The 7 Realms (A fiction short story)

Something interesting happens when I put the glasses on. When I dim the lights in the studio. Put on my headphones and start to fly away on the keyboard.

Focus.

Focus is what happens when I put my glasses on, but I argue it's not that they're made of magical fairy dust, it's because of the ritual.

Once upon a time their was a tyrant that ruled the land. A wave of his hand could mean death across all 7 realms. The ice cold stare of a tyrant could mean only one thing, you were next.

But in this land, there was a surprising issue. You see a young inventor had discovered a way to transmit light that was shown through the back of huge paintings. In each village, and in each home, families had these huge paintings covering their walls - this time with a vibrant light behind them allowing them to soak in the color all day and all night. Burning the images into their retinas.

Entire businesses were formed shipping new paintings and installing new lights for the villagers in the 7 realms. 7 Realms, Inc. was setup and went public on their stock exchange.

The tyrant came across one of these paintings as well. He ordered his servants to install them all throughout the castle. 100 of them to be exact. He would walk up and down the hallways staring into the colorful abyss.

Slowly, the images started to blur. Dignitaries from far away lands would visit and he would not recognize them. They were but a blurry outline.

Soon the paintings lost their meaning - they glowed bright as a suggestion but only came out as amorphous blobs.

Soon everyone across the 7 Realms lost their sight and many sued 7 Realms, Inc.

Writers could no longer write, their vision had been lost. And there family had no bread from the proceeds of book sales.

Farmers could no longer farm, parents could no longer parent.

The blind were leading the blind as you might say.

Families huddled around the glowing paintings praying for an answer - looking toward the sky for a solution.

The same inventor who had created the illuminated paintings was fumbling through the house one morning searching for a glass of water, his vision completely gone.

He found what he believed was the kitchen sink and grabbed what he believed was a glass. It appeared to be dry inside but he had to smell it to be sure nothing had gone bad inside of it. He could not see after all. But his sense of smell was working overtime.

As the glass approached his nose, it came across his eyes.

Something miraculous happened!

The blurriness had come into focus! He could see again!

He discovered that this worked even with two glasses strapped to his eyes. Looking strange.

He ran around his home looking at everything. Went outside and looked at the flowers, ran to the stream to look at the fish! Their scales glimmering in the sun.

After time, he improved upon the glasses and fashioned a pair that could fit over his ears and be held in place.

He could see the lighted painting again, bringing him solace through the cold winter night.

Villagers from all around heard of his glasses and everyone wanted a pair.

7 Realms, Inc. was saved from the brink of bankruptcy and his family could eat again.

The tyrant king discovered what had happened, sentenced the inventor to death and signed over the shares of the company to himself. He could finally see the lighted paintings around the castle. He wanted it all to himself and so he ordered his guards to take every pair of glasses from the citizens of the 7 Realms.

And that's how glasses first came to be.