diff --git a/frontend/src/components/CyberFx.astro b/frontend/src/components/CyberFx.astro
index 0e61587..86bfa0a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/CyberFx.astro
+++ b/frontend/src/components/CyberFx.astro
@@ -19,7 +19,15 @@
 	<i class="cs-fx-corner cs-fx-corner--tr"></i>
 	<i class="cs-fx-corner cs-fx-corner--bl"></i>
 	<i class="cs-fx-corner cs-fx-corner--br"></i>
-	<div class="cs-cursor"><span class="cs-cursor-ring"></span></div>
+</div>
+
+<!-- Cursor lives in its own top-level, un-contained, max-z root so it floats
+     above every modal/library (Search + AssetManager are z-[200]). -->
+<div class="cs-cursor-root" aria-hidden="true">
+	<div class="cs-cursor">
+		<span class="cs-cursor-ring"></span>
+		<span class="cs-cursor-core"></span>
+	</div>
 </div>
 
 <script>
@@ -28,14 +36,15 @@
 		if (!root.classList.contains('cybersigil')) return;
 
 		const fx = document.querySelector('.cs-fx') as HTMLElement | null;
-		if (!fx) return;
+		const cursorRoot = document.querySelector('.cs-cursor-root') as HTMLElement | null;
+		if (!fx || !cursorRoot) return;
 
 		const reduced = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches;
 		const finePointer = window.matchMedia('(pointer: fine)').matches;
 		const noHover = window.matchMedia('(hover: none)').matches;
 
 		/* ─── Custom sigil cursor + fading trail ─── */
-		const cursor = fx.querySelector('.cs-cursor') as HTMLElement | null;
+		const cursor = cursorRoot.querySelector('.cs-cursor') as HTMLElement | null;
 		if (cursor && finePointer && !noHover) {
 			root.classList.add('cs-cursor-on');
 			let cx = window.innerWidth / 2;
@@ -65,7 +74,7 @@
 						dot.className = 'cs-trail';
 						dot.style.left = cx + 'px';
 						dot.style.top = cy + 'px';
-						fx!.appendChild(dot);
+						cursorRoot!.appendChild(dot);
 						dot.addEventListener('animationend', () => dot.remove(), { once: true });
 					}
 				},
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/react/Search.tsx b/frontend/src/components/react/Search.tsx
index cbb350f..fabdf0b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/react/Search.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/react/Search.tsx
@@ -153,25 +153,25 @@ export default function Search() {
 
       {open && (
         <div
-          className="fixed inset-0 z-[200] flex items-start justify-center pt-[10vh] md:pt-[15vh] px-4"
+          className="search-overlay fixed inset-0 z-[200] flex items-start justify-center pt-[10vh] md:pt-[15vh] px-4"
           role="dialog"
           aria-modal="true"
           aria-label="Search the catalogue"
           onClick={() => setOpen(false)}
         >
           <div
-            className="absolute inset-0 bg-[var(--crust)]/55 backdrop-blur-md"
+            className="search-backdrop absolute inset-0 bg-[var(--crust)]/55 backdrop-blur-md"
             aria-hidden="true"
           />
           <div
-            className="relative w-full max-w-xl bg-[var(--base)] text-[var(--text)] border border-[var(--surface2)] overflow-hidden flex flex-col max-h-[70vh] animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-top-4 duration-200"
+            className="search-panel relative w-full max-w-xl bg-[var(--base)] text-[var(--text)] border border-[var(--surface2)] overflow-hidden flex flex-col max-h-[70vh] animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-top-4 duration-200"
             style={{
               borderRadius: 2,
               boxShadow: '0 30px 60px -20px rgba(0,0,0,0.55), 0 8px 20px -8px rgba(0,0,0,0.3), inset 0 0 0 1px color-mix(in srgb, var(--surface1) 50%, transparent)',
             }}
             onClick={e => e.stopPropagation()}
           >
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 border-b border-[var(--surface2)]/60 bg-[var(--surface0)]/40">
+            <div className="search-bar flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 border-b border-[var(--surface2)]/60 bg-[var(--surface0)]/40">
               <svg
                 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
                 width="18"
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ export default function Search() {
                 onKeyDown={onInputKey}
                 placeholder="Search the catalogue…"
                 aria-label="Search query"
-                className="flex-1 bg-transparent outline-none text-base text-[var(--text)] placeholder:text-[var(--subtext0)] font-display italic"
+                className="search-input flex-1 bg-transparent outline-none text-base text-[var(--text)] placeholder:text-[var(--subtext0)] font-display italic"
               />
               <kbd className="text-[10px] font-mono text-[var(--subtext0)] px-1.5 py-0.5 border border-[var(--surface2)] bg-[var(--surface0)]/60" style={{ borderRadius: 1 }}>
                 Esc
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ export default function Search() {
                 </div>
               )}
               {!loading && !error && results.length > 0 && (
-                <ul ref={listRef} className="py-1">
+                <ul ref={listRef} className="search-list py-1">
                   {results.map((p, i) => {
                     const title = p.title || formatSlug(p.slug);
                     const active = i === activeIdx;
@@ -225,9 +225,9 @@ export default function Search() {
                         key={p.slug}
                         onMouseEnter={() => setActiveIdx(i)}
                         onClick={() => navigate(p.slug)}
-                        className={`px-4 py-3 cursor-pointer border-l-2 transition-colors ${
+                        className={`search-result px-4 py-3 cursor-pointer border-l-2 transition-colors ${
                           active
-                            ? 'bg-[var(--surface0)] border-[var(--mauve)]'
+                            ? 'search-result--active bg-[var(--surface0)] border-[var(--mauve)]'
                             : 'border-transparent hover:bg-[var(--surface0)]/60'
                         }`}
                       >
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ export default function Search() {
               )}
             </div>
 
