Legends Of Shimrah: The Shimran Legends, #1

By Nadha Zar

Welcome to the one unique and original High Fantasy Romance Series written this entire century!

Nothing in Shimrah is ever a coincidence....
It is always penned with purpose....
A destiny....

Princess Saffrodel and her High-Lords, Jaraadhrin and Quinzafoor, race against time, age and space to grow into their adult selves among turbulant love lives and employing complex and original magical arrays, hitherto unknown to the fantasy world, to manage, overcome and eradicate the threat, Shimrah faces from the betrayal  of her twin uncles, Princes Ifreeth and Ibreeth. They train and prepare for a darkness, the likes of which they had never dreamed in their murkiest nightmares as the evil Royal twins unleash the power and forces of a shadow realm named Delcrum, upon the fair light of Shimrah.

EXTENDED

A nature of powerful, original beings, hitherto unknown, a realm that hides more than it reveals, a reinvention of the higher power and purpose, of the force we know as love!

The key to the survival of a world that resides in the blood of a King....
The Prophesied Princess of Darkness and Light....
A hallowed High Lord bred for his Princess alone….
A Knight with a lecherous past, mentored to protect them both….

The tale of Righteous and Forbidden love… of humour and mirth… of heartbreak and loss… of chivalry and valour… of martial elegance and sophisticated flair… of fidelity and patriotism… of the sacred bonds of comradeship and family… of horror, terror, magic and mystery…'

The saga of those worst wreckers of all strategies - Fate, Prophesy, Destiny and the Desperate Desolation of the twisted paths of existence it leads the Shimrans through!

Will the Light and Love, they entrust their Lives to, lead them right?
Will the Fate, that they fervently place Faith in, ensure their Fortunes are fair?
Will the Destiny, that they Deify and Devote to, lead them to the Divinity they desire?

Accompany the sublime Shimrans and the magnificent creatures of their enchanting world, both dark and light, as they wound through the shimmering threads of Space, Destiny, Time and Fate. Experience their love, terror, joy, thrill, anger, revenge and hate, while witnessing the blasphemy of Shimran sin as you travel hand in hand, along the many-hued ribbons of their souls, spirits and centres within the heavenly gardens of Shimrah... and beyond!'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nadha Zar
• Release date: Nov 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223945871

Book preview

The complex depths of certain thoughts, born of intuition, have no simple explanations!

Nothing in Shimrah is ever a coincidence! It is always penned with purpose.... A Destiny!

A scheme by some higher force we know nothing of…! A divine power of goodness that has carved our fates with an iron hand, into the inflexible rigidity, existent within the stones of time!

Our will is our ally, righteousness is our light, the profound power of the love we cherish, will lead us right! And, through this stretch of unknown darkness, towards our unfathomable destinations… we shall pursue… and we shall remain strong!

We are powerful, yes, but knowledge in light and love, are more so. Either way, what can one do against a might of such righteousness? Is it then, not prudent to just… follow it?

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Trigger warnings

Legends of Shimrah were the blossoming, beautiful dreams of a cheery sixteen-year-old shimara which twisted and turned with the experiences of her existence to the nightmares of hell, blazing within the inferno of her own mind and physique. Do not be fooled by the pleasant and peaceful start or the purity of the beginnings, for it is destined to drown in the most devastating forms of fortunes, not too dissimilar to her own life! Savor the sacredness of hallowed innocence until it lasts!

Heartrending love of all types! Adult content, sensual scenes, violence, and nudity. Ends in a cliff-hanger – as will every one of the rest of the books in this series!

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Copyright © 2023 El – Emiran Ltd.

Company number 15203567

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book, including the unique illustrations, may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

El – Emiran Ltd.

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Respectfully Dedicated to….

There are numerous natures, strengths, and powers of love in this world, and it will always be a force that I will incline my head to, in all, and any of its many baffling forms.

There is one, however, that surpasses all else. A relentless might that can never be defeated, existent in one particular kind of love, and one, I have had the fortune to witness in my lifetime. One that has touched, impressed, rattled, and quaked me to my core.

This book is dedicated, first and foremost, to my treasured Sovereign, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the one epitome, my warrioress shimaras have been modelled after.

My heart, mind and eyes will forever remain bowed and cast down at the Immensity of your Love, the Might of your Will, and the Power of your Strength. Forgive me if I am too bold, my cherished Queen, but it is what it is.

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Lovingly Dedicated To….

The honour and pride of this achievement belongs to my parents, for providing me with the education to make this possible. Especially to my mother, Nazeera. Who was my rock then, now, and forever! Also, to my siblings for supporting me, however and whenever they can.

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Most Devotedly Dedicated To....

Thank you to my Ashaqath and my Liege, Razick! His never-ending support and faith in me have made, many, if not all of my dreams come true. I love, adore, and respect you, and I would not have been able to do this without you. An exemplary of all men, and my cherished shimratzar.

I am extremely grateful to all my darling, little, shimling Princesses and Princes, for helping me in whichever way they can, in making Legends of Shimrah, a reality. Especially my eldest, Vaseela, who is my first editor, critique, and reviewer. I love you all, my adorable shimlings!

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The Shimran Coat of Arms

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Acknowledgements

A heartfelt thank you to all my extended family and cousins in every part of the world, for your enthusiasm and encouragement in my endeavours.

I would also like to extend an incredibly special glow of gratitude to my best friend, Keshanee and her husband Keshan, kindred spirits and my Dhawasaths!

I would like to thank my brilliantly talented illustrators and rendering artists, Kanishka Bhandari and Karen Li (Xiaokya_) for the arduous work and dedication in bringing Shimrah and its exquisite Shimrans to life. You are truly geniuses; such talent is rare indeed!

Thank you for everything. I could not have done this without you all.

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The Map of the Shimran Kingdom

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Table of Contents

Trigger warnings

El – Emiran Ltd.

Respectfully Dedicated to….

Lovingly Dedicated To….

Most Devotedly Dedicated To....

The Shimran Coat of Arms

Acknowledgements

The Map of the Shimran Kingdom

Table of Contents

The Shimran Royal Sceptre

Glossary

The Alaqath – Lord-Protector Medallion

Prologue

The Explanation of The Shimran Being

Five Hundred Years Later….

Alaq – The Dragon

The Vision

The Soul-Light Crossfire

Three Auras…. Two Cores….

