CHAPTER 1
Written by the man in the wooden castle.
[Series of letters, the compilers from across the globe have accrued over the millennias. Set in chronological order as headings have been provided for the reader's distinction.]
The Creator was. He forged the world with words that pierced the nothing, and there we begin. The atmosphere was placed in the nothing and something was made round. Gravity was put in the center as oxygen came and filled the space. The sphere accepted it. Water erupted from the center of the sphere, and filled its boundary. Soil erupted from the center and the water flowed on it's back. The rock took its place underneath the water and on the crevice of the land. Warmth then came and filled the center of the land called Earth. All plants, all resources, and all life were placed in their proper position.
The world was before Man, and waiting patiently to be ruled. There were four races of men, each with their own culture and language. Peace reigned Supreme in the four kingdoms. The world knew no famine, deceit, or death. All were at peace, even through the Walls that separated the kingdoms. The Walls were not forged by the materials of man, but were of pure bronze forged in a fire a man could not make. They were established to serve as a reminder to man that borders came first. This continual solid Wall that made the shape of an X separated the four kingdoms. In the center of the X, was a space that no man could get to without ascending the Wall. In this utopian land, lie golden grasses, with a waterfall of crystal water so pure that the taste itself could create a world. At its bottom, in the water, you could see the reflection of the Mountain at its center. This too was forged as a sign to the world that the Mountain would always be there. No entrance was allotted, for this goodness would destroy all inhabitants of the world if it were to be reached. If no entrance was allowed, how could I describe it to you? No worries, we will get to that. The Wall was respected; all speaking and non-speaking creatures dared not cross its heights. The first Man and Woman of each region were joined together to populate their land. The Creator inscribed a saying that could be read plainly by all, that none would be able to say that they did not know. He instructed the four first men to instruct the following to their future heirs: Enjoy your land, enjoy your company, and do as you wish for nothing is restricted from you. Except this, the land in the middle of the world, do not venture into. There are gates from kingdom to kingdom and travel as you wish. If the land in the middle is ventured in to, then you will know knowledge, and life will dwindle and exist no more. Take these words to your future. These words were in scripted in each kingdoms own language, on each wall that faced the golden land for all future inhabitants to see.
The king stood silently in front of the engraved obstacle, realizing how large the inscription truly was. Even in his large stature, the thought came that perhaps this was bigger than he was. A combative murmur to that thought came from the king's lips "I am not a mere subject, surely this land is for a king, a king much like myself." The king spoke harsh as if to complain to a judge. The obsessed king began his ascent up the ancient Wall. He glanced at his goal; the ledge at the top of the wall. As he did, the Thayden crown released its grip from his head and fell to the dirt below. He watched as the crown seemed to bounce off the ground but this did not deter the crownless man. Nearing the top, he looked closely at the wall and instantly realized no human hands had ever touched this sacred structure. As the crown of his head reached the top, the emotionless leader whose subjects were at feast saw the golden land with his own eyes. He did not see a reflection, or a close mirage; his own eyes beheld the glory of the land. The man proceeded to stand atop the wall. At this very moment tears came down his face uncontrollably as if there were a pressure pulling them down. He looked behind him and understood that the seemingly ordinary wall was no wall at all. Once atop, the king knew he only needed to walk forward for he was already in the fair land. There was only need to ascend the wall. Then he raised his hands in to the grand sight and closed his eyes. Ironic, to get to a place where you have always wanted to be, only to close your eyes when you get there. The golden feeling fleeted, and this warmth that he had so longed for escaped him. Opened were his eyes, only to see that the golden land was now just land. That is where all the trouble began. What happened? No worries, we will get to that.
CHAPTER 2
Written by queen Niyu's servant, Gilcris, at the behest of her majesty.
"Thank you Halyxian, Venidien, Eryxian, and my Thayden people for attending this union. I know it must have been a challenge coming, knowing how my father can be in these moments," prince Ari'us joked as the crowd roared in laughter. He continued, "But I promise you, that my mother's grace more than makes up for it," the audience smiled as they clapped respectively towards queen Niyu. "We wanted to do this the day before the All Festival to ensure all could attend. My beautiful northern bride may not be royalty as you all know, but she is without a doubt my queen. Royalty is not simply the right of birth; it is perhaps more importantly the belief that all people are equal along with the courage to prove it. This makes my beloved Lila a queen of queens whether she be Thayden or Halyxian."
The All Festival had begun because the mid of the night had passed. This yearly tradition is marked when flowers first come into bloom, it is a union of all races of man celebrating life by feasting together a night and a day. The masses of people were already merry because of the first joining between a woman from one territory and a man from another. The four kings began to talk amongst themselves. While serving my lady, my ear was inclined to their conversation. King Arsinoe, my lord, was complaining to the other kings about not wanting his son to marry a commoner. "What a disgrace! Out of all the people in the land, it had to be my son. He will never hear the end of this," my Thayden king said. "ARSINOE! Do not disgrace your son at his own feast, if disgraced, it will go hand and hand with your own if the people hear you," the Halyxian king rebutted. "Corl'u there is no need for you to tell me what I am to do. I ... The Thayden king stopped as he was interrupted by the chortle of king Volan who was both eating and laughing in hopes of instigating the tension further. "Arsinoe, Corl'u simply meant to remember the Law of First Right: 'Any royal male when he is 15 years of age is free to choose his bride.' Arsinoe! Ari'us is 22 years of age. We cannot ignore our traditions. What are we without them?" posed king Re'u of the east.
"Always marry within the kingdom I told him, but he is so crass. He does not see that this union spoils my name, my kingdom and my people," the giant western ruler passionately expressed while pounding on the table with one finger for emphasis. "And what of The Law of Love? Any man and woman with love for each other without any other engagements are qualified to marry. Arsinoe, friends, this is the way of our world," the benevolent Re'u uttered softly, as he looked towards the people and away from their table.
"This is NOT the way of my world," my king muttered faintly as I filled his chalice....