-            <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2 border-t border-[var(--surface2)]/60 text-[10px] text-[var(--subtext0)] bg-[var(--surface0)]/40 font-display italic">
+            <div className="search-foot flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2 border-t border-[var(--surface2)]/60 text-[10px] text-[var(--subtext0)] bg-[var(--surface0)]/40 font-display italic">
               <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
                 <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
                   <kbd className="font-mono px-1 border border-[var(--surface2)] bg-[var(--surface0)]/60 not-italic" style={{ borderRadius: 1 }}>↑↓</kbd>
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/global.css b/frontend/src/styles/global.css
index f207dd1..bd6dccc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/global.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/global.css
@@ -1890,7 +1890,7 @@ input[type="date"] { color-scheme: light; }
   --font-display: 'VT323', 'Space Mono', 'Courier New', monospace;
   --cs-corner: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 100 100' fill='none' stroke='%23fff' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'><path stroke-width='2.4' d='M3 3 C 26 10 33 26 36 44 C 38 60 46 70 60 78 C 74 86 84 86 97 84 M16 7 C 22 2 30 1 40 2 M14 17 C 8 24 5 33 4 45 M35 40 C 45 36 56 37 66 41 M34 49 C 30 60 30 71 33 83 M52 73 C 60 66 70 64 82 65 M58 80 C 55 90 56 97 60 99'/><path stroke-width='1' opacity='0.8' d='M24 9 L30 3 M10 31 L3 34 M41 38 L47 31 M33 61 L26 66 M71 66 L79 61 M49 55 L44 49 M22 24 L17 20'/></svg>");
   --cs-barb: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 120 22' fill='none' stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='1.6' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'><path d='M2 11 C 24 4 40 18 60 11 C 80 4 96 18 118 11'/><path stroke-width='1.3' d='M18 8 L22 1 M30 13 L27 21 M48 12 L48 2 M60 11 L60 1 M72 12 L76 20 M90 9 L87 1 M104 13 L108 21'/></svg>");
-  --cs-cursor: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 36 36' fill='none' stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='1.6' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'><path d='M18 1 L18 12 M18 24 L18 35 M1 18 L12 18 M24 18 L35 18 M18 1 L15 5 M18 1 L21 5 M18 35 L15 31 M18 35 L21 31 M1 18 L5 15 M1 18 L5 21 M35 18 L31 15 M35 18 L31 21'/><path d='M18 14 L22 18 L18 22 L14 18 Z'/></svg>");
+  --cs-cursor: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 36 36' fill='none' stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='2.6' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'><path d='M18 1 L18 11 M18 25 L18 35 M1 18 L11 18 M25 18 L35 18 M18 1 L14 6 M18 1 L22 6 M18 35 L14 30 M18 35 L22 30 M1 18 L6 14 M1 18 L6 22 M35 18 L30 14 M35 18 L30 22'/><path fill='%23fff' stroke='none' d='M18 13 L23 18 L18 23 L13 18 Z'/></svg>");
 }
 