Reunion

The Prophesy

The King’s Journal

Ice-Spikes Cupolas

Fight, Flames and Fire

The Titling of The High Nobles

The Royal Imp

The Lethal Shifrs of Royalty

Healing Melodies

The Shimran Trinket-ribbon

The Cryslis Blossoms

Blood, Blade, and Binds

The Warrioress Princess

Jadeedhath

Incareth

Shimling to Shimara

The Victory

The Mystery Shifr

The Night of a Thousand Moons

The Immortal Mother

The Quest of the Unisus

The Might of Human Will

The Remedy

The Shimran Dragons

The Nightmare

The Fury of Shimratzars

The Essence of the King

The Silver Seraph

The Pledge

Saffrodel’s Golden Fan

Jaraadhrin’s Silver Staff

Shifrs

Fan – language.

Quinzafoor’s Three-pronged Dagger

Essence-Shifr – Emotion Shades

Social Media

The Shimran Royal Sceptre

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Glossary

A

Alaq – The Shimran insignia. The first dragon to have entwined with a Shimran and it has now been adapted as the sign of the Shimran Kingdom. It is used in many objects of power, such as The Alaqain – the Ring of the Royals, The Alaqwa – the Lord-Protector clips and The Alaqath – the medallion brooch of the Lord-Protectors of Shimrah. The power of the dragon transfers to its sculptures when fashioned, and it binds Shimrans to Oaths and pledges made in its name. It also imbues with the power of the principal-being of the Shimran wearer over time, and ceases to remain motionless, becoming a living sculpture.

Alaqain – The Ring of the Royals portraying the dragon Alaq. Helps Royalty focus their Royal Shifrs. Can only be worn by a true Royal and is hazardous if touched by an unworthy Shimran. Alaqains are shaped in an elongated, eight-coiled dragon and is worn on the middle finger of the right hand.

Alaqath – Lord-Protector medallion or brooch featuring the dragon Alaq. It is bestowed upon the Lord-Protectors/Silver-Knights of Shimrah, and it is imbued with the enchantments of the ancient dragon itself.

Alaqwa – Lord-Protector dragon-clip. It is bestowed upon the Lord-Protectors/Silver-Knights of Shimrah and is imbued with the enchantments of the ancient dragon itself.

Altheen – A golden metal, previously used for jewellery making in Shimrah. It is now also used to decorate inlays in weapons.

Amora – the beautiful and elegant dance of Love. Dance is a vital form of wellbeing for Shimrans, and the flairs are often named after emotions.

Arthra – A lethal ability of a shimara to incite or suppress extreme passions within shimratzars. This is often controllable and shimaras learn control through special festivities called Zanena dances. They manifest as an element of the senses, either sight, sound, taste, smell, or touch.

Ashaqath – A type of Soul-Light Crossfire of love. It binds romantic soulmates together and is usually indicated by thick, gold mists.

Ashshams – The ancient name for the corejewel or coregem of the Shimrans and their creatures. An eight-sided jewel which is similar to a twin-prism placed with the bases against each other. They exist in the very centre of the core of a Shimran. It houses the Shimrans soul and spirit and the destruction of which causes them to release their beings as centients, auras and essences. They are directly related to the Silverines, and the harming of which, would crack or even shatter the corejewel too. Large centient-bolts usually appear in the shape of the Ashshams.

Asthra – The usual name of the Primary-Weapon of a Shimran. Asthra, directly translated, merely means ‘weapon,’ and were often coupled with its owner’s name to mean ‘the weapon of so and so.’

Aura – an aspect of the outer-centre of Shimrans. Usually not felt or heard unless one focuses and meditates to see it. Outermost layer of a Shimran being. Those with certain Shifrs like the Essence can see auras.

Azhubath – The mark of virginity and celibacy of a Shimran. It appears as a flower for a mara and a leaf for a tzar in the inner wrist of the arm that bears their Silverine. Its patterns resemble the intricate design of the Silverine, and it only disappears when a Shimran gives themselves over to their beloved, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, usually on their Night of a Thousand Moons.

Azraq – Also known as a Bluemoon is a rare phenomenon in Shimara which has only occurred once before. The moon rises as a pale-blue crescent, smoking and hazing around the edges in a brilliant, turquoise glow.

B

Bluemoon – See Azraq.

Buraq – An enchanted ancestral unisus which all of the many types of unisi exclaim or swear by. Currently, not much known of it, except that it was the father of all unisi, and it is held in great esteem by all four unisi clans.

C

Centient-powers – also known as centient-years is energy measured in years which resides around the core of the Shimrans and is a part of their outer-centre. It fuels day to day life.

Centient-years – Twenty-five years added to every core-year of a Shimran. Directly proportional to a Human’s physical years. Also known as centient-powers or centient-energies.

Central-being – see centre, principal-being.

Centre – Also known as central-being or principal-being. Comprised of Shimran outer and inner-centres.

Core – also known as inner-centre and comprises of the Ashshams/corejewel/coregem and the core-years of a Shimran. The home of Shifrs, Dragons and other entwined creatures Ashshams’s.

Corebind – The use of the core-years of a Shimran to bind anything. This sort of tie is unbreakable even in unconsciousness and cannot be untied without the original Shimran who conjured it. Breaking a corebind will harm the Shimran whose core was used to conjure it.

Corecoils – See corerings.

Core-divisions/ Core-splits – The splitting of the Ashshams for the formation of new shimlings in Shimrah. Also known as Divisions.

Coregem/Corejewel – See Ashshams

Core-powers – The years of the core equal to each Shimran year lived, which equals twenty-five centient-years. Shifrs are fashioned and emanate from core-powers. Also see core-years.

Corerings – Also Known as corecoils. The eight rings of a Shimrans core made up of interconnected, eight-sided, twin-prisms of core-years. Also known as the Qamariyyah when they have been summoned out of the Shimran statures.

Core-years – Number of years of life of a Shimran. See core-powers.

Cryslis – Iridescent eight-petalled, blossoms of power, capable of releasing a small amount of energy to the being who touches it. They can sediment centres of Shimrans.

Cryssence – the mead of the Shimrans. A form of wine made of Cryslis leaves which are drenched with centients and therefore very potent in imparting a daze. They are drunk in exceedingly small quantities due to this effect.

Crystal-Depths – A large lake of iridescent waters found between the two land masses of Shimrah where the Shimrans go in death. The waters can dissolve the Shimrans’ central-beings and statures. They are also imbued with many ancient enchantments and their full potency remains a mystery, even to the Shimran-folk.

Crystallites – Also known as soul keepers are the water beings of the Crystal-Depths. Their exact function is unknown. They are known to escort dead Shimrans away from Shimrah and are considered ill omened.

Cursebolt – A darkbolt containing a curse and dark centients to harm or kill a Shimran.

D

Darkbolt – A bolt of centient or core-powers from a tainted Shimran being.

Darkives – The section of the Shimran libraries which held the books and artifacts about and from Delcrum. See Forbidden Fissure.

Deisternaise – the demonesque essence of the creatures of Delcrum.

