Crystal Shade: Episodes #1

By Istvan Szabo Ifj

"Thousands of stars could tell thousands of stories."

Seven year old Grace always dreamt of becoming a guardian angel; like those who guarded and guided her people and prepared to bravely fight in a dreaded mythical event, the Crystal Shade - which never came. It's not like Grace ever wanted to see Demons. Or wants to know what evil and darkness is - things that no one ever faced on her world and as the legends says, the Crystal Shade carries within -, nor does she want to die to be reborn as a guardian. But she thinks the mysterious life of angels is so noble, a fable that it sounds exciting - until it actually happens. Crystal Shade: Episodes #1 explores the life of a young daydreaming girl who seeks the answer to the eternal question of, what the legendary Crystal Shade really is.
Length: 31214 words.

Crystal Shade: Episodes, is the episodic release of the Auralight Fantasy* trilogy, Crystal Shade: Angeni. It was created with the intention of leading new readers into this beautiful world via its unique episodic storytelling and lower price. Episodes #1 contains the first full story arc, Chapters 1-3 of Crystal Shade: Angeni, Volume 1. If you already own Crystal Shade: Angeni, DO NOT buy Crystal Shade: Episodes.

*Auralight Fantasy (a.k.a. AuraFantasy or Auralight) is a new variation and mix of many genres. While it contains many Epic Fantasy, Young Adult, and close-to-Science-Fiction, close-to-Steampunk mechanical and / or fantastical elements, such as aura-powered flying and other machines and weapons, or a strange world with a blue sun, it also includes biological-fantastical elements, such as aura beings with superpowers, living in different spirit realms of an otherworldly ancient society with an atmosphere not just felt, but seen as emanating from person, places and other living and non-living things. The term “Auralight Fantasy” was coined to reflect the more overtly fantastical tones of Crystal Shade.

IMPORTANT: Please be advised that Crystal Shade: Angeni and its episodic release, Crystal Shade: Episodes is not a fast and easy mainstream read. You can't quickly skim through and read it in one night, but you have to absorb the words and create the fantasy in your mind. Therefore, if you don't like slower-paced books or non-mainstream storylines, please read the excerpt before making any purchase.

• Language: English
• Publisher: XinXii
• Release date: Jul 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9789638952004

