The Realmsic Conquest: The Hero of Legend - Book 1 [2015 Watty Award Winner]

Chapter Thirty-Five

To memorize the entire collection of knowledge took part discipline, part patience, and part magic. Deep below the Temple of Learning, Fable stood before Kelm, Maebus, and Normandy. Her silver hair stood on end and her green eyes glowed the same shade of white, matching the surrounding walls, furniture, and shelves. She searched the holdings of the ancient archive buried within her own mind.

Closing her eyes, she slipped into semi-consciousness, allowing the magical trance to control her mind. It took only a moment to find exactly what she was looking for. Her eyes suddenly shot open. Taking deep, rhythmic breaths, which lowered the tone of her voice, Fable began to tell the tale of the Realmsic Crystal.

"Two thousand years ago, during the era of human history known as the Darkest Age, there existed a geographical region filled with great hopelessness and despair. Within this region, men existed as merciless scavengers. The weak were preyed upon by the strong, who in turn were preyed upon by the wicked. As the innocent were slain daily, this region became known as the Realm of Terror—an abhorred place where survival became the only form of living." Her eyes grew brighter as she slipped deeper into memory.

"Throughout the years, the emotional distress of the region's inhabitants grew exponentially. It saturated the atmosphere, creating an energy force so powerful, it became as physical a presence as the land itself. Both horrifying yet intriguing, the energy was unlike any other place on earth. It lured unsuspecting travelers into the region and, with the deception of a skilled predator, ensnared them in its grasp. It fed upon raw emotions like an organic creature, and grew stronger from its hosts. But despite the loathsome and treacherous conditions of the Realm of Terror, none chose to leave it. For the people became as dependent upon the energy as it had become dependent on them.

"Hearing rumors of this mysterious energy, a young couple traveled to the region to experience it for themselves. Upon their arrival, they were immediately overpowered by the invisible presence that tingled their senses..." Fable briefly raised both her hands towards the ceiling, taking a deep breath. "Even the air they breathed seemed thicker than any place they'd previously traveled. The environment felt electrified."

Flicking her fingers rapidly, she slowly lowered her hands as she continued. "An unsettling force penetrated the couple's bodies and nestled within their cores. There was no doubt in their minds that something indeed existed among the people of this region, and they decided to stay permanently until it could be explained.

"For two years, the couple studied the energy and its effects. Surprisingly, no harm befell them during their stay. It was as if the very energy they hoped to understand, shielded them from evil. Through meticulous observation, they noticed that the energy permeated everything and through it all things were connected. They only needed to close their eyes to feel the oneness of all that surrounded them. Within this connection, the couple meditated daily. As their bond to the energy strengthened, so did their understanding of its true nature. Gradually, as if conscious of its own being, the energy revealed its origin."

"How?" Kelm asked, moving from Normandy closer to Fable. Still in trance, she saw the light shining from her own eyes illuminating the deep features of his face. He seemed drawn to her like a moth to a flame, only the flame she possessed was knowledge. Fable searched deeper into her mind.

"It revealed itself to them through mental visions," she replied. "The energy created scenes within the couple's minds, forcing them to relive the violence of the region's earliest days. The emotions of those who were victimized poured onto the land as fluidly as did their own blood. It left a concentrated metaphysical stain upon the region so deep that it subsequently evolved into the energy force experienced by all during that time.