Denisthar – A moat defence layout of the Citadel.

Dhawasath – A type of Soul-Light Crossfire which is that of friendship and is indicated by red mists.

Divisions – The splitting of the Ashshams for the formation of new shimlings in Shimrah. Also known as core divisions or core splits.

Dragonlight – The Jewel that resides in the tip of the ornate horn of the Shimran dragons. It is the lifeforce of the dragon.

Dragonlight Entwinement – A sacred and private ritual which occurs between Shimrans and their dragons essentially, but it can also occur with other intelligent creatures of light like unisi. Dragonlight Entwinements occur in the year after a Shimran’s fifteenth year of birth. It involves the dragon choosing its Shimran and pledging itself to its Shimran by giving up the Dragonlight in its ornate horn. The process requires the dragon to pierce a Shimran’s Silverine to lodge the Dragonlight deep in their core. Some discomfort normally but the threshold of pain can be influenced by other factors. This enables the beast and Shimran to share their powers. The dragon disappears within the core of the Shimran and has a deep and complicated relationship with their owner. This often gives Shimran’s a split personality.

Drystwitch – A maze defence layout of the Citadel.

E

Elmas – The hardest metal in Shimrah. Silver in colour.

Essence – is an aspect of the outer-centre of Shimrans and manifests as smell, taste and feel. Not all Shimrans can see them.

F

Firehorn – A type of unisus which is black with horn, hooves, mane, wings, and tail of fire, found in the volcanic Ashlands, deep within the deserts of Southern Shimrah.

Forbidden Fissure – A sealed-off space within the annals under the Citadel of Light containing the dark books from Queen Menorok’s reign. Also known as the Darkives.

G

Goldhorn – A type of unisus which is white with horn, mane, hooves, wings, and tail of molten, metallic gold. Found in the Goldhorn forests of Northern Shimrah.

Gumoos – A silver metal in Shimrah often used for jewellery and now used for decorative inlays on weapons.

H

Haramoon – means forbidden-fruitlet and commonly known as Rainbow-rocks. Crystals mined from around and deep within the geysers of the Shards for use in Royal and Noble’s accessories. Exists in two varieties. A deep-blue more expensive one and the rainbow-coloured ones from the outside. Both equally difficult to obtain.

Huroors – The Royal birds of Shimrah resembling peacocks in the Human world. They are white with magnificent purple and gold plumages.

I

Iceroans – A type of unisus which is white with horn, hooves, wings, mane, and tails of liquid ice.

J

Jafath – A type of Soul-Light Crossfire which binds a Shimran to their twin. They must be of the same gender and is characterized by gold mists.

Javaahath – a type of Soul-Light Crossfire of siblings. It binds Shimrans destined and is usually indicated by thick blue mists.

Javnoon – An incredibly strong elixir which can add eons of centient and core-years to the drinker’s central-being.

K

Keflendrick – Befuddlement potion designed to stun, and arrest thought tenors.

L

Lunarxite – A powerful aphrodisiac usually used in the Qamaraths or moonbaths before the Night of a Thousand Moons to aid the bashful folk of Shimrah to lapse into the Night. Available in powder and liquid forms and can be drunk or inhaled as well.

M

Malikal-Sukhur – Rocks of Royalty are a rarer, blue version of the haramoon crystals found within the Shards and imbued with the centients of the Royals. They are embedded in the accessories of Royals and Nobles such as the Crowns of Reigning Royals, the Alaqath, Alaqwa, Alaqain etc.

Mara – Girl, woman.

Marahood – maidenhood, female reproductive organs of a shimara. Can also be used to indicate virginity and celibacy.

Marshadath – A type of Soul-Light Crossfire which binds a mentor to their student and is usually indicated by gold mists.

Meinedders – A type of venomous creature that vomits poison from its mouth and has snake hands that can immobilize and even kill dragons. Their venom can destroy the Dragonlight in copious quantities.

Menulis – Thin therin outer robe made from the silver clouds of night as the moon light reflects off-of it. Worn on the Night of a Thousand Moons, richly decorated in silver gumoos with girdles and accessorised to obscure and enhance the Shimran stature.

Menulissath – Thin therin inner tunic made from the waters of the Depths as the image of the moon reflects upon it. Worn on the Night of a Thousand Moons. Richly decorated in silver gumoos with girdles and accessorized to obscure and enhance the Shimran stature.

Merges – The re-joining and reforming of a brand new Ashshams from the core splits of Shimran parents in order to create a new shimling within a shimara’s stature. Also known as core-merges.

Moonbath – The bath that Shimrans engage in before their Night of a Thousand Moons. Also known as the Qamarath.

N

Night of a Thousand Moons – The first night of a wedded Shimran.

P

Pembre – Rose-gold metal usually used for jewellery making and now for inlays in weapons.

Principal-being – Shimran core (Ashshams and Core-years) and centients. See centra-being and centre.

Q

Qamarath – See Moonbath.

Qamariyyah – The full eight-ringed corebind of the moonchambers usually practiced during the Night of a Thousand Moons by wedded Shimrans.

R

Rebirth-robes – A set of silver-white robes and veils worn by new Shimran mothers for the first eight days after the birth of their shimlings, signifying purity, love, and innocence and the shimara being reborn as a mother. Made of white clouds drenched in silver light beams.

Rebirth-tiara – A thin vine shaped band of gold altheen worn by Shimran mothers to signify the birth of their shimlings. Adorned with flowers for a mara and leaves for a tzar. The number of flowers and leaves corresponds to the number of shimlings, the shimara has given birth to. Worn for life after birth of shimling.

S

Sanrakshith – the outermost robes worn by Shimrans made of the combination of the waters of the Depths and the Shimran therilium, coined by Quifly after the language of his herd and means lustrous protection.

Shakua – the dance of Passion and Desire. Dance is a vital form of wellbeing for Shimrans, and the flairs are often named after emotions.

Shifr – Special gifts of Shimran-folk emerging from their cores. The use of which requires centient-powers. Some Shifrs can be more complicated and require more power than the centients and hence might draw on the core of a Shimran. Other Shifrs can destabilize the cores and wreak havoc in the Shimran being due to their immense power. Check Shifrs for full list of potential powers.

Shimara – Lady or gentlewoman, Madam – very respectful word for a female Shimran.

Shimling – A baby Shimran.

Shimlinghood – childhood  of a Shimran.

Shimrah – A world where a better version of Humanity lives exploring the true powers of the force we know as love. A version we may attain one day if we tried.

Shimrans – The fair folk of Shimrah.

Shimratzar – Gentleman, Sir, Master – a very respectful; word for a Shimran male.