Istvan Szabo Ifj

Award winning author, director and graphic artist Istvan Szabo, Ifj. was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1981. Istvan penned his first short stories, the science fiction story, City on the Rings of Saturn, as well as the historical fiction for a literature competition, entitled One Day in the Legion in Elementary School. But he discovered a true love for writing in high school, enrolling in advanced Hungarian and English classes and submitting short stories to various writing competitions, and magazines, as well as self-publishing his works in his school to entertain his classmates. The military thriller short story series, Revenge, a story similar to the movie Toy Soldiers, was a school-wide success. After high school, Istvan attended Information Technology and Technical College, while he also applied to the Marine Military Academy (he always wanted to be a military fighter pilot, and he received his first pilot training at the age of 14.) and Georgetown Law School (he was an avid fan of JAG. :) ). After college he then spent the next few years trying other jobs and careers, including marketing manager, graphic artist and web designer. But he also spent a short time as an insurance agent, movie ticket taker and working in a souvenir-store. He admits that these last two jobs were his favorite and most relaxing non-freelance jobs he ever had, because of the good company, and the free movies, popcorn and souvenirs. Summer jobs, a.k.a. the best days of a different life. :) In 1999, Istvan wrote his first screenplay, the sci-fi drama Mercurion, which was requested by many U.S. agencies, but unfortunately the story never went into production. From 2002 to 2004, he wrote the two hour long pilot and twenty additional episodes for a new Star Trek series, Star Trek: Beyond Frontiers. Star Trek: Beyond Frontiers set 10 years after Star Trek: Nemesis, describing the journey of the U.S.S. Concordia (NX-92337). They're on a mission to find answers for the deadly events revolving around their own sister ship, the U.S.S. Olympia and Section 31, a civil war taking place inside the Federation, and a mysterious phenomenon even the Borg is afraid of. But the story never went beyond the pitching phase, as Paramount already planned to cancel the Star Trek franchise with Star Trek: Enterprise. In 2003 Istvan wrote a page long short story, called Crystal Shade, which in 2005 became a nine episode long TV mini-series project. This later became the foundation of the Auralight Fantasy book franchise, Crystal Shade: Angeni, which outlines the prelude story of the screenplays. However, due to various circumstances, and to avoid any spoilers, the details of the development and pitching of the Crystal Shade TV mini-series are still classified. However in 2008 one part of the development visited the U.S. Air Force Entertainment Liaison Office. In 2004, a Hungarian based game-development studio, along with one based out of Paris, France, took notice of Istvan. The two companies entrusted him to complete a story for their newest video game. Reviewers and newspapers praised the story itself, however Istvan is not proud of this work, mostly because the story development wasn't in his hands and the end product was far from the idea and screenplays he initially wrote and pitched. But he received various credits for this project, including designer, sound-editor, tester, manual writer, and translator. Later in 2005, shortly before Istvan started to write the Crystal Shade TV Mini-Series, a Hollywood screenwriter by the name of David Freeman was so impressed with Istvan's abilities that he invited him to London as his guest. Mr. Freeman shared some insights with Istvan about the art of screenwriting. Before he turned freelancer, Istvan made one additional game and one additional design project with the studio where he was also credited a few more times in various fields. In 2007, Istvan produced his first short movie 15 Minutes of Fame in which he was the screenwriter, director and storyboard artist. 15 Minutes of Fame won 3rd Place at the UPC-AXN Film Festival 2007, and was the personal favorite of the audience, the critics and Hollywood producer and jury member Andrew Vajna, the producer of Terminator, Total Recall, Die Hard and other great movies. In 2009, Istvan turned his old screenplays Mercurion and Star Trek: Beyond Frontiers into a new ten episode long sci-fi thriller series, called as Nightfall. While this sci-fi story also was requested by various movie studios, due to various circumstances this story also had the fate of Crystal Shade. The book adaptation of the world's only Darklight Science Fiction, Nightfall is scheduled for 2014 / 15. Between 2009 and 2011, Istvan wrote Crystal Shade: Angeni, the world's only Auralight Fantasy. Volume 1 was released on November 11, 2011, 11:11GMT, and since that time the book is available on 6 continents, in 65 countries and 200+ territorial and regional retailers. While the book is not a fast and easy mainstream read, it has received positive reviews, with critics calling it a "beautiful and elegant writing, a unique fantasy world with a storyline you won't feel you have anything to compare it to." The introductory book, Crystal Shade: Introduction, which presents the development in the words of the author, was released in 2013. The sequels of Crystal Shade, Afterlight and Volume 2 are scheduled for 2014. In 2011 and 2012, Istvan also released two of his short stories in his 7 Post Meridiem series. The noir detective novelette, Pale Moonlight and the extra short noir sci-fi drama, Anno Humanae Salutis, received positive reviews. Anno Humanae Salutis also made it to the Amazon best seller list on February 25, 2012, five days after its release. The next short stories in the 7 Post Meridiem series, the noir detective novelette, The New York Homicide, and the noir sci-fi short story, Deus Ex are scheduled for 2014 / 15. Istvan loves to create new worlds, and expand his brands toward additional marketing areas. As a professional artist, he also loves to make all the graphic sketches of the characters, weapons, items and worlds he created. He has also has created illustrations, character art, short CGI animations and marketing materials for various projects, such as foreign movie projects Descent (Australia), Brandish (United States) and for the independent movie studio Syzygy (United States, credited for 65 episodes), as well as for his own works, Crystal Shade, 7 Post Meridiem, Nightfall and Project Nephthys. Istvan is also the owner of Sapphire Guardian Publishing and its renowned subsidiary, Sapphire Guardian Formatting and Conversion Services, and he has worked on dozens of books for both independent authors and professional publishers.

Book preview

CRYSTAL SHADE: EPISODES #1

by

István Szabó, Ifj. & Orlanda Szabo

Illustrations by István Szabó, Ifj.

Edited by Orlanda Szabo

XinXii Edition

‘CRYSTAL SHADE’, ‘ANGENI’, the Crystal Shade logo, the Angeni logo, characters, names, and related indincia are copyright © István Szabó, Ifj.

Illustrations by István Szabó, Ifj. copyright ©2011.

Text copyright ©2011 by István Szabó, Ifj. & Orlanda Szabo.

Crystal Shade Publishing Rights © István Szabó, Ifj.

’CRYSTAL SHADE’ created by István Szabó, Ifj.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the authors. For further information regarding permissions, write to [e-mail].

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

ISBN 978-963-89520-0-4

First digital edition of Crystal Shade: Angeni published on November 11, 2011 and first paperback edition published on January 15, 2012 by István Szabó, Ifj. First digital edition of Crystal Shade: Episodes #1 published on February 29, 2012 by István Szabó, Ifj.

Budapest, Hungary

www.crystalshadeangeni.com

E-Book Distribution: XinXii

http://www.xinxii.com

To everyone who lives to dream and dreams to live.

Table of Contents

1 – CRYSTAL NIGHTFALL

2 – WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND

3 – ANGENI

CRYSTAL SHADE: ANGENI & CRYSTAL SHADE: EPISODES

OTHER WORKS BY THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

1 – CRYSTAL NIGHTFALL

Thousands of stars could tell thousands of stories, whispered the old man with a gentle smile. I hope others also see the story of our beautiful star.

Decades creased the countenance of the weary old man. He propped himself at the balcony, the silky wind ruffling his grey hair. His aged eyes never tired of the stars that pierced the infinite night sky. But despite the enchanting skyscape, his soul, which desired endless peace, was restless. He had one final promise he had made ages ago still unfulfilled; to share the past with those living in the present. A long held secret, a story to tell. Sorrow embraced him, as he knew as the sun rose to greet a new day one unheard story would pass along with him to vanish for eternity. And the time was close.

His sigh as soft as the night breeze, the old man pulled his robe tighter around him before he wandered away from the balcony. Slippered feet chafed against the cold stone floor as he shuffled to the middle of the large hall. Images of fighting angels and demons in the agony of their long forgotten war adorned the eleven immense columns surrounding a strange chrono device.