 /* Heads — VT323 bitmap, hard, uppercase, slight tracking so the dot-matrix
@@ -1940,14 +1940,14 @@ html.cybersigil body::after {
  * Inert everywhere; only the cybersigil theme switches it on. Decorative
  * layers ride above content at low opacity (pointer-events:none); the sigil
  * cursor sits on top of everything. */
-.cs-fx { display: none; }
+.cs-fx,
+.cs-cursor-root { display: none; }
 .cybersigil .cs-fx {
   display: block;
   position: fixed;
   inset: 0;
   z-index: 9;
   pointer-events: none;
-  contain: strict;
 }
 .cybersigil .cs-fx-halftone,
 .cybersigil .cs-fx-wire,
@@ -2024,22 +2024,31 @@ html.cybersigil body::after {
 .cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--bl { bottom: 0; left: 0;  transform: scaleY(-1); animation-delay: -3.4s; }
 .cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--br { bottom: 0; right: 0; transform: scale(-1);  animation-delay: -5.1s; }
 
-/* ─── Sigil crosshair cursor + fading trail ─── */
+/* ─── Sigil crosshair cursor + fading trail ───
+ * Lives in its own un-contained, max-z root (CyberFx.astro) so it floats
+ * above every modal/library (Search + AssetManager are z-[200]). A solid
+ * bright core dot gives a precise aim point; a black hairline + colored
+ * bloom keep the sigil legible on dark void AND light asset thumbnails. */
+.cybersigil .cs-cursor-root {
+  display: block;
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 2147483647;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
 .cybersigil .cs-cursor {
   position: fixed;
   top: 0;
   left: 0;
-  width: 34px;
-  height: 34px;
-  margin: -17px 0 0 -17px;
-  z-index: 99999;
+  width: 42px;
+  height: 42px;
+  margin: -21px 0 0 -21px;
   opacity: 0;
   will-change: transform;
   transition: opacity 0.16s linear;
 }
 html.cs-cursor-on.cybersigil,
 html.cs-cursor-on.cybersigil * { cursor: none !important; }
-html.cs-cursor-on .cybersigil .cs-cursor,
 html.cs-cursor-on.cybersigil .cs-cursor { opacity: 1; }
 .cybersigil .cs-cursor-ring {
   position: absolute;
@@ -2047,28 +2056,54 @@ html.cs-cursor-on.cybersigil .cs-cursor { opacity: 1; }
   background-color: var(--sky);
   -webkit-mask: var(--cs-cursor) center / contain no-repeat;
   mask: var(--cs-cursor) center / contain no-repeat;
-  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 4px color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 65%, transparent));
+  filter:
+    drop-shadow(0 0 1px #000)
+    drop-shadow(0 0 1px #000)
+    drop-shadow(0 0 6px color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 80%, transparent));
   transition: transform 0.12s cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.8, 0.2, 1),
               background-color 0.12s linear, filter 0.12s linear;
 }
+.cybersigil .cs-cursor-core {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 50%;
+  left: 50%;
+  width: 6px;
+  height: 6px;
+  margin: -3px 0 0 -3px;
+  background: var(--rosewater);
+  box-shadow:
+    0 0 0 1.5px var(--crust),
+    0 0 7px 1px var(--mauve);
+  transition: background-color 0.12s linear, box-shadow 0.12s linear,
+              transform 0.12s cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.8, 0.2, 1);
+}
 .cybersigil .cs-cursor--hot .cs-cursor-ring {
   background-color: var(--mauve);
-  transform: scale(1.32) rotate(45deg);
-  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 7px color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 75%, transparent));
+  transform: scale(1.3) rotate(45deg);
+  filter:
+    drop-shadow(0 0 1px #000)
+    drop-shadow(0 0 1px #000)
+    drop-shadow(0 0 9px color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 85%, transparent));
 }
-.cybersigil .cs-cursor--down .cs-cursor-ring { transform: scale(0.78); }
+.cybersigil .cs-cursor--hot .cs-cursor-core {
+  background: var(--sky);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 1.5px var(--crust), 0 0 9px 2px var(--sky);
+  transform: scale(1.25);
+}
+.cybersigil .cs-cursor--down .cs-cursor-ring { transform: scale(0.8); }
 .cybersigil .cs-cursor--hot.cs-cursor--down .cs-cursor-ring { transform: scale(1.05) rotate(45deg); }
+.cybersigil .cs-cursor--down .cs-cursor-core { transform: scale(0.7); }
 .cybersigil .cs-cursor--gone { opacity: 0; }
 .cybersigil .cs-trail {
   position: fixed;
-  width: 5px;
-  height: 5px;
-  margin: -2.5px 0 0 -2.5px;
-  z-index: 99998;
+  width: 6px;
+  height: 6px;
+  margin: -3px 0 0 -3px;
   pointer-events: none;
   background: var(--sky);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 5px 1px color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 70%, transparent);
   transform: rotate(45deg);
-  animation: cs-trail-fade 480ms linear forwards;
+  animation: cs-trail-fade 460ms linear forwards;
 }
 