Silverine – Intricate coloured mark on the left shoulder for a shimara and on the right shoulder of the shimratzars. Very elaborate and the design and colour defers from Shimran to Shimran. The lifeforce-entryway of Shimran-folk and often used in every Entwinement. It is very private and personal part of the Shimran central-being. The Ashshams has the intricate mark of the Silvering emblazoned upon its eight sides.

Silveroan – A type of Unisus which is black with horn, hooves, mane, wings, and tail of molten metallic silver.

Siyan – Black metal found in Shimrah and is extraordinarily strong. Also used in weapon making.

Souk – The marketplace of the Shimrans situated in the eighth-tier of the Citadel. A place of trade and commerce where Shimrans communed to acquire goods and services or just to socialise.

Soul-Light Crossfire – An ancient Shimran enchantment that recognizes and binds soulmates to each other should they have the fortune to meet in their lifetimes. The Shimrans must have eye contact for it to work and a physical touch to seal the pledge which often occurs involuntarily after the eye contact. They are immensely powerful lifetime pledges that will incline Shimrans in the most extreme sense to the other. Shimrans in such Crossfires share a love so deep for each other that they would willingly sacrifice anything and everything, they have for the other. Even themselves. Warning – Crossfires alter the central-beings, essences, and auras of Shimrans. They wreak havoc within the Shimran being and those caught in it, will need to rest for a recommended period of three days and not engage in strenuous activity. If strain is placed on the Shimran being before recovery, it could destabilize their cores and cause internal injuries. It misaligns their centre and they would need to be tended by the healers. Those in a Crossfire die together unless there is something else which ties them to life such as a shimling, in which case, they can exist as a minimal being until their purpose is fulfilled.

T

Therilium – The colourless liquids that Therin-Shifr Shimrans can extract from their beings by transforming their centients with other materials to make therin which are the fabrics of Shimrah.

Therin – Shimran fabric. They can be made from anything saturated or immersed in water and is made by combining a colourless liquid therilium only found in Therin-Shifr Shimrans.

Tlumods – A type of dark creature which can explode Shimrans with a touch and absorb most of their energies.

Tzar – Man, boy, gentleman.

Tzarhood – Male reproductive organ of a Shimran. Can also be used to indicate virginity and celibacy.

U

Unisus – A type of alicorn with completely different placement of wings than traditional ones.

V

Vigil – An event of mourning, celebration, prayers, hope or goodwill that the Shimrans engage in by lighting ornate candles with core centients. The eight massive candelabras, placed at the site of an event are able to accommodate a massive number of such special candles. It is a heartfelt ritual among Shimran tradition and cultures.

Vihanne – the dance of Anger. Dance is a vital form of wellbeing for Shimrans, and the flairs are often named after emotions.

Vinnerry – The set of chambers housing the spa, bathrooms, and toilets. Shimrans love peaceful private times and often make time to relax and gather their beings together. This time is important for their central-being to function appropriately as peace strengthens them.

W

Weidoor – A pearl pink calming potion made from the calming Shifrs of Shimran themselves.

Y

Yishin – the form of mail in Shimrah. It is created out of centients and has a crystallized scroll within a spherical shield of the conjurer’s centients. The scroll contains blazing Shimran calligraphy. It delivers to recipients and works by the recognition of another’s centients by the sender. Martial-yishins are faster and red, yellow, blue, and green glimmers around the yishin spheres indicating the level of urgency. Red being the most urgent and green being the least.

Z

Zanena – A part of the Palace or a Shimran’s home that has been separated for the use of the shimaras alone and where shimratzars cannot enter.

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The Alaqath – Lord-Protector Medallion

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Prologue

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T

he shimmering white marble of the Palace reflected the auburn rays of the setting sun, and its golden inlays flashed brighter along the large, centient lantern-lit turret walls, the epitome of auspiciousness and festivity. Pink petals swirled down in the cool, night breeze from the dusky branches above, layering the glimmering white of the terraces and courtyards in a soft carpet of blush, from which rose its perfume, upon every light-footed Shimran tread. The very nature within the enchantments of the lands of Shimrah, agitated in the excitement of the much-awaited event within its boundaries.

The Shimrans themselves adorned the courtyards, turrets, towers, and minarets in their elegant finery of gossamer, soft robes, fluttering around their tall frames. The twinkling exquisiteness of their jewellery against the sparkle of their fair skin, added to the grandeur of the Shimran Palace itself. Their sophistication and daintiness, flowed forth in the tinkling merriment of their laughter, the soaring grace of their movements, and pattering drench of their enthusiastic chatter as they danced, sang, and celebrated a ceremony close to their very hearts, minds, and centres.

The shimlings, melodious in their mirth, trilled and tittered around their parents, fashioning little hearts and flowers with their many-hued centients, adding their own little contribution of fealty to the already lavish decorations around them. The beginnings of the extremely youthful Martial-Force, arrayed itself in immaculate lines and waves of splendour and refinement, guarding the outermost boundaries, along with the shield-maras. They awaited to escort the much-anticipated procession that would soon emerge.

The whole of Shimrah bustled with celebration and love as the Southern Shimrans poured into the Palace from the very reaches of its boundaries, in elongated, shimmering lines of their own exotic sumptuousness. The enchanting and enigmatically peaceable folk of the South turned even more heads with their inherent, enthralling charm and delicate daintiness. Their more vibrant stoles and flashing jewellery, scintillated in stark contrast against the lighter shades, and gentle twinkles of the Northerners. Everyone and everything were set to perfection.

For, today was none other than the day of the blessed union of their beloved Princess Debriar and her Crossed, the adopted son of the great King Dheriyadhar, himself. The most controversial union in the history of Shimrah as it involved one of non-Shimran heritage. Princess Debriar’s Crossed, her one destined love, Prince Dunyazer was from an unknown realm, that none had thought existed until he had made his appearance in Shimrah as a shimling, that is.

It had been an immense challenge for the young, shimling Prince to find his place within a strange, unfamiliar land with its enchanting beings, and in the midst of whom, he had been dropped so abruptly. To adapt to his Destiny within the Shimran circles, had been near impossible, but he had accepted and surpassed the challenges set for him by Fate with the help of his one shimlinghood love, and a handful of his true companions. Instead of being daunted and disheartened by his strange life and the unexpected twists it had thrust upon him, Prince Dunyazer, along with his cherished Princess, had proceeded to study the Shimran wonders, one after the other with a fervour non-existent in the then, peaceful world of Shimrah.

He researched and learned of the secrets behind the Shimrans’ almost inexhaustible youth and life, the healing might of their centients, concealed within their very centres, and its immensely powerful cores and Corejewels. He investigated and examined, the wide and varied talents or Shifrs, enclosed within their principal-beings, and the strength and power of those abilities. He combed through the very enchantments of every space of its nature and lands and had dissected the collective mystery of Shimrah to some extent – a quest which the Shimrans themselves had not troubled engage in or partake of.

