The Crystal Sphere

I ascended toward the ceiling to secure an unobstructed vantage over this vast territory. At the summit of a weathered wooden bookshelf, a heavy sphere of solid glass rested against a row of bound volumes. As I drifted closer, a sharp glint flashed across its curved facet directly toward me. An ambush? I recoiled into the air, tail coiled tight in instant defense. Two seconds passed. Silence. The light remained entirely motionless. It was nothing more than an optical trick within inert crystal. Lowering my feet until my toes grazed the dusty oak ledge, I leaned in to observe the miniature, inverted room captured inside.