Castle of Bones

The master of the Castle of Bone went out into the world. To the assortment of bones, hundreds of thousands, he intended to add one more of a type not yet used, just as his predecessors for centuries had done. He traveled from city to cemetery, not by any means ignoring pastures or the wilds where strange beasts chose to die. In every instance, the catalogue informed him the material had been used already.
Down rivers, across lakes, and over mountains he ventured, under them too, though none of their names did he trouble himself to learn. Outside one city, a funeral was underway as he passed. The matter had no interest for him since nothing but a man and woman were being interred. He inquired nevertheless on account of propriety, something necessary for the castle's master to guard. He was informed that he witnessed the funeral of a local man and his wife, both blameless. Hearing that, he requested a bone from each and was not refused by the heirs because the master's influence extended even as far as that, and farther.
He returned and increased the castle's size with materials he thought impossible to acquire, the bones of blameless people, whereupon the Castle of Bone vanished. With his powers he perceived immediately the castle was becoming the foundation of a new world, and from that he realized the proportion of sin and virtue is even such in every world there is.
Finis

Deserving Inheritors and the Way of the World

His patience exhausted, the god stretched forth his hand. "Go, herald, and search among the people. Should you fail to find three who do not adopt a cutesy voice when talking to pets, I will purge the world of life and begin anew."
The herald went. Months later, he returned.
"I have found three such. They are, however, kind of mean."
The god nodded. "The world they have preserved by their high character therefore will belong to them. Long will be the reign of people who are kind of jerks but they could be worse."
Thus it stands today.
Finis

How to Determine If a Work Is Serious Literature

Some people treat the main character well when they have a reason to or no reason not to: Puerile escapism.
Nothing good ever happens to the main character, not even a kind word: Realistic with depth.

Inspirational Message

Always believe in yourself!

Prerequisite: Be a hero of legend