Thousands of energy orbs formed the mass of a majestic miniature galaxy under the tip of the long tapered crystal shard. Each star, a shiny orb, in this chrono device shone its story, its own truth in sapphire, orange, red, green, and purple among countless colors without a known name. Clear and bright, the shard hovered untethered over the middle of this tiny world like some large mystical sundial. The little galaxy gracefully turned between the stalwart columns. So peaceful and magnificent, its true purpose was hidden behind its enchanting mask.

The shard’s polished surface mirrored the tired face of the old man who watched the device with endless respect. His eyes focused on the shadow of the sundial, which slowly crept around the crystal shard. The shadow didn’t come from the sun, which slept beyond the horizon as night stood silent sentry outside. It came from the shard itself. Even now, some of the orbs within the crystal’s untouchable dark shadow slowly changed color.

The old man closed his eyes. He was still in the hall, but his mind was far away in a forgotten world.

Majestic golden and silver colored eagle shaped crafts appeared in the bright blue sky to fly in formation under the brilliance of the sapphire sun; its eternal glow reflected from their metal bodies and sectioned wings. The crafts dove into battle against hideous dark flying creatures. Like dozens of sleek predatory birds, they fought against the evil web-winged serpentine enemies. Hunted down one by one, the metal bird crafts were ripped to pieces and their wrecks left to explode in the hot white sands, where yet another battle raged.

Among the white dunes, brave winged warriors, evil demons, and humans in their shiny armour battled desperately with their crystal weapons to challenge death itself. The old man could still see the eyes of the fallen that knew they had no chance for survival, but were determined to die with courage for something in which they believed. Dignity filled their eyes, even in their last moments seeing the blade of death before it struck them down. But they never failed to bravely face their destiny.

This vision was banished by a bright flash, to be replaced by another. The old man stood in the middle of the crystal shard. Alone. Intense white light surrounded his body, young and healthy once more. An illusion of his blurred memory, he felt energy strings from the crystal tentatively run over his body and embraced him like a caring mother with her beloved child. He knew the energy strings would not harm him. His consciousness became one with the crystal. Alas, this was a long time ago, maybe in another life. Everything around him became a blur, and voices echoed in his mind as the crystal shard forced him to remember, to never forget.

A wise voice emerged with certainty. No one comes back from there alive, it declared.

That is my rightful place! shouted a distorted, chaotic voice. How dare you, puppet!

I’m sick of people dying because of you! This ends, not just for the next Crystal Shade! But forever! his own young voice echoed determined.

I will be with you. Always, whispered a kind female voice that flooded the old man with endless love, snapping him back to reality.

He sighed as he studied the crystal chrono device. One of the red orbs within the shard’s shadow suddenly changed to azure. The shadow of the crystal was forced away from that area. The old man’s fond smile returned.

You never rest, old friend. You never rest, his soft voice addressed the crystal. Our destiny ties us together. We will meet again. Soon.

The light flicker of soft footsteps was accompanied by a stifled chuckle behind one of the columns. The old man’s head bowed slowly as he curiously approached the column, but his memories rushed to remind him again of the forgotten past.

In his mind, he was young again and stepped between the shadowed columns of a marvelous dark temple. Sapphire sun streamed in stripes through the stone balcony and window casements. The chuckling of a young woman, different than he heard moments ago, caught his attention. A dark silhouette of a woman passed between two columns. His eyes tried to follow it, but the friendly shadows hid her as she reached the pillar. Silence.

His brown eyes mirrored the slick rune-covered columns before they noticed the shadows of the woman at the corner of a pillar. He moved ahead in silence to catch her from behind. They had played this age-old game forever. But as he reached the woman’s still, dark silhouette, it dissolved in his arms as he tried to hold her.

Outwitted again, the old man hung his head as he found himself again in reality, between the walls and columns of his little sanctuary. There was no hiding the loving smile that broke his heart anew. He did not want to remember. While most of his memories gave him happiness, some only caused pain. This was one of them.

The muffled chuckle of a child tickled his ears once again. It came from behind the closest column.

I got you, the old man crowed as he looked behind the stone pillar. But no one was there.

No! We got you! a little girl shouted victoriously from behind him.

The old man raised his hands and slowly turned around, his loving smile stretched into a grin that only a grandfather could achieve. I give up.

The little girl and boy who tricked him stood right in front of him, grinning in merry conquest.

You may consider yourself the prisoner of the Knight of the Light, the young boy proclaimed, his wooden sword pointed at the old man’s belly.

Oh, I’m too old to be a prisoner, young knight, responded the old man.

The boy and the girl looked at each other, and then the girl stepped forward and crossed her arms.

On behalf of Princess of the Celestials – just to make that clear, that’s me... She pointed at herself proudly, You may redeem yourself, prisoner. For a prize. Then she could not stop impishly grinning up at the old man as he played along.

Amused, the old man shook his head and smiled. He recognized the girl’s behavior, and her mischievous smile, too. The little one had learned, rather, inherited this behavior from someone who