Prince Dunyazer’s insatiable thirst for knowledge, his courage in the face of the unknown, his ability to adapt to anything positively, his shining warmth of goodness, and his Princess’s unwavering affection for him, had finally bequeathed him, his place within the great Shimran Kingdom – An acceptance as a true Shimran, and soon to be the Sovereign of their domains.

The soft music of ocarinas, changs, flutes, harps, zithers, tanburs setars, santurs, dafs and a multitude of other instruments, sweetened the air as a vision of loveliness, soared down onto the glittering, violet aisles. She was arrayed in brilliant, crimson, therin robes, cloaks made from the clouds of dawn, and mantles, worked in intricate beams of golden, morning light, Tassels swung, long and graceful, around her sashes. Girdles, armbands, and wristlets of gold enclosed her slender waist and arms. The chains and ornaments within her hair and stature, tinkled, and everything around her swirled, caught in the invisible aura of her joy.

She was flanked by the Primary Marshals of the Martial-Forces and her own, personal, warrioress shimaras in their smart, gold shot, blue, martial-mantles. Knightesses’ Jadeedhath and Zarah, flanked her sides similar to the gentle, drifting clouds around the dawning sun itself!

Prince Dunyazer gazed enthralled at the Royal shimara gliding towards him, lifting her feather-lashed, jadeite eyes in his direction. Her pearly, shy smile was just visible under the gently fluttering, scarlet veil, fastened over the delicate lower curve of her face. Her nuptial hairpieces glittered above, and the bright light beams incorporated into her crimson veil, shimmered below, but nothing could equal the brilliance of her dazzling, emerald eyes, seeking his own in that mass of glimmering glows.

Jaraadh and Zhafoor, standing on either side of Prince Dunyazer were his closest companions, and they chortled at his expressions as they waited for their Princess to draw level with them. Zhafoor winked at his friend mischievously, flicking his chin towards their Prince and rolling his eyes. Jaraadh grinned back, shaking his head slightly in disagreements. He knew what their mischievous friend wanted of him, but he was not planning to acknowledge or oblige him at all. Zhafoor wished Jaraadh to tease and try to their Prince back to his senses but the rare look on their Royal friend’s, handsome countenance was one to behold. Prince Dunyazer was so enthralled by the blessed vision before him that he seemed close to swooning!

After a moment, however, what might come to pass, began to present itself as a genuine peril, and Jaraadh, soon to be sworn in as the Lord-Protector or the Silver-Knight as per Shimran traditions, cleared his throat, nudging his Prince surreptitiously from under his robes. Zhafoor chuckled, quiet and fond, at the dazed expression on his Prince’s fair face as he gazed, lips apart in a wide circle at the stunning radiance approaching him, his own vision lowered against that of his revered Princess’s. He could not actually blame his Prince, shimaras were exquisite anyway, and his Princess was beyond ethereal.

The Prince never noticed his, soon to be, Silver and Crimson-Knights’ impishness, in his mesmerized hypnotism with the enchantress that neared him, his Crossed and his Princess! His lips lifted in a bedazzling smile, realising something that had eluded him until that moment. The extended meaning of this day and their wedding.

No, she is not a Princess anymore. She is the Queen. Our union is also a Crowning. The Queen of Shimrah. Queen Debriar…. My Queen…. My – Radiant – Debbina!

His heart swelled with pride and affection as she drew level with him, and they sank as one to their knees on the lush hassocks before King Dheriyadhar, and his Queen Mother Thiloket.

Knightesses’ Jadeedhath and Zarah, assumed their respective places on either side of Jaraadh and Zhafoor, meticulously avoiding the shimratzars’ bashfully lowered, feather-lashed eyes. The tzars stood, tall, majestic, and proud beside their Sovereigns. Their collective binds were profound, but this was not the time or place for it. A sudden gust of wind entangled the shimaras’ pale-blue mantles with that of their Princess’s lengthy, red ones as it lay in neat lines behind them. The shimratzars slipped back elegantly, freeing them, and laying them back into the immaculacy, they had had been before.

The shimaras glanced over their shoulders at their shimratzars’ chivalrous actions. Their Princess’s eyes narrowed teasingly as her Knightesses stole subtle glances, through lowered lashes at their own beloveds,’ bending over in pooling cloaks and locks, straightening the therin of their shimaras’ robes for them. Knightess Jadeedhath’s lips lifted in a shy smile of a whispered ‘Thank you’ and Jaraadh tinged rose, inclining his head low, and taking his place beside her once more. Their Princess freed a hand from the bouquet of flowers she held, chiming a laugh into those slender fingers. Her gaze fluttered to the flowers, her Prince held and then to his eyes.

‘Well, we only have two bouquets…? Should I have the servers bring a couple more? We might as well wed your Knights and my Knightesses off at the same ceremony! It would save time… at the very least… Don’t you think, my Crossed?’

Prince Dunyazer chuckled at his cherished’s words of hidden mischief, and the collective, crimson flush of the fair faces of their four companions beside them. They stepped away from each other slightly, smiling bashfully down at the cool, marble floors! The ritual was being held at the topmost, ceremonial tower of the Palace as always, under the great dragon sculpture of Alaq. The cool breeze swung their expansive blue robes suggestively against each other once more, irrespective of the distance, and their companions coloured deeper still but stayed rigidly where they were. It was the shimratzars own mantles with those of the shimaras this time around, but the tzars nor the maras, tried to disentangle them. Nature itself seemed to be in, on the play of playfully charring them to reticence today.

Princess Debriar’s twin, elder brothers, Princes Ibreeth and Ifreeth stood behind them, tall, handsome, and in stone-faced silence. They were the first in line for the throne, but it had been their father, King Dheriyadhar’s decision, to bestow the Crown on his youngest daughter, and his adopted son. None dared to question their King, naturally, and they had had to agree, though with much disappointment and disapproval, on the part of the Princes. Ibreeth managed a small smile for his sister, kneeling before them, but his twin brother Ifreeth, frowned away grudgingly.

Their King welcomed them with all the exalted love of his kindly, Shimran heart, placing the sparkling crowns of Shimrah upon their heads, speaking the words of the Royal Oath as they repeated after him.

The charmed tiaras were embedded with the enchanted Rocks of Royalty, the Malikal-Sukhur, which could only be worn by the true successors of Shimrah and were fatally lethal in the wrong hands. These crystals were only found around the geyser openings of the treacherous Shards and were usually a beautiful rainbow in colour. The Malikal-Sukhur, inserted within the crowns of Reigning Royal and their many accessories were a brilliant, bottomless blue – a much rarer version, mined from deep within the geysers! They were imbued with the centients and blood of the Royals themselves and that was what made the crystal, the Malikal-Sukhur!

