Part 2: Waking
The shock of waking… to find himself and his kingdom safely removed from The Oskvernyat Empire was overwhelming. He felt weak as a newborn, but clean. He’d not realized how unclean he’d felt and for how long he’d been laboring under the morass of spells that bound him and his kingdom. He’d lost a lifetime in Razrushtel’s thrall. He had not expected to survive. Yet, he woke and knew that his death in the dreamscape had given him life anew, unfettered by the black majicks that had made him and his people a tyrant’s weapon. He was young anew and would be strong again. It saddened him to look about him at his people and see they’re lifetimes had been nearly spent, flung away in service of tyranny by The Oskvernyat and Razrushtel. J’Ramzœ thought to re-enter the dreamscape and use the majicks there to help his people, but found he was too weak yet. He could scarcely even see with Dreamer’s Eye, so did not see the coming turmoil.The attacks started within days. The Oskvernyat Empire declared war against J’Ramzœ and his kingdom, turning all their attention for the moment upon them, thrusting deep into the territories of the Crystal Empires. Razrushtel’s voice echoed the halls of J’Ramzœ’s keep, commanding he return the kingdom to its “rightful place.” And declaring, You will never have peace until you give back what you have wrenched from me!

J’Ramzœ reached out to the nearest possible allies, the Empire of the Aledde and sought alliance with them. They were welcomed. But, The Oskvernyat would not give up their pursuit, would not grant peace. The castle lords of his kingdom were too worn down and could not stand. One by one, they simply faded from the realms — disappeared by the evil majicks of Razrushtel. J’Ramzoe shuddered as Razrushtel’s smug laughter reverberated from the shadowed corners of his keep. But, his new allies of the Aledde stood true to their promise of help. They sent budding new great mages and warriors into his kingdom, whose honor, loyalty and integrity cast the light of the majicks of the living crystal to every corner of the kingdom, banishing the shadows. They swore fealty to King J’Ramzœ and he built great friendships with them, all brothers to him thereafter. Attacks from The Oskvernyat Empire lessened and became more sporadic — a slow chipping away at the edges of the light that now bathed the kingdom.

It was a long time before J’Ramzœ was able to reenter the dreamscape. When he did, the stygian, tentacled mass at the edges of the light seemed to shy away from his probing. It’s obsidian heart glinted evilly on the distant horizon. And, J’Ramzœ felt the surge of harmonics melding with his dream majicks. He felt the rush of it, and looked down at the landscape around his kingdom. A glistening rush of crystal pure water lapped at the base of the walls and tributaries branched off it in all directions, to every newly occupied keep and hearthhome in the kingdom. In the dreamscape, he could clearly see these waters flowing around and through the Crystal Empires and among all the realms. This was the flow of the majicks of the great living crystal. He could hear music burbling up from the waters. Looking into their depths, a light of incandescent beauty glowed. He scanned the dreamscape, searching for the source of such light and beauty. There, near the center of the verdant green of the Realm of the Great Empires, he saw it, a great radiance glowing in the distance. J’Ramzœ tried to see beyond the radiance, to the living crystal itself, but could not. The brilliance of it was too beautiful, too much to look upon. However, casting forth toward that brilliance in the dreamscape, he now knew the ancient true name of the realms… “Terashan.”

Original Photoshop painting created c. 1996 of British actor Paul McGann, by D. Denise Dianaty

Find Part 1 here: https://steemit.com/writing/@momzillanc/the-saga-of-terashan-and-the-crystal-empires-chp1-pt1

Continue to Part 3 here: https://steemit.com/writing/@momzillanc/the-saga-of-terashan-and-the-crystal-empires-chp1-pt3

Story © 25 October 2019, by D. Denise Dianaty