 /* Selection — magenta block, bone glyph, cyan bleed. */
@@ -2667,6 +2702,108 @@ html.cs-cursor-on.cybersigil .cs-cursor { opacity: 1; }
 }
 .cybersigil input[type="date"] { color-scheme: dark; }
 
+/* Search palette — a terminal query console. Hard edges, ice→magenta cap
+ * bar, `> ` prompt input + live caret, scanline body, bracketed results. */
+.cybersigil .search-backdrop {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--crust) 78%, transparent);
+}
+.cybersigil .search-panel {
+  border-radius: 0 !important;
+  border-color: var(--mauve);
+  background:
+    repeating-linear-gradient(
+      0deg,
+      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 0 2px,
+      color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 5%, transparent) 2px 3px,
+      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 3px 4px
+    ),
+    var(--base);
+  box-shadow:
+    0 0 0 1px color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 30%, transparent),
+    8px 8px 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 40%, var(--crust)),
+    0 30px 70px -22px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) !important;
+}
+.cybersigil .search-panel::before {
+  content: "// SEARCH.CATALOGUE";
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  height: 1.4rem;
+  padding: 0 0.7rem;
+  font-family: var(--font-sans);
+  font-size: 0.6rem;
+  letter-spacing: 0.2em;
+  color: var(--crust);
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--sky), var(--mauve));
+}
+.cybersigil .search-bar {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--crust) 55%, transparent);
+  border-bottom-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 35%, transparent);
+}
+.cybersigil .search-bar svg { color: var(--sky) !important; }
+.cybersigil .search-input {
+  font-family: var(--font-sans) !important;
+  font-style: normal !important;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  font-size: 0.95rem !important;
+  color: var(--sky) !important;
+  caret-color: var(--mauve);
+}
+.cybersigil .search-bar::before {
+  content: ">";
+  order: -1;
+  color: var(--mauve);
+  font-family: var(--font-sans);
+  font-weight: 700;
+}
+.cybersigil .search-result {
+  border-left-width: 2px;
+  font-family: var(--font-sans);
+}
+.cybersigil .search-result:hover {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 9%, transparent) !important;
+  border-left-color: var(--sky) !important;
+}
+.cybersigil .search-result--active {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 14%, transparent) !important;
+  border-left-color: var(--mauve) !important;
+}
+.cybersigil .search-result [class*="font-display"] {
+  font-family: var(--font-display) !important;
+  font-style: normal !important;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.02em;
+}
+.cybersigil .search-result--active [class*="font-display"] {
+  text-shadow: -1px 0 0 var(--sky), 1px 0 0 var(--mauve);
+}
+.cybersigil .search-result--active::after {
+  content: "_";
+  color: var(--mauve);
+  font-family: var(--font-sans);
+  animation: cs-blink 1.05s steps(1, jump-none) infinite;
+}
+.cybersigil .search-result [class*="line-clamp"] {
+  font-family: var(--font-sans) !important;
+  font-style: normal !important;
+}
+.cybersigil .search-foot {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--crust) 55%, transparent);
+  border-top-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 30%, transparent);
+  font-family: var(--font-sans) !important;
+  font-style: normal !important;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.1em;
+  color: var(--subtext0);
+}
+.cybersigil .search-panel kbd {
+  border-radius: 0 !important;
+  border-color: var(--mauve) !important;
+  background: var(--crust) !important;
+  color: var(--sky) !important;
+  font-family: var(--font-sans) !important;
+}
+
 /* Confirm dialog — hard terminal halt prompt. */
 .cybersigil .cdialog-panel {
   border-radius: 0;