A combined, collective, sighed blessing breezed through the watching masses and grazed them in warmth and sweet fragrance as the crown slid on Prince Dunyazer brow with a soft glow. It signified Shimrah’s unstinted acceptance of him as her rightful King!

Ifreeth slipped away from behind his father, and his brother, Ibreeth, followed with some hesitancy as the new King and Queen watched with dismay and sorrow. They were family after all, but her love and the throne had caused such deep rifts within it.

The ceremony progressed with their tenderly, whispered betrothal vows, the enchanting words of undying fidelity and infinite love, shared between their King and Queen, surging in soothing ripples of sound that echoed throughout the Palace, amplified by the lilac centients of the new, Shimran Queen. It reflected off-of every stone, travelled through every corridor, skimmed over the courtyards and gardens, flooded the soaring, spiralling towers, and rose in shimmering waves of sweet, scented mist, high into the air.

However, Queen Mother Thiloket’s eyes remained darkened with her sorrow. She bound their hands in the golden, tasselled ribbons of dawn itself, signifying their alliance in the traditional, Shimran Hand-Fastening ceremony, but the light within her beautiful eyes, were all but extinguished. She leaned closer to Princess Debriar, murmuring, almost inaudibly, while tying the satin Knot of Infinity, firmly around their wrists, uniting her adopted grandson to her granddaughter, permanently and forever more.

‘I wish I could say that you would live the rest of your youth and life in peace and love, my Debbina, but I cannot. It is not meant to be, you know this, and you have chosen. I shall not stay on within this Palace, for I do not have the strength to see you suffer. I will carry with me this image of your happiness and joyful radiance.…’

Queen Debriar stared up at her, the glimmer within her own eyes, dimming at her treasured grandmother’s words. Queen Thiloket smiled sadly, cradling the sides of her face. ‘But I shall pledge you this. Through your blood, on the night of an Azraq, will arise the Saviour of Shimrah, and I shall prepare myself for that day. I will re-join the fight for Shimrah then, and I will see it through. Now rise, my Queen, my Debbina. Treasure and relish the time bestowed upon you… however little it may be…!’

They rose to the deafening thunder of their kins’ good wishes, the light-embroidered ribbons, shrinking closer and closer, pulling their glowing King and bashful Queen together, until their hands entwined. A gleaming, golden haze surrounded it as they leaned closer still, and their fair brows touched, sealing their Pledge, and hazing their eyes in the glimmering, golden mists of their rare Crossfire. They moved away, blushing furiously, and turned back to face their nation, lifting their tied hands high towards them, and shooting massive lilac and gold, centient-flowers, over the gathered masses of their kinsfolk. A traditional gesture of the strength of their Oaths, and their acceptance of the entrustment, their Shimrans and their precious lands, had placed upon their Royalty.

The sky rent with light as their Shimrans sent waves upon waves of their colourful centients into its darkened depths, every stream brighter than the last, every plume bursting in the radiant brilliance of their pleasure and loyalty. It shone with the many-hued blazes of their Shimrans’ beings, amongst the dusky tones of the rainbow violets and the blues of the skies.

Alaq, the immense, three-winged dragon behind them, stirred from its eternal slumber. It blazed up in a prisming shards of colours, roaring down its blessings in torrents of blazing fire and fiery ice, swamping the Royals and everyone else, gathered within the entire Palace! It was one of the few occasions that it awoke on its own. Usually, it required immense amounts of centients to awaken. It whipped its massive, ribbony body in enormous coils around them, and fanned out its tail-wing in a canopied shield above. It held its position for a moment before unwinding itself from around their Majesties and solidifying back to immobility.

Mistress Afra, the head of the Citadel’s healers, hurried forth to her beloved Queen as they stood, soaking in the fondness and adoration of their Shimrans. She escorted them away quickly towards their moon chambers, followed by their four, laughing companions. The centient-flowers, feathers, stars, and hearts of their folk, continuing to rain down on them from their rejoicing Shimrans. They surged forth over the main courtyards and gardens, preparing to twirl the night away. The evening was just starting and there were still so many traditions that needed to be satisfied.

Weddings and births in Shimrah, especially those that involved Royals, were few and far between and required much preparation. Mistress Afra, her disciples, and her new Sovereigns’ Knights and Knightesses were in for an extremely long, one to three nights of intense obligations, which they needed to execute for their beloved King and Queen.

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Ifreeth soared away through the blackened skies and Ibreeth followed, calling after his older brother as he raged through the darkness. He caught up to his furious sibling, over the Goldhorn forests.

‘Brother, stop! Where can you go, there is only Shimrah? It does not help to rage and resent a decision that we cannot alter.’ he said, trying to reason with his sibling. Ifreeth whipped around to face him, his expression twisted into a sneer, the light of his centre, tainting rapidly with his unrighteous fury, greed, and envy. He clutched a thick, black grimoire, edged in frothy ink within his hands, and waved it furiously at his brother. The terrifying Tree of Tribulations of Delcrum, upon its cover, glinted demonically at them both. Its expansive roots, its disgusting fruits, akin to hanging, decapitated, heads of devils, and its monstrous, sprawling branches, flashed a brilliant angry crimson, in the little light that was diminishing rapidly from the night sky. Too well, did Ibreeth remember the day they had found it, and dearly did he regret ever laying eyes upon it!

‘Shimrah is too important to be just handed over to those jesters! Aaashh! By the Demons of Delcrum! They do not even know its potential or the extent of its reach. But, we know, brother, we know what Shimrah is. We know it is the gateway to the ultimate power! Let us seek for it and use it to destroy all these weaklings! We will be stronger than their Martial-Force, stronger than their pitiful dragons!’ Ibreeth shook his head, rather terrified at the fury within his brother’s face.

‘Ifreeth, you should not entertain such negative emotions, your light centre….’ he began quietly. Ifreeth summoned out an enormous bolt of his centients, fashioning and solidifying it into a spear. He held its point to Ibreeth’s right shoulder, over his lifeforce-entryway, his Silverine. Ibreeth raised his hands slowly, eyes wide in shock.

‘Will you… sacrifice me, brother… for the throne?’ he asked, his gentle voice, tremulous with grief. Ifreeth nodded vehemently, his elongated, bronze locks flying around him, his blue eyes, cold and frozen in his unholy wrath.

‘I will not hesitate to destroy anyone and anything that stands in my way, for this is my birth right! I will regain Shimrah and when I do, I will be the Lord of all its Lands, the King of all its Kingdoms, and Regent of all its Realms, and I – will – have – it – all! I will rip Shimrah’s Light out with my Deisternaise and establish my Demon Domain over it!’ growled Ifreeth, his voice low and menacing.

