba(0,0,0,0.30);
  margin-top:14px;
}

.cover-grid{
  display:grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));
  gap:12px;
  margin-top:12px;
}

@media (max-width:700px){
  .cover-grid{ grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
}

/* Mobile */
@media (max-width:560px){
  h1{ font-size:28px; }
  .panel{ padding:18px; }
  .article{ padding:20px 18px; }
  .topbar{ align-items:flex-start; }
  .nav{ justify-content:flex-start; }

  .home-layout{
    grid-template-columns:1fr;
    max-width:520px;
  }
  .home-layout .home-card{ transform:none; }
}