‘Your deisternaise…? Your demon domain…?’ Ibreeth scoffed, shaking his head in confusion, staring at the grimoire within his brother’s hand. A deadly murmur had begun to emanate from it, increasing in volume, and a black haze surrounded Ifreeth’s wrist, sneaking up his arm, stealthily. He spoke quietly, trying to get his brother to see sense.

‘You are no demon, brother; you possess no deisternaise. You are a light Shimran, and your centre has been tainted by that accursed grimaud! Let us destroy it, it was a mistake to break into the Forbidden Fissure. It was a mistake to steal that dagger from our sister. It was a mistake to read from that blasphemous Necronomicon of Delcrum! Let us destroy it, and together, we can heal….’ An evil laugh escaped Ifreeth, the very sound of it dripping malice and scorn, both emotions as filthy and ferocious as any other sin on his Shimran being.

‘Choose! Brother!’ he cackled ‘Come with me and let us reclaim our lands. If you choose to turn towards your filthy sister and her wedded, then I swear by the Darkest, Deadliest Deisternaise of Delcrum, I shall run you through with this spear, for I cannot have you enlightening them about me. I need to remain among them for a while longer, to ensure they do not suspect me.’ Ibreeth sighed quietly, he knew his brother well-enough, and he was not jesting. He held his head higher, submerging the overwhelming emotions of grief and loss, threatening to rear out of him and pierced his sibling with a resolute, determined gaze.

‘I will not commit treason and I will not murder my sister, my father, and my grandmother. Nor will I turn traitorous to my King, my brother-in-law. I may not be a worthy Royal for the throne, but I am a Royal, nevertheless. I will try to protect my Kingdom and my Kin as best as I can. So, kill me, my brother, if you will, but I shall cross blades with you for Shimrah and its Light. I shall cross blades with you to try to free you from that menace, you hold!’ Ibreeth drew his intricately decorated sword, from his crimson, trinket-ribbon with trembling hands but Ifreeth lowered his spear, absorbing it back into himself. His malevolent laugh resounded through the forest, echoing among the trees, and he turned away from his sibling with a scornful scoff.

‘Indeed, brother. I did think that would be your decision, so I ensured that I had… let us say… encouragement?’ he drawled. Ibreeth stared at him, anxious, apprehensive, and stunned at the sudden change within him. ‘I took the liberty to escort your darling shimara, Esmirath to my secret fortress in the Decoran forests, prepared to move to Delcrum if need be. She is currently comfortable, but I cannot promise that she would remain thus, given your recent, rash decisions…!’ he turned around to gaze at his brother’s face with its expression of utter disbelief and leered repulsively.

‘Did you both not core undergo a Division for a shimling recently but was waiting for a special day? Hmmm… how do you address her? That… that… revoltingly endearing nickname? Mira…? Well, Mira is unbelievably beautiful… of Southern Shimran origins, is she not? Hence the exotic appearance, I presume. Well, I would not mind a shimling who would assume my legacy… especially if they turn out to be as exquisite…!’ Ibreeth’s visage, flamed crimson, then drained to ashen, his shocked gaze trained upon his once respected but now abhorrent brother, gasping in his profound outrage.

How tainted is his core to even think of causing a shimara hardship? To sully everything a tzar stands for, and so revoltingly at that? It is against the very nature of a shimratzar! Mira was right! She tried to enlighten me of it, so very many times and I refused to listen! Refused to accept that my brother could be such a disgustingly lecherous philanderer!

‘How… how dare you!? You monster! How dare you even dream of such a thing? How dare you touch a shimara? Any shimara?! How could you voice something this immoral and obscene? How dark is your centre to even entertain an unconscious, errant thought of such a nature? Esmirath is akin to your sister! One, whose honour and existence, you should protect with the Light of your Ashshams as I would have, had you had a wife!’ Ibreeth whispered through gritted teeth. He drew a deep breath, trying to compose his racking emotions and nodded, disgust drenching his voice as he spoke. ‘Aaashh! You are right! You have no Light left within your Ashshams! You are worse than the Demons of Delcrum!’ he whispered, his centre rattling at the vulgarity of that suggestion and the disgrace, his vile brother had now become.

‘Hmmmm, you were always weak and easy to bend to my will, brother! It seems to me that you will indeed join me on the way to Delcrum… and in extreme haste too. Do not worry brother, I will have no interest in her if you join me, stay by my side and together, we will destroy Shimrah!’ sneered Ifreeth, turning away and flying off rapidly towards Southern Shimrah, another laugh ringing out of him, scornful, loud, and triumphant. His sickening mirth resounded throughout the whole of Goldhorn forest, terrifying the birds into the air in fear and panic. The light Shimran creatures within the woods, quivered in the smothering darkness of the night, fleeing for shelter, and the unisi’s golden cores, trembled within them at the horrendous sound.

I am coming for you, Debriar, Ifreeth thought to himself. I am coming for you and the pathetic Shimrans, you call your kin. I shall rip the tragic life out of your precious Crossed, and watch you writhe in agony when your core drains with his death! That will be my justice for you… for snatching my throne away from me!

I am coming for you!

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The Explanation of The Shimran Being

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Five Hundred Years Later….

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Alaq – The Dragon

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The Vision

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aashh! No! Please do not… ssss…! Leave me be… aahh…! This will harm my… mmhh… my unborn shimling…! No… ssss…  please… do not…! No…!’

Queen Debriar stirred uneasily as she slept. It was just past midnight and the dark shadows loomed outside her windows, thrown into sharp relief by the light of the rising Bluemoon, the Azraq. A rare phenomenon that was rumoured to bring great miracles or misfortunes to Shimrah. The soft breeze swept the drapes into the chamber, and the ghostly rustle of the stiff therin, made her more apprehensive even asleep. The gentle lapping waters of the Crystal-Lake which she usually found peaceful, could not ease her disquiet this night. Her slender fingers, caressed her swollen midriff protectively, trying to ease her mind with the thoughts of the little shimling, moving serenely within her. She sighed and stirred again, restless, and agitated.

‘No...! I do not want… ssss… to know! Not now... aahh…!’ she cried, feeling herself slipping into a Vision. Queen Debriar tried to snap her eyes open desperately, but it was in vain. They moved rapidly behind her delicate, pink, feather-lashed lids, her fingers clutched at the robes at her heart and her breath, shuddering out in cold huffs. The shimara, who had been asleep with her head on her arm, on the floor beside Her Majesty, snapped awake, feeling her Queen move edgily.

‘Your Highness…?’ she whispered, staring in dismay at her Queen’s ashen face still glimmering similar to the enchanting moon itself, even in her agony.

Aaashh! This is not happening, not now! The shimling is not due for another three moons and if the Queen is to be upset by a Vision now, it would mean an imminent birth! she thought. Oh, please no, is this what the appearance of the Azraq, the second Bluemoon in the history of Shimrah signified?! What disaster! Please, may it not be this! The shimara grabbed a cool towel, torn between wanting to stay by her Queen and running for help. She gently wiped the beads of lilac, centient-mixed moisture upon Queen Debriar's fair, furrowed forehead.

‘Please awake, my Queen, please…?!’ she panicked, shooting a burst of red stars, through the window with her centients to alert the healers. Queen Debriar moaned softly. The flashes were starting, vivid, painful, and she knew she would not be able to snap out of it, even if she used up all of her core and centient-years. She held on, lips drawn-in and tense.

I would have to see it through, she thought desperately, trying to compose herself against the pain and agony, even within her unawareness. The darkness engulfed her in a cold mist, transporting her consciousness far, far away to a burning battlefield. An impressive figure with a vast mane of knee-length, golden hair flying behind him, raised his ornate sword victoriously, high above his head. Sounds of cheer and mirth filled the air as he smiled, the scorching sunlight, even at this early in the day, glinting off-of his golden armour and the fierce dragon on his crown. Queen Debriar calmed herself, somewhat.

This does not seem too worrisome! Then, why does the tenor of this Vision feel this ominous? she thought, troubled. She knew the Vision was from the burning Wastelands and deserts of Southern Shimrah, where the first Shimran battle currently raged. It was early morning there and would therefore coincide with the cool darkness of midnight, of the North. The sun dawned ahead in Southern Shimrah compared to the North, their days began much earlier.

The handsome, golden-haired, Royal Shimran, appeared exhausted but the triumph upon his face, and his infectious laughter were contagious. The Shimran Forces ran towards him from all directions of the searing desert, waving and cheering, their shining silver blades raised high in victory, for he was no other than their treasured King Dunyazer. Another elegant, bronze-haired tzar stood beside him. Lord Jaraadh, his Silver-Knight, and the Lord-Protector of Shimrah, beamed through the trickle of cerulean, centient-tinged blood, trickling down the corner of his full-lips. The three-winged, dragon tresspin, the Alaqwa, pinned at the back of his head, snarled in the dawning sun as he effortlessly thwarted an enemy straggler, who dared to point his sword at his Sovereign.

Lord Jaraadh dealt him a swift blow of his whirling, blue javelin and he promptly burst into swirling, black shadow, and deep, red sparks. King Dunyazer grinned at him, his startling green eyes, soft and mellow. His Majesty placed a hand at the back of his Knight’s right shoulder, nodding at his rapid response appreciatively. He slid his fingers up to the side of his Knight’s face and with a gentle brush, wiped away the stain on his Lord-Protector’s lips. Lord Jaraadh saluted, hand on heart, the affection he cherished for his Liege, apparent in the warm sparkle of his cerulean eyes and his graceful movements.

A sudden resounding shriek of anger and agony, echoed through the desert lands. The Silver-Knight glanced momentarily towards the sound, his blazing, blue, javelin, shielding King Dunyazer protectively in a ferocious, solid circle of light. A brilliant flash of elmas, a whirl of golden hair and deep, green robes. A gasp of pain as a sword pierced flesh with a dismal thud, Lord Jaraadh's howl of anguish; Queen Debriar awoke with a tortured cry, tears streaming down her flushed and reddened cheeks. She turned rapidly onto her right and heaved a huge volume of deep scarlet which hazed away with her lilac centients. The blood of Shimrans usually tinged with the shade of centients, and their power evaporated with the fluid they expelled, never to be regained again.

Shimran centients, the lifeblood of their beings, co-existed within their fragile, physical statures on a delicate balance. Any form of turbulence of their centients, could wreak havoc and destroy their fragile physiques. The Queen’s swiftly draining centients were already causing her stature to erupt and break apart. Blood from the mouth, nose, ears, and eyes was a certain warning of such internal damage, and the order indicated the severity of the injury. If this kept on, Queen Debriar could dim away with her draining centients, and even shatter her corejewel with the effort she was expending on controlling her Shifr and herself. A shattered Jewel was akin to death for a Shimran, their physical statures usually hazed away as essences soon after.

The shimara stood over her Queen, petrified but trying to remain calm and stabilize her Majesty's centre with her own. Her palm pulsed in a crimson glow, changing to a pale-lilac, hovering above her Queen’s left shoulder. A wave of desperation washed over her as she felt her Royal charge’s, massive centient forces, ebbing swiftly and closing in dangerously to her core. She huffed, gritting her teeth with the effort of maintaining her Majesty’s immense centre.

I need help, I cannot do this alone! Where are they?

The shimara, Leilimma, was one of the ancient healers who worked in the main, remedial chambers, situated at the very rear of the Citadel. She was standing in for her Mentress, Mistress Afra, the Head-Healer, who was taking a break from caring for the Queen. She had barely left them and had done so extremely hesitantly upon their insistence. She loved the Queen as if Her Majesty was her own daughter. Leilimma concentrated, pouring more of her centients into Her Grace, but it was no use. Her Majesty’s centient-years had already drained, and her core was rapidly depleting too, spent due to the Vision and the growing grief, gnawing at her heart. The enchanting, pale-lilac aura around her, faded swiftly and her being ebbed.

Queen Debriar drew a quivering breath, her long, slender fingers splayed over her unborn, trying relentlessly to regain control over her core and focus on the shimling. She trembled with the strain, but it was too late. A flash of fierce, jagged agony racked her slim figure, and a low, piercing scream escaped her full-lips.

The door flung open with a loud bang and Leilimma glanced up, freezing momentarily in awe at the sight that widened her eyes. Framed in a halo of brilliance within the doorway, stood an exquisitely handsome, young shimratzar. He swept in, dazzling in his magnificent, gold light-embossed, white robes, and his waist-length, wavy, bronze locks, cascading in a shining waterfall around him.

Shimratzars were sublime beings, anyway. They glided on light feet with their divine heads held high, and their waist-length locks, tied in extensive ribbons, flowing behind them in shimmering streams. They wore expressions of cool detachment and unperturbed calm, but their eyes filled and brimmed with courtesy, compassion, and affection whenever they chanced them upon anyone, especially shimaras and shimlings. The strangers, they treated with pure and gallant comradeship and love. For those near and dear, the tzars would do anything in their power, should they have a need. They spoke in soft, enchanting tones of infinite patience, and fixed their gazes courteously upon the hairlines, to the sides of their faces or lowered them to the hands of the fellow Shimrans, they happened to be addressing. And again, especially with